MOBILE TERMINAL AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF

• US 20110219332A1
• Filed: 10/29/2010
• Published: 09/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: PARK, Seungyong
• Granted Patent: US 9,232,043 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/808
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 including more than one display unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

A mobile terminal and a control method thereof are provided. The method according to an embodiment includes displaying, on a screen of the display unit, a first image including a plurality of items; receiving a selection of at least one item among the plurality of displayed items; indicating, on the first image, the at least one selected item as selected; while the at least one selected item is indicated as selected, receiving a user input for executing an operation that involves the screen to display an image different from the first image; executing the operation according to the user input, the executing step including displaying, on the screen, a second image associated with the operation; and after the operation is executed, re-displaying, on the screen, the first image having one or more of the at least one selected item as still selected.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a mobile terminal including a display unit, the method comprising:

displaying, on a screen of the display unit, a first image including a plurality of items;

receiving a selection of at least one item among the plurality of displayed items;

indicating, on the first image, the at least one selected item as selected;

while the at least one selected item is indicated as selected, receiving a user input for executing an operation that involves the screen to display an image different from the first image;

executing the operation according to the user input, the executing step including displaying, on the screen, a second image associated with the operation; and

after the operation is executed, re-displaying, on the screen, the first image having one or more of the at least one selected item as still selected.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

linking a specific function to one of the at least one selected item, and

performing the linked function according to another user input.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the re-displaying step displays the first image having:

the one item whose linked function has been performed, as unselected, and

any other selected item without any linked function, as still selected.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the re-displaying step displays the first image having all of the at least one selected item, as still selected.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the linking step is performed using a pop-up window in which functions related to the one of the at least one selected item are arranged.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the indicating step includes displaying an icon or marker on or near the at least one selected item, or changing a display property of the at least one selected item.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the executing step includes:

loading an application associated with the operation to a memory of the mobile terminal, and

converting the application from an inactive state to an active state or changing a background operation of the application to a foreground operation.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the re-displaying step includes

converting an application associated with the operation from an active state to an inactive state or changing a foreground operation of the application to a background operation.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the executing step switches an image displayed on the screen from the first image to the second image, and the re-displaying step switches an image displayed on the screen from the second image to the first image while maintaining at least part of the selection of the at least one item.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the user input for executing the operation corresponds to at least one of the following:

an input signal received from the user for executing one of delete, move and copy functions on at least one e-mail item selected from a list of e-mail items,

an input signal received from the user for executing a function of sending at least one item selected from items included in displayed contents to a specific electronic device,

an input signal received from the user for executing a function of photographing an image,

an input signal received from the user for executing a synchronization with a specific electronic device,

an input signal received from the user for performing a conversion to an inactive mode for cutting off a power supply to at least one unit including the screen, and

an input signal received from the user for executing a function of sharing display images with a specific electronic device.

11. A mobile terminal comprising:

a display unit including a screen; and

a controller configured to control the display unit and to;

display, on the screen, a first image including a plurality of items;

receive a selection of at least one item among the plurality of displayed items;

indicate, on the first image, the at least one selected item as selected;

while the at least one selected item is indicated as selected, receive a user input for executing an operation that involves the screen to display an image different from the first image;

execute the operation according to the user input, the executing step including displaying, on the screen, a second image associated with the operation; and

after the operation is executed, re-display, on the screen, the first image having one or more of the at least one selected item as still selected.

12. The mobile terminal of claim 11, the control further configured to:

link a specific function to one of the at least one selected item; and

perform the linked function according to another user input.

13. The mobile terminal of claim 12, wherein the controller re-displays the first image having:

the one item whose linked function has been performed, as unselected, and

any other selected item without any linked function, as still selected.

14. The mobile terminal of claim 12, wherein the controller re-displays the first image having all of the at least one selected item, as still selected.

15. The mobile terminal of claim 12, wherein the controller links the specific function by displaying a pop-up window in which functions related to the one of the at least one selected item are arranged, and linking the specific function based on the another user input received through the pop-up window.

16. The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein the controller indicates the at least one selected item as having been selected by:

displaying an icon or marker on or near the at least one selected item, or changing a display property of the at least one selected item.

17. The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein the executing of the operation by the controller includes:

loading an application associated with the operation to a memory of the mobile terminal, and

converting the application from an inactive state to an active state or changing a background operation of the application to a foreground operation.

18. The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein the re-displaying of the first image by the controller includes converting an application associated with the operation from an active state to an inactive state or changing a foreground operation of the application to a background operation.

19. The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein the executing step switches an image displayed on the screen from the first image to the second image, and the re-displaying step switches an image displayed on the screen from the second image to the first image while maintaining at least part of the selection of the at least one item.

20. The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein the user input for executing the operation corresponds to at least one of the following:

an input signal received from the user for executing one of delete, move and copy functions on at least one e-mail item selected from a list of e-mail items,

an input signal received from the user for executing a function of sending at least one item selected from items included in displayed contents to a specific electronic device,

an input signal received from the user for executing a function of photographing an image,

an input signal received from the user for executing a synchronization with a specific electronic device,

an input signal received from the user for performing a conversion to an inactive mode for cutting off a power supply to at least one unit including the screen, and

an input signal received from the user for executing a function of sharing display images with a specific electronic device.