MOBILE TERMINAL AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING FUNCTION THEREOF

• US 20110300845A1
• Filed: 06/07/2011
• Published: 12/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: LEE, Dong Yup
• Application Number:
  US13/154,639
• Publication Number:
  US 20110300845A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector

Abstract

A method of controlling a function of a portable terminal having a touch screen is provided. In the method, ultrasonic waves are outputted through a speaker when a communication event is performed. Whether the outputted ultrasonic waves are inputted through a microphone is determined. A lock function of the touch screen is performed when the outputted ultrasonic waves are inputted through the microphone.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a function of a portable terminal having a touch screen, the method comprising:

outputting ultrasonic waves through a speaker when a communication event is performed;

determining whether the outputted ultrasonic waves are inputted through a microphone; and

performing a lock function of the touch screen when the ultrasonic waves are inputted through the microphone.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the performing of the lock function of the touch screen comprises:

identifying an output time of the outputted ultrasonic waves and an input time of the inputted ultrasonic waves, when the inputted ultrasonic waves are inputted through the microphone;

calculating a lock control value based on the identified output time of the outputted ultrasonic waves and the identified input time of the inputted ultrasonic waves; and

performing the lock function according to the calculated lock control value.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the performing of the lock function according to the calculated lock control value comprises:

determining whether the calculated lock value is equal to or less than a preset threshold value to perform the lock function;

determining whether the lock function is performed if the calculated lock value is greater than the preset threshold value; and

releasing the lock function if the lock function is performed when the calculated lock value is greater than the preset threshold value.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the performing of the lock function according to the calculated lock control value further comprises performing the lock function if the calculated lock value is equal to or lower than a preset threshold value.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the communication event is one of a call originating event or a call receiving event.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining if the communication event is terminated;

continuing the performing of the lock function if the communication event is not terminated; and

releasing the lock function if the communication event is terminated.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining if the outputted ultrasonic waves are similar to the inputted ultrasonic waves.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the outputting of the ultrasonic waves comprises outputting the ultrasonic waves according to a predetermined period.

9. A portable terminal comprising:

an audio processing unit for outputting ultrasonic waves through a speaker and for receiving the outputted ultrasonic waves through a microphone, when a communication event is performed;

a touch screen for performing a lock function according to the ultrasonic waves inputted and outputted through the audio processing unit, when the communication event is performed; and

a control unit for calculating a lock control value for performing the lock function according to an output time of the ultrasonic waves outputted through the speaker and an input time of the ultrasonic waves inputted through the microphone, and for controlling the touch screen based on the calculated lock control value to perform the lock function.

10. The portable terminal according to claim 9, wherein the control unit determines whether the calculated lock value is equal to or less than a preset threshold value in order to perform the lock function.

11. The portable terminal according to claim 10, wherein the control unit is for determining whether the lock function is performed on the touch screen if the calculated lock value is greater than the preset threshold value, and

wherein the control unit releases the lock function if the lock function is performed on the touch screen.

12. The portable terminal according to claim 9, wherein the communication event is one of a call originating event or a call receiving event.

13. The portable terminal according to claim 9, wherein the control unit determines if the outputted ultrasonic waves are similar to the inputted ultrasonic waves.

14. The portable terminal according to claim 9, wherein the audio processing unit outputs the ultrasonic waves according to a predetermined period.

15. A portable terminal of a wireless communication system, the portable terminal comprising:

an audio processing unit for outputting and inputting ultrasonic waves, the audio processing unit comprising;

a speaker for the outputting of the ultrasonic waves; and

a microphone for the receiving of the inputted ultrasonic waves; and

a control unit for controlling the outputting and inputting of the ultrasonic waves and for determining an output time of the ultrasonic waves outputted through the speaker and for determining an input time of the ultrasonic waves inputted through the microphone.

16. The portable terminal of claim 15, further comprising a touch screen for performing a lock function according to the ultrasonic waves inputted and outputted through the audio processing unit when a communication event is performed on the portable terminal

17. The portable terminal of claim 16, wherein the control unit calculates a lock control value for the performing of the lock function according to the determined output time and the determined input time of the ultrasonic waves, and

wherein the controller controls the touch screen according to the calculated lock control value in order to perform the lock function.

18. The portable terminal according to claim 17, wherein the control unit determines whether the calculated lock value is equal to or less than a preset threshold value in order to perform the lock function.

19. The portable terminal according to claim 17, wherein the control unit determines whether the lock function is performed on the touch screen if the calculated lock value is greater than the preset threshold value, and

wherein the control unit releases the lock function if the lock function is performed on the touch screen.

20. The portable terminal according to claim 16, wherein the communication event comprises one of a call originating event or a call receiving event.

21. The portable terminal according to claim 15, wherein the control unit determines if the outputted ultrasonic waves are similar to the inputted ultrasonic waves.

22. The portable terminal according to claim 15, wherein the audio processing unit outputs the ultrasonic waves according to a predetermined period.