MOBILE TERMINAL AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF

• US 20110304575A1
• Filed: 08/25/2011
• Published: 12/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Tae Hun
• Granted Patent: US 8,558,814 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/686 using information manually generated, e.g. tags, keywords, comments, title or artist information, time, location or usage information, user ratings
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path

Abstract

An electronic device and a method for inputting information through touch input device of an electronic device is provided. The method inputs information including at least one of symbols and characters through touching of a screen displayed on the touch input device, and executes a specific application capable of processing the input information.

Claims

1-69. -69. (canceled)

70. A mobile terminal comprising:

a touch input module comprising a display screen and configured to receive a touch input; and

a controller configured to;

divide the display screen into a plurality of areas;

recognize the touch input received via the touch input module, the touch input applied to one area of the plurality of areas; and

execute a specific application assigned to the one area of the plurality of areas in response to the touch input,

wherein most frequently used applications or applications that are selected by a user are individually assigned to one of the plurality of areas.

71. The mobile terminal of claim 70, wherein each area of the plurality of areas is independently displayed on the display screen.

72. The mobile terminal of claim 71, wherein each area of the plurality of areas is defined by at least one line formed in between each area of the plurality of areas.

73. The mobile terminal of claim 72, wherein a shape of each area of the plurality of areas is a quadrangle.

74. The mobile terminal of claim 70, wherein sizes of at least two areas of the plurality of areas are the same.

75. The mobile terminal of claim 70, wherein the controller is further configured to cause displaying of information related to the specific application in the one area of the plurality of areas in real time.

76. The mobile terminal of claim 75, wherein the information comprises at least one of a received message, a transmitted message, or history of connection with at least one of other devices via a communication module of the mobile terminal.

77. The mobile terminal of claim 75, wherein the information comprises at least one character related to a status of the specific application.

78. The mobile terminal of claim 77, wherein the status of the specific application comprises a number of received e-mails, captured pictures, stored telephone entries, stored memos, or stored files.

79. The mobile terminal of claim 70, wherein a first specific application assigned to a first area of the plurality of areas is different from a second specific application assigned to a second area of the plurality of areas.

80. The mobile terminal of claim 70, wherein the controller is further configured to assign a different application to the one area of the plurality of areas, the specific application being replaced by the different application.

81. The mobile terminal of claim 70, wherein a number of the plurality of areas on the display screen is set by a user and changeable by the user.

82. The mobile terminal of claim 70, wherein the specific application is an application for reproducing a file comprising at least one of an image file, a text file, a moving picture file or an audio file, and wherein the file is linked to the specific application.

83. The mobile terminal of claim 70, wherein different sets of applications are assigned to the plurality of areas based on time information.

84. The mobile terminal of claim 70, wherein the controller is further configured to cause displaying of at least an icon corresponding to the specific application in the one area of the plurality of areas.

85. A mobile terminal comprising:

a communication module configured to transmit and receive data via a mobile communications network;

a touch input module comprising a display screen that is divided into a plurality of areas and configured to generate a selection signal in response to a touch input received via the display screen; and

a controller configured to;

cause displaying of information related to the data received by the communication module on at least one area of the plurality of areas; and

execute a specific application linked to a specific area of the plurality of areas in response to the selection signal generated in response to the touch input received via the specific area of the plurality of areas.

86. The mobile terminal of claim 85, wherein the controller is further configured to cause displaying of at least one dividing line on the display screen such that each of the plurality of areas is separated from the rest of the plurality of areas.

87. The mobile terminal of claim 85, wherein the information related to the data is displayed in real time.

88. A method for controlling a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

dividing a touch screen of the mobile terminal into a plurality of areas, each of the plurality of areas comprising a different icon;

assigning a specific application to one area of the plurality of areas;

receiving a touch input via the one area of the plurality of areas on the touch screen; and

executing the specific application in response to the touch input,

wherein most frequently used applications or applications that are selected by a user are individually assigned to one of the plurality of areas.

89. The method of claim 88, wherein the plurality of areas are divided by lines such that each of the plurality of areas is displayed independently.

90. The method of claim 88, further comprising:

displaying information associated with the specific application on the one area of the plurality of areas in real time.