APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR EXECUTING MENU IN PORTABLE TERMINAL

• US 20120151410A1
• Filed: 12/12/2011
• Published: 06/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: JUNG, Hyun-Tae
• Application Number:
  US13/316,789
• Publication Number:
  US 20120151410A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/808
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6058 involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons

Abstract

Provided is an apparatus and method for executing a menu in a portable terminal, which makes it possible to conveniently execute an earphone-aided menu in a portable terminal. An apparatus for executing a menu in a portable terminal includes an earphone connection detecting unit and a control unit. The earphone connection detecting unit is configured to detect the connection of an earphone to the portable terminal. The control unit is configured to display earphone-aided menus in a pop-up window when the earphone is connected to the portable terminal.

Claims

1. An apparatus for executing a menu in a portable terminal, comprising:

an earphone connection detecting unit configured to detect the connection of an earphone to the portable terminal; and

a control unit configured to display earphone-aided menus when the earphone is connected to the portable terminal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to notify the earphone connection and display the earphone-aided menus when the earphone is connected to the portable terminal.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to display the earphone-aided menus if the portable terminal is in an idle mode during the detection of the earphone connection.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to display the earphone-aided menus if the portable terminal is in an earphone-unaided mode during the detection of the earphone connection.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to display the earphone-aided menus in a pop-up window.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein if a desired menu is selected from the earphone-aided menus, the control unit performs the mode of the selected menu through the earphone.

7. A method for executing a menu in a portable terminal, comprising:

determining by an earphone detection unit whether an earphone is connected to the portable terminal; and

displaying by the display unit earphone-aided menus when the earphone is connected to the portable terminal.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein when the earphone is connected to the portable terminal, the earphone connection is notified and the earphone-aided menus are displayed.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the displaying of the earphone-aided menus comprises:

determining a current mode of the portable terminal when the earphone is connected to the portable terminal;

displaying the earphone-aided menus if the current mode of the portable terminal is an idle mode; and

displaying the earphone-aided menus if the current mode of the portable terminal is an earphone-unaided mode.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the earphone-aided menus are displayed in a pop-up window.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining that a desired menu has been selected from the earphone-aided menus; and

performing the mode of the selected menu through the earphone.

12. A mobile terminal for executing a menu, comprising:

a display unit;

an earphone connection detecting unit configured to detect the connection of an earphone to the portable terminal; and

a control unit configured to display earphone-aided menus in a pop-up window of the display unit when the earphone is coupled to the portable terminal.

13. The mobile terminal of claim 12, wherein the control unit is configured to display the earphone-aided menus if the portable terminal is in an idle mode during the detection of the earphone connection.

14. The mobile terminal of claim 12, wherein the control unit is configured to display the earphone-aided menus if the portable terminal is in an earphone-unaided mode during the detection of the earphone connection.

15. The mobile terminal of claim 12, wherein if a desired menu is selected from the earphone-aided menus, the control unit performs the mode of the selected menu through the earphone.