MENU PROVISION METHOD USING GESTURES AND MOBILE TERMINAL USING THE SAME

• US 20120166990A1
• Filed: 12/20/2011
• Published: 06/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Inventors: Han, Tae-Man, JEON, Seo-Hyun
• Application Number:
  US13/331,738
• Publication Number:
  US 20120166990A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/769
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a menu provision method using gestures. In the menu provision method, a first gesture of a user which is performed on the specific area of the screen of a mobile terminal is recognized while the function of the mobile terminal is being performed. A menu start sign, which is used for displaying a menu ribbon, is displayed on the screen in response to the first gesture. Thereafter, the menu ribbon is displayed in response to a second gesture of the user which is performed on the menu start sign.

Claims

1. A method of providing a menu using gestures, comprising:

recognizing a first gesture of a user which is performed on a specific area of a screen of a mobile terminal while a function of the mobile terminal is being performed;

displaying a menu start sign, which is used for displaying a menu ribbon, on the screen in response to the first gesture; and

displaying the menu ribbon in response to a second gesture of the user which is performed on the menu start sign.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the menu ribbon is expanded in response to the second gesture.

3. The method as set forth in claim 2, wherein the first gesture is a touch performed by the user on a part of the screen corresponding to the specific area for a preset time period.

4. The method as set forth in claim 3, wherein the second gesture is a gesture of dragging the menu start sign on the screen by the user.

5. The method as set forth in claim 4, wherein the menu ribbon is expanded in response to the gesture of dragging the menu start sign on the screen by the user.

6. The method as set forth in claim 5, wherein the menu start sign is a part of the menu ribbon.

7. The method as set forth in claim 3, further comprising displaying the specific area in a different way from the way in which remaining areas of the screen are displayed.

8. The method as set forth in claim 7, wherein the specific area is displayed with brightness different from those of the remaining areas.

9. The method as set forth in claim 3, further comprising executing a function corresponding to a menu item in a multitasking environment in response to a selection of the menu item on the menu ribbon by the user.

10. The method as set forth in claim 9, wherein the executing comprises displaying the menu item selected on the menu ribbon in a screen division manner or in a pop-up manner.

11. The method as set forth in claim 2, wherein:

the second gesture is defined as at least two types; and

the menu displayed on the menu ribbon varies depending on the types of the second gesture.

12. A mobile terminal comprising:

a first gesture recognition unit for recognizing a first gesture of a user which is performed on a specific area of a screen while a function is being performed;

a menu start sign display unit for displaying a menu start sign, used for displaying a menu ribbon, on the screen in response to the first gesture; and

a menu ribbon display unit for displaying the menu ribbon in response to a second gesture of the user which is performed on the menu start sign.

13. The mobile terminal as set forth in claim 12, further comprising a second gesture recognition unit for recognizing the second gesture and

wherein the menu ribbon is expanded in response to the second gesture.

14. The mobile terminal as set forth in claim 13, wherein the first gesture is a touch performed by the user on the screen corresponding to the specific area for a preset time period.

15. The mobile terminal as set forth in claim 14, wherein:

the second gesture is an gesture of dragging the menu start sign on the screen by the user; and

the menu ribbon is expanded in response to a movement of a finger of the user who drags the menu start sign on the screen.

16. The mobile terminal as set forth in claim 15, wherein the menu start sign is a part of the menu ribbon.

17. The mobile terminal as set forth in claim 14, further comprising a menu location display unit for displaying the specific area in a different way from the way in which remaining areas of the screen are displayed.

18. The mobile terminal as set forth in claim 17, wherein the specific area is displayed with brightness different from those of the remaining areas.

19. The mobile terminal as set forth in claim 13, wherein:

the second gesture is defined as at least two types; and

the menu displayed on the menu ribbon varies depending on the types of the second gesture.