MOBILE TERMINAL

• US 20120309464A1
• Filed: 09/22/2011
• Published: 12/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: KIM, Soojin, LIM, Kwanghyuk, NAM, Seungwoo, KANG, Inho, SEO, Taejeong, MOON, Byoungpyo, SHIN, Gahee
• Granted Patent: US 8,869,074 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/64 file transfer between terminals download of applications H04M1/72406; transfer of messages, e.g. SMS, e-mail or MMS H04M1/7243

Abstract

A mobile terminal and a method of controlling the mobile terminal are disclosed. In the mobile terminal, at least one second application executable in a second operating system different from a first operating system can be searched and provided among at least one first application executable in the first operating system. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a user interface for efficiently managing applications so as to be appropriate for various operating systems.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a display unit configured for displaying information;

a memory configured for storing a first operating system and at least one first application executable in the first operating system; and

a controller configured for;

controlling the display unit to display the at least one first application;

searching for at least one second application corresponding to the at least one first application and executable in at least a second operating system; and

controlling the display unit to display the at least one second application,

wherein the at least a second operating system is different from the first operating system.

2. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured for controlling the display unit to display a menu screen for receiving a selection of one of the at least a second operating system,

wherein searching for the at least one second application is performed upon receipt of the selection of the one of the at least a second operating system.

3. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the at least one second application comprises:

a first of the at least one second application that is identical to a corresponding first of the at least one first application and executable in both the first operating system and a first of the at least a second operating system; and

a second of the at least one second application that is similar to a corresponding second of the at least one first application,

wherein the second of the at least one second application is executable in the first of the at least a second operating system, and

wherein the second of the at least one second application is not executable in the first operating system.

4. The mobile terminal of claim 3, wherein the controller is further configured to control the display unit to display the second of the at least one second application aligned with the second of the at least one first application.

5. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured for:

receiving a selection of one of the at least one second application; and

controlling the display unit to display information related to the selected one of the at least one second application.

6. The mobile terminal of claim 5, wherein the information related to the selected one of the at least one second application comprises descriptive information, pricing information, assessment information, or information on a web page from which the selected one of the at least one second application can be downloaded.

7. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured for controlling the memory to store a list containing the at least one second application.

8. The mobile terminal of claim 1, further comprising:

a communication unit configured for transmitting and receiving information,

wherein the controller is further configured for receiving a selection of one of the at least one second application and for controlling the communication unit to transmit a recommendation message recommending the selected one of the at least one second application to an external device,

wherein the external device is configured to operate using the at least a second operating system.

9. The mobile terminal of claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured for:

controlling the communication unit to receive an application recommendation request message from the external device,

wherein the recommendation message is transmitted to the external device in response to the received application recommendation request message.

10. The mobile terminal of claim 8, wherein the recommendation message contains an installation file for the selected one of the at least one second application or downloadable link information for the selected one of the at least one second application.

11. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a display unit configured for displaying information;

a memory configured for storing a first operating system and at least one first application executable in the first operating system; and

a controller configured for;

controlling the display unit to display the at least one first application;

searching for at least a second operating system configured for supporting the at least one first application; and

controlling the display unit to display an identifier indicating the at least a second operating system as being capable of supporting the at least one first application,

wherein the at least a second operating system is different from the first operating system.

12. The mobile terminal of claim 11, further comprising a communication unit configured for transmitting and receiving information,

wherein the controller is further configured for receiving an input for recommending the at least one first application and for controlling the communication unit to transmit a recommendation message recommending the at least one first application to an external device,

wherein the external device is configured to operate using one of the at least a second operating system, and

wherein the recommendation message contains an installation file for installing the at least one first application into the external electronic device or downloadable link information for use by the external device to retrieve the at least one first application for installation into the external device.

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

storing, via a controller of the mobile terminal, a first operating system and at least one first application that is executable in the first operating system in a memory of the mobile terminal;

controlling, via the controller, a display unit of the mobile terminal to display the at least one first application;

searching, via the controller, among the at least one first application for at least one second application that is executable in at least a second operating system; and

controlling, via the controller, the display unit to display the at least one second application,

wherein the at least a second operating system is different from the first operating system.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving, via the controller, a selection of one of the at least one second application; and

controlling, via the controller, the display unit to display information related to the selected one of the at least one second application.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the information related to the selected one of the at least one second application comprises descriptive information, pricing information, assessment information, or information on a web page from which the selected one of the at least one second application can be downloaded.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving, via the controller, an input for selection of one of the at least one second application; and

controlling, via the controller, a communication unit of the mobile terminal to transmit a recommendation message recommending the selected one of the at least one second application to an external device,

wherein the external device is configured to operate using the at least a second operating system.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving, under the control of the controller, an application recommendation request message from the external device via the communication unit,

wherein the recommendation message is transmitted to the external device in response to the received application recommendation request message.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the recommendation message contains an installation file for the selected one of the at least one second application or downloadable link information for the selected one of the at least one second application.

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

storing, via a controller of the mobile terminal, a first operating system and at least one first application that is executable in the first operating system in a memory of the mobile terminal;

controlling, via the controller, a display unit of the mobile terminal to display the at least one first application;

searching, via the controller, for at least a second operating system configured for supporting the at least one first application; and

controlling the display unit to display an identifier indicating that the at least a second operating system is capable of supporting the at least one first application,

wherein the at least a second operating system is different from the first operating system.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving, via the controller, an input for recommending the at least one first application; and

controlling, via the controller, a communication unit of the mobile terminal to transmit a recommendation message recommending the at least one first application to an external device,

wherein the external device is configured to operate using one of the at least a second operating system, and

wherein the recommendation message contains an installation file for installing the at least one first application into the external device or downloadable link information for use by the external device to retrieve the at least one first application for installation into the external device.