APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING LOCK MODE

• US 20130053105A1
• Filed: 06/22/2012
• Published: 02/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Pantech Corporation (Ideahub, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Pantech Corporation (Ideahub, Inc.)
• Inventors: LEE, Jae Ho, KANG, Hun Hee, SUNG, Young Ju
• Application Number:
  US13/530,988
• Publication Number:
  US 20130053105A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/565
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• 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: H04M 1/673 the user being required to key in a code
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• 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

An apparatus includes: a display unit to display a first function icon and a second function icon associated with first-layer functions; an input unit to receive a first selection input corresponding to the first function icon, and to receive a first execution input in succession with the first selection input; and a controller to execute a first function associated with the first function icon, in response to the first execution input. The display unit displays a first sub-function icon by replacing the second function icon, in response to the first selection input, the first sub-function icon being associated with a sub-function of the first function.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a display unit to display a first-layer function icon associated with a first-layer function;

an input unit to receive a first selection input corresponding to the first-layer function icon, and to receive a first execution input associated with the first selection input; and

a controller to execute the first-layer function in response to the first execution input,

wherein the display unit displays a second-layer function icon in response to the first selection input, the second-layer function icon being associated with a second-layer function, and the second-layer function is a sub-function of the first layer function.

2. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the input unit receives a second selection input, and

the controller selects the second-layer function icon in response to the second selection input, the second selection input received after the first selection input.

3. The mobile terminal of claim 2, wherein the controller executes the second-layer function in response to a second execution input, the second execution input being associated with the second selection input.

4. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the display unit displays the first-layer function icon during a lock mode, and the lock mode is unlocked if the first execution input is received in succession with the first selection input.

5. The mobile terminal of claim 3, wherein the first selection input is a first touch input corresponding to the first-layer function icon,

the first execution input is a first drag input from the first touch input,

the second selection input is a second drag input from the first touch input toward the second-layer function icon or a multi-touch input to the second-layer function icon, and

the second execution input is a third drag input from the second selection input or a release of the second selection input.

6. The mobile terminal of claim 2, wherein the display unit displays the second-layer function icon on an area corresponding to an unselected first-layer function icon, and

the display unit displays the unselected first-layer function icon by replacing the second-layer function icon if the first selection input is terminated without receiving the first execution input or the second selection input.

7. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the display unit displays an execution region, and

the controller executes the first-layer function if the first execution input is received in the execution region.

8. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller determines a type of the first-layer function icon based on a mode of the mobile terminal or state information of the mobile terminal.

9. The mobile terminal of claim 8, wherein the mode of the mobile terminal comprises a landscape mode or a portrait mode.

10. The mobile terminal of claim 8, wherein the state information of the mobile terminal comprises at least one of time information and location information of the mobile terminal.

11. The mobile terminal of claim 2, wherein the display unit displays a third-layer function icon in response to the second selection input, the third-layer function icon being associated with a third-layer function, and the third-layer function is a sub-function of the second layer function.

12. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the input unit receives a first rotational input in succession with the first selection input, and

the display unit rotates a display position of the first-layer function icon and displays a lower priority first-layer function icon in response to the first rotational input.

13. An apparatus, comprising:

a display unit to display a first function icon and a second function icon associated with first-layer functions;

an input unit to receive a first selection input corresponding to the first function icon, and to receive a first execution input in succession with the first selection input; and

a controller to execute a first function associated with the first function icon in response to the first execution input,

wherein the display unit displays a first sub-function icon by replacing the second function icon in response to the first selection input, the first sub-function icon being associated with a sub-function of the first function.

14. A method for managing functions in a lock mode, comprising:

displaying a first-layer function icon associated with a first-layer function;

receiving a first selection input corresponding to the first-layer function icon;

displaying a second-layer function icon in response to the first selection input; and

executing, using a processor, the first-layer function in response to a receipt of a first execution input associated with the first selection input,

wherein the second-layer function icon is associated with a second-layer function, and the second-layer function is a sub-function of the first layer function.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving a second selection input;

selecting the second-layer function icon in response to the second selection input, the second selection input received after the first selection input; and

executing the second-layer function in response to a second execution input, the second execution input being associated with the second selection input.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising unlocking the lock mode if the first execution input is received in succession with the first selection input,

wherein the first execution input is received during the lock mode.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the first selection input is a first touch input corresponding to the first-layer function icon,

the first execution input is a first drag input from the first touch input,

the second selection input is a second drag input from the first touch input toward the second-layer function icon or a multi-touch input to the second-layer function icon, and

the second execution input is a third drag input from the second selection input or a release of the second selection input.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the second-layer function icon is displayed on an area corresponding to an unselected first-layer function icon, and

the unselected first-layer function icon replaces the second-layer function icon if the first selection input is terminated without receiving the first execution input or the second selection input.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

displaying an execution region; and

executing the first-layer function if the first execution input is received in the execution region.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising determining a type of the first-layer function icon based on a mode of the mobile terminal or state information of the mobile terminal.