MOBILE TERMINAL AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING USER INTERFACE THEREOF

• US 20130058019A1
• Filed: 05/10/2012
• Published: 03/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: LEE, Choonjae, LEE, Sangwoon, KIM, Samsick, LEE, Minjeong
• Granted Patent: US 9,003,335 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04804 Transparency, e.g. transparent or translucent windows
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a mobile terminal capable of displaying a plurality of objects on a wallpaper, and a method for providing a user interface thereof. The mobile terminal includes a display unit to display a plurality of objects on a wallpaper, a sensing unit to detect a touch input on the display unit, and a controller to control the plurality of objects to be invisible in response to the touch input such that portions of the wallpaper obscured by the plurality of objects are visible.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal comprising:

a display unit configured to display at least a plurality of objects on a wallpaper, wherein a portion of the wallpaper is obstructed by the plurality of objects;

a sensing unit configured to detect at least a first touch input; and

a controller configured to control the display unit to no longer display the plurality of objects and to display the obstructed portion of the wallpaper when the first touch input is detected.

2. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the first touch input comprises a first touch point and a second touch point being moved away from each other.

3. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to control the display unit to display additional information on the wallpaper when the plurality of objects is no longer displayed.

4. The terminal of claim 3, wherein:

the controller is further configured to control the display unit to display the plurality of objects when a second touch input is detected;

the second touch input comprises a first touch point and a second touch point being moved towards each other; and

the second touch input is detected when the plurality of objects is no longer displayed.

5. The terminal of claim 3, wherein the controller is further configured to control the display unit to display changed wallpaper and a changed additional information corresponding to the changed wallpaper when a second touch input is detected while the plurality of objects is no longer displayed.

6. The terminal of claim 1, wherein:

the controller is further configured to control the display unit to display additional information on the wallpaper when the plurality of objects is moved a distance; and

the additional information linked to the wallpaper and varies according to the distance moved.

7. The terminal of claim 6, wherein the controller is further configured to stop movement of the plurality of objects when a revoke command is detected while the plurality of objects is being moved.

8. The terminal of claim 1, wherein:

the wallpaper is divided into a first area and a second area;

the controller controls the display unit to;

no longer display the plurality of objects when a first touch input is detected on the first area of the wallpaper; and

display content stored in a memory when the first touch input is detected on the second area of the wallpaper.

9. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to control the display unit to display additional information on the wallpaper when a second touch input is detected while the plurality of objects is no longer displayed.

10. The terminal of claim 9, wherein the controller is further configured to control the display unit to display content sharing tag information related to content used as the wallpaper.

11. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to control the display unit to display a shortcut button used to set the wallpaper when the plurality of objects is no longer displayed.

12. The terminal of claim 11, wherein:

the shortcut button is used to execute a setting mode; and

the controller is further configured to control the display unit to display content candidates that can be used as the wallpaper when the setting mode is executed using the shortcut button.

13. The terminal of claim 11, wherein:

the shortcut button is used to execute a setting mode; and

the controller is further configured to control the display unit to display a tool menu for editing the wallpaper when the setting mode is executed using the shortcut button.

14. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to execute an application for managing content used as the wallpaper when the plurality of objects is no longer displayed.

15. The terminal of claim 14, wherein the controller is further configured to activate a voice recognition sensor and a face recognition sensor when the executed application comprises a voice recognition function and a face recognition function.

16. The terminal of claim 1, wherein:

the controller is further configured to update content displayed on the display unit as the wallpaper when the plurality of objects is no longer displayed; and

the update is based on current time information and current position information.

17. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

control the display unit to display the wallpaper in a power saving mode; and

control the display unit to no longer display the wallpaper in the power saving mode when the first touch input is detected while the wallpaper is displayed.

18. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to control the display unit to display at least an animation effect, a sound effect or a three-dimensional effect for content used as the wallpaper when the plurality of objects is no longer displayed.

19. A mobile terminal comprising:

a display unit configured to display at least a plurality of objects on a wallpaper, wherein a portion of the wallpaper is obstructed by the plurality of objects;

a connection terminal configured to connect to an external device to allow for exchange of signals and power with the external device; and

a controller configured to control the display unit to no longer display the plurality of objects and to display the obstructed portion of the wallpaper when a user input is not received within a reference time after a connection occurs between the connection terminal and the external device.

20. The terminal of claim 19, wherein the controller is further configured to control the display unit to display the plurality of objects when a separation of the connection occurs.

21. The terminal of claim 19, wherein the controller is further configured to control the display unit to display additional information on the wallpaper when the plurality of objects is no longer displayed.

22. A method for providing a user interface in a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

displaying, on a display unit, at least a plurality of objects on a wallpaper, wherein a portion of the wallpaper is obstructed by the plurality of objects;

detecting a first touch input on the display unit; and

no longer displaying the plurality of objects and displaying an obstructed portion of the wallpaper when the first touch input is detected.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the first touch input comprises a first touch point and a second touch point being moved away from each other.

24. The method of claim 22 further comprising displaying additional information on the wallpaper when the first touch input is detected.

25. The method of claim 22 further comprising displaying additional information on the wallpaper when the plurality of objects is moved, wherein the additional information is linked to the wallpaper and variable according to a distance moved.

26. The method of claim 22 further comprising displaying the plurality of objects on the display unit when a second touch input is detected, wherein:

the second touch input comprises a first touch point and a second touch point being moved towards each other; and

the second touch input is detected after the first touch input is detected.

27. The method of claim 22 further comprising executing an application configured to manage content used as the wallpaper when the first touch input is detected.

28. The method of claim 22 further comprising updating content used as the wallpaper when the plurality of objects is no longer displayed, the updating based on current time information and current position information.