METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPERATING ADDITIONAL FUNCTION IN MOBILE DEVICE

• US 20140013285A1
• Filed: 06/19/2013
• Published: 01/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: MIN, Sunyoung
• Granted Patent: US 9,977,504 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/863
• 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 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A method and apparatus for easily operating an additional function associated with an application are provided in a mobile device. In the method, the apparatus detects a gesture inputted while a specific application is running, and invokes an additional function corresponding to the detected gesture. Also, the apparatus displays an execution screen that contains at least one link item for offering a connection with the specific application. Furthermore, when a signal for selecting the link item is inputted, the apparatus applies an execution result of the additional function to the specific application. The inventive method and apparatus thus enhance a user'"'"'s convenience.

Claims

1. A method for operating an additional function in a mobile device, the method comprising:

detecting a gesture inputted while a specific application is running; and

invoking an additional function corresponding to the detected gesture.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the invoking of the additional function includes displaying an execution screen that contains at least one link item for offering a connection with the specific application.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

when a signal for selecting the link item is inputted, applying an execution result of the additional function to the specific application.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the link item contained in the execution screen of the additional function is varied according to the type and status of the specific application.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the invoking of the additional function includes identifying the type of the detected gesture, and searching a pre-stored gesture table to determine whether there is a gesture having the identified type.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the invoking of the additional function further includes, if there is no gesture having the identified type, treating the detected gesture as an error.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the invoking of the additional function further includes, if the error occurs more than a predetermined number of times, displaying a list of available gestures.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the treating of the detected gesture as the error includes outputting at least one of an error message and an error alert sound.

9. An apparatus for operating an additional function in a mobile device, the apparatus comprising:

a touch screen configured to output a screen and to receive an input of a gesture; and

a control unit configured, when the input of the gesture is detected while a specific application is running, to invoke an additional function corresponding to the detected gesture and to control the touch screen to output an execution screen of the additional function.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the execution screen of the additional function contains at least one link item for offering a connection with the specific application.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the control unit is further configured, when a signal for selecting the link item is inputted, to apply an execution result of the additional function to the specific application.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the control unit is further configured to vary the link item contained in the execution screen of the additional function according to the type and status of the specific application.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the control unit is further configured to identify the type of the detected gesture and to search a pre-stored gesture table to determine whether there is a gesture having the identified type.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the control unit is further configured, if there is no gesture having the identified type, to treat the detected gesture as an error.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the control unit is further configured, if the error occurs more than a predetermined number of times, to display a list of available gestures.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the control unit is further configured, if the error occurs, to output at least one of an error message and an error alert sound.