METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING A FUNCTION OF A MOUSE USING A TERMINAL INCLUDING A TOUCH SCREEN

• US 20140015747A1
• Filed: 03/01/2013
• Published: 01/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: DAE, Inki
• Granted Patent: US 9,411,443 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/157
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for providing a function of a mouse, using a terminal that includes a touch screen, are provided. A first touch input is received and the first touch input is set as a first reference touch input. A first function is performed, when a touch input is received in a first direction relative to the first reference touch input while the first reference touch input is being received. A second function is performed, when the touch input is received in a second direction, which is opposite the first direction, relative to the first reference touch input while the first reference touch input is being received.

Claims

1. A method of providing a function of a mouse using a terminal that includes a touch screen, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a first touch input and setting the first touch input as a first reference touch input;

performing a first function, when a touch input is received in a first direction relative to the first reference touch input while the first reference touch input is being received; and

performing a second function, when the touch input is received in a second direction, which is opposite the first direction, relative to the first reference touch input while the first reference touch input is being received.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

setting the first reference touch input comprises;

determining whether a second touch input is received; and

setting the first touch input and the second touch input as a second reference touch input, when the second touch input is received; and

the method further comprises;

performing a third function, when a drag input is received between the first touch input and the second touch input in a third direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction, while the second reference touch input is being received.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

performing a fourth function, when the touch input is received between the first touch input and the second touch input while the second reference touch input is being received.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first direction is a left direction relative to a coordinate of the first reference touch input, and the first function corresponds to an operation of clicking a left button of the mouse, and

the second direction is a right direction relative to the coordinate of the first reference touch input, and the second function corresponds to an operation of clicking a right button of the mouse.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein, when an inversion signal is received prior to setting the first touch input as the first reference touch input,

performing the second function, when the touch input is received in the first direction relative to the first reference touch input while the first reference touch input is being received;

and

performing the first function, when the touch input is received in the second direction relative to the first reference touch input while the first reference touch input is being received.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the third function corresponds to an operation of rotating a mouse wheel.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the fourth function corresponds to an operation of clicking a mouse wheel.

8. The method of claim 3, further comprising, prior to setting the first reference touch input:

connecting the terminal to an external device; and

when performing one or more functions among the first function, the second function, the third function, or the fourth function, transmitting a signal associated with corresponding performed one or more functions to the external device.

9. An apparatus for providing a function of a mouse using a terminal that includes a touch screen, the apparatus comprising:

an input unit configured to receive a touch input; and

a controller configured to receive a first touch input and set the first touch input as a first reference touch input, configured to perform a first function when the touch input is received in a first direction relative to the first reference touch input while the first reference touch input is being received, and configured to perform a second function when the touch input is received in a second direction, which is opposite the first direction, relative to the first reference touch input while the first reference touch input is received.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein:

the controller is configured to determine whether a second touch input is received, and configured to set the first touch input and the second touch input as a second reference touch input, when the second touch input is received, and

the controller is configured to perform a third function when a drag input is received between the first touch input and the second touch input in a third direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction, while the second reference touch input is being received.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to perform a fourth function when the touch input is received between the first touch input and the second touch input while the second reference touch input is received.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first direction is a left direction relative to a coordinate of the first reference touch input, and the first function corresponds to an operation of clicking a left button of the mouse, and

the second direction is a right direction relative to the coordinate of the first reference touch input, and the second function corresponds to an operation of clicking a right button of the mouse.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to receive an inversion signal, configured to perform the second function when the touch input is received in the first direction relative to the first reference touch input while the first reference touch input is being received, and configured to perform the first function when the touch input is received in the second direction, which is opposite to the first direction, while the first reference touch input is being received.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the third function corresponds to an operation of rotating a mouse wheel.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the fourth function corresponds to an operation of clicking a mouse wheel.