PORTABLE DEVICE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING USER INTERFACE

• US 20140189563A1
• Filed: 03/08/2013
• Published: 07/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: KIM, Jihwan
• Application Number:
  US13/791,292
• Publication Number:
  US 20140189563A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/771
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04186 Touch location disambiguation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0487 using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/245 Reminder of hygiene compliance policies, e.g. of washing hands
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/18 Telephone sets specially adapted for use in ships, mines, or other places exposed to adverse environment H04M1/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10

Abstract

A portable device and a method for controlling a user interface (UI) of the same are disclosed. A method for controlling a user interface (UI) of a portable device includes: checking a pollution level of the portable device using at least one of place information and time information of the portable device; displaying pollution information of the portable device on a display unit through a user interface (UI) according to the checked pollution level of the portable device; detecting whether or not the portable device is washed; and if washing of the portable device is detected, stepwise-changing portable device'"'"'s pollution information denoted by the user interface (UI) in response to a cleaning degree of the portable device.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a user interface (UI) of a portable device, the method comprising:

checking a pollution level of the portable device using at least one of place information and time information of the portable device;

displaying pollution information of the portable device on a display unit of the portable device through a user interface (UI) according to the checked pollution level of the portable device;

detecting whether or not the portable device is washed; and

if washing of the portable device is detected, changing portable device'"'"'s pollution information denoted by the user interface (UI) in response to a cleaning degree of the portable device.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

checking the pollution level of the portable device using at least one of a sensor detecting germs or bacteria and a sensor detecting dust or bodily fluid.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

checking the pollution level of the portable device on a basis of a pollution level of a user hand.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein checking the pollution level of the portable device further includes checking the pollution level of the portable device through at least one of pollution information and weather information of known places.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning degree of the portable device is detected on the basis of at least one of information as to whether the portable device is washed with water, information as to whether a cleanser or detergent is used, rotation or non-rotation of the portable device, the presence or absence of touch input action for the portable device, intensity of touch pressure of the portable device, a shaken or unshaken action of the portable device, and a washing time of the portable device.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein images for enabling a user to recognize a pollution level of the portable device are displayed as pollution information of the portable device on the display unit of the portable device.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein reduction of resolution of the display unit of the portable device is displayed as pollution information of the portable device.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein a text for enabling a user to recognize a pollution level of the portable device is displayed as pollution information of the portable device on the display unit of the portable device.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

audibly outputting pollution information of the portable device in response to the checked pollution level of the portable device.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

outputting pollution information of the portable device using an alarm sound in response to the checked pollution level of the portable device.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

outputting an information message for inducing a user to wash hands using at least one of text, picture, and voice messages, when the portable device is washed.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

if the pollution information is removed by washing of the portable device, outputting an information message for inducing a user to wash hands using at least one of text, picture, and voice messages.

13. A portable device comprising:

a wireless communication unit configured to receive at least one of place information and time information of the portable device;

a controller configured to check a pollution level of the portable device using at least one of the received place and time information of the portable device; and

a display unit configured to display pollution information of the portable device through a user interface (UI) according to the checked pollution level of the portable device,

wherein the controller detects whether or not the portable device is washed, and changes portable device pollution information denoted by the user interface (UI) in response to a cleaning degree of the portable device upon washing completion of the portable device.

14. The portable device according to claim 13, wherein the controller checks the pollution level of the portable device through addition of at least one of pollution information and weather information of known places.

15. The portable device according to claim 14, wherein the wireless communication unit includes:

a position information module configured to receive place information of the portable device;

a mobile communication module configured to receive time information of the portable device; and

a short-range communication module configured to receive at least one of pollution information and weather information of known places of the portable device.

16. The portable device according to claim 13, wherein the controller checks the pollution level of the portable device using at least one of a sensor detecting germs or bacteria and a sensor detecting dust or bodily fluids.

17. The portable device according to claim 13, wherein the controller checks the pollution level of the portable device on the basis of a pollution level of a user hand.

18. The portable device according to claim 13, wherein the controller detects the cleaning degree of the portable device on a basis of at least one of information as to whether the portable device is washed with water, information as to whether a cleanser or detergent is used, rotation or non-rotation of the portable device, the presence or absence of touch input action for the portable device, intensity of touch pressure of the portable device, a shaken or unshaken action of the portable device, and a washing time of the portable device.

19. The portable device according to claim 13, wherein the display unit displays pollution information of the portable device using images for enabling a user to recognize a pollution level of the portable device.

20. The portable device according to claim 13, wherein the display unit displays pollution information of the portable device through reduction of resolution of the display unit.

21. The portable device according to claim 13, wherein the display unit displays pollution information of the portable device using a text for enabling a user to recognize a pollution level of the portable device.

22. The portable device according to claim 13, further comprising:

an audio output module configured to audibly output pollution information of the portable device in response to the portable device'"'"'s pollution level checked by the controller.

23. The portable device according to claim 13, further comprising:

an alarm unit configured to output pollution information of the portable device using an alarm sound in response to the portable device'"'"'s pollution level checked by the controller.

24. The portable device according to claim 22, wherein the controller outputs an information message for inducing a user to wash hands, when the portable device is washed.

25. The portable device according to claim 22, wherein the controller, if the pollution information is removed by washing of the portable device, outputs an information message for inducing a user to wash hands using at least one of the display unit and the audio output module.