METHOD FOR CONTROLLING USER INTERFACE AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE SUPPORTING THE SAME

• US 20160070368A1
• Filed: 09/04/2015
• Published: 03/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Hong, Jihun, Kim, Sunhee, Kim, Kwanghyun, Jin, Yonghoon
• Application Number:
  US14/846,136
• Publication Number:
  US 20160070368A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path

Abstract

An electronic device includes a display module. The electronic device also includes an input interface configured to be functionally connected to the electronic, to transmit an input detection signal to the electronic device by detecting an input of additional input unit formed at a side, and to transmit to the electronic device at least one of a movement signal generated by detecting a movement while an input of the additional input unit is maintained and a scroll signal generated by detecting an input of a scroll unit installed at a side. The electronic device further includes a processor configured to receive an input detection signal from the input interface, to receive at least one of the movement signal and the scroll signal while the input of the additional input unit is maintained, and to control a user interface based on the received signal.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a display module;

an input interface configured to;

be functionally connected to the electronic,

transmit an input detection signal to the electronic device by detecting an input of additional input unit formed at a side, and

transmit to the electronic device at least one of a movement signal generated by detecting a movement while an input of the additional input unit is maintained and a scroll signal generated by detecting an input of a scroll unit installed at a side; and

a processor configured to;

receive an input detection signal from the input interface,

receive at least one of the movement signal and the scroll signal while the input of the additional input unit is maintained, and

control a user interface based on the received signal.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to control to display a graphic user interface through the display module, control to capture at least one area of screen, or control an audio volume function based on the received signal.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the processor is configured to control to display at least one of a tray item including at least one image item, and a graphic user interface providing an activated application and state information of the electronic device in the area of screen based on the received signal.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the input interface is configured to transmit to the electronic device a signal generated by detecting an input of a selector for selecting an image item of screen displayed through the display module or a signal generated by detecting an input of a popup window unit for displaying a predetermined popup window in the screen while an input of the additional input unit is maintained, and wherein the processor is configured to receive a signal generated by detecting an input of the selector or an input of the popup window unit and adjust a screen brightness of the electronic device based on the received signal while an input of the additional input unit is maintained.

16. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is at least one of a smart phone, a tablet PC (Personal Computer), a mobile phone, a video phone, an e-book reader, a desktop PC, a laptop PC, a netbook computer, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a PMP (Portable Multimedia Player), an MP3 player, a portable medical device, a digital camera, or a wearable device.

5. A method to control a user interface in an electronic device, the method comprising:

receiving an input detection signal generated by detecting an input of an additional input unit formed at a side of the input interface by a processor;

receiving at least one of a movement signal generated by detecting a movement of the input interface and a scroll signal generated by detecting an input of a scroll unit installed at a side of the input interface while an input of the additional input unit is received from the input interface by the processor; and

controlling a user interface based on the received signal by the processor.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein controlling a user interface based on the received signal by the processor comprises:

controlling to display a graphic user interface based on the received signal by the processor;

controlling to capture at least one area of screen based on the received signal by the processor; and

controlling an audio volume function by the processor.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein controlling to display a graphic user interface based on the received signal by the processor comprises at least one of:

controlling to display a tray item including at least one image item in at least one area of screen based on the received signal by the processor;

identifying an activated application and controlling to display the identified application in an area of screen based on the received signal by the processor; and

controlling a user interface providing state information of the electronic device based on the received signal by the processor.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving a signal generated by detecting an input of a selector for selecting an image item of screen displayed through the display module or a signal generated by detecting an input of a popup window unit for displaying a predetermined popup window in the screen while an input of the additional input unit is maintained by the processor; and

adjusting a screen brightness of the electronic device based on the received signal by the processor.

17. The method of claim 5, wherein the electronic device is at least one of a smart phone, a tablet PC (Personal Computer), a mobile phone, a video phone, an e-book reader, a desktop PC, a laptop PC, a netbook computer, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a PMP (Portable Multimedia Player), an MP3 player, a portable medical device, a digital camera, or a wearable device.

9. An input interface comprising:

a memory configured to store user interface control information corresponding to a movement signal generated by moving the input device while an input of an additional input unit installed at a side of the input interface is detected, and to store user interface control information corresponding to a scroll signal generated by detecting an input of a scroll unit while an input of the additional input unit is detected; and

an input interface configured to include a communication interface for transmitting the stored user interface control information to an electronic device.

10. The input interface of claim 9, wherein the communication interface is configured to transmit the user interface control information to the electronic device when functionally connected to the electronic device.

11. The input interface of claim 9, wherein the communication interface is configured to transmit the user interface control information to the electronic device when an additional input unit installed at a side of the input interface is pressed.

12. The input interface of claim 9, wherein the additional input unit is installed in an area between a recognizer for identifying a movement of the input interface and a selector for selecting a graphic user interface displayed through a screen of the electronic device.

13. The input interface of claim 9, wherein the additional input unit is attachable and detachable.

14. The input interface of claim 13, wherein the additional input unit includes a memory.

15. The input interface of claim 9, wherein the communication interface is configured to transmit a request signal for switching a user interface of a screen displayed through a display module of the electronic device to an input interface mode if an input of the additional input unit is detected.

18. The input interface of claim 9, wherein the input interface is a component of an electronic device, and wherein the electronic device is at least one of a smart phone, a tablet PC (Personal Computer), a mobile phone, a video phone, an e-book reader, a desktop PC, a laptop PC, a netbook computer, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a PMP (Portable Multimedia Player), an MP3 player, a portable medical device, a digital camera, or a wearable device.

19. The input interface of claim 9, wherein the input interface is communicatively coupled to a display module.

20. The input interface of claim 9, wherein the input interface is communicatively coupled to a processor configured to a processor configured to:

receive an input detection signal from the input interface,

receive at least one of the movement signal and the scroll signal while the input of the additional input unit is maintained, and

control a user interface based on the received signal.