Mobile information terminal and operating method thereof

• US 6,078,314 A
• Filed: 04/10/1998
• Issued: 06/20/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tumbleweed Holdings LLC (Equitable IP Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Ahn, Sung-hyun
• Primary Examiner(s): HOMERE, JEAN RAYMOND
• Application Number:
  US09/058,169
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• Field of Search: 707/3, 707/10, 707/102, 707/526, 345/339, 345/357, 345/169, 345/173
• US Class Current: 345/169
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for retrieving information in a mobile information terminal are provided. The device includes a display, a position detector and a controller. The display displays a data display area for showing information depending on retrieval commands and a button area which is always displayed in a restricted size at a predetermined position and includes a plurality of buttons for inputting at least one command for creating a connection with the host for retrieval, a command for transferring to a retrieval area, and a command for selecting of an item to be searched. The position detector detects positional data corresponding to a button pressed by a user. The controller searches information from the host according to a command corresponding to the positional data detected by the position detector, and allows the searched information to be displayed on the data display area of the display. Accordingly, use of a keyboard can be minimized by installing essential commands in the form of buttons. Also, searched data is conveniently displayed on one screen for a user.

Claims

1. A mobile information terminal which receives information search commands, transmits the commands to a host, receives the searched information from the host and displays the information, said device comprising:

a display which displays a data display area for showing information, depending on retrieval commands, and a button area, which is always displayed in a restricted size at a predetermined position and includes a plurality of buttons for inputting at least one command for creating a connection with said host for retrieval, a command for transferring to a retrieval area, and a command for selecting an item to be searched;

a position detector which detects positional data corresponding to a button pressed by a user; and

a controller which transmits a command corresponding to the positional data detected by said position detector to the host, receives the searched information from the host and allows the searched information to be displayed on said data display area of said display.

2. A mobile information terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein said button area includes a space function button, a backspace function button, a button for installing a communications environment necessary for retrieving and connecting, a keyboard button and a search end button.

3. A mobile information terminal as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a pointer which overlaps the data display area of said display and selectively points to numbers of information on the data display area and predetermined commands associated with the retrieval of the information using said pointer; and

a pointing position detector for detecting positional data corresponding to the number and command designated by said pointer.

4. An operating method of a mobile information terminal which receives an information search command, transmits the command to a host, receives the searched information from the host and displays the information, that includes a display which is always displayed in a restricted size at a predetermined position and displays a button area including a plurality of buttons for inputting at least one command for creating a connection with said host for retrieval, a command for transferring to a retrieval area, and a command for selecting an item to be searched, said method comprising:

(a) determining whether positional data corresponding to said button is detected;

(b) transmitting a command corresponding to the positional data to the host, when it is determined in step (a) that the positional data is detected; and

(c) receiving the searched information from the host and displaying the information.

5. An operating method of a mobile information terminal as claimed in claim 4, further comprising:

(d) determining whether positional data corresponding to a space function button is detected; and

(e) performing a space function on the basis of a command corresponding to said space function positional data, when it is determined in step (d) that said space function positional data is detected.

6. An operating method of a mobile information terminal as claimed in claim 4, further comprising the steps of:

(d) determining whether positional data corresponding to a backspace function button is detected; and

(e) performing a backspace function on the basis of a command corresponding to said backspace function positional data, when it is determined in step (d) that said backspace function positional data is detected.

7. An operating method of a mobile information terminal as claimed in claim 4, further comprising:

(d) determining whether positional data corresponding to a keyboard button is detected; and

(e) displaying a keyboard at a predetermined position of said display in a restricted size, on the basis of a command corresponding to said keyboard positional data, when it is determined in step (d) that said keyboard positional data is detected.

8. An information retrieval method in a mobile information terminal as claimed in claim 4, further comprising:

(d) determining whether positional data corresponding to a retrieval end button is detected; and

(e) finishing the retrieval from said host on the basis of a command corresponding to said retrieval end positional data, when it is determined in step (d) that said retrieval end positional data is detected.