Method for displaying screen image on mobile terminal

• US 7,555,717 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2005
• Issued: 06/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Park, Hae-Young, Lee, Yang-Hyun, Kim, Jae-Ho, Park, Wei-Jin, Seo, Jeong-Wook, Seo, Eun-Jung
• Primary Examiner(s): Tung; Kee M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chu; David H
• Application Number:
  US11/117,718
• Publication Number:
  US 20050280660A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,523 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 715/706
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations

Abstract

A mobile terminal that is capable of displaying a screen image during a specific state, which includes a character memory for storing character images and a screen image created by a combination of the character images and which is displayable during the specific state of the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal further includes a controller for controlling the display of the screen image, and a display unit for displaying the screen image. When an event occurs in the mobile terminal, the controller further processes the event and changes the display data of the screen image according to the event processing result, and displays the changed screen image during the specific state of the mobile terminal.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal capable of displaying a screen image during a specific state, which comprises:

a character memory for storing at least one category of character images and a screen image created by a combination of the character images, and wherein the screen image is displayable during a specific state of the mobile terminal;

a controller for processing a plurality of simultaneous events, wherein each is assigned a variance value within a plurality of applications and based upon a cumulative variance value, controlling a display of a character image of the screen image stored in the character memory during the specific state; and

a display unit for displaying the screen image.

2. The mobile terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein said specific state comprises an idle state of the mobile terminal.

3. The mobile terminal as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

said character memory is configured to store a plurality of item images for inclusion in the screen image, a plurality of background images for inclusion as a background of the screen image and the screen image composed of one or more item images, and a background image to be displayed during the specific state of the mobile terminal.

4. The mobile terminal as claimed in claim 3, wherein:

said character memory is further configured to store at least one avatar image for inclusion in the screen image, wherein each avatar image comprises emotion models that express emotion states.

5. The mobile terminal as claimed in claim 4, wherein said item images comprise special items used to indicate specific events of the mobile terminal and general items.

6. The mobile terminal as claimed in claim 5, wherein said special items comprise at least one of a mailbox item used to indicate arrival of a text message and a missed call item to indicate a missed call.

7. The mobile terminal as claimed in claim 6, wherein said controller is configured to reduce an indicated number of text messages that have not yet been opened when a text message is opened.

8. The mobile terminal as claimed in claim 4, wherein said character memory comprises:

an avatar memory for storing at least one emotion model for each avatar image; and

an emotion variance value memory for storing emotion variance values of the respective events of the mobile terminal,

wherein said controller is configured to confirm an emotion variance value of an event in the emotion variance value memory when processing the event, apply the emotion variance value to the current emotion value of the mobile terminal, determine an emotion model corresponding to the changed emotion value, access the emotion model in the avatar memory, and add the emotion model to a preset location in the screen image.

9. The mobile terminal as claimed in claim 8, wherein said character memory further comprises:

an avatar memory for storing at least one avatar image;

an item memory for storing items for inclusion in a screen image;

a background memory for storing background images for inclusion as a background of the screen image; and

a screen image memory for storing a screen image created by a combination of an avatar and items with a background image.

10. The mobile terminal as claimed in claim 9, wherein said specific state comprises an idle state of the mobile terminal.

11. The mobile terminal as claimed in claim 10, wherein:

said controller is configured to display avatar images stored in the avatar memory on the display unit in an avatar selection mode; and

said controller is further configured to register an avatar image selected by a user to be included in the screen image, register items selected in an item selection mode to be included in the screen image, relocate the registered avatar or items according to the input of a direction key, and set the screen image.

12. A method for displaying a screen image during a specific state of a mobile terminal having a character memory for storing at least one category of character images and a screen image created by a combination of the character images, which comprises the steps of:

processing a plurality of simultaneous events, wherein each is assigned a variance value within a plurality of applications occurring in a mobile terminal and based upon a cumulative variance value, changing display data of a character image of a screen image stored in a character memory according to the event processing result; and

displaying the changed screen image during a specific state of the mobile terminal.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said specific state comprises an idle state of the mobile terminal.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said screen image comprises at least one item image and a background image used as a background of the screen image.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein said item images comprise special items used to indicate specific events of the mobile terminal and general items, and wherein said step of displaying the screen image includes indicating the occurrence of an event by a corresponding special item.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein said corresponding special item comprises a mailbox item used to indicate arrival of a text message.

17. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein said corresponding special item comprises a telephone-shaped item used to indicate a missed call.

18. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein said screen image further comprises at least one avatar image having a plurality of emotion models to express emotion, and wherein said steps of processing an event and displaying the screen image include:

confirming an emotion variance value of the event in the emotion variance value memory;

applying the emotion variance value to the current emotion value of the mobile terminal;

determining an emotion model corresponding to the changed emotion value; and

accessing the emotion model in the avatar memory and adding the emotion model to a preset location in the screen image.

19. The method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising the step of setting the screen image which includes:

displaying avatar images stored in the character memory and registering an avatar image selected by a user to be included in the screen image in an avatar selection mode;

registering items selected by the user to be included in the screen image in an item selection mode; and

relocating the registered avatar or items according to the input of a direction key in a relocation mode.

20. A method for displaying a screen image on a mobile terminal having a character memory for storing the screen image which is comprised of special items indicating specific events of a mobile terminal and general items, the method comprising the steps of:

displaying the screen image in an idle state;

processing a plurality of simultaneous events, wherein each is assigned a variance value within a plurality of applications occurring in a mobile terminal when the event occurs, indicating the event in a corresponding special item, and based upon a cumulative variance value, changing the display data of the screen image according to the event processing result; and

returning to the idle state and displaying the changed screen image.

21. The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein said corresponding special item comprises a mailbox item used to indicate arrival of a text message with a total number of text messages that have not yet been opened.

22. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein said mailbox item indicates a reduced number when the received text message is opened.