Terminal and method for selecting displayed items

• US 7,643,012 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2007
• Issued: 01/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Tae Hun, Woo, Boem Young, Ahn, Hyun Ju, Cheon, Ho Sang, Park, Jun Serk, Han, Seung Sook, Yoon, Jeong Hyuk
• Primary Examiner(s): Dharia; Prabodh M
• Application Number:
  US11/691,305
• Publication Number:
  US 20070229471A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,016 Days
• Field of Search: 345/87, 345156-159, 345162-169, 345173-179, 345/9, 345/419, 345/473, 345/716, 345/902, 178 1801- 2001, 348/169, 348/239, 348/211.8, 348/333.02, 715/722, 715/863, 715/823, 715/862, 715/856, 386/46
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A terminal and method for selecting an item displayed on a touch screen are disclosed. The method for selecting an item displayed on the screen includes simultaneously touching the screen at two or more locations to define a selection area and identifying the items within the selection area. The section area may be a rectangle, a horizontal or vertical band of the display, a circle, or sequentially arranged items of a list. Alternatively, a single touch may define a point in the display area and the bounds of the display area are defined by the time the touch is maintained. Recently, with the increasing development of multiple functions on a single terminal, the method can be conveniently applied to the latest terminal where associated items are simultaneously displayed on a single display screen of the terminal.

Claims

1. A method for selecting items displayed on a display, the method comprising:

selecting a point on the display for a period of time;

enlarging a selection area on the display, the selection area being centered about the point and enlarged in proportion to the period of time; and

selecting items located in the selection area,

wherein only the selection area is enlarged during the period of time.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the display is a touch-screen, and the selecting the point is performed when the point is touched by a user of a terminal for the period of time.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the selection area is virtually formed on the display.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the selection area is defined by a closed curve enclosing the point.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the closed curve is a circle.

6. A terminal comprising:

an input unit;

a display for displaying items; and

a controller for enlarging a selection area of the display, the selection area being centered about a point and enlarged in proportion to a period of time when the point of the display is touched for the period of time, and for controlling items located in the selection area,

wherein only the selection area is enlarged during the period of time.

7. The terminal according to claim 6, wherein the input unit and the display are implemented with a touch-screen.

8. The terminal according to claim 6, wherein the selection area is virtually formed on the display.

9. The terminal according to claim 6, wherein the selection area is defined by a closed curve enclosing the point.

10. The terminal according to claim 6, wherein the closed curve is a circle.

11. A method for selecting items displayed on a touch screen, the method comprising:

touching an item displayed on the touch screen for a period of time; and

sequentially selecting the touched item and items adjacent to the touched item in proportion to the period of time,

wherein the selected items are not enlarged during the period of time.

12. A terminal comprising:

a touch-screen for displaying a plurality of items; and

a controller for sequentially selecting a touched item and neighboring items of the touched item in proportion to a period of time for which the item is touched,

wherein the selected items are not enlarged during the period of time.