Devices with multiple functions, and methods for switching functions thereof

• US 7,840,721 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2008
• Issued: 11/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Original Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Inventors: Kao, Yih-Feng, Chiang, Chi-Pang, Li, Shu-Hung, Wen, Pei-Chun, Liu, Te-Chuan
• Primary Examiner(s): Dang; Khanh
• Application Number:
  US12/153,127
• Publication Number:
  US 20080288681A1
• Time in Patent Office: 923 Days
• Field of Search: 710/14, 710/17, 710/18, 710/107, 710/108, 710/200, 710/316, 455/566, 455/556.2, 345/162, 345172-175, 345/179
• US Class Current: 710/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

Devices with multiple functions and methods for switching functions thereof are provided. The device comprises a plurality of hardware components, a plurality of functional modules, an input device, and a processing module. Each functional module corresponds to one of the functional connecting configurations for the hardware components. The processing module executes one of the functional modules and drives the hardware components according to the functional connecting configuration corresponding to the executed functional module. The processing module determines whether to generate a switch command according to an input command received by the input device. When the switch command is generated, the processing module directly terminates the functional module being currently executed and adjusts to execute another functional module, and drives the hardware components according to the functional connecting configuration corresponding to the functional module to be executed.

Claims

1. A device with multiple functions comprising a plurality of hardware components, comprising:

a storage unit comprising a first functional module, corresponding to a first functional connecting configuration for the hardware components and a second functional module, corresponding to a second functional connecting configuration for the hardware components, wherein the first functional module is generated according to a first hardware list, and the first hardware list records a first set of the hardware components needed to be driven among the hardware components when the first functional module is executed, and the second functional module is generated according to a second hardware list, and the second hardware list records a second set of the hardware components needed to be driven among the hardware components when the second functional module is executed;

an input device, receiving an input command; and

a processing module, coupled to the storage unit and the input device, executing the first functional module and driving the first set of the hardware components among the hardware components according to the first functional connecting configuration, and determining whether to generate a switch command according to the input command,

wherein when the switch command is generated, the processing module terminates the execution of the first functional module, stopping and releasing the first set of the hardware components among the hardware components, and adjusts to directly execute the second functional module and drive the second set of the hardware components among the hardware components according to the second functional connecting configuration, wherein selection for the functional modules via a specific menu is not required.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising an operating system, wherein when the first functional module and the second functional module are respectively executed, the hardware components are driven according to the first functional connecting configuration and the second functional connecting configuration, respectively, via the operating system.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of operating systems, wherein when the first functional module and the second functional module are respectively executed, the hardware components are driven according to the first functional connecting configuration and the second functional connecting configuration, respectively, via different operating systems.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of applications, wherein parts or all of the applications correspond to at least one of the first functional module and the second functional module, and when the first functional module and the second functional module are respectively executed, the applications corresponding to the first functional module and the second functional module are enabled to be respectively called up.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising a display unit and a plurality of user interfaces, wherein each user interface corresponds to one of the first functional module and the second functional module, and the display unit displays the user interface corresponding to the second functional module after the processing module executes the second functional module.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the processing module further determines whether an operating state corresponding to the second functional module exists, and if so, executes the second functional module under the operating state.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the processing module further records an operating state corresponding to the first functional module before the first functional module is terminated.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the processing module comprises a lock flag, and the switch command is not generated if the lock flag is a first value.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein when the input device is a touch-sensitive device, the input command comprises vector data input via the touch-sensitive device, and the processing module generates the switch command according to the vector data;

when the input device is a direction sensor, the input command comprises direction data detected by the direction sensor, and the processing module generates the switch command according to the direction data;

when the input device is a voice reception unit, the input command comprises voice data received by the voice reception unit, and the processing module generates the switch command according to a specific recognition data comprised in the voice data; and

when the input device is at least one hot key, the processing module generates the switch command according to the selection of the hot key.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the processing module comprises a relationship of a relative position between the first functional module and the second functional module, the input device comprises a direction sensor, the input command comprises direction data detected by the direction sensor, and the processing module generates the switch command when the relationship of the relative position conforms to the direction data.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein operating capabilities for a phone, a global positioning system, a camera, a computer network terminal or a media player are implemented on the device after the first functional module or the second functional module is executed.

12. A device with multiple functions, comprising:

a storage unit comprising a plurality of functional modules, wherein each of the functional modules is generated according to a hardware list, and the hardware list records a set of hardware components needed to be driven when the functional module is executed;

a touch-sensitive device, receiving an input command; and

a processing module, coupled to the storage unit and the touch-sensitive device, executing one of the functional modules, driving a set of the hardware components corresponding to the hardware list for the executed functional module, and determining whether to generate a switch command according to the input command, wherein when the switch command is generated, the processing module terminates the functional module currently being executed, stopping and releasing the corresponding set of the hardware components, and directly switches to execute another functional module and drive a set of the hardware components corresponding to the hardware list for the executed another functional module, wherein selection for the functional modules via a specific menu is not required.

13. A method for switching functions for use in a device comprising a plurality of hardware components, wherein a first functional module is executed, and a first set of the hardware components are driven according a first functional connecting configuration corresponding to the first functional module, wherein the first functional module is generated according to a first hardware list, and the first hardware list records the first set of the hardware components needed to be driven among the hardware components when the first functional module is executed, and the method comprises:

(a) receiving an input command, and determining whether to generate a switch command according to the input command;

(b) when the switch command is generated, terminating the first functional module, stopping and releasing the first set of the hardware components among the hardware components, and directly executing a second functional module; and

(c) driving a second set of the hardware components according to a second functional connecting configuration corresponding to the second functional module, wherein the second functional module is generated according to a second hardware list, and the second hardware list records the second set of the hardware components needed to be driven among the hardware components when the second functional module is executed,

wherein selection for the functional modules via a specific menu is not required.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising calling up applications corresponding to the second functional module when the second functional module is executed, wherein parts or all of the applications correspond to at least one of the first functional module and the second functional module.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising displaying a user interface corresponding to the second functional module after changing to the second functional module.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein step (b) further comprises:

determining whether an operating state corresponding to the second functional module exists; and

if so, executing the second functional module under the operating state.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising recording an operating state corresponding to the first functional module before the first functional module is terminated.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein step (a) comprises:

generating the switch command when the input command is specific vector data, direction data, contact track or voice data comprises specific recognition data, or when the input command is inputted by selection of at least one hot key.

19. A method for switching functions for use in a device comprising a plurality of functional modules, wherein each of the functional modules is generated according to a hardware list, and the hardware list records a set of hardware components needed to be driven when the functional module is executed, one of the functional modules is executed, and a set of the hardware components corresponding to the hardware list is driven for the executed functional module, and the method comprises:

receiving an input command;

determining whether to generate a switch command according to the input command; and

when the switch command is generated, terminating the functional module currently executed, stopping and releasing the corresponding set of the hardware components, and directly executing another functional module and driving a set of the hardware components corresponding to the hardware list for the executed another functional module,

wherein selection for the functional modules via a specific menu is not required.