Method of and apparatus for displaying messages on a mobile terminal

• US 8,015,486 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2007
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Jang, Jae Jun
• Primary Examiner(s): RIES, LAURIE ANNE
• Application Number:
  US11/960,910
• Publication Number:
  US 20080161955A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,356 Days
• Field of Search: 715/201, 715/202, 715/203, 715/234, 715/243, 715/255, 715/273, 715/209
• US Class Current: 715/243
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72439 for image or video messaging

Abstract

A method and apparatus simultaneously displays the main text and/or more attached filed of a message received in a mobile terminal. This simultaneous display allows a user to confirm the main text and attached files in the message. The main text and attached files may be shown in respective areas of the display.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a mobile terminal, comprising:

receiving a message that includes text information, at least one attached audio files and a plurality of separate attached image files;

playing the attached audio file through a speaker when a predetermined condition is satisfied; and

simultaneously displaying text in a first area and at least one of the attached image files in a second area of a screen of the mobile terminal, a location of the second area determined based on a predetermined setting, said displaying including;

displaying the attached files sequentially in the second area, and wherein;

the attached files are displayed in the second area in response to signal generated by activation of a first key of the mobile terminal,

the first and second areas displaying the text and the at least one attached file are scrolled on the screen while the text and the at least one attached file are simultaneously displayed in the first and second areas respectively, and

an indicator is displayed to indicate that one or more of the attached files are available for viewing in the second area in addition to the at least one attached file currently displayed in the second area.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the attached image files are displayed sequentially and rotationally on the screen of the mobile terminal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first key controls sequential display of the image files in the second area independent from link information included with the attached image files or in any portion of the message.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the attached image files are sequentially displayed in the second area according to a predetermined cycle.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the predetermined cycle is set by a user of the mobile terminal.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the predetermined cycle is adjustable.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the predetermined cycle is adjustable based on control information stored in the mobile terminal.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

playing a plurality of attached audio files sequentially through a speaker when a predetermined condition is satisfied.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of attached audio files are sequentially played in response to a predetermined key being pressed on the mobile terminal.

10. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a screen;

a receiver to receive a message that includes text information and at least one attached file, the at least one attached file including at least one audio file and a plurality of separate attached image files; and

a controller to control display of the text information in a first area and display of the attached image files sequentially in a second area on the screen, wherein the controller controls the display of each of the attached image files on the screen independent from link information in any of the image files or in the message, and wherein the controller controls playing of audio associated with the audio file through a speaker when a predetermined condition is satisfied

wherein the text is displayed in the first area simultaneously with at least one of the attached image files in the second area,

wherein the attached image files are displayed in the second area in response to signal generated by activation of a first key of the mobile terminal, and

wherein an indicator is displayed to indicate that one or more of the attached image files are available for viewing in the second area in addition to the at least one attached file currently displayed in the second area.

11. The mobile terminal of claim 10, wherein the attached image files are displayed sequentially and rotationally on the screen of the mobile terminal.

12. The mobile terminal of claim 10, wherein the first key controls sequential display of the image files in the second area independent from link information included with the attached image files or in any portion of the message.

13. The mobile terminal of claim 10, wherein the attached image files are sequentially displayed in the second area according to a predetermined cycle.

14. The mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein the predetermined cycle is set by a user of the mobile terminal.

15. The mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein the predetermined cycle is adjustable.

16. The mobile terminal of claim 15, wherein the predetermined cycle is adjustable based on control information stored in the mobile terminal.

17. The mobile terminal of claim 10, wherein the controller controls playing of a plurality of attached audio files sequentially through a speaker when a predetermined condition is satisfied.

18. The mobile terminal of claim 10, wherein a plurality of attached audio files are played sequentially played in response to a predetermined key being pressed on the mobile terminal.