Method of controlling mobile communication device equipped with touch screen, communication device and method of executing functions thereof

• US 8,019,389 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2008
• Issued: 09/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Yoon, Mu Hy, Kim, Hee Soo, Kim, Jong-Hwan, Lee, Sang Hyuck
• Primary Examiner(s): Figueroa; Marisol
• Application Number:
  US12/058,655
• Publication Number:
  US 20080259045A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,264 Days
• Field of Search: 455/566, 345/846
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0235 Slidable or telescopic telephones, i.e. with a relative translation movement of the body parts; Telephones using a combination of translation and other relative motions of the body parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27453 Directories allowing storage of additional subscriber data, e.g. metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• 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: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera constructional features concerning the integration of cameras in portable phones H04M1/0264

Abstract

A method of controlling a mobile communication device equipped with a touch screen, and a communication device and a method of executing functions thereof are disclosed. A method of controlling a mobile communication device includes displaying a plurality of execution keys on a touch screen in a standby mode and executing an operation assigned to a specific one of the plurality of execution keys by touching and dragging the specific execution key.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a mobile communication device, the method comprising:

displaying a plurality of execution keys on a touch screen of the mobile communication device in a standby mode;

executing an operation assigned to a specific one of the plurality of execution keys by touching and dragging the specific execution key;

displaying function icons on the touch screen, the function icons comprising at least a call icon, a message icon, a finder icon, or an Internet icon; and

performing call connection to a short-cut telephone number assigned to a specific one of the plurality of execution keys when the call icon is touched and dragged to the specific execution key.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the specific execution key does not move when touched and dragged to a different portion on the touch screen.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the operation is executed in response to dragging of the specific execution key to a certain portion on the touch screen and the operation comprises:

performing call connection to a short-cut telephone number assigned to the specific execution key;

entering a message input mode for message transmission to the short-cut telephone number;

entering a short-cut folder assigned to the specific execution key;

or

accessing an Internet address assigned to the specific execution key.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein when the specific execution key is dragged to a certain portion on the touch screen, the touch screen displays at the certain portion:

a short-cut telephone number assigned to the specific execution key;

a short-cut folder name assigned to the specific execution key;

or

an Internet address assigned to the specific execution key.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of execution keys comprise numeric keys and function keys, and the method further comprises:

displaying a number corresponding to a numeric key or a symbol corresponding to a function key if no short-cut information is assigned to the numeric key or the function key.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of execution keys comprise a plurality of menus and a function corresponding to one of the plurality of menus is executed in response to touching and dragging of the one of the plurality of menus to a certain portion on the touch screen.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the operation comprises:

call connection to the short-cut telephone number assigned to the specific execution key when the specific execution key is touched and dragged to the call icon.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the operation comprises:

displaying a message input screen for message transmission to a short-cut telephone number assigned to the specific execution key when the specific execution key is touched and dragged to the message icon.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a screen for setting short-cut information if no short-cut information has been assigned to the specific execution key.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a message input screen for message transmission to the short-cut telephone number assigned to the specific one of the plurality of execution keys when the message icon is touched and dragged to the specific execution key.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein when touching of the specific execution key is released within a specific time period after the specific execution key is touched, a number or a symbol corresponding to the specific execution key is input or a menu assigned to the specific execution key is executed.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the menu comprises a default menu set by a manufacturer of the device or a user setting menu set by a user.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein when touching of the specific execution key is released after a specific time period after the specific execution key is touched, the operation comprises:

performing call connection to a short-cut telephone number assigned to the specific execution key;

displaying a message input screen for message transmission to the short-cut telephone number;

entering a short-cut folder assigned to the specific execution key;

or

accessing an Internet address assigned to the specific execution key.

14. A mobile communication device, comprising:

a wireless communication unit for performing a communication function;

a touch screen for displaying a plurality of execution keys and function icons during a standby mode, the function icons comprising at least a call icon, a message icon, a finder icon, or an Internet icon; and

a controller for performing an operation corresponding to a specific one of the plurality of execution keys that is touched and dragged on the touch screen,

wherein the controller is configured to;

perform call connection to a short-cut telephone number assigned to a specific one of the plurality of execution keys when the call icon is touched and dragged to the specific execution key;

or

display a message input screen for message transmission to the short-cut telephone number assigned to the specific one of the plurality of execution keys when the message icon is touched and dragged to the specific execution key.

15. The mobile communication device of claim 14, wherein the specific execution key does not move when touched and dragged to a different portion on the touch screen.

16. The mobile communication device of claim 14, wherein the operation is executed in response to dragging of the specific execution key to a certain portion on the touch screen and the operation comprises:

performing call connection to a short-cut telephone number assigned to the specific execution key;

entering a message input mode for message transmission to the short-cut telephone number;

entering a short-cut folder assigned to the specific execution key;

or

accessing an Internet address assigned to the specific execution key.

17. The mobile communication device of claim 14, wherein when the specific execution key is dragged to a certain portion on the touch screen, the touch screen displays at the certain portion:

a short-cut telephone number assigned to the specific execution key;

a short-cut folder name assigned to the specific execution key;

or

an Internet address assigned to the specific execution key.

18. The mobile communication device of claim 14, wherein the plurality of execution keys comprise numeric keys and function keys, and the touch screen further displays a number corresponding to a numeric key or a symbol corresponding to a function key if no short-cut information is assigned to the numeric key or the function key.

19. The mobile communication device of claim 14, wherein the plurality of execution keys comprise a plurality of menus and a function corresponding to one of the plurality of menus is executed in response to touching and dragging of the one of the plurality of menus to a certain portion on the touch screen.

20. The mobile communication device of claim 14, wherein the touch screen further displays a screen for setting short-cut information if no short-cut information has been assigned to the specific execution key.

21. The mobile communication device of claim 14, wherein when touching of the specific execution key is released within a specific time period after the specific execution key is touched, a number or a symbol corresponding to the specific execution key is input or a menu assigned to the specific execution key is executed.

22. The mobile communication device of claim 21, wherein the menu comprises a default menu set by a manufacturer of the device or a user setting menu set by a user.

23. The mobile communication device of claim 14, wherein when touching of the specific execution key is released after a specific time period after the specific execution key is touched, the operation comprises:

performing call connection to a short-cut telephone number assigned to the specific execution key;

displaying a message input screen for message transmission to the short-cut telephone number;

entering a short-cut folder assigned to the specific execution key;

or

accessing an Internet address assigned to the specific execution key.

24. A method of controlling a mobile communication device, the method comprising:

displaying a plurality of execution keys on a touch screen of the mobile communication device;

executing an operation assigned to a specific one of the plurality of execution keys by touching and dragging the specific execution key;

displaying function icons on the touch screen, the function icons comprising at least a call icon, a message icon, a finder icon, or an Internet icon; and

performing call connection to a telephone number assigned to the specific one of the plurality of execution keys when the specific execution key is touched and dragged to the call icon.

25. The method claim of claim 24, wherein the operation is to distinctively distinguish the specific execution key that was touched and dragged from other plurality of execution keys.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

displaying a message input screen for message transmission to the telephone number assigned to the specific one of the plurality of execution keys when the specific execution key is touched and dragged to the message icon.

27. A mobile communication device, comprising:

a wireless communication unit for performing a communication function;

a touch screen for displaying a plurality of execution keys and function icons, the function icons comprising at least a call icon, a message icon, a finder icon, or an Internet icon; and

a controller for performing an operation corresponding to a specific one of the plurality of execution keys that is touched and dragged on the touch screen,

wherein the controller is configured to;

perform call connection to a telephone number assigned to a specific one of the plurality of execution keys when the specific execution key is touched and dragged to the call icon;

or

display a message input screen for message transmission to the telephone number assigned to the specific one of the plurality of execution keys when the specific execution key is touched and dragged to the message icon.