Portable device and control method thereof

• US 8,269,719 B1
• Filed: 04/27/2012
• Issued: 09/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Jihwan
• Primary Examiner(s): Mengistu, Amare
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sharifi-Tafreshi, Koosha
• Application Number:
  US13/458,212
• Time in Patent Office: 144 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/169, 345/173
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04895 Guidance during keyboard input operation, e.g. prompting
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/50 Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 Aspects of interface with display user

Abstract

A portable device which is capable of communicating with an external device and a control method thereof are disclosed. A method for transmitting user input of a portable device includes detecting navigating input in a navigation mode for controlling an external device which is connected by a network, wherein the external device displays displayable content and the navigating input is for navigating the displayable content which includes at least one input box, transmitting a control signal corresponding to the detected navigating input to the external device, displaying an indicator which indicates capability of mode switching from the navigation mode to a user input mode, initiating the user input mode by displaying the input box which is extracted from the displayable content when user input for mode switching is detected, and transmitting user input which is received through the displayed input box.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting user input of a portable device, comprising:

detecting navigating input in a navigation mode for controlling an external device which is connected by a network, wherein the external device displays displayable content and the navigating input is for navigating the displayable content which includes at least one input box;

transmitting a control signal corresponding to the detected navigating input to the external device;

displaying an indicator which indicates capability of mode switching from the navigation mode to a user input mode;

initiating the user input mode by displaying the input box which is extracted from the displayable content when user input for mode switching is detected; and

transmitting user input which is received through the displayed input box.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

terminating the user input mode when the user input for the displayed input box is transmitted; and

switching back to the navigation mode.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user input for mode switching includes touch screen input, stylus input, hardware button input, gesture recognition, image recognition and voice recognition.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying terminating interface for terminating the user input mode; and

terminating the user input mode when user input to the terminating interface is detected.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating the user input mode further comprises:

determining priority of the each input box, wherein the priority depends on the position of the input box in the displayable content; and

displaying the input box sequentially corresponding to the determined priority.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the priority further depends on whether the input box is displayed on the external device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the displayed input box is extracted from the displayed area of the displayable content.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the displayed input box is further extracted from non-displayed area of the displayable content.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating the user input mode further comprises displaying a virtual keyboard with the input box as input means.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting user input further comprises:

displaying transmitting interface for transmitting user input which is received through plurality of input box groups, wherein each input box group includes related input boxes and the input box groups are mutually independent; and

transmitting the user input which is received through the plurality of input box groups when user input to the transmitting interface is detected.

11. A device for transmitting user input, the device comprising:

a sensor unit configured to detect user input;

a communications unit configured to communicate with an external device; and

a controller in control of the above units, configured to perform actions including;

detecting navigating input in a navigation mode for controlling the external device which is connected by a network, wherein the external device displays displayable content and the navigating input is for navigating the displayable content which includes at least one input box;

transmitting a control signal corresponding to the detected navigating input to the external device;

displaying an indicator which indicates capability of mode switching from the navigation mode to a user input mode;

initiating the user input mode by displaying the input box which is extracted from the displayable content when user input for mode switching is detected; and

transmitting user input which is received through the displayed input box.

12. The device of claim 11, the actions further comprising:

terminating the user input mode when the user input for the displayed input box is transmitted; and

switching back to the navigation mode.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the user input for mode switching includes touch screen input, stylus input, hardware button input, gesture recognition, image recognition and voice recognition.

14. The device of claim 11, the actions further comprising:

displaying terminating interface for terminating the user input mode; and

terminating the user input mode when user input to the terminating interface is detected.

15. The device of claim 11, wherein initiating the user input mode further comprises:

determining priority of the each input box, wherein the priority depends on the position of the input box in the displayable content; and

displaying the input box sequentially corresponding to the determined priority.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the priority further depends on whether the input box is displayed on the external device.

17. The device of claim 11, wherein the displayed input box is extracted from the displayed area of the displayable content.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the displayed input box is further extracted from non-displayed area of the displayable content.

19. The device of claim 11, wherein transmitting user input further comprises:

displaying transmitting interface for transmitting user input which is received through plurality of input box groups, wherein each input box group includes related input boxes and the input box groups are mutually independent; and

transmitting the user input which is received through the plurality of input box groups when user input to the transmitting interface is detected.

20. A method for transmitting user input of a portable device, comprising:

detecting navigating input in a navigation mode for controlling an external device which is connected by a network, wherein the external device displays displayable content and the navigating input is for navigating the displayable content which includes at least one input box;

transmitting a control signal corresponding to the detected navigating input to the external device;

switching from the navigation mode to a user input mode by displaying the input box which is extracted from the displayable content when user input for mode switching is detected; and

transmitting user input which is received through the displayed input box.