Mobile communication terminal and method of selecting menu and item

• US 8,279,192 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2012
• Issued: 10/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Chang Sub
• Primary Examiner(s): SHERMAN, STEPHEN G
• Application Number:
  US13/346,312
• Publication Number:
  US 20120113036A1
• Time in Patent Office: 267 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-178, 345/156, 345168-169, 455/566, 715/810, 715812-814, 715817-824, 715/828, 715/829, 715/835, 715/838, 715840-845, 178 1801- 1809, 178/18.11
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• 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

Abstract

A mobile terminal including a wireless communication unit configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one other terminal, a touch screen display configured to display a plurality of independent first objects and a controller configured to receive a selection signal indicating a touching of one of the first objects, control the touch screen display to distinctly display a second independent object indicating a drop point where the touched first object can be dropped and receive a dragging signal indicating the touched first object is being touched, dragged and dropped toward the second object. The mobile terminal stops displaying other non-selected first objects and executes a function indicated by the touched and dragged first object when the first object is dropped at the drop point. Further, the second object is displayed separately and independently from the first objects.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a wireless communication unit configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one other terminal;

a touch screen display configured to display a plurality of independent menu objects; and

a controller configured to;

receive a selection signal corresponding to a touching of one of the menu objects,

control the touch screen display to display an independent drop-point object corresponding to a drop point where the touched menu object can be dropped,

receive a dragging signal corresponding to the touched menu object being touched, dragged and dropped toward the drop-point object,

distinguish the menu object from other non-selected menu objects, and

execute a function indicated by the touched and dragged menu object when the menu object is dropped at the drop point,

wherein the drop-point object is displayed separately and independently from the menu objects.

2. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the touched menu object is displayed below the drop-point object.

3. The mobile terminal of claim 2, wherein the menu objects include at least four menu objects.

4. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the drop-point object has a rounded shape.

5. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to control the touch screen display to display the menu object to be separated from the drop-point object and not overlapping the drop-point object before the menu object is touched.

6. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the dragging and dropping touch action is along a direction from the menu object to the drop-point object.

7. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the function executed includes at least one of a calling function for calling contacts and a viewing message function for viewing messages.

8. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the menu objects include text indicating a corresponding function of the menu objects.

9. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the menu objects are displayed as icons.

10. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to execute the function indicated by the touched and dragged menu object when at least one of the menu object is touched and dragged to partially overlap the drop-point object, and the touched and dragged menu object is touched and dragged to fully overlap the drop-point object.

11. A method of controlling a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

allowing, via a wireless communication unit of the mobile terminal, wireless communication with at least one other terminal;

displaying, via a touch screen display of the mobile terminal, a plurality of independent menu objects;

receiving, via a controller of the mobile terminal, a selection signal corresponding to a touching of one of the menu objects;

controlling, via the controller, the touch screen display to display an independent drop-point object corresponding to a drop point where the touched menu object can be dropped;

receiving, via the controller, a dragging signal corresponding to the touched menu object being touched, dragged and dropped toward the drop-point object;

distinguishing, via the controller, the menu object from other non-selected menu objects; and

executing, via the controller, a function indicated by the touched and dragged menu object when the menu object is dropped at the drop point,

wherein the drop-point object is displayed separately and independently from the menu objects.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the touched menu object is displayed below the drop-point object.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the menu objects include at least four menu objects.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the drop-point object has a rounded shape.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

controlling, via the controller, the touch screen display to display the menu object to be separated from the drop-point object and not overlapping the drop-point object before the menu object is touched.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the dragging and dropping touch action is along a direction from the menu object to the drop-point object.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the function executed includes at least one of a calling function for calling contacts and a viewing message function for viewing messages.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the menu objects include text indicating a corresponding function of the menu objects.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the menu objects are displayed as icons.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the executing step executes the function indicated by the touched and dragged menu object when at least one of the menu object is touched and dragged to partially overlap the drop-point object, and the touched and dragged menu object is touched and dragged to fully overlap the drop-point object.