Method and apparatus for controlling multi-tasking operation for terminal device provided with touch screen

• US 8,321,811 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2008
• Issued: 11/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Koo, Yoon-Hee
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cao “Kevin ”
• Application Number:
  US12/260,776
• Publication Number:
  US 20090113355A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,490 Days
• Field of Search: 715553-855, 715/864, 715761-764, 715/740, 345/173, 345/156
• US Class Current: 715/837
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A method of controlling a terminal device, and which includes executing a first function on the terminal device, displaying at least one function icon for executing at least one second function that is different than the first function being executed, and selectively executing the second function simultaneously with the first function when said at least one function icon is selected.

Claims

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

executing, via a controller of the mobile terminal, a first function on the mobile terminal, said first function outputting music through a speaker of the mobile terminal;

simultaneously displaying, on a lower portion of a touch screen display of the mobile terminal, a plurality of selectable function icons for executing second functions that are different than the first function being executed;

receiving a selecting signal indicating a call function icon among the selectable function icons displayed on the touch screen display has been selected;

continuing to output the music through the speaker while simultaneously displaying a dialing keypad on the touch screen display for entering a calling number of another terminal identified by the calling number;

receiving an input indicating the calling number has been entered by selecting keys on the dialing keypad;

selecting a call function for calling said another terminal;

pausing the first function not to output the music through the speaker; and

calling said another terminal using the calling number.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying at least one control icon for controlling the first function.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

removing the displayed at least one control icon if the at least one control icon is not selected for a predetermined amount of time or another function icon is selected.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

changing a function icon corresponding to said first function to another function icon for selecting another function that is different than the first function.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of selectable function icons further comprises at least one of a radio broadcast function icon corresponding to a radio broadcast function, a picture function icon corresponding to a picture function, a text function icon corresponding to a text function, a motion picture function icon corresponding to motion picture function.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an incoming call request prior to selectively executing the second function simultaneously with the first function;

displaying a prompt asking whether or not the incoming call request should be accepted;

determining if the incoming call request will interrupt the first function; and

pausing the executing of the first function and allowing the incoming call request be accepted when the determining step determines the incoming call request will interrupt the first function.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of selectable function icons are displayed in a row along a lower bottom portion of the touch screen display.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of selectable function icons are displayed with a same equidistance between each selectable function icon.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of selectable function icons displayed in the row are demarcated from the first function executing on the touch screen display.

7. A mobile terminal, comprising:

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

a touch screen display configured to simultaneously display on a lower portion of the touch screen display a plurality of selectable function icons for executing second functions that are different than a first function being executed, said first function outputting music through a speaker of the mobile terminal; and

a controller configured to receive a selection signal indicating a call function icon among the selectable function icons has been selected, to continue to output the music through the speaker while simultaneously displaying a dialing keypad on the touch screen display for entering a calling number of another terminal identified by the calling number, to receive an input signal indicating the calling number has been entered using keys on the dialing keypad, to receive a call request signal for calling said another terminal, to pause the first function not to output the music through the speaker, and to call said another terminal using the calling number.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the display unit is further configured to display at least one control icon for controlling the first function.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the control unit is further configured to remove the displayed at least one control icon if the at least one control icon is not selected for a predetermined amount of time or another function icon is selected.

10. The device of claim 7, wherein the display unit is further configured to change a function icon corresponding to said first function to another function icon for selecting another function that is different than the first function.

11. The device of claim 7, wherein the plurality of selectable function icons further comprises at least one of a radio broadcast function icon corresponding to a radio broadcast function, a picture function icon corresponding to a picture function, a text function icon corresponding to a text function, and a motion picture function icon corresponding to motion picture function.

12. The mobile terminal of claim 7, further comprising:

a receiving unit configured to receive an incoming call request,

wherein the display unit is further configured to display a prompt asking whether or not the incoming call request should be accepted, and

wherein the controller is further configured to determine if the incoming call request will interrupt the first function, and to pause the executing of the first function and allow the incoming call request be accepted when the control unit determines the incoming call request will interrupt the first function.

16. The mobile terminal of claim 10, wherein the plurality of selectable function icons are displayed in a row along a lower bottom portion of the touch screen display.

17. The mobile terminal of claim 16, wherein the plurality of selectable function icons are displayed with a same equidistance between each selectable function icon.

18. The mobile terminal of claim 16, wherein the plurality of selectable function icons displayed in the row are demarcated from the first function executing on the touch screen display.