Mobile terminal and event control method thereof

• US 8,363,008 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2009
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Ryu, Hye-Jin, Park, Jun-Serk, Lee, Kang-E, Lee, Kun-Ho, Moon, Joo-Sun
• Primary Examiner(s): OSORIO, RICARDO
• Application Number:
  US12/506,279
• Publication Number:
  US 20100020035A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,288 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/179, 715/863
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector

Abstract

Disclosed is an event control method of a mobile terminal, in which when a touch input is detected, a shape and size of a lock screen is changed according to the detected touch input value (e.g., touch time, the number of touch times or touch area) and simultaneously a threshold value necessary for unlocking the lock screen 50 is displayed, and then the lock screen is unlocked and switched to a menu screen when the touch input value reaches the threshold value, resulting in providing a user with more enjoyable and exciting user interface (UI).

Claims

1. An event control method of a mobile terminal comprising:

displaying a lock screen;

detecting a touch input on the lock screen;

changing a shape of the lock screen according to a change in a touch input value to represent that an attempt for unlocking the screen is being made; and

switching the lock screen to a menu screen when the touch input value reaches a threshold value.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the touch input comprises a real-touch and a proximity touch.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the touch input value comprises one of a touch time, a touch area and the number of touch times.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the lock screen denotes a surface without a menu displayed, among the whole surfaces of a cube.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the lock screen comprises a key block with a specific shape and size for unlocking the screen.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the key block comprises:

a display region disposed at one side; and

a touch region occupying the other portion excluding the display region for detecting a touch input.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the display region displays the threshold value and a shape indicating an unlocked state of a screen, and

wherein the touch region displays a shape indicating a locked state of the screen and a phrase for guiding an unlocking method.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the touch input is performed by touching a key block separately disposed at one side of the screen.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the touch input is performed by touching one side of the screen.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the threshold value is displayed by being decreased or increased in a touched state.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein vibration or sound is output in association with the change in the shape and size of the screen.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

returning to an initial state when the touch input is released before the touch input value reaches the threshold value.

13. A mobile terminal comprising:

a sensing unit configured to detect a touch input;

a display configured to display a lock screen with a specific touch region; and

a controller configured to change a shape of the lock screen according to a change in a detected touch input value to represent that an attempt to unlock the screen in being made, and switch the lock screen to a menu screen when the detected touch input value reaches a threshold value.

14. The terminal of claim 13, wherein the touch input comprises a real-touch and a proximity touch.

15. The terminal of claim 13, wherein the touch input value comprises one of a touch time, a touch area and the number of touch times.

16. The terminal of claim 13, wherein the display comprises:

a lock screen; and

a key block disposed on a specific portion on the lock screen and receiving a touch input thereon, the key block having a separate display region for displaying the threshold value.

17. The terminal of claim 13, wherein the display comprises various avatars each having shape, size and movement all changed according to the change in the touch input.

18. The terminal of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to generate vibration and sound in association with the change in the shape and size of the lock screen.

19. The terminal of claim 13, wherein the controller recovers the shape and size of the lock screen to an initial state when the touch input is released before the touch input value reaches the threshold value.