Method and device for releasing lock function of mobile terminal

• US 8,390,585 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2009
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Hyun, Sang Min
• Primary Examiner(s): OLSON, JASON C
• Application Number:
  US12/625,999
• Publication Number:
  US 20100127998A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,196 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 345/173
• 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 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons

Abstract

A method and device for releasing a lock function of an input device of a mobile terminal are provided. The method of releasing a lock function of an input device of a mobile terminal includes detecting a user'"'"'s input, determining whether the lock function of the input device is set, displaying, if it is determined that the lock function of the input device is set, display data representing that the input device is in a locked state and displaying function data of a function to be entered upon release of the lock function of the input device, and entering, immediately upon performance of a preset lock release operation, a specific function corresponding to the function data.

Claims

1. A method of releasing a lock function of an input device of a mobile terminal, the input device including a touch detection display device, the method comprising:

detecting a user'"'"'s input;

determining whether the lock function of the input device is set;

displaying, if it is determined that the lock function of the input device is set, display data representing that the input device is in a locked state and displaying function data of a function to be entered upon release of the lock function of the input device; and

entering, immediately upon performance of a preset lock release operation, a specific function corresponding to the function data,

wherein the preset lock release operation comprises moving at least one of a user'"'"'s finger and a touching means while touching on the touch detection display device and distinguishing, on a semicircular touch area displayed on the touch detection display device, a touched portion of the semicircular touch area as a partial segment thereof.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a user'"'"'s input is an input through one of the touch detection display device and another input device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the display data comprises an icon formed with one of a picture, an image, and a text that represents a locked state of the input device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the function data are function data corresponding to each of at least one function of the mobile terminal.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the at least one function of the mobile terminal comprises at least one of a music function and an initial menu function.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the function data comprises a function to be entered according to the user'"'"'s input and an arrow indicating a direction in which the touching by the one of the user'"'"'s finger and the touching means on the touch detection display device of the input device must advance in order to release the locked state of the input device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the arrow indicates at least one of a rotational direction and a straight line direction.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the touching on the touch detection display device occurs in a direction of an arrow displayed thereon.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the arrow indicates a rotational direction.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the distinguishing further comprises distinguishing between a portion of the touch detection display device that the at least one of the user'"'"'s finger and the touching means has touched when moving while touching in an arrow direction, and a portion of the touch detection display device that the at least one of the user'"'"'s finger and touching means has not yet touched.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the distinguishing comprises highlighting.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the semicircular touch area displayed on the touch detection display device forms a complete circular shape in combination with a semicircular input device positioned outside, and adjoined to, the touch detection display device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the entering of the specific function corresponding to the function data comprises displaying, immediately upon completion of the preset lock release operation, a user interface icon corresponding to the function data of the function to be entered.

25. A non-transitory computer readable recording medium having recorded thereon a computer program for executing the method of claim 1.

14. A mobile terminal having an input device, the terminal comprising:

a means for detecting a user'"'"'s input including a touch detection display device;

a means for determining whether a lock function of the input device is set;

a means for displaying, if it is determined that a lock function of the input device is set, display data representing that the input device is in a locked state, and for displaying function data of a function to be entered upon release of the lock function of the input device; and

a means for controlling to enter, immediately upon performance of a preset lock release operation, a specific function corresponding to the function data,

wherein the preset lock release operation comprises moving at least one of a user'"'"'s finger and a touching means while touching on the touch detection display device and distinguishing, on a semicircular touch area displayed on the touch detection display device, a touched portion of the semicircular touch area as a partial segment thereof.

15. The terminal of claim 14, wherein the function data is function data corresponding to each of at least one function of the mobile terminal.

16. The terminal of claim 15, wherein the at least one function of the mobile terminal comprises a music function and a menu function.

17. The terminal of claim 15, wherein the function data comprises a function to be entered according to the user'"'"'s input and an arrow indicating a direction in which the touching of the at least one of the user'"'"'s finger and the touching means on the touch detection display device of the input device must advance in order to release the locked state of the input device.

18. The terminal of claim 17, wherein the arrow indicates one of a rotational direction and a straight line direction.

19. The terminal of claim 14, wherein the touching on the touch detection display device occurs in a direction of an arrow displayed thereon.

20. The terminal of claim 19, wherein the arrow indicates a rotational direction.

21. The terminal of claim 14, wherein the distinguishing further comprises distinguishing between a portion of the touch detection display device that the at least one of the user'"'"'s finger and the touching means has touched when moving while touching in an arrow direction and a portion of the touch detection display device that the at least one of the user'"'"'s finger and touching means has not yet touched.

22. The terminal of claim 14, wherein the terminal, to distinguish the touched portion of the touch detection display device, uses highlights.

23. The terminal of claim 14, wherein the semicircular touch area displayed on the touch detection display device forms a complete circular shape in combination with a semicircular input device positioned outside, and adjoined to, the touch detection display device.

24. The terminal of claim 14, wherein the control means displays, immediately upon completion of the preset lock release operation, a user interface icon corresponding to the function data.