Portable device and method of providing menu icons

• US 8,407,622 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2007
• Issued: 03/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Rhee, Young-ho, Ok, Joon-ho, Park, Sang-hyun, Cho, Soo-ho
• Primary Examiner(s): Bashore, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): DiStefano, Gregory A
• Application Number:
  US11/723,857
• Publication Number:
  US 20070288868A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,196 Days
• Field of Search: 715/840, 715/810, 715/782
• US Class Current: 715/840
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04895 Guidance during keyboard input operation, e.g. prompting
• 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 portable device and a method of providing menu icons are provided. The portable device includes a button signal determination unit, a focus location checking unit, a background screen management unit, and an icon management unit. The button signal determination unit determines whether an input button signal is the signal of a function button or the signal of a direction button when the button signal is received from a user. The focus location checking unit determines a location of a focus located on a specific menu icon. The background screen management unit changes the view point of a background screen to a direction in which the focus is moved. The icon management unit changes the size of a menu icon based on the location of the focus.

Claims

1. A portable device for providing menu icons, comprising:

a button signal determination unit which, when an input button signal is received from a user, determines whether the input button signal is a signal of a function button or a signal of a direction button;

a focus location checking unit which determines a location of a focus located on a menu icon;

a background screen management unit which changes a view point of a background screen in accordance with a direction in which the focus is moved, such that the background screen moves in the direction in which the focus is moved and the background screen moves with respect to the menu icons, the menu icons'"'"' position being fixed; and

an icon management unit which changes a size of a menu icon based on the location of the focus;

wherein each of the menu icons is superimposed on the background screen, and the menu icons comprise an upper-level icon and a plurality of lower-level icons corresponding to the upper-level icon, and

wherein the plurality of lower-level icons are disposed around the upper-level icon selected by the user and are rotated in a direction of the direction button selected by the user.

2. The portable device of claim 1, further comprising:

a button signal input unit which receives the button signal generated by the user'"'"'s manipulation of a button; and

a display unit which displays the menu icon and the focus located on the menu icon.

3. The portable device of claim 2, wherein:

when the upper-level icon is selected, the selected upper-level icon and lower-level icons corresponding thereto are displayed in a hierarchical fashion.

4. The portable device of claim 3, wherein movement of the upper-level icon and the lower-level icons, locations of which are moved on a screen, is displayed using a motion blur.

5. A method of controlling a portable device for providing menu icons, the method comprising:

receiving a button signal generated through a user'"'"'s manipulation of a button;

if the input button signal is a signal of a direction button, the signal comprising an input direction, determining a location of a focus located on an upper-level icon and moving the location of the focus in the input direction;

if the location of the focus is moved, changing a view point of a background screen in the direction of the movement of the focus, such that the background screen moves with respect to the menu icons, the menu icons'"'"' position being fixed; and

changing a size of a menu icon based on the location of the focus;

wherein each of the menu icons is superimposed on the background screen, and the menu icons comprise an upper-level icon and a plurality of lower-level icons corresponding to the upper-level icon, and

wherein the plurality of lower-level icons are disposed around the upper-level icon selected by the user and are rotated in a direction of the direction button selected by the user.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising, if the input button signal is a signal of a function button, displaying lower-level icons corresponding to the upper-level icon disposed at the location of the focus.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the upper-level icon and the lower-level icons are displayed in a hierarchical fashion.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein movement of the upper-level icon and the lower-level icons, locations of which are moved, is displayed on a screen using a motion blur.