User interface for creating multimedia message of mobile communication terminal and method thereof

• US 8,504,080 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2004
• Issued: 08/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Jo, Jang Hyeon, Yoon, Jong Kwan, Lee, Ji Youn
• Primary Examiner(s): MITCHELL, NATHAN A
• Application Number:
  US10/856,666
• Publication Number:
  US 20050136953A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,357 Days
• Field of Search: 370/328, 370/349, 455/466, 455/414.1, 455/566, 715/810, 715/828, 715/829
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/166 Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72439 for image or video messaging

Abstract

A user interface method for creating a multimedia message of a mobile communication terminal is disclosed in which menu fields for creating a multimedia message are displayed in one screen, and when inputting content for each menu field is completed, it is automatically switched to a multimedia message-creating screen in which a selecting bar is positioned at the next field. In addition, while a user is using a multimedia function, a current image can be switched to the multimedia message-creating screen according to a user'"'"'s need. Thus, the number of user'"'"'s key manipulations can be reduced in creating the multimedia message, thereby enhancing a user'"'"'s convenience.

Claims

1. A method for processing a multimedia message in a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

initiating a message mode;

displaying a menu for initiating a photograph mode in the message mode;

receiving an input for initiating the photograph mode in the message mode;

switching to the photograph mode in response to the received input;

capturing an image to be transmitted with a multimedia message via a camera of the mobile terminal in the photograph mode;

switching to the message mode, the captured image being attached to the multimedia message to be transmitted, wherein at least the attached image and an address field are displayed in the message mode;

selecting the address field to receive at least one contact address;

displaying a contact menu when the address field is selected;

displaying a contact list comprising at least one contact when the displayed contact menu is selected;

receiving an input for selecting a specific contact from the contact list;

displaying contact information of the selected specific contact in response to the input for selecting the specific contact, the contact information comprising a plurality of contact addresses, the contact list not being displayed when the contact information of the selected specific contact is displayed;

receiving an input for selecting at least one of the plurality of contact addresses; and

transmitting the multimedia message with the attached image to the selected specific contact according to the selected at least one of the plurality of contact addresses.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving user input for attaching the captured image to the multimedia message.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether a subject field of the multimedia message has received input; and

displaying, in the subject field, at least a portion of text from message content received in a message body of the multimedia message upon determining that the subject field has not received input,

wherein the portion of the text starts from a beginning of the text in the message body.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein in the message mode, a selecting bar is automatically re-positioned from a first field to a second field when an input is received in the first field.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

activating an input screen of the address field of the multimedia message and receiving a contact address via the input screen of the address field.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

automatically activating an input screen of a next field of the multimedia message after receiving the contact information via the input screen of the address field.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the contact list is stored in the mobile terminal.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

displaying the selected at least one of the plurality of contact addresses in the address field.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of contact addresses comprise at least a phone number and an email address of the selected specific contact.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of contact addresses comprise at least two phone numbers or at least two e-mail addresses of the selected specific contact.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying the captured image as a preview image before transmitting the multimedia message, allowing a user to amend the multimedia message.

12. A method for processing a multimedia message in a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

initiating a message mode;

displaying a menu for initiating a multimedia mode in the message mode;

receiving an input for initiating recording in the multimedia mode;

recording audio information in response to the input and generating an audio file comprising the recorded audio information to be transmitted with a message;

attaching the audio file to the message;

displaying at least an address field in the message mode;

selecting the address field to receive at least one contact address;

displaying a contact menu when the address field is selected;

displaying a contact list comprising at least one contact when the displayed contact menu is selected;

receiving an input for selecting a specific contact from the contact list;

displaying contact information of the selected specific contact in response to the input for selecting the specific contact, the contact information comprising a plurality of contact addresses, the contact list not being displayed when the contact information of the selected specific contact is displayed;

receiving an input for selecting at least one of the plurality of contact addresses; and

transmitting the message with the attached audio file to the specific contact according to the selected at least one of the plurality of contact addresses.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the audio information comprises a voice memo.

34. The method of claim 12, wherein in the message mode, a selecting bar is automatically re-positioned from a first field to a second field when an input is received in the first field.

35. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

activating an input screen of the address field of the message and receiving a contact address via the input screen of the address field.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

automatically activating an input screen of a next field of the message after receiving the contact information via the input screen of the address field.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the contact list is stored in the mobile terminal.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

displaying the selected at least one of the plurality of contact addresses in the address field.

39. The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of contact addresses comprise at least a phone number and an email address of the selected specific contact.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the plurality of contact addresses comprise at least two phone numbers or at least two e-mail addresses of the selected specific contact.

14. A mobile terminal comprising:

an input unit configured to receive an input for initiating a message mode or a photograph mode;

a display configured to display a screen related to the message mode in response to the input for initiating the message mode, the display further displaying a menu for initiating the photograph mode in the message mode; and

a camera configured to capture an image to be transmitted with a multimedia message upon entering the photograph mode from the message mode in response to the input for initiating the photograph mode,

wherein the mobile terminal is configured to;

switch to the message mode when the image is captured;

attach the captured image to the multimedia message;

displaying at least the attached image and an address field in the message mode;

select the address field to receive at least one contact address;

display a contact menu when the address field is selected;

display a contact list comprising at least one contact when the displayed contact menu is selected;

receive an input for selecting a specific contact from the contact list;

display contact information of the selected specific contact in response to the input for selecting the specific contact, the contact information comprising a plurality of contact addresses, the contact list not being displayed when the contact information of the selected specific contact is displayed;

receive an input for selecting at least one of the plurality of contact addresses; and

transmit the multimedia message with the attached image to the specific contact according to the selected at least one of the plurality of contact addresses.

15. The mobile terminal of claim 14, wherein the input unit is further configured to receive an input for attaching the captured image and the mobile terminal is further configured to attach the captured image to the multimedia message in response to the input for attaching the captured image.

16. The mobile terminal of claim 14, wherein the mobile terminal is further configured to:

determine whether a subject field of the multimedia message has received input; and

display, in the subject field, at least a portion of text from message content received in a message body of the multimedia message upon determining that the subject field has not received input,

wherein the portion of the text starts from a beginning of the text in the message body.

17. The mobile terminal of claim 14, wherein in the message mode, a selecting bar is automatically re-positioned from a first field to a second field when an input is received in the first field.

18. The mobile terminal of claim 14, wherein the mobile terminal is further configured to activate an input screen of the address field of the multimedia message and receive a contact address via the input screen of the address field.

19. The mobile terminal of claim 18, wherein the mobile terminal is further configured to automatically activate an input screen of a next field of the multimedia message after receiving the contact information via the input screen of the address field.

20. The mobile terminal of claim 18, wherein the contact list is stored in the mobile terminal.

21. The mobile terminal of claim 20, wherein the mobile terminal is further configured to display the selected at least one of the plurality of contact addresses in the address field.

22. The mobile terminal of claim 14, wherein the plurality of contact addresses comprise at least a phone number and an email address of the selected specific contact.

23. The mobile terminal of claim 22, wherein the plurality of contact addresses comprise at least two phone numbers or at least two e-mail addresses of the selected specific contact.

24. The mobile terminal of claim 14, wherein the mobile terminal is further configured to display, on the display, the captured image as a preview image before transmitting the multimedia message, allowing a user to amend the multimedia message.

25. A mobile terminal comprising:

an input unit configured to receive an input for initiating a message mode or a multimedia mode;

a display configured to display a screen related to the message mode in response to the input for initiating the message mode, the display further displaying a menu for initiating the multimedia mode in the message mode; and

a microphone configured to record audio information in the multimedia mode,

wherein the mobile terminal is configured to;

generate an audio file comprising the recorded audio information to be transmitted with a message;

switch to the message mode and attach the audio file to the message;

display at least an address field in the message mode;

select the address field to receive at least one contact address;

display a contact menu when the address field is selected;

display a contact list comprising at least one contact when the displayed contact menu is selected;

receive an input for selecting a specific contact from the contact list;

display contact information of the selected specific contact in response to the input for selecting the specific contact, the contact information comprising a plurality of contact addresses, the contact list not being displayed when the contact information of the selected specific contact is displayed;

receive an input for selecting at least one of the plurality of contact addresses; and

transmit the message with the attached audio file to the specific contact according to the selected at least one of the plurality of contact addresses.

26. The mobile terminal of claim 25, wherein the audio information comprises a voice memo.

27. The mobile terminal of claim 25, wherein in the message mode, a selecting bar is automatically re-positioned from a first field to a second field when an input is received in the first field.

28. The mobile terminal of claim 25, wherein the mobile terminal is further configured to activate an input screen of the address field of the message and receive a contact address via the input screen of the address field.

29. The mobile terminal of claim 28, wherein the mobile terminal is further configured to automatically activate an input screen of a next field of the message after receiving the contact information via the input screen of the address field.

30. The mobile terminal of claim 28, wherein the contact list is stored in the mobile terminal.

31. The mobile terminal of claim 30, wherein the mobile terminal is further configured to display the selected at least one of the plurality of contact addresses in the address field.

32. The mobile terminal of claim 25, wherein the plurality of contact addresses comprise at least a phone number and an email address of the selected specific contact.

33. The mobile terminal of claim 32, wherein the plurality of contact addresses comprise at least two phone numbers or at least two e-mail addresses of the selected specific contact.