Method and apparatus for operating mobile terminal

• US 8,542,185 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2009
• Issued: 09/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Jung, Han Chul, Kim, Sun Ae
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, K.
• Application Number:
  US12/633,456
• Publication Number:
  US 20100141574A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,386 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A method for operating a mobile terminal is disclosed. The mobile terminal includes a pressure sensor and an orientation sensor. While a pressure event is detected by the pressure sensor, functions related to content classification, content storage, content display, and menu navigation can be executed in response to a direction event detected by the orientation sensor. Hence, the mobile terminal is capable of operating in a dynamic and a flexible manner.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

detecting a pressure event according to a pressure applied to a mobile terminal;

activating an orientation sensor;

displaying, while the pressure event is being detected, an image indicating a direction to receive a direction event detected by the orientation sensor according to a movement of the mobile terminal in the indicated direction;

commencing to perform at least one function upon detection of the direction event and the pressure event, the at least one function comprising at least one of a content classification and storage function, a content display function, and a menu navigation function; and

completing the at least one function in response to detection of release of the pressure event.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying, on a display unit, a direction arrow on the image, the image comprising text information associated with the at least one function in response to detection of the pressure event.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

displaying one arrow corresponding to the direction, the one arrow being displayed distinctively from other arrows in the direction arrow image.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein performing at least one function comprises:

creating, when performing the content classification and storage function, a file folder corresponding to the direction; and

storing, in response to detecting the direction event, a displayed content in the created file folder corresponding to the direction associated with the direction event.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein performing at least one function further comprises moving an image associated with the displayed content in the direction associated with the direction event.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein performing at least one function comprises:

identifying, when performing the content display function, a file folder corresponding to the direction associated with the direction event; and

displaying, on a display unit, at least one content stored in the identified file folder.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein displaying at least one content comprises one of:

listing multiple contents stored in the file folder on a multi-view screen;

displaying a most recently stored content of the multiple contents; and

displaying a most frequently accessed content of the multiple contents.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein displaying at least one content comprises displaying a stored content on a full screen.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein performing at least one function further comprises displaying, when no content is stored in the identified virtual file folder, an alert indicating a lack of content.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein performing at least one function comprises:

generating, when performing the menu navigation function, a highlight on a screen of the mobile terminal;

moving the highlight in the direction corresponding to the direction event; and

executing, in response to releasing the pressure event, a menu operation indicated by the highlight.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein moving the highlight comprises rapidly moving the highlight in response to repeatedly detecting multiple direction events in the direction during a time period.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein performing at least one function comprises:

identifying, when performing the menu navigation function, an application program on the mobile terminal; and

displaying a menu item to control the identified application program according to the direction event.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising, when the pressure event is detected, at least one of:

displaying, on a display unit of the mobile terminal, a direction arrow image; and

dimming a screen of the display unit being displayed when the pressure event is detected.

14. An apparatus, comprising:

a pressure sensor to detect a pressure event according to a pressure applied to the mobile terminal;

an orientation sensor to detect, while the pressure event is being detected, a direction event according to a movement of the mobile terminal in a direction, wherein an image indicating an direction is displayed to receive the direction event; and

a control unit to control commencement of performing at least one function upon detection of the direction event and the pressure event, the at least one function comprising at least one of a content classification and storage function, a content display function, and a menu navigation function and to control completion of the performance of the at least one function in response to detection of release of the pressure event.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

a display unit to display, in response to detection of the pressure event, a direction arrow on the image, the image comprising text information defining the at least one function.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the display unit is configured to display one arrow corresponding to the direction indicated by the direction event, the one arrow being displayed distinctively from other arrows in the direction arrow image.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the control unit is configured to create, when performing the content classification and storage function, a file folder corresponding to the direction, and to store, in response to detection of the direction event, a first content displayed on the display unit in a created file folder corresponding to the direction indicated by the direction event,

wherein the control unit is configured to identify, when performing the content display function, a file folder corresponding to the direction, and to output at least one content stored in the identified file folder to the display unit, and

wherein the control unit is configured to create, when performing the menu navigation function, a highlight on the screen, to move the highlight in the direction, and to execute, in response to release of the pressure event, a menu operation indicated by the highlight.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the control unit is configured to move the highlight rapidly in response to repeatedly detecting multiple direction events in the direction within a time period.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the display unit is configured to display a direction arrow image in response to detection of the pressure event, and to dim a screen being displayed on the display unit when the pressure event is detected.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the control unit is configured to identify, when performing the menu navigation function, an application program running on the mobile terminal, and to control the display unit to display a menu item to control the identified application program according to the direction event.

21. An apparatus, comprising;

sensors, controllable by a control unit, comprising a first sensor, a second sensor, and a third sensor, the control unit configured;

to activate the first sensor to receive a touch sensing signal;

to activate the second sensor to receive a pressure sensing signal in response to detection of activation of the first sensor; and

to activate the third sensor to receive a direction sensing signal in response to detection of sustain of the pressure sensing signal while the second sensor being activated,

wherein the control unit is further configured;

to display an image indicating a direction to receive a direction event, and

to control commencement of at least one function in response to detection of the pressure sensing signal and the direction sensing signal, and

to control completion of the at least one function in response to detection of release of the pressure sensing signal, and

wherein the at least one function comprising a content classification and storage function, a content display function, and a menu navigation function.

22. A method for operating a terminal, the method comprising:

displaying a content on a display of a terminal;

receiving a first input to activate a motion sensor of the terminal;

displaying, while the first input being detected, at least one indicator representing a direction superimposed over the displayed content and receiving a second input using the motion sensor in a direction corresponding to the at least one indicator displayed overlaying the displayed content; and

performing at least one function in response to receipt of the second input.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the function comprises at least one of a content classification, a storage function, and a menu navigation.