Mobile terminal and method of displaying menu icon thereof

• US 8,607,165 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2008
• Issued: 12/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Optis Cellular Technology LLC (Brevet Capital)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Seong Cheol, Lim, Min Taik, Song, Jun Hyuck
• Primary Examiner(s): Bashore, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Distefano, Gregory A
• Application Number:
  US12/176,314
• Publication Number:
  US 20090031253A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,971 Days
• Field of Search: 715/835, 715/201, 715/765
• US Class Current: 715/835
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A method for displaying icons on a portable device. The method includes displaying a first icon group including at least one icon on a touchscreen of the portable device, wherein at least one icon of the first icon group is selectable responsive to a detected presence of an input at a location proximate to a displayed location of the at least one icon, and displaying a second icon group including at least one icon on the touchscreen, wherein the at least one icon of the second icon group is selectable responsive to user contact with a mechanical input device, and wherein the selection of the at least one icon of the second icon group causes the first icon group to be displayed.

Claims

1. An icon display method of a portable device, the icon display method comprising:

displaying a first icon group on a touchscreen of the portable device, the first icon group including at least one icon, the at least one icon being selectable via an input received on the touchscreen;

displaying a second icon group on the touchscreen concurrently with the first icon group, the second icon group including at least one icon, the at least one icon being selectable only via an input received on a key input unit;

enabling the touchscreen to detect a touch, when the first icon group is displayed on the touchscreen; and

disabling the touchscreen from detecting a touch by not providing the touchscreen with a current for detecting the touch, in response to the first icon group being no longer displayed on the touchscreen,

wherein the first icon group is visually distinguishable from the second icon group.

2. The icon display method of claim 1, wherein the at least one icon of the first icon group is associated with a specific function of the portable device.

3. The icon display method of claim 1, wherein the at least one icon of the second icon group is associated with a menu item of the portable device.

4. The icon display method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing a first function, when the at least one icon of the first icon group is selected for less than a predetermined time; and

performing a second function, when the at least one icon of the first icon group is selected for a time greater than or equal to the predetermined time.

5. The icon display method of claim 1, wherein the at least one icon of the first icon group is further configured to be selectable via a key on the key input unit and to be displayed in proximity to an indicator corresponding to the key.

6. The icon display method of claim 1, wherein the user may configure the at least one icon of the first icon group to be selectable via the touchscreen or the key input unit.

7. The icon display method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a menu for removing the at least one icon of the first icon group, if the at least one icon is selected for a time greater than a predetermined time.

8. The icon display method of claim 1, further comprising displaying on the touch screen an icon addition menu configured to add an icon to the first icon group.

9. The icon display method of claim 1, further comprising adding a most frequently used icon of the portable device to the first icon group.

10. A method for displaying icons on a portable device, the method comprising:

displaying a first icon group on a touchscreen of the portable device, the first icon group including at least one icon, the at least one icon being selectable via an input received on the touchscreen;

displaying a second icon group on the touchscreen concurrently with the first icon group, the second icon group including at least one icon, the at least one icon being selectable only via an input received on a key input unit;

enabling the touchscreen to detect a touch, when the first icon group is displayed on the touchscreen; and

disabling the touchscreen from detecting a touch by not providing the touchscreen with a current for detecting the touch, in response to the first icon group being no longer displayed on the touchscreen.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one icon of the first icon group is associated with a distinct function of the portable device.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one icon of the second icon group is associated with a menu item of the portable device.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein:

enabling the touchscreen to detect the touch includes providing the touchscreen with the current for detecting the touch, when the first icon group is displayed on the touchscreen.

14. A portable device for displaying icons, the portable device comprising:

a wireless communication unit configured to communicate with devices;

a key input unit configured to receive input from a user;

a touchscreen configured to display at least one icon;

an audio output unit configured to output audio;

a power supply configured to supply power to the portable device; and

a control unit configured to control the portable device,

wherein the control unit is further configured to;

control the touchscreen to display a first icon group on the touchscreen, the first icon group including at least one icon, the at least one icon being selectable via an input on the touch screen,

control the touchscreen to display a second icon group on the touch screen concurrently with the first icon group, the second icon group including at least one icon, the at least one icon being selectable only via an input received on the key input unit, and

enable the touchscreen to detect a touch, when the first icon group is displayed on the touchscreen; and

disable the touchscreen from detecting a touch by not providing the touchscreen with a current for detecting the touch, in response to the first icon group being no longer displayed on the touchscreen.

15. The portable device of claim 14, wherein the portable device further comprises:

a sensing unit configured to sense if the portable device is an open state or a closed state;

a first body and a second body, the first body sliding relative to the second body such that the first body overlaps the second body in the closed state and a portion of the second body is exposed in the open state.

16. The portable device of claim 14, wherein the portable device further comprises:

a sensing unit configured to sense if the portable device is an open state or a closed state; and

a first body and a second body, the first body folding and unfolding relative to the second body.

17. The portable device of claim 14, wherein the portable device further comprises a front housing unit and a rear housing unit coupled together with the components of the portable device housed between the front housing unit and rear housing unit.

18. The portable device of claim 14, wherein the portable device comprises:

a sensing unit configured to sense if the portable device is an open state or a closed state; and

a first body and a second body, the first body configured to swing at a ninety degree angle relative to the second body.

19. The portable device of claim 14, wherein controller is further configured to enable the touchscreen to detect the touch only when the first icon group is displayed on the touchscreen.

20. The portable device of claim 14, wherein the first icon group is visually distinguishable from the second icon group.

21. The portable device of claim 14, wherein the key input unit comprises a keypad, and wherein the at least one icon of the first icon group is selectable via an input received on the keypad and the controller is further configured to control the touchscreen to display an indicator corresponding to a key on the keypad next to the at least one icon of the first icon group.