Image processing apparatus and controlling method of the same

• US 8,661,365 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2010
• Issued: 02/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Yoo, Ho-june, Soh, Byung-seok, Choi, Eun-seok, Choi, Sang-on
• Primary Examiner(s): PHANTANA ANGKOOL, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US12/855,726
• Publication Number:
  US 20110061020A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,292 Days
• Field of Search: 715/790, 715/788, 715/798
• US Class Current: 715/790
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4438 Window management, e.g. event handling following interaction with the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen

Abstract

An image processing apparatus and a controlling method of the same are provided. The method includes displaying a first screen corresponding to a first application; displaying a second screen corresponding to a second application above the first screen such that the second screen overlaps at least a portion of the first screen; and displaying at least a portion of the second screen that overlaps the portion of the first screen, while controlling the first application.

Claims

1. A method of controlling an image processing apparatus including a display unit, the method comprising:

providing a first screen layer corresponding to a first application;

providing a first cursor layer corresponding to the first screen layer, wherein a first pointing cursor to control the first application is displayed on the first cursor layer;

providing a second screen layer corresponding to a second application;

providing a second cursor layer corresponding to the second screen layer, wherein a second pointing cursor to control the second application is displayed on the second cursor layer;

arranging the plurality of screen layers sequentially, wherein the plurality of screen layers overlap each other; and

displaying the arranged screen layers on the display unit,

wherein the first screen layer includes a first screen region assigned to display the first application and a first transparent region,

the second screen layer includes a second screen region assigned to display the second application and a second transparent region,

the first cursor layer includes a first cursor region assigned to display the first pointing cursor and a third transparent region, and

the second cursor layer includes a second cursor region assigned to display the second pointing cursor and a fourth transparent region.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second pointing cursors are movable to at least one location of below the first screen, above the first screen layer, between the first and second screen layers, and above the second screen layer.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second pointing cursors are changed in at least one of transparency, shape, brightness and color if the first and second pointing cursors are moved from a first location to a second location that is different from the first location.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein

the first pointing cursor and the second pointing cursor control the first application and the second application, respectively.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein if one of the first screen layer and the second screen layer is not displayed, the first pointing cursor or the second pointing cursor corresponding to the non-displayed one of the first screen layer and the second screen layer controls an application corresponding to a displayed one of the first screen layer and the second screen layer that underlies and is most adjacent to the first pointing cursor or the second pointing cursor corresponding to the non-displayed one of the first screen layer and the second screen layer.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the first pointing cursor and the second pointing cursor are changed in at least one of transparency, shape, brightness and color while the first pointing cursor or the second pointing cursor control the application corresponding to the displayed one of the first screen layer and the second screen layer that underlies and is most adjacent to the first pointing cursor or the second pointing cursor corresponding to the non-displayed one of the first screen layers and the second screen layer.

7. The method according to claim 4, wherein the first pointing cursor is movable within a first screen region, and the second pointing cursor is movable within a second screen region.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the first pointing cursor and the second pointing cursor are changed in at least one of transparency, shape, brightness and color when moved beyond the region of the first screen layer and the region of the second screen layer, respectively.

9. An image processing apparatus comprising:

an image processor which processes and displays an image on a display unit; and

a controller which controls the image processor to provide a first screen layer corresponding to a first application, a first cursor layer corresponding to the first screen layer, which displays a first pointing cursor to control the first application, a second screen layer corresponding to a second application, and a second cursor layer corresponding to the second screen layer, which displays a second pointing cursor to control the second application, to arrange the plurality of screen layers sequentially, and to display the arranged screen layers on the display unit,

wherein the plurality of screen layers overlap each other, and

wherein the first screen layer includes a first screen region assigned to display the first application and a first transparent region, the second screen layer includes a second screen region assigned to display the second application and a second transparent region, the first cursor layer includes a first cursor region assigned to display the first pointing cursor and a third transparent region, and the second cursor layer includes a second cursor region assigned to display the second pointing cursor and a fourth transparent region.