Mobile terminal and control method thereof

• US 8,707,175 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2010
• Issued: 04/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: British Telecommunications PLC (BT Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Sang-Min
• Primary Examiner(s): ITURRALDE, ENRIQUE W
• Application Number:
  US12/729,132
• Publication Number:
  US 20100269040A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,492 Days
• Field of Search: 715741-743, 715769-770, 715772-773, 715/814, 715863-867, 726 16- 19, 726/21, 726 27- 28, 726/30
• US Class Current: 715/702
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A method of controlling a mobile terminal is presented. The method includes detecting a first touch on the mobile terminal for a predetermined time when the mobile terminal is in a locked state, simultaneously displaying a locking icon and an unlocking icon in response to the detected first touch, and detecting a second touch on the locking icon or the unlocking icon, wherein touching the locking icon for a predetermined time will partially unlock the mobile terminal, and wherein touching and dragging the unlocking icon to the locking icon will fully unlock the mobile terminal.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

displaying, on a touchscreen, a locking icon;

displaying, on the touchscreen, a plurality of application icons in response to a touch input received with regard to the locking icon, wherein the plurality of application icons are not displayed until after the touch input is received, wherein each of the displayed plurality of application icons is in a locked state, and wherein each of the plurality of application icons is associated with an application executable at the mobile terminal;

changing displayed appearance of the locking icon;

changing a displayed location of the changed appearance locking icon corresponding to a drag input, wherein the drag input is a touch that occurs over a distance that extends from the touch input, and wherein the displayed location of the changed appearance locking icon generally corresponds to the location of the touchscreen at which the drag input is currently received, and wherein change in location at which the drag input is currently received causes a corresponding change in the displayed location of the changed appearance locking icon;

executing the application of a selected icon of the plurality of application icons, wherein the selected icon is selected according to an ending location of the drag input occurring proximate to the selected icon, and

wherein after receiving the drag input, only the state of the selected icon is unlocked to permit the executing of the application of the selected icon, while remaining icons of the plurality of application icons remain in the locked state.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the locking icon is displayed in response to pressure applied to a button of the mobile terminal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of application icons remain in the locked state until the drag input is released.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of application icons are displayed around the displayed locking icon.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the changed appearance locking icon moves along a drag path of the drag input.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the changed appearance locking icon at least partially overlaps the selected icon when the changed appearance locking icon is dragged to the selected icon.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying an unlocking icon simultaneously with the displaying of the plurality of application icons and the changed appearance locking icon.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected icon is highlighted after the selecting according to the drag input being received proximate to the selected icon.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of application icons is a shortcut to its associated application.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing haptic feedback responsive to the selecting according to the drag input being received proximate to the selected icon.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the locking icon comprises a shape of a lock.

12. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a touchscreen; and

a controller operatively coupled to the touchscreen, wherein the controller is configured to;

cause displaying on the touchscreen, a locking icon;

cause displaying on the touchscreen, a plurality of application icons in response to a touch input received with regard to the locking icon, wherein the plurality of application icons are not displayed until after the touch input is received, wherein each of the displayed plurality of application icons is in a locked state, and wherein each of the plurality of application icons is associated with an application executable at the mobile terminal;

cause a change of displayed appearance of the locking icon;

cause a change of a displayed location of the changed appearance locking icon corresponding to a drag input, wherein the drag input is a touch that occurs over a distance that extends from the touch input, and wherein the displayed location of the changed appearance locking icon generally corresponds to the location of the touchscreen at which the drag input is currently received, and wherein change in location at which the drag input is currently received causes a corresponding change in the displayed location of the changed appearance locking icon;

execute the application of a selected icon of the plurality of application icons, wherein the selected icon is selected according to an ending location of the drag input occurring proximate to the selected icon; and

wherein after receiving the drag input, only the state of the selected icon is unlocked to permit the executing of the application of the selected icon, while remaining icons of the plurality of application icons remain in the locked state.

13. The mobile terminal of claim 12, wherein the locking icon is displayed in response to pressure applied to a button of the mobile terminal.

14. The mobile terminal of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of application icons remain in the locked state until the drag input is released.

15. The mobile terminal of claim 12, wherein the plurality of application icons are displayed around the displayed locking icon.

16. The mobile terminal of claim 12, wherein the changed appearance locking icon moves along a drag path of the drag input.

17. The mobile terminal of claim 16, wherein the changed appearance locking icon at least partially overlaps the selected icon when the changed appearance locking icon is dragged to the selected icon.

18. The mobile terminal of claim 12, wherein the controller is further configured to:

cause the touchscreen to display an unlocking icon simultaneously with the displaying of the plurality of application icons and the changed appearance locking icon.

19. The mobile terminal of claim 12, wherein the selected icon is highlighted after the selecting according to the drag input being received proximate to the selected icon.

20. The mobile terminal of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of application icons is a shortcut to its associated application.

21. The mobile terminal of claim 12, wherein the controller is further configured to:

cause providing of haptic feedback responsive to the selecting according to the drag input being received proximate to the selected icon.

22. The mobile terminal of claim 12, wherein the locking icon comprises a shape of a lock.