Method and apparatus for displaying graphical user interface depending on a user's contact pattern

• US 8,749,510 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2013
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: Park, Yong Gook, Park, Min Kyu, Choo, Hee Jeong, Kim, Hyun Ki, Kim, Hyun Jin, Kwak, Ji Yeon, Lim, Eun Young
• Primary Examiner(s): Chow, Van
• Application Number:
  US13/928,010
• Publication Number:
  US 20130285963A1
• Time in Patent Office: 349 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0414 using force sensing means to determine a position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A graphical user interface (GUI) may be displayed on a display unit in an apparatus which may include a tactile sensor unit. When a contact by a user is detected at the tactile sensor unit, a control unit may receive a contact detection signal therefrom. Based on the contact detection signal, the control unit may determine a contact pattern and may then display the GUI corresponding to the contact pattern. The GUI may be displayed and modified depending on the location and pressure of contacts by a user'"'"'s manipulating fingers. Therefore, a user can manipulate the apparatus without any inconvenience or accidental touches.

Claims

1. A method for displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) on a display unit in an apparatus, the method comprising:

detecting a first input;

determining at least one GUI element based on an application being executed by the apparatus;

displaying the at least one GUI element on the display unit;

detecting a second input corresponding to the first input; and

executing a function based on the at least one GUI element according to the second input,

wherein the first input and the second input are detected at the same location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a location of the at least one GUI element on the display unit is determined according to a location of the first input.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second input comprises a pressure at a location of the first input.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein executing the function comprises changing an arrangement of the at least one GUI element on the display unit in response to the second input, and

wherein changing the arrangement comprises at least one of:

moving the at least one GUI element towards an edge of the display unit, the edge being closest to a location of the detected pressure,

changing a size of the at least one GUI element in proportion to the detected pressure, and

highlighting the at least one GUI element in response to an increase in the detected pressure.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second input comprises a tap at a location of the first input.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein executing the function comprises executing the application corresponding to the at least one GUI element.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein executing the function comprises changing at least one display characteristic of the at least one GUI element.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first input comprises a contact to a tactile sensor unit being located on at least one lateral side of the apparatus.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein determining the at least one GUI element comprises determining a GUI arranging pattern based on the executed application and a contact pattern of the first input.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing a ranking of usage frequency of the at least one GUI element, and

wherein displaying the at least one GUI element comprises displaying the at least one GUI element according to the ranking.

11. An apparatus for displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) on a display unit, the apparatus comprising:

a sensor unit configured to detect a first input and a second input corresponding to the first input;

a control unit configured to determine at least one GUI element based on an application being executed on the apparatus, display the at least one GUI element on the display unit, and execute a function based on the at least one GUI element according to the second input,

wherein the first input and the second input are detected at the same location.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein a location of the at least one GUI element on the display unit is determined according to a location of the first input.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the second input comprises a pressure at a location of the first input.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein, to execute the function, the control unit is configured to change an arrangement of the at least one GUI element on the display unit in response to the second input by being configured to:

move the at least one GUI element towards an edge of the display unit, the edge being closest to a location of the detected pressure,

change a size of the at least one GUI element in proportion to the detected pressure, and

highlight the at least one GUI element in response to an increase in the detected pressure.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the second input comprises a tap at a location of the first input.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the control unit is configured to execute the application corresponding to the at least one GUI element.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the control unit is configured to change at least one display characteristic of the at least one GUI element.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the sensor unit comprises a tactile sensor unit, and the first input comprises a contact to the tactile sensor unit being located on at least one lateral side of the apparatus.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the control unit is configured to determine a GUI arranging pattern based on the executed application and a contact pattern of the first input.

20. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a memory unit configured to store a ranking of usage frequency of the at least one GUI element, and

wherein the control unit is configured to instruct the display unit to display the at least one GUI element according to the ranking.