Method of executing function on standby screen of mobile terminal

• US 8,819,552 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Park, Chan Woo, Kim, Soon Ok
• Primary Examiner(s): PHANTANA ANGKOOL, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US11/928,634
• Publication Number:
  US 20080126994A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,492 Days
• Field of Search: 715/716, 715/846
• US Class Current: 715/716
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

A method of executing a function on a standby screen of a mobile terminal capable of executing various functions on a standby screen by selecting a function icon displayed on the standby screen is provided. The method of executing a function on a standby screen of a mobile terminal includes displaying at least one function icon on the standby screen; selecting a displayed function icon; displaying a preview of a function connected to the selected function icon on the standby screen; and executing the function connected to the preview by selecting the preview. Therefore, the user can easily and quickly execute a function connected to a function icon on the standby screen by selecting the function icon, so that provision of a dedicated key can be minimized.

Claims

1. A method of executing a function on a display screen of a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

displaying function icons on the display screen;

selecting one of the displayed function icons;

displaying a preview of a function corresponding to the selected function icon on the display screen; and

executing the function corresponding to the preview by selecting the preview,

wherein the display screen is configured to display a setting and each function icon is displayed as an item typically found in the setting,

wherein executing the function corresponding to the preview by selecting the preview comprises converting from the display screen to a function execution screen.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the setting includes at least one of a room, an office, a field, a restaurant, a theater, and a school.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein each function icon is related to a function of the mobile terminal, and has a shape of an item for decorating the setting and wherein the display screen displays a shape of the setting decorated with the items corresponding to the function icons.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting one of the displayed function icons comprises selecting the function icon using a pointer displayed on the display screen.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting one of the displayed function icons comprises selecting the function icon using a direction key moving a pointer between the function icons.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the display screen is displayed on a touch screen and wherein selecting one of the displayed function icons comprises selecting the function icon by touching the touch screen.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the preview of the function is displayed in an area having the selected function icon at its center.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the preview of the function is displayed using one of a pop-up window and a Picture-In-Picture (PIP).

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the function icons are positioned on the display screen to display at least a part of each function icon that is not selected on the display screen.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein a plurality of previews are displayed on the display screen.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein each function icon corresponds to one of a digital broadcasting function, a Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG)-1 Audio Layer 3 (MP3) player function, a radio function, a camera function, a voice communication function, a text messaging function, a Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation function, and a scheduler function.

12. A method of executing a function on a display screen of a mobile terminal, comprising:

displaying the display screen having at least one function icon;

selecting a displayed function icon;

displaying a preview of a function corresponding to the selected function icon on the display screen;

determining whether the displayed preview or another function icon is selected on the display screen; and

when the displayed preview is selected on the display screen, executing the function corresponding to the selected preview and converting from the display screen to a function execution screen,

wherein the display screen is configured to display a setting and each function icon is displayed as an item typically found in the setting.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the setting includes at least one of a room, an office, a field, a restaurant, a theater, and a school.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising when another function icon is selected on the display screen, displaying a preview of a function corresponding to the newly selected function icon on the display screen.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the function icon and the preview are selected using a pointer displayed on the display screen.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein each function icon is related to a function of the mobile terminal, and has a shape of an item for decorating a room and wherein the display screen displays a shape of the room decorated with the items corresponding to the function icons.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein each function icon corresponds to one of a digital broadcasting function, a Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG)-1 Audio Layer 3 (MP3) player function, a radio function, a camera function, a voice communication function, a text messaging function, a Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation function, and a scheduler function.