Method and device for selecting a word to be defined in mobile communication terminal having an electronic dictionary

• US 9,092,403 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2010
• Issued: 07/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Seok-Gon, Son, Jae-Gon, Kim, Ki-Tae, Han, Yong-Hee
• Primary Examiner(s): SPOONER, LAMONT M
• Application Number:
  US12/721,321
• Publication Number:
  US 20100169367A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,966 Days
• Field of Search: 704/1, 704/9, 704/10, 715/254, 715/255, 715/769
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• 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 40/157 using dictionaries or tables
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/242 Dictionaries

Abstract

A method and device for selecting a word to be defined in a mobile communication terminal having an electronic dictionary function. The method includes selecting a word in a displayed text document in response to a first input, displaying the selected word in a search window, searching for the displayed word in response to a request to search for the displayed word, displaying information resulting from the search, and terminating display of the information and displaying the text document.

Claims

1. A method for a handheld mobile communication terminal offering a dictionary feature, the method comprising:

displaying at least a portion of a document comprising text;

receiving a selection of a first word in the document by a touch input;

displaying a selection indication on the first word in the document, wherein an area of the selection indication is changeable by a first touch and drag input;

displaying a first visual element for receiving a first user request for lexical information associated with the first word, the first visual element overlaying less than all of the displayed at least the portion of the document;

searching for first lexical information associated with the first word upon receiving the first user request for lexical information;

displaying a first results window comprising the first lexical information that visually replaces the entire displayed at least the portion of the document; and

in response to a user request for terminating the first results window, terminating the displaying of the first results window and displaying the at least the portion of the document with the selection indication on the first word,

wherein, if a request to change the area of the selection indication is received by a second touch and drag input on the selection indication on the displayed at least the portion of the document, the method further comprises;

displaying a resized selection indication on a second word that includes at least one character of the first word in the document;

displaying a second visual element for receiving a second user request for lexical information associated with the second word, the second visual element overlaying less than all of the displayed at least the portion of the document;

searching for second lexical information associated with the second word upon receiving the second user request for lexical information; and

if the second lexical information is found, displaying the second lexical information in a second results window.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first results window and the second results window each visually replace the entire displayed at least the portion of the document.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first results window and the second results window each replace the entire displayed at least the portion of the document while continuing to display a notification including a network state and a battery state.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the selection of the first word in the document comprises at least one of a double touch input and a touch input for a predetermined period.

5. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising a program configured to cause at least one processor to execute the method of claim 1.

6. A handheld mobile communication terminal, the terminal comprising:

a display unit configured to display at least a portion of a document comprising text;

a touch input unit; and

a controller configured to;

control, in response to reception of a selection of a first word in the document by a touch input through the touch input unit, the display unit to display a selection indication on the first word in the document, wherein an area of the selection indication is changeable by a first touch and drag input through the touch input unit;

display a first visual element for receiving a first user request for lexical information associated with the first word, the first visual element overlaying less than all of the displayed at least the portion of the document;

search for first lexical information associated with the first word upon receiving the first user request for lexical information,

control the display unit to display a first results window comprising the first lexical information that visually replaces the entire displayed at least the portion of the document; and

control, in response to a user request for terminating the first results window, the display unit to terminate the display of the first results window and to display the at least the portion of the document with the selection indication on the first word,

wherein, if a request to change the area of the selection indication is received by a second touch and drag input on the selection indication on the displayed at least the portion of the document, the controller is further configured to;

control the display unit to display a resized selection indication on a second word that includes at least one character of the first word in the document;

display a second visual element for receiving a second user request for lexical information associated with the second word, the second visual element overlaying less than all of the displayed at least the portion of the document;

search for second lexical information associated with the second word upon receiving the second user request for lexical information; and

if the second lexical information is found, control the display unit to display the second lexical information in a second results window.

7. The terminal of claim 6, wherein the first results window and the second results window each visually replace the entire displayed at least the portion of the document.

8. The terminal of claim 6, wherein the first results window and the second results window each replace the entire displayed at least the portion of the document while continuing to display a notification including a network state and a battery state.

9. The terminal of claim 6, wherein the selection of the first word in the document comprises at least one of a double touch input and a touch input for a predetermined period.