Terminal and method of controlling the same

• US 9,436,378 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2015
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Seong Cheol, Seo, Jin, Park, Sang Hyun
• Primary Examiner(s): BHARGAVA, ANIL K
• Application Number:
  US14/735,594
• Publication Number:
  US 20150277695A1
• Time in Patent Office: 454 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/027 by controlling a display operation or backlight unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A mobile terminal including a wireless communication unit configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one other terminal, a touch screen, and a controller configured to display a first group of touch-available icons in response to a first touch-drag in a first direction on the touch screen, in response to a selection of a specific touch-available icon included in the first group of touch-available icons, execute a function corresponding to the specific touch-available icon, and display a second group of touch-available icons in response to a second touch-drag in a second direction on the touch screen, the second direction being substantially perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the second group of touch-available icons correspond to terminal setting relevant icons, and wherein the second group of touch-available icons disappear in response to a third touch-drag in a third direction opposite to the second direction.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal comprising:

a wireless communication unit configured to wireiessly communicate with at least one other terminal;

a touch screen; and

a controller configured to;

display a first group of touch-available icons in response to a first touch-drag in a first direction on the touch screen, such that the first group of touch-available icons slidingly appear across an end side of the touch screen in the first direction,

in response to a selection of a specific touch-available icon included in the first group of touch-available icons, execute a function corresponding to the specific touch-available icon, and

display a second group of touch-available icons corresponding to terminal setting relevant menus in response to a second touch-drag in a second direction on the touch screen, the second direction being substantially perpendicular to the first direction, such that the second group of touch-available icons corresponding to the terminal setting relevant menus appear on the touch screen in the second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction,

wherein the second group of touch-available icons disappear in response to a third touch-drag in a third direction opposite to the second direction.

2. The mobile terminal of claim 1. Wherein the first group of touch-available icons appears on the touch screen in response to the first touch-drag and follows along the first touch-drag on the touch screen.

3. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the specific touch-available icon is an audio playing icon, and the executed function is an audio playing function.

4. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to display a message reception indicator on the touch screen in response to a received message.

5. The mobile terminal of claim 4, wherein the controller is further configured to display a touch icon for replying to the received message.

6. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the first group of touch-available icons moves in the first direction and disappears from the touch screen in response to a third touch drag in the first direction.

7. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the first touch-drag is a flick.

8. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the first group of touch-available icons is displayed in a grid with a border surrounding the first group of touch-available icons.

9. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the first group of touch-available icons partially covers a screen previously displayed on the touch screen.

10. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the end side is a boundary between an inner area and an outer area of the touch screen.

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

displaying a first group of touch-available icons in response to a first touch-drag in a first direction on a touch screen of the mobile terminal, such that the first group of touch-available icons slidingiy appear across an end side of the touch screen in the first direction;

in response to a selection of a specific touch-available icon included in the first group of touch-available icons, executing, via a controller of the mobile terminal, a function corresponding to the specific touch-available icon; and

displaying a second group of touch-available icons corresponding to terminal setting relevant menus in response to a second touch-drag in a second direction on the touch screen, the second direction being substantially perpendicular to the first direction, such that the second group of touch-available icons corresponding to the terminal setting relevant menus appear on the touch screen in the second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction,

wherein the second group of touch-available icons disappear in response to a third

touch-drag in a third direction opposite to the second direction.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first group of touch-available icons appears on the touch screen in response to the first touch-drag and follows along the first touch-drag on the touch screen.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the specific touch-available icon is an audio playing icon, and the executed function is an audio playing function.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

displaying a message reception indicator on the touch screen in response to a received message.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

displaying a touch icon for replying to the received message.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the first group of touch-available icons moves in the first direction, and disappears from the touch screen in response to a third touch drag in the first direction.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the first touch drag is a flick.