Method of inputting user input by using mobile device, and mobile device using the method

• US 9,507,439 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2014
• Issued: 11/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Choi, Young-joon, Yoon, Yeo-jun, Kwak, Ji-Yeon, Seo, Joon-kyu, Lee, Yong-yeon
• Primary Examiner(s): Tzeng, Fred
• Application Number:
  US14/452,064
• Publication Number:
  US 20150035748A1
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1694 the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion

Abstract

Provided are a method of inputting a user input by using a mobile device and a mobile device using the method. The method of performing operations of the mobile device according to a plurality of input modes, the method being performed by the mobile device, includes operations of, determining whether the mobile device is placed on a surface, if the determining of whether the mobile device is placed on the surface indicates that the mobile device is placed on the surface, changing an input mode of the mobile device, and performing a preset operation that corresponds to the changed input mode.

Claims

1. A method of performing operations of a mobile device according to a plurality of input modes, the method being performed by the mobile device and comprising:

determining whether the mobile device is placed on a surface;

if the determining of whether the mobile device is placed on the surface indicates that the mobile device is placed on the surface, changing an input mode of the mobile device; and

performing a preset operation that corresponds to the changed input mode;

wherein the changing of the input mode comprises changing the input mode from an on-hand mode to an on-surface mode, and

wherein the method further comprises;

determining whether the mobile device on the surface is held by a user; and

when the determining of whether the mobile device on the surface is held by the user indicates that the mobile device is held by the user, changing the input mode from the on-surface mode to the on-hand mode.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, when the input mode is changed, the method further comprises:

activating or deactivating a sensor in the mobile device, and

changing an operation of the mobile device which corresponds to a user input.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the performing of the preset operation comprises changing a user interface that is displayed on the mobile device to a user interface that corresponds to the changed input mode, and displaying the changed user interface.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a user input with respect to the mobile device; and

performing an operation that corresponds to the received user input, according to the changed input mode.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a state in which the mobile device is placed on the surface, and

wherein the performing of the preset operation comprises performing the preset operation that corresponds to the changed input mode according to the state in which the mobile device is placed on the surface.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the state in which the mobile device is placed on the surface comprises at least one of a state in which the mobile device is placed on the surface so that a front surface of the mobile device faces the surface;

a state in which the mobile device is placed on the surface so that a rear surface of the mobile device faces the surface; and

a state in which the mobile device is placed vertically on the surface.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the method of claim 1.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the surface is flat.

9. A method of performing an operation of a mobile device according to a user input, the method being performed by the mobile device and comprising:

when the mobile device is placed on a surface, selecting an input mode from among a plurality of input modes of the mobile device;

receiving, from a user, a hitting input indicating that the user has hit the surface on which the mobile device is placed; and

performing an operation that corresponds to the hitting input based on the selected input mode,

wherein the method further comprises;

changing an input mode of the mobile device from an on-hand mode to an on-surface mode,

determining whether the mobile device on the surface is held by the user; and

when the determining of whether the mobile device on the surface is held by the user indicates that the mobile device is held by the user, changing the input mode from the on-surface mode to the on-hand mode.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of input modes comprises the on-hand mode and the on-surface mode, and

wherein, when the mobile device is placed on the surface, the selecting of the input mode comprises selecting the on-surface mode from among the plurality of input modes.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising establishing a communication channel with another mobile device placed on the surface, according to the hitting input.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the establishing of the communication channel comprises:

when the hitting input with a preset pattern is received, broadcasting connection information about the mobile device to the other mobile device;

receiving, from the other mobile device, a connection request based on the connection information; and

connecting with the other mobile device, according to the connection request.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining a location of the mobile device with respect to the other mobile device, based on the hitting input, and

wherein an object to be displayed on the mobile device and the other mobile device is determined based on the location of the mobile device.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving a tilting input for spacing apart a portion of the mobile device from the surface while another portion of the mobile device remains on the surface; and

when the tilting input is received, transmitting content that is displayed on the mobile device to the other mobile device.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving, from a user, a bezel input indicating that a user has touched a portion of a bezel of the mobile device placed on the surface; and

when the bezel input is received, transmitting content that is displayed on the mobile device to the other mobile device.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the receiving of the hitting input comprises sensing a vibration that is generated when the surface is hit, by using a vibration sensor of the mobile device.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein the receiving of the hitting input comprises sensing a sound that is generated when the surface is hit, by using a microphone of the mobile device.

18. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

sensing a movement of the mobile device placed on the surface; and

performing an operation that corresponds to the sensed movement of the mobile device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the sensing of the movement of the mobile devices comprises receiving a tilting input for spacing apart a portion of the mobile device from the surface while another portion of the mobile device is still placed on the surface.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the sensing of the movement comprises sensing that a location of the mobile device on the surface is moved while the mobile device is still placed on the surface.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the sensing of the movement of the mobile device comprises sensing that a direction of the mobile device on the surface is changed while the mobile device is still placed on the surface.

22. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving, from a user, a bezel input indicating that a user has touched a portion of a bezel of the mobile device placed on the surface; and

performing an operation that corresponds to the bezel input.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

sensing a movement of the mobile device placed on the surface, wherein the sensed movement occurs in response to the bezel input; and

performing an operation that corresponds to the bezel input and the sensed movement of the mobile device.

24. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the method of claim 9.

25. The method of claim 9, wherein the surface is flat.

26. A mobile device configured to perform operations according to a plurality of input modes, the mobile device comprising:

a user inputter configured to sense a status of the mobile device; and

a controller configured to determine, based on the status, whether the mobile device is placed on a surface, to change an input mode of the mobile device in response to determining that the mobile device is placed on the surface, and to perform a preset operation that corresponds to the changed input mode,

wherein the controller is further configured to change the input mode from an on-hand mode to an on-surface mode, determine whether the mobile device on the surface is held by a user, and when the determination of whether the mobile device on the surface is held by the user indicates that the mobile device is held by the user, change the input mode from the on-surface mode to the on-hand mode.

27. A mobile device configured to perform an operation according to a user input, the mobile device comprising:

a user inputter configured to receive, from a user, a hitting input indicating that the user has hit a surface on which the mobile device is placed; and

a controller configured to, when the mobile device is placed on the surface, select an input mode from among a plurality of input modes of the mobile device, and perform an operation that corresponds to the hitting input based on the selected input mode,

wherein the controller is further configured to change the input mode from an on-hand mode to an on-surface mode, determine whether the mobile device on the surface is held by the user, and when the determination of whether the mobile device on the surface is held by the user indicates that the mobile device is held by the user, change the input mode from the on-surface mode to the on-hand mode.

28. A mobile device, comprising:

a user inputter configured to, when the mobile device is placed on a surface, receive a hitting input indicating that a user has hit an area of the surface near the mobile device;

a communicator configured to establish a communication channel with another mobile device which has also received the hitting input; and

a controller configured to synchronize an operation of the mobile device with an operation of the other mobile device using the communication channel.

29. The mobile device of claim 28, wherein the controller is configured to synchronize the operations of the mobile device and the other mobile device such that content displayed by the mobile device and content displayed by the other mobile device is displayed in synchronization with each other.

30. The mobile device of claim 29, wherein the controller is configured to synchronize the content of the mobile device and the content of the other mobile device such that a first photograph in an album is displayed by the mobile device, and a second photograph following the first photograph in the album is displayed by the other mobile device.

31. The mobile device of claim 28, wherein the controller is configured to synchronize the operations of the mobile device and the other mobile device such that audio data which is output by the mobile device and audio data which is output by the other mobile device is output in synchronization with each other.

32. The mobile device of claim 31, wherein the controller is configured to synchronize the audio data such that the mobile device outputs audio data corresponding to a left speaker channel, and the other mobile device outputs audio data corresponding to a right speaker channel.