Function execution method based on a user input, and electronic device thereof

• US 9,536,126 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2014
• Issued: 01/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Yoon, Sung-Jin, Lee, Yu-Jin
• Primary Examiner(s): MARIAM, DANIEL G
• Application Number:
  US14/468,962
• Publication Number:
  US 20150063662A1
• Time in Patent Office: 861 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/13 Sensors therefor

Abstract

Provided is a method and apparatus for executing a function based on a user input. The method of executing a function in an electronic device includes: sensing a user input for selecting an object in a first area; recognizing a surface pattern of an input unit used for providing a user input in a third area when the user input is sensed in the third area; and executing a related function, based on a surface pattern recognition result in the third area when the user input of the first area and the user input of the third area are associated with each other. Accordingly, a function desired by a user may be readily executed.

Claims

1. A method of executing a function in an electronic device, the method comprising:

if an object in a first area of a touch screen of the electronic device is selected, displaying at least one sub-object associated with the selected object in a second area of the touch screen;

sensing a user input for selecting an sub-object in the second area;

recognizing a surface pattern of an input unit used for providing a user input on a third area of the touch screen if the user input is sensed on the third area; and

executing a related function, based on a surface pattern recognition result in the third area, if the user input on the first area, the user input on the second area, and the user input on the third area are associated with each other.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein executing the related function comprises:

comparing the recognized surface pattern with a registered surface pattern; and

if a registered surface pattern identical to the recognized surface pattern exists, executing a function associated with the object selected in the first area.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user input on the first area and the user input on the third area comprise:

a continuous input motion in which the user input on the first area is continued to the third area, or a sequential input motion in which a user input is sequentially provided in each of the first area and the third area within a predetermined period of time.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the user input on the first area, the user input on the second area, and the user input on the third area comprise:

a continuous input motion in which the user input on the first area is continued to the second area, and to the third area, or a sequential input motion in which a user input is sequentially provided in each of the first area, the second area, and the third area within a predetermined period of time.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the at least one sub-object comprises:

determining a location of the second area, based on a location of the object selected in the first area and the location of the third area.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

simultaneously displaying the first area including at least one object and the second area including the at least one sub-object; and

rearranging the location of the at least one sub-object in the second area, based on the selected object if the object is selected in the first area.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

recognizing a surface pattern of an input unit used for providing the user input on the second area if the sub-object is selected in the second area; and

executing a function associated with the object selected in the first area and the sub-object selected in the second area if a registered surface pattern identical to the surface pattern recognized in the second area exists.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the surface pattern comprises a fingerprint.

9. A method of executing a function in an electronic device, the method comprising:

if a user input is sensed in a first area of a touch screen of the electronic device, recognizing a surface pattern of an input unit used for providing the user input on the first area of the touch screen;

if a user input is sensed in a second area of the ouch screen, displaying at least one object on the second area of the touch screen;

executing a related function associated with the user input on the first area and the user input on the second area of the touch screen, based on a surface pattern recognition result in the first area if an object of at least one object displayed in the second area is selected.

10. An electronic d e comprising:

a touch screen;

a sensor unit configured to recognize a surface pattern of an input unit; and

a controller configured to;

display at least one sub-object associated with a selected object in a second area of the touch screen if an object in a first area of the touch screen is selected,

sense a user input for selecting an sub-object in the second area,

recognize a surface pattern of an input unit used for providing a user input on a third area of the touch screen if the user input is sensed on the third area, and

execute a related function, based on a surface pattern recognition result in the third area, if the user input on the first area, the user input on the second area, and the user input on the third area are associated with each other.

11. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the surface pattern comprises a fingerprint.

12. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the controller compares the recognized surface pattern with a registered surface pattern, and if a registered surface pattern identical to the recognized surface pattern exists, executes a function associated with the object selected in the first area.

13. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the user input on the first area and the user input on the third area comprise:

a continuous input motion in which the user input on the first area is continued to the third area, or a sequential input motion in which a user input is sequentially provided in each of the first area and the third area within a predetermined period of time.

14. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the user input on the first area, the user input on the second area, and the user input on the third area comprise:

a continuous input motion in which the user input on the first area is continued to the second area, and to the third area, or a sequential input motion in which a user input is sequentially provided in each of the first area, the second area, and the third area within a predetermined period of time.

15. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the controller determines a location of the second area based on a location of the object selected in the first area and a location of the third area.

16. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the controller simultaneously displays the first area including at least one object and the second area including the at least one sub-object, and rearranges the location of the at least one sub-object in the second area based on the selected object if the object is selected in the first area.

17. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the controller comprises:

recognizing a surface pattern of an input unit used for providing the user input on the second area if the sub-object is selected in the second area; and

executing a related function associated with the object selected in the first area and the sub-object selected in the second area if a registered surface pattern identical to the surface pattern recognized in the second area exists.

18. An electronic device, comprises:

touch screen;

a sensor unit; and

a controller configured to;

recognize a surface pattern of an input unit used for providing a user input on a first area if the user input is sensed in the first area of the touch screen,

display at least one object on a second area of the touch c en if a user input is sensed in a second area of the touch screen, and

execute a related function associated with the user input on the first area and the user input on the second area of the touch screen, based on a surface pattern recognition result in the first area, if an object of at least one object displayed in the second area is selected.