Method and apparatus for controlling content using graphical object

• US 9,727,225 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2012
• Issued: 08/08/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: Rhee, Taik Heon, Lee, Sang Il, Eun, Dong Jin, Kuk, Sung Bin
• Primary Examiner(s): Nabi, Reza
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rodriguez, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US13/546,681
• Publication Number:
  US 20130019193A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,854 Days
• Field of Search: 715769
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• 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

Abstract

A method and apparatus for controlling content using a graphical object in a mobile terminal are provided, in which the user may create a graphical object on the screen through touch input and easily apply various actions such as copy, delete, move, transfer, attribute change and compress to content items by means of the created graphical object. The content control method includes: detecting a preset touch input; creating a graphical object at a region where the touch input is detected; determining a mode of the created graphical object; linking at least one content item on the screen with the graphical object; and controlling the content item linked therewith depending on the mode of the graphical object. Hence, the user can control a mobile terminal through touch inputs in a more convenient and intuitive manner, increasing user convenience.

Claims

1. A method for content control based on a graphical object in a terminal, comprising:

detecting a first touch input, the first touch input being a multi-touch gesture including at least two touch points;

displaying a graphical object at a region associated with the first touch input, the graphical object being displayed with a first graphical characteristic corresponding to a first function, a size of the graphical object being adjusted dynamically as a user changes the distance between the two touch points while the first touch input is maintained;

detecting a second touch input on the graphical object, the second touch input being for changing the first function to a second function;

in response to the second touch input, changing the first graphical characteristic of the graphical object to a second graphical characteristic corresponding to the second function;

detecting a third touch input on a content item, the third touch input being a drag gesture from the content item to the graphical object;

displaying the content item to be moved into the graphical object according to the third touch input; and

executing the second function to control the content item according to the second function.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising in response to releasing the third touch input, displaying the content item within the graphical object.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising while the first touch input is maintained, receiving the second touch input on the region where the graphical object is displayed, wherein the second touch input causes the function to change to a second function;

and

changing the first graphical characteristic of the graphical object to a second graphical characteristic corresponding to the second function.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein changing the second function further comprises changing at least one of a shape and a color of the graphical object.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein changing the second function comprises:

setting the second function to a content display function when a tap input is detected on the graphical object; and

setting the second function to a first transfer function when a long touch input is detected on the graphical object.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein executing the second function comprises at least one of:

automatically determining the second function depending on the application being executed at a creation time of the graphical object;

determining the second function depending on communication connection states of the terminal; and

outputting a function selection list at the creation time of the graphical object and setting the function to a function selected from the function selection list.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein executing the second function comprises:

establishing, when a transmission request is issued in a state in which the second function is a transfer function, a communication channel with a preset server; and

sending the content item to the preset server.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first touch input includes a stretch gesture or a pinch gesture.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the graphical object, when the multi-touch gesture is detected, comprises:

displaying a graphical object when a stretch or pinch interaction in a preset first direction is detected; and

performing a screen zoom-in operation when a stretch input in a preset second direction is detected, and performing a screen zoom-out operation when a pinch input in the preset second direction is detected.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical object is movable.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical object is removed from a screen of the terminal when the first touch input is released.

12. An apparatus for content control based on a graphical object in a terminal, comprising:

a touchscreen; and

a control unit detecting a first touch input, the first touch input being a multi-touch gesture including at least two touch points, displaying a graphical object at a region associated with the first touch input, the graphical object being displayed with a first graphical characteristic corresponding to a first function, detecting a second touch input on the graphical object, the second touch input being for changing the first function to a second function;

in response to the second touch input, changing the first graphical characteristic of the graphical object to a second graphical characteristic corresponding to the second function;

detecting a third touch input on a content item the third touch input being a drag gesture from the content item to the graphical object, displaying the content item to be moved into the graphical object according to the third touch input, and executing the second function to control the content item according to the second function,

wherein, while the first touch input is maintained, the control unit dynamically adjusts a size of the graphical object as a user changes the distance between the first touch point and the second touch point.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the control unit in response to releasing the third touch input, displays the content item within the graphical object.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the control unit while the first touch input is maintained, receives the third touch input on the region where the graphical object is displayed, wherein the third touch input causes the function to change to a second function;

and changes the first graphical characteristic of the graphical object to a second graphical characteristic corresponding to the second function.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the control unit automatically determines the second function depending on the application being executed at a creation time of the graphical object, determines the function depending on communication connection states of the terminal, or outputs a function selection list at the creation time of the graphical object and sets the function to a function selected from the function selection list.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the control unit changes at least one of a shape and a color of the graphical object according to the function change.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first touch input includes a stretch gesture or a pinch gesture.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the control unit, when the multi-touch gesture is detected, displays a graphical object when a stretch or pinch input in a preset first direction is detected, performs a screen zoom-in operation when a stretch input in a preset second direction is detected and performs a screen zoom-out operation when a pinch input in the preset second direction is detected.

19. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein, when the graphical object is displayed, the control unit displays content items, which are stored in a storage region allocated to the graphical object, on the graphical object, so that the content items at most partially overlap each other.

20. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the control unit sets the second function to a content display function when a tap input is detected on the graphical object, and sets the second function to a first transfer function when a long touch input is detected on the graphical object.

21. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the graphical object is movable.

22. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the graphical object is removed from the touchscreen when the first touch input is released.