Method and apparatus for operating additional function in mobile device

• US 9,977,504 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2013
• Issued: 05/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Min, Sunyoung
• Primary Examiner(s): To, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wan, Jasmine
• Application Number:
  US13/921,974
• Publication Number:
  US 20140013285A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,798 Days
• Field of Search: 715863, 715835, 715728, 715707, 358 19, 717168, 717178
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• 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 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A method and apparatus for easily operating an additional function associated with an application are provided in a mobile device. In the method, the apparatus detects a gesture inputted while a specific application is running, and invokes an additional function corresponding to the detected gesture. Also, the apparatus displays an execution screen that contains at least one link item for offering a connection with the specific application. Furthermore, when a signal for selecting the link item is inputted, the apparatus applies an execution result of the additional function to the specific application. The inventive method and apparatus thus enhance a user'"'"'s convenience.

Claims

1. A method for operating an additional function in a mobile device having a touch screen, the method comprising:

detecting a gesture inputted on the touch screen while a first application is running and is displayed on the touch screen;

invoking a second application corresponding to the detected gesture among a plurality of gestures;

connecting the second application to the first application;

upon the invoking of the second application, displaying an execution screen of the second application including at least one link item for offering data generated by the invoked second application as a portion of data of the first application, the label of the at least one link item included in the execution screen of the second application indicating a type of the first application, and is varied according to the different types of the first application and status of the first application,

receiving data input and displaying the inputted data on the execution screen of the second application;

inserting into the first application the data of the inputted second application upon actuation of the at least one link item, the first application being different from the second application and each one of the plurality of gestures corresponds to an application of the mobile device; and

displaying the inserted data of the second application as part data of the first application.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

applying, when a signal for selecting the at least one link item is inputted, an execution result of the second application to the first application.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the invoking of the second application includes identifying the type of the detected gesture, and searching a pre-stored gesture table to determine whether there is a gesture having the identified type.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the invoking of the second application further includes, if there is no gesture having the identified type, treating the detected gesture as an error.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the invoking of the second application further includes, if the error occurs more than a predetermined number of times, displaying a list of available gestures.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the treating of the detected gesture as the error includes outputting at least one of an error message or an error alert sound.

7. An apparatus for operating an additional function in a mobile device, the apparatus comprising:

a touch screen; and

at least one processor configured to;

control the touch screen to detect a gesture inputted on the touch screen while a first application is running and is displayed on the touch screen,

invoke a second application corresponding to the detected gesture among a plurality of gestures,

connect the second application to the first application,

upon the invoking of the second application, display an execution screen of the second application including at least one link item for offering data generated by the invoked second application as a portion of data of the first application, the label of the at least one link item included in the execution screen of the second application indicating a type of the first application, and is varied according to the different types of the first application and status of the first application,

receive data input and display the inputted data on the execution screen of the second application,

insert into the first application the data of the second application upon actuation of the at least one link item, the first application being different from the second application and each one of the plurality of gestures corresponds to an application of the mobile device, and

display the inserted data of the second application as part data of the first application.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one processor is further configured, when a signal for selecting the at least one link item is inputted, to apply an execution result of the second application to the first application.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

identify the type of the detected gesture, and

search a pre-stored gesture table to determine whether there is a gesture having the identified type.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one processor is further configured, if there is no gesture having the identified type, to treat the detected gesture as an error.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor is further configured, if the error occurs more than a predetermined number of times, to display a list of available gestures.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor is further configured, if the error occurs, to output at least one of an error message or an error alert sound.