Mobile device and method for preventing undesired key depression in the same

• US 20050107126A1
• Filed: 11/09/2004
• Published: 05/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Chan-Woo
• Granted Patent: US 7,602,377 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/565
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/38 Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means

Abstract

Undesired key depression of a mobile device is prevented using a predetermined key activation pattern. This pattern includes successively pressing one or more keys of the mobile device a predetermined number of times. When this occurs, the mobile device converts from a key depression preventing mode to a half-operation mode. During this latter mode, functions corresponding to key inputs are automatically performed, provided they are input within a prescribed period of time. Otherwise, the mobile device converts back to the key depression preventing mode. As a result, undesired operation and power consumption of the mobile device is prevented.

Claims

1. A method for preventing undesired key depression of a mobile device, comprising:

providing a depression preventing mode, in which an operation of the mobile device is not performed even though a corresponding first key of the mobile device is pressed;

providing a half-operation mode, in which the operation is performed upon receiving an input from the first key, and the depression preventing mode is switched back to the depression preventing mode if no input is received from the first key or another key within a prescribed time; and

providing a full-operation mode, in which the operation is directly performed according to an input from the first key.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the depression preventing mode is activated when the mobile device is a sliding or folding type mobile phone in a closed state, or when the mobile device is a PDA or a bar-type mobile phone operating in a normal state.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

converting from the depression preventing mode to the half-operation mode when a second key is double-clicked.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first key and the second key are the same key.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a specific indication on a display unit to notify a user of whether the device is currently in the depression preventing mode or in a state where the depression preventing mode has been released.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the indication is an icon having a predetermined color, shape, picture, letter, numeral, or symbol.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the indication is displayed as an ‘

X’

when the device is in the depression preventing mode, and is displayed as an ‘

O’

when the device is in the state that the depression preventing mode has been released.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is one of a mobile phone, smart phone, CD player, cassette player, MP-3 player, or a PDA.

9. A method for preventing undesired key depression in a mobile device comprising:

determining whether a depression preventing mode has been set if input from a first key occurs;

determining whether the first key input is a double click if the depression preventing mode has been set; and

converting to a half-operation mode if the first key input is a double click, and performing a corresponding operation if input from a second key occurs within a prescribed time.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first key and the second key are the same key.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

directly performing the operation corresponding to the first key input if the depression preventing mode has not been set.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

maintaining the depression preventing mode if the first key input is not a double click.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

switching the half-operation mode to the depression preventing mode if the second key input does not occur within the prescribed time.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

notifying a user whether the mobile device is currently in the depression preventing mode or in a state where the depression preventing mode has been released, by displaying a predetermined indication on a display unit.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the indication is an icon having a predetermined color, shape, picture, letter, numeral, or symbol.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the indication is displayed as ‘

X’

when the device is in the depression preventing mode, and is displayed as ‘

O’

when the device is in the state that the depression preventing mode has been released.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein the mobile device is a mobile phone, smart phone, CD player, cassette player, MP-3 player, or PDA.

18. A method for preventing undesired key depression in a mobile device, comprising:

receiving an input from a first key;

determining whether the device is in a depression preventing mode;

determining whether the first key was double-clicked, if the device is in the depression preventing mode;

switching the depression preventing mode to a half-operation mode if the first key was double-clicked;

determining whether a second key is pressed within a prescribed time, if the mode is switched to the half-operation mode; and

switching the half-operation mode to the depression preventing mode if the second key is not input within the prescribed time.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first key and second key are the same key.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

directly performing an operation corresponding to the first key input if the device is determined not to be in the depression preventing mode.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

maintaining the depression preventing mode if the first key is not double clicked.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein a corresponding operation is immediately performed if the second key is pressed before the prescribed time elapses.

23. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

notifying a user whether the mobile device is currently in the depression preventing mode or in a state where the depression preventing mode has been released, by displaying a predetermined indication on a display unit.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the indication is an icon having a predetermined color, shape, picture, letter, numeral, or symbol.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the indication is displayed as ‘

X’

when the device is in the depression preventing mode, and is displayed as ‘

O’

when the device is in the state that the depression preventing mode has been released.

26. The method of claim 18, wherein the mobile device is one of a mobile phone, smart phone, CD player, cassette player, MP-3 player, or PDA.

27. A mobile device, comprising:

a plurality of keys; and

a processor, wherein the processor switches the device from a non-operation mode to a half-operation mode according to a key input of a specific pattern, and the processor switches the device from the half-operation mode back to the non-operation mode if there is no key input within a prescribed time.

28. The mobile device of claim 27, wherein the specific pattern is that a first key is pressed at least twice.

29. The mobile device of claim 28, wherein when a second key input is received during the half-operation mode, the processor automatically executes a corresponding operation.

30. The mobile device of claim 29, wherein the first key input and the second key input are generated by the same key.

31. A method for preventing undesired key depression, comprising:

switching a non-operation mode of a mobile device to a half-operation mode according to a key input of a specific pattern; and

switching the half-operation mode back to the non-operation mode if there is no key input within a prescribed time.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the specific pattern includes double-clicking a first key.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

when a second key input is received during the half-operation mode, automatically executing a corresponding operation.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the first key input and the second key input are generated by the same key.

35. A mobile device, comprising:

input means; and

control means for switching the device from a non-operation mode to a half-operation mode according to a key input of a specific pattern, and for switching the device from the half-operation mode back to the non-operation mode if there is no key input within a prescribed time.

36. The mobile device of claim 35, wherein the specific pattern is that a first key is pressed at least twice.

37. The mobile device of claim 36, wherein when a second key input is received during the half-operation mode, the control means automatically executes a corresponding operation.

38. The mobile device of claim 37, wherein the first key input and the second key input are generated by the same key.