Pointing device for a terminal having a touch screen and method for using the same

• US 20050190147A1
• Filed: 09/23/2004
• Published: 09/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Seon-Mi
• Granted Patent: US 7,737,954 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• 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 device and a method are disclosed for providing pointing means for a terminal with a touch screen, which can easily select an intended item displayed on the touch screen by accurately pointing to the intended item through a pointer displayed on a screen when a pointer activating mode is selected by a user and performing an operation according to the selected item. Input errors are reduced by allowing a user to provide accurate input.

Claims

1. A pointing device used in a terminal having a touch screen, the pointing device comprising:

a control part for displaying a pointer on the touch screen when a pointer activating mode for displaying the pointer is selected by a user; and

a user interface for providing an input signal to the control part when the user selects an item on the touch screen by means of the pointer,

wherein the control part is operated based on an item pointed by the pointer if the control part receives a signal selected from the user interface.

2. The pointing device as claimed in claim 1, where in the terminal further comprising a display part for displaying items and for displaying various mark data based on a pointing input, which is inputted through the user interface.

3. The pointing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the item is selected from one of a letter, an icon, a scroller, a checkbox, and a slider.

4. The pointing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the item is a selectable object, which is displayed on the touch screen.

5. The pointing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pointer includes an arrow indicating a predetermined direction for pointing to an item and a touch part for being touched by a user.

6. The pointing device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the control part changes a direction indicated by the arrow of the pointer according to an area of the touch screen at which the pointer is positioned when a user drags the pointer.

7. The pointing device as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a memory for storing pointers having various shapes and a plurality of pointers having arrows indicating mutually different directions.

8. The pointing device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the control part maintains a direction indicated by the arrow of the pointer if an area at which the pointer is positioned is a first area when a user drags the pointer.

9. The pointing device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first area allows the pointer having an arrow indicating a predetermined direction to carry out accurate pointing with respect to the first area.

10. The pointing device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the control part changes a direction indicated by the arrow of the pointer if an area at which the pointer is positioned is not the first area when a user drags the pointer.

11. The pointing device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first area is a square area having a predetermined size and positioned at a center of the touch screen, and the control part changes a direction indicated by the arrow of the pointer into a direction corresponding to a corner at which the pointer is positioned if the pointer moves out of the first area and is positioned at any one of corner areas formed between edges of the touch screen and the square area having a predetermined size when a user drags the pointer.

12. A method for utilizing a pointing device used in a terminal having a touch screen, the method comprising the steps of:

i) displaying a pointer on the touch screen if a pointer activating mode for displaying the pointer is selected by a user; and

ii) performing an operation according to an item pointed by the pointer if a user selects the item by means of the pointer.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the item is selected from one of a letter, an icon, a scroller, a checkbox, and a slider.

14. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the item is a selectable object, which is displayed.

15. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the pointer includes an arrow indicating a predetermined direction in order to point to an item and a touch part touched by a user.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein a direction indicated by the arrow of the pointer is changed and displayed according to an area at which the pointer is positioned when a user drags the pointer.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein a direction indicated by the arrow of the pointer is maintained if an area at which the pointer is positioned is a first area when a user drags the pointer.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the first area allows the pointer having an arrow indicating a predetermined direction to perform accurate pointing with respect to the first area.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the first area is a square area having a predetermined size, positioned at a center of the touch screen, and a direction indicated by the arrow of the pointer is changed into a direction corresponding to a corner at which the pointer is positioned if the pointer moves out of the first area and is positioned at any one of corner areas between the touch screen and the square area having a predetermined size when a user drags the pointer.

20. A pointing device used in a terminal having a touch screen, the pointing device comprising:

a control part for displaying a pointer pointing to an item on the touch screen according to input of a user; and

a user interface for outputting an input signal to the control part when the input is provided from the user by means of the pointer,

wherein the control part carries out an operation according to an item selected by the pointer if the control part receives an input signal from the user interface.

21. The pointing device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the item is a selectable object, which is displayed.

22. The pointing device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the pointer includes an arrow indicating a predetermined direction in order to point to an item and a touch part touched by a user.

23. The pointing device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the pointer is not displayed by the control part when a pen-up operation for the pointer is performed.

24. The pointing device as claimed in claim 23, wherein the control part changes a direction indicated the arrow of the pointer and displays a changed direction in such a manner that a precise pointing is performed according to an area at which the pointer is positioned when the pointer is dragged.

25. A method for utilizing a pointing device used in a terminal having a touch screen, the method comprising the steps of:

i) displaying a pointer pointing to an item on the touch screen according to input of a user; and

ii) performing an operation according to an item selected by the pointer if the pen stroke input is inputted from the user by means of the pointer.

26. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein the item is a selectable object, which is displayed.

27. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein the pointer includes an arrow indicating a predetermined direction in order to point to an item and a touch part touched by a user.

28. The method as claimed in claim 27, wherein a direction indicated by the arrow of the pointer is changed and displayed in order to perform a precise pointing according to an area at which the pointer is positioned when a user drags the pointer.