METHOD OF CONTROLLING POINTER IN MOBILE TERMINAL HAVING POINTING DEVICE

• US 20080012827A1
• Filed: 07/17/2007
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: RYU, Dong, Hong, Nho, Han, Myoung, Hwang, Jae
• Granted Patent: US 8,044,932 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/158
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry

Abstract

Provided is a method of controlling a pointer, such as changing between a pointer mode for activating the pointer and a search key mode for deactivating the pointer, in a mobile terminal having a pointing device. The method of controlling a pointer includes detecting movement input by the pointing device; identifying whether the detected movement satisfies a condition of changing a display mode; if the detected movement satisfies a condition of changing a display mode, displaying the pointer by changing the current display mode to a pointer mode; identifying whether a specific key is input; and if the specific key is input, hiding the pointer by changing the current display mode to a search key mode. Additionally, if elapsed time measured after displaying the pointer exceeds a predetermined value, the display mode of the mobile terminal may automatically be changed to a search key mode.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a pointer in a mobile terminal having a pointing device for controlling the pointer in a display unit, comprising:

detecting movement input by the pointing device;

identifying whether the detected movement satisfies a condition of changing a display mode;

if the detected movement satisfies a condition of changing a display mode, displaying the pointer by changing the current display mode to a pointer mode;

identifying whether a specific key is input; and

if the specific key is input, hiding the pointer by changing the current display mode to a search key mode.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying, before identifying whether the detected movement satisfies a condition of changing a display mode, whether the current display mode is a search key mode.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after hiding the pointer, executing a function of the specific key.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein hiding the pointer and executing the function of the specific key are performed simultaneously.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the condition of changing a display mode is that a value of the detected movement exceeds a predetermined value.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the condition of changing a display mode is that the number of the detected movements exceeds a predetermined number within a predetermined period.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the specific key is a search key.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

starting a measurement of an elapsed time while simultaneously displaying the pointer;

identifying whether the measured elapsed time exceeds a predetermined value; and

if the measured elapsed time exceeds a predetermined value, hiding the pointer by changing the current display mode to a search key mode.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

identifying, after starting the time measurement, whether a movement or a clicking of the pointer is detected by the pointing device;

if a movement or a clicking of the pointer is detected by the pointing device, resetting the measured elapsed time; and

restarting the time measurement.

10. A method of controlling a pointer in a mobile terminal having a pointing device for controlling the pointer in a display unit, comprising:

detecting movement input by the pointing device;

identifying whether the current display mode is a search key mode;

if the current display mode is a search key mode, identifying whether the detected movement satisfies a condition of changing a display mode;

if the detected movement satisfies a condition of changing a display mode, displaying the pointer by changing the current display mode to a pointer mode;

starting a measurement of an elapsed time while simultaneously displaying the pointer;

identifying whether the measured elapsed time exceeds a predetermined value; and

if the measured elapsed time exceeds a predetermined value, hiding the pointer by changing the current display mode to a search key mode.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

if the measured elapsed time does not exceed a predetermined value, identifying whether the search key is input; and

if the search key is input, hiding the pointer by changing the current display mode to a search key mode and moving a focus simultaneously.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

if the search key is not input, identifying whether a movement or a clicking of the pointer is detected by the pointing device;

if movement or clicking of the pointer is detected by the pointing device, resetting the measured elapsed time; and

restarting the time measurement.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the condition of changing a display mode is that a value of a detected movement exceeds a predetermined value.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the condition of changing a display mode is that the number of the detected movements exceeds a predetermined number within a predetermined period.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the condition of changing a display mode is that a value of the detected movement exceeds a predetermined value and the number of the detected movements exceeds a predetermined number within a predetermined period.