ONSCREEN FUNCTION EXECUTION METHOD AND MOBILE TERMINAL FOR THE SAME

• US 20080195961A1
• Filed: 02/06/2008
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: LIM, Dok Shin, BAE, Dong Hwan, KWON, Joong Hun, KIM, Min Suk, KIM, Andrea
• Granted Patent: US 8,782,561 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/769
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations

Abstract

An onscreen function execution apparatus and method are provided. The apparatus and method allow for intuitively executing various functions by manipulating function widgets arranged on an idle mode screen. The onscreen function execution method of the present invention includes displaying an idle mode screen having a widget box containing at least one widget icon, arranging at least one widget by moving the at least one widget icon representing the at least one widget out of the widget box and positioning the at least one widget icon at a position on the idle mode screen and enabling, if a widget selection command is detected on the at least one widget, the at least one widget. The execution method enables a user to customize an idle mode screen with functional objects.

Claims

1. An onscreen function execution method for a mobile terminal having a display, the method comprising:

displaying an idle mode screen having a widget box containing at least one widget icon;

arranging at least one widget by moving the at least one widget icon representing the at least one widget out of the widget box and positioning the at least one widget icon at a position on the idle mode screen; and

enabling, if a widget selection command is detected on the at least one widget, the at least one widget.

2. The onscreen function execution method of claim 1, further comprising rearranging the at least one widget by selecting and moving the widget on the idle mode screen.

3. The onscreen function execution method of claim 2, wherein the widget icon comprises at least one of an image symbolizing a function of the widget and a thumbnail as a minimized version of the widget.

4. The onscreen function execution method of claim 1, wherein the enabling of the at least one widget comprises:

presenting a file box containing at least one execution file item in response to the widget selection command; and

executing, if a file selection command is detected on the at least one execution file item, an execution file represented by the at least one execution file item.

5. The onscreen function execution method of claim 4, wherein the executing of the execution file comprises selecting and moving the at least one execution file item onto the at least one widget.

6. The onscreen function execution method of claim 5, wherein the file box appears at an area where the widget box is located, and the at least one execution file icon is presented in a hierarchical stricture.

7. The onscreen function execution method of claim 1, wherein the at least one widget comprises a graphical user interface for interaction with an application program installed in the mobile terminal.

8. The onscreen function execution method of claim 7, wherein the at least one widget comprises at least one of an indicator widget, a clock widget, a picture frame widget, a multimedia widget, a document viewer widget and a phonebook widget.

9. The onscreen function execution method of claim 8, wherein, if the at least one widget comprises the picture frame widget, the enabling of the at least one widget comprises:

presenting at least one picture icon representing at least one image stored within the mobile terminal in a file box in response to the widget selection command; and

applying, if the at least one picture icon is selected and moved to an empty space of the idle mode screen, the image represented by the at least one picture icon as a background image of the idle mode screen.

10. The onscreen function execution method of claim 1, wherein the enabling of the at least one widget comprises:

presenting a setting box containing at least one option item in response to the widget selection command; and

resetting the at least one widget according to changes of at the at least one option item.

11. An onscreen function execution method for a mobile terminal having a touchscreen, the method comprising:

displaying an idle mode screen having a widget box containing at least one widget icon;

arranging at least one widget by dragging the at least one widget icon representing the at least one widget out of the widget box and dropping the at least one widget icon at a position on the idle mode screen; and

enabling, if a widget selection command input by touching the at least one widget is detected, the at least one widget.

12. The onscreen function execution method of claim 11, further comprising rearranging the at least one widget by touching and dragging the widget on the idle mode screen.

13. The onscreen function execution method of claim 12, wherein the displaying of the idle mode screen comprises presenting the widget box by at least one of touching and dragging an end of the widget box appearing at an edge of the idle mode screen.

14. The onscreen function execution method of claim 13, wherein the widget icon comprises at least one of an image symbolizing a function of the widget and a thumbnail as a minimized version of the widget.

15. The onscreen function execution method of claim 12, wherein the enabling of the at least one widget comprises:

presenting a file box containing at least one execution file item in response to the widget selection command; and

executing, if a file selection command is detected on the at least one execution file item, an execution file represented by the at least one execution file item.

16. The onscreen function execution method of claim 15, wherein the executing of the execution file comprises dragging the at least one execution file item onto the at least one widget.

17. The onscreen function execution method of claim 16, wherein the file box appears at an area where the widget box is located, and the at least one execution file is presented in a hierarchical structure.

18. The onscreen function execution method of claim 11, wherein the at least one widget comprises a graphical user interface for interaction with an application program installed in the mobile terminal.

19. The onscreen function execution method of claim 18, wherein the at least one widget comprises at least one of an indicator widget, a clock widget, a picture frame widget, a multimedia widget, a document viewer widget and a phonebook widget.

20. The onscreen function execution method of claim 19, wherein, if the at least one widget comprises the picture frame widget, the enabling of the at least one widget comprises:

presenting at least one picture icon representing at least one image stored within the mobile terminal in a file box in response to the widget selection command; and

applying, if the at least one picture icon is pointed and moved to an empty space of the idle mode screen, the image represented by the at least one picture icon as a background image of the idle mode screen.

21. The onscreen function execution method of claim 20, further comprising:

presenting, if the phonebook widget icon is touched, a file box containing member icons mapped to respective phone numbers;

arranging, if at least one member icon is dragged out of the file box and dropped at a position on the idle mode screen, the at least one member icon at the position; and

requesting, if the at least one member icon arranged on the idle mode screen is touched, a call to the phone number mapped to the at least one member icon.

22. The onscreen function execution method of claim 11, wherein the enabling of the at least one widget comprises:

presenting a setting box containing at least one option item in response to the widget selection command; and

resetting the at least one widget according to changes of the at least one option item.

23. A mobile terminal having a display, comprising:

a touchscreen unit for displaying an idle mode screen having a widget box containing at least one widget icon and for receiving an input for arranging at least one widget by moving the at least one widget icon representing the at least one widget out of the widget box and positioning the at least one widget icon at a position on the idle mode screen; and

a controller for enabling, if a widget selection command is detected on the at least one widget, the at least one widget.