OBJECT SEARCH METHOD AND TERMINAL HAVING OBJECT SEARCH FUNCTION

• US 20080252611A1
• Filed: 02/06/2008
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Jeong, Kye Sook, Song, Yoo Mee, Chang, Jin A., Min, Zee Young
• Granted Patent: US 8,212,785 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

An object search method, computer program product, and a terminal having an object search function are disclosed. The object search method includes: displaying a list of a plurality of objects including a first object and a second object in a first screen area, and displaying a touch input window for touch input in a second screen area; touching a first position on the touch input window with a pointer and then dragging the pointer to a second position on the touch input window; and moving an object indicator from the first object to the second object on the list as the pointer is dragged from the first position to the second position. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently search for an object.

Claims

1. An object search method, comprising:

displaying a list of a plurality of objects including a first object and a second object in a first screen area, and displaying a touch input window for touch input in a second screen area;

receiving a touch input on a first position with a pointer on the touch input window and then receiving an input corresponding to dragging the pointer to a second position on the touch input window; and

moving an object indicator from the first object to the second object on the list as the pointer is dragged from the first position to the second position.

2. The object search method of claim 1, wherein the first screen area and the second screen area are provided in one display or respectively in one of a plurality of displays.

3. The object search method of claim 1, wherein the second screen area is provided on a touch screen.

4. The object search method of claim 1, wherein the step of moving comprises moving the object indicator in proportion to at least one of a drag speed and a drag distance of the pointer.

5. The object search method of claim 1, wherein the step of moving comprises moving the object indicator correspondingly to a drag direction of the pointer.

6. The object search method of claim 1, further comprising:

executing a function set in a function key, touched by the pointer after the touch of the pointer on the second position is removed, with respect to the second object, when there are one or more function keys provided in the touch input window.

7. The object search method of claim 1, further comprising:

executing a function set in a function key where the second position is located, with respect to the second object, at the same time that the touch of the pointer on the second position is removed, when there are one or more function keys provided in the touch input window.

8. The object search method of claim 1, further comprising:

executing a function related to the second object as the touch of the pointer on the second position is removed.

9. The object search method of claim 1, further comprising:

executing a function related to the second object as a any position on the touch input window is touched by the pointer after the touch of the pointer on the second position is removed.

10. The object search method of claim 1, wherein each of the objects includes at least one of a menu item, a telephone number, a name set for a telephone number, an incoming/outgoing message, a multimedia file, and a broadcast channel.

11. The object search method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a function key while moving a position thereof correspondingly to at least one of a drag direction and a drag position of the pointer, when there is at least one function key provided in the touch input window.

12. A terminal having an object search function comprising:

a display unit configured to display a list of a plurality of objects including a first object and a second object in a first screen area, and display a touch input window for touch input in a second screen area; and

a controller configured to move an object indicator from the first object to the second object on the list as a pointer is dragged from a first position to a second position on the touch input window.

13. The terminal of claim 12, wherein the first screen area and the second screen area are provided in one display or respectively in one of a plurality of displays.

14. The terminal of claim 12, wherein the second screen area is provided on a touch screen.

15. The terminal of claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to move the object indicator in proportion to at least one of a drag speed and a drag distance of the pointer.

16. The terminal of claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to move the object indicator correspondingly to a drag direction of the pointer.

17. The terminal of claim 12, wherein the controller, when any one of one or more function keys provided in the touch input window is touched by the pointer, is configured to execute a function set in the function key touched by the pointer with respect to the object where the object indicator is located.

18. The terminal of claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to execute a function related to the second object as a touch of the pointer on the second position is removed.

19. The terminal of claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to execute a function related to the second object as any position on the touch input window is touched by the pointer after a touch of the pointer on the second position is removed.

20. The terminal of claim 12, wherein the controller, when there are one or more function keys provided in the touch input window, is configured to execute a function set in the function key where the second position is located, with respect to the second object, at the same time that a touch of the pointer on the second position is removed.