METHOD OF CONFIGURING AN IDLE SCREEN AND DEVICE USING THE SAME

• US 20090251418A1
• Filed: 04/03/2008
• Published: 10/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: MediaTek, Inc.
• Original Assignee: MediaTek, Inc.
• Inventors: Cho, Sheng Yao
• Application Number:
  US12/061,678
• Publication Number:
  US 20090251418A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/169
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality

Abstract

A method of operating a mobile phone implementing a plurality of functions is provided. A communication mode is provided in the mobile phone, when in the communication mode, a communication control interface is configured as an idle screen when none of the functions is in use. A function application mode is provided in the mobile phone, when in the function application mode, an application control interface corresponding to one of the functions is configured as the idle screen when the one of the functions is in use. A first selection is received, directing the mobile phone to switch between the communication mode and the function application mode. The mobile phone is operated in the communication mode or the function application mode according to the selection.

Claims

1. A method of operating a mobile phone implementing a plurality of functions, comprising:

providing a communication mode in the mobile phone, when operating in the communication mode, a communication control interface is configured as an idle screen when none of the functions is in use;

providing a function application mode in the mobile phone, when operating in the function application mode, an application control interface corresponding to one of the functions is configured as the idle screen when the one of the functions is in use;

receiving a first selection, directing the mobile phone to switch between the communication mode and the function application mode; and

operating the mobile phone in the communication mode or the function application mode according to the selection.

2. The method of claim 1, if the function application mode is selected, further receiving a second selection for selecting of one of the applications.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first selection is received via a hard key or a soft key.

4. The method of claim 1, further displaying a first icon for the first selection and at least one second icon for a second selection on a touch screen of the mobile phone, wherein each of the at least one second icon is corresponding to one of the functions, and when the function application mode is selected, the second icons are arranges in circle on the touch screen.

5. The method of claim 1, further configuring the idle screen using a screen-base mechanism, providing a screen history, wherein a root screen is within the screen history, and is displayed to be the idle screen when the mobile phone is idle.

6. The method of claim 5, further setting the root screen as the communication control interface or the application control interface according to the first selection.

7. The method of claim 5, if the function application mode is selected, further setting the root screen as one of the application control interfaces according to the second selection.

8. The method of claim 1, further configuring the idle screen using a screen-base mechanism, providing a screen history comprising a communication control interface under a communication mode, an application control interface, and screens pertaining to the application control interface.

9. The method of claim 8, when one of the application control interfaces is set as an idle screen, a mark is assigned to the application control interface, and the displayed screen go back to the marked application control interface.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication control interface or one of the application control interfaces is displayed as an idle screen of the mobile phone in response to switching of operation mode of the mobile phone.

11. A mobile phone implementing a plurality of functions, comprising:

a processor operating the mobile phone in a communication mode or a function application mode, when operating in the communication mode, a communication control interface is configured as an idle screen when none of the functions is in use;

when operating in the function application mode, an application control interface corresponding to one of the functions is configured as the idle screen when the one of the functions is in use;

an input device receiving a first selection of the communication mode or the function application mode; and

a display device displaying the communication control interface or the application control interface as the idle screen.

12. The mobile phone of claim 11, wherein the input device comprises a jog-dial for receiving a second selection.

13. The mobile phone of claim 11, further comprising a control device activating the jog-dial for receiving a second selection.

14. The mobile phone of claim 11, wherein the input device further comprises a switch directing the display unit to display a control interface of the communication mode.

15. The mobile phone of claim 11, wherein the input device comprises a click wheel for receiving a second selection.

16. The mobile phone of claim 11, wherein the input device comprises up/down/right/left directional keys for receiving a second selection.

17. The mobile phone of claim 11, wherein the input device comprises at least one key of a keypad of the portable device.

18. The mobile phone of claim 11, wherein the display device and the input device are implemented by a touch screen.

19. The mobile phone of claim 18, wherein the touch screen further displays a first icon for the first selection and at least one second icon for a second selection, wherein each of the at least one second icon is corresponding to one of the functions, and when the function application mode is selected, the second icons are arranges in circle on the touch screen.

20. The mobile phone of claim 11, further comprising a storage unit storing a screen history, wherein a root screen is within the screen history, and is displayed to be the idle screen when the mobile phone is idle.

21. The mobile phone of claim 20, wherein the root screen is set as the communication control interface or the application control interface according to the selection.