FUNCTION EXECUTION METHOD AND MOBILE TERMINAL OPERATING WITH THE SAME

• US 20100088598A1
• Filed: 10/01/2009
• Published: 04/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: JONG, In Won, LEE, Bong Won
• Application Number:
  US12/572,219
• Publication Number:
  US 20100088598A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/704
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9577 Optimising the visualization of content, e.g. distillation of HTML documents
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/45512 Command shells
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons

Abstract

A function execution method and a mobile terminal operating with the function execution method are provided for quickly executing a function of an application. The function execution method includes displaying an application screen of an application running in the mobile terminal, capturing the application screen in response to a command, and identifying a function of the application associated with the captured application screen. The method further includes mapping the captured screen to the application and the function, and creating and displaying a macro icon representing the application and the function in the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal may include a control unit and display unit to perform the function execution method.

Claims

1. A function execution method for a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

displaying an application screen of an application;

capturing the application screen in response to a command;

identifying a function of the application;

mapping the captured application screen to the application and the function of the application;

creating a first macro icon corresponding to the captured application screen; and

displaying the first macro icon.

2. The function execution method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a macro icon window having at least one macro icon in response to a macro icon display command;

retrieving, in response to selection of the first macro icon, the application and the function being represented by the selected first macro icon;

displaying the captured application screen; and

executing the function.

3. The function execution method of claim 2, wherein displaying a macro icon window comprises:

determining whether a zoom-in command is input; and

enlarging, in response to the input zoom-in command, the macro icon window into a full screen window with the at least one macro icon being enlarged.

4. The function execution method of claim 3, wherein enlarging the macro icon window comprises arranging the at least one macro icon in a circular pattern or a linear pattern.

5. The function execution method of claim 1, wherein the application comprises one of an Internet access application, a text messaging application, an organizer application, and a music file playback application.

12. The function execution method of claim 1, wherein displaying an application screen of an application comprises running the application in the mobile terminal.

13. The function execution method of claim 1, wherein creating a first macro icon comprises creating a first macro icon by resizing the captured application screen to a smaller captured application screen.

6. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a display unit to display at least one macro icon and an application screen of an application;

a storage unit to store the at least one macro icon; and

a control unit to capture the application screen in response to a macro icon setting command, to map the captured application screen to the application and a function associated with the application, to create a first macro icon representing the application and the function, and to instruct the storage unit to store the first macro icon and the captured application screen.

7. The mobile terminal of claim 6, wherein the display unit displays, in response to a macro icon display command, a macro icon window having the at least one macro icon and the display unit displays the captured application screen, and wherein the control unit retrieves, in response to a selection of the first macro icon, the application and the function.

8. The mobile terminal of claim 7, wherein the control unit enlarges, in response to a zoom-in command, the macro icon window into a full screen window with the at least one macro icon being enlarged.

9. The mobile terminal of claim 8, wherein the control unit arranges the at least one macro icon in a circular pattern or a linear pattern.

10. The mobile terminal of claim 6, wherein the application comprises one of an Internet access application, a text messaging application, an organizer application, and a music file playback application.

11. The mobile terminal of claim 6, wherein the control unit creates the first macro icon by resizing the captured application screen.

14. The mobile terminal of claim 6, wherein the application runs in the mobile terminal.

15. A function execution method for a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

displaying an application screen of an application;

capturing the application screen;

mapping the captured application screen to the application and a function of the application; and

displaying a first macro icon corresponding to the captured application screen.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

storing the first macro icon; and

retrieving the function and the application in response to selecting the first macro icon.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving a macro icon display command;

displaying a macro icon window in response to the macro icon display command;

receiving an input zoom-in command; and

enlarging, in response to the zoom-in command, the macro icon window into a full screen window comprising at least one macro icon.