METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPERATING MOBILE TERMINAL

• US 20100141574A1
• Filed: 12/08/2009
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Sun Ae, Jung, Han Chul
• Granted Patent: US 8,542,185 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• 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

Abstract

A method for operating a mobile terminal is disclosed. The mobile terminal includes a pressure sensor and an orientation sensor. While a pressure event is detected by the pressure sensor, functions related to content classification, content storage, content display, and menu navigation can be executed in response to a direction event detected by the orientation sensor. Hence, the mobile terminal is capable of operating in a dynamic and a flexible manner.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

detecting a pressure event according to a pressure applied to a mobile terminal;

activating an orientation sensor;

generating, while the pressure event is being detected, a direction signal corresponding to a direction event detected by the orientation sensor according to a movement of the mobile terminal in a direction; and

performing at least one function according to the generated direction signal, the at least one function comprising at least one of a content classification and storage function, a content display function, and a menu navigation function.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying, on a display unit, a direction arrow image comprising text information associated with the at least one function in response to generation of the pressure signal.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

displaying one arrow corresponding to the direction, the one arrow being displayed distinctively from other arrows in the direction arrow image.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein performing at least one function comprises:

creating, when performing the content classification and storage function, a file folder corresponding to the direction; and

storing, in response to detecting the direction event, a displayed content in the created file folder corresponding to the direction associated with the direction event.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein performing at least one function further comprises moving an image associated with the displayed content in the direction associated with the direction event.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein performing at least one function comprises:

identifying, when performing the content display function, a file folder corresponding to the direction associated with the direction event; and

displaying, on a display unit, at least one content stored in the identified file folder.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein displaying at least one content comprises one of:

listing multiple contents stored in the file folder on a multi-view screen;

displaying a most recently stored content of the multiple contents; and

displaying a most frequently accessed content of the multiple contents.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein displaying at least one content comprises displaying a stored content on a full screen.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein performing at least one function further comprises displaying, when no content is stored in the identified virtual file folder, an alert indicating a lack of content.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein performing at least one function comprises:

generating, when performing the menu navigation function, a highlight on a screen of the mobile terminal;

moving the highlight in the direction corresponding to the direction event; and

executing, in response to releasing the pressure event, a menu operation indicated by the highlight.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein moving the highlight comprises rapidly moving the highlight in response to repeatedly detecting multiple direction events in the direction during a time period.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein performing at least one function comprises:

identifying, when performing the menu navigation function, an application program on the mobile terminal; and

displaying a menu item to control the identified application program according to the direction event.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising, when the pressure event is detected, at least one of:

displaying, on a display unit of the mobile terminal, a direction arrow image; and

dimming a screen of the display unit being displayed when the pressure event is detected

14. An apparatus, comprising:

a pressure sensor to detect a pressure event according to a pressure applied to the mobile terminal;

an orientation sensor to detect, while the pressure event is being detected, a direction event according to a movement of the mobile terminal in a direction; and

a control unit to control performing at least one function according to the detected direction event, the at least one function comprising at least one of a content classification and storage function, a content display function, and a menu navigation function.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

a display unit to display, in response to detection of the pressure event, a direction arrow image comprising text information defining the at least one function.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the display unit displays one arrow corresponding to the direction indicated by the direction event, the one arrow being displayed distinctively from other arrows in the direction arrow image.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the control unit creates, when performing the content classification and storage function, a file folder corresponding to the direction, and stores, in response to detection of the direction event, a first content displayed on the display unit in a created file folder corresponding to the direction indicated by the direction event,

wherein the control unit identifies, when performing the content display function, a file folder corresponding to the direction, and outputs at least one content stored in the identified file folder to the display unit, and

wherein the control unit creates, when performing the menu navigation function, a highlight on the screen, moves the highlight in the direction, and executes, in response to release of the pressure event, a menu operation indicated by the highlight.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the control unit moves the highlight rapidly in response to repeatedly detecting multiple direction events in the direction within a time period.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the display unit displays a direction arrow image in response to detection of the pressure event, and dims a screen being displayed on the display unit when the pressure event is detected.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the control unit identifies, when performing the menu navigation function, an application program running on the mobile terminal, and controls the display unit to display a menu item for controlling the identified application program according to the direction event.