METHOD FOR DISPLAYING AND OPERATING USER INTERFACE AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20100169813A1
• Filed: 03/11/2009
• Published: 07/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Compal Electronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Compal Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Chang, Ching-Chih
• Application Number:
  US12/402,492
• Publication Number:
  US 20100169813A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/767
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A method for displaying and operating a user interface and an electronic device are provided. In the method, a background frame is displayed. Further, a trigger signal triggered by an object on one of a plurality of areas of the background frame is received, in which the areas respectively correspond to a plurality of sub-menus of a function menu, and each of the sub-menus includes a plurality of options. The corresponding sub-menu is displayed on the area of the background frame which the trigger signal is triggered on. Thereby, usage convenience of the user interface is improved.

Claims

1. A method for displaying and operating a user interface, comprising:

displaying a background frame;

receiving a first trigger signal triggered by a first object on one of a plurality of areas of the background frame; and

displaying a corresponding sub-menu on the area of the background frame, according to the area on which the first trigger signal is present, wherein the plurality of areas respectively correspond to the plurality of sub-menus of a function menu, and each of the sub-menus comprises a plurality of options.

2. The method for displaying and operating the user interface of claim 1, after the step of displaying the corresponding sub-menu on the area of the background frame according to the area on which the first trigger signal is present, further comprising:

checking whether the first object moves to another area of the background frame; and

when the first object moves to the other area of the background frame, switching to display another sub-menu corresponding to the other area on the other area of the background frame.

3. The method for displaying and operating the user interface of claim 1, after the step of displaying the corresponding sub-menu on the area of the background frame according to the area on which the first trigger signal is present, further comprising:

receiving a second trigger signal triggered by a second object on another area of the background frame; and

switching to display another sub-menu corresponding to the other area on the other area of the background frame.

4. The method for displaying and operating the user interface of claim 1, after the step of displaying the corresponding sub-menu on the area of the background frame according to the area on which the first trigger signal is present, further comprising:

receiving a second trigger signal triggered by a second object on one of the options of the displayed sub-menu; and

executing a corresponding operating function according to the option on which the second trigger signal is present.

5. The method for displaying and operating the user interface of claim 4, wherein the operating function comprises one of displaying a next layer of menu of the option and starting an option function of the option.

6. The method for displaying and operating the user interface of claim 1, after the step of displaying the background frame, further comprising:

displaying a system panel on the background frame of the user interface, wherein the system panel comprises a plurality of system icons.

7. The method for displaying and operating the user interface of claim 6, after the step of displaying the corresponding sub-menu on the area of the background frame according to the area on which the first trigger signal is present, further comprising:

receiving a third trigger signal triggered by a third object on one of the plurality of system icons of the system panel of the background frame; and

hiding the displayed sub-menu behind the background frame.

8. The method for displaying and operating the user interface of claim 1, after the step of displaying the corresponding sub-menu on the area of the background frame according to the area on which the first trigger signal is present, further comprising:

adding up an idle time in which the displayed sub-menu is idle; and

when the idle time exceeds a predetermined time, hiding the displayed sub-menu behind the background frame.

9. The method for displaying and operating the user interface of claim 1, wherein the sub-menu comprises being displayed in a half transparent or non-transparent state on the area of the background frame.

10. The method for displaying and operating the user interface of claim 1, after the step of displaying the background frame, further comprising:

displaying a system information on the background frame of the user interface.

11. The method for displaying and operating the user interface of claim 10, wherein the system information comprises a time, an unanswered call, a new mail, a signal strength of a wireless communication or a calendar.

12. The method for displaying and operating the user interface of claim 1, wherein the step of displaying the background frame, further comprises:

switching among displaying a plurality of pictures in a storage unit to be used as the background frame.

13. An electronic device, comprising:

a storage unit, for storing at least a picture;

a display unit;

an input unit; and

a controller, coupled to the storage unit, the display unit and the input unit, for controlling the picture to be displayed on the display unit as a background frame, receiving a first trigger signal generated by the input unit being triggered by a first object on one of a plurality of areas of the background frame, and according to the area on which the first trigger signal is present, controlling the display unit to display a corresponding sub-menu on the area of the background frame, wherein the plurality of areas respectively corresponds to the plurality of sub-menus of a function menu, and each of the sub-menus comprises a plurality of options.

14. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the controller further checks whether the first object moves to another area of the background frame, and when the first object moves to the other area of the background frame, controlling the display unit to switch to displaying another sub-menu corresponding to the other area on the other area of the background frame.

15. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the controller further receives a second trigger signal generated by the input unit being triggered by a second object on another area of the background frame, and controls the display unit to switch to displaying another corresponding sub-menu corresponding to the other area on the other area of the background frame.

16. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the controller further receives a second trigger signal generated by being trigger by a second object on one of the plurality of options of the displayed sub-menu, and executes a corresponding operating function according to the option on which the second trigger signal is present.

17. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the operating function includes one of displaying a next layer of menu of the option and starting an option function of the option.

18. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the controller further controls the display unit to display a system panel on the background frame of the user interface, and the system panel comprises a plurality of system icons.

19. The electronic device of claim 18, wherein the controller further receives a third trigger signal generated by the input unit being triggered by a third object on one of the plurality of system icons of the system panel of the background frame, and controls the display unit to hide the displayed sub-menu behind the background panel.

20. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the controller further adds up an idle time in which the sub-menu displayed by the display unit is idle, and when the idle time exceeds a predetermined time, controlling the display unit to hide the displayed sub-menu behind the background frame.

21. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the sub-menu comprises being displayed in a half transparent or non-transparent state on the area of the background frame.

22. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the controller further controls the display unit to display a system information on the background frame of the user interface.

23. The electronic device of claim 22, wherein the system information comprises a time, an unanswered call, a new mail, a signal strength of a wireless communication and a calendar.

24. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the controller further controls the display unit to switch among displaying a plurality of pictures in the storage unit to be used as the background frame.

25. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the input unit and the display unit are combined into a touch panel.