METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING USER INTERFACE OF PORTABLE DEVICE

• US 20110131537A1
• Filed: 12/02/2010
• Published: 06/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Whang, Yu-shik, Cho, Berm-jin, Yook, Hyun-gyoo
• Granted Patent: US 9,652,145 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/863
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• 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 3/0481 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 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2747 Scrolling on a display
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/047 Vibrating means for incoming calls
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A method includes displaying a user interface for displaying a graphic and a hidden graphic in a first area; displaying a set of contents corresponding to the graphic in a second area distinguishable from the first area; detecting a user'"'"'s gesture for selecting a part of the first area; enlarging the first area to include a part of the second area; displaying a plurality of graphics including the graphic and the hidden graphic in the extended first area in response to the user'"'"'s gesture; detecting a user'"'"'s additional gesture for moving a first graphic among the plurality of graphics; and moving the first graphic to a part of the extended first area in response to the user'"'"'s additional gesture, and moving a second graphic of the plurality of graphics to an area from which the first graphic is moved out.

Claims

1. A method for providing a user interface of a portable device, the method comprising:

displaying a user interface for displaying at least one graphic and a hidden graphic in a first area;

displaying a set of contents corresponding to the at least one graphic in a second area distinguishable from the first area;

detecting a user'"'"'s gesture for selecting a part of the first area;

enlarging the first area to include a part of the second area;

displaying a plurality of graphics including the at least one graphic and the hidden graphic in the extended first area in response to the user'"'"'s gesture;

detecting a user'"'"'s additional gesture for moving a first graphic among the plurality of graphics; and

moving the first graphic to a part of the extended first area in response to the user'"'"'s additional gesture, and moving a second graphic of the plurality of graphics to an area from which the first graphic is moved out.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the displaying the plurality of graphics including the at least one graphic and the hidden graphic in the extended first area comprises:

displaying at least a part of the hidden graphic in an area converted from the second area to the first area.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the displaying the user interface for displaying the at least one graphic and the hidden graphic in the first area comprises:

detecting the user'"'"'s gesture for selecting the user interface; and

displaying the hidden graphic in response to the user'"'"'s gesture.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the hidden graphic is positioned in a front direction or a back direction of the at least one graphic, and the displaying the user interface for displaying the at least one graphic and the hidden graphic in the first area comprises:

detecting a contact position and a contact release position of the user on the user interface;

determining a direction of the user'"'"'s gesture based on the contact position and the contact release position; and

displaying the hidden graphic corresponding to the direction of the user'"'"'s gesture among the plurality of graphics positioned in the front or back direction.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the hidden graphic is positioned in a front direction or a back direction of the at least one graphic, and

the displaying the user interface for displaying the at least one graphic and the hidden graphic in the first area comprises:

displaying an identifier, which shows a direction where the hidden graphic is positioned, at one side of the first area corresponding to the front or back direction.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the displaying the user interface for displaying the at least one graphic and the hidden graphic in the first area comprises providing a visible feedback to the at least one graphic, and

the displaying the set of contents corresponding to the at least one graphic in the second area comprises displaying the set of contents corresponding to the at least one graphic, to which the visible feedback is provided, in the second area.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the displaying the plurality of graphics including the at least one graphic and the hidden graphic in the extended first area comprises:

removing the visible feedback provided to the at least one graphic.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the displaying the plurality of graphics including the at least one graphic and the hidden graphic in the extended first area comprises:

inactivating the set of contents displayed in the second area.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of graphics is divided into a first group of graphics and a second group of graphics in accordance with respective positions of the plurality of graphics in the first area, and

the displaying the plurality of graphics including the at least one graphic and the hidden graphic in the extended first area comprises:

detecting the user'"'"'s gesture for selecting a part of the second area;

downsizing the extended first area into an original area in response to the user'"'"'s gesture; and

displaying the first group of graphics in the downsized first area.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the moving the first graphic within the extended first area, and moving the second graphic to the area from which the first graphic is moved out comprise:

moving the first graphic among the plurality of graphics to an area for the second graphic among the plurality of graphics; and

moving the second graphic to the area from which the first graphic is moved out, if the first graphic is not moved any more for a predetermined period of time.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the graphic comprises a tab menu.

12. A portable device providing a user interface, the portable device comprising:

a touch screen which comprises a first area to display a user interface for displaying at least one graphic and a hidden graphic, and a second area to display a set of contents corresponding to the at least one graphic, the second area being distinguishable from the first area;

a processor; and

a memory,

wherein the processor;

detects a user'"'"'s gesture for selecting a part of the first area;

enlarges the first area to include a part of the second area;

displays a plurality of graphics including the at least one graphic and the hidden graphic in the extended first area in response to the user'"'"'s gesture;

detects a user'"'"'s additional gesture for moving a first graphic among the plurality of graphics; and

moves the first graphic to a part of the extended first area in response to the user'"'"'s additional gesture, and moves a second graphic of the plurality of graphics to an area from which the first graphic is moved out.

13. The portable device according to claim 12, wherein in the case of displaying the plurality of graphics including the at least one graphic and the hidden graphic in the extended first area, the processor displays at least a part of the hidden graphic in an area converted from the second area to the first area.

14. The portable device according to claim 12, wherein the processor:

detects the user'"'"'s gesture for selecting the user interface; and

displays the hidden graphic in the first area in response to the user'"'"'s gesture.

15. The portable device according to claim 12, wherein in the case of displaying the plurality of graphics including the at least one graphic and the hidden graphic in the extended first area,

the processor removes a visible feedback provided to the at least one graphic.

16. The portable device according to claim 12, wherein in the case of displaying the plurality of graphics including the at least one graphic and the hidden graphic in the extended first area,

the processor inactivates the set of contents displayed in the second area.

17. The portable device according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of graphics is divided into a first group of graphics and a second group of graphics in accordance with respective positions of the plurality of graphics in the first area, and

in the case of displaying the plurality of graphics including the at least one graphic and the hidden graphic in the extended first area, the processor:

detects the user'"'"'s gesture for selecting a part of the second area;

downsizes the extended first area into an original area in response to the user'"'"'s gesture; and

displays the first group of graphics in the downsized first area.

18. The portable device according to claim 12, wherein in the case of moving the first graphic within the extended first area, and moving the second graphic to the area from which the first graphic is moved out,

the processor:

moves the first graphic among the plurality of graphics to an area for the second graphic among the plurality of graphics; and

moves the second graphic to the area from which the first graphic is moved out, if the first graphic is not moved any more for a predetermined period of time.

19. The portable device according to claim 12, wherein the graphic comprises a tab menu.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having a program recorded thereon, which program when executed by a computer, causes the computer to execute a method for providing a user interface in a portable device, the method comprising:

displaying a user interface for displaying at least one graphic and a hidden graphic in a first area;

displaying a set of contents corresponding to the at least one graphic in a second area distinguishable from the first area;

detecting a user'"'"'s gesture for selecting a part of the first area;

enlarging the first area to include a part of the second area;

displaying a plurality of graphics including the at least one graphic and the hidden graphic in the extended first area in response to the user'"'"'s gesture;

detecting a user'"'"'s additional gesture for moving a first graphic among the plurality of graphics; and

moving the first graphic to a part of the extended first area in response to the user'"'"'s additional gesture, and moving a second graphic of the plurality of graphics to an area from which the first graphic is moved out.