METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING A USER INTERFACE

• US 20110202868A1
• Filed: 02/14/2011
• Published: 08/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Oh, Yoo-ra, Ryu, Young-jae, Yang, Pil-eun
• Granted Patent: US 9,116,601 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/781
• 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 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/027 Arrangements and methods specific for the display of internet documents
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing a user interface in which user interfaces related to child elements are displayed on neighboring zones of a user interface related to a parent element. In the method, a first user interface related to a parent element that is associated with a plurality of child elements is displayed on a display screen. A plurality of second user interfaces related to the plurality of child elements are then displayed on neighboring zones of the first user interface.

Claims

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

displaying, on a display screen, a first user interface related to a parent element associated with a plurality of child elements; and

displaying a plurality of second user interfaces related to the plurality of child elements on neighboring zones of the first user interface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the plurality of second user interfaces on the neighboring zones of the first user interface comprises displaying the plurality of second user interfaces on at least one of top, bottom, left, and right neighboring zones of the first user interface.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein displaying the plurality of second user interfaces on the neighboring zones of the first user interface comprises unfolding the first user interface to at least one of the top, the bottom, the left, and the right neighboring zones of the first user interface.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising moving the first user interface to a center of the display screen.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising reducing the first user interface in size, such that the first user interface and the plurality of second user interfaces are simultaneously displayed on the display screen.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the parent element includes a keyword registered by a user or recommended by a device, and

wherein the plurality of child elements include a plurality of content providers for providing content related to the keyword.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the content related to the keyword includes at least one of news related to the keyword, a video related to the keyword, and an image related to the keyword.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the parent element includes a name of a region, and

wherein the plurality of child elements include categories of information related to the region.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the information related to the region include at least one of news in the region, information regarding restaurants in the region, information regarding traffic in the region, and information regarding tickets available in the region.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the parent element includes a specific time, and

wherein the plurality of child elements include categories of information related to the specific time.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the information related to the specific time includes at least one of information regarding movies available at the specific time, information regarding television programs broadcast at the specific time, information regarding tickets available at the specific time, and information regarding weather at the specific time.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the parent element includes an association between devices, and

wherein the plurality of child elements include types of the association between the devices.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the association between the devices includes at least one of sharing music files, sharing photos, transceiving a vibe message between the devices, and recording times and locations when the devices are located within a certain distance from each other.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the parent element include a favorite widget setting, and

wherein the plurality of child elements include a plurality of favored widgets.

15. An apparatus providing a user interface, the apparatus comprising:

a control unit for generating a first user interface related to a parent element associated with a plurality of child elements, and generating a plurality of second user interfaces related to the plurality of child elements on neighboring zones of the first user interface; and

a display unit for displaying the first user interface and the plurality of second user interfaces.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the control unit generates the plurality of second user interfaces on at least one of top, bottom, left, and right neighboring zones of the first user interface.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the control unit generates the plurality of second user interfaces by unfolding the first user interface onto the at least one of the top, the bottom, the left, and the right neighboring zones of the first user interface.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the control unit moves the first user interface to a center of a display screen.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the control unit reduces the first user interface in size, such that the first user interface and the plurality of second user interfaces are simultaneously displayed on the display screen.

20. A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a computer program for executing a method of providing a user interface, the method comprising:

displaying, on a display screen, a first user interface related to a parent element associated with a plurality of child elements; and

displaying a plurality of second user interfaces related to the plurality of child elements on neighboring zones of the first user interface.