CONTENT CONTROLAPPARATUS AND METHOD THEREOF

• US 20110225549A1
• Filed: 09/09/2010
• Published: 09/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Nari
• Granted Patent: US 8,510,678 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/838
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A content control apparatus and method thereof in which an icon indicating a category of an application program displayed on a representative image of the application program is discussed. A content control apparatus according to embodiments of the present invention may include a controller configured to determine a category of an application program and an image representing the application program, and to determine an icon corresponding to the determined category of the application program; and a display unit including a screen, and configured to simultaneously display the image representing the application program and the icon corresponding to the determined category of the application program on the screen.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal comprising:

a controller configured to determine a category of an application program and an image representing the application program, and to determine an icon corresponding to the determined category of the application program; and

a display unit including a screen, and configured to simultaneously display the image representing the application program and the icon corresponding to the determined category of the application program on the screen.

2. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the icon is an image previously designated to correspond to the category of the application program or an image selected by a user.

3. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the icon indicates the determined category of the application program.

4. The mobile terminal of claim 3, wherein the icon further comprises a text associated with the determined category of the application program.

5. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the icon corresponding to the determined category of the application is at least one of the following:

a figure, a symbol, a figure having a color, an outline of the image, an outline of the image and having a color, and a translucent color to be overlapped at least in part with the image.

6. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller displays the icon corresponding to the determined category of the application on at least a part of the image representing the application program.

7. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller places the icon corresponding to the determined category of the application program at an outer area of the image representing the application program.

8. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein when the application program belongs to a plurality of different categories, the controller displays a plurality of different icons corresponding respectively to the plurality of different categories on or near the image representing the application program.

9. The mobile terminal of claim 6, wherein based on a selection of the icon displayed on the image, the controller identifies at least one other image having the same icon as the selected icon, and displays the image associated with the selected icon and the identified at least one other image arranged in a preset direction on the display unit.

10. The mobile terminal of claim 9, wherein when the mobile terminal is moved while the icon displayed on the image is selected, the controller displays the image associated with the selected icon and the identified at least one other image in the preset direction.

11. The mobile terminal of claim 9, wherein when one of the images arranged in the preset direction on the display unit is selected, the controller re-displays the arranged images in a random order on the display unit.

12. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller counts an execution number of the application program, and sets the application program to a preferred application program when the counted execution number is equal to or greater than a preset number.

13. The mobile terminal of claim 12, wherein the controller determines an icon corresponding to the preferred application program, and displays the icon corresponding to the preferred application program together with an image representing the preferred application program on the display unit.

14. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller determines the category of the application program based on category information included in attribute information of the application program or based on extension information of the application program.

15. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller displays a category setting menu on the display unit when an icon for setting a category is selected, and the category setting menu includes icons and category names according to the category.

16. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller displays the icon on the image representing the application program, and displays additional information of the application program on the display unit when the displayed icon is selected.

17. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller moves the icon from a current location to a new location over the image representing the program application according to a user input.

18. The mobile terminal of claim 6, wherein when the icon displayed on the image is moved towards an image representing a different application program, the controller displays the moved icon as an icon representing the different application program.

19. The mobile terminal of claim 6, wherein when the icon displayed on the image is moved towards an image representing a different application program, the controller displays a menu for setting the moved icon on the display unit.

20. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller randomly moves the icon or moves along a preset path repeatedly, on at least a part of the application program.

21. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller further determines an icon corresponding to a category of a contact address, and displays simultaneously the determined icon and a photo corresponding to the contact address on the screen.

22. The mobile terminal of claim 21, wherein when the icon corresponding to the category of the contact address is selected, the controller displays at least one other contact address that has the same icon as the selected icon.

23. A method for controlling a display unit of a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

determining, by the mobile terminal, a category of an application program and an image representing the application program;

determining, by the mobile terminal, an icon corresponding to the determined category of the application program; and

displaying simultaneously, on a screen of the display unit, the image representing the application program and the icon corresponding to the determined category of the application program.