METHOD FOR PRESENTING DIFFERENT KEYPAD CONFIGURATIONS FOR DATA INPUT AND A PORTABLE DEVICE UTILIZING SAME

• US 20130063357A1
• Filed: 07/25/2012
• Published: 03/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: SHIM, Jung Hwa, LEE, Joo Hyung, NA, Seok Hee, DONG, Ying
• Granted Patent: US 9,507,516 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0233 Character input methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 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

Abstract

A method for displaying different keypad configurations to allow input data using a touch screen with an appropriate keypad configuration is provided. The method comprises: displaying a plurality of identifiers respectively representing keypad configurations whose input modes are different from each other; and displaying a keypad configuration corresponding to a selected identifier when a touch event, which selects one of the displayed plurality of identifiers, is generated.

Claims

1. A method for inputting data using a touch screen, the method comprising:

displaying a plurality of identifiers representing keypad configurations whose input modes are different from each other; and

responsive to a touch event generated by selecting one of the plurality of identifiers, displaying a keypad configuration corresponding to the selected identifier.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the plurality of identifiers includes arranging the plurality of identifiers at one side of the touch screen.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein displaying the keypad configuration corresponding to a selected identifier includes:

moving the selected identifier from one side of the screen to the center of the screen, and displaying the associated keypad configuration at one side of the moved identifier.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

responsive to a touch event for terminating the displayed keypad configuration, removing the displayed keypad configuration and returning the identifier corresponding to the keypad to the displayed plurality of identifiers.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the plurality of identifiers includes recognizing a user'"'"'s handwriting on the touch screen, and displaying a window for displaying data related to the recognized handwriting.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

responsive to a touch event that selects the window as the keypad configuration is displayed, removing the display of the keypad configuration.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a window for displaying inputted data; and

responsive to a touch event that selects the window;

displaying a keypad configuration of a preset identifier from among the plurality of identifiers; and

displaying the remaining identifiers at one side of the screen.

8. The method of claim 1, displaying the plurality of identifiers includes:

setting an identifier to be displayed among the plurality of identifiers; and

displaying the set identifier.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to a touch event not in an area associated with the displayed keypad configuration, removing the displayed keypad configuration.

10. A portable terminal comprising:

a touch screen generating a touch event in response to a user'"'"'s operation;

a display unit displaying a plurality of identifiers respectively representing keypad configurations whose input modes are different from each other; and

a controller controlling a display of a keypad configuration corresponding to a selected identifier when a touch event, which selects one of the displayed plurality of identifiers, is received from the touch screen.

11. The terminal of claim 10, wherein the display unit arranges the plurality of identifiers at one side of the screen.

12. The terminal of claim 11, wherein the controller controls:

a movement of the selected identifier from one side of the screen to the center of the screen, and

a display the corresponding keypad configuration at one side of the selected identifier.

13. The terminal of claim 12, wherein the controller controls:

removal of the displayed keypad configuration and moves of the identifier corresponding to the removed keypad configuration to the one side of the screen displaying the plurality of identifiers when a touch event, which terminates the display of the keypad configuration, is received from the touch screen.

14. The terminal of claim 10, wherein the display unit displays a window for recognizing a user'"'"'s handwriting on the touch screen and displays data related with the recognized handwriting.

15. The terminal of claim 14, wherein the controller controls:

removal of the displayed keyboard configuration, when a touch event, which selects the window, is received from the touch screen.

16. The terminal of claim 10, wherein the controller controls:

a display of a keypad configuration of a preset identifier among the plurality of identifiers, and

a display of the other identifiers at one side of the screen if a touch event, which selects a window for displaying inputted data, is generated.

17. A device comprising:

a display unit comprising a touch screen; and

a processor in communication with a memory, the memory including code, which when accessed by the processor causes the processor to;

cause the display unit to display a plurality of indicators at one side of the touch screen;

receive an input signal associated with a selected one of plurality of indicators, when a touch on the touch screen is detected on a corresponding one of the plurality of indicators;

cause the display unit to display a corresponding keypad configuration at a substantially center position of the touch screen; and

cause the display unit to display the selected one of the plurality of indicators at a position adjacent to the corresponding keypad configuration and remove the selected one of the plurality of indicators from the plurality of indicators.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the side of the touch screen is selected from the group consisting of:

a left side, a right side, a top side and a bottom side.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein the plurality of indicators are displayed in one of:

a row and a column.

20. The device of claim 17, further comprising:

removing the displayed keyboard in response to a removal command.