TERMINAL FOR SUPPORTING ICON OPERATION AND ICON OPERATION METHOD

• US 20130268885A1
• Filed: 04/04/2013
• Published: 10/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: RHIM, Eunhee, LIM, Kyungsoo, SEO, Suckho, AHN, Kisuh, YANG, Hyejung, JUN, Jinha, CHO, Siejoon
• Granted Patent: US 9,678,622 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/808
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04804 Transparency, e.g. transparent or translucent windows
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72472 wherein the items are sorted according to specific criteria, e.g. frequency of use

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for an icon operation. A signal for designating a preset non-use period is received. An icon is output in a display format according to a non-use history of the icon and based on the preset non-use period.

Claims

1. An icon operation method in a terminal, the method comprising:

receiving a signal for designating a preset non-use period; and

outputting an icon in a display format according to a non-use history of the icon and based on the preset non-use period.

2. The icon operation method of claim 1, wherein outputting the icon comprises at least one:

gradually reducing a size of the icon in proportion to the non-use history;

gradually increasing a transparency of the icon in proportion to the non-use history;

gradually increasing a dimness of the icon in proportion to the non-use history;

gradually reducing the size of the icon in proportion to the non-use history, and removing an image of the icon when the preset non-use period elapses;

gradually increasing the transparency of the icon in proportion to the non-use history, and removing the image of the icon when the preset non-use period elapses; and

gradually increasing the dimness of the icon in proportion to the non-use history, and displaying the image of the icon so the image of the icon is not recognized when the preset non-use period elapses.

3. The icon operation method of claim 2, further comprising maintaining description information displayed to describe the icon in an original state.

4. The icon operation method of claim 3, further comprising automatically removing the icon and an application associated with the icon when the preset non-use period elapses for the icon.

5. The icon operation method of claim 1, further comprising discarding the icon to a separately provided warehouse page when the preset non-use period elapses for the icon.

6. The icon operation method of claim 5, wherein discarding the icon comprises one of:

automatically discarding the icon when the preset non-use period elapses for the icon; and

outputting a pop-up window for discarding the icon to the separately provided warehouse page when the preset non-use period elapses for the icon, and discarding the icon to separately provided warehouse page when a discarding command is inputted through the pop-up window.

7. The icon operation method of claim 6, further comprising:

generating warehouse pages by type, by period, or as designated by the user; and

outputting a list of the warehouse pages such that the icon is discarded to one of the warehouse pages when the pop-up window is outputted.

8. The icon operation method of claim 5, further comprising:

designating an additional preset non-use period for changing a display format of the icon outputted on the warehouse page according to the non-use history; and

displaying the icon on the warehouse page according the non-use history of the icon and based on the additional preset non-use period.

9. The icon operation method of claim 8, further comprising removing the icon from the warehouse page, when the additional preset non-use period elapses for the icon.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein removing the icon comprises one of:

automatically removing the icon and an application associated with the icon, when the non-use history of the icon elapses the additional preset non-use period; and

outputting a pop-up window for removing the icon when an input for selecting the icon is generated while the a non-use history of the icon elapses the additional preset non-use period, and removing the icon and an application associated with the icon when a discard command is inputted through the pop-up window.

11. The icon operation method of claim 10, further comprising:

generating a list including meta data for restoring the removed icon and application; and

restoring display of the icon and installation of the application, when an input signal for reinstalling the application in the list is generated.

12. A terminal for supporting an icon operation, the terminal comprising:

a display unit outputting an icon display screen including at least one icon;

an input unit generating a signal for designating a preset non-use period for the at least one icon; and

a controller controlling such that an icon is outputted in a display format according to a non-use history of the icon and based on the preset non-use period.

13. The terminal of claim 12, wherein the controller performs at least of:

icon display control to gradually reduce the size of the icon in proportion to the non-use history, and remove an image of the icon when the preset non-use period elapses;

icon display control to gradually increase a transparency of the icon in proportion to the non-use history, and remove the image of the icon when the preset non-use period elapses;

icon display control to gradually increase a dimness of the icon in proportion to the non-use history, and display the image of the icon so that the image is not recognized when the preset non-use period elapses.

14. The terminal of claim 13, wherein the display unit maintains an original state for description information displayed to describe the icon, and displays the description information in a region adjacent to the image of the icon or a region that at least partially overlaps the image of the icon.

15. The terminal of claim 13, wherein:

the controller automatically removes the icon an application associated with the icon when the preset non-use period elapses for the icon,

the controller automatically discards the icon to a separately provided warehouse page, when the preset non-use period elapses for the icon, or

the controller outputs a pop-up window for discarding the icon to the separately provided warehouse page when the preset non-use period elapses for the icon, and discards the icon to the separately provided warehouse page when a discarding command is inputted through the pop-up window.

16. The terminal of claim 15, wherein:

the display unit displays a plurality of warehouse pages generated by type, by period, and as designated by a user; and

the display unit displays a list of the plurality of warehouse pages with the pop-up window, such that the icon is discarded to one of the plurality of warehouse pages.

17. The terminal of claim 15, wherein the input unit generates an input corresponding to designation of an additional preset non-use period for changing a display format of the icon outputted on the warehouse page according to the non-use history.

18. The terminal of claim 17, wherein the display unit displays the icon on the warehouse page according the non-use history of the icon and based on the additional preset non-use period.

19. The terminal of claim 18, wherein:

the controller removes the icon from the warehouse page, when the non-use history of the icon elapses the additional preset non-use period, or

the controller outputs a pop-up window for removing the icon when an input for selecting the icon is generated while the non-use history of the icon elapses the additional preset non-use period, and removes the icon and an application associated with the icon when a discard command is inputted through the pop-up window.

20. The terminal of claim 19, wherein the controller generates a list including meta data for restoring the removed icon and application, and restores display of the icon and installation of the application when an input signal for reinstalling the application in the list is generated.