MOBILE DEVICE AND METHOD OF OPERATION

• US 20140165004A1
• Filed: 12/04/2013
• Published: 06/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: DUBOC, Stephane
• Application Number:
  US14/096,329
• Publication Number:
  US 20140165004A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/835
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0381 Multimodal input, i.e. interface arrangements enabling the user to issue commands by simultaneous use of input devices of different nature, e.g. voice plus gesture on digitizer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/23 Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72466 with selection means, e.g. keys, having functions defined by the mode or the status of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

A mobile device is disclosed that includes a touchscreen and at least one control element separated from the touchscreen, and a method for operating such mobile device. Functions of the mobile device are selectively controlled when the control element is actuated, wherein it is detected whether an area of the touchscreen is touched, and when the area of the touchscreen is not touched, a first function of the mobile device is controlled, and when the area of the touchscreen is touched, a second function of the mobile device is controlled during the time in which the control element is actuated and the area of the touchscreen is touched. Thus, a switching capability between functions controlled by the control element is provided.

Claims

1. Method for operating a mobile device, the mobile device comprising a touchscreen and a control element which is separated from the touchscreen, the method comprising:

when the control element is actuated, selectively controlling functions of the mobile device, wherein the selectively controlling functions of the mobile device comprises;

detecting whether an area of the touchscreen is touched,

when detecting that the area of the touchscreen is not touched, controlling a first function of the mobile device, and

when detecting that the area of the touchscreen is touched, controlling a second function of the mobile device during the time in which the control element is actuated and the area of the touchscreen is touched.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the area of the touchscreen comprises substantially the whole touchscreen.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the area of the touchscreen is any area which is not used by interaction elements of a graphical user interface, GUI, of the mobile device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the area is defined by an icon depicting the second function which is displayed on the touchscreen.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting whether any of a plurality of predefined areas of the touchscreen is touched; and

controlling a function associated with the touched predefined area

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a number of simultaneous touch events in the area; and

controlling a second function determined based on the detected number of simultaneous touch events.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a touch of an area of the touchscreen which is used by an interaction element of a graphical user interface (GUI) of the mobile device and, when simultaneously or within a predefined time detecting an actuation of the control element, controlling the second function of the mobile device during the time in which the control element is actuated and the area of the touchscreen is touched.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and/or second function of the mobile device is/are dependent on a mode of operation of the mobile device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first or second function is a volume control of a loudspeaker of the mobile device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the second or first function is a brightness control of the touchscreen of the mobile device.

11. A mobile device, comprising

a touchscreen;

a control element being separated from the touchscreen; and

at least one processor that selectively controls functions of the mobile device when the control element is actuated,

wherein the at least one processor detects whether an area of the touchscreen is touched, and, when detecting that the area of the touchscreen is not touched, controlling a first function of the mobile device, and when detecting that the area of the touchscreen is touched, controlling a second function of the mobile device during the time in which the control element is actuated and the area of the touchscreen is touched.

12. The mobile device according to claim 11, wherein the touchscreen displays an icon depicting the second function.

13. The mobile device according to claim 11, wherein the touchscreen detects a number of simultaneous touch events, and wherein the at least one processor controls a function determined based on the detected number of simultaneous touch events.

14. The mobile device according to claim 11, wherein the control element is or comprises a mechanical control element, particularly a mechanical actuator, more particularly a mechanical switching device.

15. The mobile device according to claim 14, wherein the mechanical control element comprises a mechanical switching device.

16. A computer program product for operating a mobile device comprising a touchscreen and a control element which is separated from the touchscreen, the computer program product comprising:

a computer readable nontransitory storage medium having computer readable program code embodied in the medium that when executed by at least one processor causes the at least one processor to perform operations comprising;

when the control element is actuated, selectively controlling functions of the mobile device,

wherein the selectively controlling functions of the mobile device comprises;

detecting whether an area of the touchscreen is touched,

when detecting that the area of the touchscreen is not touched, controlling a first function of the mobile device, and

when detecting that the area of the touchscreen is touched, controlling a second function of the mobile device during the time in which the control element is actuated and the area of the touchscreen is touched.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise:

detecting whether any of a plurality of predefined areas of the touchscreen is touched; and

controlling a function associated with the touched predefined area.

18. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise:

detecting a touch of an area of the touchscreen which is used by an interaction element of a graphical user interface (GUI) of the mobile device and, when simultaneously or within a predefined time detecting an actuation of the control element, controlling the second function of the mobile device during the time in which the control element is actuated and the area of the touchscreen is touched.