MULTIPLE SCREEN MODE IN MOBILE TERMINAL

• US 20140173498A1
• Filed: 02/19/2014
• Published: 06/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KT Corporation
• Original Assignee: KT Corporation
• Inventors: CHAE, Haeng-Suk, CHOI, Kyoung-Tae
• Granted Patent: US 10,551,987 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/778
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04803 Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas
• 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 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/145 related to small screens
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports

Abstract

Provided are a method and a mobile terminal for simultaneously displaying at least two application windows on a display unit of a mobile terminal. The method may include displaying a first application window associated with a first application on an entire display area of the display unit, receiving a multi_screen mode initiation input from a user, dividing a display area of the display unit into at least two display areas including a first display area and a second display area in response to the multi_screen mode initiation input, and displaying the first application window and a second application window on the at least two display areas, respectively, in a multi_screen mode.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A method of simultaneously displaying at least two application windows on a display unit of a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

displaying a first application window associated with a first application on a display area of the display unit;

receiving a multi-screen mode initiation input from a user; and

displaying simultaneously at least two application windows on the display area in response to the multi-screen mode initiation input;

wherein the at least two application windows include the first application window and a second application window, and

wherein the second application window enables a user to select one of a plurality of applications.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the second application window includes taps for enabling a user to select the one of the plurality of applications.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the second application window includes icons for enabling a user to select the one of the plurality of applications.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the second application window displays an initial graphic user interface.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the plurality of applications includes at least one of a memo application, a message application and a social network service application.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the one selected by the user is performed within the second application window.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein the multi-screen mode initiation input includes a gesture input made on the display unit.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the gesture input includes a pinch input.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the pinch input is determined as the multi-screen mode initiation input when a pinching motion of the pinch input exceeds a shrinking threshold.

30. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

receiving a single-screen mode initiation input from the user; and

displaying one of the at least two application windows on the entire display area in response to the single-screen mode initiation input.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the single-screen mode initiation input includes a gesture input made on the display unit.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the gesture input includes a spread input.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the spread input is determined as the single-screen mode initiation input when a spreading motion of the spread input exceeds an expanding threshold.

34. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

receiving a closing request input associated with the second application window from the user;

closing the second application window in response to the closing request input.

35. A method of simultaneously displaying two application windows on a display unit of a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

displaying a first application window associated with a first application on a display area of the display unit;

receiving a dual-screen mode initiation input from a user; and

displaying simultaneously two application windows on the display area in response to the dual-screen mode initiation input;

wherein the two application windows include the first application window and a second application window, and

wherein the second application window enables a user to select one of a plurality of applications.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the second application window includes icons for enabling a user to select the one of the plurality of applications.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the plurality of applications includes at least one of a memo application, a message application and a social network service application.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein the one selected by the user is performed within the second application window.

39. The method of claim 35, wherein the dual-screen mode initiation input includes a gesture input made on the display unit.

40. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

receiving a closing request input associated with the second application window from the user;

closing the second application window in response to the closing request input.