SCROLLING METHOD OF MOBILE TERMINAL AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING THE SAME

• US 20150052474A1
• Filed: 10/30/2014
• Published: 02/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: KIM, Mee Young, LEE, Sung Sik, YOON, Kyoung Sik, KIM, Byung Joo
• Granted Patent: US 10,082,943 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/784
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A scrolling method and apparatus devices having display screens such as a mobile terminal. When a first image on a screen cannot be moved in a direction by a touch input, a region of the first image is modified in response to the touch input and the modified image is subsequently restored to the first image after the touch is released or a preset amount of time passes. The modification of the region of the image provides an indication that is fed back to the user so that the end or last part of the image is displayed and cannot be moved further, so that undesired repetitive touch input can be prevented.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A scrolling method of a mobile terminal comprising:

displaying a plurality of user-selectable items in a defined area of a display screen;

receiving a touch input for scrolling the plurality of user-selectable items along the defined area of the display screen in a downward direction corresponding to a downward direction of a user'"'"'s touch;

modifying a displaying region of a first item of the plurality of user-selectable items such that a top edge of the displaying region of the first item remains fixed to a top edge of the defined area of the display screen in response to receiving the touch input for scrolling when the plurality of user-selectable items displayed on the defined area of the display screen cannot be scrolled further in the downward direction corresponding to the downward direction of the user'"'"'s touch; and

restoring the modified displaying region of the first item on the display screen in further response to an event.

22. The scrolling method of a mobile terminal of claim 21, wherein the touch input is a first touch input when an acceleration of a touch point at a time when a touch is released from the display is less than a preset threshold, and is a second touch input when the acceleration of the touch point at the time when the touch is released from the display is equal to or higher than the preset threshold.

23. The scrolling method of a mobile terminal of claim 22, wherein the event for restoring the modified displaying region of the first item is an event of the first touch input being released or an event of a preset time lapsing after the second touch input is released.

24. The scrolling method of a mobile terminal of claim 21, wherein the modifying comprises expanding at least one space between names of the plurality of user-selectable items and upper edges of the displaying regions of the plurality of user-selectable items, and between the names of the plurality of user-selectable items and lower edges of the displaying regions of the plurality of user-selectable items.

25. The scrolling method of a mobile terminal of claim 21, wherein the modifying comprises reducing a size of the displaying regions of the remaining items except for the modified items, in response to the expanded size of the displaying regions of the modified items.

26. The scrolling method of a mobile terminal of claim 25, wherein the reducing a size of the displaying regions of the remaining items comprises reducing the size of the displaying regions of the remaining items irregularly by a different ratio.

27. The scrolling method of a mobile terminal of claim 21, wherein the modifying of the displaying region of the first item comprises modifying a size of the displaying region of the first item.

28. The scrolling method of a mobile terminal of claim 27, further comprising:

modifying a size of a displaying region of a second item located adjacent to the first item concurrently with modifying of the size of the first item such that an amount of size change applied to the second item is less than an amount of size change applied to the first item.

29. The scrolling method of a mobile terminal of claim 21, further comprising:

receiving a touch input for scrolling the plurality of user-selectable items along the defined area of the display screen in an upward direction corresponding to an upward direction of a user'"'"'s touch;

modifying a displaying region of a last item of the plurality of user-selectable items such that a bottom edge of the displaying region of the last item remains fixed to a bottom edge of the defined area of the display screen in response to receiving the touch input for scrolling when the plurality of user-selectable items displayed on the defined area of the display screen cannot be scrolled further in the upward direction corresponding to the upward direction of the user'"'"'s touch; and

restoring the modified displaying region of the last item on the display screen.

30. The scrolling method of a mobile terminal of claim 29, wherein the modifying of the displaying region of the last item comprises modifying a size of the displaying region of the last item.

31. The scrolling method of a mobile terminal of claim 30, further comprising:

modifying a size of a displaying region of a third item located adjacent to the last item concurrently with modifying of the size of the last item such that an amount of size change applied to the third item is less than an amount of size change applied to the last item.

32. The scrolling method of claim 21, wherein the user-selectable items are templates of a webpage.

33. A scrolling apparatus of a mobile terminal comprising:

a display unit for displaying a plurality of user-selectable items in a defined area of a display screen;

a touch panel for receiving a touch input for scrolling the plurality of user-selectable items along the defined area of the display screen in a downward direction corresponding to a downward direction of a user'"'"'s touch; and

a control unit for modifying a displaying region of a first item of the plurality of user-selectable items such that a top edge of the displaying region of the first item remains fixed to a top edge of the defined area of the display screen in response to receiving the touch input for scrolling when the plurality of user-selectable items displayed on the defined area of the display screen cannot be scrolled further in the downward direction corresponding to the downward direction of the user'"'"'s touch, and restoring the modified displaying region of the first item on the display screen in further response to an event.

34. The scrolling apparatus of a mobile terminal of claim 33, wherein the touch input is a first touch input when an acceleration of a touch point at a time when a touch is released is less than a preset threshold, and is a second touch input when the acceleration of the touch point at the time when the touch is released is equal to or higher than the preset threshold.

35. The scrolling apparatus of a mobile terminal of claim 34, wherein the event for restoring the modified displaying region of the first item is an event of the first touch input being released, or an event of a preset time lapsing after the second touch input is released.

36. The scrolling apparatus of a mobile terminal of claim 33, wherein the control unit expands at least one space between names of the plurality of user-selectable items and upper edges of the displaying regions of the plurality of user-selectable items, and between the names of the plurality of user-selectable items and lower edges of the displaying regions of the items, when the displaying regions of the plurality of user-selectable items are modified.

37. The scrolling apparatus of a mobile terminal of claim 33, wherein the control unit reduces a size of the displaying regions of the remaining items except for the modified items, in response to the expanded size of the displaying regions of the modified items.

38. The scrolling apparatus of a mobile terminal of claim 33, wherein the control unit modifies a size of the displaying region of the first item.

39. The scrolling apparatus of a mobile terminal of claim 38, wherein the control unit modifies a size of a displaying region of a second item located adjacent to the first item concurrently with modifying of the size of the first item such that an amount of size change applied to the second item is less than an amount of size change applied to the first item.

40. The scrolling apparatus of a mobile terminal of claim 33, wherein the control unit receives a touch input for scrolling the plurality of user-selectable items along the defined area of the display screen in an upward direction corresponding to an upward direction of a user'"'"'s touch, modifies a displaying region of a last item of the plurality of user-selectable items such that a bottom edge of the displaying region of the last item remains fixed to a bottom edge of the defined area of the display screen in response to receiving the touch input for scrolling when the plurality of user-selectable items displayed on the defined area of the display screen cannot be scrolled further in the upward direction corresponding to the upward direction of the user'"'"'s touch, and restoring the modified displaying region of the last item on the display screen.