Apparatus and method for user interfacing

• US 7,594,190 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2005
• Issued: 09/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kang, Tae-Young, Hwang, Byeong-Cheol, Kim, Bong-Hee
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu; Kieu
• Assistant Examiner(s): GREENE, SABRINA LETICIA
• Application Number:
  US11/248,658
• Publication Number:
  US 20060092140A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,441 Days
• Field of Search: 345/179, 345/157, 715/864, 715/711, 715/764, 715/810, 715/821, 715/822
• US Class Current: 715/822
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for user interfacing. The user interfacing method of a portable terminal with a pointing device includes checking whether or not pointing through the pointing device has occurred, and removing a current image while distorting the current image around a pointing position if pointing has occurred. The user interfacing apparatus of a portable terminal comprises a pointing device for enabling pointing by a user, a display unit for displaying an image for graphic user interfacing, and a control unit for controlling the display unit in such a manner that a current image is removed by distorting the current image around a pointing position and a resultant image according to the pointing is displayed if the pointing has occurred through the pointing device.

Claims

1. A user interfacing method of a portable terminal including a pointing device, the user interfacing method comprising the steps of:

determining whether one of a plurality of predetermined positions on a pre-stored first image displayed on a screen is selected by the pointing device, wherein each of the plurality of predetermined positions corresponds to a different one of a plurality of pre-stored secondary images respectively;

when the predetermined position is selected, making the pre-stored first image disappear in such a manner that the pre-stored first image on the screen is continuously decreased and distorted; and

displaying one of the plurality of pre-stored secondary images corresponding to the selected predetermined position.

2. The user interfacing method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user interface method employs image distorting schemes selectable by a user'"'"'s requirement.

3. The user interfacing method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the corresponding pre-stored secondary image is displayed while the pre-stored first image disappears by distorting the selected image.

4. The user interfacing method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the corresponding pre-stored secondary image is displayed on a residue area excluding the distorted area of the pre-stored first image while the pre-stored first image disappears by distorting and dwindling the pre-stored first image.

5. The user interfacing method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the pre-stored first image is distorted around a selected point in the pre-stored first image by the pointing device.

6. The user interfacing method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of secondary images are pre-stored before displaying the pre-stored first image.

7. The user interfacing method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pre-stored first image is not drawn by the user.

8. A user interfacing apparatus of a portable terminal, the user interfacing apparatus comprising:

a pointing device for enabling selecting and pointing by a user;

a display unit for displaying an image for graphic user interfacing; and

a control unit for determining whether one of a plurality of predetermined positions on a pre-stored first image displayed on a screen of the display unit is selected by the pointing device, wherein each of the plurality of predetermined positions corresponds to a different one of a plurality of pre-stored secondary images respectively, and when the predetermined position is selected, controlling the display unit to make the pre-stored first image disappear in such a manner that the pre-stored first image on the screen is continuously decreased and distorted, and to display one of the plurality of pre-stored secondary images corresponding to the selected predetermined position.

9. The user interfacing apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the control unit changes an image distorting scheme according to the user'"'"'s requirement.

10. The user interfacing apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the corresponding pre-stored secondary image is displayed while the pre-stored first image disappears by distorting the selected image.

11. The user interfacing apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the corresponding pre-stored secondary image is displayed on a residue area excluding the distorted area of the pre-stored first image while the pre-stored first image disappears by distorting and dwindling the pre-stored first image.

12. The user interfacing apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the pre-stored first image is distorted around a selected point in the pre-stored first image by the pointing device.

13. The user interfacing apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the plurality of secondary images are pre-stored before displaying the pre-stored first image.

14. The user interfacing apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the pre-stored first image is not drawn by the user.