User interface for a mobile device

• US 8,423,076 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2008
• Issued: 04/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Joo Min, Kwon, Youk
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Fayyaz
• Application Number:
  US12/196,162
• Publication Number:
  US 20090197635A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,699 Days
• Field of Search: 455/550.1, 455/457, 455/416, 455/417, 455/452.3, 345/156, 345/157, 345/158, 345/863, 345/166, 345/169, 345/173, 345/174, 345/178, 345/179, 715862-866
• US Class Current: 455/550.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials

Abstract

A mobile device and a method for controlling a user interface of the mobile device are disclosed. According to an embodiment, there is provided a method for controlling a user interface of a mobile device which has a plurality of different operation modes and at least one function predesignated for each of the operation modes, the method comprising: detecting a movement of the mobile device as applied by a gesture of a user; determining a current operation mode of the mobile device among the plurality of operation modes; and performing the at least one function predesignated for the determined current operation mode, according to the detected movement of the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a user interface of a mobile device configured to support multiple tasks, the method comprising:

detecting a lateral movement of the mobile device, the lateral movement being parallel to a display unit of the mobile device;

seamlessly switching a displayed active task window according to the detected lateral movement of the mobile device, from a first active task window to a second active task window,

wherein the second active task window corresponds to one active task window provided in a direction of the detected lateral movement of the mobile device, among one or more active task windows adjacent to the first active task window in a two-dimensional virtual arrangement having a plurality of virtually arranged active task windows, and

wherein the two-dimensional virtual arrangement is maintained even though the direction of the detected lateral movement points to the vertical direction and even though the direction of the detected lateral movement points to the horizontal direction while switching the displayed active task window from the first active task window to the second active task window according to the detected lateral movement; and

seamlessly switching the displayed active task window from the second active task window to the first active task window upon detecting another lateral movement whose direction is opposite to the detected lateral movement.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a pitching gesture; and

zooming in or out some or all of the plurality of virtually arranged active task windows according to the pitching gesture.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

closing all of the plurality of virtually arranged active task windows in response to a certain movement of the mobile device as applied by a designated gesture of the user.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the designated gesture includes shaking the mobile device at least once.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether a gesture by the user for activating a gesturing mode of the mobile device is made,

wherein the seamlessly switching of the displayed active task window comprises;

seamlessly switching the displayed active task window to the different active task window according to the detected lateral movement of the mobile device when the mobile device is in the gesturing mode.

5. A mobile device for controlling a user interface, the mobile device configured to support multiple tasks and comprising:

a display unit;

a detector configured to detect a lateral movement of the mobile device, the lateral movement being parallel to the display unit; and

a controller, by controlling the display unit, configured to

seamlessly switch a displayed active task window, according to the detected lateral movement of the mobile device from a first active task window to a second active task window,

wherein the second active task window corresponds to one active task window provided in a direction of the detected lateral movement of the mobile device, among one or more active task windows adjacent to the first active task window in a two-dimensional virtual arrangement having a plurality of virtually arranged active task windows, and

wherein the two-dimensional virtual arrangement is maintained even though the direction of the detected lateral movement points to the vertical direction and even though the direction of the detected lateral movement points to the horizontal direction while switching the displayed active task window from the first active task window to the second active task window according to the detected lateral movement,

seamlessly switch the displayed active task window from the second active task window to the first active task window upon detecting another lateral movement whose direction is opposite to the detected lateral movement.

7. The mobile device according to claim 5,

wherein the controller determines whether a gesture by the user for activating a gesturing mode of the mobile device is made, and seamlessly switches the displayed active task window to the different active task window according to the detected lateral movement of the mobile device when the mobile device is in the gesturing mode.