Mobile communication terminal and method of selecting menu and item

• US 8,477,112 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2012
• Issued: 07/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Chang Sub
• Primary Examiner(s): SHERMAN, STEPHEN G
• Application Number:
  US13/601,588
• Publication Number:
  US 20120324386A1
• Time in Patent Office: 305 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-178, 345/156, 345168-169, 455/566, 715/810, 715812-814, 715817-824, 715/828, 715/829, 715/835, 715/838, 715840-845, 178 1801- 1809, 178/18.11
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• 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 terminal including a wireless communication unit configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one other terminal, a touch screen display configured to display a plurality of independent first objects and a controller configured to receive a selection signal indicating a touching of one of the first objects, control the touch screen display to distinctly display a second independent object indicating a drop point where the touched first object can be dropped and receive a dragging signal indicating the touched first object is being touched, dragged and dropped toward the second object. The mobile terminal stops displaying other non-selected first objects and executes a function indicated by the touched and dragged first object when the first object is dropped at the drop point. Further, the second object is displayed separately and independently from the first objects.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a wireless communication unit configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one other terminal;

a touch screen display configured to display a plurality of items; and

a controller configured to;

receive a selection signal corresponding to a selection of one of the plurality of items,

control the touch screen display to display a first menu object in a first direction and to display a second menu object in a second direction opposite to the first direction based on the received selection signal, wherein the first and second menu objects are not displayed before the selection signal is received,

execute a first specific function corresponding to the first menu object when the selection signal includes a first dragging operation having the first direction towards the first menu object without actually having to touch the first menu object, wherein the first dragging operation starts on said selected one of the plurality of items, and

execute a second specific function corresponding to the second menu object when the selection signal includes a second dragging operation having the second direction towards the second menu object without actually having to touch the second menu object, wherein the second dragging operation starts on said selected one of the plurality of items.

2. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to control the touch screen display to change a display property of selected item.

3. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the plurality of items correspond to contact information.

4. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of items includes corresponding text information.

5. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the first and second menu objects are displayed as at least one of icons and texts.

6. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the first and second menu objects are respectively displayed at a left side and a right side of the selected item.

7. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to display the first and second menu objects at a position corresponding to an area where the selected item is displayed.

8. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the first specific function is a calling function and the second specific function is a message function.

9. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second dragging operations is a single continuous dragging operation.

10. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to change a graphical representation of the touched item to indicate the first or second direction.

11. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to continuously display unselected items while the first or second menu objects are displayed.

12. A method of controlling a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

allowing, via a wireless communication unit of the mobile terminal, wireless communication with at least one other terminal;

displaying, via a touch screen display of the mobile terminal, a plurality of items;

receiving, via a controller of the mobile terminal, a selection signal corresponding to a selection of one of the plurality of items;

displaying, via the touch screen display, a first menu object in a first direction and a second menu object in a second direction opposite to the first direction based on the received selection signal, wherein the first and second menu objects are not displayed before the selection signal is received;

executing, via the controller a first specific function corresponding to the first menu object when the selection signal includes a first dragging operation having the first direction towards the first menu object without actually having to touch the first menu object, wherein the first dragging operation starts on said selected one of the plurality of items; and

executing via the controller a second specific function corresponding to the second menu object when the selection signal includes a second dragging operation having the second direction towards the second menu object without actually having to touch the second menu object, wherein the second dragging operation starts on said selected one of the plurality of items.

13. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a wireless communication unit configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one other terminal;

a touch screen display configured to display a plurality of items; and

a controller configured to;

receive a selection signal corresponding to a selection of one of the plurality of items,

sense a dragging operation which is performed on the selected item,

control the touch screen display to display a plurality of menu objects, wherein each of the plurality of menu objects corresponds to a respective one of a plurality of functions, and

execute a specific function of the plurality of functions without actually having to touch the specific menu object, in response to the sensing of the dragging operation, wherein the dragging operation is performed toward the specific menu object,

wherein the executed specific function corresponds to the specific menu object.

14. The mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to control the touch screen display to change a display property of the selected item in response to the sensing of the dragging operation.

15. The mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein the plurality of items correspond to contact information.

16. The mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of items includes corresponding text information.

17. The mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein the menu objects are displayed as at least one of icons and texts.

18. The mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein a first and a second menu object of the plurality of menu objects are respectively displayed at a left side and a right side of the selected item.

19. The mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to display the plurality of menu objects at the position corresponding to an area where selected item is displayed.

20. The mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein the plurality of functions include a calling function and a message function.

21. The mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein the dragging operation is a single continuous dragging operation.

22. The mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to change a graphical representation of the selected item to indicate the dragging operation is performed toward the specific menu object.

23. The mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to continuously display unselected items while the menu objects are displayed.

24. A method of controlling a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

allowing, via a wireless communication unit of the mobile terminal, wireless communication with at least one other terminal;

displaying, via a touch screen display of the mobile terminal, a plurality of items;

receiving, via a controller of the mobile terminal, a selection signal corresponding to a selection of one of the plurality of items;

sensing, via the controller, a dragging operation which is performed on the selected item;

controlling, via the controller, the touch screen display to display a plurality of menu objects, wherein the each of the plurality of menu objects corresponds to a respective one of a plurality of functions; and

executing a specific function of the plurality of functions without actually having to touch the specific menu object, in response to the sensing of the dragging operation, wherein the dragging operation is performed toward the specific menu object,

wherein the executed specific function corresponds to the specific menu object.