Method and apparatus for performing processes in a user equipment by using touch patterns

• US 8,982,065 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2011
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KT Corporation
• Original Assignee: KT Corporation
• Inventors: Yu, Dong-Won
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, NICHOLAS J
• Application Number:
  US13/245,946
• Publication Number:
  US 20120169632A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,267 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 345/173
• 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

Abstract

A method and apparatus for performing processes in a user equipment by using touch patterns. A touch pattern may be received through a touch input unit of the user equipment. A memory of the user equipment may be searched for a touch pattern data corresponding to the received touch pattern. The touch pattern data may be loaded from the memory, and the operation that corresponds to the received touch pattern may be performed based on the loaded touch pattern data. The touch pattern data may include at least one of a touch pattern field for storing information on the received touch pattern, an application information field for storing information on the operation to be performed in response to the received touch pattern, and a touch pattern input area information field for storing information on a touch pattern input area of the received touch pattern.

Claims

1. A method for performing an operation on a user equipment, the method comprising:

pre-storing touch pattern data per initial touch pattern in a memory of the user equipment, wherein (i) the touch pattern data includes information on an operation to be performed per the initial touch pattern, and (ii) in a case that the pre-storing is performed through a map application, the touch pattern data further includes geographical data on a location where the initial touch pattern is input on a map application screen;

receiving a touch pattern through a touch input unit of the user equipment;

searching the memory of the user equipment for touch pattern data corresponding to the received touch pattern;

loading the touch pattern data corresponding to the received touch pattern from the memory; and

performing an operation that corresponds to the received touch pattern, based on the loaded touch pattern data,

wherein the performing includes performing the corresponding operation using corresponding geographical data when the loaded touch pattern data includes the corresponding geographical data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the touch pattern data comprises at least one of a touch pattern field for storing information on the initial touch pattern, an application information field for storing information on the operation to be performed in response to the initial touch pattern, and a touch pattern input area information field for storing information on a touch pattern input area of the initial touch pattern; and

the touch pattern input area information field comprises the geographical data on the location where the initial touch pattern is input on the map application screen.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the touch pattern data further comprises a field for storing information on functions of the user equipment which are interactive with the operation to be performed in response to the initial touch pattern.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a touch pattern input area where the touch pattern is input on an application screen associated with the operation.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the pre-storing comprises:

receiving an initial touch pattern input on an application screen associated with an operation while executing the operation; and

storing into the memory, as the touch pattern data, information on the operation and information on a touch pattern input area of the operation,

wherein the touch pattern input area comprises an area of the touch input unit where the initial touch pattern is input on the application screen associated with the operation.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the touch pattern data further comprises information on functions of the user equipment which are interactive with the operation.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the pre-storing further comprises:

determining whether or not the received initial touch pattern matches a corresponding touch pattern data that is already stored in the memory; and

when the corresponding touch pattern data matching the received initial touch pattern is already stored in the memory, selectively performing one of replacing the stored touch pattern data corresponding to the received initial touch pattern with an updated touch pattern data and requesting an input of a different touch pattern as the initial touch pattern.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the pre-storing comprises:

receiving an initial touch pattern input on a waiting screen;

requesting selection of the operation to be performed in response to receiving the touch pattern; and

storing into the memory information on the initial touch pattern and information on the selected operation.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the touch pattern data comprises information on functions of the user equipment which are interactive with the operation to be performed.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the pre-storing further comprises:

determining whether or not the received initial touch pattern matches a corresponding touch pattern data that is already stored in the memory; and

when the corresponding touch pattern data matching the received initial touch pattern is already stored in the memory, selectively performing one of replacing the stored touch pattern data corresponding to the received initial touch pattern with an updated touch pattern data and requesting an input of a different touch pattern as the initial touch pattern.

11. An apparatus for performing an operation, the apparatus comprising:

a touch input unit configured to receive a touch pattern as an input;

a controller configured to create touch pattern data per initial touch pattern by performing a touch pattern pre-storage procedure, enable the touch input unit to receive the touch pattern, initiate a search for touch pattern data corresponding to the received touch pattern, initiate a loading of the corresponding touch pattern data, and initiate performance of an operation that corresponds to the received touch pattern, based on the loaded touch pattern data; and

a memory configured to pre-store the touch pattern data per the initial touch pattern created through the touch pattern pre-storage procedure, and from which the touch pattern data is searched for and loaded,

wherein the created touch pattern data includes information on an operation to be performed per the initial touch pattern;

wherein in a case that the touch pattern pre-storage procedure is performed through a map application, the created touch pattern data further comprises geographical data on a location where the initial touch pattern is input on a map application screen;

wherein the controller is configured to initiate the performance of the operation according to the received touch pattern, using corresponding geographical data when the loaded touch pattern data includes the corresponding geographical data.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

the created touch pattern data comprises at least one of a touch pattern field for storing information on the initial touch pattern, an application information field for storing information on the operation to be performed in response to the initial touch pattern, and a touch pattern input area information field for storing information on a touch pattern input area of the initial touch pattern; and

the touch pattern input area information field comprises the geographical data on the location where the initial touch pattern is input on the map application screen.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the created touch pattern data further comprises a field for storing information on functions which are interactive with the operation to be performed in response to the initial touch pattern.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

a touch pattern input area is displayed on a display module configured with the touch input unit; and

the touch pattern input area is an area where the touch pattern is input on an application screen associated with the operation.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

the controller is configured to enable the touch input unit to receive an initial touch pattern input on an application screen associated with an operation while executing the operation, and enable the memory to store, as the touch pattern data, information on the operation and information on a touch pattern input area of the operation; and

the touch pattern input area comprises an area of the touch input unit where the initial touch pattern is input on the application screen associated with the operation.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the created touch pattern data further comprises a field for storing information on functions of the user equipment which are interactive with the operation.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein a determination is made as to whether or not the received initial touch pattern matches a corresponding touch pattern data that is already stored in the memory;

and

when the corresponding touch pattern data matching the received initial touch pattern is already stored in the memory, selectively performing one of replacing the stored touch pattern data corresponding to the received initial touch pattern with an updated touch pattern data and requesting an input of a different touch pattern as the initial touch pattern.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

the controller is configured to enable the touch input unit to receive an initial touch pattern input on a waiting screen, a selection of the operation to be requested in response to receiving the initial touch pattern, and the memory to store information on the initial touch pattern and information on the selected operation.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the touch input unit comprises a touch screen.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for performing an operation on a user equipment having a processor, the program which when executed by the processor performs a method, the method comprising:

pre-storing touch pattern data per initial touch pattern in a memory of the user equipment, wherein (i) the touch pattern data includes information on an operation to be performed per the initial touch pattern, and (ii) in a case that the pre-storing is performed through a map application, the touch pattern data further includes geographical data on a location where the initial touch pattern is input on a map application screen;

receiving a touch pattern through a touch input unit of the user equipment;

searching the memory of the user equipment for touch pattern data corresponding to the received touch pattern;

loading the touch pattern data corresponding to the received touch pattern from the memory; and

performing an operation of the user equipment that corresponds to the received touch pattern, based on the loaded touch pattern data,

wherein the performing includes performing the corresponding operation using corresponding geographical data when the loaded touch pattern data includes the corresponding geographical data.