Mobile terminal and method for controlling the same

• US 9,363,359 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2012
• Issued: 06/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Mhun, Yunjueng, Choi, Jaeho, Na, Yeonsuk, Choi, Jian, Son, Joohee, Kwon, Yunmi
• Primary Examiner(s): Hua, Quan M
• Application Number:
  US13/546,947
• Publication Number:
  US 20130072262A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,427 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1614 Image rotation following screen orientation, e.g. switching from landscape to portrait mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04803 Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• 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 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons

Abstract

A mobile terminal and a method of controlling the same are provided. In a state where a message application is executed, when a view mode of the mobile terminal is converted to a landscape view mode, the mobile terminal displays at least one selectable item related to the message application in a partial area of a screen.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal comprising:

a touchscreen; and

a controller configured to;

execute a message application; and

control the touchscreen to;

display a contact list comprising a plurality of identifiers individually associated with one of a plurality of parties, wherein the contact list is displayed in a first area of the touchscreen in response to changing from a portrait mode to a landscape mode, wherein the contact list is related to the message application, wherein the message application is executed prior to the changing from the portrait mode to the landscape mode;

display a screen in further response to the changing from the portrait mode to the landscape mode, wherein the screen is displayed in a second area of the touchscreen, and wherein the first area is adjacent to the second area, wherein the displaying of the contact list is maintained while the screen is displayed; and

display a message history within the second area of the display in response to user selection of a first identifier among the plurality of identifiers of the contact list, wherein the message history comprises messages communicated with the party associated with the first identifier, wherein the displaying of the contact list is maintained while the message history is displayed.

2. The mobile terminal of claim 1, further comprising a sensing unit configured to sense motion of the mobile terminal,

wherein the changing to the landscape mode occurs when the sensed motion is rotation in a specific direction.

3. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein:

the controller is further configured to;

display another message history within the second area of the display in response to user selection of a second identifier among the plurality of identifiers of the contact list, wherein the another message history comprises messages communicated with the party associated with the second identifier.

4. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control the display to display the plurality of identifiers of the contact list based on a predetermined condition, the predetermined condition including at least an alphabetical order, a message transmitting/receiving order, a frequency of transmitting/receiving messages, or a party associated with a respective identifier among the plurality of identifiers who is registered as a favorite.

5. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control the display to:

display the screen in the second area as an empty screen, and

display the message history in the second area after selection of the first identifier.

6. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

transmit a selected message of the message history to a party associated with a second identifier among the plurality of identifiers in response to a drag input beginning from the selected message and ending at the second identifier.

7. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein a type of the messages of the message history is an instant message, a short message service, a multimedia messaging service, or an e-mail.

15. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to control the touchscreen to:

display one or more contents in the first area while continuing to display the message history within the second area.

16. The mobile terminal of claim 15, wherein the controller is further configured to:

transmit at least one selected contents among the one or more contents to the party, when the at least one selected contents is dragged and dropped from the first area to the second area.

8. A method for executing a message application at a mobile terminal having a touchscreen, the method comprising:

displaying on the touchscreen a contact list comprising a plurality of identifiers individually associated with one of a plurality of parties, wherein the contact list is displayed in a first area of the touchscreen in response to changing from a portrait mode to a landscape mode, wherein the contact list is related to the message application, wherein the message application is executed prior to the changing from the portrait mode to the landscape mode;

displaying on the touchscreen a screen in further response to the changing from the portrait mode to the landscape mode, wherein the screen is displayed in a second area of the touchscreen, and wherein the first area is adjacent to the second area, wherein the displaying of the contact list is maintained while the screen is displayed; and

displaying on the touchscreen a message history within the second area of the display in response to user selection of a first identifier among the plurality of identifiers of the contact list, wherein the message history comprises messages communicated with the party associated with the first identifier, wherein the displaying of the contact list is maintained while the message history is displayed.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

changing to the landscape mode when the mobile terminal is rotated in a specific direction.

10. The mobile terminal of claim 8, further comprising:

displaying on the touchscreen another message history within the second area of the display in response to user selection of a second identifier among the plurality of identifiers of the contact list, wherein the another message history comprises messages communicated with the party associated with the second identifier.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

displaying on the touchscreen the plurality of identifiers of the contact list based on a predetermined condition, the predetermined condition including at least an alphabetical order, a message transmitting/receiving order, a frequency of transmitting/receiving messages, or a party associated with a respective identifier among the plurality of identifiers who is registered as a favorite.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

displaying on the touchscreen the screen in the second area as an empty screen, and

displaying on the touchscreen the message history in the second area after selection of the first identifier.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

transmitting a selected message of the message history to a party associated with a second identifier among the plurality of identifiers in response to a drag input beginning from the selected message and ending at the second identifier.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein a type of the messages of the message history is an instant message, a short message service, a multimedia messaging service, or an e-mail.