Terminal for supporting icon operation and icon operation method

• US 9,678,622 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2013
• Issued: 06/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Jun, Jinha, Lim, Kyungsoo, Seo, Suckho, Ahn, Kisuh, Yang, Hyejung, Rhim, Eunhee, Cho, Siejoon
• Primary Examiner(s): BAUTISTA, XIOMARA L
• Application Number:
  US13/856,814
• Publication Number:
  US 20130268885A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,531 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04804 Transparency, e.g. transparent or translucent windows
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72472 wherein the items are sorted according to specific criteria, e.g. frequency of use

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for an icon operation. A signal for designating a preset non-use period is received. An icon is output in a display format according to a non-use history of the icon and based on the preset non-use period.

Claims

1. A visual element operation method in a terminal, the method comprising;

receiving an input for designating a preset non-use period;

outputting, on a specific page, a visual element adjusted based on a non-use period of the visual element and the preset non-use period;

generating an additional page; and

moving, when the non-use period of the visual element is at least equal to the preset non-use period, a portion of the visual element onto the additional page while retaining a remaining portion of the visual element on the specific page,

wherein the additional page includes the moved portion of a visual element classified based on a type of an application corresponding to the visual element and a non-use period of the visual element.

2. The visual element operation method of claim 1, wherein outputting the visual element comprises at least one of:

gradually reducing a size of the portion of the visual element in proportion to the non-use period;

gradually increasing a transparency of the portion of the visual element in proportion to the non-use period;

gradually increasing a dimness of the portion of the visual element in proportion to the non-used period;

gradually reducing the size of the portion of the visual element in proportion to the non-use history, and removing the portion of the visual element when the non-use period is at least equal to the preset non-use period;

gradually increasing the transparency of the portion of the visual element in proportion to the non-use history, and removing the portion of the visual element when the non-use period is a least equal to the preset non-use period; and

gradually increasing the dimness of the portion of the visual element in proportion to the non-use history, and displaying the portion of the visual element so the portion of the visual element is not recognized when the non-use period is at least equal to the preset non-use period.

3. The visual element operation method of claim 2, wherein the remaining portion of the visual element comprises description information that describes the visual element, and

wherein the method further comprises maintaining the description information in an original state while the portion of the visual element is adjusted on the specific page or moved to the additional page.

4. The visual element operation method of claim 3, further comprising automatically removing the portion of the visual element and an application associated with the visual element from an area of memory in which the portion of the visual element and the application are stored in response to the elapse of the preset non-use period for the visual element.

5. The visual element operation method of claim 1, wherein moving the portion of the visual element comprises one of:

automatically moving the portion of the visual element when the non-use period of the visual element is at least equal to the preset non-use period for the visual element; and

outputting a pop-up window for moving the portion of the visual element onto the additional page when the non-use period is at least equal to the preset non-use period, and moving the portion of the visual element to the additional page when a move command is inputted through the pop-up window.

6. The visual element operation method of claim 5, further comprising:

outputting a list of pages in the pop-up window such that the portion of the visual element is moved onto one of the listed pages when the pop-up window is outputted.

7. The visual element operation method of claim 1, further comprising:

designating an additional preset non-use period for adjusting the moved portion of the visual element on the additional page according to the non-use period of the visual element; and

displaying the moved portion of the visual element on the additional page adjusted based on the non-use period of the visual element and based on the additional preset non-use period.

8. The visual element operation method of claim 7, further comprising removing the moved portion of the visual element from the additional page, when the non-use period with respect to the visual element is at least equal to the additional preset non-use period.

9. The visual element operation method of claim 8, wherein removing the moved portion of the visual element from the additional page comprises one of:

automatically removing the moved portion of the visual element and an application associated with the visual element from an area of memory in which the moved portion of the visual element and the application are stored, when the non-use history of the visual element elapses the additional preset non-use period; and

outputting a pop-up window for removing the moved portion of the visual element from the addition page when an input for selecting the moved portion of the visual element is generated while the non-use period of the visual element is at least equal to the additional preset non-use period, and removing the moved portion of the visual element and the application associated with the visual element from the area of memory in which the moved portion of the visual element and the application are stored when a move command is inputted through the pop-up window.

10. The visual element operation method of claim 9, further comprising:

generating a list including meta data for restoring the removed portion of the visual element and the application associated with the visual element; and

restoring display of the removed portion of the visual element and an installation of the application associated with the visual element, when an input for reinstalling the application in the list is generated.

11. A terminal for supporting a visual element operation, the terminal comprising:

a display unit configured to output, on a specific page, visual element;

an input unit configured to receive an input for designating a preset non-use period for the at least one visual element; and

a processor configured to;

output the visual element adjusted based on a non-use period of the visual element and the preset non-use period,

generate an additional page, and

move, when the non-use period of the visual element is at least equal to the preset non-use period, a portion of the visual element onto the additional page, while retaining a remaining portion of the visual element on the specific page,

wherein the additional page includes the moved portion of a visual element classified based on a type of an application corresponding to the visual element and a non-use period of the visual element.

12. The terminal of claim 11, wherein the processor performs at least one of:

visual element display control to gradually reduce a size of the portion of the visual element in proportion to the non-use period, and remove the portion of the visual element when the non-use period is at least equal to the preset non-use period;

visual element display control to gradually increase a transparency of the portion of the visual element in proportion to the non-use history, and remove the image of the portion of the visual element

visual element display control to gradually increase a dimness of the portion of the visual element in proportion to the non-use history, and display the portion of the visual element so that the portion of the visual elment is not recognized when the non-use period is at least equal to the preset non-use period.

13. The terminal of claim 12, wherein the remaining portion of the visual element comprises description information that describe the visual element, and

wherein the display unit maintains the description information in an original state, and displays the description information in a region adjacent to the portion of the visual element on the page or a region of the page that at least partially overlaps the portion of the visual element.

14. The terminal of claim 12, wherein, in moving the portion of the visual element, the processor performs one of:

automatically removing the portion of the visual element and an application associated with the visual element from an area of memory in which the portion of the visual element and the application are stored when the non-use period of the visual element is at last equal to the preset non-use period; and

outputting a pop-up window for moving the portion of the visual element onto the additional page when the non-use period is at least equal to the preset non-use period, and moving the visual element to the additional page when a move command is inputted through the pop-up window.

15. The terminal of claim 14, wherein:

the display unit displays a list of pages in the pop-up window, such that the portion of the visual element is moved onto a selected one of the pages when the pop-up window is outputted.

16. The terminal of claim 14, wherein the input unit receives an input corresponding to designation of an additional preset non-use period for adjusting the moved portion of the visual element outputted on the additional page according to the non-use period of the visual element.

17. The terminal of claim 16, wherein the display unit displays the moved portion of the visual element on the additional page according the non-use period of the visual element and based on the additional preset non-use period.

18. The terminal of claim 17, wherein:

the processor removes the moved portion of the visual element from the additional page, when the non-use period of the visual element is at least equal to the additional preset non-use period, or

the processor outputs a pop-up window for removing the moved portion of the visual element from the additional page when an input for selecting the visual element is generated while the non-use period of the visual element is at least equal to the additional preset non-use period, and removes the moved portion of the visual element and an application associated with the visual element from an area of memory in which the moved portion of the visual element and the application are stored when a move command is inputted through the pop-up window.

19. The terminal of claim 18, wherein the processor generates a list including meta data for restoring the removed portion of the visual element and the application, and restores display of the removed portion of the visual element and an installation of the application associated with the visual element, when an input for reinstalling the application in the list is generated.