Patent Application
20080022279
The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. Features, elements, and aspects of the invention that are referenced by the same numerals in different figures represent the same, equivalent, or similar features, elements, or aspects in accordance with one or more embodiments.
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The aspects and features of the present invention and methods for achieving the aspects and features will be apparent by referring to the embodiments described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments and can be implemented in diverse forms.
The matters defined in the description, such as the detailed construction and elements, are nothing but specific details provided to assist those of ordinary skill in the art in a comprehensive understanding of the invention. The present invention is only defined within the scope of the appended claims. In the description of the present invention, the same drawing reference numerals are used for the same elements in various figures.
A task for the background module 180 is run in the background of the mobile communication terminal 100 supporting multitasking. The task may be sending a check of SMS messages, MMS messages and E-mail messages or background music. However, the task is not limited to these functions.
The controller 110 controls various functions implemented in the mobile communication terminal 100 and processes various data and signals that are input from and output to other components. The controller 110 also controls the background module 180. For example, the controller 110 performs control so that a task setting window for the background module 180 is displayed in response to a user's input of a selection key and controls the background module according to the setting of the task setting window.
The memory 170 includes storage, such as a flash memory, a RAM, or an EEPROM, and stores software, such as an operating system (OS) software, application programs and game programs. The memory 170 may include at least one program memory and data memory. The program memory stores one or more programs for controlling a general operation of the mobile communication terminal 100.
The memory 170 stores a program for multitasking and a player control skin program set by a user. The background module 180 may be implemented with separate hardware or via a program that is stored in the memory 170.
The display 160 may be a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), an Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) or a touch screen. The display 160 displays a menu screen that is selected by a user, a run screen for running according to the user's selection of the menu screen or a result screen. The display 160 also displays the task setting window of the background module in the foreground on which a foreground task is run in response to receiving a selection key input.
The foreground task may be selected from image viewers, SMS messages, MMS messages, E-mail messages, WAP browsers, a personal information management system, game programs, wireless internet connection programs and camera photographing programs. However, the foreground task is not limited to these functions.
The input device 120 includes numeral buttons (0 . . . 9), special key buttons (*, #, . . . ), character key buttons indicating, for example, the Korean alphabet and English alphabet, and directional key buttons indicating direction. The input device 120 acts as an interface that provides a user's instruction to the controller 110.
The input device 120 may be implemented with a keypad, a jog dial, a touch screen or a joy stick. The input device 120 is used to input the selection key that directly calls the task setting window for the background module.
For example, when the user presses a specific key button, the input device 120 creates selection key data corresponding to the specific key button and sends the created key data to the controller 110. Specially, the function key enables the user to input commands in order to perform additional functions while performing an MP3 play function. The additional functions include SMS messages, MMS messages, WAP browsers, PIMS, a game function, a wireless Internet function or a photographing function.
The terminal port 130 is a terminal for connecting an external device. A joy stick or mouse that is used for moving a screen displayed on the display 160 may be connected to the terminal port 130.
The audio processor 140 is connected to a speaker and a microphone to process a bell sound or voice information. The mobile communication terminal 100 may also include a camera (not shown).
The wireless transceiver 150 performs a communication function of the mobile communication terminal. The wireless transceiver 150 includes an RF sender for up-converting and amplifying a frequency of a sending signal and an RF receiver for low-noise amplifying a received signal and down-converting a frequency of the received signal.
The side button is a function key provided on one side of the mobile communication terminal 100 and may be an MP3 button 210, as illustrated in
The background task may be a check of SMS messages, MMS messages and E-mail messages or background music (BGM). The foreground task may be an image viewer, SMS messages, MMS messages, E-mail messages, a WAP browser, a personal information management system, game programs, a wireless Internet connection program or a camera photographing program.
If the user desires to change the setting of the background task S330, a selection key is input to directly call the task setting window for setting a specific operation of the background task S340. Pressing at least two buttons, for example, a function key button and a special key button may perform inputting the selection key. The function key button is a side button key. Pressing a separately set button may also perform inputting the selection key. Inputting the selection key may also be performed using a hot key by pressing the hot key for more than a predetermined time.
The background task setting window is displayed on the foreground upon inputting the selection key S350. The background task setting window may be displayed as a semitransparent window on the foreground screen or as a popup window. A specific operation of the corresponding background task is then set S360.
A method for controlling background music in a mobile communication terminal 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to
First, a background music (BGM) task is run S410. Pressing the MP3 button may enter a background mode.
Next, the multitasking function enables a foreground module, such as an image viewer module S420. The foreground task may be selected from among SMS messages, MMS messages, WAP browsers, PIMS, game programs, wireless Internet connection programs or photographing functions.
As illustrated in
The multitasking function allows a user to run the foreground task simultaneously while performing the MP3 play function in the background. The display 160 displays an image, such as a “gif” file, on the image viewer as the foreground task and simultaneously displays an icon 230 indicating that the background music is playing.
When the user desires to change the setting of the background music (BGM) S430, a selective key, [#]+[mp3], which directly selects a control skin for setting a specific operation of the background music, is input S440. The control skin that corresponds to the selection key that was input is then displayed on the foreground S450.
The background music setting is then changed S460 using the displayed control skin 240. As illustrated in
The control skin 240 may enable setting one or more tasks, such as Play 241, Pause 242, Volume Up/Down 243, Fast Forward (FF) 245, Rewind (REW) 244, or Stereo/Mono 246. Once the background music setting is changed using the control skin 240, the selection key, such as [#]+[mp3], is re-input S470.
The control skin is then removed from the foreground S480 as illustrated in
The embodiments of the present invention call the background music to the foreground using one key input operation. When a semi-transparent player control skin is displayed, the user detects that the foreground process is running. Alternatively, the user detects the control skin as a Popup menu.
After using the player control skin, when the “MP3” key is again pressed together with the “#” key, the player control skin is returned to the background and a previously used process is brought to the foreground. The user detects the disappearance of the Popup window or semi-transparent control skin and can continue to utilize the previous process.
The present invention also provides a mobile communication terminal and a method for controlling a background task that can increase user convenience by simply controlling the background task. The present invention also provides a mobile communication terminal and a method for controlling a background task in a mobile communication terminal that can improve a multitasking function.
The embodiments of the present invention have been described for illustrative purposes, and those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention should be defined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.
As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described embodiments are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as defined in the appended claims. Therefore, all changes and modifications that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalence of such metes and bounds are intended to be embraced by the appended claims.
The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention. The present teaching can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses.
The description of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims. Many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structure described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-2006-0068951 | Jul 2006 | KR | national |
