Patent Application
20080077863
The above and other aspects, features and advantages of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Throughout the drawings, like reference numerals will be understood to refer to like parts, components and structures.
The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of exemplary embodiments of the present invention as defined by the claims and their equivalents. It includes various specific details to assist in that understanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Also, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions are omitted for clarity and conciseness.
Referring to
The controller 21 controls the entire operation of the mobile communication terminal 10. Specifically, the controller 21 controls to prepare a wait screen 30, execute an animation icon 35 associated with active information and output the wait screen on the display unit 15.
The key input unit 11 has a plurality of keys to operate the mobile communication terminal 10, which create key data according to a user's key selection that is transmitted to the controller 21. For example, the user's commands created through the key input unit 11 may include preparation of a wait screen 30 and execution of an animation icon 35 associated with active information.
The storage unit 13 stores programs to control operations of the mobile communication terminal 10, and information created as the programs are executed. For example, the storage unit 13 stores a program for preparation of a wait screen 30, a program related to execution of an animation icon 35 associated with active information, and information created as the programs are executed. As well, the storage unit 13 stores sound sources and images to prepare the wait screen 30. Here, the sound sources may include information based on a frequency band corresponding thereto, i.e., equalizer information. The images include background images 31 according to various times of day, such as dawn, morning, afternoon, sunset, evening, etc., active images 33, and animation icons 35.
The display unit 15 displays information stored in the storage unit 13 as well as menus corresponding to a variety of functions executed in the mobile communication terminal 10. The display unit 15 displays icons or letters corresponding to active information of the mobile communication terminal 10 according to user's key selection. The display unit 15 displays a wait screen 30, and an animation icon 35 associated with information activated in the wait screen 30. The display unit 15 may be implemented by an LCD.
The wireless communication unit 17 performs modulation and frequency conversion for information outputted from the controller 21 and transmits radio signals through an antenna ANT. As well, the wireless communication unit 17 separates received signals from radio signals received through the antenna ANT and then performs frequency conversion and demodulation for the received signals to output it to the controller 21.
The voice signal processing unit 19 converts a voice input through a microphone MIC into a digital signal, and demodulates voice information received by the wireless communication unit 17 to output it to a speaker SPK, according to the control of the controller 21. As well, the voice signal processing unit 19 processes sound sources stored in the storage unit 13 to output it to the speaker SPK.
The controller 21 includes a screen preparing unit 25 and an associating determination unit 23. The screen preparing unit 25 prepares a wait screen 30 of an animation icon 35. The screen preparing unit 25 extracts background images 31, active images 33, and animation icons 35 from the storage unit 12, and then overlaps them together to prepare the wait screen 30. The associating determination unit 23 determines whether the animation icon 35 is associated with active information of the mobile communication terminal 10 in the wait screen 30. When the animation icon 35 is associated with active information, the screen preparing unit 25 moves the animation icon 35 according to the active information and then displays it on the display unit 15.
The wait screen 30 includes a hierarchy of multi-layers, as shown in
The background image 31 refers to an image that corresponds to the current time, and may be configured in such a way that at least one or more images overlap. The background image 31 may be implemented by seasonal images.
The active image 33 overlaps with the background image 31 and displays active information. Similar to the background image 31, the active image 33 may also be configured in such a way that at least one or more images are overlapped. Of the active information, a battery icon 32 indicative of battery status may be displayed at the top right on the active image 31 and an antenna icon 34 indicative of received signal strength may be displayed at the top left on the active image 31.
The animation icon 35 is overlapped on the active image 33. The animation icon 35 includes at least one or more floating icon 39 moved freely in the wait screen 30. The floating icon 39 may be variously implemented as time, an animal, a plant, a balloon, a rider, a hot-air balloon, an air plane, a fire cracker and the like. When the floating icon 39 is not associated with active information, it is moved randomly or regularly. In contrast, when the floating icon 39 is associated with active information, it is moved according to the active information. Reference numeral 38 indicates exemplary trajectories of a floating icon 39 that is moved randomly.
For example, the animation icon 35 may be implemented by a time icon indicating the current time composed of hours, minutes, and seconds. The hours and minutes are implemented to be displayed through a still icon 37 of a certain size, and the seconds are implemented to be displayed through a floating icon 39 that is moved freely on the still icon 37. Here, the still icon 37 may be implemented to be displayed on the bottom of the wait screen 30.
Referring to
In step S41, the displaying of the wait screen 30 includes overlapping an active image 33 having the active information with a background image 31 and overlapping the animation icon 35 with the active image 33 and displaying it on a display unit 15.
In step S43, an associating determination unit 25 determines whether a key, which associates motion of the animation icon 35 with active information in the wait screen 30, is input.
When the key is input in the determination result of S43, a screen preparing unit 25 moves the animation icon 35 according to the active information in step S45. In contrast, when the key has not been input, the screen preparing unit 25 keeps displaying the current motion of the animation icon 35.
The following is a method for providing the wait screen 30 in which a time icon as the animation icon 35 is used, and equalizer information 60 of an MP3 sound source, as a multimedia file, is associated with the animation icon 35, in which the equalizer information 60 is used as the active information, referring to
Referring to
Next, the controller 21 determines whether a key for reproducing a sound source is input in step S53. The sound source, for example, an MP3 sound source, is stored in the storage unit 13. In an exemplary embodiment, the sound source is stored in the storage unit 13. In another exemplary embodiment, the sound source is streamed to the mobile communication terminal 10 through the wired/wireless communication networks.
When the key for reproducing a sound source is input in step S53, an associating determination unit 23 determines whether a key, which associates motion of the animation icon 35 with the equalizer information 69 of the sound source, is input in step S55. When the key is input in step S55, the screen preparing unit 25 moves the animation icon 35 according to the equalizer information 60 of the sound source and then displays it on the display unit 15 in step S57.
The screen preparing unit 25 displays the floating icon 39 of the animation icon 35 such that it can correspond to the equalizer information 60 of the reproduced sound source, i.e., the pitch 63 of the frequency band 61 of the reproduced sound source, on the wait screen 30. Meanwhile, the wait screen 30 can display a plurality of floating icons 39 simultaneously. In that case, the floating icons 39 can be implemented by different colors and different sizes. Specifically, according to a value x corresponding to the pitch 63 of the frequency band 62 of the sound source, the floating icon has a height (H=f(x)). Here, f(x) denotes a function value of a floating icon 39 corresponding to a value x. Also, the floating icon 39 has a color and size (Color=g(x)) that denotes a function value and is determined according to information (x) about the second. Also, g(x) can be acquired by using a variety of information (x), for example, received signal strength indicator information or battery remaining information.
Therefore, the floating icon 39 is associated with the frequency band 61 of the sound source and moved on the still icon 37. The floating icon 39 is displayed on the wait screen 30 so that its height H can correspond to the pitch 63 of the frequency band 61 of the sound source.
When the key has not been input in S55, the screen preparing unit 25 continues displaying the current motion of the animation icon 35.
After that, the voice signal processing unit 19 processes the sound source to output it to the speaker SPK in step S59. Therefore, the user can listen to the sound outputted from the speaker SPK and see the animation icon 35 that is moved on the display unit 15 according to the equalizer information 60 of the sound source.
Although the described embodiment discloses an example in which the trajectory 38 of the floating icon 39 is moved as shown in
While in the above description, the time icon associated with equalizer information of a sound source is displayed on the wait screen, the present invention is not limited by this embodiment. The wait screen can be implemented in such a way that a balloon as an animation icon rises from the bottom of the wait screen to the top and the balloon can be associated with a received signal strength indicator of an antenna, which is one piece of active information. That is, when the received signal strength indicator is high, a relatively large balloon is displayed on the wait screen, but when the received signal strength indicator is low, a relatively small balloon is displayed. Similarly, the battery current remaining amount can be indicated on the wait screen using the relative size of a balloon. As well, the received signal strength indicator of an antenna and the battery remaining amount can be indicated on the wait screen through different colored balloons although they have the same size.
In addition, the received signal strength indicator and the battery remaining amount can be displayed on the wait screen, simultaneously, by animation icons. That is, an antenna icon and a battery icon are displayed on the top left and the top right of the wait screen, respectively, and operate in such a way that the respective balloons corresponding thereto rise at the left and right sides of the wait screen.
As described in the foregoing, the present invention can associate animation icons with active information and then display it on the wait screen. Therefore, a user can easily check the active information of the mobile communication terminal through the animation icons.
In addition, the present invention can fully make use of the number of available colors and the enlarged screen of the mobile communication terminal through the animation icons, thereby increasing the visibility of active information of the mobile communication terminal and providing stimulating and new interfaces to a user.
Further, the present invention can display a background image according to the current time on the wait screen, thereby allowing a user to check the current time easily.
While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims and their equivalents.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-2006-0092753 | Sep 2006 | KR | national |
