Patent Application
20070288868
The present invention relates to a portable device and method of providing menu icons and, more particularly, to a portable device and method of providing menu icons, which display upper icons and the lower icons thereof in a hierarchical fashion.
Recently, with the rapid development of communication technology, portable devices for enabling individuals to perform voice and data communication while moving have been developed and widely popularized.
In general, the portable devices are convenient communication tools that are frequently used in daily life, as when individuals perform voice or video communication or exchange information, such as text messages, with counterparts and access the Internet while carrying the portable devices. Examples of the portable devices include mobile telephones, portable phones, hand-held phones, cellular phones, Personal Communications Service (PCS) phones, personal portable phones, wireless communication terminals, Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) phones, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), International Mobile Telecommunications 2000 (IMT2000) terminals and so on.
As shown in
To perform a specific function, there is an inconvenience in that a user must select a plurality of menu icons 12 one by one and search among detailed menu items included in a selected menu icon 12.
That is, when a user does not know a menu icon in which a desired function is included, the user must select displayed menu icons 12 one by one. Furthermore, when a functional item to be used does not exist in a selected menu icon, the user must move to an upper menu icon in order to move to another menu icon. Accordingly, there is an inconvenience in that the user must perform button manipulation, that is, button selection, several times in order to search for the desired function.
In Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-88374 entitled “Portable Information Terminal Device, Display Control Device, Display Control Method and Computer-Readable Programs thereof”, a menu panel for displaying menu items is arranged such that a normal line is oriented toward a virtual camera C, with a display location P set along a corresponding trajectory Lf set as a local origin, and transparency is set to a high value depending on the distance from the virtual camera C. If scrolling manipulation is performed, the menu panel moves along trajectories Lf1 to Lf3 between display locations P until the selected menu panel moves to a display location P0. The patent discloses a technique in which the display screen of the portable information terminal device is represented as a screen image V by the virtual camera C and the menu panel is three dimensionally displayed in a roll form. However, the patent has a drawback in that only the height of the camera can be adjusted and the menu screen is not continuously provided as one screen, as in a conventional portable information terminal device.
An object of the present invention is to enable a user to be easily made aware of the positional information of a selected icon by displaying an upper icon and the lower icons thereof on a screen in a hierarchical fashion. Another object of the present invention is to change the view point of a background screen to the direction of a direction button selected by the user.
The above objects are not limited to the foregoing aspects, and other objects not addressed herein will be obviously appreciated by those skilled in the art
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable device for providing menu icons, the portable device including a button signal determination unit determining whether an input button signal is the signal of a function button or the signal of a direction button when the button signal is received from a user; a focus location checking unit checking a location of a focus located on a specific menu icon; a background screen management unit changing a view point of a background screen to a direction in which the focus is moved; and an icon management unit changing a size of a menu icon based on the location of the focus.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of controlling a portable device for providing menu icons, the method including receiving a button signal generated through a user's manipulation of a button; if the input button signal is a signal of a direction button, checking a location of a focus located on an upper icon and moving the location of the focus in the input direction; if the location of the focus is moved, changing a view point of a background screen to the direction of the movement of the focus; and changing a size of a menu icon based on the location of the focus.
Other aspects of the present invention are detailed in this description and the drawings.
The present invention will now be described in detail in connection with preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.
As shown in
A background screen 210 and the plurality of icons 221 and 222 overlaid on the background screen 210 are displayed on the display panel 200. When a user selects one from among the displayed icons 221 and 222 in such a way as to move a focus 230 using the direction button 310 of the input device 300, the view point of the background screen 210 is changed to the direction of the direction button 310 selected by the user. Accordingly, there is an effect in which the view point of the background screen 210 seems to be changed to a direction selected by the user and the user's view moves to the direction selected by the user. In this case, the term “view point” refers to the view point of the screen that is changed according to the user's view. For example, the view point may be classified as a top view point, a bottom view point, a right view point or a left view point. The top view point refers to a view point at which the user views the screen in the upper direction thereof, the bottom view point refers to a view point at which the user views the screen in the lower direction thereof, the right view point refers to a view point at which the user views the screen in the right direction thereof, and the left view point is a view point at which the user views the screen in the left direction thereof.
The input device 300 includes function buttons for selecting and operating the icons 221 and 222 displayed on the display panel 200, and the direction button 310 for moving the focus 230 for selecting the icons 221 and 222.
For example, the direction button 310 refers to a four-direction button for moving the location of the focus 230, and the function buttons refer to an execution button for selecting and activating a menu icon 221 or 222 on which the focus 230 is located, and a return button for returning an activated icon to the previous state thereof. In this case, the function buttons may be additionally provided in the portable device 100, or may be general buttons (for example, buttons that are assigned numbers, Korean letters, English letters, etc.) that are assigned functions.
As shown in
For example, the location of the upper icon 221 moves in a direction (that is, the direction opposite the direction of the corresponding illustrated arrow) through a specific upper icon (for example, an Internet (@) icon) located in the center of the screen. The lower icons 222 are displayed in a region in the direction (the direction of the illustrated arrow) opposite the specific upper icon (for example, the Internet (@) icon) located in the center of the screen. The lower icons 222 are disposed around the upper icon 221 in an arcuate arrangement. Meanwhile, the upper icon (for example, the Internet (@) icon) located in the center of the screen moves in the Z-axis direction (that is, a depth direction). The lower icons 222 are disposed around the upper icon 221 in a circular arrangement, and are then displayed.
The directions of illustrated arrows may include an upper direction , an upper left direction □, an upper right direction
, a left direction ←, a right direction →, a lower direction ↓, a lower left direction
, and a lower right direction
.
Furthermore, when lower icons 222 are displayed by selecting a specific upper icon 221, the movement of the locations of the upper icon 221 and the lower icons 222 is displayed using a motion blur. The term “motion blur” refers to an effect of adjusting the angle of an image and blurring the image so that the image appears to move.
For example, when the user selects a mobile phone icon 221a using a function button (for example, the execution button) in the case where the focus 230 is located on the mobile phone icon 221a of the displayed upper icons 221, the location of the mobile phone icon 221a moves in the lower right direction , and the lower icons 222 of the mobile phone icon 221a are displayed in the upper left direction
. That is, the location of the selected upper icon 221 moves in the direction opposite the direction of a corresponding illustrated arrow, and the lower icons 222 of the upper icon 221 are located in the direction of the arrow. The movement of the locations of the upper icon 221a and the lower icons 222 is displayed using a motion blur. An example in which lower icons are displayed when an upper icon, on which the focus 230 is located, is selected will be described in detail with reference to
As illustrated in
The term ‘˜unit’, as used herein, means, but is not limited to, a software or hardware component, such as a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), which performs certain tasks. A unit may advantageously be configured to reside on the addressable storage medium and configured to execute on one or more processors. Thus, a unit may include, by way of example, components, such as software components, object-oriented software components, class components and task components, processes, functions, attributes, procedures, subroutines, segments of program code, drivers, firmware, microcode, circuitry, data, databases, data structures, tables, arrays, and variables. The functionality provided for in the components and units may be combined into fewer components and units or further separated into additional components and units.
The button signal input unit 110 receives a button signal that is generated through the user's manipulation of a button. The button signal generated by the user may include the signal of a function button for selecting and executing one of the icons 221 and 222 and the signal of a direction button for moving the focus 230 located on a specific menu icon 221 or 222.
When a signal generated by the user is received through the button signal input unit 110, the button signal determination unit 120 determines whether the received signal is the signal of a function button or the signal of a direction button. In this case, the determination of whether the received signal is the signal of a function button or the signal of a direction button is performed to determine whether the received signal requests the selection and execution of a menu icon 221 or 222 or the movement of the position of the focus 230.
The focus location checking unit 130 checks the location of the focus 230 that is located on a menu icon selected by the user, and also checks the location of the focus 230 that is moved through the user's manipulation of the direction button.
The background screen management unit 140 changes the view point of the background screen 210 to the direction of the direction button 310 selected by the user. Accordingly, as the view point of the background screen 210 is changed to the direction selected by the user, there is an effect in which the user's view seems to be changed to the direction selected by the user.
For example, when the user selects the upper direction key of the direction button 310, the background screen 210 having a view point at which the user views the screen in the upper direction thereof is displayed. That is, there is an effect in which the view point at which the user views the screen in the upper direction thereof is provided by changing the view point of the background screen 210. The background screen moved by manipulating the direction button will be described in detail with reference to
The icon management unit 150 changes the size of an upper icon 221 according to the location of the focus 230 when the focus 230 moves in the direction of the direction button 310 selected by the user. In this case, the size of the icon on which the focus 230 is located is enlarged compared to that of the other icons.
Furthermore, when the user selects an upper icon 221, a plurality of lower icons 222 is displayed, and the focus 320 is located on one of the lower icons 222. In this case, the plurality of lower icons 222 are disposed around the upper icon 221 and are rotated in the direction of the direction button 310 selected by the user. Furthermore, the location of the focus 320 is a specific location on the background screen 210, and the specific location is not changed when the lower icons 222 move.
The display unit 160 displays the plurality of icons 221 and 222 and an image, which has been activated through the user's manipulation of the buttons, on the display panel 200. The display unit 160 also displays the focus 230 that is moved through the user's manipulation of the buttons.
The control unit 170 controls the operation of respective functional blocks 110 to 160 that constitute the portable device 100.
Referring to
Thereafter, the user generates a signal through the manipulation of a button, and the button signal input unit 110 receives the generated button signal at step S410. The button signal determination unit 120 determines the type of input button signal at step S420. The button signal includes the signal of a specific function button for performing a specific function or the signal of the direction button for moving the location of the focus 230.
If the input button signal is determined to be the signal of the direction button at step S430, the focus location checking unit 130 checks the current location of the focus 230 on the screen, and the control unit 170 moves the location of the focus 230 from the location of the focus 230 in an input direction at step S440. Step S440 will be described in detail with reference to
Thereafter, when a button signal is generated by the user at step S450, the button signal input unit 110 receives the generated signal and the button signal determination unit 120 determines the type of input button signal.
If the input button signal is determined to be the signal of a function button at S460, the control unit 170 activates a selected upper icon 221 and displays the corresponding upper icon 221 and the lower icons 222 thereof on a screen through the display unit 160 at step S470. Step S470 will be described in detail with reference to
Meanwhile, if the input button signal is determined to be the direction button signal at S460, the control unit 170 moves the location of the focus 230 from the current location of the focus 230 in the input direction at step S440. Thereafter, steps S450 to S470 are performed in the same manner.
Meanwhile, if the input button signal is determined to be the function button signal at step S430, the focus location checking unit 130 checks the current location of the focus 230 at step S480. The control unit 170 activates a corresponding upper icon 221 on which the focus 230 is located, and displays the corresponding upper icon 221 and the lower icons 222 thereof through the display unit 160 at step S470.
Accordingly, the upper icon 221 and the lower icons 222 are displayed on the screen in a hierarchical fashion. Accordingly, the user can be more rapidly and conveniently made aware of the locations of icons that are currently used.
If the button signal generated by the user is determined to be the signal of the direction button, the focus location checking unit 130 checks the current location of the focus 230, and the control unit 170 moves the location of the focus 230 from the location of the focus 230 in an input direction at step S441.
Thereafter, when the focus 230 is moved in that direction, the view point of the background screen 210 is changed to that direction at step S442, and the size of the menu icon (for example, an upper icon) on which the focus 230 is located is also changed. Accordingly, there is an effect in which the view point of the background screen 210 is changed and the user's view seems to move to the direction selected by the user. Furthermore, the size of the menu icon on which the focus 230 is located is enlarged compared to that of the other icons. The background screen and the menu icon, which are moved through the manipulation of the direction button, will be described in detail with reference to
If the button signal generated by the user is determined to be the signal of a function button, the control unit 170 activates a selected upper icon 221. Accordingly, the corresponding upper icon 221 and the lower icons 222 thereof are displayed through the display unit 160 at step S471.
Thereafter, when the button signal generated by the user is input through the button signal input unit 110 at step S472, the button signal determination unit 120 determines the type of input button signal.
If the signal of the direction button signal is determined to have been input at step S473, the displayed lower icons 222 are rotated in the direction of the input direction button 310 at a predetermined angle at step S474. In this case, the location of the focus 230 on the screen is not changed. In other words, the lower icons 222 are rotated at a predetermined angle, and the focus 230 is located on a specific lower icon. The lower icons rotated through the manipulation of the direction button will be described in detail with reference to
Thereafter, when the button signal generated by the user is input through the button signal input unit 110 at step S475, the button signal determination unit 120 determines the type of input button signal.
If the signal of the function button signal is determined to have been input at step S476, a corresponding lower icon 222 on which the focus 230 is located is activated and is then displayed on the display panel 200 through the display unit 160 at S477.
Meanwhile, if the signal of the function button is determined to have been input at step S476, steps S474 to S477 are performed again. Furthermore, if the signal of the direction button is determined to have been input at step S473, step S477 is performed.
In the case where the focus 230 is located on an upper icon (for example, the Internet @ icon) that is displayed on the display panel 200 and is located in the center of the screen, as shown in
Furthermore, the size of a specific upper icon (for example, the Internet (@) icon, on which the focus 230 is located is enlarged compared to that of the other upper icons, and the enlarged upper icon is displayed.
In the case where the focus 230 is located on the upper one (for example, a document icon) of the plurality of upper icons 221 displayed on the display panel 200, as shown in
Furthermore, the size of the upper icon (for example, the document icon) on which the focus 230 is located is enlarged compared to that of the other upper icons, and the enlarged upper icon is displayed.
In the case where the focus 230 is located on the left one (for example, a message icon) of the plurality of upper icons 221 displayed on the display panel 200, as shown in
Furthermore, the size of the upper icon (for example, the message icon) on which the focus 230 is located is enlarged compared to that of the other upper icons, and the enlarged upper icon is displayed.
In the case where the focus 230 is located on the lower one of the plurality of upper icons 221 displayed on the display panel 200, as shown in
When the user locates the focus 230 on the upper left one 221 of the plurality of upper icons 221 displayed on the display panel 200, and selects the specific upper icon 221a, as shown in .
Thereafter, the plurality of lower icons 222 of the upper icon 221a is displayed around the upper icon 221a in the upper left region of the screen, and the focus 230 is located on one of the plurality of lower icons 222.
Thereafter, when the user selects a specific one from among the lower icons using the direction button 310, the lower icons 222 are rotated in the direction of the direction button 310 selected by the user. In this case, the location of the focus 230 is a specific location on the background screen 210 and the specific location of the focus 230 is not changed when the lower icons 222 are rotated. Accordingly, the focus 230 is located on a specific lower icon that is rotated and has a changed location.
When the user locates the focus 230 on the center one 221b of the plurality of upper icons 221 displayed on the screen of the display panel 200, and selects the upper icon 221b, as shown in
Thereafter, the plurality of lower icons 222 of the upper icon 221b are displayed around the upper icon 221b in a circular arrangement, and the focus 230 is then located on one of the plurality of lower icons 222.
Thereafter, when the user selects a specific lower icon using the direction button 310, the lower icons 222 are rotated in the direction of the direction button 310 selected by the user. In this case, the location of the focus 230 is a specific location on the background screen 210, and the specific location of the focus 230 is not changed when the lower icons 222 are rotated. Accordingly, the focus 230 is located on the specific lower icon that is rotated and has a changed location.
When the user locates the focus 230 on the right one 221c of the plurality of upper icons 221 displayed on the screen of the display panel 200 and selects the specific upper icon 221c, as shown in
Thereafter, the plurality of lower icons 222 of the upper icon 221c is displayed around the upper icon 221c in the right region of the screen and the focus 230 is located on one of the plurality of lower icons 222.
Thereafter, when the user selects a lower icon using the direction button 310, the lower icons 222 are rotated in the direction of the direction button 310 selected by the user. In this case, the location of the focus 230 is a specific location on the background screen 210, and the specific location of the focus 230 is not changed when the lower icons 222 are rotated. Accordingly, the focus 230 is located on a specific lower icon that is rotated and has a changed location.
Meanwhile, when an upper icon 221 is selected and the lower icons 222 thereof are displayed, the view point of the background screen 210 is also changed to the direction in which the lower icons 222 are displayed.
Thus far, although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.
As described above, the portable device and method of providing menu icons can have one or more of the following advantages.
There is an advantage in that upper icons and the lower icons thereof are displayed on the screen of a portable device in a hierarchical fashion, therefore the user can be more easily aware of the locations of the icons that are being currently used.
Furthermore, there is another advantage in that the view point of the background screen is changed to a direction identical to that of the direction button manipulated by a user, therefore the user's view seems to move together with the view point of the background screen.
Moreover, there is still another advantage in that, as the user's view (that is, the view point of the background screen) is changed in a 3D GUI environment, polyhedral components and menu icons are dynamically changed or information is changed, therefore information (for example, a menu icon) is optimized and then displayed to the user as the user's view point changes.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-2006-0052221 | Jun 2006 | KR | national |
