User interface method of multi-tasking and computer readable recording medium storing program for executing the method

Abstract

Provided are a user interface method of enabling a user to conveniently use a terminal allowing multi-tasking, and a computer readable recording medium storing the method. The user interface method includes classifying applications capable of being executed by the apparatus into groups, in such a manner as to classify one or more applications that perform similar functions into the same group; and displaying a window for executing a corresponding application, for each of the groups.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a user interface screen to which an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is applied;

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating an input device for manipulating the user interface screen;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a user interface method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a main screen to which the user interface method is applied;

FIG. 5 illustrates a screen appearing when a picture application is selected from the main screen illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 illustrates a screen appearing when an additional function is selected from the screen illustrated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 illustrates a screen appearing when a music application is selected from the screen illustrated in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 illustrates a screen appearing when an additional function is selected from the screen illustrated in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 illustrates a screen appearing when conversion into a picture application window occurs on the screen illustrated in FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 illustrates a screen appearing when a picture application on the screen illustrated in FIG. 9 is displayed on the entire screen.

Claims

1. A user interface method performed by an apparatus allowing multi-tasking, comprising: classifying a plurality of applications capable of being executed by the apparatus into a plurality of groups, in such a manner as to classify one or more applications that perform similar functions into the same group; anddisplaying a window for executing a corresponding application, for each of the plurality of groups.

2. The user interface method of claim 1, wherein the displaying of the window further comprises, displaying an application selection menu for selecting one of applications belonging to a corresponding group, in each window.

3. The user interface method of claim 2, wherein the displaying of the window further comprises, displaying a plurality of windows by using a multi-layer structure in such a manner that application execution areas of the plurality of windows overlap each other, and displaying the plurality of windows in such a manner that an application selection menu of each window is always shown.

4. The user interface method of claim 3, further comprising, displaying a thumbnail corresponding to an application being executed as a background when a plurality of applications are executed in a multi-tasking manner.

5. The user interface method of claim 3, wherein the displaying of the window further comprises, displaying an additional function selection menu for selecting one of additional functions of each application being executed, in a corresponding window.

6. The user interface method of claim 5, wherein the displaying of the application selection menu and the displaying of the additional function selection menu, comprises, locating the application selection menu and the additional function selection menu in respective edges of a screen, in such a manner that the application selection menu and the additional function selection menu do not overlap each other.

7. The user interface method of claim 6, further comprising, moving a focus to one of a plurality of items within at least one of the application selection menu and the additional function selection menu located at a predetermined edge according to a pressed direction key of a directional key input device.

8. The user interface method of claim 6, further comprising, when a currently executed application is displayed as a foreground and additional functions of the currently executed application are provided, moving a focus to one of a plurality of items of the additional function selection menu corresponding to the currently executed application.

9. The user interface method of claim 3, further comprising, moving a focus to one of a plurality of items of an application selection menu displayed in a different window when a currently executed application is displayed as a foreground.

10. The user interface method of claim 1, wherein the classifying of the plurality of applications comprises classifying the plurality of applications capable of being executed by the apparatus into a visual application group and an aural application group.

11. A computer readable recording medium having embodied thereon a computer program for executing a user interface method performed by an apparatus allowing multi-tasking, the method comprising: classifying a plurality of applications capable of being executed by the apparatus into a plurality of groups, in a manner so as to classify one or more applications that perform similar functions into the same group; anddisplaying a window for executing a corresponding application, for each of the plurality of groups,wherein a plurality of windows are displayed by using a multi-layer structure in such a manner that a plurality of application execution areas of the plurality of windows overlap each other and only an application execution area of a currently selected application is shown on a screen, and a menu for selecting one of applications belonging to a corresponding group is displayed in each window.

12. The computer readable recording medium of claim 11, wherein the displaying of the window further comprises, displaying a plurality of windows by using a multi-layer structure in such a manner that application execution areas of the plurality of windows overlap each other, and displaying the plurality of windows in such a manner that an application selection menu of each window is always shown.

13. The computer readable recording medium of claim 12, the method further comprising, displaying a thumbnail corresponding to an application being executed as a background when a plurality of applications are executed in a multi-tasking manner.

14. The computer readable recording medium of claim 12, wherein the displaying of the window further comprises, displaying an additional function selection menu for selecting one of additional functions of each application being executed, in a corresponding window.

15. The computer readable recording medium of claim 14, wherein the displaying of the application selection menu and the displaying of the additional function selection menu, comprises, locating the application selection menu and the additional function selection menu in respective edges of a screen, in such a manner that the application selection menu and the additional function selection menu do not overlap each other.

16. The computer readable recording medium of claim 15, the method further comprising, moving a focus to one of a plurality of items within at least one of the application selection menu and the additional function selection menu located at a predetermined edge according to a pressed direction key of a directional key input device.

17. The computer readable recording medium of claim 15, the method further comprising, when a currently executed application is displayed as a foreground and additional functions of the currently executed application are provided, moving a focus to one of a plurality of items of the additional function selection menu corresponding to the currently executed application.

18. The computer readable recording medium of claim 12, the method further comprising, moving a focus to one of a plurality of items of an application selection menu displayed in a different window when a currently executed application is displayed as a foreground.

19. The computer readable recording medium of claim 11, wherein the classifying of the plurality of applications comprises classifying the plurality of applications capable of being executed by the apparatus into a visual application group and an aural application group.