The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference symbols identify the same or corresponding elements in the drawings. Some constructions or processes known in the art may be not described to avoid obscuring the invention with unnecessary detail.
In the description, a scroll event corresponds to moving a finger on the touchpad in a particular direction. A scroll event is used, for example, to move the highlight between displayed menu items. A touch event corresponds to a quick touching contact of a finger to the touchpad. For example, a touch event is used to execute a function associated with a highlighted menu item, and to enter into, if a lower menu level exists, the lower menu level.
The display unit 120 displays operation modes and states of the user interface providing apparatus 100. In particular, in response to a request input from the touchpad 141 for a lower menu level of a given menu item, the display unit 120 displays at least one menu item of the requested lower menu level. For example, when a given menu item ‘Artist’ has lower-level menu items ‘AAA’, ‘BBB’ and ‘CCC’, the display unit 120 displays the menu items ‘AAA’, ‘BBB’ and ‘CCC’ in response to a lower-level menu request from the touchpad 141.
The display unit 120 places a highlight on a predetermined one of the plurality of displayed menu items. In particular, when the highlight is moved to a menu item having lower-level menu items, the display unit 120 displays the menu item together with the lower-level menu items, and places the highlight on a predetermined one, for example the first one, of the lower-level menu items, under the control of the controller 160. The display unit 120 may also display the lower-level menu items in a separate window.
The memory unit 110 stores programs and related data necessary for operation of the user interface providing apparatus 100 and for control operation of the controller 160, and may be composed of various memory devices such as an Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EPROM), Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) and flash memory. In particular, the memory unit 110 stores user interface programs, temporarily stores data resulting from execution of the programs, and stores menu items in the form of a database. Preferably, the memory unit 110 stores menu items of the user interface providing apparatus 100 together with mappings between higher and lower level menu items.
The menu determiner 130 determines whether a menu item displayed through the display unit 120 has a lower-level menu item, and preferably informs the controller 160 of the existence of a lower-level menu item. For example, when menu items ‘Artist’, ‘Title’ and the like are displayed on the display unit 120 and the menu item ‘Artist’ has lower-level menu items ‘AAA’, ‘BBB’ and ‘CCC’, the menu determiner 130 can identify the menu items ‘AAA’, ‘BBB’ and ‘CCC’ as a lower-level menu item of the menu item ‘Artist’, and inform the controller 160 of the identified result.
The input interface unit 140 may include various devices such as a keypad, touch screen and touchpad, and is used to select a desired function by the user or to input desired user information. Preferably, the input interface unit 140 includes the touchpad 141 to, for example, select a desired menu item according to user selections.
The input interface unit 140 also identifies an input event by analyzing the start location, direction, speed and the like of the event. Preferably, an event is a scroll event or a touch event.
The event processor 150 processes an event from the input interface unit 140. Preferably, if a scroll event is input from the input interface unit 140, the event processor 150 moves the highlight between displayed menu items.
The controller 160 controls overall operation and states of the user interface providing apparatus 100, and may include a microprocessor or Digital Signal Processor (DSP). The controller 160 receives information on lower-level menu items of menu items displayed on the display unit 120 from the menu determiner 130. If the highlight is moved to a displayed menu item having lower-level menu items in response to a scroll event, the controller 160 controls the display unit 120 to display the menu item together with the lower-level menu items thereof and to place the highlight on a predetermined one of the lower-level menu items.
During simultaneous display of a higher-level menu item and related lower-level menu items, when a scroll event is input from the input interface unit 140, the controller 160 controls the event processor 150 to move the highlight from one of the lower-level menu items to another one at the same menu level. After placement of the highlight on the last lower-level menu item, in response to a scroll event, the controller 160 controls the event processor 150 to move the highlight to one of the higher-level menu items, and also controls the display unit 120 to display the highlighted menu item.
In addition, after placement of the highlight on one of the lower-level menu items, if a signal is not input within a preset time period (preferably 5 seconds), the controller 160 controls the display unit 120 to display only the higher-level menu items. Alternatively, after placement of the highlight on one of the lower-level menu items, if a signal is not input within a preset time period, the controller 160 may enter into the highlighted lower-level menu item. For example, if the highlighted menu item is executable, it is executed. If the highlighted menu item has a lower menu level, the lower menu level is displayed.
The controller 160 determines whether a scroll event is input through the input interface unit 140 (S230). If a scroll event is input, the controller 160 controls the event processor 150 to place the highlight on one of the displayed menu items, and displays the highlighted menu item through the display unit 120 (S240).
For example, referring to
The controller 160 controls the menu determiner 130 to determine whether the highlight is placed on a menu item having a lower menu level (S250). If the highlight is placed on a menu item having a lower menu level, the controller 160 controls the display unit 120 to display lower-level menu items of the highlighted menu item (S260). The lower-level menu items may be displayed in a separate window. Step S260 is described in more detail in relation to
If a scroll event is not input at step S230, the controller 160 determines whether a touch event is input through the input interface unit 140 (S280). If a touch event is input, the controller 160 performs a corresponding operation (S290). For example, in response to input of a touch event through the input interface unit 140 during display of a menu item ‘BBB’, the controller 160 identifies the existence of a lower menu level of the menu item ‘BBB’ through the menu determiner 130. If a lower menu level exists, the controller 160 preferably displays menu items ‘Andante Andante’, ‘Dancing Queen’, ‘Happy New Year’ belonging to the lower menu level through the display unit 120. Further, in response to input of another touch event through the input interface unit 140 during placement of the highlight on the menu item ‘Andante Andante’, the controller 160 identifies the existence of a lower menu level of the menu item ‘Andante Andante’ through the menu determiner 130. If a lower menu level does not exist, the controller 160 executes the menu item ‘Andante Andante’. For example, if the menu item ‘Andante Andante’ is associated with an audio file, the controller 160 preferably plays the audio file through audio signal processing.
Referring to
For example, referring to
If the highlight is determined to be placed on the last lower-level menu item at step S264, the controller 160 controls the event processor 150 to move the highlight to a menu item belonging to a next-higher menu level (S266). For example, referring to
If a scroll event is not input at step S263, the controller 160 determines whether a touch event is input (S267). If a touch event is input, the controller 160 performs a corresponding operation on the highlighted menu item (S268).
Referring to
The controller 160 determines whether a signal is input within a preset time period (S275). If a signal is not input, the controller 160 controls the display unit 120 to display only menu items belonging to a next-higher menu level of the currently highlighted menu item (S276). For example, referring to
If a scroll event is not input at step S273, the controller 160 determines whether a touch event is input (S277). If a touch event is input, the controller 160 performs a corresponding operation on the highlighted menu item (S278).
As apparent from the above description, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for a user interface for a touchpad-equipped portable terminal. When a particular one of the menu items belonging to a current menu level has a lower menu level, current-level menu items and lower-level menu items belonging to the lower menu level are simultaneously displayed. Hence, lower-level menu items can be known in advance without explicit selection of a corresponding current-level menu item, thereby enhancing menu selection convenience. In addition, in response to input of a scroll event, the highlight is moved directly from a current-level menu item to a lower-level menu item, thereby reducing the number of key inputs necessary for desired menu selection.
While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described in this specification, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes or modifications of the embodiments are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2006/0058390 | Jun 2006 | KR | national |