Abstract:
A method of inputting data and a wireless terminal comprising a jog key are provided. Whether a current mode is a jog key using mode is determined. If the current mode is the jog key using mode, the following operations are performed: displaying a data display window, determining a position of a reference point of the jog key and displaying data corresponding to the position of the reference point in the data display window, and inputting the data displayed in the data display window.

Description:
PRIORITY  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) of a Korean paten application, entitled “Method of Inputting Data in Wireless Terminal”, filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on May 18, 2005 and assigned Serial No. 2005-41506, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to a method of inputting data in a wireless terminal. In particular, the present invention relates to a method of inputting data by using a jog key and wireless terminal implementing the same.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     In general, wireless terminals (various kinds of wireless communication devices, such as portable phones, cellular phones, personal digital assistances (PDAs)) have been put on the market for users to use without concerning with a telephone line. The wireless terminals have been rapidly developed, thereby recently providing various services, such as a conventional voice call service, a data service, and an Internet service, to the users. According to the development in wireless communication technologies, many functions to provide the services have been installed in the wireless terminals.  
         [0006]     Such a wireless terminal may be portable. That is, because it is inconvenient if the wireless terminal is too big or heavy to carry, developments to reduce the size and weight of the wireless terminal have been continuously proceeded. However, the wireless terminal may comprise basic keys. That is, the wireless terminal may comprise numeral keys for dialing, a ‘*’ key and a ‘#’ key used for specific functions, and function keys used for executing various functions. Since the keys included in the wireless terminal are used by being pressed by a user, a problem may occur if the size of the keys is miniaturized below an appropriate size because it is difficult for the user to press a key having a too small size. To solve this problem, various methods are considered for the wireless terminal, an example of which is a method of using a jog key. The jog key is a kind of pointing device driver for easily moving a direction of a cursor here and there, and when the jog key is used with a keypad, the jog key may play a significant role in some cases. For example, a multi-function of the wireless terminal is selected by moving the jog key in a left/right direction, and data corresponding to the selected function is input by using the keypad.  
         [0007]     However, a conventional jog key is used only for selecting a function and cannot be used for inputting data. Thus, when a folder is folded and a keypad is not seen, data cannot be input.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     An object of the present invention is to address at least the above problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages below. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a method of inputting data by using a jog key, and a wireless terminal utilizing the same.  
         [0009]     According to one aspect of the present invention, a method of inputting data, and a wireless terminal comprising a jog key for implementing the method are provided. Whether a current mode is a jog key using mode is determined. If the current mode is the jog key using mode, a data display window is displayed. A position of a reference point of the jog key is determined, data corresponding to the position of the reference point is displayed in the data display window, and the data displayed in the data display window is input. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]     The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a wireless terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0012]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  are flowcharts illustrating a method of inputting data by using a jog key, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  are flowcharts illustrating a method of inputting data by using the jog key in a calculator mode, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are flowcharts illustrating a method of inputting data by using the jog key in a music file reproduction mode according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIGS. 5A through 5D  are views illustrating the data input with respect to the method of  FIGS. 2A and 2B  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIGS. 6A through 6D  are views illustrating the data input with respect to the method of  FIGS. 3A and 3B  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0017]      FIGS. 7A through 7D  are views illustrating the data input with respect to the method of  FIGS. 4A and 4B  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
       [0018]     Throughout the drawings, like reference numerals will be understood to refer to like parts, components and structures.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS  
       [0019]     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described herein below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, well-known functions or constructions will be omitted for clarity and conciseness.  
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a wireless terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 1 , a radio frequency (RF) unit  21  performs communication of the wireless terminal. The RF unit  21  comprises a RF transmitter for up-converting a frequency of a signal to be transmitted and amplifying the up-converted signal, and a RF receiver for low noise amplifying a received signal and down-converting a frequency of the low noise amplified signal.  
         [0021]     A modem  23  comprises a transmitter for encoding and modulating the signal to be transmitted and a receiver for demodulating and decoding the received signal.  
         [0022]     An audio processing unit  25  may comprise a codec, which includes a data codec for processing packet data and an audio codec for processing an audio signal. The audio processing unit  25  converts a digital audio signal received from the modem  23  to an analog audio signal by using the audio codec and reproduces the converted analog audio signal, or converts an analog audio signal generated by a microphone to a digital audio signal by using the audio codec and transmits the converted digital audio signal to the modem  23 . The codec can separately exist or be included in a controller  216 .  
         [0023]     A keypad  27  comprises keys for inputting numeral and character information and function keys for establishing various functions.  
         [0024]     A memory  29  may comprise a program memory and a data memory. The program memory stores programs for controlling a general operation of the wireless terminal, a jog key control program according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a program for displaying a data display window in a jog key using mode, a calculator program, and a music file reproduction program. The data memory temporarily stores data generated during the execution of the programs, and stores a plurality of music files according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0025]     A jog key  90  may comprise a motion signal generator for generating a motion signal of a reference point and a selection signal generator for generating a selection signal. The motion signal generator of the jog key  90  outputs a jog key reference point position signal generated by rotating the jog key  90  in a left or right direction to the controller  216 . The jog key  90  also may comprise alternating N poles and S poles, wherein a pair of N pole and S pole is established as a single unit, and data can be matched with each unit. For example, if 36 pairs of N poles and S poles comprise around 360°, 36 units exist, and therefore, if the reference point of the jog key  90  moves by 10°, the reference point moves by a single unit, thereby outputting a data signal matching the one-unit movement, and if the reference point of the jog key  90  moves by 20°, the reference point moves by two units, thereby outputting a data signal for matching the two-unit movement. The selection signal generator generates a signal for requesting for the selection of data and outputs the generated signal to the controller  216 .  
         [0026]     The controller  216  controls a general operation of the wireless terminal. The controller  216  may comprise the modem  23  and the codec. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the controller  216  determines whether a current mode is a jog key using mode, controls a display unit  80  to display a data display window if the current mode is the jog key using mode, determines a position of the jog key reference point and controls the display unit  80  to display data corresponding to the position in the data display window, and inputs the data displayed in the data display window if the selection signal is detected. In addition, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when a calculator mode key is pressed, the controller  216  establishes jog key directions in the calculator mode and data corresponding to the jog key directions, determines a position of the jog key reference point and controls the display unit  80  to display data corresponding to the position in the data display window. In addition, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when a music file reproduction key is pressed, the controller  216  establishes jog key directions in the music file reproduction mode and data corresponding to the jog key directions, determines a position of the jog key reference point and controls the display unit  80  to display data corresponding to the position in the data display window.  
         [0027]     A camera  50  photographs an image and comprises a camera sensor for converting an optical signal obtained through the photographing to an electrical signal. It is assumed that the camera sensor is a charge coupled device (CCD) sensor. The camera  50  performs a function of photographing an image of document according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0028]     A signal processing unit  60  converts the electrical signal output from the camera  50  to an image signal. The signal processing unit  60  can be implemented by using a digital signal processor (DSP).  
         [0029]     An image processing unit  70  generates image data for displaying the image signal output from the signal processing unit  60 . The controller  216  controls the image processing unit  70  to generate the image data suitable for the specification of the display unit  80  by using the input image signal and outputs the generated image data to the display unit  80 . The image processing unit  70  compresses and expands the image data. In addition, the controller  216  controls the image processing unit  70  to transmit a start address value of the output image data to the display unit  80 , or change the start address value and transmits the changed start address value to the display unit  80 .  
         [0030]     The display unit  80  displays the image data output from the image processing unit  70 . A liquid crystal display (LCD) can be used for the display unit  80 . In this case, the display unit  80  can comprise a LCD controller, a memory for storing image data, and a LCD display element. When the LCD is implemented in a touch screen method, the keypad  27  and the LCD can be an input unit. The display unit  80  comprises an image data display unit on which image data is displayed.  
         [0031]     An operation of the wireless terminal will now be described with reference to  FIG. 1 . When a user wants to make a phone call, if the user sets an outgoing mode after performing a dialing operation by using the keypad  27 , the controller  216  detects the outgoing mode, controls the modem  23  to process the received dial information, and controls the RF unit  21  to convert the dial signal to a RF signal and transmit the RF signal through an antenna. If a response signal is generated in the other side, the controller  216  detects the response signal. Thereafter, the controller  216  performs a communication function by forming a voice call path by using the audio processing unit  25 . In an incoming mode, the controller  216  detects signals by using the modem  23  that the wireless terminal is in the incoming mode and generates a ring signal by using the audio processing unit  25 . When the user responds to the incoming call, the controller  216  detects the response and performs the communication function by forming a voice call path by using the audio processing unit  25 . In the outgoing mode and the incoming mode, the voice communication has been described as an example, however, a data communication function to transmit/receive packet data and image data may be performed besides the voice communication. When a short message service is performed in an idle mode, the controller  216  displays character data processed by the modem  23  on the display unit  80 .  
         [0032]     An operation of inputting data by using the jog key  90  in the wireless terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be described. The controller  216  determines whether a current mode is the jog key using mode, and if the current mode is the jog key using mode, the controller  216  controls the memory  29  and the display unit  80  to display the data display window. If the user moves the jog key  90  left or right, the motion signal generator of the jog key  90  outputs a position signal of the jog key reference point to the controller  216 . The controller  216  determines a position of the jog key reference point and detects a data signal of a numeral, a specific character, or a symbol corresponding to the position. Then, the controller  216  controls the memory  29  and the display unit  80  to display the data in the data display window, and if a selection signal is detected, the controller  216  inputs the data displayed in the data display window.  
         [0033]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  are flowcharts illustrating a method of inputting data by using the jog key  90 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and  FIGS. 5A through 5D  are views illustrating the data input with respect to the method of  FIGS. 2A and 2B  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. An operation of inputting data by using the jog key  90  to make a phone call will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 2A and 2B  and  FIGS. 5A through 5D . In an idle mode of step  201 , the controller  216  determines in step  203  whether a current mode of the wireless terminal is the jog key using mode. If the current mode is the jog key using mode as the determination result, in step  205 , the controller  216  controls the memory  29  and the display unit  80  to display the data display window (jog key data display window) as illustrated in  FIG. 5A . Even if a folder is folded and the keypad  27  is not seen, the jog key using mode can be activated by using a side key, such as hot key.  
         [0034]     In step  207 , the controller  216  determines a current mode of the wireless terminal and establishes jog key directions by controlling the memory  29  and the jog key  90 . For example, if the current mode is a phone call mode, which is the default mode, a plurality of pairs of N poles and S poles are divided into 12 directions matching ‘0-9,’ ‘*,’ and ‘#,’ which are data required in the phone call mode.  
         [0035]     In step  209 , the controller  216  determines a position of the reference point of the jog key  90  by controlling the memory  29  and the jog key  90 . In step  211 , the controller  216  extracts data corresponding to the position of the reference point. In step  213 , the controller  216  controls the display unit  80  to display the extracted data in the data display window as illustrated in  FIG. 5B . For example, when ‘0-9, *, and #’ match ‘first direction-twelfth direction’ established to the jog key  90 , respectively, if the reference point of the jog key  90  is located at the first direction, ‘0’ is displayed in the data display window, and if the reference point of the jog key  90  is located at the twelfth direction, ‘#’ is displayed in the data display window.  
         [0036]     When the user moves the reference point of the jog key  90  in the left or right direction to input desired data, the jog key  90  outputs a jog key reference point position signal generated by the left or right rotation to the controller  216 . In step  215 , the controller  216  determines whether the jog key reference point position signal is input. If the jog key reference point position signal is input, the controller  216  determines a position of the moved reference point in step  217 , extracts data corresponding to the position of the reference point in step  219 , and controls the display unit  80  to display the extracted data in the data display window as illustrated in  FIG. 5C  in step  221 .  
         [0037]     In step  223 , the controller  216  determines whether the user presses a ‘selection’ key to input the data displayed in the data display window. If the ‘selection’ key is pressed, in step  225 , the controller  216  inputs the data displayed in the data display window by controlling the memory  29  and the display unit  80  and displays the input data as illustrated in  FIG. 5D . The data input can be achieved by pressing the jog key  90  or using the side key.  
         [0038]     In step  227 , the controller determines whether a ‘call’ key is pressed. If the ‘call’ key is pressed, in step  229 , the controller  216  tries a call connection using the input data by controlling the RF unit  21 . The ‘call’ key can be replaced by pressing the jog key  90  for a long time or using the side key.  
         [0039]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  are flowcharts illustrating a method of inputting data by using the jog key  90  in the calculator mode, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and  FIGS. 6A through 6D  illustrate the data input according to the method of  FIGS. 3A and 3B .  
         [0040]     An operation of inputting data by using the jog key  90  in the calculator mode will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 3A and 3B  and  FIGS. 6A through 6D . In an idle mode of step  301 , the controller  216  determines in step  303  whether the user presses a calculator mode key. If the user presses the calculator mode key, in step  305 , the controller  216  activates the calculator mode by controlling the memory  29 . In step  307 , the controller  216  determines whether a current mode of the wireless terminal is the jog key using mode. If the current mode is the jog key using mode as the determination result, in step  309 , the controller  216  controls the memory  29  and the display unit  80  to display the data display window as illustrated in  FIG. 6A . Even if the folder is folded and the keypad  27  is not seen, the jog key using mode can be activated by using the side key, such as hot key.  
         [0041]     In step  311 , the controller  216  establishes jog key directions according to the calculator mode by controlling the memory  29  and the jog key  90 . For example, if the current mode of the wireless terminal is the calculator mode, a plurality of pairs of N poles and S poles are divided into 12 directions matching ‘0-9,’ ‘− (negative number),’ and ‘. (decimal point),’ which are data required in the calculator mode. In addition, by dividing the 12 directions by 4, the controller  216  matches the center (the boundary between the N pole and the S pole) of the up direction with ‘+ (addition),’ the center (the boundary between the N pole and the S pole) of the down direction with ‘− (subtraction),’ the center (the boundary between the N pole and the S pole) of the right direction with ‘* (multiplication),’ and the center (the boundary between the N pole and the S pole) of the left direction with ‘/ (division).’ In another way, the controller  216  may match 4 parts obtained by dividing the 12 directions by 4 with the operators (+, −, *, and /). That is, the controller  216  may match the first to third directions with ‘+,’ the fourth to sixth directions with ‘−,’ the seventh to ninth directions with ‘*,’ and the tenth to twelfth directions with ‘/’. In this case, each of the operators (+, −, *, and /) can be input by locating the reference point of the jog key  90  at a desired position and pressing the jog key  90  for a long time or the side key (shift) once.  
         [0042]     In step  313 , the controller  216  determines a position of the reference point of the jog key  90  by controlling the memory  29  and the jog key  90 . In step  315 , the controller  216  extracts data corresponding to the position of the reference point. In step  317 , the controller  216  controls the display unit  80  to display the extracted data in the data display window as illustrated in  FIG. 6B . For example, when the jog key  90  are established to 12 directions according to the calculator mode, if the reference point of the jog key  90  is located at the third direction, ‘2’ is displayed in the data display window, and if the reference point of the jog key  90  is located at the center (the boundary between the N pole and the S pole) of the up direction obtained by dividing the 12 directions by 4, ‘+’ is displayed in the data display window as illustrated in  FIG. 6C .  
         [0043]     When the user moves the reference point of the jog key  90  in the left or right direction to input desired data, the jog key  90  outputs a jog key reference point position signal generated by the left or right rotation to the controller  216 . In step  319 , the controller  216  determines whether the jog key reference point position signal is input. If the jog key reference point position signal is input, the controller  216  determines a position of the moved reference point in step  321 , extracts data corresponding to the position of the reference point in step  323 , and controls the display unit  80  to display the extracted data in the data display window in step  325 .  
         [0044]     In step  327 , the controller  216  determines whether the user presses a ‘selection’ key to input the data displayed in the data display window. If the ‘selection’ key is pressed, in step  329 , the controller  216  inputs the data displayed in the data display window by controlling the memory  29  and the display unit  80  and displays the input data as illustrated in  FIG. 6D . The data input can be achieved by pressing the jog key  90  or using the side key.  
         [0045]     In step  331 , the controller determines whether a ‘calculation (operation)’ key is pressed. If the ‘calculation’ key is pressed, in step  333 , the controller  216  calculates the input data by controlling the memory  29 . The ‘calculation’ key can be replaced by pressing the jog key  90  steadily or using the side key.  
         [0046]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are flowcharts illustrating a method of inputting data by using the jog key  90  in the music file reproduction mode according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and  FIGS. 7A through 7D  illustrate the data input according to the method of  FIGS. 4A and 4B .  
         [0047]     An operation of inputting data by using the jog key  90  in the music file reproduction mode will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 4A and 4B  and  FIGS. 7A through 7D . In an idle mode of step  401 , the controller  216  determines in step  403  whether the user presses a music file reproduction mode key. If the user presses the music file reproduction mode key, in step  405 , the controller  216  displays a music file list as illustrated in  FIG. 7A  by controlling the memory  29  and the display unit  80 . In step  407 , the controller  216  determines whether a current mode of the wireless terminal is the jog key using mode. If the current mode is the jog key using mode as the determination result, in step  409 , the controller  216  controls the memory  29  and the display unit  80  to display the data display window as illustrated in  FIG. 7B . Even if the folder is folded and the keypad  27  is not seen, the jog key using mode can be activated by using the side key, such as hot key.  
         [0048]     In step  411 , the controller  216  checks the number of music files, and in step  413 , the controller  216  establishes jog key directions according to the number of checked music files by controlling the memory  29  and the jog key  90 . For example, if the number of checked music files is fifteen (15), a plurality of pairs of N poles and S poles are divided into fifteen (15) directions matching the music file data, and if the number of checked music files is thirty six (36), the plurality of pairs of N poles and S poles are divided into thirty six (36) directions matching the music file data. If the number of checked music files is more than thirty six (36), directions of the jog key  90  can be established to fit the number of currently displayed music files.  
         [0049]     In step  415 , the controller  216  determines a position of the reference point of the jog key  90  by controlling the memory  29  and the jog key  90 . In step  417 , the controller  216  extracts data corresponding to the position of the reference point. In step  419 , the controller  216  controls the display unit  80  to display the extracted data in the data display window and distinctively display a music file corresponding to the extracted data in the displayed music file list. For example, when the jog key  90  are established to thirty six (36) directions according to the number of music files, if the reference point of the jog key  90  is located at the third direction, ‘3’ is displayed in the data display window, and if a music file corresponding to ‘3’ is distinguished from the others in the displayed list as illustrated in  FIG. 7C .  
         [0050]     When the user moves the reference point of the jog key  90  in the left or right direction to reproduce a desired music file, the jog key  90  outputs a jog key reference point position signal generated by the left or right rotation to the controller  216 . In step  421 , the controller  216  determines whether the jog key reference point position signal is input. If the jog key reference point position signal is input, the controller  216  determines a position of the moved reference point in step  423 , extracts data corresponding to the position of the reference point in step  425 , and controls the display unit  80  to display the extracted data in step  427 .  
         [0051]     In step  429 , the controller  216  determines whether the user presses a ‘selection’ key to reproduce the music file corresponding to the data displayed in the data display window. If the ‘selection’ key is pressed, in step  431 , the controller  216  reproduces the music file corresponding to the data displayed in the data display window by controlling the memory  29  and the display unit  80  and displays the title of the reproduced music file as illustrated in  FIG. 7D . The music file reproduction can be achieved by pressing the jog key  90  or using the side key.  
         [0052]     As described above, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, by using a jog key instead of numeral keys and keys for performing various functions in a wireless terminal, the size of a keypad can be reduced, thereby extending the size of a display unit. In addition, since a user can use functions more easily and conveniently without a bothersome keypad operation, the convenience of the user can increase.  
         [0053]     While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain exemplary embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.