Abstract:
A method of activating and displaying a user interface (UI) integrated in an electronic device includes detecting a right-handed or a left-handed grip of the electronic device and activating a right-handed or a left-handed UI responding to the right-handed or left-handed grip. The right handed UI mirrors the left-handed UI.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a method providing an adaptive user interface and an electronic device using the same. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Typically, user interfaces (UIs) are fixed in arrangements oriented toward right-handed users on hand-held multimedia devices such as mobile phones. Unfortunately, left-handed users may not be able to fully adapt to right-handed UIs. Therefore, a need exists for an adaptive UI of an electronic device. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a view of an embodiment of an electronic device, the electronic device displaying a right-handed alpha-numeric input user interface. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is similar to  FIG. 1 , but depicts a right-handed operating system user interface on the electronic device. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is similar to  FIG. 1 , but depicts a left-handed input alpha-numeric input user interface. 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is similar to  FIG. 2 , but depicts a left-handed operating system user interface on the electronic device. 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart of an embodiment of a method of activating user interfaces of the electronic device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0010]    Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , a right handed alpha-numeric user interface (UI)  112  and a right handed operation system UI  122  are respectively depicted in a touch-screen display  11  of an embodiment of an electronic device  10  for a user  50 . A right hand sensor  13  is positioned at a lower right potion of the electronic device  10  to detect if a right hand is being used by the user. A left hand sensor  14  is positioned at a lower left portion of the electronic device  10  to detect if a left hand is being used by the user. 
         [0011]    Referring to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , a left-handed alpha-numeric UI  212  and a left handed operation system UI  222  are respectively depicted in the touch-screen display  11 . In the illustrated embodiment, the left-handed UIs  212 ,  222  mirror the right-handed UIs  112 ,  122 . 
         [0012]    An embodiment of a method allows the electronic device  10  to detect if the user grasps the device  10  with the right hand or the left hand via the sensors  13 ,  14 . The electronic device  10  displays the right-handed UIs  112 ,  122  if the sensor  13  senses the right hand is being used by the user. The electronic device  10  displays the left-handed UIs  212 ,  222  if the sensor  14  senses the left hand is being used by the user. For example, if the electronic device  10  is in a mode to make phone calls and a user grasps the phone from the lower right side indicating a right-handed use, the sensor  13  is activated and the right-handed alpha-numeric UI  112  is activated and displayed for use. In addition, the user may input a command through the use of, for example, a function key  18 , that allows the user to select any one of the UIs regardless of how the electronic device  10  is gripped. 
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart of an embodiment of a method for activating and displaying UIs in the touch-screen display  11  of the electronic device  10  corresponding to how the user grips the electronic device  10 . Depending on the embodiment, certain of the blocks described below may be removed, others may be added, and the sequence of blocks may be altered. 
         [0014]    In block S 501 , one of the sensors  13 ,  14  of the electronic device  10  is activated by a right or left-handed grip of the electronic device  10  by a user. If a right-handed grip is used, the sensor  13  is activated, and the method continues to block S 502 . In block S 502 , a corresponding right-handed UI is activated, and the method continues to block S 504 . If a left-handed grip is used, the sensor  23  is activated, and the method continues to block S 503 . In block S 503 , a corresponding left-handed UI is activated, and the method continues to block S 504 . In block S 504 , the activated UI is displayed on the touch-screen display. 
         [0015]    It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the apparatus and function of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the embodiments to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.