Abstract:
This invention relates to a mobile communications device and a method for controlling a menu on a mobile communications device having a display with an idle mode background image. The method comprises receiving a user input from a control device, relating the user input to an area of said display, determining an application which is linked to said area such that said application is executed in response to the selection of said area, and superposing an application icon associated with said application over at least a part of said idle mode background image.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention generally relates to a method and device for controlling a menu on a mobile communications device. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     During the last decades, the mobile communications device has become a common item for many people throughout the world. From being an item focused on telephone communication, the mobile communications device of today is more to be described as portable media and communication device with, for instance, built-in camera, Internet access and many other communication services. The new features set new demands on the usability of the mobile terminals. One important usability issue is controlling the menu system. An easy and intuitive menu system may be decisive when a customer chooses a new mobile communications device. Therefore, it is of great importance for mobile communications device developers to take this issue into account. 
     Another important issue when a customer is choosing a new mobile communications device is the possibilities to personalize it. Such possibilities may for example be exchangable casings, user selectable ring tones, user selectable wallpapers etc. 
     These two issues have give rise to new features making it possible to personalize the menu system, e.g., by having user selectable icons and user configurable buttons, which the user himself may associate to a program application. 
     However, although these features for personalizing exist, there is a need for more sophisticated personalizing features, in order to make it possible for the user to make his mobile communications device a one of a kind. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the above, an objective of the invention is to provide a method for controlling a menu on a mobile communications device, which easily can be adjusted according to the personal preferences of the user. In particular, an objective is to provide a method for controlling a menu on a mobile communications device having a display with an idle mode background image. 
     Throughout this text the words “choose” and “select” are to be interpreted as: 
     “choose”—to mark or in other way prepare an item for activation, e.g., when placing a cursor on an application icon the icon is chosen; 
     “select”—to activate or in other way send information to an application to start, e.g., pressing a button after having chosen an application icon, and thereby starting the application. 
     Further, the term “mode” is to be interpreted as a state of the mobile communications device. The “idle mode” is e.g., a state where the mobile communications device is waiting for some sort of input, such as user input or an incoming message or telephone call. In this mode it is common to have a background image. 
     In the “menu mode” according to prior art, the available applications are shown to the user, e.g., in the form of application icons illustrated by small images, which gives him a good overview. Since the application icons are shown in this mode, there is no space for showing a background image. 
     However, according to the present invention the application icons are comprised in the idle mode background image, whereby the idle mode background image can be used in both modes, which gives the user interface of the mobile telephone a more personalized expression. Therefore, a positive outcome of the present invention is that the same background image can be used in idle mode as well as in menu mode. Hence, the wording “idle mode background image”, in the context of this invention, does not only comprise the background image shown in idle mode, but also the background image shown in menu mode. 
     According to a first aspect, the present invention is realised by a method for controlling a menu on a mobile communications device having a display with an idle mode background image, comprising receiving a user input from a control device, relating said user input to an area of said display, determining an application linked to said area such that the application is executed in response to the selection of the area, and superposing an application icon associated with said application over at least a part of said idle mode background image. 
     An advantage with this aspect is that the idle mode background image is used both in idle mode and in menu mode. That is, a user selected image may be used in the menu mode as well. 
     Another advantage is that an area of said idle mode background image may be linked to an application. This means, if the area is user adjustable, that the user may choose an arbitrary area of the idle mode background image and link this to an application. 
     Yet another advantage is that the application icon corresponding to the presently chosen area is superposed over a part of the idle mode background image. Because of this the user continuously receive information about which application that is presently chosen. 
     The method may further comprise dividing said idle mode background image into a plurality of areas wherein at least one of the plurality of areas is linked to an application. 
     An advantage with this embodiment is that different areas of the idle mode background image may be linked to different applications. For instance, in an idle mode background image representing a sunset in Sahara, the sky may be linked to the message handler application, the sun may be linked to the contact handler application, and the sand may be linked to the browser application. 
     The user input may further correspond to a coordinate on said display. 
     An advantage with this is that the user input may easily be determined to be inside or outside an area of the display by simple comparisons. 
     The part of said idle mode background image may further correspond to the area of the display. 
     An advantage with this is that the application icon is shown in the entire area linked to the application. Hence, the user may easily understand the relationship between the areas in the idle mode background image and the applications. 
     The idle mode background image may further be user selectable. This gives the user possibilities to personalize the mobile communications device. 
     The application icon may further be user selectable. An advantage with this is that the user may personalize the mobile communications device. 
     The area may further be confined by a non-visible grid system. An advantage with this is that the non-visible grid system will not cover the idle mode background image. 
     Another advantage with having a grid system is that the areas of the idle mode background image are easily set by the user. 
     Further, a shape of an element in the grid system may be user selectable and/or user definable, i.e. the shape of an element may be selected from a range of figures such as a circle, triangle, rectangle or any other predetermined polygon, or the user may define the shape of the element by providing coordinates defining the corners of a polygon (e.g. 0.0; 0.1; 1.1; 1.0 may define a rectangle). 
     An advantage with this is that the user may adjust the areas in the idle mode background image according to his personal preferences. 
     Further, a number of elements in the grid system may be user selectable. An advantage with this is that the user may adjust the areas in the idle mode background image according to his personal preferences. 
     Further, a visible text may be associated with the area. An advantage with this is that the user may easily understand the relation between the area and the application linked to the area. 
     The grid system may further be visible in a setting mode. An advantage with this is that the user may easily set the grid system according to his preferences in a setting mode, e.g., using a drag-and-drop technology. The method may further comprise receiving a second user input from said control device, and executing said application. An advantage with this is that the choosing and selection is divided into two steps. In the choosing step, a user input is related to an area and an application icon is shown, and in the selection step, if a second user input is received, the corresponding application is executed. 
     The second user input may further correspond to a pressed button. 
     According to a second aspect of the invention, the present invention is realised by a mobile communications device comprising a control device, a display, a user input receiver for receiving a user input from said control device, an electronic circuitry adapted for relating said user input to an area of said display, and a electronic circuitry adapted for superposing an application icon corresponding to said area over a part of an idle mode background image. 
     The mobile communications device may further comprise a electronic circuitry adapted for dividing said idle mode background image into a plurality of areas wherein at least one of the plurality of areas is linked to an application. 
     According to a third aspect, the invention is realised by a computer program, comprising computer program code for performing the steps of the method mentioned above when executed in a device with data processing capabilities. 
     Other objectives, features and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following detailed disclosure, from the attached claims as well as from the drawings. 
     Generally, all terms used in the claims are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the technical field, unless explicitly defined otherwise herein. All references to “a/an/the [element, device, component, means, step, etc]” are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of said element, device, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise. The steps of any method disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless explicitly stated. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be better understood through the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention, with reference to the appended drawings, where the same reference numerals will be used for similar elements, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  diagrammatically illustrates a mobile telecommunications system; 
         FIG. 2  diagrammatically illustrates a mobile communications device; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic block diagram of a mobile communications device; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a menu system according to a first embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a menu system according to a second embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a menu system setting mode according to a first embodiment; and 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a menu system setting mode according to a second embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a mobile telecommunications system in which the present invention may be applied. As shown in the figure, a first mobile communications device  100  may communicate with a second mobile communications device  101  or a server  102  via a wireless link  104 , a base station  105  and a mobile telecommunications network  106 . Likewise may the second mobile communications device  101  communicate with the first mobile communications device  100  or the server  102  via a wireless link  107 , a base station  108  and the mobile telecommunications network  106 . 
     The first mobile communications device  100  and the second mobile communications device  101  are preferably adapted to operate in a mobile telecommunications system such as UMTS, GSM, or D-AMPS. It is however appreciated that operation in other mobile telecommunication systems is equally possible depending on the infrastructure in respect of mobile telecommunications provided in the area in which the mobile communications devices  100 ,  101  are located. The first mobile communications device  100  and second mobile communications device  101  may be adapted to operate in different mobile telecommunications systems and interconnected via an interface in the mobile telecommunications network  106  (not shown). This may be the case in areas where a system belonging to a new generation of mobile telecommunications (e.g. UMTS) has not been fully implemented and interacts with an older system for mobile telecommunications (such as GSM). 
     Additionally, the first mobile communications device  100  and second mobile communications device  101  may be adapted to communicate directly with each other by means of a short range wireless communication link  109 , such as Bluetooth™, WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network, e.g. as specified in IEEE 802.11), HomeRF or HIPERLAN. 
     The server  102  may be adapted to communicate with the mobile telecommunications network  106  via the Internet  110  as indicated by the dashed line in  FIG. 1 . The server may also be adapted to communicate directly with the mobile telecommunications network  106  by means of cable  111 , or via a short range (such as WLAN) or long range (such as UMTS) wireless link  112  depending on the environment in which the server is located. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a mobile communications device  200  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The mobile telecommunications terminal  200  preferably comprises a display  201  for presenting information, e.g. regarding the current operational status of the mobile telecommunications terminal  200 , to the user of the mobile telecommunications terminal  200 . The display  201  may for instance also be used for displaying names and telephone numbers stored in a memory in the mobile telecommunications terminal  200 , graphical images, icons, video sequences, graphical game interfaces, etc. 
     The mobile telecommunications terminal  200  also preferably comprises an input control device  202  which may be in the form of a keyboard; an on-screen touch-sensitive keyboard; a navigation wheel or joystick for scrolling and selecting items, digits and/or characters shown on the display  201 ; etc. The input control device  202  may be integral with the mobile telecommunications terminal  200  or separate from the mobile telecommunications terminal  200 , wherein the input control device  202  is connected to the mobile telecommunications terminal  200  when needed. The input control device  202  in the mobile telecommunications terminal  200  may alternatively be in the form of e.g. an integral navigation wheel for normal use as well as a connector  203  for connecting the mobile telecommunications terminal  200  to an external data source e.g. in the form of a full-size keyboard, a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, etc. 
     It is appreciated that the relative size of the display  201  is not restricted to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 ; the display may be a touch-sensitive display covering most of the front of the mobile telecommunications terminal  200 , wherein the display substitutes the keyboard shown in  FIG. 2  and instead provides a keyboard  202  as a graphical, touch-sensitive image on the display  201 . 
     The input control device  202  may be adapted to emit light in different colors. The keyboard shown in  FIG. 2  may be manufactured from a semi-transparent polymer which allows light to pass through the buttons on the keyboard, wherein the light emitted by the keyboard may be provided by light emitting diodes or small lamps arranged inside the mobile telecommunications terminal  200 . 
     The mobile telecommunications terminal  200  preferably comprises a microphone  204  which picks up audio data (speech) from the user of the mobile telecommunications terminal  200 . The audio data is then processed in the mobile telecommunication terminal  200  according to techniques known per se depending on which type of mobile telecommunication network the mobile telecommunication terminal is operating in (e.g. the audio data may be vocoded in order to save bandwidth of the wireless communication link  104 ). The speech of the user is thereafter transferred to another user via the wireless communication link  104  and the mobile telecommunications network  106 . 
     The mobile telecommunications terminal  200  preferably comprises a loudspeaker  205  for playing back audio data received in the mobile telecommunication terminal  200  via the wireless communication link  104 . The loudspeaker  205  may also be used for playing back audio data generated in the mobile telecommunications terminal  200  (such as music composed by the user of the mobile telecommunications terminal  200 , or sound generated by an electronic game running in the mobile telecommunications terminal  200 ) or stored in the mobile telecommunications terminal  200  (such as music downloaded to the mobile telecommunications terminal  200 ). 
     The mobile telecommunications terminal  200  may comprise other display means such as a light emitting diode or small lamp  206  which may be used for indicating a current battery status of a battery (not shown) in the mobile telecommunications terminal  200  in that it emits light of different colors, blinking at different rates etc depending on the amount of power preserved in the battery. The light emitting diode  206  may also be used for indicating that a specific person is calling. That is, a user of the mobile telecommunications terminal  200  may set the light emitting diode to flash in a predetermined color when the specific person calls the mobile telecommunications terminal  200 . 
     Additionally, the mobile telecommunications terminal  200  may be provided with additional display means  207   a - d  which are used for customizing the appearance of the mobile telecommunications terminal  200 . All or some of the additional display means  207   a - d  may be adapted to emit continuous or flashing light in many different colors, emit light only during an ongoing communication via the wireless communication link  104 , emit continuous or flashing light when the mobile telecommunications terminal  200  is called by another party, etc. The additional display means  207   a - d  are preferably manufactured by means of uncolored plastic covers and multi-colored light sources, such as one or more light emitting diodes of different colors arranged together, or by means of colored plastic covers and neutral light sources. 
     The cover of the mobile telecommunications terminal  200  may be manufactured from a conductive polymer which is adapted to change its color depending on an electric field applied to the cover. Polymers which change their color in the visible spectrum in the presence of a static or dynamic electrical field have been disclosed in e.g. “Tunable Multicolor Electroluminescent Polymer Devices for Full Color Displays” by Samson A. Jenekhe and Xuejun Zhang, ROCHESTER UNIV NY DEPT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, Report number A099663. The user of the mobile telecommunications terminal  200  may hence set the cover to change color when e.g. the mobile telecommunications terminal  200  receives a call from another user terminal, when an alarm in the mobile telecommunications terminal  200  is activated, etc. 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic block diagram of a mobile communications device  300  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. A transceiver  310  is used for communicating with the base station  105 . The base station  105  may in turn communicate with other mobile telecommunications terminals  101  or a server  102  via a mobile communications network  106  as disclosed above. The transceiver  310  may be arranged to operate in various frequency bands, such as 880-915 MHz and 925-960 MHz (GSM900), 1710-1785 MHz and 1805-1880 MHz (GSM1800), 1850-1910 MHz and 1930-1990 MHz (GSM1900), and 1885-2025 MHz and 2110-2200 MHz (UMTS). It is however appreciated that other frequency bands are equally possible depending on the specifications of the network in which the mobile communications device  300  is to operate. 
     A control unit  320  is coupled to the transceiver  310 . The control unit  320  may comprise signal processing circuitry in order to process e.g. voice data provided by a microphone  311  and provide the transceiver  310  with the processed data for transmission to the base station  105 . Likewise, the control unit  320  may comprise signal processing circuitry for processing data received from another telecommunications terminal  101  in order to provide a loudspeaker  312  with audio data. Alternatively (not shown) some or all of the signal processing functionality may be provided by specialized circuitry in the mobile telecommunication terminal  300 . 
     The control unit  320  is coupled to a display  330  for providing a user of the mobile communications device  300  with visual data as disclosed above. As will be disclosed in more detail below, the display  330  may in particular display graphics forming a part of an adaptable user interface. The control unit is also coupled to an indicator  340  or other display means used for customizing the appearance of the mobile communications device  200 . 
     The control unit  320  is moreover coupled to an input control device  350 , which may be in the form of a keyboard etc as disclosed above. The input control device may also be adapted to receive data from an external source as disclosed above and indicated by the dashed line in  FIG. 3 . 
     A memory  360  is connected to the control unit  320  and comprises user interface data which may be used to control the multimedial layout of the mobile telecommunications terminal  300 , i.e. the manner in which graphic is displayed on the display, how sounds are reproduced by the loudspeaker, the amplification of signals received from the microphone  311 , the behavior of the input control device (in case of a keyboard, e.g. the color of light emitted by the keyboard and the delay before the keyboard repeats the output when a key is held down). The user interface data may be provided to the memory  360  from the control unit  320  which in turn has generated the user interface data as a result from configuration data received from the input control device. 
     The control unit  320  may hence read the user interface data, and software routines for using the data, from the memory  360  for controlling the behavior of the other parts of the mobile telecommunications terminal  300 . The memory  360  may also comprise figure data corresponding to one or more figures presentable on the display, wherein the control unit  320  is adapted to use the configuration data received from the input control device for pointing out one or more of the figures in the memory and to display the figures on the display. The configuration data is also preferably used for defining the coordinates on the display, at which coordinates the figures will be displayed. Moreover, the configuration data may also be used for selecting specific audio data in the memory  360 , which data preferably become part of the user interface data. The configuration data may also be used for defining one or more control parameters, such as which font to use for displaying text, amount of amplification to use when amplifying a signal provided by the microphone  311 , etc. 
     It is understood in this context that the memory  360  may be a single memory or many different memories, implemented by means of different technologies (such as RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, Flash, etc) which all are accessible by the control unit  320 . 
     Besides or as an alternative to controlling the multimedial layout of the mobile telecommunications terminal  300 , the control unit  320  may provide the user interface data to the transceiver  310  for transmission of the user interface data to another mobile telecommunications terminal  101  or the server  102  in a manner known per se. 
     In  FIG. 4 , a first embodiment of the menu system according to the present invention is shown. A display of a mobile communications device having an idle mode background image  400  illustrated by a sunset in Sahara is shown. The idle mode background image  400  is divided into three areas; a sky  402 , a sun  404  and sand  406 . Each area is linked to an application, such as a contact handler or a browser. In this case the sky  402  is linked to a message handler application. 
     In order to activate the application linked to an area, the area can be chosen and activated by the user. The area can be chosen by the user by pointing a cursor  408  onto the corresponding area, and in order to select the area some sort of second user input, such as a button press, can be received by the communications device. In this case the sky  402  is chosen since the cursor  408  points at this. As an effect of choosing the area corresponding to the message handler application a corresponding application icon is shown. In this case the application icon corresponding to the message handler application is illustrated as an image representing a letter  410 . 
     Instead of representing the application icon by an image, it may be represented by a text or a sound, or any combination thereof. 
     However, in the present invention an application icon does not have to be a small image illustrating something which is related to the corresponding application. In  FIG. 5 , a second embodiment of the present invention is shown, wherein the application icon is shown in the entire area associated to the application and the application icon is a color. 
     As in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the idle mode background image  500  is illustrated by a sunset in Sahara comprising a sky  502 , a sun  504  and sand  506 , wherein each of these represents an area linked to an application. 
     When the sun  504  is marked by a cursor  508  the area corresponding to the sun  504  is chosen, and hence an application icon is shown in the entire area of the sun  504  and since the application icon is a color the entire sun  504  changes color. 
     Instead of changing color in the entire area, an image and/or a text may be inserted in the area corresponding to the sun. These images and texts may be user selectable. 
     In the example illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , all areas of the idle mode background image are linked to an application. This is not a must. There may namely be areas of the idle mode background image which are not linked to any application, and hence no application icon will be shown when any of these are chosen. 
     The areas of the idle mode background image described above is set in a setting mode. In order to facilitate the setting procedure a grid system is used. In order to have the idle mode background image as unaffected as possible, the grid system is visible in the setting mode and non-visible otherwise. However, if the grid system is not considered to affect the idle mode background image negatively, the grid system may also be visible in a using mode. 
     In  FIG. 6  a menu system setting mode is shown. As in above mentioned figures the idle mode background image  600  is illustrated by a sunset in Sahara comprising a sky  602 , a sun  604  and sand  606 , wherein each of these represents an area linked to an application. 
     In this setting mode the idle mode background image is further divided into a grid system comprising vertical confining lines  608   a - h  and horizontal confining lines  610   a - h . The grid elements formed by the lines are marked by a cursor  612  and related to an application. 
     In order to relate a grid element, or a group of elements, a setting menu  614  can be used. If such a setting menu  614  is used a number of grid elements are marked and thereafter related to one of the applications of the setting menu  614 . The opposite order is also possible, i.e. first choosing an application in the setting menu and thereafter marking a number of grid elements. 
     Applications may be added to and withdrawn from the setting menu according to the preferences of the user. In the preferred embodiment all applications are available in the setting menu as default. 
     Another way of determining the areas is to have movable vertical and horizontal confining lines, which are possible to move according to “drag-and-drop” technique, i.e. marking a point on a line with a cursor, dragging the marked line to another place and thereby reconfiguring the line. 
     In  FIG. 7 , a menu system setting mode with movable lines is shown. As in above mentioned figures, the idle mode background image  700  is illustrated by a sunset in the Sahara comprising a sky  702 , a sun  704  and sand  706 , wherein each of these represents an area linked to an application. The grid system comprises horizontal confining lines  708   a - d  and vertical confining lines  710   a - b.    
     In order to relate areas of the idle mode background image  700  to applications, the number of horizontal and vertical confining lines are determined, respectively, and the horizontal and vertical confining lines are adjusted horizontally and vertically, respectively, and groups of grid elements are marked with a cursor  712  and related to applications as described above. In order to relate a grid element, or a group of elements, a setting menu  714  similar to the setting menu  614  of  FIG. 6 , can be used. 
     Another possibility to define areas in the idle mode background image is to encircle these using the cursor. 
     Advantageously, this is done by defining a number of corner coordinates with the cursor, and thereafter automatically joining these corner coordinates into a polygon that encircles the area. 
     Preferably, the grid system is image specific. Therefore, when downloading an image to be set as an idle mode background image an associated grid system and a set of application icons can also be downloaded. When downloading image, grid system and application icons at the same time the user does not have to configure anything himself. It is, however, possible for a user of the invention to manually set the resolution of the grid. 
     The method according to the claimed invention can be implemented by a computer readable memory, comprising computer readable program code which when executed on a processor carries out the above method. 
     The invention has mainly been described above with reference to a few embodiments. However, as is readily appreciated by a person skilled in the art, other embodiments than the ones disclosed above are equally possible within the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended patent claims.