Onscreen function execution method for mobile terminal having a touchscreen

An onscreen function execution method for a mobile terminal having a touchscreen is provided. The method allows for executing functions of an activated application by a tap on a specific area of the touchscreen. An onscreen function execution method of the present invention includes mapping active regions of the touchscreen to functions of at least one application, displaying an application screen in response to an application activation command and executing, if a tap is detected on one of the active regions, a function mapped to the application activation command. The active regions may include a function execution display region and the applications may comprise a camera application, a music player application, an idle mode screen application and the like. The method allows a user to execute functions of an activated application by tap on the touchscreen.

PRIORITY

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) of a Korean patent application filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Feb. 8, 2007 and assigned Serial No. 2007-0013448, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an onscreen function execution method for a mobile terminal. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for executing functions of an activated application by tapping on a specific area of a touchscreen of a mobile terminal.

2. Description of the Related Art

With the advance of computing and wireless technologies, mobile terminals can now provide personalized features with various embedded application programs as well as basic voice communication. These mobile application programs include a personal scheduler, a short message service (SMS), a built-in camera application, a multimedia player, a documenter reader, games, etc., such that a user can manipulate various types of user data such as pictures taken by the camera, downloaded still and motion pictures, text messages, electronic books, ring tones, sound files (e.g., MP3), game contents and the like. Furthermore, the mobile terminal can be a mobile phone, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a Portable Multimedia Player (PMP), etc. enabled by a wireless communication function.

Recently, touchscreens are being widely used as input devices for mobile terminals. A touchscreen allows a user to activate applications and execute functions by touching icons or elements displayed on the screen. The touchscreen is simple to use and improves user convenience in comparison with a conventional keypad.

However, the conventional touchscreen is limited in its effectiveness since it requires a user to become familiar with the manipulation of onscreen icons and menu bars and sometimes requires a series of complicated touch events for executing a specific function.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the present invention is to address the above-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention is to provide an onscreen function execution method for a mobile terminal that is capable of intuitively executing functions of an activated application by a tap on the touchscreen.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, an onscreen function execution method for a mobile terminal having a touchscreen is provided. The onscreen function execution method of the present invention includes mapping an active region of the touchscreen to a function of an application, displaying an application screen in response to an application activation command and executing, if a tap is detected on the active region, a function mapped to the active region.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, a mobile terminal having a touchscreen is provided. The mobile terminal includes a control unit for mapping an active region of the touchscreen to a function of at least one application and for executing, if a tap is detected on the active region, the function mapped to the active region and a display unit for displaying an application screen in response to an application activation command.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Mobile Terminal Having Touchscreen

FIG. 1is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a touchscreen-enabled mobile terminal10having an onscreen function execution method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIG. 1, the mobile terminal10includes a control unit11, a storage unit12, a touchscreen13, a touch signal processing unit16, a camera unit17, and a video processing unit18.

The control unit11controls general operations of the mobile terminal. For example, the control unit11controls the executing of functions by an activated application program in response to input made by tapping on a specific area of the touchscreen.

The storage unit12stores application programs for the mobile terminal and data generated while an application program runs under an operating system. For example, the storage unit12stores the application program associated with function execution and data generated while the application program operates.

The touchscreen13is provided with a display panel14and a touch panel15installed on the display panel14. The touchscreen13displays operation status information and data stored in the storage unit12in the form of various application screens and generates signals in response to a tap detected on the touch panel15. In an exemplary embodiment, the touchscreen13is configured to change the application screen in response to a tap. However, other changes may also occur in response to a tap. For example, an application may be controlled by the tap without a change in the screen appearance.

The touch signal processing unit16analyzes the signal generated by the touchscreen and outputs position data corresponding to the signal to the control unit11. That is, the touch signal processing unit16determines whether a tap is detected on a specific area of the touchscreen and outputs the position data corresponding to the tap to the control unit11. In an exemplary implementation, the signal is an electric analog signal. However, other signals, such as a digital electric signal, are also within the scope of the invention.

The camera unit17takes a picture and outputs the picture as image data. That is, the camera unit17captures still or moving images according to its operation mode selected by a user. The mode selection may be made by a touch on the touchscreen. The camera unit17includes an image sensor for converting an object image into an electric analog signal and a signal processor for converting the analog signal into a digital signal.

The video processing unit18processes the video signal output by the camera unit17to be displayed on the touchscreen13.

The touch panel15is provided with active regions mapped to functions of the application program. If a tap is detected at an active region on the touch panel15, the control unit11performs a function mapped to the active region on which the tap is detected.

The application programs may include an image recoding program associated with the camera unit17, a music player program, an idle mode screen program and the like that are activated in respective operation modes, i.e. camera mode, music player mode, idle mode and the like. As an example, if the mobile terminal enters a music player mode, the control unit11activates the music player program such that music files, for example MP3 files, can be played. As another example, in the idle mode, the control unit11activates the idle mode screen program such that an idle mode screen is displayed on the touchscreen13. The idle mode screen program may include application icons representing application programs, menu bars for executing functions of the application programs, function icons and the like.

The idle mode screen can be configured with frequently executed functions of specific application programs. For example, at least one of a preview function, a focusing function, a shutter release function, a save function and the like can be selected as frequently executed functions in the camera mode. In the idle mode, the specific functions can be presented in the form of application icons on the idle mode screen.

An active region is a region for presenting an execution status of a function of an activated application program, that is, a function execution display region. For example, the active region can be a frame showing a viewfinder image and a captured image in the camera mode. In the music player mode, the active region may be used to show an image associated with a music file. In the idle mode, the active region may be used to show an idle mode screen image.

Tap-Based Function Execution

FIG. 2is a flowchart illustrating an onscreen function execution method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, the control unit11links the active regions of the touchscreen13to specific functions of the applications in step S31. The linkage between the functions and active regions are configured at the manufacturing phase of the mobile terminal or can be configured by a user afterward.

If a selection command is generated by touching the touchscreen13, the control unit11controls such that an application program is activated and an application screen is displayed on the touch screen in step S33. In an exemplary implementation, the selection command may be generated by touching an application icon on the touch screen wherein the application program is represented by the application icon.

After the application program is activated, the control unit determines whether a tap event occurs on an active region of the touch screen13in step S35. If no tap event is detected, the control unit11maintains the displaying of the application screen in step S33.

If a tap event is detected on an active region, the control unit11executes a function linked to the active region in step S37. At this time, a function execution screen can be displayed on the touchscreen13under the control of the control unit11.

First Exemplary Embodiment

FIG. 3is a diagram illustrating steps of an onscreen function execution method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the mobile terminal operates in a camera mode.

If a camera application is activated, for example by touching a camera application icon on the touchscreen13, the control unit11enables the camera unit17. The control unit also displays a viewfinder image61of the camera unit17on a viewfinder region51of the touchscreen13as shown in a screen image (a) ofFIG. 3. The viewfinder region51is provided with a focusing bracket54a. At this time, the touchscreen13presents function icons53and a menu bar52associated with the camera application program. In an exemplary embodiment as illustrated, the function icons53are arranged at the right side of the touchscreen13and the menu bar52is arranged at the bottom of the screen13. Of course, it is noted that the function icons53as well as the menu bar52may be arranged at any of the sides of the screen or located elsewhere on the screen. Alternatively, the function icons53and menu bar52may be displayed on another screen.

If a tap is detected at the viewfinder region51, the control unit11locks the image61for a predetermined time (N seconds, where N is a real number) as shown in screen images (b) and (c) ofFIG. 3. Finally, the control unit11records the viewfinder image61as a captured image62as shown in screen image (d) ofFIG. 3. At this time, the captured image62is displayed in the viewfinder region51and function icons55associated with processing the captured image62are presented at the left side of the touchscreen13(for example, an image transmission function icon, an image enlargement function icon and the like).

If a tap is detected on the captured image62, the control unit11controls such that the viewfinder image61is shown in the viewfinder region61as shown in the screen image (a) ofFIG. 3.

In order for a user to recognize the function execution status in the camera mode, the focusing bracket can be presented in a different manner as illustrated by54a,54b, and54cin images (a), (b) and (c) respectively. In an exemplary embodiment, the function execution status of the camera mode is indicated by markings of the focusing bracket54a,54b, and54cas shown in the screen images (a), (b), and (c) ofFIG. 3. When the captured image is displayed, no focusing bracket appears as shown in screen image (d) ofFIG. 3.

In this manner, the series of steps from focusing to recording an image can be performed using a series of tapping actions on the touchscreen. That is, the frequently used functions including focusing, capturing, and storing an image can be intuitively performed by simply using tapping actions.

Although a series of commands are individually executed by each tap in this exemplary embodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the onscreen function execution method can be implemented such that a series of commands are executed by a single tap. In this case, the commands are executed in a sequential order and the focusing function can be omitted.

Second Exemplary Embodiment

FIG. 4is a diagram illustrating steps of an onscreen function execution method according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In this exemplary embodiment, the mobile terminal operates in a music player mode.

If a music player application is activated, for example by touching a music player application icon, the control unit11plays a music file and presents an image77associated with the music file in a main image region71as shown in screen images (a) and (b) ofFIG. 4. At this time, the touchscreen13presents function icons73and a menu bar72associated with the music player program. In this exemplary embodiment, the function icons73are arranged at the right side of the touchscreen13and the menu bar72is arranged at the bottom of the touchscreen13. It is again noted that the function icons73as well as the menu bar72may be arranged at any of the sides of the screen or located elsewhere on the screen. Alternatively, the function icons73and menu bar72may be displayed on another screen.

As illustrated in image (b) ofFIG. 4, if a predetermined time (N seconds, where N is a real number) is elapsed, the function icons73disappear and an arrow tip75for recalling the function icons73appears on the right side of the screen. Another arrow tip74may appear at a left side of the touchscreen13and is provided for calling available music files or a music album and indicates that a music file is playing. Of course, although arrow tips are illustrated, this is merely exemplary, as is the location of the arrow tips.

If a tap is detected at the main image region71, the control unit11pauses playing the music file and shows a text “Pause” in the main image region71as shown in a screen image (c) ofFIG. 4.

If a tap is detected while the music is paused, the control unit11plays the music file again as shown in the screen image (a) or (b).

In this manner, the user can stop or play the music file by tapping on the touchscreen13in the music player mode. That is, starting and stopping playback of a music file can be intuitively controlled by tapping the touchscreen. It should be noted that while the above exemplary embodiment has described a feature wherein a music file is paused or played depending on a tap on the touchscreen, this is only an example of the present invention. A tap on the touchscreen may be used to control other or additional functions in the music player mode. For example, a tap may be used to forward or rewind through a playing music file, to skip to the next or previous file, to skip to the next or previous album, or other features as a user may desire to incorporate.

Third Exemplary Embodiment

FIG. 5is a diagram illustrating steps of an onscreen function execution method according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In this exemplary embodiment, the mobile terminal operates in the idle mode.

While the mobile terminal operates in the idle mode, the control unit11displays an idle mode screen82having a growing point or display starting point83in a display region81as shown in a screen image (a) ofFIG. 5. The starting point83is located at a center of the idle mode screen82. At the bottom of the touchscreen13, a clock84, a calendar, a music player icon and the like may be arranged. Although not shown inFIG. 5, the calendar and music player icon as well as the clock84can be presented in a sequential order.

If a tap is detected at the starting point83on the touchscreen13, the control unit11controls such that application icons85appear on the display region81as shown in a screen image (c) ofFIG. 5. In an exemplary implementation, the applications represented by the application icons85are frequently used applications. The application icons may include a primary application icon86positioned at the center of the touchscreen13and secondary application icons87arranged around the primary application icon86. In the illustrated example of screen image (c), the primary application icon86is a main menu icon and the secondary application icons87include a camera application icon, music player icon, message service icon, and voice communication icon.

Of course, different icons and a different number of icons may be displayed in various arrangements beyond the arrangement illustrated in image (c) ofFIG. 5. For example, in the illustrated exemplary embodiment, each application icon has a rectangular shape and the secondary application icons87are arranged along the four side of the primary application icon86. However, the application icons can be modified in shape and arranged in different formation. For example, the application icons can be provided in the form of grid, rings, eclipses, circles, or polygons. Moreover, the number and types of icons, including the functions they represent, may be chosen and set by the user.

Although not shown inFIG. 5, if a touch is detected on an application icon, the control unit11activates an application program represented by the application icon.

As described above, the onscreen function execution method of the present invention allows for intuitively executing functions of application programs by tapping icons representing the functions on a touchscreen, resulting in improvement of user convenience.