Abstract:
A method of setting up a pointing device on a portable terminal according to the present invention has a first step for moving a user icon on a display unit of the portable terminal by the pointing device to follow a target icon, and a second step for acquiring parameters associated with the pointing device based on user icon movement information generated by the first step.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a computer terminal, and more particularly, to a method of setting up a pointing device on a portable terminal, a program for executing this method, and a portable terminal. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Conventionally, pointing devices have been provided for use with relatively large devices such as personal computers. This type of device is configured to have the ability to ensure an absolute amount of sufficiently large movements for the pointing device. Also, this type of device has sufficiently high software performance, a sufficient capacity of memory, and the like. 
   Therefore, in a pointing device associated with this type of device, variations in optimal parameter values related to a moving amount of the moving pointing device are sufficiently small as compared with the absolute movable range. For this reason, this type of device can absorb, to some extent, delicate variations in usage on a user-by-user basis. Also, this type of device can perform complicated processing for optimizing parameters of the pointing device, even in adjustments to delicate variations in usage on a user-by-user basis without relying on the users for the adjustments because of a large capacity of memory and high performance possessed thereby. Further, since users of this type of device usually have abundant knowledge of software, it is often the case that the users can adjust delicate parameters by themselves. 
   However, portable terminals such as a portable telephone are used not only by those users who have abundant knowledge of software but also by users in all walks of life. Therefore, a complicated method cannot be employed in portable terminals for adjusting optimal parameters related to a moving amount of the pointing device. Also, since the portable devices cannot ensure a sufficient movable range for the pointing device due to their small size, the portable terminals tend to be deeply affected by an assembling tolerance and a particular manner in which each user uses them. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of setting up a pointing device on a portable terminal, which can permit a user to optimize parameters with a minimum adjusting work, and a portable terminal. 
   To achieve the above object, a method of setting up a pointing device prompts the user to move a user icon to follow a target icon on a display unit of the portable terminal through the pointing device to acquire parameters associated with the pointing device based on user icon movement information. 
   Thus, the parameters can be optimized without burdening the user with delicate parameter adjustments in a small portable terminal which provides only a narrow absolute movable range for a pointing device and therefore tends to be deeply affected by variations in housing, and variations in usage on a user-by-user basis. Also, in the portable terminal, even if parameters upon shipment are affected by aging and the like, the parameters can be again restored to optimal values. 
   Also, since the portable terminal need not perform complicated software control such as a learning function, the portable terminal permits the user to consistently set up the pointing device without increasing the scale of software. 
   Further, a pointing device setup operation graphically provided by the portable terminal enables a particular user to optimally set up the pointing device, even if the user is not highly skilled in software art. 
   The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate examples of the present invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating the arrangement of a portable terminal according to one embodiment of the present invention;
               
       FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating a parameter adjusting screen in one embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 3  is a flow chart illustrating a parameter adjusting procedure according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , portable terminal  101  according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises pointing device  102 ; a computer (hereinafter called “CPU”)  105  which serves as control means; recording medium  103  readable by CPU  105  for recording parameter adjusting program  107  which is executed by CPU  105  for adjusting a variety of parameters; memory unit  108  for storing parameters adjusted by CPU  105 , and the like; display unit  106  for guiding parameter adjustment manipulations; and move information input unit  104  for supplying move information from pointing device  102  to CPU  105 . 
   For adjusting parameters of pointing device  102  on portable terminal  101 , CPU  105  displays a message which prompts the user to manipulate pointing device  102  to move user icon  202  (see  FIG. 2 ) toward target icon  203  (see  FIG. 2 ) on display unit  106 . Subsequently, CPU  105  displays a parameter adjusting screen as illustrated in  FIG. 2  on display screen  201 . 
   In this embodiment, three different moving speeds (low/normal/high) in stages are available for moving pointing device  102  in accordance with an amount by which pointing device  102  is moved. Also, parameters associated with pointing device  102  include eight levels of threshold information for changing a speed in each of X- and Y-directions, four ranges of maximum movable amount information for changing a speed in each of X- and Y-directions, and four values of variations information in an orthogonal direction during a translation in each of X- and Y-directions. 
   Specifically, pointing device  102  has a parameter related to each of four directions from the origin. The eight levels of threshold information indicate two thresholds for +X-direction, −X-direction, +Y-direction and −Y-direction, respectively. Similarly, four ranges of maximum movable amount information indicate four maximum movable amounts for the +X-direction, −X-direction, +Y-direction and −Y-direction, respectively. 
   CPU  105  moves target icon  203  based on parameter adjusting program  107  recorded on recording medium  103 . Subsequently, CPU  105  waits for user icon  202  to move toward target icon  203  in response to a manipulation performed by the user on pointing device  102 . 
   CPU  105  runs parameter adjusting program  107  to specify, for the location of target icon  203 , a position away from user icon  202 , a position near user icon  202 , a position with a varying positional relationship with user icon  202  in the vertical and horizontal directions, and the like. 
   Move information input unit  104  supplies CPU  105  with information on a moving amount of pointing device  102 . 
   CPU  105  samples the moving amount of pointing device  102  when the user moves user icon  202  toward target icon  203 , determines a parameter value corresponding to the moving amount of pointing device  102  based on parameter adjusting program  107 , and stores the determined parameter value in memory unit  108 . 
   After the foregoing operation is performed for a certain time period, CPU  105  acquires parameter information related to pointing device  102  which is determined based on the packaging condition of a housing, aging, and a particular manner of use inherent to the user. The parameter information includes moving amounts (thresholds) of pointing device  102  when it is moved at high/low speeds, deviations on the coordinates when pointing device  102  is moved up and down and to the left and right, and upward, downward, leftward and rightward maximum movable amounts of pointing device  102 . 
   Next, the operation during a parameter adjustment in this embodiment will be described with reference to  FIG. 3 . 
   At step  301 , CPU  105  enters a parameter adjusting mode for pointing device  102 . Next, at step  302 , CPU  105  displays a message which prompts the user to move user icon  202  following target icon  203 . 
   Next, at step  303 , CPU  105  displays the parameter adjusting screen as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Next, at step  304 , CPU  105  acquires information on a position to which target icon  203  is next moved based on parameter adjusting program  107 , and displays target icon  203 . In  FIG. 2 , target icon  203  is located at a remote point at an angle of 45 degrees to the right. CPU  105  waits for the user to manipulate pointing device  102 . 
   At step  305 , when pointing device  102  is manipulated by the user, CPU  105  acquires information on a moving amount of pointing device  102  from move information input unit  104 . 
   Next, at step  306 , CPU  105  moves user icon  202  to a destination in accordance with the moving amount of pointing device  102  at a predetermined moving speed (dictated by the foregoing parameter values in this embodiment). 
   At step  307 , CPU  105  determines whether user icon  202  has approached a set range for target icon  203 . When user icon  202  has approached the set range for target icon  203 , CPU  105  samples the moving amount of pointing device  102 , and acquires a parameter corresponding to the sampled data value based on parameter adjusting program  107 , and stores the parameter in memory unit  108  at step  308 . In the example illustrated in  FIG. 2 , CPU  105  acquires threshold parameters associated with three different moving speeds in the +X and +Y-directions; X-direction and Y-direction deviation parameters in the orthogonal direction during the translations in +X- and +Y-directions, respectively; and X-direction and Y-direction maximum movable amount parameters. 
   Next, CPU  105  determines at step  309  whether or not all parameters have been acquired, and again moves target icon  203 , if any parameter(s) has not been acquired for a particular item(s), in order to acquire the parameter(s). Subsequently, upon complete acquisition of all parameters, CPU  105  terminates the parameter adjusting mode at step  310 . 
   While, in the foregoing embodiment, CPU  105  attempts to acquire the parameters after the user icon  202  has been moved to the vicinity of target icon  203 , the parameters may be acquired at any time. 
   Also, the condition set at step  307  may be used to determine whether or not the user has depressed a decision button. 
   While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purpose only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.