Abstract:
A system for managing a graphical user interface (GUI) pointer on a touch sensitive screen of a mobile communication terminal is provided. The system comprises a logic unit for displaying a pointer on a first display point on the screen in response to a user touching the screen at a first touch point on the screen, wherein the first display point is a first distance away from the first touch point.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2006-0046064, filed on May 23, 2006, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a method for selecting an item displayed on a touch-screen display of a limited display mobile terminal, and more particularly to a method and system for controlling movement of a pointer on a touch sensitive screen of a mobile terminal. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Recently, an improved mobile communication terminal equipped with a touch-screen-type display has been developed and introduced to the market. As functions of the mobile communication terminal have become more complicated and more diverse, the number of icons displayed on the display of the mobile communication terminal has increased, and the size of each icon displayed has been reduced. 
         [0004]    Therefore, a user of the mobile communication terminal equipped with the above-mentioned touch-screen has difficulty in selecting a desired icon from among a plurality of icons without using a stylus pen. This is inconvenient, particularly when a user prefers to use his finger to select a desired icon. 
         [0005]    Systems and methods are needed that can overcome the above-mentioned shortcomings. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    A method for managing a graphical user interface (GUI) pointer on a touch sensitive screen of a mobile communication terminal is provided. The method comprises displaying a pointer on a first display point on the screen, in response to a user touching the screen at a first touch point on the screen; and wherein the first display point is a first distance away from the first touch point. 
         [0007]    The method may further comprise touching the screen on a second touch point for moving the pointer from the first display point to a second display point, wherein the second display point is approximately the first distance away from the second touch point. The moving comprises dragging the pointer from the first display point to the second display point by sliding a pointing object on the touch sensitive screen from the first touch point to the second touch point. 
         [0008]    In one embodiment, a pointing object is used to touch the screen and, due to a display point being a distance away from a touch point on the screen, the pointer is visible to a user without the pointing object obstructing the user&#39;s view of the pointer. Input may be provided to the mobile communication terminal in a first manner to move the pointer from the second display point to a third display point, wherein the third display point is a second distance away from the second touch point and wherein the second distance is longer or shorter than the first distance. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment, input is provided to the mobile communication terminal to move the pointer from the second display point to a third display point where a GUI object is displayed. In response to a first object contacting the second touch point in a first manner, the pointer moves from the first distance away from the second touch point to a second distance away from the second touch point. In some embodiments, in response to the first object contacting the second location in a first manner, the pointer rotates about the second touch point. A display object in vicinity of the pointer may be selected in response to a second user interaction with the mobile terminal. 
         [0010]    Depending on implementation, the second user interaction may comprise the user discontinuing touching the screen, the user selecting from a GUI menu, or the user interacting with a pointing device of the mobile communication terminal. The pointing device may be at least one of a joystick, a touchpad, and a key on a keypad of the mobile communication terminal. Preferably, the user has an option between using at least one of the joystick, the touchpad, and the key on the keypad of the mobile communication terminal to control movement of the pointer on the display. 
         [0011]    In accordance with another embodiment, a method for selecting a GUI object on a display screen of a mobile communication terminal is provided. The method comprises displaying a pointer on the display screen at a first display point, in response to a user touching the display screen at a first touch point on the display screen, wherein the first display point is a first distance away from the first touch point; and moving the pointer proximate to a GUI object on the display screen by touching the display screen at a second touch point. 
         [0012]    In one embodiment, the method further comprises selecting the GUI object when the pointer is displayed a first distance from the GUI object and/or selecting the GUI object in response to discontinuing touching the display screen at the second touch point. Touching the display screen at the second touch point in a first manner causes the pointer to move toward a closest GUI object in vicinity of the pointer. The touching in the first manner may tapping or continued touching of the screen for a predetermined time period. 
         [0013]    In accordance with yet another embodiment, a system for selecting a GUI object on a display screen of a mobile communication terminal is provided. The system comprises a logic unit for displaying a pointer on the display screen, in response to a user touching the display screen at a first touch point on the display screen, wherein the first touch point is a first distance away from display position of the pointer on the screen; and a logic unit for moving the pointer proximate to a GUI object on the display screen, in response to a user touching the display screen at a second touch point. 
         [0014]    The system may further comprise a logic unit for selecting the GUI object when the pointer is displayed a first distance from the GUI object, or in response to discontinued touching of the display screen at the second touch point. In one embodiment, touching the display screen at the second touch point in a first manner causes the pointer to move toward a closest GUI object in vicinity of the pointer. 
         [0015]    In accordance with another embodiment, a system for managing a graphical user interface (GUI) pointer on a touch sensitive screen of a mobile communication terminal is provided. The system comprises a logic unit for displaying a pointer on a first display point on the screen in response to a user touching the screen at a first touch point on the screen, wherein the first display point is a first distance away from the first touch point. 
         [0016]    It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of the components of a mobile communication terminal according to one embodiment. 
           [0019]      FIGS. 2A-2D  are exemplarily illustrations of an item selection method according to a first preferred embodiment. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart illustrating an item selection method according to the first preferred embodiment. 
           [0021]      FIGS. 4A-4E  are exemplarily illustrations of a mobile communication terminal to explain an item selection method according to a second preferred embodiment. 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart illustrating an item selection method according to the second preferred embodiment. 
       
    
    
       [0023]    Features, elements, and aspects of the invention that are referenced by the same numerals in different figures represent the same, equivalent, or similar features, elements, or aspects in accordance with one or more embodiments of the system. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0024]    The following has been discussed by way of example as applicable to mobile communication terminals such as mobile phones. It should be noted, however, that the scope of the invention is not limited to the following exemplary embodiments. The principals and advantages discussed can be applied to other devices such as PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), game devices, and KIOSK terminals (e.g., ATMs (Automatic Teller Machines). 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the mobile communication terminal  100  according to one embodiment comprises a memory unit  110 , a touch-screen  120 , an input unit  130 , a Radio Frequency (RF) unit  140 , a multimedia playback unit  150 , and a controller  160 . The mobile communication terminal may include not only the above-mentioned components but also other components (e.g., a camera). 
         [0026]    The memory unit  110  stores software programs for driving a plurality of functions for the mobile terminal  100  and the associated data (e.g., an MP3 file, an image file, a moving-image file, a document file, a list of phone-numbers, a list of transmission/reception calls, a list of SMS transmission/reception messages, a list of E-mails, and a list of Multimedia Message Service (MMS) messages. 
         [0027]    The touch-screen  120  may display a variety of icons (e.g., an MP3-file icon, a moving-image file icon, an image-file icon, a document-file icon, and a program-execution icon) for performing a variety of functions. Also, the display  120  may display the list of phone numbers, transmission/reception calls, and SMS transmission/reception messages. Hereafter, each of the above-mentioned icons or each of the above-mentioned lists are referred to as an “item.” 
         [0028]    The above-mentioned touch-screen  120  may be configured by at least one of an electrostatic capacitive method, a resistive overlay method, an infrared beam method, a surface acoustic wave method, an integral strain gauge method, a piezo-electric method, on a functional equivalent. The touch-screen  120  allows the user to select a desired icon from among a variety of icons displayed thereon, and serves as an input unit for entering a command and/or information in the mobile communication terminal  100 . 
         [0029]    The mobile communication terminal  100  may comprise an additional input unit  130  (e.g., a keypad, a touch-wheel, a touch-pad, and a voice recognition device, etc.) other than the above-mentioned touch-screen  120 . The RF unit  140  processes a variety of RF signals to allow the mobile communication terminal  100  to communicate with an external device via a voice-call service or SMS service. 
         [0030]    The multimedia playback unit  150  allows a variety of multimedia information to be reproduced by the mobile communication terminal  100 . The term “multimedia playback” indicates that a variety of moving-image files and music files and a variety of mobile broadcast programs based on terrestrial/satellite DMB (Digital Multimedia Broadcasting) services of Republic of Korea, a MediaFlo (Media Forward Link Only) service of United States, and a DVB-H (Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld) service of Europe are received and displayed (reproduced). 
         [0031]    Therefore, the multimedia playback unit  150  according to one embodiment may include components for receiving/reproducing mobile broadcast data. The multimedia playback unit  150  may also be included in the controller  160 . The controller  160  controls all operations of the terminal including the memory unit  110 , the touch-screen  120 , the input unit  130 , the RF unit  140 , and the multimedia playback unit  150 . The controller  160  controls the item selection method to be implemented in the mobile communication terminal  100  according to one embodiment. 
         [0032]    A first preferred embodiment of the present invention will hereinafter be described with reference to  FIGS. 2A-2D , and  FIG. 3 .  FIGS. 2A-2D  illustrate images displayed on a mobile communication terminal associated with an item selection method.  FIG. 3  is a flow chart illustrating an item selection method according to a first preferred embodiment. 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIG. 2A , the touch-screen  120  of the mobile communication terminal  100  includes an equalizer area  123 , an MP3 music file playback area  125 , and an MP3 music file list area  127 . According to a first preferred embodiment, a method for selecting an item entitled “Goodbye” (hereinafter referred to as a “target music item”) will be described. 
         [0034]    In order to implement the item selection method according to a first preferred embodiment, it is preferable that environmental setup data may be pre-established to allow a desired item to be selected by a cursor of a touch-screen. Referring to  FIG. 3 , the user of the mobile communication terminal  100  touches a predetermined point on the touch-screen  120  using his or her fingers (S 310 ). Preferably, environmental setup data may be established not to select an item corresponding to the selected point, if the user touches the item corresponding to the selected point. 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 2B , a cursor  129  is formed at a first point of the touch-screen  120  (S 320 ). The first point may be pre-determined to be any locations of the touch-screen. However, it is preferable that the first point be located at the center part of the touch-screen in consideration of vertical/horizontal mobility of the cursor  129 . The user of the mobile communication terminal moves the touched point along a predetermined line by maintaining his touch on the display (S 330 ). 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIG. 2C , the cursor  129  moves by maintaining the initial distance between the aforementioned touched point and the cursor, forming the same line as the line of touch of the user (S 340 ). The user of the mobile communication terminal  100  can move the touched point to another point based on the moving line of the cursor  129  until the cursor  129  is located at the target music item  128 . If the cursor  129  is not located at the target music item  128 , the above-mentioned processes are repeated (S 350 ). 
         [0037]    If the cursor  129  is located at the target music item  128 , the user of the mobile communication terminal  100  takes his or her finger off of the touch-screen  120  (S 360 ), such that the above-mentioned target music item  128  is selected (S 370 ), as shown in  FIG. 2D . As described above, if the user touches a first point on the touch-screen  120 , a corresponding cursor is created. When the user takes his or her finger off of the touch-screen  120 , the cursor  129  disappears, and at the same time an item corresponding to the cursor location is selected. 
         [0038]    In some embodiments, the cursor may also be displayed on the touch-screen  120  before the user touches the screen. And, in some embodiments, the target music item  128  is not selected when the user takes his or her finger off of the touch-screen  120 . For example, the target music item  128  may be selected by an additional input unit  130  of the mobile communication terminal  100  after the user removes his finger. 
         [0039]    A second preferred embodiment of the present invention will hereinafter be described with reference to  FIGS. 4A-4E , and  FIG. 5 .  FIGS. 4A-4E  illustrate exemplarily images displayed on a mobile terminal according to a second preferred embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 4A , the touch-screen  120  of the mobile communication terminal  100  according to a second preferred embodiment comprises an equalizer area  123 , an MP3 music file playback area  125 , and an MP3 music file list area  127 . 
         [0040]    According to a second preferred embodiment, it is preferable that environmental setup data may be pre-established to allow a desired item to be selected by a cursor displayed on the touch-screen display  120 . Referring to  FIG. 4A , for example, the user of the mobile communication terminal  100  touches a predetermined point on the touch-screen  120  using his or her fingers (S 510 ). As a result, a cursor  129  is displayed at a first point spaced apart from the point touched by the user and at a predetermined distance and position (S 520 ). 
         [0041]    The reason why the cursor  129  is spaced apart from the touched point by the predetermined distance and position is to prevent the cursor  129  from being fully or partially covered by the user&#39;s finger when the cursor  129  is located at the location touched by the user&#39;s finger. The position of the cursor  129  may be set to any position, however, it is assumed that for the purpose of example the cursor&#39;s position according to the present invention is set at about 10 o&#39;clock, as shown in  FIG. 4B . 
         [0042]    In one embodiment, the user of the mobile communication terminal may move the above-mentioned touched location toward another position of about 5 o&#39;clock to select the above-mentioned target music item  128 . However, if the target music item  128  is located at a right lower part, it would be difficult to fully move the touched location to another location so as to allow the cursor  128  to be placed on the target music item  128 , because the touched point will need to be located outside of the touch-screen area in order to place the cursor on the target music item  128 . 
         [0043]    In other words, when an item is positioned at a corner or close to the border of the screen, a dead zone will result, such that a user cannot move the cursor over the objects displayed in the dead zone. In order to solve the problems associated with the dead zone, a second preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a method for allowing the user to adjust the cursor&#39;s position within the dead zone. 
         [0044]    Depending on implementation, various methods for adjusting the cursor&#39;s position may be employed. For example, in one or more embodiments, it is determined whether the cursor&#39;s position is proper such that the target music item located in a dead zone is accurately selected (S 530 ). If the cursor&#39;s position is improper, the user of the mobile communication terminal  100  attempts to adjust the cursor position (S 540 ) by, for example, tapping the touch-screen  120  at predetermined time intervals (e.g., about 0.5 second intervals or less). 
         [0045]    As a result, the cursor&#39;s position rotates in, for example, a clockwise direction as shown in  FIG. 4C . The user of the mobile communication terminal  100  continuously taps the touch-screen  120  until the cursor&#39;s position reaches a desired position on the display. If the cursor&#39;s position reaches the desired position, the user of the mobile communication terminal stops tapping the touch-screen  120 , as shown in  FIG. 4D . 
         [0046]    The user of the mobile communication terminal may move the touched point to another point by maintaining the touching state on the touch-screen  120 , such that the cursor is located at the target music item  128  (S 550 ). If the cursor is not located at the target music item  128  ( 570 ), the above-mentioned steps S 530 -S 560  are repeated. If the cursor is located at the target music item  128 , the user of the mobile communication terminal  100  can take his or her finger off of the touch-screen  120  (S 580 ), such that the above-mentioned target music item  128  is selected (S 590 ), as shown in  FIG. 4E . 
         [0047]    As described above, the above-mentioned second preferred embodiment of the present invention has disclosed the cursor&#39;s position adjustment method executed before the user moves the touched point to another point after the cursor has been formed. However, it should be noted that the above-mentioned cursor&#39;s position adjustment may also be executed during the user&#39;s moving from the touched point to a new point or after the user&#39;s finger is completely located at the new point. 
         [0048]    The target music item  128  may be selected when the user takes his or her finger off of the touch-screen  120 , or it may also be selected by an additional input unit of the mobile communication terminal  100 . The item selection method and the terminal for implementing the same according to the present invention can allow a user to easily select a desired item from among a variety of small-sized items displayed on a touch-screen without using a stylus pen. Therefore, although the user of the mobile communication terminal does not carry a stylus pen capable of selecting small-sized item, the user can easily select a desired item from among all items displayed on the touch-screen using his or her finger. 
         [0049]    Although the present invention has been disclosed by way of example as applicable to a touch-screen display, it should be noted that the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned example. Accordingly, the principals and concepts in this disclosure can be applied in other contexts. For example, if the cursor is located at a specific item, the specific item may be highlighted, such that the user can visually recognize which one of items has been selected by referring to the highlighted item. 
         [0050]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.