Abstract:
A hybrid device having a plurality of task-handlers corresponding to a function key uses a user interface method. The user interface method includes receiving information necessary to change priorities of the task-handlers corresponding to the function key; changing the priorities of the task-handlers based on the received information; and storing information regarding the changed priorities according to a predetermined application type.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
         [0001]    This application claims the priority of Korean Patent Application No. 2003-25711, filed on Apr. 23, 2003, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates to a hybrid device to mediate priorities of a plurality of task-handlers corresponding to a function key and a user interface method thereof.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0005]    Hybrid devices are generally referred to as multimedia devices which simultaneously perform multiple functions, including reproduction from and recording to a digital versatile disc (DVD), reproduction of titles from a hard disc drive (HDD), recording to the HDD, reproduction from a compact disc (CD), and reproduction from a mini disc (MD).  
           [0006]    Generally, according to a DVD recorder performing simple functions, function keys, such as “PLAY”, “RECORD”, “STOP”, “PAUSE”, “FAST FORWARD SCAN”, and “REWIND SCAN”, are provided on a remote controller or a front panel of the DVD recorder. Task-handlers are provided to correspond to the function keys on a one-to-one basis to perform functions selected by a user. Here, the task-handlers indicate programs, which control the DVD recorder to perform the selected functions. However, according to a hybrid device which has emerged with the rapid development of hardware and the generalization of real-time operating systems, a plurality of task-handlers correspond to a common function key input via a remote controller or a front panel on a one-to-multiple basis.  
           [0007]    For example, when data is recorded to a HDD and a DVD-random access memory (RAM) via two channels as well as reproducing titles from the HDD, a HDD recording task handler, a DVD-RAM recording task handler, and a HDD reproduction task handler are separately executed. When a user presses a “STOP” key in this situation, a problem exists in determining which one of the HDD recording task handler, the DVD-RAM recording task handler, and the HDD reproduction task handler stops first.  
           [0008]    For example, when the “STOP” key is pressed in a conventional device, the priority of HDD reproduction task is handled first, and the HDD reproduction task handler stops first. Thus, when the user desires to stop recording to the HDD or the DVD-RAM without stopping reproduction from the HDD, the conventional device cannot be controlled to meet the user&#39;s request. In other words, in a case where priorities of task-handlers are fixed in the hybrid device, the user cannot control the device according to desired priorities of the task-handlers. Therefore, it is difficult for the user to flexibly and conveniently control the device.  
           [0009]    Further, adding function keys to the remote controller and/or the front panel to meet the user&#39;s requests is costly and compromises the compactness of the hybrid device. This is also disadvantageous to the convenience and unity afforded by the hybrid device.  
           [0010]    These problems have came to light due to an increase in the number of simultaneous tasks performed with the development of the hybrid device.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0011]    An aspect of the present invention provides a hybrid device to flexibly and conveniently mediate priorities of a plurality of task-handlers corresponding to a common input function key and a user interface method thereof.  
           [0012]    According to an aspect of the present invention, a user interface method performed via a hybrid device having a plurality of task-handlers corresponding to a function key comprises: receiving information necessary to change priorities of the task-handlers corresponding to the function key; changing the priorities of the task-handlers based on the received information; and storing information regarding the changed priorities according to a predetermined application type.  
           [0013]    Additional aspects and/or advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.  
           [0014]    According to an aspect of the present invention, the receiving of the information necessary to change the priorities of the task-handlers comprises: receiving a request to change priorities of the task-handlers from a user; receiving information regarding the function key selected to change priorities of the task-handlers; and receiving information to change the priorities of the function key.  
           [0015]    According to an aspect of the present invention, the storing of information regarding the changed priorities according to the predetermined application type comprises: receiving information regarding the selected predetermined application type; and storing the information regarding the changed priorities according to the selected application type.  
           [0016]    According to an aspect of the present invention, the receiving the information regarding the selected predetermined application type comprises: receiving information regarding whether the changed priorities are applied once, permanently, or set by default.  
           [0017]    According to another aspect of the present invention, a hybrid device having a plurality of task-handlers corresponding to a function key comprises: a display to display information necessary to change priorities of the task-handlers; an input unit to receive the information necessary to change priorities; a priority changer to change the priorities of the task-handlers based on the received information; and a memory to store information regarding the changed priorities of the task-handlers according to an application type.  
           [0018]    According to an aspect of the present invention, the display unit displays a menu to select a function key in response to a request to change the priorities, a menu to change priorities for the selected function key, a priority change result, and a menu to select the application type.  
           [0019]    According to an aspect of the present invention, the input unit receives the request to change the priorities of the task-handlers, information regarding the selected function key, the changed priorities, and the application type, and then provides the request to change the priorities and the information to the priority changer.  
           [0020]    The function key includes one or more of a “PLAY” key, a “RECORD” key, a “STOP” key, a “PAUSE” key, a “FAST FORWARD SCAN” key, and a “REWIND SCAN” key.  
           [0021]    According to an aspect of the present invention, the priority changer changes the priorities of task-handlers corresponding to the selected function key based on the request to change the priorities of the task-handlers, the information regarding the selected function key, and the changed priorities.  
           [0022]    According to an aspect of the present invention, the priority changer implements and changes the priorities of the task-handlers using a linked-list.  
           [0023]    According to an aspect of the present invention, the memory stores the information regarding the changed priorities according to the information regarding the selected application type.  
           [0024]    According to an aspect of the present invention, the memory also stores information including whether the changed priorities are applied once, permanently, or set by default. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0025]    The above and/or other aspects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent, and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the attached drawings of which:  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a hybrid device according to an aspect of the present invention;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIGS. 2A through 2E are views to explain a user interface method of the hybrid device according to an aspect of the present invention;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 3A through 3D are views to show a data structure including priority information according to an aspect of the present invention;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 4 is a flowchart to explain a user interface method of the hybrid device according to an aspect of the present invention; and  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 5 is a flowchart to explain the user interface method of the hybrid device according to an aspect of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0031]    Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a hybrid device according to an aspect of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the hybrid device includes an input unit  10 , a priority changer  11 , a memory  12 , and a display  13 . The display  13  displays a menu to receive information from a user to change priorities of task-handlers. In other words, when a request to change the priorities is input from the user, the display  13  displays a menu to select a function key, a menu to change the priorities, the change result of the priorities, and a menu to select an application type for the changed priorities.  
         [0033]    The input unit  10  receives the information and provides the information to the priority changer  11 . In other words, the input unit  10  receives the request to change the priorities and information regarding the selected function key, the changed priorities, and the selected application type and provides the same to the priority changer  11 . Here, the function key may be a “PLAY” key, a “RECORD” key, a “STOP” key, a “PAUSE” key, a “FAST FORWARD SCAN” key, or a “REWIND SCAN” key.  
         [0034]    The priority changer  11  changes priorities of the task-handlers based on the information provided by the input unit  10 . In other words, the priority changer  11  changes priorities of the task-handlers corresponding to the selected function key based on the request to change the priorities, the information regarding the selected function key, and the changed priorities. According to an aspect of the present invention, a linked-list is used as a data structure to implement the priorities of the task-handlers.  
         [0035]    The memory  12  stores information regarding the changed priorities according to the information regarding the selected application type. According to an aspect of the present invention, the user is able to determine whether to apply the changed priorities, once, permanently, or set as default.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIGS. 2A through 2E are views to explain a user interface method according to an aspect of the present invention. Accordingly, suppose a hybrid device records data to a HDD and a DVD-RAM via two channels and reproduces titles from the HDD. In addition, suppose a HDD recording task-handler, a DVD-RAM recording task-handler, and a HDD reproduction task-handler are being executed via the hybrid device. A user interface method to mediate priorities of the task-handlers, for example, to stop the HDD recording task-handler, the DVD-RAM recording task-handler, and the HDD reproduction task-handler when a user presses a “STOP” key is described below.  
         [0037]    Referring to FIG. 2A, the hybrid device includes an input unit  21  such as a remote controller or a front panel. The input unit  21  includes a priority change request key  201 . When the user desires to change priorities of task-handlers corresponding to a predetermined function key, the user presses the priority change request key  201 . The hybrid device then receives a request to change the priorities of the task-handlers from the user.  
         [0038]    Referring to FIG. 2B, the hybrid device displays a function key selection menu  22  on the display  13  in response to the request to change the priorities of the task-handlers. The user then selects a function key to change the priorities of the task-handlers. According to an aspect of the present invention, the function key selection menu  22  displays a “PLAY” key, a “STOP” key, a “PAUSE” key, and a “RECORD” key, which may be selected by the user. For example, when the user selects the “STOP” key  202 , information regarding the selected function key is provided to the priority changer  11  via the input unit  21 .  
         [0039]    Referring to FIG. 2C, the hybrid device displays a priority change menu  23  corresponding to the “STOP” key  202 . Here, since a plurality of task-handlers corresponding to the “STOP” key  202  are displayed, the user is able select one of the task-handlers, priority of which is to be changed. For example, as shown in FIG. 2C, “Play from HDD”, “Record to HDD”, and “Record to DVD” are displayed as the task-handlers corresponding to the “STOP” key  202  according to their current priorities. Here, the hybrid device receives priority change information  203  regarding change of priority of the task-handlers from the user. In other words, when the user desires to change the third priority “Record to DVD” to second priority, the user selects the corresponding task-handler to move the same to a desired priority display position. Here, the priority change information  203  is provided to the priority changer  11 .  
         [0040]    Referring to FIG. 2D, the hybrid device changes the priority of the selected task-handler based on the priority change information  203  and displays the change result on a priority change result menu  24 . As shown in FIG. 2D, task-handler “Record to DVD” selected by the user holds the second position.  
         [0041]    Referring to FIG. 2E, the hybrid device displays a changed content application type selection menu  25  to allow the user to determine the application of the changed priority to the hybrid device. Accordingly, the changed priority may be applied to the hybrid device once, permanently, or may be set by default. The memory  12  stores information regarding the changed priority according to the application type selected by the user. In more detail, when the user determines to apply the changed priority to the hybrid device once, the information regarding the changed priority is stored in a temporary memory. Thus, the function key operates only once according to the changed priority and returns to initial priority stored in the memory  12 . As a result, information regarding the priority stored in the memory  12  is not changed. When the user determines to permanently apply the changed priority to the hybrid device, the information regarding the changed priority is stored in the memory  12 . As a result, the function key operates according to permanently changed priority. When the user determines to set the changed priority by default, information regarding initially set priority is stored in the memory  12  regardless of the information regarding the changed priority. As a result, the function key operates according to the initially set priority.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIGS. 3A through 3D are views to show a data structure including priority information according to an aspect of the present invention. Referring to FIGS. 3A through 3D, task-handlers corresponding to function keys are implemented in a form of a linked-list. For example, a “STOP” function key is implemented in the order of a linked-list of “stop playing from HDD”, “stop recording to HDD”, and “stop recording to DVD”. Thus, according to an aspect of the present invention, when priorities are changed as described in relation to FIGS. 2A through 2E, the linked-list of the “STOP” function key is changed into the order of “stop playing from HDD”, “stop recording to DVD”, and “stop recording to HDD”.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 4 is a flowchart to explain a user interface method according to the present invention. Referring to FIG. 4, in operation  41 , a hybrid device receives information necessary to change priorities of task-handlers corresponding to a predetermined function key. In operation  42 , the hybrid device changes the priorities of the task-handlers based on the received information. In operation  43 , the hybrid device stores information regarding the changed priorities according to an application type selected by a user.  
         [0044]    According to an aspect of the present invention, the information necessary to change the priorities includes a request to change priorities, information regarding a selected function key, and changed priorities. According to an aspect of the present invention, application type selection information includes selection information regarding whether the changed priorities are applied to the hybrid device once, permanently, or set by default.  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 5 is a flowchart to explain the user interface method in detail. Referring to FIG. 5, in operation  51 , the hybrid device receives the request to change the priorities from the user. In operation  52 , the hybrid device displays a menu to select a function key shown on the display  13  and receives information regarding a function key selected to change priority thereof.  
         [0046]    In operation  53 , the hybrid device displays current priorities of a plurality of task-handlers corresponding to the selected function key via a priority change menu and receives information regarding the changed priorities. In operation  54 , the hybrid device changes the priorities of the task-handlers based on the received information regarding changed priorities. According to an aspect of the invention, a linked-list is used as a data structure to implement the priorities of the task-handlers.  
         [0047]    In operation  55 , the hybrid device receives information regarding an application type selected to apply the changed priorities. In operation  56 , the hybrid device stores the information regarding the changed priorities according to the selected application type. In other words, as previously described in relation to FIGS. 2A through 2E, the hybrid device determines whether to apply the changed priorities thereto once, permanently, or set the changed priorities by default.  
         [0048]    While not required, it is understood that the method of FIGS. 4 and 5 can be implemented as software readable by a general or special purpose computer. Moreover, it is understood that the hybrid device can additionally handle reading/reproducing with respect to other media, such as Blu-ray discs, advanced optical discs, E-DVD, and magneto-optical media.  
         [0049]    As described above, in a hybrid device according to an aspect of the present invention, priorities of task-handlers corresponding to each of function keys is set. Thus, a user interface method to conveniently and flexibly mediate the priorities of the task-handlers is provided to the hybrid device. Further, multiple keys to convert into a DVD, a HDD, a CD, or a MD are not necessary. Moreover, a priority change request key to change the priorities of task-handlers corresponding to a selected function key replaces multiple keys for conversion. As a result, the number of necessary function keys on a remote controller or a front panel is decreased.  
         [0050]    Although a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in this embodiment without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.