Abstract:
A method for storing a music file in a mobile communication terminal using a number key of the mobile terminal includes: designating a specific music file from at least one music file displayed in a music file playback mode; inputting a number of a music file list in which the designated music file is to be stored, using a corresponding number key; and storing the designated music file in the music file list having the input number. The method simplifies the storage of a music file in a mobile terminal and also facilitates changing the location of a music file stored in a music file list.

Description:
PRIORITY 
   This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) of Korean Patent Application No. 2006-90062, filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Sep. 18, 2006, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for storing a music file in a mobile communication terminal in a simplified manner. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for storing a music file in a mobile communication terminal through a number key input. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Mobile communication terminals have developed from simple tools used to make and receive telephone calls into multimedia devices offering a wide variety of supplementary services including electronic note functions, gaming, and schedule management functions. Users of mobile communication terminals also use wireless Internet services to find information on the Internet and to send and receive e-mails, thereby significantly increasing the usefulness of the mobile terminals. 
   A mobile communication terminal with an MP3 player for playing back MP3 audio files has recently been developed to meet increasing demands for multimedia services. A mobile communication terminal capable of playing back MP3 audio files enables a user to listen to music or other audio files without a conventional dedicated music file player or portable cassette player. The mobile communication terminal can play back a desired MP3 audio file and output the MP3 audio file through a built-in speaker or through earphones. 
   In general, a user of a mobile communication terminal having an MP3 playback function has to step through multiple menus to set up a music file list. For example, the process of setting up a music file list may include selecting a music file stored in a mobile communication terminal, selecting an appropriate menu or option to display music file lists stored in the mobile communication terminal, selecting a desired music file list from the displayed music file lists, and storing the music file in the music file list. Setting up a music file list in this manner causes complication and inconvenience to users. 
   A mobile communication terminal also generally requires a number of steps to change the location of a desired music file in a music file list. The method for changing the location of a desired music file typically involves selecting an MP3 playback function, selecting a folder in which a desired music file list is stored, sequentially selecting the desired music file list and the desired music file, selecting an appropriate menu or option to display music file lists stored in the mobile communication terminal as described above, selecting a desired destination music file list from the displayed music file lists, and moving the music file to the selected destination music file list for storage. As in the case of setting up a music file list, changing the location of a desired music file into another music file list in this manner causes complication and inconvenience to users. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In order to solve the above problems, embodiments of the present invention can provide a method for storing a music file in a mobile communication terminal in a simplified manner that allows simple and easy storage of the music file in a music file list. 
   Embodiments of the present invention can also provide a method for storing a music file in a mobile communication terminal in a simplified manner that allows the location of the music file stored in a music file list to be easily changed. 
   In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a method for storing a music file list in a simplified manner in a mobile communication terminal includes designating a specific music file from at least one music file displayed in a music file playback mode; inputting the number of a music file list in which the designated music file is to be stored, using a corresponding number key; and storing the designated music file in the music file list having the inputted number. 
   In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a method for storing a music file in a simplified manner in a mobile communication terminal includes checking whether a function for storing a music file in a simplified manner is selected; designating, if the function for storing a music file is selected, a specific music file from at least one music file displayed in a music file playback mode and inputting a number using a corresponding number key; checking whether a music file list with the inputted number exists; storing, if a music file list with the inputted number exists, the designated music file in the music file list with the inputted number; and creating, if a music file list with the inputted number does not exist, the music file list with the number, and storing the designated music file in the created music file list. 
   An apparatus for storing a music file in a simplified manner in a mobile communication terminal is also within the scope of the present invention. Embodiments of such an apparatus may be provided with means for carrying out the methods described above. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above and other objects, features and advantages of embodiments of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram illustrating the configuration of a mobile communication terminal for storing a music file in a simplified manner according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating a method for storing a music file in a simplified manner in a mobile communication terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  illustrates the screen of a mobile communication terminal on which a music file playback mode has been selected according to the method of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4A  illustrates the screen of a mobile communication terminal on which the number of an existing music file list has been inputted according to the method of  FIG. 2 ; and 
       FIG. 4B  illustrates the screen of a mobile communication terminal on which a number with no existing music file list has been inputted according to the method of  FIG. 2 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed descriptions of constructions or processes known in the art have been omitted to avoid obscuring the subject matter of the present invention. 
   In the embodiments described, a music file is an MP3 audio file; however, the invention is not limited to the use of the MP3 audio file format. The term “music file” is used broadly to refer to an audio file containing audio signals of any type, including music, speech or other audible content. The term “music file list” means a list or folder of music files obtained by classifying music files stored in a mobile communication terminal according to user selection or otherwise. A “number key long press input” refers to an input performed by pressing a number key for longer than a preset time duration. 
     FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram illustrating the configuration of a mobile communication terminal for storing a music file list in a simplified manner according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , the mobile communication terminal has a typical configuration including a radio frequency (RF) unit  111 , a data processor  113 , a display unit  115 , a memory unit  117 , a key input unit  119 , an audio processor  121 , a controller  123 , and an MP3 player  125  that is an audio file player. 
   The RF unit  111  performs the wireless communication functions of the mobile communication terminal. The RF unit  111  includes an RF transmitter that up-converts the frequency of a signal to be transmitted and amplifies the signal, and an RF receiver that low-noise amplifies a received signal and down-converts its frequency. 
   The data processor  113  includes a transmitter that encodes and modulates the signal to be transmitted and a receiver that demodulates and decodes the received signal. That is, the data processor  113  includes a modulator/demodulator (modem) and a coder/decoder (codec). The codec includes a data codec for processing incoming data such as packet data and an audio codec for processing audio signals such as voice signals. 
   The display unit  115  displays data controlled and outputted by the controller  123 . For example, in the present embodiment, the display unit  115  displays a music file playback function, stored music file lists, and music files stored in each music file list. 
   The memory unit  117  includes a program memory for performing mobile communications, and a data memory. The program memory stores programs for controlling the general operations of the mobile communication terminal, and a program for storing music files in a music file list having a specific number that is input by long pressing a corresponding number key. The data memory temporarily stores data generated while executing programs according to the present embodiment. 
   The key input unit  119  receives a user&#39;s manipulation signal for controlling the operation of the mobile communication terminal. In the present embodiment, the key input unit  119  allows the user to select a function for storing a music file in a simplified manner (hereinafter referred to as the “music file storing function”), establishes a time duration for recognizing a long press of a number key, and inputs a specific number with a long press to implement the music file storing function. The key input unit  119  of the mobile terminal includes navigation (up/down/right/left) keys, a select button, soft keys, number keys, and so on. 
   The audio processor  121  reproduces a music file or audio signal that is outputted from the controller  123 , or outputs an audio signal generated through a microphone MIC to the audio codec of the data processor  113  for transmission. 
   The controller  123  controls the overall operation of the mobile communication terminal. The controller  123  may include an internal or external MP3 player  125 . In the present embodiment, the controller  123  includes the internal MP3 player  125 . If, after a music file list stored in the MP3 player  125  is selected, a specific music file is designated from the music file list and a specific number key is input with a long press, the controller  123  controls the memory unit  117  to store the designated music file in the music file list having the specific number. 
   A method for storing a music file in a simplified manner is described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  4 A- 4 B.  FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating a method for storing a music file in a simplified manner in a mobile communication terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 3  illustrates a screen of a mobile communication terminal on which a music file playback mode has been selected according to the method of  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 4A  illustrates the screen of a mobile communication terminal on which the number of an existing music file list has been input according to the method of  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 4B  illustrates the screen of a mobile communication terminal on which a number with no existing music file list has been input according to the method of  FIG. 2 . 
   Referring first to the flowchart of  FIG. 2 , the controller  123  checks to determine whether a music file storing function is selected (S 201 ). If a music file storing function is not selected, the controller  123  controls the key input unit  119  to select the music file storing function according to user input (S 219 ). When selecting the music file storing function, the key input unit  119  also establishes a time duration for determining whether a number key input is a long press input. The controller  123  then controls the mobile communication terminal to enter a music file playback mode (S 203 ). 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the controller  123  next controls the display unit  115  to display music file lists stored in the memory unit  117 . In the example, four music file lists are stored in the memory unit  117 . If no music file list is stored in the memory unit  117 , a music file list is first created and stored in the memory unit  117  before continuing the process. The controller  123  then recognizes the selection of a desired music file list by the user through the key input unit  119  (S 205 ). The user can select the designated music file list using a select button if the desired music file list is designated using navigation keys. After a music file list is selected, the controller  123  controls the display unit  115  to display the music files stored in the selected music file list (S 207 ). A desired music file in the selected music file list is then designated by the user through the key input unit  119  (S 209 ). For example, the user can use the navigation keys and select button to perform this designation. As illustrated in  FIG. 4A , the controller  123  recognizes that the music file # 2  ‘BBB’ is designated among the music files stored in the file list # 1  ‘CCM’. 
   Next, the controller  123  checks to determine whether a specific number key is input by the user (S 211 ). If no number key is input, the controller  123  performs a function corresponding to an input event (S 221 ). The user can use the navigation keys and select button to select the function corresponding to the input event, which can, for example, include playing the selected music file, deleting the selected music file, and so on. However, if a number key is input, the controller  123  checks to determine whether the number key is pressed for longer than the time duration established in step S 201  (S 213 ). That is, the controller  123  checks to determine whether the number key input is a long press input. If the number key input is not a long press input, the controller performs a function corresponding to an input event (S 221 ). 
   If the number key is pressed for longer than the preset time duration, the controller  123  checks to determine whether a music file list exists that corresponds to the specific number which is being input by long pressing the number key (S 215 ). If a music file list having the specific number exists—for example, if a number key  4  is long pressed as illustrated in FIG.  4 A—the name of the music file list and the music files stored in the music file list are displayed in a pop-up window  401  and the controller  123  controls the memory unit  117  to store the designated music file in the music file list having the number inputted with the long press (S 217 ). As illustrated in  FIG. 4A , the music file # 2  ‘BBB’ stored in the music file list # 1  ‘CCM’ is moved to the music file list # 4  ‘My favorites’. In the present embodiment, the designated music file can be stored in a specific position in the music file list with the number inputted with the long press, regardless of the existing location of music files previously stored in the music file list. That is, the music file # 2  stored in the music file list # 1  can be stored in a specific position in the music file list # 4  through the user&#39;s manipulation of the key input unit  119 . 
   If no music file list having the number input with a long press exists at step S 215 , the controller  123  checks to determine whether to create a new music file list having the inputted number (S 223 ). As illustrated in  FIG. 4B , number key  5  is long pressed, but no music file list # 5  exists, so the controller  123  informs the user that no music file list # 5  exists and controls the display unit  115  to display a pop-up window  405  asking the user whether to create a new music file list # 5 . 
   If a new music file list is to be created, the controller  123  controls the memory unit  117  to store the designated music file in the newly created music file list (S 225 ). That is, the music file # 2  ‘BBB’ is stored in the newly created music file list # 5 . If a new music file list is not to be created, the process returns to step S 211 . 
   While the present invention has been shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes and modifications in form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. 
   For example, the music file storing function according to the present invention may further include a function for displaying a music file in a music file playback mode by short pressing a number key. That is, if a number key is pressed for shorter than the preset time duration, a music file having the number of the number key can be displayed. 
   As described above, embodiments of the present invention can enable a music file stored in a music file list to be moved to another music file list using an input of a specific number key. That is, embodiments of the present invention can allow easy and simple storage of a music file in another music file list by long pressing a specific number key. Embodiments of the present invention can also allow the user to easily change the location of a music file within the music file list.