Abstract:
A terminal with a touch screen and a method for inputting a message therein are provided. The method includes: arranging at least two letters allocated to a key area of the touch screen in a message input mode and displaying the letters in the key area; determining whether a touch-flick is sensed in the key area of the touch screen; and displaying, if a touch-flick is sensed, a letter arranged in the key area in a direction of the touch-flick, in a message display area. Accordingly, a user can compose a message by inputting a desired letter without requiring multiple touches.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) AND CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     This application claims priority to an application entitled “TERMINAL WITH TOUCH SCREEN AND METHOD FOR INPUTTING MESSAGE THEREIN” filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Nov. 13, 2007 and assigned Serial No. 2007-0115260, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a terminal with a touch screen and a method for inputting a message therein and, more particularly, to a terminal with a touch screen and a method for inputting a letter of a message in a touch direction sensed through the touch screen. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Various types of terminals have recently been developed according to improvements in information communication technologies, and the designs thereof become diverse according to users&#39; diverse demands. In particular, a touch screen simultaneously performs a display function for displaying an operational state of a terminal and an input function for inputting data, thereby reducing the size of a terminal. Also, a user can easily confirm the operational state of the terminal. 
     Such a terminal may have various functions for transmitting and receiving data in addition to other functions. Terminal functions may include, for example, a camera function, a wireless Internet function, a DMB (digital multimedia broadcasting) function, a phone function, or a message transmitting and receiving function. Particularly, the message transmitting and receiving function is popular with many users. 
     However, in a conventional terminal with a touch screen, a user should touch a key area displayed on the touch screen, often multiple times, until a desired letter is displayed for a message. 
     Also, when a user wants to touch a key area having a desired letter in the key area on the touch screen, the user may unintentionally touch another key area adjacent to the key area having the desired letter. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To address the above-discussed deficiencies of the prior art, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a terminal with a touch screen and a method for inputting a letter of a message without requiring multiple touches. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a method for inputting a letter of a message in a terminal with a touch screen includes: arranging at least two letters allocated to a key area of the touch screen in a message input mode and displaying the letters in the key area; determining whether a touch-flick is sensed in the key area of the touch screen; and displaying, if a touch-flick is sensed, a letter arranged in the key area in a direction of the touch-flick, in a message display area. 
     In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a terminal includes: a touch screen for displaying a key display area and a message display area, wherein the key display area displays a plurality of key areas, to each of which at least two letters are allocated, and senses a touch and a touch-flick, and wherein the message display area displays a letter selected from one of the key area; and a controller for arranging the at least two letters allocated to the key area in a message input mode, and for instructing, if a touch-flick is sensed in the key area, the touch screen to display, in the message display area, a letter arranged in the key area in a direction of the touch-flick. 
     According to the present invention, a user can compose a message by inputting a desired letter without requiring multiple touches on a key area having a desired letter. Also, the user can avoid touching a key area other than the key area having a desired letter. 
     Before undertaking the DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION below, it may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases used throughout this patent document: the terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation; the term “or,” is inclusive, meaning and/or; the phrases “associated with” and “associated therewith,” as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like; and the term “controller” means any device, system or part thereof that controls at least one operation, such a device may be implemented in hardware, firmware or software, or some combination of at least two of the same. It should be noted that the functionality associated with any particular controller may be centralized or distributed, whether locally or remotely. Definitions for certain words and phrases are provided throughout this patent document, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that in many, if not most instances, such definitions apply to prior, as well as future uses of such defined words and phrases. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and its advantages, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like parts: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating a method for inputting a letter of a message according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an example of a screen in which letters are arranged in a polygonal pattern in the method of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  are examples of a screen illustrating a process of inputting a letter in the method of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating a process of inputting a symbol in the method of  FIG. 2 ; and 
         FIG. 6  is an example of a screen in which symbols are arranged in a polygonal pattern in the process of  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIGS. 1 through 6 , discussed below, and the various embodiments used to describe the principles of the present disclosure in this patent document are by way of illustration only and should not be construed in any way to limit the scope of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art will understand that the principles of the present disclosure may be implemented in any suitably arranged touch screen terminal. 
     In the following exemplary embodiments, a ‘terminal’ refers to an information processing device for storing data and transmitting and receiving data. The terminal may be a computer, a PDA (personal data assistant) or a mobile terminal. The mobile terminal is exemplified in the description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
     A ‘message input mode’ refers to a mode in which letters input through an input unit are combined to generate data. In the message input mode, a user may compose a short message, a multimedia message, an instant message or an e-mail, and may also compose a file title or message for storage. 
     A ‘letter’ is a basic writing unit of a written language for use in a terminal (for example, an alphabetic letter in English, or a character of a consonant or vowel in Korean). The language may be set among a variety of languages. English is exemplified in the description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The letter may also be a numeral. 
     A ‘touch’ refers to a motion in which a user contacts a specific area on a touch screen with a finger or a stylus and then directly withdraws the contacting finger or stylus from the area. 
     A ‘touch-flick’ refers to a motion in which a user contacts a specific area on a touch screen with a finger or a stylus and then withdraws the finger or the stylus from the area while simultaneously moving the finger or the stylus in a specific direction along the touch screen. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , a terminal includes a communication unit  110 , a storage unit  120 , a controller  130  and a touch screen  140 . 
     The communication unit  110  performs radio frequency communication between the terminal and a base station. The communication unit  110  may include a duplexer for separating received signals and for separating signals to be transmitted, a transmitter for up-converting a frequency of a signal to be transmitted, and a receiver for down-converting a frequency of a received signal. 
     The storage unit  120  stores various programs for controlling operations of the terminal and various data generated in the operations of the terminal. Also, the storage unit  120  stores positions of letters and symbols allocated to a key area  151  of the touch screen  140 . 
     The controller  130  controls the overall operations of the terminal. In particular, when a message input mode is selected, the controller  130  instructs the touch screen  140  to display the key area  151  in which at least two letters are arranged. At this time, the controller  130  controls the display if the letters arranged in a polygonal pattern on the key area  151  of the touch screen  140 . The polygonal pattern may be, for example, a diamond-shaped pattern or a rectangular-shaped pattern, and may be set by a terminal manufacturer or a user. Further, the controller  130  displays symbols in response to a touch sensed through the touch screen  140  and displays a selected letter on a message display area  153 . 
     The touch screen  140  includes a display unit  150  and a touch sensor  160 . The display unit  150  includes a key display area  152  and the message display area  153 , and displays information about operational states of the terminal. When the message input mode is selected, the display unit  150  of the touch screen  140  displays the key area  151  in which letters are arranged in the key display area  152  and displays the message display area  153  for displaying a selected letter under the control of the controller  130 . At least two letters are allocated to each key area  151  displayed on the display unit  150  of the touch screen  140 . Further, various symbols are allocated to specific key areas  151 . A ‘symbol’ refers to a non-letter character (for example, a question mark and an exclamation mark in the English language). The symbols in the key area  151  may be set by a terminal manufacturer or a user. 
     The touch sensor  160  is installed in the display unit  150 . The touch sensor  160  senses a touch generated on the display unit  150  and then detects a location of an area in which the touch is generated. The touch sensor  160  transmits the detected location to the controller  130  to perform a function corresponding to the touched area. Further, if a touch-flick for a specific area is sensed, the touch sensor  160  determines a direction of movement of the touch-flick and transmits the direction to the controller  130 . 
     In the mobile terminal having the above-described configuration, if the message input mode is selected, the controller  130  instructs the touch screen  140  to display the key area  151  in which letters are arranged in a polygonal pattern in the key display area  152  and to display the message display area  153  for displaying a selected letter. If a touch-flick is sensed through the touch screen  140 , the controller  130  confirms a moving direction of the touch-flick and displays a letter corresponding to the moving direction of the touch-flick among the letters in the key area  151  in which the touch-flick is sensed, in the message display area  153 . 
     Hereinafter, a message input method according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to  FIGS. 2 to 6 .  FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating a method for inputting a letter of a message according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;  FIG. 3  is an example of a screen in which letters are arranged in a polygonal pattern in the method of  FIG. 2 ;  FIGS. 4A and 4B  are examples of a screen illustrating a process of inputting a letter in the method of  FIG. 2 ;  FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating a process of inputting a symbol in the method of  FIG. 2 ; and  FIG. 6  is an example of a screen in which symbols are arranged in a polygonal pattern in the process of  FIG. 5 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , when a user selects a message input mode to input a letter of a message through a menu or a function key, the controller  130  senses the selection and converts a mode of a terminal into the message input mode (S 210 ). 
     The controller  130  displays the key area  151  in which allocated letters are arranged and the message display area  153  for displaying a selected letter on the touch screen  140  (S 215 ). The controller  130  may arrange the letters allocated to the key area  151  in various patterns (for example, in a diamond-shaped pattern, as shown in  FIG. 3 ). In the present embodiment, at least two letters may be allocated to each key area  151 , and the letters allocated to each key area  151  are spaced equidistant from a center of the corresponding key area  151 . The pattern may also be rectangular-shaped, wherein a letter is arranged at each of the four corners of the key area  151 . 
     The controller  130  determines, when a touching action of a user on the touch screen  140  is sensed, whether the touching action is a touch or a touch-flick (S 220 ). The controller  130  determines, if a touch-flick is sensed, a direction of the sensed touch-flick (S 225 ). The controller  130  then determines letters allocated to the key area  151  in which the touch-flick is sensed (S 230 ), and displays a letter corresponding to the direction of the touch-flick among the allocated letters on the message display area  153  (S 235 ). 
     Hereinafter, steps S 225  to S 235  are described in more detail with reference to  FIGS. 4A and 4B . Referring to  FIG. 4A , a user touch-flicks the touch screen  140  in the key area  151  having a letter ‘B’ towards the right side at which the letter ‘B’ is arranged, so as to input the letter ‘B’. The controller  130  senses the touch-flick generated through the touch screen  140  and determines that the direction of the sensed touch-flick is rightwards. Next, the controller  130  confirms that a numeral ‘2’ and letters ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ are allocated to the key area  151  in which the touch-flick is sensed, and determines that the letter ‘B’ is arranged at the right side of the key area  151 . The controller  130  then displays the letter ‘B’ in the message display area  153 . 
     Returning to  FIG. 2 , if a touch is sensed at step S 220 , the controller  130  performs symbol input (S 240 ). 
     Hereinafter, step S 240  is described in more detail with reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 . Referring to  FIG. 5 , the controller  130  determines the key area  151  in which the touch is sensed (S 510 ). In the example of  FIG. 6 , the key area  151  in which the touch is sensed is shown in  FIG. 3  as the key area  151  containing the letter ‘B’. The controller  130  then arranges symbols allocated to the touched key area  151  in a polygonal pattern (S 515 ), as shown in  FIG. 6 . That is, when a touch is sensed, the controller  130  displays predetermined symbols instead of letters. The symbols may be set in each key area  151  by a user or by a manufacturer. The polygonal pattern may be a diamond-shaped pattern or a rectangular-shaped pattern. 
     The controller  130  then determines whether a touch-flick for inputting symbols is sensed (S 520 ). If a touch-flick is sensed, the controller  130  determines a direction of the touch-flick (S 525 ), and displays a symbol corresponding to the direction of the touch-flick on the message display area  153  (S 530 ). Next, the controller  130  determines whether the symbol input is terminated (S 535 ). If the symbol input is terminated, the controller  130  displays the letters allocated to the key area  151  in which the symbols were displayed in the key area  151  (S 540 ). 
     Returning to  FIG. 2 , after input of letters at step S 235  or symbols at step S 240 , the controller  130  determines whether the message input is terminated (S 250 ). If the message input is not terminated, the controller  130  returns the process to step S 220  and determines whether a touch or a touch-flick is sensed in the key area  151 . 
     If the message input is terminated at step S 250 , by touching a confirmation key in the touch screen  140 , the controller  130  performs a function selected by the user (S 260 ). For example, when the message is to be transmitted, the controller  130  displays an input window for inputting a phone number. If the user inputs the phone number and the confirmation key in the touch screen  140 , the controller  130  transmits the composed message to a terminal corresponding to the input phone number through the communication unit  110 . Also, if the message is composed for storing a file, the controller  130  may set the composed message as a file title and store the file. 
     In the above description, when the message input mode is selected, letters are arranged in a polygonal pattern in the key area  151 . However, letters may be arranged in the key area  151  in a polygonal pattern without selection of a specific mode, depending on the setting by a terminal manufacturer or a user. 
     Further, in the above description, when a user touches the key area  151 , symbols allocated to the touched key area  151  are arranged in a polygonal pattern. However, symbols may be arranged in the key area  151  in a polygonal pattern when a user selects a symbol option through a menu or a function key. 
     Although the present disclosure has been described with an exemplary embodiment, various changes and modifications may be suggested to one skilled in the art. It is intended that the present disclosure encompass such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.