Abstract:
A mobile communication terminal which displays screen location information and a method of controlling the mobile communication terminal are provided. When a portion of a display object is displayed on a display screen of a display module, the mobile communication terminal displays screen location information regarding the relative location of the display object portion to the entire display object. Thus, a user can easily determine which part of the display object is currently being displayed. In addition, it is possible to prevent unnecessary power consumption caused by performing screen loading while continuously moving the display object portion.

Description:
This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2006-102494 filed on Oct. 20, 2006 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a mobile communication terminal which displays screen location information and a method of controlling the mobile communication terminal, and more particularly, to a mobile communication terminal which displays a portion of a display object and screen location information regarding the relative location of the display object portion to the entire display object using a display modules and a method of controlling the mobile communication terminal. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     With improvements in the multimedia functions of mobile communication terminals, users can nowadays enjoy a variety of multimedia screens using their mobile communication terminals. In particular, due to recent improvements in the functions of display modules for mobile communication terminals, users now can watch not only menus screens but also various Internet screens and moving images such as movies or animation films using their mobile communication terminals. 
     However, due to the miniaturization of mobile communication terminals and restrictions on the size of display modules for mobile communication terminals, mobile communication terminals often may not be able to display a display object desired by a user as a whole on their screen. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates that only a portion of an Internet web page desired by a user is displayed on a screen  1  of a conventional mobile communication terminal. Referring to  FIG. 1 , the user may not be able to recognize which part of the Internet web page is currently being displayed on the screen  1  until he/she scrolls up and down the Internet web page using a scroll bar  2  which is disposed on one side of the display screen  1  or at the bottom of the display screen  1 . 
     Conventionally, when only a portion of a display object is displayed on the screen of a mobile communication terminal, a user may not be able to readily determine how much of the display object remains to be displayed and thus suffer inconvenience. In addition, the scrolling of a display object which is too large to be displayed as a whole on a screen and is thus displayed only partially may result in a prolonged screen loading and consume a considerable amount of power within a relatively short period of time. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a mobile communication terminal which displays a portion of a display object and screen location information regarding the relative location of the display object portion to the entire display object using a display module, and a method of controlling the mobile communication terminal. 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mobile communication terminal which displays screen location information, the mobile communication terminal including a display module which displays a portion of a display object; and a control module which controls the display module to display screen location information regarding the relative location of the display object portion to the entire display object. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mobile communication terminal which displays screen location information, the mobile communication terminal including a display module which displays a display object and a portion of the display object; and a control module which controls the display module to display screen location information regarding the relative location of the display object portion to the entire display object. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of controlling a mobile communication terminal which displays screen location information, the method including displaying a portion of a display object; and displaying screen location information regarding the relative location of the display object portion to the entire display object. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a screen displayed by a display module of a conventional mobile communication module; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a block diagram of a mobile communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a screen displayed by a display module of a mobile communication module according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a screen obtained by varying the size of a navigation window of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an input module which is capable of varying the size of the navigation window of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a screen displayed by a display module of a mobile communication terminal according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a screen obtained by varying the size of a navigation window of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a screen displayed by a display module of a mobile communication terminal according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a flowchart of a method of controlling a mobile communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a flowchart of a method of controlling a mobile communication terminal according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention will hereinafter be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a mobile communication terminal includes a display module  10  which displays a display object, a control module  20  which processes an image signal so that the display module  10  can display a screen, and an input module  30  to which a command to drive the mobile communication terminal can be input. 
     The display module  10  may include a display portion such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an organic light emitting diode (OLED) which is widely adopted in the manufacture of mobile communication terminals; and a display driver which drives the display portion based on an image signal processed by the control module  20 . Examples of the display portion include various display devices, other than those set forth herein. 
     The input module  30  may include a keypad. If the display module  10  includes a touch pad or a touch screen to which various commands can be input, the input module  30  may be integrated into the display module  10 . In this case, the control module  20  determines whether the touch pad or the touch screen has been touched. Then, if it is determined that the touch pad or the touch screen has been touched, the control module  20  determines that a command corresponding to the coordinates of a location on the touch pad or the touch screen that is determined to have been touched has been. 
     The mobile communication terminal may also include a wireless communication module  40  which transmits/receives wireless signals via an antenna. The wireless communication module  40  provides an interface for wireless communication with a base station through the antenna. Further, the wireless communication module  40  may include a duplex filter for filtering a signal received through the antenna, a power amplifier for amplifying a transmit signal, a frequency up-convert circuit in a transmission path, and a frequency down-convert circuit in a reception path. 
     The control module  20  controls the display module  10  to display various types of screens. For example, the control module  20  may control the display module  10  to display web pages. Web pages may be downloaded into and then stored in the mobile communication terminal using a wired communication method. The control module  20  may control the display module  10  to display web pages stored in the mobile communication terminal. 
     In a case where a user is provided with a wireless Internet service via the mobile communication terminal, data that constitutes a web page is downloaded into the mobile communication terminal via the wireless communication module  40 . Then, the control module  20  configures a web page screen based on the downloaded data and controls the display module  10  to display the web page screen. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a screen displayed by the display module  10  of  FIG. 2 . Referring to  FIG. 3 , a portion of a display object desired by a user is displayed on a display screen  1  of the display module  10 . According to the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , a portion of a web page desired by the user is displayed on the display screen  1  at the request of the user. In this case, the user may not be able to determine exactly which part of the desired web page is currently being displayed on the display screen  1  by using a conventional method. Therefore, the control module  20  displays at an upper portion of the display screen  1  screen location information regarding the relative location of a web page portion (hereinafter referred to as the current web page portion) currently being displayed on the display screen  1  to the desired web page. 
     More specifically, the control module  20  displays the screen location information using a navigation window which includes a first box  11  and a second box  12  that is disposed in the first box  11 . The size and location of the second box  12  may be determined according to the relative size and relative location of the current web page portion to the desired web page. 
     For example, if the current web page portion corresponds to an upper left portion of the desired web page, the second box  12  may be located near the upper left corner of the first box  11 . If the current web page portion accounts for 25% of the desired web page, the size of the second box  12  may be 25% of the size of the first box  11 . 
     However, the ratio of the size of the second box  12  to the size of the first box  11  is not restricted to that set forth herein. In other words, the relative size of the second box  12  to the first box  11  may be arbitrarily determined as long as the user can easily recognize the relative location or the relative size of the current web page portion to the desired web page. 
     According to the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the display module  10  displays the first box  11  and the second box  12  as transparent windows. Thus, the user has no difficulty viewing the current web page portion which underlies the first box  11  and the second box  12 . 
     The size of the first box  11  may be set to be the same as that of the display screen  1  of the display module  10 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . In this case, the user can visually recognize only the second box  12 . 
     When the size of the first box  11  is the same as that of a screen that can be displayed by the display module  10 , the user may determine the relative location and size of the current web page portion to the desired web page based on the relative location and size of the second box  12  to the display screen  1 . In other words, it is possible to provide the user with information regarding the relative location and size of the current web page portion to the entire screen by using only one box. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an input module  30  for inputting a command to a mobile communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 5 , a user may input a command to a mobile communication module using a keypad. 
     The user may select the second box  12  by manipulating a predetermined key of a keypad. Then, the user may move the second box  12  by using a number of direction keys and a navigation key. As the second box  12  is moved, a portion of a desired web page currently being displayed on the display screen  1  is moved accordingly. 
     For example, the user may select the second box  12  by manipulating an OK key  31 . Then, the user may move the second box  12  vertically and/or horizontally in the first box  11  by using a number of direction keys  32 . 
     Also, the user may select the second box  12  using the OK key  31 , and then enlarge or reduce the second box  12  using a side key which is provided on a lateral side of a mobile communication terminal. Also, the user may alter the size of the second box  12  and the size of the current web page portion by using an arbitrary key of a keypad. 
     If the second box  12  is enlarged, the current web page portion may be zoomed out so that a larger portion of the desired web page than the current web page portion can be displayed on the display screen  1 . On the other hand, if the second box  12  is reduced, the current web page portion may be zoomed in so that a smaller portion of the desired web page than the current web page portion can be displayed on the display screen  1 . The OK key  31 , up, down, left, and right keys and a side key may be arbitrarily used to receive a command to select, enlarge or reduce the second box  12 . 
     According to the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , screen location information of the current web page portion may be provided using two transparent boxes, where one of the two transparent boxes may have the same size as the entire display screen  1 . 
     Alternatively, coordinate information regarding the location of the current web page portion may be displayed on the display screen  1 . Still alternatively, the ratio of the size of the current web page portion to the size of the desired web page may be semitransparently displayed on a predetermined portion of the display screen  1 . 
     The ratio of the size of the current web page portion to the size of the desired web page may be displayed as a percentage on an upper or lower portion of the display screen  1  or on one side of the display screen  1 . Location information of the current web page portion may be represented using acronyms such as N (north), S (south), W (west), E (east), NS (north south) or NW (north west), and the location information may also be displayed on the display screen  1  along with the ratio of the size of the current web page portion to the size of the desired web page. 
     The display screen  1  of the display module  10  may be rectangular. In this case, a number of rectangles may be used to represent the relative location of the current web page portion to the desired web page. However, the present invention is not restricted to this. In other words, if the display screen  1  of the display module  10  may have a shape, other than a rectangular shape. In this case, a navigation window that conforms to the shape of the display screen  1  may be configured, and location information of the current web page portion may be provided using the navigation window. 
     A navigation window for representing location information of the current web page portion may be disposed at an upper or lower portion of the display screen  1  or on the left or right side of the display screen  1 . If the navigation window interferes with the user&#39;s viewing of the display screen  1 , the transparency of the navigation window may be adjusted, or the navigation window may be removed. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a mobile communication terminal according to another embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 8  illustrates a mobile communication terminal according to still another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 8 , a display object desired by a user and a portion of the desired display object are both displayed by a display module  50 . More specifically,  FIG. 6  illustrates the situation when the display module  50  includes an LCD or an OLED. Referring to  FIG. 6 , the screen of the display module  50  is divided into an upper display area  51  and a lower display area  52 . A portion of a display object desired by a user may be displayed in the first display area  51 , and the desired display object may be displayed as a whole in the second display area  52 . Alternatively, a portion of the desired display object may be displayed in the second display area  52 , instead of being displayed in the first display area  51 , and the desired display object may be displayed as a whole in the first display area  51 , instead of being displayed in the second display area  52 . Also, the mobile communication terminal illustrated in  FIG. 6  may be set so that the display module  60  can only display either a portion of the desired display object or the entire desired display object. 
     If a portion of a display object desired by the user is displayed in the first display area  51  of the display module  50  and the desired display object is displayed as a whole in the second display area  52  of the display module  50 , as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , a control module (not shown) may display a navigation window to be displayed either in the first display area  51  or in the second display area  52 . Thus, the user can easily determine which part of the desired display object is currently being displayed using the navigation window. Referring to  FIG. 6 , the navigation window includes first and second boxes  51   a  and  51   b . Thus, the user may enlarge or reduce the display object portion currently being displayed either in the first display area  51  by selecting the second box  51   b  and then enlarging or reducing the second box  51   b.    
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 6 , like in the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the first box  51   b  may be enlarged to the extent that the size of the first box  51   b  becomes the same as the size of the first display area  51  or the size of the second display area  52 . 
     The navigation window may be displayed in the first display area  51 , as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . In this case, the first box  51   a  corresponds to the desired display object displayed as a whole in the second display area  52 , and the second box  52   b  represents the relative location and size of the display object portion displayed in the first display area  51  to the desired display object. 
     Alternatively, the navigation window may be displayed in the second display area  52 , as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . In this case, the first box  51   a  may be enlarged to the extent that the size of the first box  51   a  becomes the same as the size of the second display area  52 . Then, the user can determine the relative location of the display object portion displayed in the first display area  51  to the desired display object displayed as a whole in the second display area  52  based on the relative location and size of a second box  52   b  to the second display area  52 . The second box  52   b  may overlap part of the desired display object corresponding to the display object portion displayed in the first display area  51 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a mobile communication terminal according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 8 , the mobile communication terminal includes a display module  55 . The display module  55  is physically divided into two display modules: a first display unit  56  and a second display unit  57 . The second display unit  57  displays a display object desired by a user as a whole. The second display unit  57  may include a touch screen. Part of the display object displayed by the second display unit  57  may be enlarged, and then displayed by the first display unit  56 . The first display unit  56  may include an LCD. 
     However, the present invention is not restricted to those set forth herein. In other words, a display object desired by the user may be displayed by the first display unit  56 , and part of the display object may be displayed by the second display unit  57 . Also, if the mobile communication terminal illustrated in  FIG. 8  is equipped with an additional key input tool, the second display unit  57  may include an LCD, instead of a touch screen, and the first display unit  56  may include a touch screen, instead of an LCD. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , the mobile communication terminal also includes a control module  60  which controls the display of a display object by the display module  55 . Since the display module  55  includes the first display unit  56  and the second display unit  57 , the control module  60  includes a first display interface unit  61 , a second display interface unit  62 , and a display control module  63 . 
     The first and second display interface units  61  and  62  and the display control module  64  may be separate hardware elements of the control module  60 . Alternatively, the first and second display interface units  61  and  62  and the display control module  64  may not be physically separate, and may be distinguished from one another by their functions. 
     The control module  60  may display screen location information regarding the relative location of a portion of a display object which is displayed by the first display unit  56  or by the second display unit  57  to the entire display object using a navigation window. 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 8 , like in the embodiment of  FIG. 6 , the navigation window may be displayed on a display screen of the first display unit  56  or on a display screen of the second display unit  57  through default settings or user settings. The navigation window may be displayed on the display screen of the second display unit  57  using a second box  58 , as illustrated in  FIG. 8 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , a display object portion displayed by the first display unit  56  corresponds to an upper left portion of a corresponding display object desired by a user. Thus, the second box  58  is disposed at the upper left corner of the display screen of the second display unit  57 , and displays the display object portion displayed by the first display unit  58 . The second box  58  may be semitransparent so as to be easily recognized by the user. However, if the navigation window including the second box  58  causes inconvenience to the user, it may be removed. If the second display unit  57  includes a touch pad, the display object portion displayed by the first display unit  56  may be moved or enlarged/reduced by selecting the second box  58  and dragging the second box  58  on the touch screen. 
       FIG. 9  is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a mobile communication terminal which displays screen location information, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 9 , a portion of a display object desired by a user is displayed on a display screen of a display module of a mobile communication terminal (S 1 ). If the display screen of the display module of the mobile communication terminal is divided into two or more display areas or if the mobile communication terminal includes two or more display modules, the display object portion and the display object may both be displayed. 
     A navigation window may be set to be displayed on the display screen of the display module upon displaying the display object portion (E 1 ). Then, a control module of the mobile communication terminal determines the relative location and size of the display object portion to the entire display object (S 2 ). 
     Thereafter, the control module displays a navigation window which includes a first box and a second box disposed inside the first box according to the results of the determination performed in S 2  (S 3 ). The size of the first box may be the same as the size of the display screen of the display module. 
     Therefore, the user can easily determine which part of the display object is currently being displayed on the display screen of the display module using the navigation window. 
       FIG. 10  is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a mobile communication terminal which displays screen location information, according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 10 , a mobile communication terminal is switched to a movement mode for moving a second box which is displayed on a display screen of a display module of the mobile communication terminal or to an enlargement/reduction mode for enlarging/reducing the second box in response to a predefined key input (S 11 ). If the display module includes a touch screen, the mobile communication terminal may be switched to the movement mode or to the enlargement/reduction mode by touching the touch screen in a predefined manner. 
     A control module of the mobile communication terminal moves or enlarges/reduces the second box according to the manipulation of a number of direction keys on a keypad by the user (S 12 ). If the display module includes a touch screen, the second box may be moved or enlarged/reduced by dragging the second box on the touch screen. 
     The control module calculates the relative location and size of the second box to the first box (S 13 ). If the size of the first box is the same as the size of the display screen of the display module, the control module calculates the relative location and size of the second box to the display screen of the display module. 
     Thereafter, the control unit moves or enlarges/reduces a display object portion according to the movement or the enlargement/reduction of the second box (S 14 ). The user can make changes to a display object portion currently being displayed by the display module by varying the size and location of the second box. 
     A display object that can be displayed by the mobile communication terminal according to the present invention may be an Internet web page. However, the present invention is not restricted to this. In other words, the present invention can be applied to various screen images such as global position system (GPS) screen images or subway route maps. Therefore, the display of a navigation window on a display screen or the display of screen information on a display screen is within the scope of the present invention. 
     While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.