Abstract:
An apparatus is disclosed, including a first display and a second display and a controller operatively coupled to the first display and the second display, the controller configured to receive an input, identify a function associated with the input, present first information associated with a first function via the first display operatively coupled to the electronic device if the identified function is the first function, and present second information associated with a second function via the second display operatively coupled to the electronic device if the identified function is the second function.

Description:
PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application is a Continuation Application of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/364,830, filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Feb. 2, 2012, which is a Continuation Application of U.S. Pat. No. 8,135,441, filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Nov. 7, 2007, and claims priority to an application filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Nov. 23, 2006 and assigned Serial No. 10-2006-0116224, the content of each of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a mobile terminal, and more particularly, to a mobile terminal having a dual display unit for providing a normal mode and a multimedia mode, and a method of changing a display screen using the same. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    With the remarkable development in information and telecommunication technology and semiconductor technology, popularization of various mobile terminals is increasing rapidly. Mobile terminals are developing to a level of convergence at which each mobile terminal is able to challenge markets of other mobile terminals by expanding outside its original market. In particular, a mobile phone provides various multimedia functions such as watching TV (for example, Digital Multimedia Broadcasting Digital (DMB) and Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB)), playing music (for example, MPEG — 1 Audio Layer 3 (MP3)), and photographing, in addition to its basic functions of voice communication and message transmission. 
         [0005]    A display unit of the mobile terminal outputs information stored in the mobile terminal, information received from an external source, and user input information by using a visual means. The display unit is a portion of the mobile terminal used by a user most frequently, and thereby greatly affects the degree of user satisfaction with the mobile terminal. The importance of the display unit becomes even greater as more multimedia functions are added to the mobile terminal. Most of all, the size and quality of the display unit must be excellent to provide a better multimedia environment with the display unit. However, the mobile terminal has various limitations such as a limited size and dimensions. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a method comprising receiving an input at an electronic device, identifying a function associated with the input, presenting first information associated with a first function via a first display operatively coupled to the electronic device if the identified function is the first function, and presenting second information associated with a second function via a second display operatively coupled to the electronic device if the identified function is the second function. 
         [0007]    According to another embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus comprises a first display and a second display, and a controller operatively coupled to the first display and the second display, the controller configured to receive an input, identify a function associated with the input, present first information associated with a first function via the first display operatively coupled to the electronic device if the identified function is the first function, and present second information associated with a second function via the second display operatively coupled to the electronic device if the identified function is the second function. 
         [0008]    According to another embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus comprises a first display and a second display, and a controller operatively coupled to the first and second displays, the controller configured to receive an input, select at least one of the first display and the second display based at least in part on a determination that the input corresponds to a first function or a second function, and present information associated with a corresponding one or more of the first function or the second function via the at least one display. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0010]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  are views showing a front surface and a rear surface respectively of a mobile terminal having a dual display unit according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIGS. 2A to 2E  are display screen examples in the mobile terminal of  FIGS. 1A and 1B ; 
           [0012]      FIGS. 3A to 3G  are further display screen examples in the mobile terminal of  FIGS. 1A and 1B ; 
           [0013]      FIGS. 4A to 4D  are further display screen examples in the mobile terminal of  FIGS. 1A and 1B ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram showing a configuration of the mobile terminal of  FIGS. 1A and 1B ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart showing a method of changing a display screen according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a flow chart showing another method of changing a display screen according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a flow chart showing another method of changing a display screen according to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0018]    Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings. Detailed descriptions of constructions or processes known in the art may be omitted to avoid obscuring the subject matters of the present invention. 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the mobile terminal  100  includes a front display unit  110  and a rear display unit  120  installed at its front and rear surfaces, respectively. LCDs are generally used for the display units  110  and  120 . However, other display devices, such as an Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode (AM OLED) display device, may also be used for the display units  110  and  120 . The front display unit  110  has a larger screen size and a higher resolution than the rear display unit  120 . For example, the front display unit  110  may be formed with a large QVGA LCD and the rear display unit  120  may be formed with a small QCIF LCD. The front surface and the rear surface of the mobile terminal  100  are distinguished for convenience in describing the present specification. 
         [0020]    The front display unit  110  outputs an execution screen of a multimedia function, which is referred to as a multimedia mode in this specification. The rear display unit  120  outputs an execution screen of a general function such as a communication function, which is referred to as a normal mode in this specification. The normal mode may alternatively be referred to as a phone mode in this specification. 
         [0021]    The multimedia function includes functions such as watching TV, playing music, photographing, viewing a photograph, playing a moving picture, reading an e-book (Electronic Book), activating a virtual animal pet, and executing a browser of a service provider. The multimedia functions may support only the multimedia function (i.e. without supporting the normal mode) or may support both the multimedia and normal modes. For example, the functions of watching TV and reading an E-Book are supported only by the multimedia mode, and the functions of playing music and photographing are supported by both the multimedia and normal modes. In this specification, ‘A function supports a mode’ means that an execution screen of a function can be displayed in a display unit supporting the corresponding mode. 
         [0022]    When displaying a screen, the front display unit  110  preferably provides a horizontal display mode as shown in  FIG. 1A  and the rear display unit  120  preferably provides a vertical display mode as shown in  FIG. 1B . However, in the case that the browser of the service provider supports only the multimedia mode, the front display unit  110  may also be able to provide a vertical display mode. The rear display  120  may also provide a horizontal display mode. 
         [0023]    The mobile terminal  100  includes a front input unit  130  and a rear input  140  formed at its front and rear surfaces respectively, and further includes a side input unit  150  having a plurality of input buttons  151 ,  152 , and  153  formed at its side surfaces. For example, the front input unit  130  is formed with a touchpad and the rear input unit  140  is formed with a keypad. The touchpad of the front input unit  130  may be configured with  12  touch buttons. The touch buttons may include 4 direction buttons, a menu button, a cancellation button, a confirmation button, and a special button for a service provider. The keypad of the rear input unit  140  may be configured with 3×4 alphanumeric keys, 4 direction search keys, and various function keys. The side input unit may include a screen change button  151 , a volume control button  152 , and a shortcut button  153 . The screen change button  151  may also operate as a lock button corresponding to its position. 
         [0024]    Main bodies  102  and  104  of the mobile terminal  100  are rotatably assembled with respect to each other at the connecting surface of the front display unit  110  and the front input unit  130 . 
         [0025]    As described above, the mobile terminal  100  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is formed with a dual display unit including a large front display unit for providing a multimedia mode and a small rear display unit for providing a normal mode. The front and rear display units of the dual display unit cannot be turned on at the same time. That is, if one display unit is turned on, then the other display unit is turned off All menus of functions executable by the mobile terminal  100  are displayed in a hierachical structure in the rear display unit  120 , and include a list of multimedia functions. After selecting a multimedia function from a menu screen of the rear display unit  120 , an execution screen of the multimedia function is preferably displayed in the front display unit  110 . 
         [0026]    Hereinafter, steps of changing a menu screen of the rear display unit  120  to a multimedia execution screen not supporting a normal mode are described referring to display screen examples of the mobile terminal  100  in  FIGS. 2A to 2E . 
         [0027]    In a normal mode, a menu screen  121  is displayed in the rear display unit  120 , as shown in  FIG. 2A . Various menu items and a highlighting focus  122  selecting a specific menu item are displayed in the menu screen  121 . If a multimedia function not supporting a normal mode (for example, watching TV) is selected by moving the focus  122 , a pop-up window  123  for notifying a screen change is displayed in the rear display unit  120 , as shown in  FIG. 2B . 
         [0028]    When a time duration has elapsed after displaying the pop-up window  123 , a screen change is performed by automatically turning off the rear display unit  120  and turning on the front display unit  110 , as shown in  FIG. 2C . When the front display unit  110  is turned on, an execution screen  111  of the previously selected multimedia function is displayed in the front display unit  110 . For example, in the case that a TV-watching function has been selected, a broadcasting channel watched most recently is stored in the mobile terminal  100  and is automatically connected when the front display unit  110  turns on. 
         [0029]    The front display unit  110  executing a multimedia function may be switched to the rear display unit  120  by pressing the screen change button  151  of  FIG. 1A . If the screen change button  151  is pressed, a pop-up window  112  notifying a screen change is displayed in the front display unit  110 , as shown in  FIG. 2D . When a time duration has elapsed after displaying the pop-up window  112 , the front display unit  110  is automatically turned off, and a waiting screen  124  is displayed in the rear display unit  120  as the rear display unit  120  is turned on, as shown in  FIG. 2E . 
         [0030]    Hereinafter, steps of changing a menu screen of the rear display unit  120  to a multimedia execution screen supported by a normal mode are described referring to display screen example of the mobile terminal  100  in  FIGS. 3A to 3G . 
         [0031]    If a multimedia function supported by a normal mode (for example, MP3) is selected by moving the focus  122  displayed in the menu screen  121  of the rear display unit  120  in a normal mode, as shown in  FIG. 3A , either a submenu screen  125  is displayed before displaying an execution screen  126  of the selected menu item, as shown in  FIG. 3B , or, if submenu screen exists, the execution screen  126  is displayed in the rear display unit  120 , as shown in  FIG. 3C . 
         [0032]    The execution screen  126  of the multimedia function displayed in the rear display unit  120  may be switched to the front display unit  110  by manually pressing the screen change button  151  of  FIG. 1A . If the screen change button  151  is pressed, the pop-up window  123  notifying a screen change is displayed in the rear display unit  120 , as shown in  FIG. 3D . When a time duration has elapsed after displaying the pop-up window  123 , the rear display unit  120  is automatically turned off, and an execution screen  113  of a multimedia function is displayed in the front display unit  110  as the front display unit  110  is turned on, as shown in  FIG. 3E . 
         [0033]    As described, the execution screen  126  of the multimedia function displayed in the rear display unit  120  may be switched to the front display unit  110  by manually pressing the screen change button  151  of  FIG. 1A . If, before pressing the screen change button  151 , the cancellation button of the front input unit  130  of  FIG. 1A  is pressed, and then the screen change button  151  is pressed, a menu screen  114  of a multimedia function (for example, a list of MP3 songs) is displayed in the front display unit  110 , as shown in  FIG. 3F . At this moment, the focus  115  is located at the currently executing multimedia item (i.e. song currently being played). If another multimedia item is selected by moving the focus  115  and the confirmation button is pressed, the corresponding multimedia item is executed. If the screen change button  151  is pressed again, the pop-up window  112  is displayed as shown in  FIG. 3G  and the display screen returns to the waiting screen  124  of  FIG. 2E . 
         [0034]    The above two examples have shown methods of changing a display screen when entering a multimedia function through the menu screen  121  of the rear display unit  120 . 
         [0035]    However, entering a multimedia function in a normal mode of the rear display unit  120  may also be performed through the waiting screen instead of the menu screen, and the corresponding steps are described hereinafter referring to display screen examples of the mobile terminal  100  in  FIGS. 4A to 4D . 
         [0036]    First, the waiting screen  124  is displayed in the rear display unit  120  in a normal mode, as shown in  FIG. 4A . In the waiting screen  124  of the rear display unit  120 , entering a multimedia function may be performed by pressing the shortcut key  153  of  FIG. 1B  or by pressing the screen change button  151  of  FIG. 1A . In the case of using the shortcut button  153 , the screen change may be performed in different ways corresponding to a time duration of pressing the shortcut button  153 . 
         [0037]    If the shortcut button  153  is pressed for an extended time duration in the waiting screen  124  of the rear display unit  120 , the pop-up window  123  notifying a screen change is displayed in the rear display unit  120 , as shown in  FIG. 4B . When a time duration has elapsed after displaying the pop-up window  123 , a screen change is performed by automatically turning off the rear display unit  120  and turning on the front display unit  110 , as shown in  FIG. 4C , which shows an example in which the shortcut button  153  is assigned to a TV-watching function. At this moment, a menu screen  116  of the corresponding multimedia function (for example, a list of TV channels) is displayed in the front display unit  110 . If a channel is selected by moving the focus  115  displayed in the menu screen  116 , the execution screen  111  of the corresponding broadcasting channel is displayed, as shown in  FIG. 4D . 
         [0038]    In an example in which an MP3 play function is assigned to the shortcut button  153 , upon changing a display screen, the menu screen  114  of  FIG. 3F  is displayed in the front display unit  110  instead of the menu screen  116  of  FIG. 4C . As described above, the menu screen in the multimedia mode may be displayed in different forms according to the type of a multimedia function to be executed. Additionally, a plurality of shortcut buttons, each having a different multimedia function, may be formed in the mobile terminal  100 , or a multimedia function may be assigned to a function key of the rear input unit  140  instead of to the shortcut button  153  of the side input unit  150 . 
         [0039]    If the shortcut button  153  is pressed for a short time duration in the waiting screen  124  of  FIG. 4A , the pop-up window  123  of  FIG. 4B  notifying a screen change is displayed and, when a time duration has elapsed, the multimedia execution screen  111  of  FIG. 4D  is displayed without displaying the menu screen  116  of  FIG. 4C . At this moment, the execution screen  111  shows an execution screen of the most recently executed multimedia function. 
         [0040]    If the screen change button  151  is pressed instead of the shortcut button  153  in the waiting screen  124  of  FIG. 4A , the pop-up window  123  of  FIG. 4B , notifying a screen change, is displayed in the same way as when the shortcut button  151  is pressed for an extended time duration, and, when a time duration has elapsed, the menu screen  116  of  FIG. 4C  or the menu screen  114  of  FIG. 3F  is displayed according to the type of the multimedia function. At this moment, the menu screen shows the most recently executed multimedia function. Subsequently, the multimedia execution screen  111  of  FIG. 4D  or the multimedia execution screen  113  of  FIG. 3E  is displayed according to the multimedia item selected from the menu screen  116  of  FIG. 4C  or from the menu screen  114  of  FIG. 3F . 
         [0041]    The steps of changing a display screen according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been briefly described in a user position. 
         [0042]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , the mobile terminal  100  includes a front display unit  110 , rear display unit  120 , front input unit  130 , rear input unit  140 , side input unit  150 , control unit  160  having a screen control module  162 , and storage unit  170 . The mobile terminal  100  may further include a Radio Frequency (RF) communication unit, audio processing unit, audio input/output unit, mobile broadcasting receiver for executing a multimedia function, and camera. Since, these units are conventionally used in a mobile terminal, therefore detailed descriptions are omitted. 
         [0043]    As described above, the front display unit  110  provides a multimedia mode and the rear display unit  120  provides a normal mode. The front display unit  110  has a relatively larger screen size and a higher resolution than the rear display unit  120 . For example, the front display unit  110  and the rear display unit  120  may be formed with a large QVGA LCD and a small QCIF LCD respectively. 
         [0044]    The input units  130 ,  140 , and  150  generate a signal according to a user operation and output the signal to the control unit  160 . The front input unit  130  and the rear input unit  140  are formed with a touchpad and a keypad respectively, and the side input unit  150  is formed with a plurality of buttons. Preferably, the side input unit  150  includes the screen change button  151  (shown in  FIG. 1A ) and at least one shortcut button  153  (shown in  FIG. 1B ), and a shortcut function is assigned to a key of the rear input unit  140 . 
         [0045]    The control unit  160  controls the general operation of the mobile terminal  100  and includes one or two microprocessors. In the case that the control unit  160  includes two microprocessors, one of the microprocessors is a chip for controlling a multimedia function. In particular, the control unit  160  includes a screen control module  162 . The screen control module  162  receives an input signal for executing a multimedia function from the rear input unit  140  or from the side input unit  150  in a state that the rear display unit  120  is turned on. The screen control module  162  controls the display of an execution screen of a multimedia function in the front display unit  110  by turning off the rear display unit  120  and turning on the front display unit  110 . The screen control module  162  further performs various control functions related to a screen change between the front display unit  110  and the rear display unit  120 . Detailed functions of the screen control module  162  are described later in relation to methods of changing a screen. 
         [0046]    The storage unit  170  stores various programs to be executed and data processed in the mobile terminal  100 , and may include at least one volatile memory and one non-volatile memory. The storage unit  170  may permanently or temporarily store an operating system of the mobile terminal  100 , programs and data related to the operation of the screen control module  162 , and application programs and data related to execution of a multimedia function. 
         [0047]    Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , in a state that the rear display unit  120  of the mobile terminal  100  is turned on and a menu screen (for example,  121  of  FIG. 2A ) is displayed, the screen control module  162  receives an input signal from a user for selecting a multimedia function from a menu screen of the rear input unit  140  in step S 11 . For example, in a state that a menu screen and a focus are displayed in the rear display unit  120 , the screen control module  162  receives an input signal if the user moves the focus by using 4 direction keys of the rear input unit  140  and inputs a confirmation key. 
         [0048]    The screen control module  162  identifies whether the selected multimedia function supports a normal mode in step S 12 . Whether a multimedia function supports a normal mode is predetermined by settings. If the selected multimedia function is supported by a normal mode, the screen control module  162  displays an execution screen (for example,  126  of  FIG. 3 ) of the corresponding multimedia function in the rear display unit  120  in step S 13 . 
         [0049]    While executing the multimedia function, the screen control module  162  identifies whether the screen change button  151  of the side input unit  150  is pressed in step S 14 . If the screen change button  151  is pressed, or if the selected multimedia function does not support the normal mode in step S 12 , the screen control module  162  displays a pop-up window notifying a screen change (for example,  123  of  FIG. 3D ) in the rear display unit  120  in step S 15 . 
         [0050]    When a predetermined time duration has elapsed after displaying the pop-up window notifying a screen change in step S 16 , the screen control module  162  changes the display screen by turning off the rear display unit  120  and turning on the front display unit  110  in step S 17 , and displays an execution screen of the selected multimedia function (for example,  111  of  FIG. 2C  or  113  of  FIG. 3E ) in the front display unit  110  in step S 18 . 
         [0051]    While executing the multimedia function in the front display unit  110 , the screen control module  162  identifies whether the screen change button  151  is pressed in step S 19 . If the screen change button  151  is pressed, the screen control module  162  displays a pop-up window notifying a screen change (for example,  112  of  FIG. 2D ) in the front display unit  110  in step S 20 . When a time duration has elapsed after displaying the pop-up window in step S 21 , the screen control module  162  changes the display screen again by turning off the front display unit  110  and turning on the rear display unit  120  in step S 22 . At this moment, a waiting screen (for example,  124  of  FIG. 2E ) is displayed in the rear display unit  120 . 
         [0052]    Referring now to  FIGS. 5 and 7 , in a state that the rear display unit  120  of the mobile terminal  100  is turned on and a waiting screen (for example,  124  of  FIG. 4A ) is displayed, the screen control module  162  determines whether a shortcut button  153  is input in step S 31 . The shortcut button  153  is used for entering a multimedia function in a waiting screen, and is formed in the side input unit  150 . Alternatively, a shortcut function of the shortcut button  153  may be assigned to a function key of the rear input unit  140 . 
         [0053]    If the shortcut button  153  is pressed, the screen control module  162  identifies whether the multimedia function assigned to the shortcut button  153  supports a normal mode in step S 32 . If the input multimedia function supports a normal mode, the screen control module  162  displays an execution screen of the multimedia function in the rear display unit  120  in step S 33 . 
         [0054]    While executing the multimedia function, the screen control module  162  identifies whether the screen change button  151  of the side input unit  150  is pressed in step S 34 . If the screen change button  151  is pressed, or if the multimedia function assigned to the shortcut button  153  does not support a normal mode in step S 32 , the screen control module  162  displays a pop-up window notifying a screen change in the rear display unit  120  in step S 35 . 
         [0055]    When a time duration has elapsed after displaying the pop-up window notifying a screen change, the screen control module  162  changes the display screen by turning off the rear display unit  120  and turning on the front display unit  110  in step S 36 . Subsequently, the screen control module  162  displays an execution screen of the corresponding multimedia function in the front display unit  110  in step S 38 . 
         [0056]    According to this exemplary embodiment, between steps S 36  and S 38 , the screen control module  162  may selectively display a menu screen of multimedia functions (for example,  116  of  FIG. 4C ) according to a time duration time of an input by identifying whether the shortcut button  153  is pressed for an extended time duration or for a short time duration in step S 37 . For example, if the shortcut button  153  is pressed for a short time duration upon changing the display screen, the execution screen of the multimedia function is immediately displayed in the front display unit  110 . If the shortcut button  153  is pressed for an extended time duration, upon changing the display screen, the multimedia menu screen is displayed for selection of a multimedia function. Upon selections, the execution screen of the selected multimedia function is then displayed. In another example, the shortcut button  153  may be set to perform in a converse manner; that is, if the shortcut button  153  is pressed for an extended time duration, the execution screen is immediately displayed, and if pressed for a short time duration, the multimedia menu is first displayed. 
         [0057]    While executing the multimedia function in the front display unit  110 , the screen control module  162  identifies whether the screen change button  151  is pressed. If the screen change button  151  is pressed, the screen control module  162  changes the display screen back to the rear display unit  120 . 
         [0058]    Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 8 , in a state that the rear display unit  120  of the mobile terminal  100  is turned on and a waiting screen is displayed, the screen control module  162  identifies whether the screen change button  151  of the side input unit  150  is pressed in step S 41 . If the screen change button  151  is pressed, the screen control module  162  displays a pop-up window notifying a screen change in the rear display unit  120  in step S 42 . 
         [0059]    When a time duration has elapsed after displaying the pop-up window notifying a screen change, the screen control module  162  changes the display screen by turning off the rear display unit  120  and turning on the front display unit  110  in step S 43 . The screen control module  162  stores the last state of multimedia execution and displays the corresponding multimedia function menu screen in the front display unit  110  in step S 44 . 
         [0060]    The screen control module  162  identifies whether a multimedia function is selected from the menu screen in step S 45 . If a multimedia function is selected from the menu screen, an execution screen of the selected multimedia function is displayed in the front display unit  110  in step S 46 . 
         [0061]    Subsequently, while executing the multimedia function in the front display unit  110 , the screen control module  162  identifies whether the screen change button  151  is pressed. If the screen change button  151  is pressed, the screen control module  162  changes the display screen to the rear display unit  120 . 
         [0062]    The present invention provides a mobile terminal having a dual display unit, and a method of changing a display screen from a rear display unit supporting a normal mode to a front display unit supporting a multimedia mode, and returning to the rear display unit, when execution of a multimedia function is required in the rear display unit. Such a method of changing a display screen provides an optimum environment in a mobile terminal having additional multimedia functions, and may be applied widely according to the screen state of the rear display unit and the multimedia function to be executed. Therefore, the method of changing a display screen according to the present invention improves user convenience and effectiveness of a mobile terminal having additional multimedia functions. 
         [0063]    Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail hereinabove, it should be understood that many variations and modifications of the basic inventive concept herein described, which may appear to those skilled in the art, will still fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.