Patent Publication Number: US-9838524-B2

Title: Apparatus and method for controlling operation of mobile terminal

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/302,161 filed on Nov. 22, 2011 which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 from Korean Patent Application KPA No.: 10-2010-0116629 filed Nov. 23, 2010, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for controlling an operation of a mobile terminal with a touch screen. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for executing a mode set when a certain key is input in a touch screen off mode. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Nowadays, mobile terminal has been developed into a multimedia device that provides various functions such as a memo function, a phone function, a game function, a schedule management function, a music and moving image playing function, and a web browser function. In addition, more recent mobile terminals typically include a touch screen that allows a user to use the foregoing functions conveniently and easily upon using an input means such as a key board and a mouse. 
     In general, when a mobile terminal is not used for a long (typically for at least a preset period) time due to setting of a user or the user directly inputs, a touch screen of the mobile terminal is locked for security by turning off power to the touch screen. Even in a power off state of the touch screen, the mobile terminal may perform various complicated procedures to execute a specific function. 
     In other words, after the mobile terminal turns-on power of the touch screen and cancels security lock, the terminal should execute a specific function through navigation according to user input. Accordingly, there is a significant delay to execute the specific function of a mobile terminal when the display is in a touch screen off mode. Furthermore, this delay deteriorates convenience for a user and utilization efficiency of the mobile terminal. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention provides a method that allows a user to rapidly execute a desired function when the mobile terminal is in a touch screen off mode, and an apparatus thereof. 
     A method and an apparatus for controlling an operation of a mobile terminal according to the present invention provides an advantage in that there is a reduced amount of procedures whereby a user processes in order to execute a desired mode in a mobile terminal when the mobile terminal has entered into a touch screen off mode. Since a method and an apparatus for controlling an operation of a mobile terminal according to the present invention may register a function to be executed by input of one touch button key in a touch screen off mode according to user tastes, the present invention accelerates utilization of the mobile terminal faster than known heretofore. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a mobile terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating exemplary operation for controlling an operation of a mobile terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating step  240  how registering a mode is executed in a touch screen off mode of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating step  255  executing a mode set in a touch screen off mode of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5A  is a schematic view illustrating a mobile terminal in a touch screen off mode; 
         FIG. 5B  is a view illustrating a screen for executing a memo making mode according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 5C  is a view illustrating a screen displaying a signal input in a memo making mode through a touch screen according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As used herein, the term “touch screen off mode” means a mode in which power is not supplied to a touch screen of an operable mobile terminal and the touch screen is a security lock state. Further, as used herein, the term “lock cancellation mode” is a mode that security lock is cancelled in a mobile terminal. That is, the lock cancellation mode means a mode that a main menu is displayed on the mobile terminal and functions included in the mobile terminal are executed according to user input through the main menu. 
     The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for executing a mode set when a one touch input of a certain key is received in a touch screen off mode as a method and an apparatus for controlling an operation of a mobile terminal. 
     For example, the mobile terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention executes a registration mode for setting a mode to be executed upon input of a certain key in a touch screen off mode to register information mapping a set mode to the certain key in the mobile terminal. After registering the mapping information, an operation of a mobile terminal in the touch screen off mode may be controlled as follows according to an embodiment of the present invention. When the certain key is input, the mobile terminal cancels the touch screen off mode according to registered mapping information and enters into a set mode. Next, after the mobile terminal executes a set mode a screen is displayed a screen for executing the set mode on a touch screen. 
     Accordingly, a user may utilize the set mode displayed on the mobile terminal through the touch screen. As illustrated previously, the present invention provides convenience that a user easily accesses and uses a desired function by only entering a one touch input of a certain key in a touch screen off mode, rather than having to first end the touch screen off mode and wait for the mobile terminal to return to full operation screen status before permitting a user to enter a function for execution. Hereinafter, a method and an apparatus for controlling a mobile terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a mobile terminal  100  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a mobile terminal  100  preferably includes an input unit  120 , a memory  140 , a touch screen  160 , and a controller  180 . 
     The mobile terminal  100  is representative of and applicable to all kinds of information and communication devices and multi-media devices such as mobile phones, wired/wireless phones, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), smart phones, DMB terminals, tablet PCs, Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) terminals/General Packet Radio System (GPRS) terminals, 3G terminals, for example, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) terminals, International Mobile Telecommunication 2000 (IMT-2000) terminals, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) terminals, Universal Mobile Telecommunication Service (UMTS) terminals using Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) technology, and applications thereof, just to name a few of the many possible devices that benefit from this invention. In particular, the mobile terminal  100  of the present invention includes a touch screen  160  and an input unit  120 . 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 1 , the input unit  120  generates an input signal according to an action of a user, for example, a one touch input that is separate from the touch screen  160 . Further, the input unit  120  transfers signals input associated with setting of various functions and function controls of the mobile terminal  100  to the controller  180 . The input unit  120  is preferably configured by button keys mounted on an external surface of the mobile terminal  100  as well as by the touch screen  160 . There are a number of keys including: a hold key  125  of  FIG. 5  generating an input signal by one touch, a home screen conversion key (not shown), a volume control key (not shown), a power on/off key (not shown), and a menu key (not shown) as examples of the button keys. The button keys of the input unit  120  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be used to register mapping information. 
     The memory  140  includes a program memory and a data memory. The program memory may store an operation program, application programs and programs for various functions driven by an input through the touch screen  160 . The programs may include a program for a memo function, a phone function, a game function, a schedule management function, music and moving image playing functions or a web browsing function. In particular, the program memory stores a program for controlling an operation of a mobile terminal  100  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The data memory stores data used or created while the foregoing programs are executed. In particular, the memory  140  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may further store mapping information. The mapping information is information mapping a mode selected by a user to a selected button key. 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 1 , the touch screen  160  includes a display unit  162  and a touch panel  164 . The display unit  162  displays a state of the mobile terminal  100 , various types of display data and an operation state created from the mobile terminal  100 , and characters input from a user. The touch panel  164  is preferably mounted at or along one surface of the display unit  162 . If a touch occurs through the touch panel  164 , the touch panel  164  senses the touch and detects a coordinate value of the occurrence area of the touch. The touch panel  164  may sense the touch by a resistive type sensing pressure applied to a surface to recognize a contact point, a capacitive type sensing lost charge to recognize a contact point, or an infrared type sensing infrared cut-off to recognize a contact point. After sensing the touch, the touch panel  164  generates a touch sensing signal indicating that the touch occurs and a coordinate value of the occurrence area of the touch. A person of ordinary skill in the art should understand and appreciate that a plurality of types of touch screens in various devices can benefit from the presently claimed invention. 
     The controller  180  executes a function controlling an overall operation of the mobile terminal  100 . In particular, the controller  180 , typically a processor or microprocessor, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention generates and stores mapping routines automatically executing a mode set upon input of a certain key in a touch screen off mode in a registration mode in the memory  140 . The controller  180  determines presence of mode entry set according to mapping information upon receiving a key input while in the touch screen off mode and executes a set mode in conjunction with the touch screen  160 . The controller  180  performs an operation according to a signal input through the touch screen  160  when in the set mode. The controller  180  may return the state of the touch screen from the set mode to the touch screen off mode, or may enter the touch screen into a touch lock cancellation mode. 
       FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating an operational example of a method for controlling an operation of a mobile terminal  100  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , in a method for controlling an operation of the mobile terminal  100  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a controller  180  firstly executes or places the touch screen and/or device into an idle mode ( 210 ). When the controller  180  receives button key input of an input unit  120  or soft key input of a touch screen  160 , it senses the key input ( 220 ), and the process proceeds to step  230 . On the other hand, if there is no key input, the controller  180  maintains the idle mode at step  210  until a key input is sensed. 
     At step  230 , the controller  180  determines whether the type of mode associated with the key input received. For example, the controller may first determine whether the key input received in ( 220 ) is input for executing a registration mode. When the key input received is input for executing a registration mode at step  230 , the controller  180  then at ( 240 ) executes the registration mode according to an embodiment of the present invention. A detailed procedure of step  240  will be described with reference to  FIG. 3  below. 
     On the other hand, if the key input received is not the input for executing a registration mode at step  230 , the controller  180  preferably determines whether the received key input is input for executing a touch screen off mode ( 250 ). If the received key input is not input for executing a touch screen off mode, the controller  180  then preferably executes a corresponding mode of the received key input ( 260 ). On the other hand, if at ( 250 ) the received key input is input for executing the touch screen off mode, the controller  180  then executes a mode set in the touch screen off mode ( 255 ). A detailed procedure of step  255  will be described with reference to  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 5A  to  FIG. 5C  below. 
     The foregoing exemplary embodiment discloses a mobile terminal  100  for determining whether received key input is input for executing a touch screen off mode after determining whether the received key input is input for executing a registration mode in an idle mode. However, a determining order of an execution mode of the received key input can be varied. 
     The execute registration mode mentioned previously regarding step ( 240 ) will now be explained in further detail with reference to  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating step  240  registering a mode is executed in a touch screen off mode of  FIG. 2 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , at ( 320 ) a controller  180  (such as in  FIG. 1 ) displays a registrable set menu list on display such as a touch screen  160 . At this time, the controller  180  may control set menu items associated with an environment setting of the mobile terminal  100  to be displayed on the list. 
     Next, at ( 330 ) the controller  180  determines whether to set mode to be executed while in the touch screen off mode. At this time, if anyone is selected from set menus through the touch screen  160  while displaying the set menu list, the controller  180  determines whether a selected set menu is for registering a mode to be executed in the touch screen off mode. Accordingly, if the selected set menu is for registering a mode to be executed in the touch screen off mode, the controller  180  proceeds to perform step  340  and control display of the settable mode list. On the other hand, if the selected set menu is not a menu for registering a mode to be executed in the touch screen off mode, the controller  180  executes a registration mode corresponding to the selected set menu ( 335 ), and then the process returns to  FIG. 2 . 
     At step ( 340 ) the controller  180  displays a settable mode list on the touch screen. At this time, the controller  180  may display a certain mode requesting input through the touch screen  160 . For example, there may be a phone dial mode displaying a numeral keypad, a music playing mode displaying a music file list, a call mode displaying a recent call list, and a web browsing mode displaying a web browser as an example of a mode included in the settable mode list. Accordingly, the present invention is advantageous in that it allows a user to switch a mode executed in the touch screen off mode to a desired mode. 
     If at ( 350 ) any one is selected from a mode list displayed on the touch screen  160  by a user, the controller  180  proceeds to step  360 . 
     At ( 360 ) the controller  180  displays a selectable key list on the touch screen  160 . At this time, the controller  180  displays button keys of an input unit  120  for executing a selected mode executed in the touch screen off mode as illustrate earlier. Subsequently, if at ( 370 ) a key is selected, the controller  180  at ( 380 ) maps a selected mode to the selected key to create and store mapping information in a memory  140 . The foregoing embodiment has illustrated a procedure that firstly sets a mode executed in the touch screen off mode and then set a key executing the mode. However, a setting order of the mode and the key may be exchanged. The controller  189  performs step  380  and returns to  FIG. 2 . Step  255  illustrated previously will be explained in detail with reference to  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating details of step  255  executing a mode set in a touch screen off mode of  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 5A  is a schematic view illustrating a mobile terminal in a touch screen off mode.  FIG. 5B  is a view illustrating a screen for executing a memo making mode according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 5C  is a view illustrating a screen displaying a signal input in a memo making mode through a touch screen according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     A method executing a mode set upon input of a certain key in a touch screen off mode according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 5A  to  FIG. 5C . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , at ( 405 ) a controller  180  controls a mobile terminal  100  entry into a touch screen off mode. At this time, the controller  180  may control not to supply power to a touch screen  160 , or may dim the illumination of the screen and set the touch screen  160  to be in a security lock state. While the mobile terminal  100  is in the touch screen off mode, at ( 410 ) the controller  180  senses button key input from an input unit  120 . If the button key input is sensed, the controller  180  accesses a memory  140  and at ( 415 ) determines whether mapping information for executing a mode set in the touch screen off mode is included in the memory  140 . If the mapping information is not included in the memory  140  at step  415 , at ( 418 ) the controller  180  executes a corresponding mode according to an input key. 
     After performing step  418 , the process returns to the flowchart shown in  FIG. 2 . On the other hand, if the mapping information is included in the memory  140  at step  415 , then at ( 420 ) the controller  180  determines whether input of a key included in the mapping information is received. At this time, the controller  180  determines whether the input of the button key sensed at step  410  is input of a certain key included in mapping information checked at step  415 . If the sensed input of the button key is not the input of a certain key, at ( 418 ) the controller  180  executes a corresponding function of the received key input. 
     If the certain key included in the mapping information is input in the touch screen off mode at ( 420 ), then at ( 425 ) the controller  180  proceeds to check the set mode from mapping information and cancels the touch screen off mode. For example, if input of a hold key  125  shown in  FIG. 5A  is received, the controller  180  may perform step  425 . The controller  180  at step ( 425 ) accesses the memory  140  to check a set mode from mapping information stored therein. Further, the controller  180  cancels a touch off mode. Subsequently, the controller  180  at ( 430 ) controls the mobile terminal  100  to enter a checked mode, namely, the set mode. Further, the controller  180  displays a screen for executing the set mode on a touch screen  160 . Moreover, the controller  180  may control further display of information regarding a lock cancellation mode on the screen for executing the set mode. For example, the information regarding the lock cancellation mode may become a lock cancellation soft key  1641 , lock cancellation method description, date, and time. 
     For example, when the set mode is a memo making mode, the controller  180  may control a screen as shown in  FIG. 5B  to be displayed on the touch screen  160 . Accordingly, the present invention provides an advantage in that it reduces procedures performed by the mobile terminal  100  to execute a mode requested from the user in the touch screen off mode. Accordingly, the present invention allows a user to rapidly use a desired mode by only a one touch input of a certain key  120  included in mapping information when the device is in a touch screen off mode. 
     After the screen for executing the set mode is displayed, at ( 435 ) the controller  180  senses a signal input through the touch screen  160 . In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when the input through the touch screen has not been received for a predetermined time, the controller  180  may control the mobile terminal to return to the touch screen off mode. After sensing the input through the touch screen  160 , the controller  180  at ( 440 ) determines whether the mobile terminal  100  enters a lock cancellation mode. In this case, the controller  180  may determines whether the mobile terminal  100  enters the lock cancellation mode according to presence of input of a lock cancellation soft key  1641  displayed on a screen. If the mobile terminal  100  enters the lock cancellation mode, the controller  180  at ( 445 ) finishes the set mode and controls the mobile terminal  100  to enter the lock cancellation mode. At this time, the controller  180  may control a main menu to be displayed on the touch screen  160  according to the lock cancellation mode. As illustrated previously, after the mobile terminal  100  enters the lock cancellation mode, it returns to  FIG. 2 . When the mobile terminal  100  does not enter the lock cancellation mode, the controller  180  performs step  450 . 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 4 , at ( 450 ) the controller  180  determines whether the set mode is terminated. At this time, the controller  180  may determine whether a signal input through the touch screen  160  is a termination request signal of the set mode. If the termination request signal of the set mode is received, the controller  180  returns to perform step ( 405 ). After termination of the set mode, the mobile terminal  100  again enters the touch screen off mode. For example, a memo making mode may be set to be terminated after storing a memo. Accordingly, if a termination command of the memo making mode, namely, a memory storing command is received through the touch screen  160 , the controller  180  may control power of the touch screen  160  not to be supplied after storing the memo and to be in a lock state. If the termination request signal of the set mode is not received, the controller  180  performs a next step. 
     At ( 460 ), the controller  180  displays and processes a signal received through the touch screen  160 . For example, in a case where the set mode is the memo making mode, if a touch or a gesture set in the memo making mode is received through the touch screen  160 , the controller  180  may display and process information input according to the memo making mode. For example, if input through the touch screen  160  occurs in a memo book (as shown in  FIG. 5B ), the controller  180  may display a keyboard (not shown) or execute character recognition according to the memo making mode. If a character is input through the displayed keyboard or the character recognition, the controller  180  may control display of a screen as shown in  FIG. 5C , or possibly display a template for a memo. Further, if flick input occurs in the memo book, the controller  180  may implement a motion moving the memo book to a flick input direction (i.e. screen flick by touch) according to the memo making mode. If a memo storing soft key (not shown) is input, the controller  180  may store information input to the memo book in the memory  140  according to the memo making mode. The controller  180  performs step  460  as illustrated previously and returns to  FIG. 2 . 
     The above-described methods according to the present invention can be realized in hardware, firmware or as software or computer code that can be stored in a non-transitory recording medium such as a CD ROM, a RAM, thumbnail drive, a floppy disk, a flash storage, a hard disk, or a magneto-optical disk, etc., or downloaded over a network and stored in storage, so that the methods described herein can be executed by such software using a general purpose computer, special computer, microprocessor, special processor, or in a programmable or dedicated hardware, such as an ASIC or FPGA. As would be understood in the art, the computer, the processor or the programmable hardware include memory components, e.g., RAM, ROM, Flash, etc. that may store or receive software or computer code that when accessed and executed by the computer, processor or hardware implement the processing methods described herein. In addition, it would be recognized that when a general purpose computer accesses code for implementing the processing shown herein, the execution of the code transforms the general purpose computer into a special purpose computer for executing the processing shown herein.