Patent Publication Number: US-2013254692-A1

Title: Method of generating an electronic folder and an electronic device thereof

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     This application claims, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(a), priority to and the benefit of the earlier filing date of a Korean patent application filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Mar. 26, 2012 and assigned Serial No. 10-2012-0030419, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to electronic folders, and in particular to a method of generating electronic folders to efficiently classify and store icons in an electronic device and the electronic device thereof. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     An electronic device may perform a variety of functions while using other technology of the electronic device for different functions. For example, users may watch movies, terrestrial broadcasting, etc., and may execute a variety of applications and may enjoy games and moving pictures. Also, the users may obtain information necessary for their lives, such as news and weather information. Accordingly, in the electronic device, the users need icons for executing respective applications and it is natural that users need more icons in order to execute many functions thereof. 
     As described above, in order to execute a variety of functions using the electronic device, more icons are generated. One method of efficiently managing and storing a variety of icons stored in the electronic device generates folders and stores the generated folders systematically while being classified according to categories. 
     However, in order to generate folders in an electronic device in the prior art, there is a problem in that users must perform many steps. For example, if the user selects a menu key or menu icon on a main menu of the electronic device, the electronic device displays a variety of applications and changes a current mode to an editing mode. If the user selects an application to be stored in a folder, the electronic device stores the selected application in the folder. The user drags and moves a generated folder to the main menu. As described above, the user must perform many steps to generate the folder. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An aspect of the present invention is to solve at least the above-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for efficiently classifying and storing icons in an electronic device. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for easily generating folders and effectively storing icons in an electronic device in the generated folders. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other aspects, features and advantages of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIGS. 1A ,  1 B,  1 C and  1 D illustrate a process of generating folders according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate a process of executing a multi-selection mode for selecting a plurality of icons according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate a process of executing a multi-selection mode for selecting a plurality of icons according to an alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate a process of executing a multi-selection mode for selecting a plurality of icons according to another alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 5A ,  5 B and  5 C illustrate a process of selecting an icon and storing the selected icon in a folder according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 6A ,  6 B and  6 C illustrate a process of selecting an icon and storing the selected icon in a menu screen according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating an operation process of an electronic device which generates folders according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 8  is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the electronic device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described herein below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail since they would obscure the invention in unnecessary detail. The present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the exemplary embodiments set forth herein. Also, terms described herein, which are defined considering the functions of the present invention, may be implemented differently depending on user and operator&#39;s intention and practice. Therefore, the terms should be understood on the basis of the disclosure throughout the specification. The principles and features of this invention may be employed in varied and numerous embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     The same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. Furthermore, although the drawings represent exemplary embodiments of the invention, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated or omitted in order to more clearly illustrate and explain the present invention. 
     Among the terms set forth herein, a terminal refers to any kind of device capable of processing data which is transmitted or received to or from any external entity. The terminal may display icons or menus on a screen to which stored data and various executable functions are assigned or mapped. The terminal may include a computer, a notebook, a tablet PC, a mobile device, and the like. 
     Among the terms set forth herein, a screen refers to a display or other output devices which visually display information to the user, and which optionally are capable of receiving and electronically processing tactile inputs from a user using a stylo, a finger of the user, or other techniques for conveying a user selection from the user to the output devices. 
     Among the terms set forth herein, an icon refers to a graphical element such as a figure or a symbol displayed on the screen of the device such that a user can easily select a desired function or data. In particular, each icon has a mapping relation with any function being executable in the device or with any data stored in the device and is used for processing functions or selecting data in the device. When a user selects one of the displayed icons, the device identifies a particular function or data associated with the selected icon. Then the device executes the identified function or displays the identified data. 
     Among terms set forth herein, data refers to any kind of information processed by the device, including text and/or images received from any external entities, messages transmitted or received, and information created when a specific function is executed by the device. 
     Among the terms set forth herein, a folder refers to an electronic folder which stores and organizes data, computer files, and/or other electronic folders. 
       FIGS. 1A ,  1 B and  1 D illustrate a process of generating folders according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Herein, each of the folders is referred to by a name, which may be in English or any other predetermined language, as well as a file folder, and is defined as a place where stored files are to be easily checked. In greater detail, each of the folders is an entity including other folders and files. Each of the folders is defined as a file box which effectively manages files related with each other in a manner similar to a directory of a Disk Operating System (DOS) or UNIX. 
     An electronic device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention generates folders easily to effectively classify and store a variety of icons. An electronic device in the prior art has a problem in that a user must pass through many processes to generate folders. That is, the prior art electronic device does not provide a method of generating folders simply. Accordingly, the user of the prior art electronic device must pass through separate respective processes to generate folders. For example, the user of the prior art electronic device must select a menu key or menu icon on a home screen. If a variety of icons are displayed on the home screen, the user must select a specific icon and must change a current mode of the electronic device to an editing mode. The user must generate folders in the editing mode and must move and store the specific icon selected by the user to the generated folder. Therefore, the user of the prior art electronic device must pass through complex processes. However, the present invention provides an electronic device for easily generating folders according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention without passing through the above-described prior art complex processes. Accordingly, because the electronic device may efficiently store and classify many icons, the electronic device of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention has an advantage in that convenience of the user is improved. 
       FIG. 1A  illustrates a process of allowing a user to select any one of the icons  101 - 104  displayed on a home screen of the electronic device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     If the user turns on the electronic device to generate folders, the home screen is displayed on a touch screen of the electronic device. If the home screen is displayed on the touch screen of the electronic device, a process of generating folders is started. A description will be given in greater detail with reference to conditions shown in  FIG. 1A . As shown in  FIG. 1A , four icons  101  to  104  are displayed on the home screen of the electronic device. The current conditions of the icons  101 - 104  and the electronic device indicate that the user wants to move a selected icon  103  of the icons  101 - 104  displayed on the home screen to a folder and store the icon  103  in the folder. First of all, if the user clicks the selected icon  103  of the four icons  101  to  104  displayed on the home screen for at least a predetermined duration of time set by him or her or alternatively set by default by the manufacturer, as shown in  FIG. 1B , folders  105  and  106  capable of storing the icon  103  selected by him or her are generated and displayed on a portion of the home screen, such as a side, a top, a bottom, or any region of the viewable screen. Herein, the folders  105  and  106  are displayed on the bottom of the home screen and include a new folder  105  as well as folders  106  which are previously stored in the electronic device. For example, the new folder  105  is a folder which does not have its own title, and the old folders  106  are folders which have their title designated by the user. The user drags and moves the icon  103  selected by him or her to any one of the new folder  105  and the old folders  106 . 
       FIG. 1C  illustrates the new folder  105  or the old folders  106 . The icons  111 - 113  of the new folder  105  or the old folders  106  are pre-existing icons and the icon  103  is an icon which is moved from the home screen to the new folder  105  and the old folders  106 . 
     As described above, if the user selects a specific icon among icons displayed on the home screen and clicks only a selected icon for at least a predetermined duration of time set by him or her or the manufacturer, the electronic device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention generates folders on a portion of the home screen. Accordingly, the electronic device has an advantage over the prior art in that convenience of the user is improved. That is, because it is not necessary in the present invention for the user to pass through a plurality of processes to move a specific icon into a selected folder as well as to display a plurality of folders before moving the specific icons, if he or she clicks only the icon selected by him or her for a predetermined duration of time or more, the folders are immediately generated and/or displayed by the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Also, in accordance with the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a menu editing region  107  is generated on one part of the home screen at the same time that the folders  105 ,  106  are generated on the home screen. Herein, the menu editing region  107  is defined as a menu screen shortcut for immediately moving the specific icon  103  to a menu screen and/or for accessing a menu screen which is automatically set to perform editing functions on the specific icon  103 . In greater detail, if the user moves the selected icon  103  to the menu editing region  107 , the corresponding icon  103  is no longer displayed on the home screen, but is removed from the home screen, and is instead displayed on a menu screen. As described above, the user may move the selected icon  103  into at least one of the folders  105  and  106 , or the user may alternatively move the selected icon  103  to the menu editing region  107  and may store the icon  103  in the menu screen. That is, if the user drags and moves the selected icon  103  to the menu editing region  107 , the icon  103  is immediately stored in the menu screen. 
       FIG. 1D  illustrates the menu screen. The icons  121 - 123  of the menu screen are pre-existing icons and the icon  103  is an icon which is moved from the home screen to the menu screen. 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate a process of performing a multi-selection mode for selecting a plurality of icons according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Herein, the multi-selection mode is defined as a mode capable of allowing a user to select a plurality of icons among icons displayed on a home screen. In greater detail, if the user clicks a specific icon among the icons displayed on the home screen for at least a predetermined duration of time set by him or her or the manufacturer, a current mode is changed to the multi-selection mode to select not only the icon selected by him or her but also other icons which are not specifically selected by him or her. The above-described multi-selection mode may be very conveniently used when the user wants to store at least two or more icons in a folder with minimal effort or steps. All of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention support the multi-selection mode such that the user is capable of selecting a plurality of icons. Accordingly, because it is not necessary for the user to store each separate icon in a folder, one at a time as in the prior art, the electronic device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention has an advantage in that a plurality of icons which he or she wants may be designated and stored in the folder once; that is, in one step. 
     Hereinafter, a description will be given with reference to conditions shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2A , in order to store specific icons  201  and  203  in a folder, if the user turns on an electronic device, a home screen is displayed on a touch screen of the electronic device. The user may verify that four icons  201  to  204  are displayed on the home screen. The user clicks any selected icon  203 , which he or she wants to store, among the four icons  201  to  204  displayed on the home screen, for at least a predetermined duration of time set by him or her or the manufacturer. As shown in  FIG. 2B , if the electronic device verifies that the selected icon  203  is clicked for the predetermined time or more, the electronic device generates folders  205  and  206  on a portion of the home screen and changes a current mode to a multi-selection mode immediately. The user who verifies that the current mode is changed to the multi-selection mode may select the previously selected icon  203  and another icon  201 . If the plurality of icons  201  and  203  are selected by the user, the electronic device puts and displays check marks and/or other indicia selected by the user on the icons  201  and  203  selected by him or her. 
     In the same manner as described above in conjunction with the examples shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , referring to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , if the plurality of icons  201  and  203  are selected by the user, he or she may store the selected icons  201  and  203  in any one of a new folder  205  and the old folders  206 . Also, a menu editing region  207  is also generated on one portion of the home screen at the same time that the folders  205  and  206  are generated. Accordingly, the user may store the plurality of selected icons  201  and  203  in any one of the new folder  205  and the old folders  206 . Also, the user may move the icons  201  and  203  to the menu editing region  207  which then may move the icons  201  and  203  to a menu screen. 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate a process of executing a multi-selection mode for selecting a plurality of icons according to an alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Herein, the multi-selection mode is defined as a mode capable of allowing a user to select a plurality of icons among icons displayed on a home screen. In greater detail, if the user clicks a specific icon among the icons displayed on the home screen for at least a predetermined duration of time set by him or her or the manufacturer, a current mode is changed to the multi-selection mode to select not only the icon selected by him or her but also other icons which are not specifically selected by him or her. The above-described multi-selection mode may be very conveniently used when the user wants to store at least two or more icons in a folder with one step. All of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention support the multi-selection mode such that the user selects a plurality of icons with one step. Accordingly, because it is not necessary for the user to store a separate icon in a folder one at a time as in the prior art, an electronic device according to the alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention has an advantage in that a plurality of icons which he or her wants may be designated and stored in the folder once; that is, in one step. 
     Hereinafter, a description will be given with reference to conditions shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B  according to the alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3A , in order to store specific icons  301  to  303  in a folder, if the user turns on an electronic device, a home screen is displayed on a touch screen of the electronic device. The user may verify that four icons  301  to  304  are displayed on the home screen. The user clicks any selected icon  302  he or she wants to store, among the four icons  301  to  304  displayed on the home screen, for a predetermined duration of time set by him or her or the manufacturer. As shown in  FIG. 3B , if the electronic device verifies that the one icon is clicked for the predetermined time or more, the electronic device generates folders  305  and  306  on a portion of the home screen and changes a current mode to a multi-selection mode immediately. The user who verifies that the current mode is changed to the multi-selection mode drags the previously selected icon  302  continuously in a state where he or she touches the previously selected icon  302  and may select other icons  301  and  303 . If the plurality of  20  icons  301  to  303  are selected by the user, the electronic device verifies that the plurality of icons  301  to  303  are selected by him or her and designates the icons  301  to  303  as one region. That is, the electronic device designates the plurality of icons  301  to  303  as one region such that all the icons  301  to  303  may be moved although the user drags only a selected one of the plurality of icons  301  to  303 . 
     In the same manner as described above in conjunction with the examples shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , referring to  FIGS. 3A and 3B , if the plurality of icons  301  to  303  are selected by the user, he or she may store the selected icons  301  to  303  in any one of a new folder  305  and old folders  306 . Also, a menu editing region  307  is also generated on one portion of the home screen at the same time that the folders  305  and  306  are generated. Accordingly, the user may store the plurality of selected icons  301  to  303  in any one of the new folder  305  and the old folders  306 . Also, the user may move the icons  301  to  303  to the menu editing region  307  which then may move the icons  301  to  303  to a menu screen. 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate a process of executing a multi-selection mode for selecting a plurality of icons according to another alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Herein, the multi-selection mode is defined as a mode capable of allowing a user to select a plurality of icons among icons displayed on a home screen. In greater detail, if the user clicks a specific icon among the icons displayed on the home screen for at least a predetermined duration of time set by him or her or the manufacturer, a current mode is changed to the multi-selection mode to select not only the icon selected by him or her but also other icons which are not specifically selected by him or her. The above-described multi-selection mode may be very conveniently used when the user wants to store at least two or more icons in a folder. All of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention support the multi-selection mode such that the user selects a plurality of icons. Accordingly, because it is not necessary for the user to store a separate icon in a folder one at a time as in the prior art, the electronic device according to the another alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention has an advantage in that a plurality of icons he or her wants may be designated and stored in the folder once; that is, in one step. 
     Hereinafter, a description will be given with reference to conditions shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B  according to another alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4A , in order to store specific icons  401  to  404  in a folder, if the user turns on an electronic device, a home screen is displayed on a touch screen of the electronic device. The user may verify that four icons  401  to  404  are displayed on the home screen. The user clicks any selected icon  402  he or she wants to store, from among the four icons  401  to  404  displayed on the home screen, for at least a predetermined duration of time set by him or her or the manufacturer. As shown in  FIG. 4B , if the electronic device verifies that the selected icon is clicked for the predetermined time or more, the electronic device generates folders  405  and  406  on a portion of the home screen and changes a current mode to a multi-selection mode immediately. The user who verifies that the current mode is changed to the multi-selection mode draws a big circle or other known or arbitrary shapes on the screen by touching the screen and moving the touch input to define the circle or other shapes, such that all the icons  401  to  404  to be selected are included in the big circle or shape, in a state where he or she continually touches the home screen to define the circle or shape, and may thus select the plurality of icons  401  to  404 . If the plurality of icons  401  to  404  are selected by the user, the electronic device verifies that the plurality of icons  401  to  404  are selected by him or her and designates any icons  401  to  404  in the circle or shape as one region. That is, the electronic device designates the plurality of icons  401  to  404  as one region such that all the icons  401  to  404  may be moved although the user drags only a selected one of the plurality of icons  401  to  404 . 
     In the same manner as described above in conjunction with the examples shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , referring to  FIGS. 4A and 4B , if the plurality of icons  401  to  404  are selected by the user, he or she may store the selected icons  401  to  404  in any one of a new folder  405  and old folders  406 . Also, a menu editing region  407  is also generated on one portion of the home screen at the same time that the folders  405  and  406  are generated. Accordingly, the user may store the plurality of selected icons  401  to  404  in any one of the new folder  405  and the old folders  406 . Also, the user may move the icons  401  to  404  to the menu editing region  407  which then may move the icons  401  to  404  to a menu screen. 
       FIGS. 5A to 5C  illustrate a process of selecting an icon and storing the selected icon in a folder according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     The electronic device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention generates folders easily to efficiently classify and store a variety of icons. An electronic device in the prior art has a problem in that a user must pass through many processes to generate folders. That is, the prior art electronic device does not provide a method of generating folders simply. Accordingly, the user of the prior art electronic device must pass through separate respective processes to generate folders. For example, the user of the prior art electronic device must select a menu key or menu icon on a home screen. If a variety of icons are displayed on the home screen, the user must select a specific icon and must change a current mode to an editing mode. The user must generate folders in the editing mode and must move and store the specific icon selected by the user to the generated folder. Therefore, the user of the prior art electronic device must pass through complex processes. The electronic device for easily generating folders according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention operates without passing through the above-described prior art complex processes. Accordingly, because the electronic device may efficiently store and classify many icons, the electronic device of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention has an advantage in that convenience of the user is improved. 
       FIG. 5A  illustrates a process of allowing a user to select any one of the icons displayed on a home screen according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     If the user turns on the electronic device to generate folders, the home screen is displayed on a touch screen of the electronic device. If the home screen is displayed on the touch screen of the electronic device, a process of generating folders is started. A description will be given in greater detail with reference to the conditions initially shown in  FIG. 5A . As shown in  FIG. 5A , four icons  501  to  504  are displayed on the home screen of the electronic device. The current conditions indicate that the user wants to move and store a selected icon  503  of the icons  501  to  504  displayed on the home screen in a folder. First of all, if the user clicks the selected icon  503  of the four icons  501  to  504  displayed on the home screen for at least a predetermined duration of time set by him or her or the manufacturer, as shown in  FIG. 5B , folders  505  and  506  capable of storing the icon  503  selected by him or her are displayed on a portion of the home screen. Herein, the folders  505  and  506  displayed on the portion of the home screen include the new folder  505  and the old folders  506  which are previously stored in the electronic device. That is, the new folder  505  is a folder which does not have its own title, and the old folders  506  are folders which have their title designated by the user. When the user wants to store the selected icon  503  in the new folder  505 , he or she drags and moves the selected icon  503  to the new folder  505 . 
     As described above, if the user selects a specific icon  503  among icons  501 - 504  displayed on the home screen and clicks only the selected icon  503  for at least the predetermined duration of time set by him or her or the manufacturer, the electronic device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention generates folders on a portion of the home screen. Accordingly, the electronic device has an advantage in that convenience of the user is improved. That is, because it is not necessary for the user to pass through a plurality of complex processes to move a specific icon to a folder, if he or she clicks only the icon selected by him or her for the predetermined duration of time or more, the folders are immediately generated. Also, in accordance with the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a menu editing region  507  is also generated on one portion of the home screen at the same time that the folders  505 ,  506  are generated on the home screen. Herein, the menu editing region  507  is defined as a menu screen shortcut for immediately moving a specific icon to a menu screen. In greater detail, if the user moves the selected icon  503  to the menu editing region  507 , the corresponding icon is not displayed on the home screen and is displayed on a menu screen. As described above, the user may move the selected icon  503  to one of the folders  505 ,  506 , or the user may also move the selected icon  503  to the menu editing region  507  and may store the icon  503  in the menu screen. That is, if the user drags and moves the selected icon  503  to the menu editing region  507 , the icon  503  is immediately stored in the menu screen. 
       FIG. 5C  illustrates a home screen after an icon selected by a user is stored in a folder. 
     In greater detail, if the icon  503  selected by the user is stored in a new folder  505  through the above-described process, the electronic device displays generated folders  505  and  506  on a portion of the home screen. That is, the other three icons  501 ,  502 , and  504 , except for the icon  503  stored in the new folder  505 , are displayed on the home screen, from among four icons  501  to  504  previously displayed on the home screen. Accordingly, the user selects the folder  505  displayed on the portion of the home screen to access, display and/or execute the icon  503  stored in the folder  505  at a later time and selects the icons stored in the folder  505 . Once the icon  503  is moved to the folder  505 , as shown in  FIGS. 5A-5C , the menu editing region  507  may be greyed out, deleted, and/or caused to disappear from the screen shown in  FIG. 5C  until the icon  503  is completely moved into the folder  505 , since the option for using, moving, or editing the icon  503  through the home screen is not available once the icon  503  is moved into the folder  505  and, in turn, removed from the home screen. However, after the moving of the icon  503  into folder  505  is completed, the menu editing region  507  may be restored to its original appearance, as shown in  FIGS. 5A-5C , to allow any remaining icons  501 ,  502 ,  504  on the home screen to be selected and edited by being moved to the menu editing region. 
       FIGS. 6A to 6C  illustrate a process of selecting an icon and storing the selected icon in a menu screen according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     Hereinafter, in the case that a user wants to any one of icons displayed on a home screen to be stored in a menu screen, a description will be given in greater detail. 
     First of all, as shown in  FIG. 6A , four icons  601  to  604  are displayed on a home screen displayed on a touch screen of an electronic device. The user selects a corresponding icon  601  to move the selected icon  601  of the four icons  601  to  604  displayed on the home screen to the menu screen. If the user clicks the selected icon  601  for at least a predetermined duration of time set by him or her or the manufacturer, as shown in  FIG. 6B , folders  605  and  606  capable of storing the corresponding icon  601  are displayed on a portion of the home screen. A menu editing region  607  capable of moving the corresponding icon  601  to the menu screen is displayed on one portion of the home screen. If the user drags and moves the selected icon  601  to the menu editing region  607 , the corresponding icon  601  is automatically moved to the menu screen. In greater detail, the electronic device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention may generate folders easily and automatically and may move the icon selected by the user to the menu screen easily and automatically. That is, the user selects at least one of the icons displayed on the home screen, may store the selected icon in a folder, and/or may move the selected icon to the menu screen. 
     In the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIGS. 6A-6C , once the selected icon  601  is moved to the menu editing region  607 , as in  FIG. 6B , the electronic device may remove or delete both of the icon  601  and the menu editing region  607  from being displayed on the home screen, while the remaining icons  602 - 604  continue to be displayed on the home screen, as shown in  FIG. 6C . 
       FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating an operation process of the electronic device which generates folders according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the electronic device verifies that a selected icon is clicked for the predetermined duration of time or more in step  701 . In greater detail, the electronic device allows a user to select any one of a plurality of icons displayed on a home screen displayed on a touch screen thereof Thereafter, the electronic device verifies whether the icon selected by the user is clicked for the predetermined time or more. 
     If it is verified that the selected icon is clicked for the predetermined duration of time or more, the electronic device generates folders capable of storing the selected icon and changes a current mode to a multi-selection mode simultaneously in step  702 . In greater detail, the electronic device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention verifies that any one of the icons displayed on the home screen is clicked for at least the predetermined time set by the user or the manufacturer, and the electronic device immediately generates the folders capable of storing the icons clicked for the predetermined time or more. Also, a menu editing region capable of moving the selected icon to a menu screen is displayed together with the icons on one portion of the home screen. That is, an electronic device in the prior art has a problem that complex processes pass through to generate folders. However, as described above, in the present invention, if it is verified that the icon selected by the user is clicked for the predetermined time or more among the icons displayed on the home screen, the electronic device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention has an advantage in that folders are immediately generated and convenience of the user is improved. 
     The electronic device determines whether the selected icon is moved to any one of the folders in step  703 . In greater detail, the electronic device determines in step  703  whether the icon selected by the user is moved to the folder generated on a portion of the home screen in step  702 . Herein, the folders may include a new folder whose title is not designated and/or old folders whose titles are designated. That is, the electronic device generates all folders to store the icon selected by the user in a new folder or an older folder. 
     If the electronic device determines in step  703  that the icon selected by the user is not moved to a selected folder, the electronic device determines whether the selected icon is moved to the menu editing region in step  704 . In greater detail, as described above, the menu editing region capable of moving the icon selected by the user to the menu screen is displayed on one portion of the home screen at the same time that the folders are generated on a portion of the home screen. That is, the electronic device determines whether the icon selected by the user is moved to the menu editing region. If the electronic device determines that the icon selected by the user is not moved to the menu editing region in step  704 , the electronic device ends the process of  FIG. 7 . Alternatively, the electronic device loops back to step  701  to process other selected icons on the home screen. 
     However, if the electronic device determines that the icon selected by the user is moved to the menu editing region in step  704 , the electronic device stores the corresponding icon in the menu screen in step  706 . In addition, the icon moved to the menu editing region is then deleted from the home screen. Thereafter, the corresponding icon is displayed on the menu screen. The electronic device then ends the process of  FIG. 7 . Alternatively, the electronic device loops back to step  701  to process other selected icons on the home screen. 
     Referring back to step  703 , if the electronic device determines that the icon selected by the user is moved to a selected folder in step  703 , the electronic device stores the corresponding icon in the selected folder in step  705 . That is, the icon stored in the folder is deleted from the home screen. The corresponding icon is stored in the folder and the folder itself is displayed on the home screen. 
     Accordingly, when the user wants to execute the corresponding icon, he or she may select the folder displayed on the home screen and may execute the corresponding icon. After step  705  is performed, the electronic device then ends the process of  FIG. 7 . Alternatively, the electronic device loops back to step  701  to process other selected icons on the home screen. 
       FIG. 8  is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an electronic device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     In the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the electronic device  800  may be a portable electronic device. The electronic device  800  may be a portable terminal, a mobile phone, a mobile pad, a media player, a tablet computer, a handheld computer, or a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA). Also, the electronic device  800  may be any known portable electronic device including a device in which two or more functions are combined among these devices. 
     This electronic device  800  includes a memory  810 , a processor unit  820 , a first wireless communication subsystem  830 , a second wireless communication subsystem  831 , an external port  860 , an audio subsystem  850 , a speaker  851 , a microphone  852 , an Input/Output (I/O) system  870 , a touch screen  880 , other input/control devices  890 , a motion sensor  891 , an optical sensor  892 , and a camera subsystem  893 . The memory  810  and the external port  860  may be a plurality of memories and external ports, respectively. 
     The processor unit  820  may include a memory interface  821 , one or more processors  822 , and a peripheral interface  823 . In some cases, the whole processor unit  820  is referred to as a processor. The memory interface  821  may be separately configured, for example, as separate and distinct components, from the processor  822  and/or the peripheral interface  823 , or may be integrated into at least one integrated circuit. In accordance with the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the processor unit  820  verifies that a selected icon is clicked for a predetermined duration of time or more, generates folders capable of storing the selected icon, and changes the current mode to a multi-selection mode capable of allowing a user to select at least two or more icons among displayed icons. Also, the processor unit  820  verifies that a specific region is designated, verifies icons which are positioned on the specific region, and verifies that at least the two or more verified icons are selected. Also, the processor unit  820  generates a menu editing region, verifies that the selected icon is dragged and moved to the menu editing region, and moves the icon to a menu screen. Also, the processor unit  820  verifies that the selected icon is dragged and moved to a selected folder and stores the icon in the folder. The stored icons, folders, and associated files are stored in the memory  810 . 
     The processor  822  executes several software programs and performs several functions for the electronic device  800 . Also, the processor  822  performs process and control for voice communication and data communication. Also, in addition to normal or typical functions of the electronic device  800 , the processor  822  executes a specific software module, which may be an instruction set and/or command set, stored in the memory  810  and plays a role in performing several specific functions corresponding to the software module. That is, the processor  822  interacts with the software modules  811 - 817  stored in the memory  810  and performs the method according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     The processor  822  may include one or more data processors, an image processor, or a codec. The processor  822  may separately include the data processors, the image processor, or the codec. Also, the processor  822  may include several processors for performing different functions. The peripheral interface  823  connects the I/O system  870  of the electronic device  800  and several peripheral devices to the processor  822  and also to the memory  810 , for example, though the memory interface  821 . 
     A variety of components of the electronic device  800  may be coupled by one or more communication buses, stream lines or paths for data transfers and streaming, which are illustrated by the arrows and connections between the components in  FIG. 8 . 
     The external port  860  is used to connect the electronic device  800  to another electronic device directly or connect the electronic device  800  to another electronic device indirectly through a network (e.g., the Internet, an intranet, a wireless Local Area Network (LAN), etc.). For example, the external port  860  may include, but is not limited to, any one of a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port, an IEEE 1394 compatible port, a FIREWIRE port as a port implementing a serial bus interface standard for high-speed communications and isochronous real-time data transfer, commercially available from APPLE CORPORATION, etc. 
     The motion sensor  891  and the optical sensor  892  may connect to the peripheral interface  823  and may perform several functions. For example, the motion sensor  891  and the optical sensor  892  may connect to the peripheral interface  823 , may sense motion of the electronic device  800 , and may sense light from outside the electronic device  800 . Furthermore, a position measurement system and other sensors such as a temperature sensor, a bio-sensor, etc. may connect to the peripheral interface  823  and may perform related functions. 
     The camera subsystem  893  may perform a camera function such as a photo and video clip recording function. 
     The optical sensor  892  may be a Charge Coupled Device (CCD) or a Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) device. 
     A communication function is performed through the first wireless communication subsystem  830  and the second wireless communication subsystem  831 . Each of the first wireless communication subsystem  830  and the second wireless communication subsystem  831  may include a radio frequency receiver and transmitter and/or a beam or electromagnetic wave receiver and transmitter, for example, to receive and transmit infrared rays. The first communication subsystem  830  and the second communication subsystem  831  may be classified according to a communication network through which the electronic device  800  communicates. For example, the communication network may be, but is not limited to, a Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) network, an Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE) network, a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network, a W-CDMA network, a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) network, a Wi-Fi network, a WiMax network, or/and a Bluetooth network. Each of the first communication subsystem  830  and the second communication subsystem  831  may include a communication subsystem designed to be operated through the communication network. Herein, in accordance with the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, because it is necessary to perform Wi-Fi communications through the Wi-Fi network, one of the first wireless communication subsystem  830  and the second wireless communication subsystem  831  may be operated through the Wi-Fi network. The first wireless communication subsystem  830  and the second wireless communication subsystem  831  may be combined and configured as one wireless communication subsystem. 
     The audio subsystem  850  may connect to the speaker  851  and the microphone  852  and may be responsible for inputting and outputting an audio stream, such as for performing a voice recognition function, a voice copy function, a digital recording function, and a phone call function. That is, the audio subsystem  850  communicates with a user through the speaker  851  and the microphone  852 . The audio subsystem  850  receives a data stream through the peripheral interface  823  of the processor unit  820  and converts the received data stream into an electric stream or signal. The converted electric stream or signal is transmitted to the speaker  851 . The speaker  851  converts the electric stream or signal into a sound wave to which a user may listen and outputs the converted sound wave. The microphone  852  converts a sound wave transmitted from the user or other sound sources into an electric stream or signal. The audio subsystem  850  receives the converted electric stream from the microphone  852 . The audio subsystem  850  converts the received electric stream into an audio data stream and transmits the converted audio data stream to the peripheral interface  823 . The audio subsystem  850  may include an attachable and/or detachable earphone, headphone, and/or headset. 
     The I/O system  870  may include a touch screen controller  871  and/or other input controllers  872 . The touch screen controller  871  may be coupled to the touch screen  880 . The touch screen  880  and the touch screen controller  871  may detect, but are not limited to, contact and motion or stopping of such contact or motion using not only capacitive, resistive, infrared ray, and surface acoustic wave technologies for determining one or more contact points but also any known multi-touch sensing technology including other proximity sensor arrangements or other elements. The other input controllers  872  may be coupled to the other input/control devices  890 . The other input/control devices  890  may be pointer devices such as one or more buttons, a rocket switch, a thumb-wheel, a dial, a stick, and/or a stylus. 
     The touch screen  880  provides an input/output interface between the electronic device  800  and the user. That is, the touch screen  880  transmits a touch input of the user to the electronic device  800 . Also, the touch screen  880  is a medium for displaying an output from the electronic device  800  to the user. That is, the touch screen  880  displays a visual output to the user. This visual output has a text type, a graphic type, a video type, and/or a combined type of such text, graphic, and video types. 
     The touch screen  880  may be several displays. For example, the touch screen  880  may be, but is not limited to, a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), a Light Emitting Diode (LED), a Light emitting Polymer Display (LPD), an Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED), an Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode (AMOLED), or a Flexible LED (FLED). The touch screen  880  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention allows the user to select any one of a plurality of displayed icons. The touch screen  880  also allows the user to select at least two or more icons at the same time. The touch screen  880  also allows the user to select respective icons separately. The touch screen  880  also allows the user to select icons by a continuous drag operation. 
     The memory  810  may be coupled to the memory interface  821 . The memory  810  may include a high-speed Random Access Memory (RAM) such as one or more magnetic storages, a non-volatile memory, one or more optical storages, and/or a flash memory (e.g., a NAND flash memory or a NOR flash memory). 
     The memory  810  stores software components and data. The software components include an Operating System (OS) module  811 , a communication module  812 , a graphic module  813 , a user interface module  814 , a CODEC module  815 , a camera module  816 , one or more application modules  817 , etc. Also, the modules which are the software components may be expressed in a set of instructions. Accordingly, the modules may be expressed in an instruction set. Also, the modules may be expressed in programs or applications. 
     The OS module  811  (e.g., embedded OS such as Windows, Linux, Darwin, RTXC, UNIX, OS X, or VxWorks) includes several software components for controlling a general system operation. For example, control of this general system operation means memory management and control, storage hardware and device control and management, power control and management, etc. This OS module  811  also performs a function for smoothly communicating between several hardware and devices, and software components and modules. 
     The communication module  812  may communicate with other electronic devices such as a computer, a server, and/or a portable terminal through the first wireless communication subsystem  830 , the second wireless communication subsystem  831 , and/or the external port  860 . 
     The graphic module  813  includes several software components for providing and displaying graphics on the touch screen  880 . The term “graphics” includes texts, web pages, icons, digital images, videos, animations, etc. The touch screen  880  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention allows the user to select any one of displayed icons. The touch screen  880  also allows the user to select at least two or more icons. The touch screen  880  also allows the user to select respective icons separately. The touch screen  880  also allows the user to select icons by a continuous drag operation. 
     The user interface module  814  includes several software components related to a user interface. The user interface module  814  includes contents about whether a state of a user interface is changed to any state, whether a state of a user interface is changed in any condition, etc. 
     The CODEC module  815  may include software components related to encoding and decoding of video files. The CODEC module  815  may include a video stream module such as an MPEG module and/or an H204 module. Also, the CODEC module  815  may include a code module for several audio files such as AAA files, AMR files, and WMA files. Also, the CODEC module  815  includes an instruction set corresponding to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     The camera module  816  includes cameral-related software components capable of performing camera-related processes and functions. 
     The application module  817  includes at least one of a browser function, an email function, an instant message function, a word processing function, a keyboard emulation function, an address book function, a touch list function, a widget function, a Digital Rights Management (DRM) function, a voice recognition function, a voice copy function, a position determining function, a location based service function, etc. 
     A variety of functions of the electronic device  800 , which are described herein, may be executed by one or more of data streaming processes, hardware including an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), software, and/or combination of such processes, hardware, and software. 
     The above-described apparatus and methods according to the present invention can be implemented 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, a ROM, a floppy disk, DVDs, a hard disk, a magnetic storage media, an optical recording media, or a magneto-optical disk or computer code downloaded over a network originally stored on a remote recording medium, a computer readable recording medium, or a non-transitory machine readable medium and to be stored on a local recording medium, so that the methods described herein can be rendered in such software that is stored on the recording medium using a general purpose computer, a digital computer, or a special processor or in programmable or dedicated hardware, such as an ASIC or FPGA. As would be understood in the art, the computer, the processor, microprocessor controller 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. In addition, the program may be electronically transferred through any media such as communication signals transmitted by wire/wireless connections, and their equivalents. 
     While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled 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 appended claims.