Patent Publication Number: US-9414206-B2

Title: Mobile terminal using contact information from a social network service and method thereof

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a Continuation of co-pending application Ser. No. 13/705,507 filed on Dec. 5, 2012, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) to Korean Application No. 10-2011-0130423, filed on Dec. 7, 2011, whose entire disclosure is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present disclosure relates to a mobile terminal and an operation control method thereof, and more particularly, to a mobile terminal having a contact store function and operation control method thereof. 
     2. Background 
     Terminals can be classified into a mobile terminal and a stationary terminal based on its mobility. Furthermore, the mobile terminal can be further classified into a handheld terminal and a vehicle mount terminal based on whether or not it can be directly carried by a user. 
     As it becomes multifunctional, the terminal can be allowed to capture still images or moving images, play music or video files, play games, receive broadcast and the like, so as to be implemented as an integrated multimedia player. Moreover, the improvement of the terminal may be taken into consideration in the aspect of structure or software to support and enhance the function of the terminal. 
     For example, a mobile terminal may provide various functions associated with contacts, and more particularly, provide a group management function for collectively managing a plurality of contacts. In general, the group management function may provide a function for performing the same operation for each constituent member separately. 
     The above references are incorporated by reference herein where appropriate for appropriate teachings of additional or alternative details, features and/or technical background. 
     SUMMARY 
     In order to solve the foregoing problem, at least an object of the present disclosure is to provide a mobile terminal for providing a convenient and effective contact management function. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a mobile terminal  100  associated with an embodiment; 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  are perspective views illustrating the external appearance of a mobile terminal  100 ; 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  are views for explaining the method of providing a user interface in a mobile terminal according to a first and a second embodiment disclosed herein; 
         FIG. 4  is a view illustrating the operation example of a mobile terminal  100  according to an embodiment disclosed herein; 
         FIG. 5  is a view illustrating the operation example of a mobile terminal  100  according to a first embodiment disclosed herein; 
         FIG. 6  is a view illustrating the operation example of a mobile terminal  100  according to a second embodiment disclosed herein; 
         FIG. 7  is a view illustrating the operation example of a mobile terminal  100  according to a first and a second embodiment disclosed herein; 
         FIG. 8  is a view illustrating the operation example of a mobile terminal  100  according to a first embodiment disclosed herein; 
         FIG. 9  is a view specifically illustrating a bulletin  322  shown in  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a view illustrating a result to which a contact disclosed herein is linked; 
         FIG. 11  is a view for specifically explaining an interface of the storage area  230  according to embodiments disclosed herein; 
         FIG. 12  is a view for explaining a method of performing the operation of a mobile terminal according to a third embodiment disclosed herein; 
         FIG. 13  is a view illustrating the operation example of a mobile terminal  100  according to a third embodiment disclosed herein; 
         FIG. 14  is a view illustrating the process of selecting a main contact and an auxiliary contact according to a third embodiment disclosed herein; 
         FIG. 15  is a view illustrating the operation example of a mobile terminal  100  according to a third embodiment disclosed herein; 
         FIG. 16  is a view illustrating the operation example of a mobile terminal  100  according to a third embodiment disclosed herein; and 
         FIG. 17  is a view illustrating the operation example of a mobile terminal  100  according to a third embodiment disclosed herein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings to such an extent that the present disclosure can be easily embodied by a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains. However, the present disclosure may be implemented in various different forms, and therefore, the present disclosure is not limited to the illustrated embodiments. In order to clearly describe the present disclosure, parts not related to the description are omitted, and like reference numerals designate like constituent elements throughout the specification. 
     A mobile terminal disclosed herein may include a portable phone, a smart phone, a laptop computer, a digital broadcast mobile device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable multimedia player (PMP), a navigation, and the like. However, it would be easily understood by those skilled in the art that a configuration according to the following description may be applicable to a stationary terminal such as a digital TV, a desktop computer, and the like, excluding constituent elements particularly configured for mobile purposes. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a mobile terminal  100  associated with the present disclosure. Referring to  FIG. 1 , the mobile terminal  100  may include a wireless communication unit  110 , an audio/video (NV) input unit  120 , a user input unit  130 , a sensing unit  140 , an output unit  150 , a memory  160 , an interface unit  170 , a controller  180 , a power supply unit  190 , and the like. However, the constituent elements as illustrated in  FIG. 1  are not necessarily required, and the mobile communication terminal may be implemented with greater or less number of elements than those illustrated elements. 
     Hereinafter, the constituent elements  110 - 190  of the mobile terminal  100  will be described in sequence. 
     The wireless communication unit  110  may include one or more elements allowing radio communication between the mobile terminal  100  and a wireless communication system, or allowing radio communication between the mobile terminal  100  and a network in which the mobile terminal  100  is located. For example, the wireless communication unit  110  may include a broadcast receiving module  111 , a mobile communication module  112 , a wireless Internet module  113 , a short-range communication module  114 , a location information module (position-location module)  115 , and the like. 
     The broadcast receiving module  111  receives broadcast signals and/or broadcast associated information from an external broadcast management server through a broadcast channel. The broadcast associated information may mean information regarding a broadcast channel, a broadcast program, a broadcast service provider, and the like. The broadcast associated information may also be provided through a mobile communication network. In this case, the broadcast associated information may be received by the mobile communication module  112 . The broadcast signal and broadcast-associated information received through the broadcast receiving module  111  may be stored in the memory  160 . 
     The mobile communication module  112  transmits and/or receives a radio signal to and/or from at least one of a base station, an external terminal and a server over a mobile communication network. The radio signal may include a voice call signal, a video call signal or various types of data according to text and/or multimedia message transmission and reception. 
     The wireless Internet module  113  as a module for supporting wireless Internet access may be built-in or externally installed to the mobile terminal  100 . A variety of wireless Internet access techniques may be used, such as WLAN (Wireless LAN), Wi-Fi, Wibro (Wireless Broadband), Wimax (World Interoperability for Microwave Access), HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access), and the like. 
     The short-range communication module  114  refers to a module for supporting a short-range communication. A variety of short-range communication technologies may be used, such as Bluetooth, Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID), Infrared Data Association (IrDA), Ultra WideBand (UWB), ZigBee, and the like. 
     The location information module  115  is a module for acquiring a location of the mobile terminal  100 , and there is a GPS module as a representative example. 
     Subsequently, referring to  FIG. 1 , the A/V (audio/video) input unit  120  receives an audio or video signal, and the A/V (audio/video) input unit  120  may include a camera  121 , a microphone  122 , and the like. The camera  121  processes an image frame, such as still or moving images, obtained by an image sensor in a video phone call or image capturing mode. The processed image frame may be displayed on a display unit  151 . The image frames processed by the camera  121  may be stored in the memory  160  or transmitted to an external device through the wireless communication unit  110 . Two or more cameras  121  may be provided according to the use environment of the mobile terminal. 
     The microphone  122  receives an external audio signal through a microphone in a phone call mode, a recording mode, a voice recognition mode, and the like, and processes the audio signal into electrical voice data. The processed voice data may be converted and outputted into a format that is transmittable to a mobile communication base station through the mobile communication module  112  in the phone call mode. The microphone  122  may implement various types of noise canceling algorithms to cancel noise generated during the process of receiving the external audio signal. 
     The user input unit  130  may generate input data to control an operation of the mobile terminal  100 . The user input unit  130  may be configured with a keypad, a dome switch, a touch pad (pressure/capacitance), a jog wheel, a jog switch, and the like. 
     The sensing unit  140  detects presence or absence of the user&#39;s contact, and a current status of the mobile terminal  100  such as an opened or closed configuration, a location of the mobile terminal  100 , an orientation of the mobile terminal  100 , an acceleration or deceleration of the mobile terminal  100 , and the like, and generates a sensing signal for controlling the operation of the mobile terminal  100 . For example, when the mobile terminal  100  is a slide phone type, the sensing unit  140  may sense an opened or closed configuration of the slide phone. Furthermore, the sensing unit  140  may sense whether or not power is supplied from the power supply unit  190 , or whether or not an external device is coupled to the interface unit  170 . 
     The sensing unit  140  may include a proximity sensor  141 . Furthermore, the sensing unit  140  may include a touch sensor (not shown) for sensing a touch operation with respect to the display unit  151 . 
     The touch sensor may be implemented as a touch film, a touch sheet, a touch pad, and the like. The touch sensor may be configured to convert changes of a pressure applied to a specific part of the display unit  151 , or a capacitance generated from a specific part of the display unit  151 , into electric input signals. The touch sensor may be configured to sense not only a touched position and a touched area, but also a touch pressure. 
     When the touch sensor and display unit  151  forms an interlayer structure, the display unit  151  may be used as an input device rather than an output device. The display unit  151  may be referred to as a “touch screen”. 
     When there is a touch input through the touch screen, the corresponding signals may be transmitted to a touch controller (not shown). The touch controller processes signals transferred from the touch sensor, and then transmits data corresponding to the processed signals to the controller  180 . Accordingly, the controller  180  may sense which region of the display unit  151  has been touched. 
     When the touch screen is a capacitance type, the proximity of a sensing object may be detected by changes of an electromagnetic field according to the proximity of a sensing object. The touch screen may be categorized into a proximity sensor  141 . 
     The proximity sensor  141  refers to a sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a sensing object using an electromagnetic field or infrared rays without a mechanical contact. The proximity sensor  141  has a longer lifespan and more enhanced utility than a contact sensor. The proximity sensor  141  may include an optical transmission type photoelectric sensor, a direct reflective type photoelectric sensor, a mirror reflective type photoelectric sensor, a high-frequency oscillation proximity sensor, a capacitance type proximity sensor, a magnetic type proximity sensor, an infrared rays proximity sensor, and the like. 
     Hereinafter, for the sake of convenience of explanation, the behavior of a sensing object being placed in proximity with the touch screen without being brought into contact with the touch screen may be referred to as a “proximity touch”, whereas the behavior of a sensing object being brought into contact with the touch screen may be referred to as a “contact touch”. 
     The proximity sensor  141  may sense the presence or absence of a proximity touch and a proximity touch pattern (for example, a proximity touch distance, a proximity touch direction, a proximity touch velocity, a proximity touch time, a proximity touch position, a proximity touch moving state, etc.) Information corresponding to the presence or absence of a proximity touch and the proximity touch pattern may be displayed on the touch screen. 
     The output unit  150  may generate an output associated with visual, auditory, tactile senses. The output unit  150  may include a display unit  151 , an audio output module  153 , an alarm unit  154 , a haptic module  155 , and the like. 
     The display unit  151  may display (output) information processed in the mobile terminal  100 . For example, when the mobile terminal  100  is operated in a phone call mode, the display unit  151  may display a user interface (UI) or graphic user interface (GUI) associated with a phone call. When the mobile terminal  100  is operated in a video call mode or image capturing mode, the display unit  151  may display a captured image, a received image, UI, GUI, or the like. 
     The display unit  151  may include at least one of a liquid crystal display (LCD), a thin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD), an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, a flexible display, a three-dimensional (3D) display, and an e-ink display. 
     At least one of those displays (or display devices) included in the display unit  151  may be configured with a transparent or optical transparent type to allow the user to view the outside therethrough. It may be referred to as a transparent display. A representative example of the transparent display may be a transparent OLED (TOLED), and the like. Under this configuration, the user can view an object positioned at a rear side of the mobile device body through a region occupied by the display unit  151  of the mobile device body. 
     There may exist two or more display units  151  according to the implementation of the mobile terminal  100 . For example, a plurality of the display units  151  may be placed on one surface in a separate or integrated manner, or may be place on different surfaces, respectively. 
     The audio output module  152  may output audio data received from the wireless communication unit  110  or stored in the memory  160 , in a call-receiving mode, a call-placing mode, a recording mode, a voice recognition mode, a broadcast reception mode, and the like. The audio output module  152  may output an audio signal associated with a function carried out in the mobile terminal  100  (for example, sound alarming a call received or a message received, and the like). The audio output module  152  may include a receiver, a speaker, a buzzer, and the like. 
     The alarm unit  153  outputs signals notifying the occurrence of an event from the mobile terminal  100 . The examples of an event occurring from the mobile terminal  100  may include a call received, a message received, a key signal input, a touch input, and the like. The alarm unit  153  may output not only video or audio signals, but also other types of signals such as signals for notifying the occurrence of an event in a vibration manner. Since the video or audio signals may be also output through the display unit  151  or the audio output unit  152 , the display unit  151  and the audio output module  152  may be categorized into part of the alarm unit  153 . 
     The haptic module  154  generates various tactile effects that can be felt by the user. A representative example of the tactile effects generated by the haptic module  154  may include vibration. Vibration generated by the haptic module  155  may have a controllable intensity, a controllable pattern, and the like. For example, different vibrations may be output in a synthesized manner or in a sequential manner. 
     The haptic module  154  may generate various tactile effects, including not only vibration, but also arrangement of pins vertically moved with respect to a skin surface being touched, air injection force or air suction force through an injection port or suction port, touch by a skin surface, contact with an electrode, effects by stimulus such as an electrostatic force, reproduction of cold or hot feeling using a heat absorbing device or heat emitting device, and the like. 
     The haptic module  154  may be configured to transmit tactile effects through the user&#39;s direct contact, or the user&#39;s muscular sense using a finger or a hand. Two or more haptic modules  155  may be provided according to the configuration of the mobile terminal  100 . 
     The memory  160  may store a program for operating the controller  180 , or temporarily store input/output data (for example, phonebooks, messages, still images, moving images, and the like). The memory  160  may store data related to various patterns of vibrations and sounds outputted when performing a touch input on the touch screen. 
     The memory  160  may be implemented using any type of suitable storage medium including a flash memory type, a hard disk type, a multimedia card micro type, a memory card type (e.g., SD or DX memory), Random Access Memory (RAM), Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), Read-Only Memory (ROM), Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-only Memory (EEPROM), Programmable Read-only Memory (PROM), magnetic memory, magnetic disk, optical disk, and the like. Also, the mobile terminal  100  may operate a web storage which performs the storage function of the memory  160  on the Internet. 
     The interface unit  170  may generally be implemented to interface the portable terminal with external devices. The interface unit  170  may allow a data reception from an external device, a power delivery to each component in the mobile terminal  100 , or a data transmission from the mobile terminal  100  to an external device. The interface unit  170  may include, for example, wired/wireless headset ports, external charger ports, wired/wireless data ports, memory card ports, ports for coupling devices having an identification module, audio Input/Output (I/O) ports, video I/O ports, earphone ports, and the like. 
     The identification module may be configured as a chip for storing various information required to authenticate an authority to use the mobile terminal  100 , which may include a User Identity Module (UIM), a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM), and the like. Also, the device having the identification module (hereinafter, referred to as “identification device”) may be implemented in a type of smart card. Hence, the identification device can be coupled to the mobile terminal  100  via a port. 
     The interface unit  170  may serve as a path for power to be supplied from an external cradle to the mobile terminal  100  when the mobile terminal  100  is connected to the external cradle or as a path for transferring various command signals inputted from the cradle by a user to the mobile terminal  100 . Such various command signals or power inputted from the cradle may operate as signals for recognizing that the mobile terminal  100  has accurately been mounted to the cradle. 
     The controller  180  typically controls the overall operations of the mobile terminal  100 . For example, the controller  180  performs the control and processing associated with telephony calls, data communications, video calls, and the like. The controller  180  may include a multimedia module  181  which provides multimedia playback. The multimedia module  181  may be configured as part of the controller  180  or as a separate component. The controller  180  can perform a pattern recognition processing so as to recognize a handwriting or drawing input on the touch screen as text or image. 
     The power supply unit  190  may receive external or internal power to provide power required by various components under the control of the controller  180 . 
     Various embodiments described herein may be implemented in a computer or similar device readable medium using software, hardware, or any combination thereof. 
     For hardware implementation, it may be implemented by using at least one of application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), processors, controllers, micro-controllers, microprocessors, and electrical units designed to perform the functions described herein. In some cases, such embodiments may be implemented in the controller  180  itself. 
     For software implementation, the embodiments such as procedures or functions may be implemented together with separate software modules that allow performing of at least one function or operation. Software codes can be implemented by a software application written in any suitable programming language. The software codes may be stored in the memory  160  and executed by the controller  180 . 
     Hereinafter, the method of processing a user input to the mobile terminal  100  will be described. 
     The user input unit  130  is manipulated to receive a command for controlling the operation of the mobile terminal  100 , and may include a plurality of manipulation units. The manipulation units may be commonly designated as a manipulating portion, and any method may be employed if it is a tactile manner allowing the user to perform manipulation with a tactile feeling. 
     Various kinds of visual information may be displayed on the display unit  151 . The visual information may be displayed in the form of a character, a numeral, a symbol, a graphic, an icon, and the like. For an input of the visual information, at least one of a character, a numeral, a symbol, a graphic, and an icon may be displayed with a predetermined arrangement so as to be implemented in the form of a keypad. Such a keypad may be referred to as a so-called “soft key.” 
     The display unit  151  may operate on an entire region or operate by dividing into a plurality of regions. In case of the latter, the plurality of regions may be configured to operate in an associative way. For example, an output window and an input window may be displayed on the upper and lower portions of the display unit  151 , respectively. The output window and the input window may be regions allocated to output or input information, respectively. A soft key on which numerals for inputting a phone number or the like are displayed is outputted on the input window. When the soft key is touched, a numeral corresponding to the touched soft key is displayed on the output window. When the first manipulating unit is manipulated, a phone call connection for the phone number displayed on the output window will be attempted or a text displayed on the output window will be entered to the application. 
     The display unit  151  or touch pad may be configured to sense a touch scroll. The user may move an object displayed on the display unit  151 , for example, a cursor or pointer placed on an icon or the like, by scrolling the display unit  151  or touch pad. Moreover, when a finger is moved on the display unit  151  or touch pad, a path being moved by the finger may be visually displayed on the display unit  151 . It may be useful to edit an image displayed on the display unit  151 . 
     In order to cope with a case where the display unit  151  and touch pad are touched together within a predetermined period of time, one function of the terminal  100  may be implemented. For the case of being touched together, there is a case when the user clamps a body of the mobile terminal  100  using his or her thumb and forefinger. For one of the above functions implemented in the mobile terminal  100 , for example, there may be an activation or de-activation for the display unit  151  or touch pad. 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  are perspective views illustrating the external appearance of a mobile terminal  100  associated with the present disclosure.  FIG. 2A  is a front and a side view illustrating the mobile terminal  100 , and  FIG. 2B  is a rear and the other side view illustrating the mobile terminal  100 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2A , the mobile terminal  100  disclosed herein is provided with a bar-type terminal body. However, the present disclosure is not only limited to this type of terminal, but also applicable to various structures of terminals such as slide type, folder type, swivel type, swing type, and the like, in which two and more bodies are combined with each other in a relatively movable manner. 
     The terminal body includes a case (casing, housing, cover, etc.) forming an appearance of the terminal. In this embodiment, the case may be divided into a front case  101  and a rear case  102 . Various electronic components may be integrated in a space formed between the front case  101  and the rear case  102 . At least one middle case may be additionally disposed between the front case  101  and the rear case  102 . 
     The cases may be formed by injection-molding a synthetic resin or may be also formed of a metal material such as stainless steel (STS), titanium (Ti), or the like. 
     A display unit  151 , an audio output module  152 , a camera  121 , a user input unit  130  (refer to  FIG. 1 ), a microphone  122 , an interface  170 , and the like may be arranged on the terminal body, mainly on the front case  101 . 
     The display unit  151  occupies a most portion of the front case  101 . The audio output unit  152  and the camera  121  are disposed on a region adjacent to one of both ends of the display unit  151 , and the user input unit  131  and the microphone  122  are disposed on a region adjacent to the other end thereof. The user interface  132  and the interface  170 , and the like, may be disposed on a lateral surface of the front case  101  and the rear case  102 . 
     The user input unit  130  is manipulated to receive a command for controlling the operation of the portable terminal  100 . The user input unit  130  may include a plurality of manipulation units  131 ,  132 . 
     The manipulation units  131 ,  132  may receive various commands. For example, the first manipulation unit  131  may be used to receive a command, such as start, end, scroll, or the like. The second manipulation unit  132  may be used to receive a command, such as controlling a volume level being outputted from the audio output unit  152 , or switching it into a touch recognition mode of the display unit  151 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2B , a camera  121 ′ may be additionally mounted on a rear surface of the terminal body, namely, the rear case  102 . The rear camera  121 ′ has an image capturing direction, which is substantially opposite to the direction of the front camera  121  (refer to  FIG. 2A ), and may have different number of pixels from those of the front camera  121 . 
     For example, that the front camera  121  may be configured to have a relatively small number of pixels, and the rear camera  121 ′ may be configured to have a relatively large number of pixels. Accordingly, in case where the front camera  121  is used for video communication, it may be possible to reduce the size of transmission data when the user captures his or her own face and sends it to the other party in real time. On the other hand, the rear camera  121 ′ may be used for the purpose of storing high quality images. 
     On the other hand, the cameras  121 ,  121 ′ may be provided in the terminal body in a rotatable and popupable manner. 
     Furthermore, a flash  123  and a mirror  124  may be additionally disposed adjacent to the rear camera  121 ′. The flash  123  illuminates light toward an object when capturing the object with the camera  121 ′. The mirror  124  allows the user to look at his or her own face, or the like, in a reflected way when capturing himself or herself (in a self-portrait mode) by using the rear camera  121 ′. 
     Furthermore, a rear audio output unit  152 ′ may be additionally disposed on a rear surface of the terminal body. The rear audio output unit  152 ′ together with the front audio output unit  152  (refer to  FIG. 2A ) can implement a stereo function, and it may be also used to implement a speaker phone mode during a phone call. 
     Furthermore, an antenna  116  for receiving broadcast signals may be additionally disposed on a lateral surface of the terminal body. The antenna  116  constituting part of a broadcast receiving module  111  (refer to  FIG. 1 ) may be provided so as to be pulled out from the terminal body. 
     Furthermore, a power supply unit  190  for supplying power to the portable terminal  100  may be mounted on the terminal body. The power supply unit  190  may be configured so as to be incorporated in the terminal body, or directly detachable from the outside of the terminal body. 
     A touch pad  135  for detecting a touch may be additionally mounted on the rear case  102 . The touch pad  135  may be also configured with an optical transmission type, similarly to the display unit  151  (refer to  FIG. 2A ). Alternatively, a rear display unit for displaying visual information may be additionally mounted on the touch pad  135 . At this time, information displayed on the both surfaces of the front display unit  151  and rear display unit may be controlled by the touch pad  135 . 
     The touch pad  135  may be operated in conjunction with the display unit  151  of the front case  101 . The touch pad  135  may be disposed in parallel at a rear side of the display unit  151 . The touch pad  135  may have the same size as or a smaller size than the display unit  151 . 
     Hereinafter, a mobile terminal having the function of providing different services with a command for two or more contacts connected to each other and a user interface for connecting two or more different contacts will be described. 
     The display unit  151  according to a first embodiment disclosed herein displays a contact list containing a plurality of contacts. The user input unit  130  receives an input for designating a first recipient. The controller  180  designates a first contact in the contact list as a first recipient according to a user&#39;s input, and designates at least one second contact as a second recipient when there exists the at least one second contact connected to the first contact. The wireless communication unit  110  performs a first operation for the first recipient, and performs a second operation subordinate to the first operation for the second recipient. 
     The display unit  151  according to a second embodiment disclosed herein displays a list containing a plurality of items on a display unit. The user input unit  130  receives an input for configuring a storage area on the display unit, and the controller  180  configures the storage area on the display unit according to a user&#39;s input. The user input unit  130  also receives an input for selecting a first item from the list, and the controller  180  selects the first item from the list according to the user&#39;s input, and stores the selected first item in the storage area. Furthermore, the controller  180  connects a first contact associated with the first item to a second contact associated with a second item selected from the list, and stores them in the memory  160 . 
     The user input unit  130  detects an input for dragging and dropping one item from the list to the storage area, and the controller  180  selects the one item as a first item. Again, the user input unit  130  detects an input for dragging and dropping the first item from the storage area to the list, and the controller  180  selects an item corresponding to the position at which the first item has been dropped as the second item. 
     The display unit  151  according to a third embodiment disclosed herein displays a list containing a plurality of items on a display unit. The user input unit  130  receives an input for configuring a storage area on the display unit, and the controller  180  configures the storage area on the display unit according to a user&#39;s input. The user input unit  130  also receives an input for selecting at least one item from the list, and the controller  180  selects the at least one item from the list according to the user&#39;s input, and stores the selected at least one item in the storage area. Furthermore, the controller  180  connects a plurality of contacts associated with the selected at least one item, and stores them in the memory  160 . 
     The user input unit  130  receives an input for dragging and dropping one item from the list to the storage area, and the controller  180  selects at least one item based on the input. 
     Furthermore, the user input unit  130  receives an input for selecting any one of the at least one items in the storage area, and the controller  180  connects a contact associated with the selected any one item to a contact associated with the other remaining item. 
     Furthermore, the controller  180  connects the plurality of contacts stored in a phone book when the plurality of contacts are stored in the phone book. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 through 11 , a mobile terminal  100  having a user interface for connecting two or more different contacts according to a first and a second embodiment disclosed herein will be described. Furthermore, referring to  FIGS. 12 through 17 , a mobile terminal having a function of providing different services with a command for two or more contacts connected to each other according to a third embodiment disclosed herein will be described. 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  are views for explaining the method of providing a user interface in a mobile terminal according to a first embodiment disclosed herein. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3A , the mobile terminal  100  performs a process of displaying a list containing a plurality of items on a display unit (S 110 ). Then the mobile terminal  100  performs a process of configuring a work area on the display unit (S 120 ). The mobile terminal  100  performs a process of displaying a first item selected from the list when the first item is dragged or dropped into the work area (S 130 ). The mobile terminal  100  performs a process of linking a first contact associated with the first item to a second contact associated with a second item selected from the list (S 140 ). 
     Referring to  FIG. 3B , the mobile terminal  100  performs a process of linking at least one item selected from the list in the work area (S 132 ) instead of the step S 130 . Then, the mobile terminal  100  performs a process of linking a plurality of contacts associated with the at least one item (S 142 ). 
       FIG. 4  is a view illustrating the operation example of a mobile terminal  100  according to an embodiment disclosed herein. If the user selects an item configured to implement a contact list display function, then the mobile terminal  100  displays a contact list on the contact list display screen  200 . The contact list may be a list of contacts stored in the mobile terminal  100  or the server. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4( a ) , the contact list display screen  200  may include a title area  210  for indicating information displayed on the display unit and a list area  220  for displaying a plurality of contacts items in a list form. For example, a contact add menu icon  212  for adding a new contact may be displayed on the title area  210 . In this state, a user selects a contact  224  corresponding to “Aidan” (hereinafter Aidan contact  224 ) to link or associate the contact  222  corresponding to “Adam” (hereinafter Adam contact  222 ) to the Aidan contact  224 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4( b ) , if the Aidan contact  224  is selected in the list area  220 , then the mobile terminal  100  may display a detailed information display screen  240  providing the detailed information of the Aidan contact  224  on the display unit. The detailed information display screen  240  may display an image, a name, and a contact indicating a person corresponding to the selected contact. Furthermore, the detailed information display screen  240  may further display a contact linking/association menu icon  242 . The user selects the contact icon  242  to select a contact for linking/associating another contact to the Aidan contact  224 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4( c ) , if the icon  242  is selected, then the mobile terminal  100  may display a contact selection screen  200 ′ to allow selection of another contact to be linked to the Aidan contact  224 . The user may select the Adam contact  222  to link/associate the Adam contact  222  to the Aidan contact  224  on the contact selection screen  200 ′. Accordingly, the mobile terminal  100  links the contact  222  to the contact  224  and such association information may be stored in the memory. 
     In other words, referring to  FIG. 4( d ) , if the Aidan contact  224  is selected in the list area  220 , then the mobile terminal  100  may display the detailed information display screen  240  of the Aidan contact  224  on the display unit. The detailed information display screen  240  may display an image, a name, and detailed contact information. When there exists a contact associated/linked to the Aidan contact  224 , the mobile terminal  100  may display an indicator or an icon  244  indicating that there exists a contact associated or linked thereto. If the indicator  244  is selected, then the detailed information of the Adam contact  222  will be displayed. 
     Alternatively, the detailed information of the Adam contact  222  may be immediately displayed. As shown in  FIG. 7( b ) , if the Aidan contact  224  is selected in the list area  220 , then an information display screen  250  displays the detailed information  252  of the Aidan contact  224  linked/associated with detailed information  254  of contact  224 . The connected information display screen  250  may display simultaneously the detailed information  252  of the selected first contact  224  and the detailed information  254  of the second contact  222  associated/linked to the contact  224 . 
       FIG. 5  is a view illustrating the operation example of a mobile terminal  100  according to a another embodiment disclosed herein. If the user selects an item or an icon configured to execute a contact list display function, the mobile terminal  100  displays a contact list on the contact list display screen  200 , as shown in  FIG. 4( a ) . As described above, the contact list display screen  200  may include a title area  210  for indicating information displayed on the display unit and a contact list area  220  for displaying a plurality of contact items. For example, when the user performs a long touch on one contact  222  among the plurality of contacts displayed on the list area  220  or selects a predetermined menu (not shown in the drawing), a work or mini-desktop or linking area  230  for allowing manipulation of the contacts on the display unit, as shown in  FIG. 5( a ) . The long touch may be based on the amount of time an icon or item is selected and/or based on number of fingers used to select an icon or an item. 
     The mobile terminal  100  may display the work area  230  on the display unit. The work area  230  may be displayed at a partial region of the display unit, and may be displayed, for example, at a lower end of the contact list display screen  200 . Furthermore, the work area  230  may be displayed to overlap with a partial region of the list area  220 , or may be displayed in a semi-transparent layer form to allow the user to view the overlapped contact. 
     Once the work area  230  is configured, the work area  230  may be continuously displayed on the display unit even though information displayed on the display unit is changed. For example, the work area  230  may be continuously displayed on the display unit even when the plurality of contacts displayed on the list area  220  are changed as a list is scrolled on the list area  220 . In this case, the work area  230  may be used for linking/associating a contact which is displayed on the screen to a contact which is not displayed on the screen. 
     In another embodiment, the work area  230  may be continuously displayed on the display unit even though the contact list display screen  200  is switched to another screen. In this case, the work area  230  may be used for combining a contact displayed on the screen with an item displayed on another screen, or combining the plurality of contacts using a menu displayed on another screen. 
     Though will be described later in detail, the setting of the work area  230  may be released when a contact stored in the work area  230  is combined with another contact or an input for releasing the work area  230  is received. The work area  230  may be continuously displayed on the display unit even though information displayed on the display unit is changed unless the setting of the work area  230  is released. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5( b ) , in a state that a work area is provided on the display unit, the user may touch the Adam contact  222  to drag and/or drop the touched contact  222  to the work area  230 . The mobile terminal  100  may store the information of the Adam contact  222  in a buffer or store in a memory. Furthermore, the mobile terminal  100  may display an icon  232  indicating the Adam contact  222  has been placed in the working area  230 . At this time, the contact  222  dropped into the working area  230  may be omitted for display from the list area  220  as shown in  FIG. 5( c ) . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5( c ) , the user may touch an icon  232  displayed on the work area  230  to drag and drop the touched icon  232  to the Aidan contact  224 . Accordingly, the mobile terminal  100  may link/associate the Adam contact  222  to the Aidan contact  224  and store both of them. The Adam contact  222  may be omitted from future display in the contact list on the list area  220 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5( d ) , if the Aidan contact  224  is omitted during display of the contact list on the list area  220 , the mobile terminal  100  may display the detailed information display screen  240  of the relevant contact  224  on the display unit. The detailed information display screen  240  may display an image, a name, and a contact indicating the person of the contact as described above. At the same time, when there exists a contact linked to the Aidan contact  224 , an indicator  244  indicating that there is a contact to be connected thereto may be displayed. If the indicator  244  is selected, then the detailed information of the Adam contact  222  linked to the Aidan contact  224  will be displayed. 
     Alternatively, the detailed information of the Adam contact  222  linked to the Aidan contact  224  may be immediately displayed. In other words, if the Aidan contact  224  is selected in the list area  220 , a contact information display screen  250  for displaying the detailed information of the contact  222  connected to the selected contact  224  can be displayed as illustrated in  FIG. 7( b ) . The contact information display screen  250  may display the detailed information  252  of the selected contact  224  and the detailed information  254  of the contact  222  linked to the contact  224 . 
       FIG. 6  is a view illustrating the operation example of a mobile terminal  100  according to a second embodiment disclosed herein. Referring to  FIG. 5( b )  again, the user may drag and drop the Adam contact  222  to the work area  230 , and accordingly, the mobile terminal  100  may store the Adam contact  222  in a buffer. An icon  232  corresponding to the Adam contact  222  is displayed on the work area  230 . 
     In this state, referring to  FIG. 6( a ) , the user may drag and drop the Aidan contact  224  to the work area  230 , and accordingly, the mobile terminal  100  may store the Aidan contact  224  in a buffer. An icon  234  corresponding to the Aidan contact  222  on the work area  230 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6( b ) , if the user selects a contact generation icon menu  212  for generating a new contact in a state that the icon  232  and the icon  234  are displayed on the work area  230 , then the mobile terminal  100  may link the Adam contact  222  to the Aidan contact  224  and store both of them. Such that when Aidan contact is selected from a contact list, detailed information  240  of  FIG. 5( d )  or  FIG. 7( b )  is displayed. Likewise, such linked information may be shown when the Adam contact is selected from the contact list. Alternatively, automatic linking may occur when the Aidan contact is dragged in the work area. Alternatively, when a contact generation icon  212  is selected, a new contact entry screen may be displayed with the Adam contact  222  and the Aidan contact linked to the new contact to be entered. 
       FIG. 7  is a view illustrating the operation example of a mobile terminal  100  according to first and second embodiments. Referring to  FIG. 7( a ) , the contact list display screen  200  may include the title area  210  and the list area  220 , and an image and a name indicating each contact may be displayed on the list area  220 . The mobile terminal  100  may further display an indicator  226  to distinguish the contact  224  which is linked/associated to another contact from other contact which does not include such linking. 
     The mobile terminal  100  may further display a contact connected to another contact  224  according to an implementation example as illustrated in  FIG. 7( a ) , or may not display it. For instance, if the Adam contact is linked to the Aidan contact, the Adam contact may not be displayed on the list area  220 . The user may select the Aidan contact to check/obtain the detailed information of the Adam contact. 
     If an indicator  242  indicating that there exists a contact linked thereto in the detailed information display screen  240  described with reference to  FIG. 5( d )  is selected, then the detailed information of the contact connected thereto will be displayed as shown in  FIG. 7( b ) . Alternatively, the contact information screen  250  may be automatically displayed when Aidan contact  226  is selected. The contact information screen  250  may display the detailed information  252  of the selected contact  224  and the detailed information  254  of the contact linked to the selected contact  224 . 
       FIG. 8  is a view illustrating the operation example of a mobile terminal  100  according to a first embodiment disclosed herein. The mobile terminal  100  may provide a function of displaying a bulletin posted through a network service such as Social Network Service (SNS), such as Twitter or Facebook, as a list form. If the user selects an icon configured to implement a bulletin list display function, then the mobile terminal  100  displays a bulletin list on a bulletin list display screen  300 . The bulletin list may be a list of bulletins stored in the mobile terminal  100  or a server. 
     The bulletin list display screen  300  may include a title area  310  for indicating information displayed on the display unit and a list area  320  for displaying a plurality of bulletins (bulletin list). For example, a bulletin add icon  312  to add a new bulletin may be provided on the title area  310 . Images indicating the publisher of each bulletin and brief information of the bulletin may be displayed on the list area  320 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8( b ) , for example, when the user performs a long touch on one bulletin  322  among the bulletins displayed on the list area  320  or selects a predetermined menu though not shown in the drawing, a work, mini-desktop or linking area  330  capable of receiving bulletins may be configured or automatically provided on the display unit. The work area  330  may be displayed at a partial region of the display unit, and may be displayed, for example, at a lower end of the bulletin list display screen  300 . Furthermore, the work area  330  may be displayed to overlap with the list area  320 , or may be displayed in a semi-transparent layer form to allow the user to view the overlapped bulletin. 
     The user may drag and drop the long touched bulletin  322  to the storage area  330 , and accordingly, the mobile terminal  100  may display an icon  332  indicating the dragged and dropped bulletin  322  on the storage area  330 . The mobile terminal  100  may extract a plurality of contacts from the bulletin  322  and temporarily store them in a buffer or memory device. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8( c ) , if the user selects the contact add icon  312  to add a new contact in a state that the icon  332  is displayed on the storage area  330 , then the mobile terminal  100  may extract a plurality of contacts from the relevant bulletin  322 , and link the plurality of contacts extracted from the bulletin  322  to one another. For example, another contact may be subordinately linked to one contact extracted from the bulletin  322  to store both of them. 
       FIG. 9  is a detailed view illustrating a bulletin  322  shown in  FIG. 8 . The bulletin  322  can be transferred, replied or “tweeted” by another user other than the user  322 - 1  who prepares the original text. In other words, the bulletin  322  can be sent to specific users designated by the user who prepares the original text, and the users  322 - 2 ,  322 - 3  who can view the bulletin  322  can reply or tweet the bulletin  322  to still another user. The contact of the user  322 - 1  who prepares the original text and the users  322 - 2 ,  322 - 3  who transfer the bulletin  322  may be contained in the bulletin  322 . Furthermore, the user  322 - 1  who prepares the original text and the users  322 - 2 ,  322 - 3  who transfer the bulletin  322  may be displayed in a distinguished manner within the bulletin  322 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 9( b ) , if the original text of the bulletin  322  has been prepared, then the user who prepares the original text or another user may prepare an add comment in response to the original text. The contact of the user  322 - 1  who prepares the original text and the users  322 - 2 ,  322 - 3  who transfer the bulletin  322  may be contained in the bulletin  322 . Furthermore, the original text and add comment may be displayed in a distinguished manner within the bulletin  322 . 
     In this manner, the contacts of a plurality of users may be contained within one bulletin, and in this case, a plurality of contacts may be subordinately connected or linked to one contact. The foregoing user interface allow one main contact to be connected to one or more auxiliary contacts subordinately connected to the one main contact. 
     On the other hand, when a plurality of contacts contained in the bulletin are contacts that have been stored in advance in the contact list, the mobile terminal  100  may link or associate the relevant plurality of contacts in the contact list to store them. In other words, referring to  FIG. 9( c ) , since “Aidan”  323 - 1  and “Adam”  323 - 2  which are contacts contained in the bulletin  322  have been stored in advance in the contact list, the mobile terminal  100  can associate or link the Adam contact to the Aidan contact in the contact list to store them. However, as illustrated in  FIG. 9( a ) , since “brlove”  322 - 1 , “Shine”  322 - 2  and “Cartier”  322 - 3  which are contacts contained in the bulletin  322  have not been stored in the contact list (or phonebook), the mobile terminal  100  may generate contacts corresponding to “brlove”, “Shine” and “Cartier” in the contact list, and associate or link the generated contacts to store them. 
       FIG. 10  is a view illustrating a result to which a contact disclosed herein is connected, linked or associated. If the user selects the add icon or menu  312  to add a new contact in a state of  FIG. 8( a )  and/or the icon  332  indicating the bulletin  322  are displayed on the work area  330  of  FIG. 9( b ) , then the mobile terminal  100  may link one or more auxiliary contacts  322 - 2 ,  322 - 3  to one main contact  322 - 1  from the relevant bulletin  322 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 10( a ) , when one or more auxiliary contacts  252 - 2 ,  252 - 3  are subordinately connected or linked to one main contact  252 - 1 , the contact or linked information display screen  250  for displaying the detailed information of the linked contact may display the detailed information of the main contact  252 - 1  of the bulletin  322  and the detailed information of the auxiliary contacts  252 - 2 ,  252 - 3  linked to the main contact  322 - 1 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 10( b ) , when one or more auxiliary contacts  252 - 2 ,  252 - 3  are equally connected to one main contact  252 - 1 , the contact group display screen  260  for displaying a contact group may generate and display a group  262  containing the main contact  252 - 1  of the bulletin  322  and the auxiliary contacts  252 - 2 ,  252 - 3  connected to the main contact  252 - 1 . 
       FIG. 11  is a view for specifically explaining an interface of the working area  230  according to embodiments disclosed herein. The work area  230  capable of displaying dragged and/or dropped contacts displayed on the list area  220  by a user&#39;s input may be configured on the display unit, and the work area  230  may be displayed at a partial region of the display unit. 
     The setting of the work area  230  may be released on the display unit by a user&#39;s input. For example, if a close menu or icon  230 - 1  of the work area  230  is selected, then items that have been overlapped with the storage area  230  will be displayed again while the work area  230  is closed. 
     The work area  230  may display icons  232 ,  234  indicating items  222 ,  224  selected from the item list  220 . If a delete menu  232 - 1 ,  234 - 1  is selected, then the icons  232 ,  234  may be deleted from the work area  230 . When two or more icons are displayed on the work area  230  in an embodiment in which one contact can be subordinately connected or linked to one or more contacts, an icon or indication  232 - 2 ,  234 - 2  capable of designating a contact corresponding to any one icon as main contact will be displayed. The corresponding contact can be designated as a main or auxiliary contact as the icon  232 - 2 ,  234 - 2  is toggled. 
     In the above embodiments, a work area has been shown as a way of linking two or more contacts or bulletins. As can be appreciated, linking may be also performed by simultaneously selecting two or more contacts. Alternatively, an additional linking icon may be provided on the display screen  200  or  300 , or after selection of the linking icon, a user may subsequently select a plurality of items to link the selected items together. 
       FIG. 12  is a view for explaining a method of performing the operation of a mobile terminal according to a third embodiment disclosed herein. The mobile terminal  100  may perform a process of displaying a contact list containing a plurality of contacts (S 210 ). The mobile terminal  100  performs a process of designating one first contact in the contact list as a first recipient according to a user&#39;s input (S 220 ). When there exists at least one second contact linked to the first contact, the mobile terminal  100  performs a process of designating the at least one second contact as a second recipient (S 230 ). The mobile terminal  100  performs a process of performing a first operation for the first recipient, and performing a second subordinate operation to the first operation for the second recipient (S 240 ). The first operation and the subordinate operation may be the same or different. 
       FIG. 13  is a view illustrating the operation example of a mobile terminal  100  according to a third embodiment disclosed herein. Referring to  FIG. 13( a ) , the mobile terminal  100  provides an interface for allowing the user to prepare a new mail. A mail preparation screen  400  may include a title area  410  for indicating information displayed on the display unit, a recipient designation area  420  for designating a person who receives the mail, a reference area  430  for designating a person who refers to the mail, a title preparation area  440  for preparing a title of the mail, and a content preparation area  450  for preparing a content of the mail. 
     On the recipient designation area  420 , the user may directly input the contact of the recipient using a text input scheme, or select an import menu or icon  422  to select a contact that has been stored in advance in a phonebook of the mobile terminal  100 . 
     If the import menu  422  is selected, then the contact list display screen  200  will be displayed as illustrated in  FIG. 13( b ) . As described above, the contact list display screen  200  may include the title area  210  and list area  220 , and an image and a name indicating a person corresponding to each contact may be displayed on the list area  220 . Furthermore, an indicator  226  may be further displayed on the contact  224  subordinately connected to another contact to distinguish it from the another contact. 
     If a contact  222  which is not subordinately connected to another contact is selected, then the selected contact  222  may be designated and displayed on the recipient designation area  420  as illustrated in  FIG. 13( a ) . However, if a contact  222  subordinately connected to another contact is selected or the email address is manually typed in for a contact associated with another contact, then the selected contact  222  may be designated and displayed on the recipient designation area  420  as illustrated in  FIG. 13( c ) , and a contact  432  subordinately linked to the selected contact  424  may be designated and displayed on the reference area  430 . Furthermore, if a send menu  412  is selected, then the mobile terminal  100  transmits a mail using the contact  424  as a recipient, and transmits the same mail using the contact  432  as a reference. 
     Accordingly, the user can perform multiple operations based on a contact selected by the mobile terminal  100  and a contact linked to the selected contact, respectively. Accordingly, there is an advantage that the user can transmit a mail at the same time to various contacts with a simple manipulation using a suitable scheme. 
       FIG. 14  is a view illustrating the process of selecting a main contact and an auxiliary contact according to a third embodiment disclosed herein. 
     In order to prevent the user from unintentionally performing an operation for a plurality of contacts, the mobile terminal  100  provides an interface capable of selecting only a contact desired to perform the operation among the linked contacts. As described above, the contact information display screen  250  for displaying the detailed information of the connected contact may display the contact information  252  of a selected item and another contact information  254  linked or associated to the contact information  252 . 
     A menu or an icon  252 - 1 ,  254 - 1  for selecting whether the relevant contact is to be contained as a parameter of operation implementation will be further displayed. The relevant contact may be contained or not contained when the menu  252 - 1 ,  254 - 1  is toggled. Accordingly, the user can individually select a contact desired to perform the operation. Based on toggling the icon  252 - 1  and not toggling the icon  254 - 1 , the mail in the above example will not be sent to Adam when the Aidan contact is selected. 
       FIG. 15  is a view illustrating the operation example of a mobile terminal  100  according to a third embodiment disclosed herein. 
     Referring to  FIG. 15( a ) , the foregoing contact list display screen  200  may further display a call menu  224 - 1  for originating a call to each contact. When there does not exist another item associated or linked to the contact, the call menu may be merely an individual call menu requesting an individual call for the relevant item. However, when there exists another item connected to the contact, the call menu may be an individual call menu requesting a group call for the relevant contact and another contact linked to the relevant contact. 
     Moreover, if the call menu  224 - 1  is selected, then the mobile terminal  100  can request video communication for the relevant contact  224  while at the same time requesting voice communication for another contact linked to the relevant contact  224  as illustrated in  FIG. 15( b ) . Accordingly, the mobile terminal  100  may display a group call screen  500  containing a video communication area  512  for the contact  224 , and a voice communication area  514  for the another contact connected to the contact  224 . 
     Accordingly, the mobile terminal  100  may provide an interface for performing video communication with a main contact, and performing voice communication with an auxiliary contact. There exists an advantage of solving the problem of a limited display space and network resource distribution, and providing convenience to the user when a main participant and auxiliary participants are divided in a conference. 
       FIG. 16  is a view illustrating the operation example of a mobile terminal  100  according to a third embodiment disclosed herein. Referring to  FIG. 16( a ) , the mobile terminal  100  may provide an interface for preparing a new message (short message, multimedia message, etc.). A message preparation screen  600  may include a recipient designation area  610  for designating a person who receives the message, and a content preparation area  620  for preparing a content of the message. 
     On the recipient designation area  610 , the user may directly input the contact of the recipient using a text input scheme, or select an import menu  612  to select a contact that has been stored in advance in a phonebook of the mobile terminal  100 . 
     If the import menu  612  is selected, then the contact list display screen  200  will be displayed as illustrated in  FIG. 16( b ) . As described above, the contact list display screen  200  may include the title area  210  and list area  220 , and an image and a name indicating the person of each contact may be displayed on the list area  220 . Furthermore, an indicator  226  may be further displayed on the contact  224  subordinately linked to another contact to distinguish it from the another contact. 
     If a contact  224  subordinately linked to another contact is selected or manually typed into the area  610 , then the selected contact  614  may be designated and displayed on the recipient designation area  610  as illustrated in  FIG. 16( c ) . Furthermore, multimedia data  624  such as a picture, video, and the like in addition to text  622  may be added to the message on the content preparation area  620 . 
     The mobile terminal  100  transmits multimedia data  624  along with text  622  to the selected contact  614 . Furthermore, the mobile terminal  100  transmits only text  622  excluding multimedia data  624  to a contact associated to the selected contact  614 . For instance, the mobile terminal  100  transmits a message to the selected contact  614  using a Multimedia Messaging System (MMS), and transmits the same message to a contact associated to the selected contact  614  using a Short Message Service (SMS). 
     Accordingly, different operations may be performed for a contact selected by the mobile terminal  100  and a contact associated to the selected contact, respectively, though one contact has been selected only. Accordingly, there is an advantage that the user can transmit a mail at the same time to various contacts with a simple manipulation using a suitable scheme. 
       FIG. 17  is a view illustrating the operation example of a mobile terminal  100  according to a third embodiment disclosed herein. Referring to  FIG. 17( a ) , the mobile terminal  100  may provide an emergency call list display screen  700 . The emergency call list display screen  700  is provided for the user to directly originate a call to a predetermined contact with a simple manipulation in an emergency state, and the emergency call list display screen  700  may be displayed even though the lock is not released in a locked state. The emergency call list display screen  700  may display several contacts predetermined by the mobile terminal  100  or a contact  710  predetermined by the user. 
     In particular, the user may associate or link one or more auxiliary contacts to one main contact or allow the one main contact to be contained in an emergency call list through the foregoing user interface. In this manner, if the contact  710  predetermined by the user is selected, then an emergency call request to the corresponding main contact  722  will be carried out as illustrated in  FIG. 17( b ) . At the same time, location information to which the mobile terminal  100  has requested an emergency call will be transmitted to one or more auxiliary contacts  724  connected to the main contact  722 . 
     Accordingly, the user can use an emergency call service in a safer manner, and particularly, the emergency call service may exhibit a synergy effect with the location information service, and a burden of the user&#39;s selection required for this may be mostly resolved by using the foregoing user interface. 
     On the other hand, in addition to the foregoing embodiments, an embodiment may be also taken into consideration that if a message is received from an external device when the mobile terminal  100  is designated as a main contact by the external device, then the mobile terminal  100  transfers the message to another external device designated as an auxiliary contact. For instance, information on the main contact and auxiliary contact may be received through a message from the external device, or may be stored in advance in the mobile terminal  100 . In case where a grade such as a manager, a general member, or the like is provided in the Internet community, such an embodiment may be useful when a manager is designated as a main contact and general members are designated as auxiliary contacts. 
     The present disclosure discloses a mobile terminal for maximizing the use of a contact connecting function by providing a highly expandable interface capable of connecting two or more contacts. 
     A method may include displaying a contact list containing a plurality of contacts; designating a first contact in the contact list as a first recipient according to a user&#39;s input; designating at least one second contact as a second recipient when there exists the at least one second contact connected to the first contact; and performing a first operation for the first recipient, and performing a second operation subordinate to the first operation for the second recipient. 
     The method may be characterized in that the first operation is an operation for designating the first recipient as a receiver to transmit a mail, and the second operation is an operation for designating the second recipient as a reference to transmit the mail. 
     The method may be characterized in that the first operation is an operation for transmitting a message to the first recipient using a Multimedia Messaging System (MMS), and the second operation is an operation for transmitting a message to the second recipient using a Short Message Service (SMS). 
     The method may be characterized in that the first operation is an operation for performing a call with the first recipient using a video communication scheme, and the second operation is an operation for performing a call with the second recipient using a voice communication scheme. 
     The method may be characterized in that the first operation is an operation for placing an emergency call to the first recipient, and the second operation is an operation for sending location information of the mobile terminal when making the emergency call to the second recipient. 
     The method may further include storing the second contact by associating it to the first contact. 
     A mobile terminal may include a display unit configured to display a contact list containing a plurality of contacts; and a controller configured to designate a first contact in the contact list as a first recipient according to a user&#39;s input, and designate at least one second contact as a second recipient when there exists the at least one second contact connected to the first contact, and perform a first operation for the first recipient and perform a second operation subordinate to the first operation for the second recipient. 
     A method may include displaying a list containing a plurality of items on a display unit; configuring a storage area on the display unit; storing a first item selected from the list in the storage area; and connecting a first contact associated with the first item to a second contact associated with a second item selected from the list. 
     The method may further include performing a first operation for the first contact, and performing a second operation subordinate to the first operation for the second contact when the first contact is designated as a recipient. 
     The method may be characterized in that the storing step includes selecting an item dragged and dropped from the list to the work area as the first item, and said connecting step includes selecting an item corresponding to the position at which the first item has been dropped as the second item when the first item has been dragged and dropped from the work area to the list. 
     The method may be characterized in that said configuring the work area includes displaying the work area on the display unit. 
     The method may be characterized in that the work area is displayed on the display unit until the association or linking step is carried out or an input for releasing the work area is received. 
     The method may be characterized in that the work area is displayed on the display unit to overlap with part of a region where the list is displayed. 
     A method may include displaying a list containing a plurality of items on a display unit; configuring a storage area on the display unit; storing at least one item selected from the list in the storage area; and connecting a plurality of contacts associated with the at least one item. 
     The method may be characterized in that said storing step includes selecting at least one item dragged and dropped from the list to the storage area. 
     The method may be characterized in that the at least one item is a Social Network Service (SNS) bulletin. 
     The method may be characterized in that said connecting step includes receiving an input for selecting any one of the at least one items; and connecting a contact associated with the selected any one item to a contact associated with the other remaining item. 
     The method may be characterized in that the storage area is displayed on the display unit until the connecting step is carried out or an input for releasing the storage area is received. 
     The method may be characterized in that said connecting step is performed to link a plurality of contacts stored in a phone book when the plurality of contacts are stored in the phone book. 
     The method may further include performing a first operation for a specific contact when the specific contact is designated as a recipient among the plurality of contacts, and performing a second operation subordinate to the first operation for the remaining contact among the plurality of contacts. 
     According to the present disclosure, different functions may be carried out for a contact designated by the mobile terminal and a contact associated to the contact by allowing one contact to be designated by the user, thereby having an effect of enhancing the convenience of a contact management function. Furthermore, an intuitive user interface for associating two or more different contacts may be provided in the mobile terminal, thereby allowing whoever to use the relevant function in an easy and convenient manner. 
     Any reference in this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “example embodiment,” etc., means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the disclosure. The appearances of such phrases in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with any embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the purview of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other ones of the embodiments. 
     Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.