Patent Publication Number: US-2011072400-A1

Title: Method of providing user interface of mobile terminal equipped with touch screen and mobile terminal thereof

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 from Korean application No. 10-2009-0089493, filed Sep. 22, 2009 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing an interface for a mobile terminal. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing an interface for unlocking a locked state or a state similar to a locked state. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Generally, a portable terminal is an electronic device that enables a user to freely use functions such as wireless communications, accessing networks digital broadcast reception, documentation, and game while not being restricted by a time or a place. The portable terminal includes a display unit displaying the state of portable terminal to the user for more convenient use. The information displayed on the display unit can include information about privacy or secrete information which requires protection, so that a lock function is provided for the protection of privacy for secret information. Moreover, a lock function is provided so as to prevent terminal from being operated due to an unintentional touch input. However, in the state that user is unable to anticipate what kind of information is displayed on the display unit when it is unlocked, or in the state that it is expected that the information about privacy or the secret information is not displayed on the display unit, when an unlock signal is input to unlock, there can be a danger that information about privacy or secret information can be exposed to neighboring persons as the secret information is displayed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a method and apparatus for providing an interface for protecting the privacy of user of a mobile terminal. 
     The present invention further provides a method and apparatus for providing an interface for a mobile terminal that virtually enables to directly manipulate the screen. 
     In accordance with an exemplary aspect of the present invention, a method of providing an interface in a terminal equipped with a touch screen includes: displaying a preset first screen when receiving an unlock input to display the preset first screen; receiving a screen change input for changing a part or an entirety of the first screen into a preset second screen through the touch screen displaying the first screen; and changing a part of screen displayed on the touch screen from the first preset screen into the second preset screen according to a progress of the screen change input. 
     In accordance with another exemplary aspect of the present invention, a terminal for providing an interface includes: a touch screen comprising a touch sensor which is configured to receive an unlock input command for displaying a preset first screen and a screen change input for changing a part or an entire of the first screen into a preset second screen, and a display unit configured to display a screen under the control of a controller; and a controller controlling the display unit to display the first screen when the touch sensor receives the unlock input, controlling the display unit to change a part of screen displayed on the display unit from the first screen into the second screen according to a progress of the screen change input through the touch sensor. 
     According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the privacy of user can be more effectively protected than known heretofore. Moreover, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an interface can be provided to user by an interface which virtually enables direct manipulation of a screen. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The exemplary objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a terminal for providing an interface according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary operation of a process of providing an interface according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating a process of providing an interface according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating a process of providing an interface according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating a process of providing an interface according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIGS. 6 and 7  are diagrams illustrating a process of providing an interface according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings in detail. The same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. Detailed descriptions of well-known functions and structures incorporated herein may be omitted to avoid obscuring appreciation of the subject matter of the present invention by a person of ordinary skill in the art. 
     Hereinafter, the present invention is illustrated with reference to drawings for illustrating a portable terminal according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
     Herein, a first screen typically refers to a screen covering a second screen. User can approach the second screen at last after skinning the first screen. The first screen is provided so as to protect the privacy of the user or stir interest to the user. In this document, the second screen refers to a screen required for actual use of the terminal. The second screen includes both a screen required for the function of the conventional terminal and a screen required for the function of the terminal which is to be developed and added. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a terminal for providing an interface  100  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , the terminal for providing an interface  100  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention preferably includes a touch screen  110  and a controller  150 . In this example, the touch screen  110  includes a touch sensor  120  and a display unit  130 . The touch screen  110  refers to a device that inputs a command or data with a finger or the like by contacting an item displayed on a display screen. The touch screen  110  includes the display unit  130  displaying a screen and a touch panel or touch sensor  120  which senses an input of user and converts into an electrical signal. The display unit  130  can output a screen data which is generated when performing the function of the terminal for providing an interface  100 , and status information according to the key manipulation and function setting of the user. Moreover, the display unit  130  can visually display different signals and color information output from the controller  150 . Such a display unit  130  can be formed of, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an organic light-emitting diode (OLED). However, virtually any thin film display can be used with the present invention. The touch sensor  120  can perform the input unit function of receiving an input from the user. The touch sensor  120  can be mounted for folding on the display unit  130 , and senses touch by detecting the change of physical quantity generated due to the surface touch of touch sensor  120  by user, and convert the change of physical quantity due to touch into a touch signal and send it to the controller  150 . The principle of operation of touch sensor  120  includes a load press method, a fine metal line reclamation method (decompression method), a resistive method, an electrostatic capacitive method, a supersonic wave reflection method, an optical sensor and an electromagnetic induction method. Since the principle of operation of above-described touch sensor  120  is understood by a person skilled in the art of the present invention, the detailed description is omitted from the present disclosure. Particularly, the touch sensor  120  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention receives an unlock input and a screen change input. The unlock input is an input that unlocks a locked state of the mobile terminal and the screen change input is an input for converting a first screen which is displayed after the unlock input into a second screen in order to actually use the terminal. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 to 7 , the unlock input, the screen change input, the first screen and the second screen are illustrated hereafter in more detail. 
     The touch sensor  120  can receive the unlock input and the screen change input from a user to convert the touches into a signal and send it to the controller  150 . Moreover, the display unit  130  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention displays a screen under the control of the controller  150 . The controller  150  controls the display unit  130  to display a preset first screen when the touch sensor  120  receives an unlock input, controls the display unit  130  to convert a part of the screen displayed on the display unit  130  according to the progress of the screen change input through the touch sensor  120  into a second screen from the first screen. 
     The detailed operation of the touch screen  110  and the controller  150  is described in detail later with reference to  FIGS. 2 to 7 . 
       FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating a process of providing an interface according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , at step ( 210 ) in a locked state (or an idle state), the touch screen  110  receives an unlock input. 
       FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating a process of providing an interface according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     The first drawing  310   a  of  FIG. 3  shows a screen in the locked state. The screen in the locked state can display, for example, a drawing in which a padlock is expressed like the first drawing  310   a  of  FIG. 3 , or can display a black screen like the screen of the idle state in which no drawings are expressed. In case of an unlock input, i.e., an idle cancel input is input even in the case of an idle state, i.e., even in the state that nothing is displayed on the screen as nothing is input for a given time, the process like  FIGS. 2 and 3  can be performed. The unlock input can include an idle cancel input. In the lock state of the first drawing  310   a  of  FIG. 3 , the touch sensor  120  included in the touch screen  110  receives an unlock input. The unlock input can be one or more of various inputs according to the setting of user such as a password input or a simple touch input. In  FIG. 2 , at step ( 220 ) the touch screen  110  which received the “unlock” input displays a preset first screen. The second drawing  310   b  of  FIG. 3  is an example of the preset first screen. In the second drawing  310   b  of  FIG. 3 , a zipper  320  is shown. Another example of the preset first screen is presented in  FIGS. 4 to 7 . The first screen is a screen which covers the second screen by the zipper  320 , the button or the like instead of displaying the second screen like a fourth drawing  310   d  of  FIG. 3 . After the process of skinning the first screen, user can finally approach the second screen, i.e., the screen necessary for actually using a terminal. Private information or secret information of the user can be displayed on the second screen, but a preset screen that captures the interest of user such as a simple zipper, and a button or the like, is displayed on the first screen. The touch sensor  120  senses the unlock input to convert it into a signal and sends to the controller  150 . The controller  150  received the signal controls the display unit  130  to display the first screen. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 2 , the touch screen  110  displaying the first screen receives a screen change input. The screen change input is an input for changing the first screen into the second screen. When the screen change input is sufficient, all of the first screen is changed to the second screen, whereas a part of the screen is changed when only a part of screen change input is inputted. For example, when user drags a handle  321  of the zipper  320  such that the center of the handle  321  of the zipper  320  reaches the distance within 20 pixels (preset distance) from the downside of screen, the screen change input can be considered sufficient and the first screen can be changed into the second screen. On the other hand, when the center of the handle  321  of the zipper  320  is positioned in the distance further than 20 pixels (preset distance) from the downside of screen, accordingly, only a part of screen is changed from the first screen to the second screen. However, this partial change may cause the user to desire to see the whole second image, and thus move the zipper image the rest of the way, 
     In  FIG. 3 , the screen change input may comprise an input that downwardly drags the vicinity of the handle  321  of the zipper  320  by a user. At step ( 240 ) part of the screen displayed on the touch screen is changed to the second screen from the first screen according to the progress of the screen change input. That is, if user inputs the screen change input that downwardly drags the vicinity of the handle  321  of the zipper  320  like the third screen  310   c  of  FIG. 3 , accordingly, a part of the zipper  320  is opened and the screen  330  of the open part of the zipper  320  is changed into the second screen. The other part, i.e., the part that the zipper  320  is not opened is still covered. If the handle  321  of the zipper  320  is sufficiently dragged downwardly, the zipper  320  is considered to be fully opened and the entire screen is changed into the second screen like the fourth screen  310   d  of  FIG. 3 . After the entire screen is changed into the second screen, user can see private information or other secret information as if the screen of the mobile terminal is an unlocked state as in the related art. 
       FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating a process of providing an interface according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , in the locked state or the idle state, at step ( 210 ) the touch screen  110  receives an unlock input. A first drawing  410   a  of  FIG. 4  shows a screen of the lock state. In the lock state of the first drawing  410   a  of  FIG. 4 , the touch sensor  120  included in the touch screen  110  receives the unlock input. 
     In  FIG. 2 , at step ( 220 ) the touch screen  110  received unlock input displays a preset first screen. A second drawing  410   b  of  FIG. 4  is an example of preset first screen. In a second drawing  410   b  of  FIG. 4 , a plurality of buttons  420   a,    420   b,    420   c  are displayed. The first screen is a screen which covers private information by the zipper or the button  420  instead of displaying private information like a fourth drawing  410   d  of  FIG. 4 . The user can approach the second screen, i.e., a screen displaying the private information after the process of skinning the first screen. The touch sensor  120  senses the unlock input to convert into a signal and sends it to the controller  150 . The controller  150  receiving this signal controls the display unit  130  to display the first screen. At step ( 230 ), the touch screen  110  displaying the first screen receives a screen change input. 
     In  FIG. 4 , the screen change input can be an input that user touches buttons  420   a,    420   b,    420   c.  At step ( 240 ), a part of the screen displayed on the touch screen according to the progress of the screen change input is changed from the first screen to a second screen. In other words, if the user inputs the screen change input that touches the first button  420   a  like the third screen  410   c  of  FIG. 4 , the touched first button  420   a  is opened. The screen  430  of the open part is changed into the second screen as the first button  420   a  is opened. The other part, i.e., a part in which the button  420  is not opened is still covered. If all the buttons  420   a,    420   b,    420   c  are touched and opened, the entire screen is changed into the second screen as shown in the fourth screen  410   d  of  FIG. 4 . After the entire screen changes into the second screen, the user can see private information or other secret information as if it is an unlock state of the related art. 
       FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating a process of providing an interface according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , at step ( 210 ) in the lock state or the idle state, the touch screen  110  receives an unlock input. A first drawing  510   a  of  FIG. 5  shows a screen of the lock state. In the lock state of the first drawing  510   a  of  FIG. 5 , the touch sensor  120  included in the touch screen  110  receives the unlock input. In  FIG. 2 , at step ( 220 ), the touch screen  110  received unlock input displays a preset first screen. 
     A second drawing  510   b  of  FIG. 5  is another example of preset first screen. In the second drawing  510   b  of  FIG. 5 , a knot  520  is displayed. 
     The first screen  510   a  is a screen which covers private information by the knot  520  instead of displaying private information, such as in the fourth drawing  510   d  of  FIG. 5 . A user can begin to view a second screen, i.e., a screen displaying the private information after the process of skinning the first screen. The touch sensor  120  senses the unlock input to convert it into a signal and sends it to the controller  150 . The controller  150  receiving this signal controls the display unit  130  to display the first screen. Then, at step ( 230 ), the touch screen  110  displaying the first screen receives a screen change input. 
     In  FIG. 5 , the screen change input can be an input in which a user drags an end  521  of the knot  520 , so as to in a two-dimensional sense “untie” the knot. At step ( 240 ), a part of the screen displayed on the touch screen according to the progress of the screen change input is changed from the first screen to the second screen. In other words, if user inputs the screen change input that drags the end  521  of the knot  520  like the third screen  510   c  of  FIG. 5 , then, the knot  520  is released (i.e. untied). The screen  530  of the open part is changed into the second screen as the knot  520  is being released. The other part, i.e., a part in which the knot  520  is not released, is still covered. If the knot  520  is completely released, the entire screen is changed into the second screen, such as shown in the screen display  510   d  of  FIG. 5 . After the entire screen is changed into the second screen, the user can view private information or other secret information displayed on the screen as if the device display is an unlocked state. 
       FIGS. 6 and 7  are diagrams illustrating a process of providing an interface according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , in the locked state or the idle state, at step ( 210 ) the touch screen  110  receives an unlock input. A first drawing  610   a  of  FIG. 6  shows a screen of the locked state. In the locked state such as the first drawing  610   a  of  FIG. 6 , the touch sensor  120  included in the touch screen  110  receives the unlock input. In  FIG. 2 , the touch screen  110  received unlock input displays a preset first screen ( 220 ). A second drawing  610   b  of  FIG. 6  is an example of preset first screen. In the second drawing  610   b,  a door  620  which is upwardly opened and downwardly closed is displayed. 
     A first screen comprises a screen which covers private information by the door  620  which is upwardly opened and downwardly closed instead of displaying private information like drawing  610   d  of  FIG. 6 . A User can approach a second screen, i.e., a screen displaying the private information after the process of skinning the first screen. The touch sensor  120  senses the unlock input to convert it into a signal and sends it to the controller  150 . The controller  150  receiving this signal controls the display unit  130  to display the first screen. At step ( 230 ), the touch screen  110  displaying the first screen receives a screen change input. 
     In  FIG. 6 , the screen change input may comprise an input that a user drags in the vicinity of a handle  621  of the door  620 . At step ( 240 ), a part of the screen displayed on the touch screen according to the progress of the screen change input is changed from the first screen to the second screen. That is, if the user inputs the screen change input in which the user drags in the vicinity of a handle  621  of the door  620  like a screen display  610   c  of  FIG. 6 , the door  620  is then opened. Next, the screen  630  of the open part is changed display wise into displaying the second screen as the door  620  is opened. The other part, i.e., a part in which the door  620  is not opened is still covered. If the vicinity of a handle  621  of the door  620  is fully dragged upward, the door  620  is considered fully opened, so that the entire screen is changed into the second screen like the display screen  610   d  of  FIG. 6 . After the entire screen is changed into the second screen, a user can see private information or other secret information as if the device is an unlocked state. 
     An exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 7  is similar to that of  FIG. 6 . However, there is a difference in that a door  720  which is opened and closed from side to side is displayed instead of the door  620  which is opened upward and closed downward, and a handle  721  of door  720  is dragged from side to side. In addition, a first display screen  710   a,  a second display screen  710   b,  a third display screen  710   c,  a fourth display screen  710   d  and a screen  730  having an open part are identical with those of  FIG. 6  or substantially correspond to those of  FIG. 6 . 
     The above-described methods according to the present invention can be realized in hardware or as software or computer code that can be stored in a recording medium such as a CD ROM, an RAM, a floppy disk, a hard disk, or a magneto-optical disk or downloaded over a network, so that the methods described herein can be rendered in such software using a general purpose 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 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. 
     Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail hereinabove, a person of ordinary skill in the art should clearly understand that many variations and modifications of the basic inventive concepts herein taught which may appear to those skilled in the present art will still fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention, as defined in the appended claims.