Patent Publication Number: US-10775957-B2

Title: Method and apparatus for entering text in portable terminal

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application is a continuation application of prior application Ser. No. 13/872,489 filed on Apr. 29, 2013, and claimed the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) of a Korean patent application filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on May 2, 2012 and assigned Serial No. 10-2012-0046338, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a portable terminal. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for performing a key input by using a Soft Input Panel (SIP) in a portable terminal. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     With the improvement of the performance of electronic devices, a recent electronic device provides various functions instead of one simple function. For example, a portable terminal, such as a tablet Personal Computer (PC) or a smart phone, provides countless various functions of a multimedia player, an e-book reader, a text editor, a video game console, and the like. 
     It is usual that such a recent portable terminal is provided in such a manner as to include a display unit providing a touch screen function. A user enters text through a SIP, instead of through a keyboard implemented by hardware. 
     Namely, it is usual that text is entered through the SIP into the recent portable terminal. However, a text field, into which text can be entered, and a SIP needs to be simultaneously displayed within a limited display screen. Accordingly, problems occur in entering text. Problems which can occur during entering of text will be described below with reference to  FIGS. 1A through 1C . 
       FIGS. 1A through 1C  illustrate entering text according to the prior art, and show an example of adding a new contact number to a telephone directory among various examples of entering text. 
     In a telephone directory as shown in  FIG. 1A , a user can first select a soft menu  10 , and can add a contact number. When the soft menu  10  is selected (for example, when the soft menu  10  is touched), the screen as shown in  FIG. 1A  is changed to a setting screen for adding a contact number, as shown in  FIG. 1B . 
     The user can select (for example, can touch) a text field, into which text is intended to be entered among text fields  20  and  30 , on a screen as shown in  FIG. 1B . When the text field is selected, the relevant text field is focused in order to enable the entering of text. 
     For example, on the screen as shown in  FIG. 1B , when a text field  20  enabling the addition of a name of a contact number is selected, a portable terminal focuses on the text field  20  through the blinking of a cursor  21 . At this time, text that the user enters through a SIP  50 , is entered into only the focused text field  20 . 
     Meanwhile, when the SIP  50  is displayed, a display screen is divided into a display area  100   a , in which text fields are displayed, and a display area  100   b , in which a SIP  50  is displayed. This configuration implies that all text fields cannot be displayed in the display area enabling the display of text fields. 
     Accordingly, when the prior art is used, when the user intends to identify a list of text fields other than text fields  20  and  30  in  FIG. 1B  which are being displayed (or when the user intends to insert text into a relevant text field), the user can enter a scroll input (for example, a scroll touch input  60 ), and can request the display of the list of other text fields. 
     For example, on the display screen as shown in  FIG. 1B , the user can enter a scroll input for scrolling the display area  100   a  in order to identify a text field located below the text field  30 . As a result, the text field (for example, a text field  40  for entering of an e-mail address) located below the text field  30  is displayed as shown in  FIG. 1C . 
     However, when the prior art as described above is used, the text field  20  which has been kept focused in the previous step in order to enter text, is no longer displayed on the display screen as shown in  FIG. 1C . Accordingly, the prior art has a problem in that the user cannot identify text which is being entered into the text field  20 . 
     Accordingly, the user needs to again perform the scroll of the display area  100   a  in order to display the text field  20 , and needs to continuously enter text into the text field  20 . Otherwise, the user needs to select the text field  30  or the text field  40  in such a manner as to focus on the text field  30  or the text field  40  in order to enter text into the text field  30  or the text field  40 . 
     Namely, in the case of the prior art, a text field which is being focused (namely, into which text is being entered) is not displayed by a scroll operation activated by the user. Accordingly, the prior art has several inconveniences occurring in the case of entering text into a text field. 
     Accordingly, when text is entered into multiple text fields by using the SIP, a need exists for a method and an apparatus for entering text, which is more convenient to a user when the text is entered into multiple text fields in a portable terminal. 
     The above information is presented as background information only to assist with an understanding of the present disclosure. No determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with regard to the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Aspects of the present invention are to address the above-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for entering text, which is more convenient to a user when the text is entered into multiple text fields by using a Soft Input Panel (SIP) in a portable terminal. 
     In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a method for entering text in a portable terminal is provided. The method includes focusing on a selected text field and displaying a SIP, when the predefined text field is selected from among text fields, scroll-displaying the text fields in a display area in response to a requested scroll, when a user requests the scroll of the display area of the text fields, and identifying, from a result of the scroll display, whether the selected text field is being displayed in the display area, and determining whether text is to be entered into the selected text field. 
     In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for entering text in a portable terminal is provided. The apparatus includes a display unit and a controller for performing a control operation so as to focus on a selected text field and display a SIP on the display unit when the predefined text field is selected from among text fields displayed on the display unit, so as to scroll-display the text fields in a display area in response to a requested scroll when a user requests the scroll of the display area of the text fields, so as to identify, from a result of the scroll display, whether the selected text field is being displayed in the display area, and so as to determine whether text is to be entered into the selected text field. 
     Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses exemplary embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIGS. 1A through 1C  illustrate entering text according to the prior art; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a portable terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating a process for entering text according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 4A through 4D  illustrate a process for entering text according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIGS. 5A through 5D  illustrate a process for entering text according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that like reference numbers are used to depict the same or similar elements, features, and structures. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of exemplary embodiments of the invention as defined by the claims and their equivalents. It includes various specific details to assist in that understanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions may be omitted for clarity and conciseness. 
     The terms and words used in the following description and claims are not limited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by the inventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the invention. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention is provided for illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents 
     It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a component surface” includes reference to one or more of such surfaces. 
     By the term “substantially” it is meant that the recited characteristic, parameter, or value need not be achieved exactly, but that deviations or variations, including for example, tolerances, measurement error, measurement accuracy limitations and other factors known to those of skill in the art, may occur in amounts that do not preclude the effect the characteristic was intended to provide. 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a method and an apparatus for entering text, which is more convenient to a user when the text is entered into multiple text fields by using a Soft Input Panel (SIP) in a portable terminal. 
     It is assumed that portable terminals correspond to easily-carried electronic devices, such as a feature phone, a tablet Personal Computer (PC), a smart phone which runs on a mobile Operating System (OS), such as Windows 8, iOS, Android, or Bada, and a laptop computer which runs on Windows or Mac environment. 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a portable terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a wireless transmitter/receiver  223  includes a Radio Frequency (RF) unit and a modem (modulator/demodulator). The RF unit includes an RF transmitter for upconverting the frequency of a signal to be transmitted and for amplifying the frequency-upconverted signal, an RF receiver for low-noise amplifying a received signal and downconverting the frequency of the low-noise amplified signal, and the like. The modem includes a transmitter for encoding and modulating a signal to be transmitted, a receiver for demodulating and decoding a signal received by the RF unit, and the like. 
     An audio processor  225  may include a codec (coder/decoder), and the codec may include a data codec and an audio codec. The data codec processes packet data, and the like, and the audio codec processes audio signals including voice, a multimedia file, and the like. The audio processor  225  converts a digital audio signal, which has been received by the modem, to an analog signal through the audio codec, and reproduces the analog signal. In addition, the audio processor  225  converts an analog audio signal, which is generated from a microphone, to a digital audio signal through the audio codec, and transmits the digital audio signal to the modem. The codec may be separately provided, or may be included in a controller  210  of the portable terminal. 
     A key input unit  227  may include keys for inputting numbers and text information and function keys for setting various functions, and may be in the form of a touchpad, or the like. When a display unit  250  employs a capacitive/electrostatic touch screen, a resistive/pressure-sensitive touch screen or the like, the key input unit  227  may include only a minimum number of keys, which have previously been set. In this case, the display unit  250  may partially perform a key input function of the key input unit  227 , in place of the key input unit  227 . 
     A memory  230  may include a program memory and a data memory, and the program memory stores programs for controlling a general operation of the portable terminal. The memory  230  may further include external memories, including a Compact Flash (CF) memory card, a Secure Digital (SD) memory card, a Micro Secure Digital (Micro-SD) memory card, a Mini Secure Digital (Mini-SD) memory card, an Extreme Digital (XD) memory card, a memory stick, and the like. In addition, the memory  230  may include disks, including a Hard Disk Drive (HDD), a Solid State Disk (SSD), and the like. 
     The display unit  250  may be implemented by a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), and/or an Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED), such as either a Passive Matrix Organic LED (PMOLED) or an Active Matrix Organic LED (AMOLED), and outputs various pieces of display information provided by the portable terminal. The display unit  250  may include a capacitive/electrostatic touch screen or a resistive/pressure-sensitive touch screen, and may serve as an input unit for controlling the portable terminal, together with the key input unit  227 . 
     The display unit  250  displays a SIP corresponding to a virtual keyboard, and a user may enter a user input (for example, text) through the SIP. 
     The controller  210  may control an overall operation of the portable terminal and may change and control the operation of the portable terminal by a user&#39;s input provided by either the key input unit  227 , the display unit  250 , or the like. The controller  210  performs a control operation so as to focus on a selected text field and display a SIP on the display unit when the predefined text field is selected from among text fields displayed by the display unit  250 , so as to scroll-display the text fields in a display area in response to a requested scroll when a user requests the scroll of the display area of the text fields, so as to identify, from a result of the scroll display, whether the selected text field is being displayed in the display area, and so as to determine whether text is to be entered into the selected text field. An operation of the controller  210  will be explained through the following description. 
     Meanwhile, although devices, including a Bluetooth module, a camera module, a Global Positioning System (GPS) module, a Wi-Fi module, a proximity sensor, a Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB) receiver, and the like, which may be included in a portable terminal, are not shown in the block diagram of  FIG. 2 , it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these devices, which are not shown in  FIG. 2 , may be included in a portable terminal in order to provide the relevant functions of these devices. 
       FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating a process for entering text according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  FIGS. 4A through 4D  illustrate a process for entering text according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  FIGS. 5A through 5D  illustrate a process for entering text according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to  FIGS. 3 through 5D . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , when a predefined text field is selected, the controller  210  performs a control operation so as to focus on the selected text field, and so as to display a SIP in step S 301 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4A through 5D ,  FIG. 4A  shows an example of text fields displayed so that a user sets registration information of an added contact number when the contact number is added to a telephone directory. 
     On a display screen as shown in  FIG. 4A , in order to enter registration information of the contact number, the user may select (for example, may touch) any one of text fields  410 ,  420 ,  430 ,  440  and  450 . 
     When any one text field is selected, the controller  210  performs a control operation so as to divide a display screen  400  as shown in  FIG. 4A  into two areas  400   a  and  400   b , so as to display a preset number (e.g., 2) of text fields, which include the selected text field among text fields, in a display area  400   a  of text fields, and so as to display a SIP  460  in a display area  400   b  of a keyboard. 
     When it is assumed that the text field  420  for entering a mobile phone number is selected, the controller  210  performs a control operation so as to focus on the text field  420  while performing a control operation for displaying the text fields  410  and  420  in the display area  400   a  of text fields, so as to notify the user of the focus on the text field  420  through the indication (for example, blinking) of a cursor  421 , and so as to display the SIP  460 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, focusing on a text field implies that text entered through the SIP is entered into the focused text field. Accordingly, when the text field  420  is focused, text entered through the SIP  460  may be entered into only the text field  420 . 
     In steps S 302  and S 303 , when the scroll of the display area of text fields is entered, the controller  210  performs a control operation so as to first scroll-display text fields in response to the entering of the scroll, and so as to identify whether a selected text field is being displayed in the display area of text fields. 
     The user may enter text into the text field  420  by using the SIP on a display screen as shown in  FIG. 4B . However, the user may desire to identify the text fields  410 ,  420 ,  430 ,  440  and  450  in  FIG. 4A . Otherwise, the user may desire to select a text field other than a text field, which is currently being selected, in  FIG. 4A . 
     When the user enters a scroll input  470  in  FIG. 4B  for scrolling the display area  400   a  of text fields, the controller  210  performs a control operation so as to scroll-display text fields in response to the entered scroll input, and so as to display text fields (for example, the text field  430 ) located below the text field  420 . 
     Types of text fields displayed in the display area  400   a  of the text fields are changed according to a type such that the user enters the scroll input  470  (for example, the user enters the scroll input  470  for a long period of time, or the user repeatedly enters the scroll input  470 ). In other words, according to a degree such that the user enters a scroll input for scrolling the display area  400   a  of text fields, the selected (i.e., currently-focused) text field  420  may be displayed in the display area  400   a  of text fields, or may not be displayed therein. 
     Accordingly, after performing a control operation for scroll-displaying text fields in response to the scroll input of the user, the controller  210  performs a control operation for identifying whether the text field (for example, the text field  420 ) selected (namely, focused) in step S 301  is being displayed in the display area  400   a  of text fields. 
     In steps S 304  through S 306 , the controller  210  performs a control operation for identifying whether an entirety or a part of the selected text field is being displayed in the display area. When the entirety of the selected text field is being displayed in the display area, the controller  210  performs a control operation for maintaining the focus on the selected text field. In contrast, when the part of the selected text field is being displayed in the display area, the controller  210  performs a control operation for adjusting a display position of the text field in order to display the entire selected text field. 
     When a result of the identification shows that the entirety of the selected (focused) text field  420  is being displayed in the display area  400   a  of text fields as shown in  FIG. 4C , the controller  210  performs a control operation for maintaining the focus on the selected text field  420 . In addition, the user may identify that the text field  420  is being focused even after the scroll of the text field  420 , through the cursor  421  displayed in a state of blinking. Namely, text entered through the SIP  460  is entered into the text field  420  which is kept focused. 
     At this time, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the meaning of an entirety of a text field in the case where a result of the identification shows that the entirety of the text field is being displayed, includes a case where the text field is displayed to such a degree that the user may recognize text entered into the relevant text field, and a case where the entire text field is displayed in terms of literal meaning. 
     Meanwhile, when a result of the identification shows that only the part of the selected (focused) text field  420  is being displayed in the display area  400   a  of text fields as shown in  FIG. 4D , the controller  210  performs a control operation for adjusting a display position of the text field  420  in order to display an entirety (for example, as shown in  FIG. 4C ) of the selected text field (namely, the text field, only the part of which is being displayed). 
     For example, when a result of the identification shows that only the part of the selected text field  420  is displayed as shown in  FIG. 4D  due to the entered scroll  470  on a display screen as shown in  FIG. 4B , the controller  210  performs a control operation for performing an automatic scroll of the display area  400   a  of text fields as shown in  FIG. 4D . Performing of the automatic scroll causes the display of a display screen to be changed from  FIG. 4D  to  FIG. 4C . As a result, the controller  210  may perform a control operation for displaying the entirety of the selected text field  420 . 
     After the display position of the text field is adjusted in order to display the entirety of the text field  420 , only the part of which has been kept displayed, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may additionally provide a function of automatically focusing on the text field, the display position of which has been adjusted. Accordingly, the user may receive and use a function, in which text may be entered into a text field, the display position of which has been automatically adjusted even without passively selecting a text field, the display position of which has been automatically adjusted, together with the function of automatically adjusting a display position of a text field. 
     At this time, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the meaning of a part of a text field in the case of identifying whether the part of the text field is being displayed, conflicts with the meaning of the entirety of the text field as described above. 
     For example, when a part of a text field is displayed, the relevant text field is displayed in such a manner that the user may not easily recognize text entered into the relevant text field  420  in  FIG. 4D . In addition, when a part of a text field is displayed, an entirety of the text field is not displayed in terms of literal meaning. 
     At this time, a change of a setting may be made in the degree of a part of a text field by a user, a manufacturer, or the like. In this regard, the degree of a part may be set to be equal to or less than a predefined percentage of an entire display size of the text field. For example, when a text field is being displayed with a percentage equal to or less than 40% of an entire display size of the text field, the text field which is being displayed, may be determined as a case where a part of the text field is being displayed. 
     Meanwhile, when a result of the identification shows that only the part of the selected the text field  420  is displayed according to a scroll request (input) of the user for scrolling the display area  400   a  of text fields, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be modified in such a manner that step S 308  may be performed instead of performing step S 306 . 
     For example, when the result of the identification in step S 304  shows that only the part of the selected the text field  420  is displayed as shown in  FIG. 4D  according to a scroll request (input) of the user for scrolling the display area  400   a  of text fields, the controller  210  may perform a control operation for focusing on, as shown in  FIG. 5B , a text field (for example, the text field  430  as shown in  FIG. 4D ) which is being displayed at the uppermost position among text fields, an entirety of each of which is being displayed, instead of the selected text field  420 , the part of which is being displayed. 
     Namely, when the result of displaying text fields as shown in  FIG. 4D  is produced by the scroll request  470  as shown in  FIG. 4B , exemplary embodiments of the present invention may provide a function of adjusting a display position (namely, the text field  420  is kept focused) in order to cause the display of the text field  420  to be changed from  FIG. 4D  to  FIG. 4C , or a function of focusing on the text field  430  as shown in  FIG. 5B  instead of the text field  420  as shown in  FIG. 4D . 
     In steps S 307  through S 309 , the controller  210  performs a control operation for identifying whether text fields other than the selected text field are being displayed in the display area. When a result of the identification shows that the text fields other than the selected text field are being displayed in the display area, the controller  210  performs a control operation for automatically focusing on a text field which is being displayed at the uppermost position in the display area. In contrast, when the result of the identification shows that the text fields other than the selected text field are not being displayed in the display area, the controller  210  performs a control operation so that the SIP is no longer displayed. 
     When the user continuously enters a scroll input for scrolling the display area  400   a  in a state where text fields displayed in the display area  400   a  of text fields are displayed as shown in  FIG. 4D , the text fields  430  and  440  are displayed and the text field  420  selected (focused) in order to enter text is not displayed, as shown in  FIG. 5A . 
     Accordingly, when text fields are displayed as shown in  FIG. 5A  due to the scroll input of the user for scrolling the display area  400   a , although the user enters text by using the SIP  460 , the user may not identify the selected text field  420 . Accordingly, the user may not also identify entered text. 
     In order to conveniently enter text by addressing the inconvenience of the prior art as described above, when the selected text field is not displayed due to the scroll input for scrolling the display area of text fields, exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide the function of automatically focusing on (selecting) a text field which is being displayed at the uppermost position in the display area of text fields. 
     For example, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when an entered scroll input causes the display of text fields displayed in the display area  400   a  of text fields to be changed from  FIG. 4B  to  FIG. 5A , the text field  430  which is being displayed at the uppermost position in the display area  400   a , is automatically focused. The controller  210  performs a control operation for notifying the user of the focus on (the selection of) the text field  430  through the blinking of a cursor  431  as shown in  FIG. 5B . Text that the user enters by using the SIP  460  is entered into the text field  430 . 
     According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the user may automatically select a text field displayed at the uppermost position in the display area  400   a  through only an operation for entering the scroll of the display area  400   a . Accordingly, exemplary embodiments of the present invention enable the user to quickly select a text field into which text is intended to be entered. 
     Meanwhile, when the user continuously enters a scroll input for scrolling the display area  400   a  in a state where text fields displayed in the display area  400   a  of text fields are displayed as shown in  FIG. 4B , as a result of continuously entering of the scroll input may produce a case where text fields displayed in the display area  400   a  are no longer displayed as shown in  FIG. 5C . In this case, the controller may perform a control operation so that the SIP, which is being displayed, is no longer displayed in the display area  400   b  of the SIP as shown in  FIG. 5D . 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide an advantage in that the user can more conveniently enter text when text is entered into multiple text fields by using the SIP in the portable terminal. 
     Therefore, there is an effect in that the user can more conveniently enter text when text is entered into multiple text fields by using the SIP in the portable terminal. 
     While the invention has been shown and described in detail with reference to certain exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.