Patent Publication Number: US-2013254714-A1

Title: Method and apparatus for providing floating user interface

Description:
PRIORITY 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) to a Korean Patent Application filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Mar. 23, 2012, and assigned Serial No. 10-2012-0030197, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for providing a user interface, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for providing a floating user interface having terminal function menus for performing a terminal function. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In general, a user interface displayed on a terminal consists of a background screen image and a menu configuration image having menu items in a text format or in an icon format. When a menu item is selected by a user with a mouse or his/her finger, the terminal performs the corresponding terminal function. 
     For example, if the user wishes to perform a screen rotation function of the terminal while playing a certain image, the terminal operates as follows: 
     A selection of a menu list provided in an image reproducing application is input through the user input means, and the terminal displays the menu list on the screen. If a terminal function menu for screen rotation is selected from among the menu list, the terminal rotates and displays the current screen. 
     The terminal also performs functions corresponding to respective button inputs by pressing corresponding buttons placed on the exterior of the terminal, such as a power button, volume control buttons, a camera button, and the like if they exist. 
     As such, conventional terminals perform terminal functions in response to menu inputs through the user interface with the menu configuration image, or button inputs. 
     In this case, the user may be inconvenienced from having to make many inputs to display a menu list or a menu screen to perform a desired terminal function. 
     In this respect, disabled users in particular may have difficulty making repetitive selections in the user interface or pressing functional buttons on the exterior of the terminal. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been made to address at least the above problems and disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for providing a floating user interface to perform terminal functions by making a simple input. 
     In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for providing a floating user interface is provided, the apparatus including a user input means; a display unit for displaying a floating user interface including menus for terminal functions; and a controller for displaying the floating user interface upon request by the user input means; and performing a terminal function that corresponds to a menu included in the floating user interface when there is a request to execute the menu. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method of providing a floating user interface is provided, the method including displaying a floating user interface including menus for terminal functions if a request for displaying the floating user interface is made by a user input means; and performing a terminal function that corresponds to a menu included in the floating user interface which is requested to be executed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other aspects features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an apparatus for providing a floating user interface, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing an integrated terminal function interface to enable an apparatus for providing a floating user interface to perform terminal functions, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate a process of activating and moving a floating user interface, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a process of deactivating an activated floating user interface, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate a process of activating and moving a floating user interface using a mouse, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate a process of changing a position of an identifier to execute a floating user interface, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 7A ,  7 B and  8  illustrate a process of changing a position of an identifier to activate a floating user interface using a mouse, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 9A and 9B  illustrate a process of shifting and displaying a plurality of menu pages through a floating terminal function interface, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 10A and 10B  illustrate a process of shifting and displaying a plurality of menu pages through a floating user interface using a mouse, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 11A ,  11 B,  12 A,  12 B,  13 A,  1313 ,  14 A,  14 B,  15 A,  15 B,  16 A and  16 B illustrate processes of setting up menus to perform terminal functions through a floating user interface, according to embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 17A to 17D  illustrate a process of setting up a user action to record user inputs in response to gesture inputs through a floating user interface, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 18A to 18D  illustrate a process of setting up a user action to record user inputs in response to voice inputs through a floating user interface, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 19A and 19B  illustrate a process of executing a user action set up in response to a gesture input, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 20A and 20B  illustrate a process of executing a user action set up in response to a voice input, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 21A and 21B  illustrate a process of displaying a list of user actions set up through a floating user interface, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 22  illustrates a process of deleting a list of user actions set up through a floating user interface, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 23  illustrates a process of navigating and moving a list of user actions set up through a floating user interface, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 24A and 24B  illustrate a process of executing a reboot menu through a floating user interface, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 25A to 25C  illustrate a process of executing an adjust ringtone volume menu through a floating user interface, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 26A to 26C  illustrate a process of executing an adjust multimedia volume menu through a floating user interface, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 27A to 27C  illustrate a process of executing a zoom-in or zoom-out menu through a floating user interface, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 28A to 28C  illustrate a process of executing a zoom-in or zoom-out menu through a floating user interface using a mouse, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 29A to 29C  illustrate a process of executing a page shift menu through a floating user interface using a mouse, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 30A and 30B  illustrate a process of moving pages based on positions of a page shift icon in executing a page shift menu using a mouse, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 31A and 31B  illustrate a process of executing a capture screen menu through a floating user interface, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 32A and 32B  illustrate a process of executing a rotate screen menu through a floating user interface, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 33  illustrates a process of executing an external function menu through a floating user interface, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 34  illustrates a process of running a plurality of floating user interfaces, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. Detailed description of well-known functionalities and configurations will be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present invention. 
     In embodiments of the present invention, a floating user interface including menus for executable terminal functions is activated and a terminal function is executed through the floating user interface, thus enabling a user to conveniently execute functions of the terminal through the floating user interface under any environment of the terminal. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an apparatus for providing a user interface, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     The apparatus includes a controller  10  that contains a user interface (UI) configuration unit  11 , a touch screen unit  20  that contains a touch sensor unit  21  and a display unit  22 , and a storage  30 . 
     The controller  10  controls general operations of the apparatus, and in particular controls the UI configuration unit  11  to generate the floating user interface for performing terminal functions upon request. The floating user interface herein includes menus for terminal functions, the menus including menus for exterior buttons placed on the exterior of the terminal, menus for mechanical functional buttons, favorite menus to be set up based on user preferences, etc. 
     The controller  10  displays the floating user interface at a predetermined position of the display unit  22 . The floating user interface is displayed at a predetermined position on the top layer of the display unit  22 . 
     The controller  10  performs a terminal function that corresponds to a terminal function menu selected when the terminal function menu is selected in the floating user interface. 
     The UI configuration unit  11  of the controller  10  generates the floating user interface including terminal function menus and displays the floating user interface on the top layer of the display unit  22 . 
     The touch screen unit  20  containing the touch sensor unit  21  and the display unit  22  detects a user&#39;s touch, creates the detection signal and sends the detection signal to the controller  10 . The touch sensor unit  21  may be configured with touch-detection sensors based on e.g., a capacitive overlay scheme, resistive overlay scheme, a infrared beam scheme or the like, or pressure sensors; however, is the touch-detection sensors are not limited thereto but may be any types of sensors able to detect contact or pressure of an object. 
     The display unit  22  may be formed of a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) and visually provide menus of the portable terminal, input data, functional setting information and other different information to the user. The display unit  22  may consist of various devices other than the LCD device. The display unit  22  outputs the portable terminal&#39;s boot screen, standby screen, display screen, call screen, and other application-run screens. In particular, the display unit  22  displays the floating user interface on its top layer. Specifically, the display unit  22  displays a background user interface on the bottom layer of the display unit  22 , displays a plurality of menu items on the background user interface, and then displays a floating user interface in a partial area of the top layer of the display unit  22 . The background user interface refers to a background image of the display unit  22  to be displayed on the bottom layer. There may be a layer on which at least one menu item is displayed or a layer on which a screen for a running application is displayed between the top and bottom layers. 
     The floating user interface is always displayed on the top layer no matter what screen, such as the standby screen, the application-run screen, and the like is currently displayed, enabling the user to freely perform terminal functions using the floating user interface. In embodiments of the present invention, the user input means corresponds to the user&#39;s touch input, but any other configurations may be used to communicate with an external interface device with which to execute the floating user interface. In other words, the user input means may include a touch-input means, such as the user&#39;s finger, a stylus pen, or the like and a pointing input means, such as a typical mouse, a blowup mouse, an eye mouse that uses the pupil of the eye, or the like. 
     The storage  30  for storing data to be generally used in the apparatus stores the floating user interface generated by the user interface configuration unit  11  and data related to terminal function menus contained in the floating user interface. 
     As such, the user may conveniently use menus in the floating user interface under any terminal environment by executing the floating user interface through a touch-input or user input means, such as a mouse. 
       FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing the floating user interface to enable the apparatus for providing a user interface to perform terminal functions, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     At step  200 , the controller  10  activates an identifier to execute the floating user interface that includes terminal function menus. The identifier is activated and displayed at a predetermined position of the display unit  22 . 
     At step  210 , the controller  10  determines whether there is a request to display the floating user interface, and if there is the request proceeds to step  220  or, otherwise, repeats step  210 . The request to display the floating user interface refers to an operation, such as a touch on the identifier with the user input means or a click on the identifier using a mouse pointer. Such an operation may also correspond to entering or selecting the request. For example, the controller  10  determines that the request is made if the identifier displayed at the predetermined position is selected. 
     At step  220 , the controller  10  generates the floating user interface that includes at least one terminal function menu to perform terminal functions. At step  230 , the controller  10  displays the generated floating user interface at a predetermined position of the display unit  22 . Specifically, the controller  10  displays the floating user interface at a predetermined position on the top layer of the display unit  22 . Alternatively, the floating user interface may be displayed in an area of a predetermined size to contain the at least one terminal function menu. 
     The controller determines whether a selection of any of the at least one terminal function menu is made in the floating user interface, at step  240 , and proceeds to step  250  if the selection is made, or otherwise, repeats step  240 . At step  250 , the controller  10  performs a terminal function corresponding to the selected terminal function menu. For example, if the selected terminal function menu is a reboot menu to reboot the terminal, the controller  10  turns off the terminal and back on. 
     As such, the user may conveniently use menus in the floating user interface under any terminal environment by executing the floating user interface through a touch-input or user input means, such as a mouse. 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate a process of activating and moving the floating user interface, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the terminal is assumed to be in the standby mode displaying a standby screen. 
     In a screen  300  of  FIG. 3A , the controller  10  activates and displays an identifier  301  for executing the floating user interface at a predetermined position in advance. The identifier  301  may be displayed on the top layer of the display unit  22  and have various shapes. Since the identifier  301  is displayed to be overlapped with the background image or any menu item(s), which is displayed on the bottom layer, the identifier  301  may be blurred for the background image or the menu item to be seen. 
     If a touch is made on the identifier  301 , the controller  10  generates and displays the floating user interface that includes terminal function menus in a screen  310 . The floating user interface includes run menus for terminal functions, such as reboot, capture screen, zoom-in and zoom-out screen, add favorites, and the like. 
     If detecting a touch-and-drag input to move the floating user interface in a screen  320  of  FIG. 3B , the controller  10  determines a dragging direction  321  of the touch-and-drag input and moves the floating user interface in the dragging direction. The controller  10  determines the touch-and-drag input detected within where the floating user interface is displayed as an input to move the floating user interface. 
     The controller  10  then moves and displays the floating user interface in the dragging direction, as shown in a screen  330 . The top layer on which the floating user interface is displayed is processed transparently so that the background image or the menu item may be displayed in an area other than where the floating user interface is displayed. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a process of deactivating an activated floating user interface, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Upon detection of a touch input  401  within the area other than where the floating user interface is displayed in a screen  400 , the controller  10  stops displaying the floating user interface as shown in a screen  420 . 
     Also, when a touch input is detected on an identifier  411  while the floating user interface is displayed as shown in a screen  410 , the controller  10  stops displaying the floating user interface as shown in a screen  420 . 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate a process of activating and moving the floating user interface using a mouse, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     When a pointer input of the mouse is detected at the position of an identifier  501  for executing the floating user interface as shown in a screen  500  of  FIG. 5A , the controller  10  displays the floating user interface at a predetermined position as shown in a screen  510 . The pointer input of the mouse refers to an input made by a user clicking on a mouse button. When the pointer input is detected on an arrow-shaped image displayed at a position  511 , the controller  10  displays an expanded diamond-shaped icon image  521  in a predetermined size at where the pointer input is detected. The icon image  521  may also be displayed as an extended animation in another embodiment. 
     After that, when a pointer input on the icon image  521  is detected, the controller  10  moves the floating user interface to an area other than where the floating user interface has been displayed, as shown in a screen  530  of  FIG. 5B . For example, if the floating user interface is positioned on the upper screen part of the display unit  22 , the controller  10  moves the floating user interface down to the lower screen part of the display unit  22 . 
     If the floating user interface is positioned on the lower screen part of the display unit  22  as shown in a screen  540  and a pointer input is detected on an icon image  541 , the controller  10  moves the floating user interface up to the upper screen part of the display unit  22  as shown in a screen  550 . 
       FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate a process of changing a position of an identifier for running the floating user interface, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Upon detection of a touch-and-drag input at a position of an identifier  601  for running the floating user interface in a screen  600  of  FIG. 6A , the controller  10  determines a dragging direction of the touch-and-drag input and moves the identifier  601  in the dragging direction. For example, when the identifier  601  is positioned at the top-left screen part of the display unit  22  and a touch-and-drag input in the left-to-right direction is detected, the controller  10  determines that the dragging direction is toward the right and moves and displays the identifier  601  to the top-right screen part  611  of the display unit  22 , as shown in a screen  610 . 
     When an identifier  621  is positioned at the bottom-left screen part of the display unit  621  as shown in a screen  620  of  FIG. 6B  and a touch-and-drag input in the left-to-right direction is detected, the controller  10  determines that the dragging direction is toward the right and moves and displays the identifier  621  to the bottom-right screen part  631  of the display unit  22  in screen  630 . 
     In another example where the identifier  601  is positioned at the top-left screen part, as shown in the screen  600  of  FIG. 6A , if a touch-and-drag input in the top-to-bottom direction is detected, the controller  10  determines that the dragging direction is toward the bottom and moves the identifier  601  to the bottom-left screen part, as shown in a screen  620  of  FIG. 6B . On the contrary, where the identifier  621  is positioned at the bottom-left screen part, as shown in the screen  620  of  FIG. 6B , if a touch-and-drag input in the bottom-to-top direction is detected, the controller  10  determines that the dragging direction is toward the top and moves the identifier  621  to the top-left screen part, as shown in a screen  600 . 
     In yet another example where an identifier  611  is positioned at the top-right screen part, as shown in the screen  610  of  FIG. 6A , if a touch-and-drag input in the top-to-bottom direction is detected, the controller  10  determines that the dragging direction is toward the bottom and moves the identifier  611  to the bottom-right screen part, as shown in the screen  630  of  FIG. 6B . On the contrary, where an identifier  631  is positioned at the bottom-right screen part, as shown in the screen  630 , if a touch-and-drag input in the bottom-to-top direction is detected, the controller  10  determines that the dragging direction is toward the top and moves the identifier  631  to the top-right screen part, as shown in the screen  610  of  FIG. 6A . 
       FIGS. 7A ,  7 B and  8  illustrate a process of changing a position of an identifier for running the floating user interface using a mouse, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     If a mouse pointer has been detected at a position of an identifier  701  in a screen  700  of  FIG. 7A  for a predetermined time, the controller  10  displays a position moving icon  711  for moving the identifier  701  at the same area where the identifier  701  is displayed as shown in a screen  710 . 
     Then, upon detection of a mouse pointer input at the position of the position moving icon  711 , the controller  10  moves the identifier from the top-left screen part as shown in the screen  701  to the top-right screen part as indicated by a right directional arrow  721 . After that, if there is another mouse pointer input  731  at the position of the position moving icon  711 , the controller  10  moves an identifier  722  to a bottom-right position  733  as indicated by a downward arrow  732 . 
     If the identifier is moved to where there is a reference numeral  801  in a screen  800  of  FIG. 8  and there is one more mouse pointer input, the controller  10  moves and displays the identifier back to the original position  811 . 
     After that, as shown in a screen  810 , if any mouse pointer input has been detected for a predetermined time at the position of the position moving icon  811 , the controller  10  stops displaying the position moving icon as shown in a screen  820  and settles the identifier  801  at the bottom-left screen part for display. 
       FIGS. 9A and 9B  illustrate a process of shifting and displaying a plurality of menu pages through the floating user interface, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Upon detection of a touch-and-drag input within an area where the floating user interface is displayed as shown in a screen  900  of  FIG. 9A , the controller  10  determines a dragging direction of the touch-and-drag input, moves out a menu page that contains currently displayed terminal function menus and displays the next menu page containing some other terminal function menus. Those terminal function menus contained in menu pages may be arranged according to a predetermined arrangement rule or in an arrangement order defined by the user. For example, if there is a request to run the floating user interface, the controller  10  displays as many terminal function menus as determined in advance in an arrangement order of terminal function menus. In this case, four terminal function menus may be displayed as in the screen  900 . However, more or a fewer number of terminal function menus may also be displayed in other embodiments. 
     In a screen  910  of  FIG. 9A , the controller  10  may indicate where a currently displayed menu page is among the entire menu pages by displaying a menu shift navigating icon  911  above the currently displayed menu page. Furthermore, as shown in a screen  920  of  FIG. 9B , upon detection of a touch-and-drag input to shift pages, the controller  10  displays the next menu page containing some terminal function menus. 
     As shown in a screen  930 , the controller  10  may display an environment setting menu in the last menu page. Arrangement order of the terminal function menus in these menu pages may be set up by default or by the user. In addition, the dragging direction detected based on the touch-and-drag input may not be limited to the left direction as illustrated in the foregoing embodiments, but may be any direction in which menu pages are shifted. 
       FIGS. 10A and 10B  illustrate a process of shifting and displaying a plurality of menu pages through the floating user interface using a mouse, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     As shown in a screen  1000  of  FIG. 10A , the controller  10  displays an arrow icon  1001  for shifting menu pages, and moves and displays the next menu page arranged in the arrow direction if there is a mouse pointer input on the arrow icon  1001 . The arrow icon  1001  may be placed on the left or right of the menu page pointing the vertical center, as shown in the screen  1000 . 
     In a screen  1010 , the controller  10  may indicate where the currently displayed menu page is among the entire menu pages by displaying a menu shift navigating icon  1011  above the currently displayed menu page. Furthermore, as shown in a screen  1020  of  FIG. 10B , upon detection of a touch-and-drag input to shift pages, the controller  10  displays the next menu page containing some terminal function menus. 
     As shown in a screen  1030 , the controller  10  may display an environment setting menu in the last menu page. 
       FIGS. 11A and 11B  to  16 A and  16 B illustrate processes of setting up menus to perform terminal functions through the floating user interface, according to embodiments of the present invention. 
       FIGS. 11A and 11B  illustrate a process of displaying the environment setting menu for setting up menus selected by a user input means. 
     If an identifier to execute the floating user interface is selected as shown in a screen  1100  of  FIG. 11A , the controller  10  displays a menu page that contains some terminal function menus as shown in a screen  1110 . After that, upon detection of a touch-and-drag input to request for page shifting to select the environment setting menu, the controller  10  determines a drag direction based on the touch-and-drag input, shifts menu pages in the dragging direction, and displays the environment setting menu as shown in a screen  1120  of  FIG. 11B . Upon detection of a touch input on environment setting menu  1131  to execute a terminal function for the environment setting menu in a screen  1130 , the controller  10  executes the terminal function for the environment setting menu. 
       FIGS. 12A ,  12 B,  13 A and  13 B illustrate processes of setting the number of menus to be contained in a menu page in the floating user interface, according to embodiments of the present invention. 
     As shown in a screen  1200  of  FIG. 12A , the controller  10  displays an environment setting menu item for executing the terminal function for the environment setting menu. The environment setting menu item includes a menu item titled ‘Number of Icons’  1201  to set the number of menu items to be displayed in a menu page and a menu item titled ‘Content’  1202  to set types of menu items to be displayed in the menu page. 
     When the user selects the menu item ‘Number of Icons’  1201  with a user input means, the controller  10  displays a screen to select the number of menu items to be displayed in a single menu page, as shown in a screen  1210 . In this embodiment, one, two, four, and six menu items may be selected. However, the number of menu items is not limited thereto, and more or a fewer number of menu items may be selected in other embodiments. 
     When the number of menu items is selected by the user with the user input means as in a screen  1220  of  FIG. 12B , the controller  10  displays a menu page configured with the selected number of menu items as in a screen  1230 . For example, if the user selects ‘4’ to be the number of menu items of a single menu page, the controller  10  displays 4 menu items in the menu page as in a screen  1230 . 
     In  FIG. 13A , the controller  10  displays one menu item in a menu page as in a screen  1300  if the number of menu items is selected to be ‘1’, and displays two menu items in a menu page as in a screen  1310  if the number of menu items is selected to be ‘2’. Also, the controller  10  displays four menu items in a menu page as in a screen  1320  if the number of menu items is selected to be ‘4’, and displays six menu items in a menu page as in a screen  1330  if the number of menu items is selected to be ‘6’, as shown in  FIG. 13B . 
     In other embodiments of the present invention, not only the number of menu items but also the size of an area where the menu item is displayed may be selected and set. 
       FIGS. 14A and 14B  to  16 A and  16 B illustrate processes of setting types of menu items to be displayed in a menu page, according to embodiments of the present invention. 
     Upon selection of a menu item titled ‘Content’  1401  to set types of menu items to be displayed in a menu page with the user input means as shown in screen  1400  of  FIG. 14A , the controller  10  may display a guiding phrase to guide the user to set types of menu items as shown in a screen  1410 . The controller  10  may also perform a notifying operation for guiding the user, such as displaying guiding phrases or speaking out guiding remarks. Such a notifying operation is optional and may not necessarily be performed. 
     As shown in a screen  1420  of  FIG. 14B , the controller  10  displays selectable menu items with menu selection areas in which to select menu items to be displayed based on the set number of menu items. The menu selection areas are set to be the same as the number of the set menu items. A predetermined number of menu items are displayed in a menu page, and with the page shift, some other menus may be displayed. 
     After that, if a menu selection area  1421  is selected from among the plurality of menu selection areas and, as in a screen  1430 , a first menu item  1431  is selected, the controller  10  displays the first menu item  1431  in the menu selection area  1421  and sets the first menu item  1431  to be displayed in the floating user interface. For example, if the ‘Capture Screen’ menu item is selected with a user input means, the controller  10  displays the ‘Capture Screen’ menu item in the first menu selection area among four menu selection areas. 
     In the embodiments of the present invention, a menu screen is configured by selecting a plurality of menu selection areas and menu items to be displayed in the menu selection areas. However, in other embodiments, upon detection of a touch-and-drag input on any of the plurality of menu items by the user input means, the controller  10  moves the menu item selected by the touch in the dragging direction based on the touch-and-drag input and displays the menu item in a menu selection area where a drop input is detected among the plurality of menu selection areas. 
     Furthermore, if any of the plurality of menu items is selected by the user input means, the controller  10  displays the selected menu item in the first one of the plurality of menu selection areas. After that, upon successive selection of menu items with the user input means, the controller  10  may sequentially set up and display the selected menu items in menu selection areas determined in a predetermined order. 
     Specifically, upon selection of a page shift icon  1501  for shifting pages as in a screen  1500  of  FIG. 15A , the controller  10  shifts menu pages and displays menu items belonging to the next menu page as in a screen  1510 . 
     If a second menu item  1521  is selected by the user input means in a screen  1520  of  FIG. 15B , the controller  10  displays the second menu item  1521  in a second menu selection area  1522  and then sets up the second menu item  1521  to be displayed in the floating user interface. For example, if the ‘Adjust Volume’ menu item is selected with the user input means, the controller  10  displays the ‘Adjust Volume’ menu item in the second menu selection area  1522  among four menu selection areas. The second menu selection area  1522  corresponds to the top-right area among the four menu selection menus. With the foregoing process, such menu items selected and displayed in the plurality of menu selection areas as shown in a screen  1530  are set up to be displayed in the floating user interface. In the embodiment, upon selection of a menu item by the user input means, the controller  10  may activate a menu selection area which has not yet been selected in an arrangement order and display the menu item in the menu selection area, as shown in the screen  1520 . 
     Upon completion of setting up all menu items to be displayed in the first menu page, the controller  10  sets up user-desired menu items in the floating user interface by displaying menu selection areas in which to set up menu items to be displayed in the second menu page, as shown in a screen  1600  of  FIG. 16A . For example, upon detection of a touch-and-drag input for page shifting, the controller  10  determines a dragging direction based on the touch-and-drag input and shifts menu pages from the first menu page to the second menu page in the dragging direction as indicated by an arrow  1601  and displays menu selection areas that correspond to the second menu page. In this case, if a directional icon for page shifting is selected, the controller  10  shifts menu pages in the opposite direction of the dragging direction and displays the menu selection areas. 
     If the user who wants to change a previously setup menu item to any other menu item touches a menu selection area  1611  in which a menu item has been set up as shown in a screen  1610  and touches a menu item  1621  of ‘Add Favorites’ as shown in a screen  1620  of  FIG. 16B , the controller  10  changes the previous menu item to the selected menu item in the menu selection area  1622 . For example, if the user touches a menu selection area in which the menu item ‘Directional Move’ is displayed and touches the menu item ‘Add Favorites’, the controller  10  replaces the menu item ‘Directional Move’ by the menu item ‘Add Favorites’ in the menu selection area. 
     After that, if the user selects a ‘Confirm’ button  1631  to complete settings as configured in a screen  1630 , the controller  10  stores the current settings and completes the operation of setting up types of the menu items to be displayed in the floating user interface. 
       FIGS. 17A to 17D  illustrate a process of setting up a user action to record user inputs in response to gesture inputs through the floating user interface, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Upon selection of the item menu ‘Add Favorites’  1701 , which is a terminal function menu to set up a user action to sequentially write user inputs corresponding to the user-selected terminal function menu in the floating user interface as shown in a screen  1700  of  FIG. 17A , the controller  10  displays an input screen to select a type of an operation to implement the user action as shown in a screen  1710 . The type of the operation to implement the user action includes a gesture that represents the user&#39;s writing input or a voice that represents the user&#39;s voice. 
     If the user&#39;s gesture input is detected, the controller  10  displays a guiding screen to indicate that the gesture is being recorded as shown in a screen  1720  and displays a guiding message to confirm whether the input shape is correct as shown in a screen  1730  of  FIG. 17B . In the embodiment of the present invention, the writing shape according to a touch input may be determined and displayed as a gesture input. 
     Then, if the ‘Confirm’ button is selected, the controller  10  displays a screen to write user inputs as shown in a screen  1740 . Specifically, the controller  10  displays a recording identifier ‘REC’  1741  to start recording user inputs, and starts recording a user input if the recording identifier  1741  is selected by a user input means. 
     If a message sending menu  1742  to send messages is selected by the user input means as shown in a screen  1740 , the controller  10  displays a screen of a list of transmitted or received messages corresponding to their contacts as shown in a screen  1750 . 
     After that, if a ‘Message Writing’ function is selected, the controller  10  displays a screen to write a message as shown in a screen  1760  of  FIG. 17C . The screen to write a message includes a recipient area into which to enter a recipient, a message area into which to enter a message, a keypad area, a send button to send the message, a recent message button to show a list of recent messages, a contact button to show a list of contacts, a group button to send group messages, and the like. 
     If the contact button is selected by the user input means as shown in a screen  1760 , the controller  10  displays a screen containing the list of contacts stored in the storage  30  as shown in a screen  1770 . 
     If the user selects a contact  1781  to send a message in the screen  1780 , the controller  10  displays the selected contact in the recipient area as shown in a screen  1790  of  FIG. 17D . Then, if the user enters a phrase, e.g., ‘on my way home’ using the keypad area, the controller  10  displays an entered phrase  1791 , e.g., ‘on my way home’ in the message area. 
     When the user selects the send button indicated by a reference numeral  1801  in a screen  1800 , the controller  10  transmits a message containing the entered phrase to the selected contact. 
     After that, if the recording identifier indicated by a reference numeral  1802  is selected again by the user input means, the controller  10  stops recording the user input and displays a user input list  1811  that enumerates user inputs that have been recorded to set up user actions as in a screen  1810 . Then, if a ‘store’ or ‘save’ button is selected, the controller  10  sets up and stores the user input list as user actions. 
       FIGS. 18A to 18D  illustrate a process of setting up user actions that record user inputs in response to voice inputs through the floating user interface, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Upon selection of the item menu ‘Add Favorites’ indicated by a reference numeral  1821 , which is a terminal function menu to set up a user action to sequentially record user inputs in correspondence to the user-selected terminal function menu in the floating user interface as shown in a screen  1820  of  FIG. 18A , the controller  10  displays an input screen to select a type of an operation to implement the user action as shown in a screen  1830 . 
     If a voice input  1841 , e.g., ‘mom&#39;s home’ is detected through a microphone as shown in a screen  1840  of  FIG. 18B , the controller  10  displays a guiding screen to indicate that the voice input is being recorded as a voice command and displays a guiding message to confirm whether the voice input is correct as shown in a screen  1850 . 
     When the user selects the ‘confirm’ button, the controller  10  displays a screen for recording user inputs that correspond to voice inputs. Specifically, the controller  10  displays a recording identifier to start recording user inputs, and starts recording a user input if the recording identifier is selected by the user input means. This recording process is similar to what was described in connection with  FIGS. 17A and 17B . 
     If there are user inputs or selections made by the user input means, the controller  10  records the user inputs or the selections in an input sequence; and if there is an input to stop recording, the controller  10  stops recording the user input. For example, if the recording identifier as indicated by reference numeral  1861  is selected again by the user input means since the user input has been recorded as shown in a screen  1860  of  FIG. 18C , the controller  10  determines the re-selection of the recording identifier as an input to stop recording user inputs and stops recording user inputs. 
     The controller  10  then displays the user input list, indicated by reference numeral  1871 , which has been recorded to set up user actions, as shown in a screen  1870  of  FIG. 18D . After that, when the ‘store’ or ‘save’ button is selected, the controller  10  sets up the user input list to be user actions and displays an initial screen of the floating user interface, as shown in a screen  1880 . 
     In the foregoing embodiments in connection with  FIGS. 17A to 17D  and  18 A to  18 D, user actions are set up using gesture or voice inputs. However, in other embodiments, if there is a text input in setting up user actions, user inputs may be recorded in correspondence to the input text and then stored. 
       FIGS. 19A and 19B  illustrate a process of executing user actions set up in response to gesture inputs, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     If a ‘run favorites’ menu  1901  for executing user actions in the floating user interface is selected by the user input means as shown in a screen  1900  of  FIG. 19A , the controller  10  displays a screen to guide the user to make a voice input or a gesture input that corresponds to a user action to be executed among one or more user actions set up, as shown in a screen  1910 . 
     When a gesture input corresponding to a user action to be executed is made, the controller  10  displays a screen including a guiding phrase, e.g., ‘analyzing gesture’ indicating that it is in the process of determining whether there is the user action set up to correspond to the gesture input, as shown in a screen  1920  of  FIG. 19B . Specifically, the controller  10  determines whether there is a user action set up to correspond to an input gesture among one or more user actions stored in the storage  30 . The input gesture refers to a writing shape input by the user, and the method of recognizing the writing shape employs a method of recognizing general touch inputs or writing inputs. 
     If there is the user action set up to correspond to the input gesture, the controller  10  displays a guiding screen of the user input list that corresponds to user actions, as shown in a screen  1930 . For example, in response to a request for a selected terminal function menu, selection of a terminal function, selection of a contact to transmit a message, input of message description, execution of the terminal function, the user input list corresponding to the gesture may be displayed like ‘SMS-&gt;Texting-&gt;Mom-&gt;On my way home-&gt;Send’. 
     Then, if a ‘confirm’ input is made by the user input means to execute the user action, the controller  10  executes the user action. In other words, the controller  10  sends an SMS message including a message of ‘on my way home’ to the contact corresponding to ‘mom’ by executing the message send function based on the recorded user inputs. 
       FIGS. 20A and 20B  illustrate a process of executing a user action recorded in response to a voice input, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     If a menu item  2001  for executing user actions in the floating user interface is selected by the user input means as shown in a screen  2000  of  FIG. 20A , the controller  10  displays a screen to guide the user to make a voice input or a gesture input that corresponds to a user action to be executed among one or more user actions set up, as shown in a screen  2010 . 
     When a voice input corresponding to a user action to be executed is made, the controller  10  displays a screen including a guiding phrase, e.g., ‘analyzing voice command’ indicating that it is in the process of determining whether there is the user action set up to correspond to the voice input, as shown in a screen  2020  of  FIG. 20B . Specifically, if a voice input, e.g., ‘mom&#39;s home’ is made as indicated by reference numeral  2021 , the controller  10  determines whether there is a user action set up in correspondence to the voice input ‘mom&#39;s home’ among one or more user actions stored in the storage  30 . In determining the voice input, a general voice recognition method is employed. 
     If there is the user action set up in correspondence to the input voice, the controller  10  displays a guiding message to inquire whether to execute the user action, a confirm button to execute the user action, and a cancel button to cancel the execution of the user action, as shown in a screen  2030 . 
     Then, if the confirm button is selected by the user input means, the controller  10  executes the user action, or else if the cancel button is selected, the controller  10  displays the initial screen of the floating user interface. 
     In the foregoing embodiments in connection with  FIGS. 19A and 19B  and  20 A and  20 B, processes of executing the user action set up in correspondence to the voice input or the gesture input was described. However, in other embodiments where user actions are set up in correspondence to text inputs, if a text input is made, a corresponding user action is searched and executed to perform operations recorded based on user inputs.  FIGS. 21A and 21B  illustrate a process of displaying a list of user actions set up through the floating user interface, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     If a terminal function menu, e.g., ‘favorites list’  2101  to show a list of user actions set up in advance is selected as shown in a screen  2100  of  FIG. 21A , the controller  10  displays a list of one or more user actions including as many user actions as determined in advance, which are stored in the storage  30 , as shown in a screen  2110 . Contents of the user action list displayed in the screen  2110  include icons representing the respective user actions set up in correspondence to gesture inputs or voice inputs, icons representing input gestures or words or phrases corresponding to brief summaries of voice inputs, recorded user input list, etc. The controller  10  may receive from the user input means the words or phrases corresponding to brief summaries of voice inputs and display them on the user action list. The controller  10  may also perform voice recognition on the input voice, convert the recognized voice to words or phrases, and display them on the user action list. If such contents are too many to be displayed in the floating user interface, the controller  10  may display part of the content for each user action of the user action list. 
     If a user action is selected by the user input means as shown in a screen  2120  of  FIG. 21B , the controller  10  may continuously move and display setup contents for the entire user actions like an annunciator, while displaying the area in which setup contents for the selected user action are displayed in a particular color. 
     Then, if a ‘confirm’ input is made by the user input means to execute the selected user action as shown in a screen  2130 , the controller  10  executes the user action. In other embodiments of the present invention, the user action may be executed not only by the ‘confirm’ button but also by double clicks on the user action, a touch input on the user action for a predetermined time, a dwell input that stays stationary without cursor clicking, or a hovering input that stays stationary without finger touching. 
       FIG. 22  illustrates a process of deleting a list of user actions through the floating user interface, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     If the user action list is displayed as shown in a screen  2200  and a particular user action is selected by the user input means to be deleted from the user action list, the controller  10  displays a delete button  2211  in a particular color to represent that the corresponding user action is to be deleted as shown in a screen  2210 . In this case, user actions on the list may be displayed together with respective delete buttons. 
     If the ‘confirm’ button is selected by the user input means to delete the selected user action as shown in the screen  2200 , the controller  10  deletes the selected user action from the list. 
       FIG. 23  illustrates a process of navigating and moving the user actions through the floating user interface, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     In a screen  2300  where the user action list is displayed, if a touch-and-drag input is detected in the direction indicated by reference numeral  2301 , the controller  10  determines the dragging direction  2301  of the touch-and-drag input and displays the user action items on the user action list while scrolling them in the dragging direction. For example, where thirty user action items are contained in the user action list while there are eight user action items to be displayed in the floating user interface, the controller  10  displays eight user action items on the screen among user action items arranged in a predetermined order. The controller  10  may arrange and display recently setup user action items in upper part of the user action list in the predetermined order. If there is a request to display user action items arranged next to the currently displayed eight user action items, the controller  10  displays the user action items sequentially at the request. When a touch-and-drag input is made by the user&#39;s finger, the controller  10  may display some user action items while moving the user action list in the dragging direction. 
     As shown in a screen  2310  where a scroll key button  2311  to move pages of user action lists is provided, if a mouse pointer is detected on the scroll key button  2311 , the controller  10  may scroll and display the user action list in the direction that corresponds to the scroll key direction. Such page moving is similar to the foregoing menu page shifting. If a selection of the mouse pointer on the scroll key button is made, the controller  10  may move the menu pages faster than the former case of page moving. 
     When a frequently-used user action item is selected, the controller  10  may set up the user action item to be placed on top of the user action list. As shown in a screen  2320 , upon selection of frequently-used user action items, the controller  10  may classify the frequently-used user action items from others on the user action list and display them separately. For example, the controller  10  may classify the frequently-used user action items selected by the user input means from others on the list and display them on the upper part of the user action list. When there is a touch input to select a frequently-used user action on the user action list, the controller  10  may mark the selected user action item with a star-shaped icon and then classify user action items with such star-shaped icons into a separate group and store the group. 
     Alternatively, the controller  10  may determine which user action items are frequently used by the user and display them to be placed on the upper part of the user action list by default. 
       FIGS. 24A and 24C  illustrate a process of executing a reboot menu  2411  through the floating user interface, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     If an identifier  2401  to run the floating user interface is selected by the user input means in a screen  2400  of  FIG. 24A , the controller  10  displays the floating user interface that contains a plurality of menu items as shown in a screen  2410 . 
     Then, the reboot menu  2411  to reboot the terminal is selected by the user input means, the controller  10  powers off the terminal and then power it back on. In the case of powering off the terminal, the controller  10  displays a screen to indicate that the power is off as shown in a screen  2420  of  FIG. 24B ; otherwise, in the case of powering on the terminal again, the controller  10  displays a screen to indicate that the power is on as shown in a screen  2430 . 
       FIGS. 25A to 25B  illustrate a process of executing a ringtone volume adjustment menu through the floating user interface, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     If an identifier  2501  to run the floating user interface is selected by the user input means in a screen  2500  of  FIG. 25A , the controller  10  displays the floating user interface that contains a plurality of menu items as shown in a screen  2510 . 
     When the ‘adjust volume’ menu  2511  to adjust the speaker volume of the terminal is selected by the user input means, the controller  10  displays volume up (+) and down (−) buttons to adjust the volume with a volume status bar, as shown in a screen  2520 . 
     If the volume down button, indicated by reference numeral  2531  in a screen  2530 , is selected, the controller  10  reduces the speaker volume of the terminal and displays the volume status bar, indicated by reference numeral  2532 , to correspond to the reduced volume. 
     If the user input means keeps selecting the volume down button until nothing is left to be reduced in the volume status bar  2532 , the controller  10  changes the terminal from the ringtone mode to a vibration mode and displays a vibration indicator icon  2541  to indicate that the terminal is in the vibration mode, as shown in a screen  2540 . In the ringtone mode the terminal outputs bell sounds through the speaker of the terminal, while in the vibration mode the terminal outputs vibration without outputting a bell sound through the speaker. 
     If the user keeps selecting the volume down button with the user input means, the controller  10  changes the terminal from the vibration mode to a silent mode and displays a silence indicator icon  2551  to indicate that the terminal is in the silent mode. In the silent mode, the terminal does not vibrate or output a sound through the speaker. Proportions of volume up or volume down of the terminal in response to the volume up or volume down input are determined beforehand. For example, if the current speaker volume of the terminal is less than a threshold, the controller  10  may perform an operation of entering into the silent mode. Otherwise, if the current speaker volume of the terminal is greater than or equal to the threshold, the controller  10  may change the terminal from the silent mode to the ringtone mode. Furthermore, if the vibration indicator icon  2541  or the silence indicator icon  2551  is selected by the user input means, the controller  10  may directly set the vibration mode or the silent mode. In addition, upon detection of a touch input or a pointing input on a particular position of the volume status bar, the controller  10  may increase or reduce the volume of the speaker to a volume that corresponds to the particular position. 
     If the volume up button, as indicated by reference numeral  2561 , is selected by the user input means as shown in a screen  2560  of  FIG. 25C , the controller  10  changes the terminal from the silent mode to the vibration mode. If the user keeps selecting the volume up button with the user input means, the controller  10  changes the terminal from the vibration mode to the ringtone mode and displays the volume status bar  2562  to reflect the increased volume. 
     After that, if the user selects an identifier, indicated by reference numeral  2571 , to stop adjusting the speaker volume as shown in a screen  2570 , the controller  10  stops adjusting the speaker volume and displays the initial screen of the floating user interface. 
       FIGS. 26A to 26C  illustrate a process of executing an adjust multimedia volume menu through the floating user interface, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     If an identifier to run the floating user interface is selected by the user input means while a multimedia play application is running as shown in a screen  2600  of  FIG. 26A , the controller  10  displays the floating user interface that contains a plurality of menu items as shown in a screen  2610 . 
     When an ‘adjust volume’ menu  2611  to adjust the volume of multimedia being played is selected by the user input means, the controller  10  displays volume up (+) and down (−) buttons to adjust the volume with a volume status bar, as shown in a screen  2620 . In adjusting the volume for the multimedia being played, the controller  10  activates the silent mode while deactivating the vibration mode, as indicated by reference numeral  2621 . 
     If the volume up button, indicated by reference numeral  2631 , is selected, as shown in a screen  2630  of  FIG. 26B , the controller  10  increases the volume of the multimedia being played and displays the volume status bar to correspond to the increased volume. 
     If a touch-and-drag input  2641  over the volume status bar is detected as shown in a screen  2640 , the controller  10  reduces or increases the volume based on the dragging direction while displaying the volume status bar to correspond to the reduced or increased volume. 
     If the volume down button, indicated by reference numeral  2651 , is selected as shown in a screen  2650 , the controller  10  reduces the volume of the multimedia being played and displays the volume status bar to correspond to the reduced volume. 
     If the user input means keeps selecting the volume down button  2651  until nothing is left to be reduced in the volume status bar, the controller  10  changes the multimedia volume to be in a silent mode and displays a silence indicator icon  2652  to indicate that the multimedia volume is silent, as shown in a screen  2650 . 
     If the user selects an identifier  2661  to stop adjusting the multimedia volume as shown in a screen  2660  of  FIG. 26C , the controller  10  stops adjusting the multimedia volume and displays the initial screen of the floating user interface as shown in a screen  2670 . 
       FIGS. 27A to 27C  illustrate a process of executing a zoom-in or zoom-out menu through the floating user interface, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Described in the embodiment is a process of performing an operation of zooming in or zooming out an image using the floating user interface while the image reproducing application is running. 
     If an identifier  2701  to run the floating user interface is selected by the user input means while a multimedia play application is running as shown in a screen  2700  of  FIG. 27A , the controller  10  displays the floating user interface that contains a plurality of menu items as shown in a screen  2710 . 
     If a ‘view screen’ menu  2711 , which is a terminal function menu to adjust the screen size is selected in the floating user interface as shown in the screen  2710 , the controller  10  generates and displays a screen adjustment icon  2721  to adjust the screen as shown in a screen  2720 . As shown in the screen  2720 , the screen adjustment icon  2721  may have a radial shape in a predetermined size and includes up, down, left, and right directional key areas and zoom-in or zoom-out key areas. 
     If a touch-and-drag input is detected over a moving area  2731  in a predetermined size which is located at the center of the screen adjustment icon as shown in a screen  2730  of  FIG. 27B , the controller  10  determines the dragging direction based on the detected touch-and-drag input, and moves and displays the screen adjustment icon in the dragging direction. In particular, the user input means that made the touch and the moving area are displayed to be mapped to each other. With this, the user is able to move the screen adjustment icon to a position on a screen based on which to perform zooming-in or zooming-out. 
     If a zoom-in key area  2741  is selected as shown in a screen  2740 , the controller  10  displays the screen by zooming in the screen centered at the screen adjustment icon as shown in a screen  2750 . 
     After that, if an identifier  2761  to stop zooming-in or zooming-out is selected as shown in a screen  2760  of  FIG. 27C , the controller  10  stops displaying the screen adjustment icon and changes the screen as shown in a screen  2780 . 
     In the foregoing embodiment, the radial-shaped screen adjustment icon was illustrated; however, the screen adjustment icon may be implemented in various other shapes. Also, in the foregoing embodiment, it was described that the zoom-in or zoom-out operation was performed while the image play application is running, but the zoom-in or zoom-out operation may be performed on any other screens. 
       FIGS. 28A to 28C  illustrate a process of executing a zoom-in or zoom-out menu through a floating user interface using a mouse, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     If an identifier  2801  to run the floating user interface is selected by mouse pointing in a screen  2800  of  FIG. 28A , the controller  10  displays the floating user interface that contains a plurality of menu items as shown in a screen  2810 . 
     After that, if a ‘view screen’ menu  2811  is selected by mouse pointing, the controller  10  displays a screen adjustment icon  2821  to adjust the screen, as shown in a screen  2820 . 
     As shown in a screen  2830  of  FIG. 28B , if a moving area  2831  in a predetermined size, which is positioned at the center of the screen adjustment icon is selected by mouse pointing, the controller  10  maps the moving area  2831  with the mouse pointing, moves and displays the screen adjustment icon according to the movement of the mouse pointing from where the mapped moving area  2831  is placed. If the moving area  2831  is re-selected by mouse pointing, the controller  10  may release the mapping relationship between the mouse pointing and the moving area  2831 . 
     If a mouse pointer is placed within the zoom-in key area  2841  and the zoom-in key area  2841  is selected by mouse pointing as shown in a screen  2840 , the controller  10  displays the screen by zooming in the screen centered at the screen adjustment icon as shown in a screen  2850 . In other embodiments, upon detection of a mouse pointer within the zoom-in key area  2841 , the controller  10  may display the screen by zooming in the screen at a predetermined speed. In other embodiments where the mouse pointer is placed within the zoom-in key area  2841  and the zoom-in key area  2841  is selected by mouse pointing, the controller  10  may display the screen by zooming in the screen at a faster speed than the former case. 
     Upon detection of mouse pointing in a right scroll key area  2861  among the up, down, left, and right scroll key areas as shown in a screen  2860  of  FIG. 28C , the controller scrolls and displays the screen in the opposite direction of the selected right direction. If any of the up, down, left, and right scroll key areas is selected by a mouse pointer, the controller  10  may scroll and display the screen in the selected direction at faster speed than the former screen moving speed. In other embodiments, similar to the page moving function based on selection of the scroll key area by the mouse pointer, the controller  10  may perform a page shift function for changing images currently displayed on the screen to other images. 
     After that, if an identifier  2871  to stop zooming-in or zooming-out is selected as shown in a screen  2870 , the controller  10  stops displaying the screen adjustment icon and changes the screen to a screen where a zoomed-in image is displayed. 
       FIGS. 29A to 29C  illustrate a process of executing a page shift menu through the floating user interface using the mouse, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     In the embodiment, the terminal runs a contact application and the resulting contact list is displayed on the screen. 
     If an identifier  2901  to run the floating user interface is selected by the user input means while the contact application is running and the resultant contact list is displayed as shown in a screen  2900  of  FIG. 29A , the controller  10  displays the floating user interface that contains a plurality of menu items as shown in a screen  2910 . 
     If a ‘view screen’ menu  2911 , which is a terminal function menu to shift pages is selected in the floating user interface as shown in the screen  2910 , the controller  10  generates and displays a page shift icon  2921  to shift pages as shown in a screen  2920 . Similar to the foregoing screen adjustment icon, the page shift icon  2921  includes up, down, left, and right scroll key areas and zoom-in and zoom-out key areas. The zoom-in and zoom-out key areas may be determined to be activated and displayed depending on whether the background screen is scalable or not. Specifically, if the background screen is scalable, the zoom-in and zoom-out key areas are activated and displayed; otherwise, if the background screen is not scalable, the zoom-in and zoom-out key areas are not activated nor displayed. 
     Upon detection of a mouse pointer on a down scroll key area  2931  among the up, down, left, and right scroll key areas as shown in a screen  2930  of  FIG. 29B , the controller  10  scrolls and displays a plurality of contacts included in the contact list in the opposite direction  2932  of the down direction for the down scroll key area  2931 . The shifting speed may be determined in advance, and the contact list may be shifted and displayed at the predetermined shifting speed. The controller  10  may also display the scroll key area by changing the color of the scroll key area to indicate that a mouse pointer is detected in the scroll key area. 
     Upon selection of the down scroll key area  2941  by the mouse pointer as shown in a screen  2940 , the controller  10  keeps scrolling the contacts in the opposite direction  2942  of the down direction for the down scroll key at faster shifting speed than the former case. The selection by means of the mouse pointer may be a mouse clicking input. 
     If a down directional key area  2951  is re-selected by the mouse pointer as shown in a screen  2950 , the controller  10  stops moving contacts included in the contact list. 
     If a down directional key area  2961  is re-selected by the mouse pointer as shown in a screen  2960  of  FIG. 29C , the controller  10  changes and displays the page shift icon into the initial state. Here, the controller  10  displays the scroll key area by recovering the original color of the scroll key area to indicate that the page shift icon has been changed into its initial state. If an identifier  2971  to stop shifting pages is selected as shown in a screen  2970 , the controller  10  stops displaying the page shift icon and displays the contact application screen. 
       FIGS. 30A and 30B  illustrate a process of moving pages based on the position of the page shift icon in executing to move pages using a mouse, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     In the embodiment, the full screen of the display unit includes a plurality of screen display areas. In particular, in the embodiment, the full screen includes a first screen display area and a second screen display area, the first screen display area being placed in a upper part of the full screen and the second screen display area being placed in a lower part of the full screen. 
     If there is an input to run the floating user interface by the user input means while a list of different topics of articles is displayed in two screen display areas as shown in a screen  3000  of  FIG. 30A , the controller  10  displays the floating user interface including a plurality of menu items on the screen. 
     If a ‘view screen’ menu  3001 , which is a terminal function menu to move pages is selected, the controller  10  generates and displays a page shift icon to move pages as shown in a screen  3010 . 
     Upon detection of mouse pointing in a down scroll key area  3011  among up, down, left, and right scroll key areas in the screen  3010 , the controller  10  scrolls and displays the entire article list in the opposite direction  3012  of the down direction for the down scroll key. In other words, the controller  10  scrolls and displays the entire screen list in correspondence to a detected direction on the full screen including a plurality of screen display areas. At this time, the controller  10  determines to scroll the entire screen list if proportions of respective page shift icon areas that are displayed in the respective screen display areas are similar. Here, the controller  10  determines that the proportions are similar if the difference in size of the page shift icon areas to be displayed in the respective screen display areas are less than a predetermined minimum threshold. 
     As shown in a screen  3020  of  FIG. 30B , if a moving area  3021  in a predetermined size, which is positioned at the center of the page shift icon is selected by mouse pointing, the controller  10  maps the moving area  3021  with the mouse pointing, moves and displays the page shift icon according to the movement of the mouse pointing from where the mapped moving area  3021  is placed. In this embodiment, the controller  10  may display outlines of a screen display area in which the page shift icon is included to be bold or in a particular color to be discerned from other screen display areas. However, in other embodiments, different ways of marking the screen display area to be discerned from others may also be possible. Furthermore, if the difference between the corresponding screen display area and the area occupied by the page shift icon is greater than a predetermined maximum threshold, the controller  10  determines that the page shift icon is included in a screen display area having a big difference from the page shift icon. 
     As shown in a screen  3030  where there are two screen display areas displaying financial articles in the first screen display area and entertainment articles in the second screen display area and the page shift icon is placed in the second screen display area, upon detection of mouse pointing on the right scroll key area  3031  among the up, down, left, and right scroll key areas, the controller  10  scrolls and displays the entertainment articles in the opposite direction  3032  of the right direction for the right scroll key area. 
       FIGS. 31A and 31B  illustrate a process of executing a capture screen menu through the floating user interface, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     If an identifier  3101  to run the floating user interface is selected by the user input means while an Internet web site screen is being displayed as shown in a screen  3100  of  FIG. 31A , the controller  10  displays the floating user interface that contains a plurality of menu items as shown in a screen  3110 . 
     If the ‘capture screen’ menu  3111 , which is a terminal function menu to capture a screen is selected, the controller  10  captures a currently displayed screen as shown in a screen  3120  of  FIG. 31B , stores the captured screen image in the storage  30 , and completes the screen capture. In this embodiment, the controller  10  may display a guiding phrase or guiding display to represent that the screen is being captured. 
     After that, the controller  10  displays an initial screen of the Internet web site as in a screen  3130 . 
       FIGS. 32A and 32B  illustrate a process of executing a rotate screen menu through the floating user interface, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     If an identifier  3201  to run the floating user interface is selected by the user input means while an image is being reproduced as shown in a screen  3200  of  FIG. 32A , the controller  10  displays the floating user interface that contains a plurality of menu items as shown in a screen  3210 . 
     If a ‘rotate screen’ menu  3211 , which is a terminal function menu to rotate an image being currently reproduced and display the result, is selected, the controller  10  rotates the currently displayed image by 90 degrees in the clockwise direction, displays the result, and completes the screen rotation, as in screen  3220 . In this embodiment the rotation is performed by 90 degrees in the clockwise direction, but in other embodiments rotation may be performed to such an extent as determined in advance in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction. 
     After that, if there is a request to stop running the floating user interface or if the screen rotation has been completed, the controller  10  stops displaying the floating user interface and displays the rotated image being currently reproduced, as shown in a screen  3230 . 
       FIG. 33  illustrates a process of executing an external function menu through the floating user interface, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     The floating user interface includes a ‘home’ menu  3301 , which is a terminal function menu to move to a predetermined web page as shown in a screen  3300 . If the home menu is selected by the user input means while an Internet web page is being displayed, the controller  10  moves from the currently displayed web page to the predetermined web page and displays the predetermined web page. 
     The floating user interface includes a menu  3311 , a terminal function menu to edit, set up, log out, and/or close menus as shown in a screen  3310 . When the user input means enters a selection of a corresponding menu, the controller  10  displays a menu screen  3312  including edit, set up, log out, and close functions to perform the respective functions on the menu. 
     The floating user interface includes a ‘back’ menu  3321 , which is a terminal function menu to move back to a previous menu from the currently displayed menu as shown in a screen  3320 . If the user input means selects the ‘back’ menu  3321 , the controller  10  moves and displays a previous screen of the currently displayed contact list. 
       FIG. 34  illustrates a process of executing and displaying a plurality of floating user interfaces, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     In  FIG. 34 , the controller  10  runs a plurality of floating user interfaces in a single screen, each floating user interface displaying terminal function menus to perform terminal functions. For example, the controller  10  may display a plurality of floating user interfaces in a single screen, such as control menus to be used to control the terminal, a user action list including a plurality of user actions, an icon for moving or zooming-in/out a screen, a volume control icon, and the like. 
     According to the present invention, the user may conveniently perform terminal functions through the floating user interface in any environment of the terminal. 
     It will be appreciated that the embodiments of the present invention may be implemented in a form of hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. The software may be stored as program instructions or computer readable codes executable on the processor on a computer-readable medium. Examples of the computer readable recording medium include magnetic storage media (e.g., ROM, floppy disks, hard disks, etc.), and optical recording media (e.g., CD-ROMs, or DVDs). The computer readable recording medium can also be distributed over network coupled computer systems so that the computer readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion. This media can be read by the computer, stored in the memory, and executed by the processor. The method of providing the floating user interface may be implemented by a computer or portable terminal including a controller and a memory, and the memory may be an example of the computer readable recording medium suitable for storing a program or programs having instructions that implement the embodiments of the present invention. The present invention may be implemented by a program having codes for embodying the apparatus and method described in claims, the program being stored in a machine (or computer) readable storage medium. The program may be electronically carried on any medium, such as communication signals transferred via wired or wireless connection, and the present invention suitably includes its equivalent. 
     The apparatus for providing the floating user interface may receive the program from a program provider wired/wirelessly connected thereto, and store the program. The program provider may include a memory for storing programs having instructions to perform the embodiments of the present invention, information necessary for the embodiments of the present invention, etc., a communication unit for wired/wirelessly communicating with the mobile communication terminal, and a controller for sending the program to the mobile communication terminal on request or automatically. 
     Several embodiments have been illustrated and described, but it will be understood that various modifications can be made without departing the scope of the present invention. Thus, it will be apparent to those ordinary skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described, but can encompass not only the appended claims but the equivalents.