Abstract:
A data processing apparatus and a method for displaying time-based data are provided. The data processing apparatus includes a storage unit for storing data processed by the data processing apparatus and identification information for sorting the data. The data processing apparatus also includes a display unit having a first display section for displaying one or more data sort functions and a second display section for displaying data according to a data sort function selected from the first display section. Finally, the data processing apparatus includes a control unit for sorting the data stored in the storage unit and controlling the display unit to display the data in a life data mode. Therefore, a user may quickly identify data stored in a terminal by displaying the data by data generation dates, and by further sorting the data according to a data sort function selected by the user, thereby enabling easy finding of desired data.

Description:
PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §  119 ( a ) to an application entitled “APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING TIME-BASE DATA AND METHOD THEREOF” filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on May 4, 2007 and assigned Serial No. 2007-0043601, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates generally to a data processing apparatus, and more particularly, to a data processing apparatus for displaying various data according to their functions, and a method thereof. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    With recent developments in information and telecommunication technology, various data processing apparatuses, such as mobile phones, computers, notebook computers, MP3 players, and digital cameras, have become popular. A data processing apparatus is commonly used in daily life due to its advantages in generating and storing data, and thereby the variety and quantity of data stored in the data processing apparatus are increasing. 
         [0006]    In the prior art, the data stored in the data processing apparatus is identified by selecting a data item from a menu. A function of viewing detailed information must be selected to identify a data generation date. 
         [0007]    Although a user may easily search data by selecting a data item from a menu in the data processing apparatus, the user may experience inconvenience in searching data stored in the data processing apparatus. When the user desires to search data generated on a specific date, the user must identify all data generated on that date. The user may sort data included in a menu by type of data, data generation time point, and format of the data file. However, the user may still experience inconvenience in searching data stored in the data processing apparatus. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention has been made to address at least the above problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention provides a data processing apparatus for displaying data stored in the data processing apparatus, and a method thereof. 
         [0009]    Another aspect of the present invention further provides a data processing apparatus for displaying data stored in the data processing apparatus by data generation dates, and a method thereof. 
         [0010]    An additional aspect of the present invention further provides a data processing apparatus for displaying data stored in the data processing apparatus by data sort functions, and a method thereof. 
         [0011]    According to one aspect of the present invention, a data processing apparatus is provided. The data processing apparatus includes a storage unit for storing data processed by the data processing apparatus and identification information for sorting the data. The data processing apparatus also includes a display unit having a first display section for displaying data sort functions and a second display section for displaying data according to a data sort function selected from the first display section. Finally, the data processing apparatus includes a control unit for sorting the data stored in the storage unit and controlling the display unit to display the data in a life data mode. 
         [0012]    According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of displaying time-based data in a data processing apparatus is provided. Data stored in the data processing apparatus is sorted by dates in a life data mode. A first display section having data sort functions and a second display section having the data sorted by dates are displayed. The data according to a selected data sort function is displayed, when the data sort function is selected from the first display section. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a screen display example showing data according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  4 , and  5  are detailed views showing a first date display area, search area, filtering area, and tag area respectively in a first display section of the screen display of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram showing a configuration of a data processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a flow chart showing a data display method according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a flow chart showing a process of sorting data by dates in the data display method of  FIG. 7 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0019]    Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings. Detailed descriptions of constructions or processes known in the art may be omitted to avoid obscuring the subject matters of the present invention. 
         [0020]    In the following description of the present invention, “data processing apparatus” means an apparatus for generating, storing, and exchanging data, such as a computer, mobile terminal, or notebook computer. The data processing apparatus includes all kinds of apparatus capable of displaying stored data on a screen, such as a digital camera, MP3 player, or Portable Multimedia Player (PMP). 
         [0021]    “Data” means all kinds of information stored in the data processing apparatus, such as data generated and stored during operation of the data processing apparatus and data downloaded from another data processing apparatus. For example, data generated by a mobile terminal may be photographic data, MP3 data, movie data, appointments and activities included in a personal scheduler, or transmitted and received call data and messages. The data generated by a mobile terminal may be used in a computer by transmitting the data to the computer. Further, the data stored in the data processing apparatus may be uploaded to a web page (for example, a blog) through an Internet connection. 
         [0022]    “Information” means a detailed description that is shown when data is selected, and includes data generation time point, data size, and name assigned to data. 
         [0023]    “Life data mode” is a mode in which data stored in the data processing apparatus is sorted by date of generation. The life data mode may be displayed in a waiting screen of the data processing apparatus or in a screen selected from a menu. Further, the life data mode may be displayed as a part of a menu such as a diary function. The life data mode may be applied to all kinds of data processing apparatuses displaying data. 
         [0024]    In the life data mode, data stored in the data processing apparatus are sorted and displayed by selecting a data sort function. The data sort function may be a search function for searching data by inputting a keyword, a filtering function for sorting the data by types of data, data generation time period, and menu items to which individual data are assigned, and a tag function for displaying data by using tags assigned to individual data. 
         [0025]    “Keyword” is a word that is input to search specific data from data stored in the data processing apparatus, and may be a name of data, data file format, menu, or date. 
         [0026]    “Icon” is an image assigned to each function of data stored in the data processing apparatus in a life data mode. 
         [0027]      FIG. 1  is a screen display example showing data according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  4 , and  5  are detailed views showing a first date display area, a search area, a filtering area, and a tag area respectively in a first display section of the screen display of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , in a life data mode, all data stored in a data processing apparatus  100  are displayed in a display unit  130 , wherein the stored data are sorted by data generation dates and subsequently by a selected data sort function. 
         [0029]    A display screen of a life data mode includes a first display section  10  displaying data sort functions for sorting or searching data, and a second display section  20  displaying the sorted data. The first display section  10  includes a menu area  11 , a first date display area  13 , a search area  15 , a filtering area  17 , and a tag area  19 . 
         [0030]    The menu area  11  is an area in which a mode of the data processing apparatus  100  is displayed. The first date display area  13  displays a year  13   a  and a month  13   b  in which data stored in the data processing apparatus  100  is generated, as shown in  FIG. 2 . In the first date display area  13 , the year  13   a  and month  13   b  may be selected by using arrow keys displayed at upper and lower positions of the first date display area  13 . Data corresponding to the selected year  13   a  and month  13   b  are displayed in the second display section  20 . For example, if the right upward arrow key of  FIG. 2  is selected, the month  13   b  changes from ‘08’ (i.e., August) to ‘09’ (i.e., September). If the month  13   b  changes, the second display section  20  displays data of the corresponding month. The arrow keys may be located at upper and lower positions of the year  13   a  and month  13   b , as shown in  FIG. 2 , or may be located at right and left sides of the year  13   a  and month  13   b.    
         [0031]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the search area  15  includes an input window  15   a  for inputting a keyword, a search key  15   b  for starting a data search, and a cancel key  15   c  for canceling the search result and returning to the previous display status of the second display section  20 . The keyword may be a name of data, a tag, or a character string included in the data. If a keyword is input in the input window  15   a  and the search key  15   b  is selected, data stored in the data processing apparatus  100  is searched and the results are displayed in the second display section  20 . 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the filtering area  17  includes a type filtering key  17   a  for sorting the data by data types, a time filtering key  17   b  for sorting the data by data generation time, and a format filtering key  17   c  for sorting the data by data file formats. 
         [0033]    If the type filtering key  17   a  is selected, types of data stored in the data processing apparatus  100  are displayed as a list. If a specific data type is selected from the displayed list, data corresponding to the selected data type are displayed in the second display section  20 . The data type may include a message, a schedule, an image, a movie, a sound, and a mini-diary. The data types being displayed when the filtering key  17   a  is selected may be set by a user, and all the menu items may be set to be displayed in the list. The filtering area  17  may further include a function key (not shown) for filtering the data stored in the data processing apparatus by data size. 
         [0034]    By using the upward and downward arrow keys displayed at the right side of the time filtering key  17   b , the data may be displayed in the display section  20  in order of data generation time point. Here, the data may be displayed in an ascending order or in a descending order of the data generation time. 
         [0035]    The format filtering key  17   c  sorts the data by data file format. If the format filtering key  17   c  is selected, data file formats are displayed as a list and the data stored in the data processing apparatus is displayed in the second display section  20  in alphabetic order of data file format. Subsequently, if a data file format is selected from the display list, only the data corresponding to the selected data file format is displayed in the display section  20 . The data format may include a picture file format (for example, jpg), music file format (for example, mp3, wav, or wma), video file format (for example, avi), and document file format (for example, doc, or hwp). 
         [0036]    The tag area  19  displays a list of data tags, and displays data in the second display section  20  according to a tag selected from the displayed list by the user. The tag is a character or a symbol added for description of the data. If the tag area  19  is selected, a list of tags is displayed, including tags such as ‘autumn’, ‘puppy’, ‘game’, and ‘winter’, as shown in  FIG. 5 . If a specific tag is selected from the list, data corresponding to the selected tag are displayed in the display section  20 . 
         [0037]    The second display section  20  includes a second date display area  21  for displaying a data generation day and a data display area  23  for displaying data corresponding to the data generation date, as shown in  FIG. 1 . The second display section  20  may display data according to a function selected from the first display section  10  and the data may be displayed as icons or a list of data. For example, if a keyword is input in the input window  15   a  of the first display section  10 , the second display section  20  displays icons of data corresponding to the keyword. If the second date display area  21  is moved to the last day of a month by using a scroll bar in the second display section  20 , data of the following month or of the following year may further be displayed. If the second date display area  21  is moved to the first day of a month in the second display section  20 , data of the previous month or of the previous year may further be displayed. 
         [0038]    In the method of displaying data in the second display section  20  of the life data mode, the number of icons displayed may vary according to the size of the second display section  20 . Although two icons are displayed in each row of the second display section  20  of  FIG. 1 , more or fewer icons may be displayed according to the size of the second display section  20 . If an icon is selected from the icons displayed in the second display section  20 , detailed information or data corresponding to the selected icon is displayed in a pop-up window. 
         [0039]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram showing a configuration of a data processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , the data processing apparatus  100  includes a control unit  110 , a storage unit  120 , a display unit  130 , and an input unit  140 . 
         [0041]    The control unit  110  controls general operation of the data processing apparatus  100  and each component of the data processing apparatus  100  to execute a menu function. The control unit  110  controls the storage unit  120  to store data generated during the execution of a menu function. In particular, the control unit  110  includes a life data control module  111 . In a life data mode, the life data control module  111  sorts the data stored in the data processing apparatus  100  by dates, and if a data sort function is input through the input unit  140 , the life data control module  111  sorts the data according to the input data sort function. The control unit  110  controls the display unit  130  to display the data sorted by dates. 
         [0042]    The storage unit  120  stores programs to be executed and data processed by the data processing apparatus  100 . The storage unit  120  includes at least one volatile memory device and at least one non-volatile memory device. The storage unit  120  stores all data generated by the data processing apparatus  100  and data identification information according to the control of the control unit  110 . The data identification information includes a data generation date, a data size, a data file format, and an icon of data to be displayed in the second display section  20 . 
         [0043]    The display unit  130  displays a state of the data processing apparatus  100  and information related to operation of the data processing apparatus  100 . The display unit  130  further displays data stored in the data processing apparatus  100  according to the control of the control unit  110 . The display unit  130  is generally formed with a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) and includes the first display section  10  and the second display section  20 . Data sort functions are displayed in the first display section  10  according to the control of the control unit  110 . If a data sort function is selected from the first display section  10 , data is displayed in the second display section  20  by date according to the control of the control unit  110 . 
         [0044]    The input unit  140  receives an alphanumeric data input, and outputs a signal related to settings of various functions and control of the data processing apparatus  100  to the control unit  110 . Conventional input devices such as a keypad, touchpad, and touch screen may be used as the input unit  140 . 
         [0045]    The control unit  110  identifies whether a life data mode is selected through the input unit  140  of the data processing apparatus  100 , and controls the display unit  130  to display data stored in the storage unit  120 . The control unit  110  identifies whether a data sort function is selected from the first display section  10  of the display unit  130 , and controls the display unit  130  to display data corresponding to the selected data sort function in the second display section  20 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 7  is a flow chart showing a data display method according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 8  is a flow chart showing a process of sorting data by dates in the data display method of  FIG. 7 . 
         [0047]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , if the control unit  110  detects that a life data mode is selected by a user in step S 710 , the control unit  110  sorts data stored in the data processing apparatus  100  by dates in step S 720 . 
         [0048]    Step S 720  of sorting data by date is described in more detail in  FIG. 8 . The control unit  110  identifies data stored in the storage unit  120  and sorts the identified data by dates in step S 810 . The control unit  110  identifies the current year and month set by the data processing apparatus  100  in step S 820  and selects data corresponding to the identified current year and month in step S 830 . 
         [0049]    After sorting data by dates at step S 720 , the control unit  110  displays the selected data as icons in the second display section  20  of the display unit  130  in order of data generation dates in step S 730 . In the method of displaying data in the second display section  20 , a plurality of second date display areas  21  are displayed, and if a second date display area  21  is selected from the displayed second date display areas  21 , data corresponding to the selected second date display area  21  may be displayed in a data display area  23 , or both second date display area  21  and data display area  23  corresponding to the selected second date display area  21  may be displayed. 
         [0050]    The control unit  110  then identifies a data display method input through the input unit  140  in step S 740 . Data may be displayed by directly selecting an icon from the data display area  23  or by selecting a sort function from the first display section  10 . 
         [0051]    If an icon is directly selected from data icons displayed in the data display area  23 , the control unit  110  displays detailed information in the display unit  130  corresponding to the selected icon in step S 750 . The detailed information may include a data file name, a data generation time point, and a description added to the data. The detailed information may further include an actual data size corresponding to an icon displayed in the data display area  23 . 
         [0052]    If a sort function is selected from the first display section  10  at step S 740 , the control unit  110  identifies the selected sort function and sorts the data according to the selected sort function in step S 760 , and displays the sorted data as icons in the data display area  23  in step S 770 . For example, if the user inputs a keyword in the input window  15   a  of the search area  15  and inputs the search key  15   b , the control unit  110  searches data corresponding to the input keyword and displays found data as icons in the second display section  20  of the display unit  130 . If more than one sort function is selected in the first display section  10 , data satisfying all conditions of the selected sort functions may be displayed. 
         [0053]    The control unit  110  identifies whether an icon is selected from the displayed icons in step S 780 . If an icon is selected from the displayed icons, the process continues at step S 750  and the control unit  110  displays detailed information according to the icon selected at step S 780 . 
         [0054]    According to the present invention, data may be displayed in order of data generation dates in a data processing apparatus, data stored in the processing apparatus may be identified easily, and the data may further be sorted and displayed according to a desired filtering function. Therefore, a user may identify data quickly and find desired data easily. 
         [0055]    While the invention has been shown and described with reference certain preferred 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 invention as defined by the appended claims.