Patent Description:
Along with advancements in technology, various types of display devices have been developed. Among such display devices, flexible displays have flexibility unlike conventional display devices. According to such flexible displays, various input methods using bending as well as touch inputs may be used. For example, users may control operations of flexible display devices by bending portions thereof.

For users to control electronic devices by using bending, the users need to be acquainted with types of bending and operations corresponding thereto in advance, or a guide to bending inputs needs to be displayed on displays. However, when the users are unfamiliar with bending inputs or it is difficult to display the guide due to the small sizes of the displays, there is a difficulty in causing the electronic devices to perform operations through the bending inputs by the users.

Therefore, there is demand for a method of easily and intuitively performing various operations of an electronic device, based on bending, by using characteristics of the flexible displays. <CIT> relates to flexible displays and human-computer-interaction (HCI). <CIT> discloses a flexible display apparatus which is used to control an operation by maintaining a shape deformation state, and an operating method thereof. <CIT> relates to a mobile terminal having a display unit which is deformable by an external force and discloses a method, performed by an electronic device, of performing an operation based on bending, the method comprising: sensing bending that deforms a shape of the electronic device; determining a first region, from which the bending is sensed, from among regions of the electronic device; selecting an object displayed on the electronic device; and performing the operation on the selected object, wherein the performing the operation on the selected object further comprises: displaying information related to the operation on a display area of the electronic device.

The present disclosure provides an electronic device for performing an operation based on bending of the electronic device and a method of operating the electronic device.

The present disclosure also provides a computer program product including a computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the method set forth above on a computer. The present disclosure is not limited to the above aspects, and there may be other aspects of the present disclosure.

According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method, performed by an electronic device, of performing an operation based on bending, the method including: sensing bending that deforms a shape of the electronic device; determining a first region, from which the bending is sensed, from among regions of the electronic device; selecting an object indicated by the first region from at least one object displayed on the electronic device; and performing an operation on the selected object.

According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an electronic device for performing an operation based on bending, the electronic device including: a display; a memory storing one or more instructions; and at least one processor configured to execute the one or more instructions stored in the memory, wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the one or more instructions to: sense bending that deforms a shape of the electronic device; determine a first region, from which the bending is sensed, from among regions of the electronic device; select an object indicated by the first region from at least one object displayed on the electronic device; and perform an operation on the selected object.

According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer program product that includes a recording medium having stored therein a program for performing the method according to the first aspect of the present disclosure.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings such that one of ordinary skill in the art may readily make implementations thereof. However, it should be understood that the present disclosure may be embodied in different ways and is not limited to embodiments described herein. In addition, portions irrelevant to the description are omitted from the drawings for clarity, and like components are denoted by like reference numerals throughout the specification.

Throughout the specification, when an element is referred to as being "connected to" another element, the element may be "directly connected to" the other element, or the element may also be "electrically connected to" the other element with an intervening element therebetween. In addition, when an element is referred to as "including" or "comprising" another element, unless otherwise stated, the element may further include or comprise yet another element rather than preclude the yet other element.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example of performing an operation of generating a memo based on bending, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, an electronic device <NUM> may sense an input of bending a region <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM>. As the input of bending the region <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> is sensed, the electronic device <NUM> may perform an operation corresponding to the sensed bending input.

The electronic device <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be implemented in various forms by a device including a flexible display allowing the region <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> to be bent. For example, the electronic device <NUM> described herein may include, but is not limited to, a digital camera, a smart phone, a laptop computer, a tablet personal computer (PC), an electronic book (e-book) terminal, a digital broadcasting terminal, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable multimedia player (PMP), a navigation system, or the like.

The electronic device <NUM> described herein may include a wearable device that may be worn by a user. The wearable device may include, but is not limited to, at least one of an accessory type device (for example, a watch, a ring, a wristband, an ankle band, a necklace, glasses, or contact lenses), a head-mounted device (HMD), a fabric or clothing-integrated device (for example, electronic clothes), a body-attached device (for example, a skin pad), or a bio-implantable device (for example, an implantable circuit). Hereinafter, for convenience of description, descriptions will be made by taking an example in which the electronic device <NUM> is a smart phone.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the electronic device <NUM> may sense bending that deforms a shape of the electronic device <NUM>, and may determine the region <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM>, from which the bending is sensed. In addition, the electronic device <NUM> may perform an operation on an object indicated by the determined region <NUM>.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the object indicated by the determined region <NUM> may be one of at least one object displayed on the electronic device <NUM>.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, at least one region <NUM> that is bendable may be a portion of a display area of the electronic device <NUM>. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, when the bending is sensed, a bending-sensed portion of an area of the electronic device <NUM> may be determined to be a first region from which the bending is sensed.

Referring to <NUM> of <FIG>, the first region <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> may be bent by folding or bending the first region <NUM> about a marked line <NUM>. The marked line <NUM> is merely an example, and the first region <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> may be folded or bent about another line.

The first region <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is a portion of a flexible display of the electronic device <NUM> and may be foldable or bendable like paper. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, only the first region <NUM> may be configured by a flexible display, or the entire display screen of the electronic device <NUM> may be configured by a flexible display.

As shown in <NUM> of <FIG>, the first region <NUM> may be marked to represent that the first region <NUM> is a certain region of the electronic device <NUM>, on which the bending according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be performed, while the electronic device <NUM> is not bent. For example, the first region <NUM> may be marked by a yellow color to be distinguished from other regions of the display. The present disclosure is not limited to the illustrated example, and the first region <NUM> may be marked in various manners to be distinguished from the other regions of the display.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the electronic device <NUM> may include a plurality of first regions that are bendable, and an operation corresponding to each first region may be predetermined. For example, an operation of generating a memo may be determined for the first region on the upper left side, and an operation of retrieving a memo may be determined for the first regions on the upper right, lower left, and lower right sides. Accordingly, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, when a certain region of the electronic device <NUM> is bent, an operation corresponding to the bent region, out of the operation of generating a memo and the operation of retrieving a memo, is performed on an object selected by the bent region.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, when the electronic device <NUM> senses bending, the electronic device <NUM> may determine an operation corresponding to the first region <NUM>, from which the bending is sensed, from among the operations predetermined for the respective regions and may perform the determined operation on the object selected by the first region <NUM>.

<NUM> of <FIG> illustrates that the first region <NUM> is bent. The electronic device <NUM> may identify an object <NUM> that is displayed on the electronic device <NUM> and indicated by the bent first region <NUM>. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the electronic device <NUM> may perform various operations on the identified object <NUM>.

The object <NUM> indicated by the first region <NUM> bent according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be determined according to a position of the bent first region <NUM>. For example, the object <NUM> displayed at a position, which is touched by the bent first region <NUM>, on the display of the electronic device <NUM> may be determined to be the object <NUM> indicated by the first region <NUM> bent according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As another example, the object <NUM> displayed at a position, which vertically corresponds to the bent first region <NUM>, on the display may be determined to be the object <NUM> indicated by the first region <NUM> bent according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The present disclosure is not limited to the examples set forth above, and the object <NUM> indicated by the bent first region <NUM> may be determined by various methods capable of determining an object pointed to by the bent first region <NUM>.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a particular operation to be performed by the electronic device <NUM> may be determined according to characteristics of an object determined to be the object <NUM> indicated by the bent first region <NUM>.

For example, when the object <NUM> is an application icon corresponding to a particular application, the electronic device <NUM> may perform an operation related to the application represented by the object <NUM>. The operation related to the application represented by the object <NUM> includes an operation of generating or retrieving a memo regarding the application represented by the object <NUM>.

In addition, when the object <NUM> is content such as a text, an image, a video, a user interface (UI) component, or a file, the electronic device <NUM> performs an operation related to a memo including the content corresponding to the object <NUM>. The operation related to the memo including the content corresponding to the object <NUM> includes an operation of generating or retrieving the memo including the content corresponding to the object <NUM>.

For example, the electronic device <NUM> may generate a memo including matters related to content indicated by the bent first region <NUM>. The matters related to the content may include, for example, various matters related to the content, such as a content file itself, identification information representing the content, or a uniform resource locator (URL) address from which the content is capable of being downloaded.

As another example, the electronic device <NUM> may extract at least one feature from the content indicated by the bent first region <NUM> and may retrieve a memo that includes content having the extracted feature.

The present disclosure is not limited to the examples set forth above, and the electronic device <NUM> may generate or retrieve the memo related to the content according to various methods.

Each of <NUM> and <NUM> of <FIG> illustrates an example in which the electronic device <NUM> generates a memo regarding the object <NUM>, as an operation on the object <NUM> indicated by the bent first region <NUM>.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as the object <NUM> is an application icon, the electronic device <NUM> may display (<NUM>), on the display, the generation of a memo related to an application corresponding to the object <NUM>.

When the electronic device <NUM> has generated the memo related to the application, the electronic device <NUM> adds the generated memo to an "app diary". The "app diary" according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may store therein a memo regarding each application. For example, a memo regarding a first application may be stored in a "first application diary", and a memo regarding a second application may be stored in a "second application diary".

As shown in <NUM> of <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM> may display a "message diary" <NUM> representing the generation of a memo that is to be added to an app diary of a message application corresponding to the object <NUM>.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, although the "message diary" <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, may be displayed in a display area on the backside of the bent region, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the "message diary" <NUM> may be displayed in various regions of the display area of the electronic device <NUM>.

While the "message diary" <NUM> is displayed, memo contents input to the electronic device <NUM> may be stored as a memo of the "message diary" <NUM>.

In <NUM> of <FIG>, a memo <NUM> to be added to the "message diary" <NUM> may be input by a user. Although the memo <NUM>, as shown in <NUM> of <FIG>, may be input by a pen touch input by the user, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the memo <NUM> may be input by various input methods such as a speech input, a keyboard input, or a touch input.

The memo <NUM> input according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be added to the "message diary" <NUM> and thus stored, in the electronic device <NUM>, as the memo <NUM> related to the message application corresponding to the object <NUM>.

Accordingly, the user according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may easily generate a memo regarding the object <NUM> by simply using a bending operation causing the first region <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> to indicate the object <NUM> for generating a memo, even without separately executing a memo application for generating a memo.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example of performing an operation of retrieving a memo based on bending, according to an example of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM> may perform an operation of displaying a memo stored in the electronic device <NUM>, based on sensed bending.

Referring <NUM> of <FIG>, a first region <NUM> on one side of the electronic device <NUM> may be bent.

The first region <NUM> may include a mark representing a region of the electronic device <NUM>, on which bending according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be performed, as shown in <NUM> of <FIG>. For example, the first region <NUM> may be marked by a green color to be distinguished from other regions of the display. The present disclosure is not limited to the illustrated example, and the first region <NUM> may be marked in various manners to be distinguished from the other regions of the display.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first region <NUM> illustrated on the upper left side in <NUM> of <FIG> may correspond to an operation of generating a memo. In addition, respective first regions on the upper right, lower left, and lower right sides except for the first region <NUM> on the upper left side, as shown in <NUM> of <FIG>, may correspond to an operation of retrieving and displaying a memo. The present disclosure is not limited to the illustrated example, and at least one first region according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may correspond to various operations.

The object <NUM> indicated by the first region <NUM> bent according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be determined according to a position of the bent first region <NUM>. As in <FIG>, the object <NUM> indicated by the bent first region <NUM> may be determined based on a position on the display, which is touched by the bent first region <NUM>, a position on the display, which vertically corresponds to the bent first region <NUM>, or the like.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as in <FIG>, an operation to be performed by the electronic device <NUM> may be determined according to characteristics of an object that is determined to be the object <NUM> indicated by the bent first region <NUM>.

Each of <NUM> and <NUM> of <FIG> illustrates an example in which the electronic device <NUM> retrieves a memo regarding the object <NUM> and displays the retrieved memo, as an operation on the object <NUM> indicated by the bent first region <NUM>.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as the object <NUM> is an application icon, the electronic device <NUM> may display (<NUM>), on the display, the retrieval of a memo related to an application corresponding to the object <NUM>.

Referring to <NUM> of <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM> may display a "photo diary" <NUM>, which is an app diary for storing a memo corresponding to the object <NUM>. In addition, a number representing the number of memos stored in the "photo diary" <NUM>, in addition to the "photo diary" <NUM>, may also be displayed.

Referring to <NUM> of <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM> may display memos <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> stored in the "photo diary" <NUM>. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, although the memos <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be displayed as in <NUM> of <FIG> according to a user input, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the memos <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may also be displayed according to the satisfaction of preset conditions.

Accordingly, a user according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may easily retrieve a memo regarding the object <NUM> by simply using a bending operation causing the first region <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> to indicate the object <NUM> related to the memo intended to be retrieved, even without separately executing a memo application for retrieving a memo.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example of a display of the electronic device <NUM>, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the display of the electronic device <NUM>, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, may be a flexible display capable of being bent.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the display of the electronic device <NUM> may include four regions <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> capable of being bent. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the regions <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be folded or bent about marked lines <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, respectively, whereby the electronic device <NUM> may sense the bending thereof.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an operation performed due to the bending of each of the regions <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be different according to a position of each of the regions <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. For example, when the region <NUM> on the upper left side is bent, an operation of generating a memo related to an object indicated by the bent region <NUM> may be performed. In addition, when at least one of the remaining regions <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> except for the region <NUM> on the upper left side is bent, an operation of retrieving and displaying a memo related to an object indicated by each of the regions <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be performed.

<FIG> is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the electronic device <NUM>, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM> may include a memory <NUM>, a processor <NUM>, and a display <NUM>. However, not all the components illustrated in <FIG> are not necessary components of the electronic device <NUM>. The electronic device <NUM> may be implemented by more components or less components than the components illustrated in <FIG>.

For example, as shown in <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a user input unit <NUM>, a sensing unit <NUM>, an output unit <NUM>, a communication unit <NUM>, and an audio/video (A/V) input unit <NUM> in addition to the memory <NUM>, the processor <NUM>, and the display <NUM>.

The user input unit <NUM> refers to a means for inputting data for a user to control the electronic device <NUM>. For example, the user input unit <NUM> may include, but is not limited to, a keypad, a dome switch, a touch pad (a touch capacitive type, a pressure resistive type, an infrared beam sensing type, a surface acoustic wave type, an integral strain gauge type, a piezoelectric type, or the like), a jog wheel, a jog switch, or the like.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the user input unit <NUM> may receive a user input for generating or retrieving a memo.

The output unit <NUM> may output an audio signal, a video signal, or a vibration signal, and the output unit <NUM> may include the display <NUM>, a sound output unit <NUM>, and a vibration motor <NUM>.

The output unit <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may output a result of performing an operation according to an input by a user. For example, the output unit <NUM> may output a result of generating or retrieving a memo.

The display <NUM> displays and outputs information processed by the electronic device <NUM>.

When the display <NUM> and a touch pad form a layer structure and thus constitute a touch screen, the display <NUM> may also be used as an input device in addition to being used as an output device. The display <NUM> may include at least one of a liquid crystal display, a thin film transistor-liquid crystal display, an organic light-emitting diode, a flexible display, a three-dimensional (3D) display, or an electrophoretic display. The electronic device <NUM> may include two or more displays <NUM> according to an implementation type of the electronic device <NUM>.

The display <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a flexible display capable of being bent by the user. When it is sensed that a region on one side of the flexible display is bent by the user, an operation may be performed on an object indicated by the bent region of the electronic device <NUM>.

The sound output unit <NUM> outputs audio data received from the communication unit <NUM> or stored in the memory <NUM>. The sound output unit <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may output audio data representing a result of performing an operation according to a bending input by the user.

The vibration motor <NUM> may output a vibration signal. In addition, when a touch is input to a touch screen, the vibration motor <NUM> may output a vibration signal. The vibration motor <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may output a vibration signal representing a result of performing an operation according to a bending input by the user.

The processor <NUM> generally controls overall operations of the electronic device <NUM>. For example, the processor <NUM> may take overall control of the user input unit <NUM>, the output unit <NUM>, the sensing unit <NUM>, the communication unit <NUM>, the A/V input unit <NUM>, and the like by executing programs stored in the memory <NUM>. The electronic device <NUM> may include at least one processor <NUM>.

The processor <NUM> may be configured to process instructions of a computer program by performing basic arithmetic, logic, and input/output operations. The instructions may be provided from the memory <NUM> to the processor <NUM> or may be received via the communication unit <NUM> and provided to the processor <NUM>. For example, the processor <NUM> may be configured to execute the instructions according to program codes stored in a recording device such as memory.

When bending of a certain region of the electronic device <NUM> is sensed, the at least one processor <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may determine a first region, from which the bending is sensed, from among regions of the electronic device <NUM>. The at least one processor <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may determine an object indicated by the first region and may perform, on the object, an operation corresponding to the first region. The object may be an object displayed on the electronic device <NUM>.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the operation corresponding to the first region, from which the bending is sensed, may be determined, and the determined operation may be performed on the object indicated by the first region. Accordingly, a different operation may be performed according to a position of the bending-sensed region on the electronic device <NUM>.

For example, when the object indicated by the bent region is content, the at least one processor <NUM> may perform an operation of generating or retrieving a memo related to the content.

In addition, when the object indicated by the bent region is an application icon, the at least one processor <NUM> may perform an operation of generating or retrieving a memo related to an application corresponding to the application icon.

Further, the at least one processor <NUM> may determine an application related to the object indicated by the bent region and, based on the determined application, may perform an operation on the object. For example, the at least one processor <NUM> may set, by the determined application, an operation to be performed on the object, and an operation condition for the operation. After the operation condition is set, when the set operation condition is satisfied, the set operation may be performed on the object by the determined application.

The sensing unit <NUM> may sense a state of the electronic device <NUM> or a state around the electronic device <NUM> and may transfer sensed information to the processor <NUM>.

The sensing unit <NUM> may include, but is not limited to, at least one of a geomagnetic sensor <NUM>, an acceleration sensor <NUM>, a temperature/humidity sensor <NUM>, an infrared sensor <NUM>, a gyroscope sensor <NUM>, a position sensor (for example, a global positioning system (GPS)) <NUM>, a barometric pressure sensor <NUM>, a proximity sensor <NUM>, or an RGB sensor (illuminance sensor) <NUM>.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the information sensed by the sensing unit <NUM> is used to generate or retrieve a memo. When bending, which deforms the shape of the electronic device <NUM>, is sensed by the sensing unit <NUM>, an object indicated by a bending-sensed region of the electronic device <NUM> is identified, and a memo is generated or retrieved based on the identified object.

The communication unit <NUM> may include one or more components allowing the electronic device <NUM> to communicate with a server (not shown) or an external device (not shown). For example, the communication unit <NUM> may include a short-range wireless communication unit <NUM>, a mobile communication unit <NUM>, and a broadcast receiver <NUM>.

The short-range wireless communication unit <NUM> may include, but is not limited to, a Bluetooth communication unit, a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication unit, a near field communication unit, a wireless local area network (WLAN) (Wi-Fi) communication unit, a Zigbee communication unit, an Infrared Data Association (IrDA) communication unit, a Wi-Fi Direct (WFD) communication unit, an ultra wideband (UWB) communication unit, an Ant+ communication unit, or the like.

The mobile communication unit <NUM> transmits a radio signal to and receives a radio signal from at least one of a base station, an external terminal, or a server on a mobile communication network. Here, the radio signal may include various types of data according to transmission and reception of a voice call signal, a video call signal, or a text/multimedia message.

The broadcast receiver <NUM> receives a broadcast signal and/or broadcast-related information from outside the electronic device <NUM> via a broadcast channel. The broadcast channel may include a satellite channel or a terrestrial channel. The electronic device <NUM> may not include the broadcast receiver <NUM>, according to an implementation example.

The communication unit <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may transmit, to an external device (not shown), information about a memo generated or retrieved by the electronic device <NUM>. For example, to share contents of the memo with other users, the communication unit <NUM> may transmit the information about the memo generated or retrieved by the electronic device <NUM> to an external device (not shown), according to a user input.

The A/V input unit <NUM> is for inputting an audio signal or a video signal and may include a camera <NUM>, a microphone <NUM>, and the like. The camera <NUM> may obtain an image frame of a still image, a moving image, or the like through an image sensor in a video call mode or a shooting mode. An image captured through the image sensor may be processed by the processor <NUM> or a separate image processing unit (not shown). The microphone <NUM> receives an external sound signal that is input thereto and processes the sound signal into electrical sound data.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a moving image, an image, speech data, or the like generated by the A/V input unit <NUM> may be included in a newly generated memo or be used to retrieve a memo.

The memory <NUM> may store programs for processing and control performed by the processor <NUM> and may also store data that is input to or output from the electronic device <NUM>.

The memory <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may store one or more instructions, and the at least one processor <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> may perform an operation according to an embodiment of the present disclosure by executing the one or more instructions stored in the memory <NUM>.

In addition, the memory <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may store data required to perform an operation corresponding to an object indicated by a bent region of the electronic device <NUM>. For example, the memory <NUM> may store data of a memo related to the object indicated by the bent region.

Further, the memory <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may store at least one memo generated by the electronic device <NUM>. A memo according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be stored in an app diary corresponding to an application related to the memo. For example, at least one memo related to the application corresponding to the app diary may be stored in the app diary. Accordingly, the memory <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may store at least one app diary in which at least one memo is stored.

The memory <NUM> may include at least one of a flash memory type storage medium, a hard disk type storage medium, a multimedia card micro type storage medium, card type memory (for example, Secure Digital (SD) memory, eXtreme Digital (XD) memory, or the like), random access memory (RAM), static random access memory (SRAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), magnetic memory, a magnetic disk, or an optical disk.

The programs stored in the memory <NUM> may be classified into a plurality of modules, for example, a UI module <NUM>, a touch screen module <NUM>, a notification module <NUM>, and the like, according to functions thereof.

The UI module <NUM> may provide a specialized UI, a graphic user interface (GUI), or the like interworking with the electronic device <NUM>, on an application basis. The touch screen module <NUM> may sense a touch gesture of the user on a touch screen and may transfer information about the touch gesture to the processor <NUM>. The touch screen module <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may recognize and analyze a touch code. The touch screen module <NUM> may be configured by separate hardware including a controller.

To sense a touch or a proximity touch with respect to the touch screen, various sensors may be arranged inside or near the touch screen. An example of a sensor for sensing a touch with respect to the touch screen includes a tactile sensor. The tactile sensor refers to a sensor sensing a contact with a particular object to an extent felt by a human or to a higher extent. The tactile sensor may sense various pieces of information, such as roughness of a contact surface, hardness of a contact object, and a temperature of a contact point.

The touch gesture of the user may include tap, touch and hold, double tap, drag, panning, flick, drag and drop, swipe, or the like.

The notification module <NUM> may generate a signal for notifying the occurrence of an event of the electronic device <NUM>.

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating a method of performing an operation based on bending, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, in operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may sense bending that deforms the shape of the electronic device <NUM>. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the electronic device <NUM> may include a flexible display and may sense bending of a certain region of the flexible display.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, when the electronic device <NUM> senses the bending, the electronic device <NUM> may determine the bending-sensed region and may determine an operation corresponding to the determined region. For example, when an upper-left region is bent, an operation of generating a memo may be performed, and when upper-right, lower-left, and lower-right regions are bent, an operation of retrieving a memo may be performed.

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may determine a first region, from which the bending is sensed in operation <NUM>, from among regions of the electronic device <NUM>. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a bending-sensed portion of a display area of the electronic device <NUM> may be determined to be the first region. The present disclosure is not limited to the examples set forth above, and various regions other than the display area, in the electronic device <NUM>, may be determined to be the first region from which the bending is sensed.

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may select an object indicated by the first region. The object indicated by the bent first region may be one of at least one object displayed on the display of the electronic device <NUM>.

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may perform an operation on the selected object. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an operation of generating or retrieving a memo related to the selected object may be performed.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an operation determined in correspondence with the bent first region of the electronic device <NUM> may be performed on the object selected in operation <NUM>.

For example, when the first region bent in operation <NUM> corresponds to an operation of generating a memo, an operation of generating a memo related to the selected object may be performed.

In addition, when the first region bent in operation <NUM> corresponds to an operation of retrieving a memo, an operation of retrieving a memo related to the selected object is performed.

Accordingly, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, by a bending operation that deforms the shape of the electronic device <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> generates a memo from information related to the object displayed on the display thereof or may use the information to retrieve a memo, with no need to execute a particular application for storing the information about the object displayed on the electronic device <NUM>.

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating a method of performing an operation of generating or retrieving a memo based on bending, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, in operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may sense bending that deforms the shape of the electronic device <NUM>.

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may determine an operation corresponding to a bending-sensed region, out of an operation of generating a memo and an operation of retrieving a memo. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, when bending, which deforms the shape of the electronic device <NUM>, is sensed, a bending-sensed region of the electronic device <NUM> may be determined. In addition, an operation to be performed due to the sensing of the bending may be determined according to a position of the determined region. For example, when an upper-left region of the electronic device <NUM> is bent, an operation of generating a memo may be determined to be the operation corresponding to the bent region, and when another region except for the upper-left region of the electronic device <NUM> is bent, an operation of retrieving a memo may be determined to be the operation corresponding to the bent region.

When, in operation <NUM>, the operation of generating a memo is determined to be the operation corresponding to the bent region, an application related to an object indicated by the bent region may be determined in operation <NUM>.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the application related to the object may be determined to be one of an application currently running on the electronic device <NUM>, an application selected according to a user input from among a plurality of applications, and an application represented by an application icon corresponding to the object.

For example, when content displayed by the application currently running on the electronic device <NUM> is determined to be the object indicated by the bent region, the application that is running may be determined to be the application related to the object in operation <NUM>.

In addition, in operation <NUM>, an operation of determining the application related to the object may be additionally performed. For example, the application selected according to the user input from among the plurality of applications may be determined to be the application related to the object. For example, an application list including the plurality of applications may be displayed on the electronic device <NUM>, and the application related to the object may be selected from the application list according to the user input. Alternatively, an application corresponding to an application name input by the user may be determined to be the application related to the object.

In addition, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, when the object indicated by the bending-sensed region of the electronic device <NUM> in operation <NUM> is an application icon, an application represented by the application icon may be determined to be the application related to the object in operation <NUM>.

The present disclosure is not limited to the examples set forth above, and in operation <NUM>, an application related to a memo may be determined by various methods.

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may generate a memo according to an input by the user, and in operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may add the generated memo to an app diary regarding the application determined in operation <NUM> from among app diaries stored in a database.

The memo generated in operation <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is generated based on the object indicated by the bent region. For example, when the object is content, the memo including information about the content may be generated. In addition, when the object is an application icon, an application corresponding to the object is determined to be the application related to the memo in operation <NUM>, whereby the memo based on the object may be generated.

The database according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may store a plurality of app diaries respectively corresponding to applications. An app diary may include at least one memo related to an application corresponding to the app diary.

Accordingly, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as a memo is stored in the app diary corresponding to the application related to the memo, memos stored in relation to a particular application may be easily retrieved.

In addition, when, in operation <NUM>, an operation of retrieving a memo is determined to be the operation corresponding to the bent region, the electronic device <NUM> may determine the application related to the object indicated by the bent region, in operation <NUM>.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as in operation <NUM>, the operation of determining the application related to the object may be additionally performed. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the application related to the object may be determined to be one of an application currently running on the electronic device <NUM>, an application selected according to the user input from among the plurality of applications, and an application represented by the application icon corresponding to the object.

The present disclosure is not limited to the example set forth above, and in operation <NUM>, the application related to the memo may be determined by various methods.

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> accesses the app diary corresponding to the application determined in operation <NUM> from among the app diaries stored in the database, and thus, retrieves the memo. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a memo related to the object indicated by the bent region is retrieved.

For example, when the object indicated by the bent region is content, the electronic device <NUM> may retrieve a memo related to the content from an app diary of the application determined in operation <NUM>. In addition, when the object indicated by the bent region is an application icon, the electronic device <NUM> may retrieve the memo related to the object by retrieving the memo included in the app diary of the application, which corresponds to the object.

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may obtain at least one memo stored in the accessed app diary in the database, and in operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may provide the obtained memo to the user.

<FIG> is a block diagram illustrating an example of an operation performed by the electronic device <NUM> according to sensing bending, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM> may include the display <NUM>, the processor <NUM>, and a database <NUM>. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the display <NUM> and the processor <NUM> in <FIG> may respectively correspond to the display <NUM> and the processor <NUM> in <FIG> and <FIG>. In addition, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the database <NUM> of <FIG> may be stored in the memory <NUM> of <FIG> and <FIG>.

In operation <NUM>, the display <NUM> may sense bending that deforms a shape of the display <NUM>. The display <NUM> bent according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a material capable of being bent by a user in some or all regions thereof. For example, the display <NUM> may include a flexible display.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as the display <NUM> senses the bending of a certain region of the display <NUM>, the display <NUM> may determine the bending-sensed region and may transfer information about the determined region to the processor <NUM>. For example, the information about the bent region may include information about where the bent region is located on the display <NUM>, and information for determining which object the bent region indicates from among objects displayed on the display <NUM>.

The information for determining which object the bent region indicates from among the objects displayed on the display <NUM> may include, for example, information about a position, which is touched by the bent region, on the display <NUM>, information about which position the bent region vertically corresponds to on the display <NUM>, and the like.

In addition, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the information about the bent region may include information such as a bending strength, a bending direction (for example, whether the electronic device <NUM> is bent in a forward or backward direction of the display <NUM>), a bending angle (for example, an angle at which the electronic device <NUM> is bent by the bending), a bending position (for example, a position on the display <NUM>, to which the electronic device <NUM> is folded or bent and thus corresponds), or the like. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the information about the bent region is not limited to the examples set forth above and may include information for determining what operation the electronic device <NUM> is to perform according to the bending.

In operation <NUM>, as the processor <NUM> receives the information about the bent region from the display <NUM>, the processor <NUM> may determine an operation to be performed by the electronic device <NUM> in correspondence with the bending, based on the information about the bent region.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the processor <NUM> determines one of an operation of generating a memo and an operation of retrieving a memo, based on the information about the bent region. For example, the processor <NUM> may determine one of the operation of generating a memo and the operation of retrieving a memo, based on where the bent region is located on the display <NUM>.

In addition, the processor <NUM> may identify what object the bent region indicates, based on the information about the bent region, and may perform the operation of generating a memo or the operation of retrieving a memo, based on the identified object.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the object indicated by the bent region may be identified according to the information for determining which object the bent region indicates from among the objects displayed on the display <NUM>.

In addition, the processor <NUM> may determine an application related to the identified object. The application related to the object may be determined from among, for example, a currently running application, an application represented by the object, and an application selected according to a user input.

When the operation of generating a memo is determined according to the position of the bent region, the processor <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may determine a particular operation of generating a memo related to the object. For example, when the identified object is content, the processor <NUM> may determine an operation of generating a memo including the object. In addition, when the identified object is an application icon, the processor <NUM> performs an operation of generating a memo and adding the generated memo to an app diary corresponding to the application icon, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Further, when the operation of retrieving a memo is determined according to the position of the bent region on the electronic device <NUM>, the processor <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may determine a particular operation of retrieving a memo related to the object. For example, when the identified object is content, the processor <NUM> may determine an operation of retrieving a memo related to the content. In addition, when the identified object is an application icon, the processor <NUM> may determine an operation of retrieving a memo stored in an app diary corresponding to the application icon.

In operation <NUM>, to perform the determined operation, the processor <NUM> may access the database <NUM>. In the case of an operation of generating a memo, the processor <NUM> may store the generated memo in the database <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may be operated to allow the user to check a result of performing the operation, by transferring a result of storing the memo to the display <NUM>.

In addition, in the case of an operation of retrieving a memo, the processor <NUM> may retrieve a memo stored in the database <NUM>. In operation <NUM>, the processor <NUM> may receive data regarding the retrieved memo from the database <NUM>, and in operation <NUM>, the processor <NUM> may be operated to allow the user to check the retrieved memo by transferring the received data to the display <NUM>.

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating a method of performing an operation related to an application, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, in operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may sense bending that deforms the shape of the electronic device <NUM>. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the electronic device <NUM> may sense bending that deforms a shape of a flexible display of the electronic device <NUM> and may perform an operation corresponding to a bent region. For example, according to where the bent region is located in the electronic device <NUM>, one of an operation of generating a memo and an operation of retrieving a memo may be performed.

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may identify an object indicated by the bent region and may determine whether there is an application related to the identified object.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, when the identified object is included in an application execution screen, the electronic device <NUM> may perform an operation related to a memo, based on the application, in operation <NUM>.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the electronic device <NUM> may determine the application regarding the application execution screen, which includes the object identified by the bent region, as an application regarding the object.

In the case of an operation of generating a memo, the electronic device <NUM> adds a memo including information related to the object to an app diary of the determined application. In addition, in the case of an operation of retrieving a memo, the electronic device <NUM> retrieves the memo including the information related to the object from memos included in the app diary of the determined application.

For example, when the object indicated by the bent region is one of a plurality of pieces of video content included in an execution screen of a video retrieval application, the electronic device <NUM> may add a memo regarding the piece of video content indicated by the bent region to an app diary of the video retrieval application.

Accordingly, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a user may easily retrieve a memo related to an application by using an app diary of the application.

In addition, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, when the identified object represents information related to an application, the electronic device <NUM> may perform a memo-related operation on the application, in operation <NUM>. For example, when the object includes information generated by an application or the object is an icon representing the application, a memo-related operation may be performed on the application.

For example, in the case of an operation of generating a memo, the electronic device <NUM> may add a memo including the information related to the object to an app diary of an application related to the object.

In addition, in the case of an operation of retrieving a memo, the electronic device <NUM> retrieves the memo including the information related to the object from memos included in the app diary of the application related to the object.

Further, when there is no application related to the object identified by the bent region, an operation of determining the application related to the object, in operation <NUM>.

For example, when an object displayed on a wallpaper or a launcher screen of the electronic device <NUM> is indicated by the bent region, a memo-related operation may be performed according to operations <NUM> and <NUM>.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the electronic device <NUM> may display an application list to determine the application related to the object and may select one of applications included in the application list according to a user input.

In operation <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> performs a memo-related operation on an app diary of the application selected in operation <NUM>.

In the case of an operation of generating a memo, the electronic device <NUM> adds a memo including the information related to the obj ect to the app diary of the selected application.

In the case of an operation of retrieving a memo, the electronic device <NUM> retrieves the memo including the information related to the object from memos included in the app diary of the selected application.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example of generating a memo, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <NUM> of <FIG>, an execution screen of an application capable of retrieving video content may be displayed on the electronic device <NUM>, and a plurality of pieces of video content may be included in the execution screen of the application.

Referring to <NUM> of <FIG>, a region <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> is bent, and the bent region <NUM> indicates a piece of content <NUM> displayed on the execution screen of the application.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the electronic device <NUM> displays identification information <NUM> representing the content <NUM> on a display screen located in the bent region <NUM>. For example, when a certain region of a display on a rear surface of the electronic device <NUM> faces forward as the electronic device <NUM> is bent, information related to an operation caused by the bending may be displayed on the forward-facing region of the display.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the identification information <NUM> representing the content <NUM> may include various types of information such as a thumbnail representing the content <NUM>, a name of the content <NUM>, an icon representing the content <NUM>, and the like.

The present disclosure is not limited to the example set forth above, and the information related to the operation performed according to the bending of the electronic device <NUM>, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, may be displayed on various regions of the display of the electronic device <NUM>.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a memo may be generated based on the information related to the identified content <NUM>, and the generated memo may be added to an app diary of a video retrieval application displaying the content <NUM>.

In addition, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, even when the content <NUM> identified by the bent region <NUM> is displayed on the execution screen of the application, an operation of determining an application related to the memo may be additionally performed, according to a user input or preset information. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the memo is added to an app diary regarding the determined application.

Referring to <NUM> of <FIG>, to determine the application related to the memo, the electronic device <NUM> may display an application list <NUM>, based on the information related to the content <NUM>. The application list <NUM> may be displayed to be overlaid on the execution screen of the video retrieval application that is currently running.

The application list <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be determined by various methods, based on various pieces of information such as a usage history of each application, a user preference for each application, a relation to the content <NUM>, and the like.

Referring to <NUM> of <FIG>, as in the case of identifying the content <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may identify an application <NUM> indicated by the bent region <NUM> from the application list <NUM>.

The electronic device <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may generate a memo including the information related to the content <NUM> according to an input by a user and may store the generated memo in an app diary of the identified application <NUM> by adding the generated memo to the app diary.

Referring to <NUM> of <FIG>, various notification messages generated by a plurality of applications may be displayed on a display screen of the electronic device <NUM>.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a region <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> may be bent about a marked line <NUM> in an arrow direction, and as shown in <NUM> of <FIG>, the bent region <NUM> may indicate a notification message <NUM> from among a plurality of notification messages displayed on a display.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the electronic device <NUM> may identify the notification message <NUM> indicated by the bent region <NUM> and may display information about the identified notification message <NUM> on a display screen located in the bent region <NUM>.

In addition, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the electronic device <NUM> may determine that the notification message <NUM> is generated by a "shopping mall A" application. Accordingly, the electronic device <NUM> may determine the "shopping mall A" application as an application related to the notification message <NUM>. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the electronic device <NUM> may display, on the display screen of the bent region <NUM>, a "shopping mall A diary" <NUM> as information about the application determined to be an application related to a memo. The display of the "shopping mall A diary" <NUM> may represent that a memo generated by the bent region <NUM> is added to and stored in an app diary regarding the "shopping mall A" application.

Referring to <NUM> of <FIG>, identification information <NUM> of another application, which is input by a user, may be displayed. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, to additionally store information about the other application related to the memo generated by the bent region <NUM>, the user may input the identification information <NUM> of a "bank A".

For example, as in the example shown in <NUM> of <FIG>, identification information of an application may be additionally input after "&" is input. As in the example shown in <NUM> of <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM> may display an icon <NUM> corresponding to the application additionally input according to a user input.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the memo generated by the bent region <NUM> may be stored in an app diary regarding a "shopping mall A", and a "bank A" application may be additionally stored as an application related to the memo.

Referring to <NUM> of <FIG>, an execution screen of an application, which includes various pieces of content, may be displayed on a screen of the electronic device <NUM>.

Referring to <NUM> of <FIG>, a region <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> may be bent, and the bent region <NUM> may indicate a piece of content <NUM> displayed on the execution screen of the application. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the electronic device <NUM> may display identification information <NUM> representing the content <NUM> on a display screen of the bent region <NUM>.

Referring to <NUM> of <FIG>, a memo generated by the bent region <NUM>, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, may be generated to further include information <NUM> that is input by a user. The information <NUM> input by the user may include information input by various methods, for example, a touch, a speech, and the like, via the electronic device <NUM>.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the memo may be generated based on information related to the identified content <NUM>, and the generated memo may be added to an app diary of the application displaying the content <NUM>.

In addition, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, even when the content <NUM> identified by the bent region is displayed on the execution screen of the application according to a user input or preset information, an operation of determining an application related to the memo may be additionally performed. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the memo may be added to an app diary regarding the determined application.

For example, to determine the application related to the memo, the user may input "&" and may additionally input f for determining the application related to the memo. As shown in <NUM> of <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM> may display a list <NUM> of applications beginning with f. The bent region <NUM> indicates an application <NUM> in the application list <NUM>, whereby the application related to the memo may be determined. Accordingly, the memo generated by the bent region is added to and thus stored in an app diary of the application <NUM> determined to be the application related to the memo.

Referring to <NUM> of <FIG>, an execution screen of an application, which includes various pieces of content, may be displayed on the display screen of the electronic device <NUM>.

In addition, a memo generated by the bent region <NUM>, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, may be generated to further include information <NUM> that is input by a user.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the memo may be generated based on information related to the identified content <NUM>, and the generated memo may be added to an app diary of the currently running application by which the content <NUM> is displayed.

In addition, as shown in <NUM> of <FIG>, the number of memos <NUM> stored in the app diary of the currently running application may be displayed on the display screen of the bent region <NUM>. "<NUM>" shown in <NUM> of <FIG> may represent that the number of memos stored in the app diary of the application displayed on the electronic device <NUM> is <NUM>.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, when a memo including the content <NUM> is generated as the electronic device <NUM> is bent, the number of memos stored in the app diary of the application displayed on the electronic device <NUM> may be increased to <NUM>. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in <NUM> of <FIG>, an indication <NUM> representing that the number of memos stored in the app diary of the application displayed on the electronic device <NUM> is <NUM> may be displayed on the display screen of the electronic device <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example of retrieving a memo, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <NUM> of <FIG>, an execution screen of an application including various pieces of content may be displayed on the screen of the electronic device <NUM>.

Referring to <NUM> of <FIG>, a region <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> may be bent. As the bent region <NUM> corresponds to an operation of retrieving a memo, the electronic device <NUM> may perform the operation of retrieving a memo.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as the region <NUM> is bent, the electronic device <NUM> may perform an operation of retrieving a memo stored in an app diary of a currently displayed application. As in the example shown in <NUM> of <FIG>, information <NUM> representing the app diary of the currently displayed application, and the number of memos <NUM> stored in the app diary of the currently displayed application may be displayed.

In <NUM> of <FIG>, according to a user input, the electronic device <NUM> may display memos <NUM> and <NUM> stored in the app diary of the currently displayed application together with the number of memos <NUM> stored in the app diary of the currently displayed application.

Referring to <NUM> of <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM> may perform an operation of retrieving a memo stored in an app diary of a different application from the currently displayed application, according to a user input. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as "&f" <NUM> is input by a user, the electronic device <NUM> may display a list <NUM> of applications beginning with f, as shown in <NUM> of <FIG>.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, from the list <NUM> of applications, an application indicated by the bent region <NUM> may be selected or an application may be selected by a touch input by the user. The electronic device <NUM> performs an operation of retrieving a memo stored in an app diary of the selected application.

Referring to <NUM> of <FIG>, as a region <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> is bent, the electronic device <NUM> may perform an operation of generating a memo from content <NUM> indicated by the bent region <NUM>. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, in the operation of generating the memo, the electronic device <NUM> may further perform an operation of setting an operation condition for an application related to the memo.

Accordingly, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an operation condition may be additionally set for an application determined to be the application related to the content <NUM> indicated by the bent region <NUM>, and an operation may be performed on the content <NUM>, based on the set operation condition. For example, a memo regarding the content <NUM>, which includes the set operation condition, may be generated, and when the operation condition included in the generated memo is satisfied, an operation set in relation to the content <NUM> and the application may be performed.

The set operation set forth above may be preset to be an operation to be performed on the content <NUM> by the application, as the set operation condition is satisfied.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the electronic device <NUM> may display a list <NUM> including a plurality of operation conditions, based on an input by a user or preset information. The list <NUM> of the operation conditions may include, for example, conditions regarding a data usage limit, remaining battery power, Wi-Fi connection or not, and the like. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the electronic device <NUM> may select an operation condition <NUM> indicated by the bent region <NUM>.

In <NUM> of <FIG>, when the operation condition <NUM> is selected, the electronic device <NUM> may display an application list <NUM> for determining an application related to a memo. An SNS application <NUM> in the application list <NUM> may be selected to be the application related to the memo, by the bent region <NUM>.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the electronic device <NUM> may set an operation condition of the SNS application <NUM> related to the content <NUM>, based on the content <NUM>, the operation condition <NUM>, and the SNS application <NUM>, which are selected by the bent region <NUM>.

For example, when a data usage limit of the electronic device <NUM> is renewed, the electronic device <NUM> may set the content <NUM> to be processed by the SNS application <NUM>, according to the operation condition <NUM>. For example, the content <NUM> may be set to be uploaded to a user account via the SNS application <NUM>.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the electronic device <NUM> may generate a memo from information about an operation condition of the SNS application <NUM>, which is set based on the content <NUM>, the SNS application <NUM>, and the operation condition <NUM>, and may store the memo in an app diary of the SNS application <NUM>. The electronic device <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may execute the SNS application <NUM> according to the operation condition in the memo stored in the app diary of the SNS application <NUM>.

In <NUM> of <FIG>, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the electronic device <NUM> may additionally display an icon <NUM> representing that the operation condition is set for the SNS application <NUM>. The example shown in <NUM> of <FIG> is provided merely as an example, and information representing that the operation condition is set for the SNS application <NUM> may be displayed in various forms.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation condition that may be set for an application, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, a Wi-Fi icon <NUM> may represent an operation condition regarding Wi-Fi connection or not. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, in the case where, in a memo, the Wi-Fi icon <NUM> is set to be an operation condition, when the electronic device <NUM> is connected to Wi-Fi, the electronic device <NUM> may be operated such that content of the memo is uploaded to a user account via an application (for example, an SNS app) related to the memo.

A battery icon <NUM> may represent an operation condition regarding remaining battery power. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, in the case where, in a memo, the battery icon <NUM> is set to be an operation condition, when the remaining battery power of the electronic device <NUM> is equal to or less than a reference value (for example, <NUM> %), the electronic device <NUM> may be operated such that content of the memo is displayed via an application related to the memo.

A data network connection icon <NUM> may represent an operation condition regarding data network connection. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, in the case where, in a memo, the data network connection icon <NUM> is set to be an operation condition, when the electronic device <NUM> is connected to a data network (for example, <NUM>th generation (<NUM>) or <NUM> network, or the like), the electronic device <NUM> may be operated to call a number stored in the memo via an application (for example, a calling app) related to the memo.

A data limit icon <NUM> may represent an operation condition regarding a data limit. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, in the case where, in a memo, the data limit icon <NUM> is set to be an operation condition, when the electronic device <NUM> is allowed to transmit and receive data via a network connected to the electronic device <NUM> due to a renewal of a data limit available to the electronic device <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may be operated such that, by using an application related to the memo, content is downloaded via a uniform resource locator (URL) stored in the memo.

A storage capacity limit icon <NUM> may represent an operation condition regarding a storage capacity limit. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, in the case where, in a memo, the storage capacity limit icon <NUM> is set to be an operation condition, when a memory capacity available to the electronic device <NUM> is equal to or greater than a reference value, the electronic device <NUM> may be operated such that, by using an application related to the memo, content is downloaded via a URL stored in the memo.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example of sharing a memo with an external device (not shown), according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <NUM> of <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM> may determine content <NUM> that is to be included in a memo, according to an object indicated by a bent region <NUM>. In addition, according to the object indicated by the bent region <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may select an application <NUM> related to the memo from an application list <NUM>. In <NUM> of <FIG>, the selected application <NUM> may correspond to an SNS A app shown in <NUM> of <FIG>.

Referring to <NUM> of <FIG>, content and an application <NUM>, which are selected by the bent region <NUM>, may be displayed on a display area of the bent region <NUM>.

In addition, the electronic device <NUM> may determine a device that is to share a memo generated by the bent region <NUM>, according to the object indicated by the bent region <NUM> or a touch input by a user. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the electronic device <NUM> may display a list <NUM> including identification information of another user that may share the memo. According to the object indicated by the bent region <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may select the other user, who is to share the memo, from the list <NUM> including the identification information of the other user.

Referring to <NUM> of <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM> may display identification information <NUM> about the other user who is to share the memo, on the display area of the bent region <NUM>. In addition, after the other user, who is to share the memo, is selected, the electronic device <NUM> may select a method of sharing the memo, from a list <NUM> including various methods of sharing the memo. For example, the electronic device <NUM> may select the method of sharing the memo, by a touch input by the user or a touch input by the bent region <NUM>.

<NUM> of <FIG> illustrates an example of a screen of the external device (not shown) of the other user, who shares the memo via the electronic device <NUM>. When an operation of retrieving a memo is performed as bending that deforms a shape of the external device (not shown) is performed according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the shared memo <NUM> may be displayed. For example, when a bent region of the external device indicates an icon of the SNS A app, the external device (not shown) may display, on a display area of the bent region, an "SNS A diary" <NUM> for representing that a memo included in an app diary of the SNS A app is retrieved. In addition, the number of memos <NUM> stored in the app diary of the SNS A app may also be displayed. Further, when the number of memos <NUM> is touched by a user input, the memo <NUM> shared from the electronic device <NUM> may be displayed on the external device (not shown).

Referring to <NUM> of <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM> may perform an operation of retrieving a memo, by sensing bending that deforms the shape of the electronic device <NUM>. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the electronic device <NUM> may retrieve a memo stored in an app diary <NUM> of a "trip A app", which is a currently running application, and may display retrieved memos <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. In addition, the electronic device <NUM> may display the number of memos <NUM> stored in the app diary <NUM> of the "trip A app".

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, by bending a certain region of the electronic device <NUM>, an operation of generating a memo may be performed. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a memo is generated and the generated memo is transferred to the external device (not shown), whereby an operation of sharing the memo may be performed.

Referring to <NUM> of <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM> may determine that a bent region <NUM> indicates a memo <NUM> from among the memos retrieved in <NUM> of <FIG>. The memo <NUM> indicated by the bent region <NUM> may be generated as a new memo regarding the "trip A app", which is a currently running application.

In addition, according to an object indicated by the bent region <NUM> or a touch input by a user, the electronic device <NUM> may determine a device that is to share the memo generated by the bent region <NUM>. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the electronic device <NUM> may display a list <NUM> including identification information of another user that may share the memo. According to the object indicated by the bent region <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may select the other user, who is to share the memo, from the list <NUM> including the identification information of the other user.

Referring to <NUM> of <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM> may display identification information <NUM> about the other user who is to share the memo, on a display area of the bent region <NUM>. In addition, after the other user, who is to share the memo, is selected, the electronic device <NUM> may select a method of sharing the memo, from a list <NUM> including various methods of sharing the memo. For example, the electronic device <NUM> may select the method of sharing the memo, by a touch input by the user or a touch input by the bent region <NUM>.

<NUM> of <FIG> illustrates an example of a screen of the external device (not shown) of the other user, who shares the memo via the electronic device <NUM>. When an operation of retrieving a memo is performed as the external device (not shown) according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is bent, the external device (not shown) may display a shared memo <NUM>. For example, when a bent region indicates an icon <NUM> of the trip A app, the external device (not shown) may display, on a display area of the bent region, a "trip A diary" <NUM> for representing that a memo included in an app diary of the travel A app is retrieved. In addition, the number of memos <NUM> stored in the app diary of the trip A app may also be displayed. Further, when the number of memos <NUM> is touched by a user input, the memo <NUM> shared from the electronic device <NUM> may be displayed on the external device (not shown).

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example of bending the electronic device <NUM>, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <NUM> and <NUM> of <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM> may be bent about a central line <NUM> of the display screen thereof. When the electronic device <NUM> senses the bending of the display screen about the central line <NUM>, the display screen displayed before the bending of the electronic device <NUM> may be displayed in reduced size on a display of an upper area <NUM>, as shown in <NUM> of <FIG>.

For example, a wallpaper or a launcher screen, which includes a plurality of application icons, may be displayed on the display of the upper area <NUM>. In addition, a user interface for generating a memo may be displayed on a display of a lower area <NUM>.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, according to a user input, an SNS A diary <NUM>, which is information representing an app diary where the memo is to be stored, may be displayed on the display of the lower area <NUM>. For example, in the upper area <NUM>, as a slide input <NUM> in an arrow direction with respect to an icon of SNS A is received, an SNS A app diary may be determined to be the app diary where the memo is to be stored, and the SNS A diary <NUM> may be displayed on the lower area <NUM>. The present disclosure is not limited to the slide input <NUM>, and the app diary where the memo is to be stored may be determined according to various user inputs.

Referring to <NUM> of <FIG>, in the lower area <NUM>, contents to be generated into a memo may be input by a user. The memo may be generated based on information input by the user, and the generated memo may be stored in the SNS A diary <NUM>.

Referring to <NUM> and <NUM> of <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM> may be bent about a central line <NUM> of the display screen thereof. When the electronic device <NUM> senses the bending of the display screen about the central line <NUM>, the display screen displayed before the bending of the electronic device <NUM> may be displayed in reduced size on a display of a left area <NUM>, as shown in <NUM> of <FIG>.

For example, a wallpaper or a launcher screen, which includes a plurality of application icons, may be displayed on the display of the left area <NUM>. In addition, a user interface for generating a memo may be displayed on a display of a right area <NUM>.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as in the example shown in <NUM> of <FIG>, an internet browser diary <NUM>, which is information representing an app diary where the memo is to be stored, may be displayed on the display of the right area <NUM>, according to a user input. For example, in the left area <NUM>, as a drag input <NUM> in an arrow direction with respect to an icon of an internet browser is received, an internet browser app diary may be determined to be the app diary where the memo is to be stored, and the internet browser diary <NUM> may be displayed on the right area <NUM>. The present disclosure is not limited to the drag input <NUM>, and the app diary where the memo is to be stored may be determined according to various user inputs.

Referring to <NUM> of <FIG>, in the right area <NUM>, contents to be generated into a memo may be input by a user. The memo may be generated based on information <NUM> input by the user, and the generated memo may be stored in the internet browser diary <NUM>.

Referring to <NUM> of <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM> may be bent about a marked line <NUM> of the display screen thereof. When the electronic device <NUM> senses the bending of the display screen about the marked line <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may identify that a bent region <NUM> indicates an object <NUM> including information about a shopping mall A app from among a plurality of objects displayed on the display of the electronic device <NUM>.

According to the embodiment shown in <FIG>, the bent region <NUM> indicating the object may be a region including a one-side edge except vertices rather than a region including one vertex.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in <NUM> of <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM> may display information <NUM> about the object <NUM> indicated by the bent region <NUM>, on a display area <NUM> of the bent region <NUM>. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as a display is folded as shown in <NUM> of <FIG>, a display area of a bent region may include a surface of the display, which faces from backward to forward.

In addition, information <NUM> about an app diary of an application related to the object <NUM> may be displayed on the display area <NUM> of the bent region <NUM>. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a memo generated in the display area <NUM> may be stored in the app diary <NUM>.

Referring to <NUM> of <FIG>, in addition to the information about the object <NUM>, other pieces of information input by a user may be further included in the memo. For example, information <NUM> input by a touch by the user may be further included in the memo. In addition, pieces of information <NUM> and <NUM> about another application related to a memo that is input by the user may be further included in the memo. For example, the information <NUM> input as "& (application name)" by the user may be processed as information about the other application related to the memo, and as a result of the processing, an icon <NUM> representing the other application may be displayed.

Referring to <NUM> of <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM> may be bent forward about a marked line <NUM> of the display screen thereof. When the electronic device <NUM> senses the bending of the display screen about the marked line <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may display an application list <NUM> on a surface of the display, which faces forward due to the bending of the display screen, as shown in <NUM> of <FIG>.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the application list <NUM> may include an application having an app diary in which a memo is stored.

In <NUM> of <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM> may select an application <NUM> from the application list <NUM> according to a user input.

In <NUM> of <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM> may display memos <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> stored in an app diary of the application <NUM> selected from the application list <NUM>. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the memos <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> stored in the app diary of the application <NUM> may be displayed on a surface of the display, which faces from backward to forward as the display screen is bent.

Referring to <NUM> of <FIG>, an execution screen of a file management application displaying files in the electronic device <NUM> may be displayed. A plurality of files stored in the electronic device <NUM> may be displayed on the execution screen of the file management application.

Referring to <NUM> of <FIG>, a certain region of the electronic device <NUM> may be bent about a marked line <NUM>, and the bent region <NUM> may indicate a file <NUM> displayed on the execution screen of the file management application.

Referring to <NUM> of <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM> may display identification information <NUM> representing the file <NUM> on a display screen area <NUM> of the bent region <NUM>.

The identification information <NUM> representing the file <NUM> may include various types of information, for example, a file name, a representative image of a file, a file icon, and the like.

In addition, as in the example shown in <NUM> of <FIG>, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, not only information about the file <NUM> but also information <NUM> input by a user may be further added to a memo.

As in the example shown in <NUM> of <FIG>, when a bending state of the electronic device <NUM> is released as a bent region moves in an arrow direction <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may determine that memo writing is completed, and may generate and store a memo including the information related to the file <NUM> and the information <NUM> input by the user. The memo generated by the electronic device <NUM> may be added to an app diary <NUM> of the file management application.

Referring to <NUM> of <FIG>, an execution screen of a map application may be displayed on the display screen of the electronic device <NUM>. The execution screen of the map application may display, for example, a map of an area specified by a user.

Referring to <NUM> of <FIG>, a certain region of the electronic device <NUM> may be bent, and a bent region <NUM> may indicate one of several locations on the map.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, before the electronic device <NUM> is bent, at least one location on the map may be prespecified by the user. For example, according to a user input, at least one location on the map may be prespecified to be a location selected by the user. When the electronic device <NUM> is bent, a location displayed closest to the bent region <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> from among prespecified locations may be determined to be the location indicated by the bent region <NUM>.

In <NUM> of <FIG>, as the bent region <NUM> indicates a location <NUM> prespecified by the user, information related to the location <NUM> may be displayed on a display area <NUM> of the bent region <NUM>. In addition, the information related to the location <NUM> may be additionally input by the user, and the input information may be displayed on the display area <NUM> of the bent region <NUM>.

In <NUM> of <FIG>, according to a user input, an application list <NUM> for selecting an application related to a memo that is to be generated may be displayed. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an application indicated by the bent region <NUM> from among applications displayed in the application list <NUM> may be selected to be an application related to the memo.

In <NUM> of <FIG>, as the map application is selected by the bent region <NUM> and a bending state of the bent region <NUM> is released, a memo including information displayed on the display area <NUM> may be added to and stored in an app diary regarding the selected map application. For example, the memo may include information related to the location <NUM> and information additionally input by the user when the memo is generated.

Referring to <NUM> of <FIG>, an execution screen of a map A application may be displayed on the display screen of the electronic device <NUM>.

Referring to <NUM> of <FIG>, a certain region of the electronic device <NUM> may be bent. As a bent region <NUM> corresponds to an operation of retrieving a memo, the electronic device <NUM> may perform the operation of retrieving a memo.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as the electronic device <NUM> is bent, the electronic device <NUM> may perform an operation of retrieving a memo stored in an app diary of the map A application that is currently displayed. As in the example shown in <NUM> of <FIG>, on a display area <NUM> of the bent region <NUM>, information representing the app diary of the currently displayed map A application, and "<NUM>" that is the number of memos stored in the app diary of the currently displayed map A application may be displayed.

In <NUM> of <FIG>, according to a user input, the electronic device <NUM> may perform an operation of retrieving a memo stored in an app diary of a different application from a currently displayed application. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as "&M" <NUM> is input by a user, the electronic device <NUM> may display a list <NUM> of applications beginning with M, as shown in <NUM> of <FIG>.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, from the list <NUM> of applications, an application indicated by the bent region <NUM> may be selected by the user, or an application may be selected by a touch input by the user. The electronic device <NUM> may perform an operation of retrieving a memo stored in an app diary of the selected application.

In <NUM> of <FIG>, as a map B application is selected by the bent region <NUM>, the number of memos <NUM> stored in an app diary of the selected map B application, and memos <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be displayed.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, when the memo <NUM> is selected, by the user, from among the memos <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> stored in the app diary of the map B application, information of the selected memo <NUM> may be transferred to the map A application that is currently running. For example, the information of the selected memo <NUM> may be inserted into an address area <NUM> of the map A application. When address information is inserted into the address area <NUM> of the map A application, a location on a map, which corresponds to the address information, may be displayed.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an area of the map A application, into which the information of the selected memo <NUM> is to be inserted, may be preset by the user, before the memo <NUM> is selected.

Referring to <NUM> of <FIG>, the information of the selected memo <NUM> is inserted into an address area <NUM> of the map A application, whereby a location corresponding to the inserted address information may be displayed on the map A application.

Referring to <FIG>, in <NUM> of <FIG>, an execution screen of the map A application may be displayed on the display screen of the electronic device <NUM>.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an area <NUM> of the map A application may be preset to be an area into which a memo is to be inserted.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as the electronic device <NUM> is bent, the electronic device <NUM> may perform an operation of retrieving a memo stored in an app diary of the map A application that is currently displayed. As in the example shown in <NUM> of <FIG>, on a display area <NUM> of a bent region, information representing the app diary of the currently displayed map A application, and "<NUM>" that is the number of memos stored in the app diary of the currently displayed map A application may be displayed.

Referring to <NUM> of <FIG>, according to a user input, the number of memos <NUM> stored in the app diary of the selected map A application, and memos <NUM> and <NUM> may be displayed.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, when the memo <NUM> is selected by a user or a bent region <NUM> from the memos <NUM> and <NUM> stored in the app diary of the map A application, information of the selected memo <NUM> may be inserted into the map A application that is currently running. For example, the information of the selected memo <NUM> may be inserted into the preset area <NUM> of the map A application.

Referring to <NUM> of <FIG>, the information of the selected memo <NUM> is inserted into the preset area <NUM> of the map A application, whereby information <NUM> representing a result thereof may be displayed on the screen of the electronic device <NUM>.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as the information of the selected memo <NUM> is a coupon code and the coupon code of the memo <NUM> is inserted into the preset area <NUM>, a message <NUM>, which represents that a coupon of the memo is applied to a currently running application, may be displayed.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of easily and intuitively performing various operations of an electronic device, based on bending, may be provided.

An embodiment of the present disclosure may be implemented in the form of a recording medium including instructions, which are capable of being executed by a computer, such as a program module executed by the computer. A computer-readable medium may be any available medium accessible by a computer and may include volatile and non-volatile media and separable and non-separable media. In addition, the computer-readable medium may include a computer storage medium and a communication medium. The computer storage medium includes volatile and non-volatile media and separable and non-separable media, which are implemented by any method or technique for storing information such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. The communication medium typically includes computer-readable instructions, data structures, or program modules and may include any information transfer medium.

Claim 1:
A method, performed by an electronic device (<NUM>), of performing an operation based on bending, the method comprising:
sensing bending that deforms a shape of the electronic device (<NUM>);
determining a first region, from which the bending is sensed, from among regions of the electronic device (<NUM>);
selecting an object indicated by the first region from among objects displayed on the electronic device (<NUM>); and
performing the operation on the selected object,
wherein the performing the operation on the selected object further comprises:
displaying information related to the operation on a display area of the electronic device (<NUM>),
generating a memo regarding an application represented by the selected object; and
adding the memo to an app diary corresponding to the selected object.