Patent Description:
In an electronic device based on a display device including a touch sensor, a user directly touches a display of the display device with a finger when a user wants to perform input. In the electronic device based on a display device including a touch sensor, one of the most troublesome parts when the user performs input is operation of a cursor on the display.

The way the user directly performs input to the display with a finger has the advantage of being intuitive, but there is a disadvantage in that fine operation is difficult due to visual interference, such as the user's finger hides content being displayed on the display when performing input. In particular, in the case of a task requiring editing through a fine adjustment such as a cursor in a document, this disadvantage becomes more prominent and may be a serious factor that hinders the user's document editing experience itself.

<CIT> discloses a touch input cursor manipulation method. Initially, content of an electronic document is displayed on the display, where a cursor is displayed within the electronic document. Two substantially simultaneous touch inputs are then detected on the touch screen display, and preferably anywhere on the touch screen display. In response to detecting the two substantially simultaneous touch inputs, a portion of the content in the document closest to the cursor is selected, and the portion of the content is displayed as selected content.

Embodiments of the disclosure address at least the above-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an example aspect of the disclosure provides an electronic device which eliminates and/or reduces visual interference in which a finger or an input device such as a touch pen hides a display and provides an improved method of operating a cursor with improved accuracy, thus providing various user experiences.

Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses various example embodiments of the disclosure.

According to various example embodiments disclosed herein, it is possible to provide an electronic device which eliminates and/or reduces visual interference in which a finger or an input device such as a touch pen hides and/or obscures a display and provides an improved method of operating a cursor with improved accuracy, thus providing various user experiences.

In addition, various effects may be provided that are directly or indirectly understood through the disclosure.

In the description of the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals may be used for the same or similar components.

Hereinafter, various example embodiments of the disclosure may be described with reference to accompanying drawings. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that modifications, equivalents, and/or alternatives on the various example embodiments described herein can be variously made without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

Hereinafter, components included in an electronic device according to an embodiment will be described with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> is a block diagram illustrating an example electronic device in a network environment, according to various embodiments. <FIG> is a block diagram illustrating an example display device of the electronic device of <FIG>.

In some embodiments, at least one (e.g., the camera module <NUM>) of the components may be omitted from the electronic device <NUM>, or one or more other components may be added in the electronic device <NUM>. For example, at least part of the sensor module <NUM> (e.g., a pressure sensor, a fingerprint sensor, an iris sensor, or an illuminance sensor) may be implemented as embedded in the display device <NUM> (e.g., a display).

Also, the input device <NUM> may be a concept including a display device <NUM> including a touch sensor.

The display device <NUM> will be described in detail below with reference to <FIG>.

A corresponding one of these communication modules may communicate with the external electronic device via the first network <NUM> (e.g., a short-range communication network, such as Bluetooth<IMG>, wireless-fidelity (Wi-Fi) direct, or infrared data association (IrDA)) or the second network <NUM> (e.g., a long-range communication network, such as a cellular network, the Internet, or a computer network (e.g., LAN or wide area network (WAN)).

The electronic devices may include, for example, a portable communication device (e.g., a smartphone), a computer device, a portable multimedia device, a portable medical device, a camera, a wearable device, a home appliance, or the like.

It is to be understood that if an element (e.g., a first element) is referred to, with or without the term "operatively" or "communicatively", as "coupled with," "coupled to," "connected with," or "connected to" another element (e.g., a second element), the element may be coupled with the other element directly (e.g., wiredly), wirelessly, or via a third element.

Wherein, the "non-transitory" storage medium is a tangible device, and maynot include a signal (e.g., an electromagnetic wave), but this term does not differentiate between where data is semi-permanently stored in the storage medium and where the data is temporarily stored in the storage medium.

The computer program product may be distributed in the form of a machine-readable storage medium (e.g., compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM)), or be distributed (e.g., downloaded or uploaded) online via an application store (e.g., PlayStore<IMG>), or between two user devices (e.g., smart phones) directly.

<FIG> is a block diagram <NUM> illustrating the display device <NUM> according to various embodiments. Referring to <FIG>, the display device <NUM> may include a display <NUM> and a display driver integrated circuit (DDI) <NUM> to control the display <NUM>. The DDI <NUM> may include an interface module <NUM>, memory <NUM> (e.g., buffer memory), an image processing module <NUM>, or a mapping module <NUM>. The DDI <NUM> may receive image information that contains image data or an image control signal corresponding to a command to control the image data from another component of the electronic device <NUM> via the interface module <NUM>. For example, according to an embodiment, the image information may be received from the processor <NUM> (e.g., the main processor <NUM> (e.g., an application processor)) or the auxiliary processor <NUM> (e.g., a graphics processing unit) operated independently from the function of the main processor <NUM>. The DDI <NUM> may communicate, for example, with touch circuitry <NUM> or the sensor module <NUM> via the interface module <NUM>. The DDI <NUM> may also store at least part of the received image information in the memory <NUM>, for example, on a frame by frame basis.

The image processing module <NUM> may perform pre-processing or post-processing (e.g., adjustment of resolution, brightness, or size) with respect to at least part of the image data. According to an embodiment, the pre-processing or post-processing may be performed, for example, based at least in part on one or more characteristics of the image data or one or more characteristics of the display <NUM>.

The mapping module <NUM> may generate a voltage value or a current value corresponding to the image data pre-processed or post-processed by the image processing module <NUM>. According to an embodiment, the generating of the voltage value or current value may be performed, for example, based at least in part on one or more attributes of the pixels (e.g., an array, such as an RGB stripe or a pentile structure, of the pixels, or the size of each subpixel). At least some pixels of the display <NUM> may be driven, for example, based at least in part on the voltage value or the current value such that visual information (e.g., a text, an image, or an icon) corresponding to the image data may be displayed via the display <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the display device <NUM> may further include the touch circuitry <NUM>. The touch circuitry <NUM> may include a touch sensor <NUM> and a touch sensor IC <NUM> to control the touch sensor <NUM>. The touch sensor IC <NUM> may control the touch sensor <NUM> to sense a touch input or a hovering input with respect to a certain position on the display <NUM>. To achieve this, for example, the touch sensor <NUM> may detect (e.g., measure) a change in a signal (e.g., a voltage, a quantity of light, a resistance, or a quantity of one or more electric charges) corresponding to the certain position on the display <NUM>. The touch circuitry <NUM> may provide input information (e.g., a position, an area, a pressure, or a time) indicative of the touch input or the hovering input detected via the touch sensor <NUM> to the processor <NUM>. According to an embodiment, at least part (e.g., the touch sensor IC <NUM>) of the touch circuitry <NUM> may be formed as part of the display <NUM> or the DDI <NUM>, or as part of another component (e.g., the auxiliary processor <NUM>) disposed outside the display device <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the display device <NUM> may further include at least one sensor (e.g., a fingerprint sensor, an iris sensor, a pressure sensor, or an illuminance sensor) of the sensor module <NUM> or a control circuit for the at least one sensor. In such a case, the at least one sensor or the control circuit for the at least one sensor may be embedded in one portion of a component (e.g., the display <NUM>, the DDI <NUM>, or the touch circuitry <NUM>)) of the display device <NUM>. For example, when the sensor module <NUM> embedded in the display device <NUM> includes a biometric sensor (e.g., a fingerprint sensor), the biometric sensor may obtain biometric information (e.g., a fingerprint image) corresponding to a touch input received via a portion of the display <NUM>. As another example, when the sensor module <NUM> embedded in the display device <NUM> includes a pressure sensor, the pressure sensor may obtain pressure information corresponding to a touch input received via a partial or whole area of the display <NUM>. According to an embodiment, the touch sensor <NUM> or the sensor module <NUM> may be disposed between pixels in a pixel layer of the display <NUM>, or over or under the pixel layer.

Hereinafter, a touch pad user interface (UI) mode of the electronic device according to an embodiment will be described in detail with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>. Hereinafter, operations illustrated in <FIG> or described in embodiments described with reference to <FIG> may be performed by the electronic device <NUM> of <FIG> or by the processor <NUM>.

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating an example method of operating a cursor in an electronic device according to an embodiment. <FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example display of a display device of an electronic device according to an embodiment.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, an electronic device according to an embodiment may determine whether there is a long press input on a space key <NUM> of a keyboard user interface UI <NUM> (<NUM>).

Referring to <FIG>, the electronic device according to an embodiment may display the keyboard UI <NUM> through the display device when receiving a text input of a user. The processor may display the keyboard UI <NUM> on the display of the display device when receiving an input to start the keyboard UI <NUM> such as a touch on an area where a user is able to input text or a touch on a keyboard menu. The processor may display content <NUM> on the display of the electronic device, and the keyboard UI <NUM> may be displayed at a lower portion of the content <NUM>.

The content <NUM> may collectively refer, for example, to an object including an area where a user is able to input text from among objects which the electronic device is capable of displaying. For example, the content <NUM> may be various, such as an editing mode for a document, video, or image, a messenger application or an Internet window including an address window, a search window, a comment window, and the like. In the present embodiment, a document including text is illustrated as an example of the content <NUM>.

The processor may display a cursor <NUM> on the content <NUM> of the display. The cursor <NUM> may indicate a location where text is to be input on the content <NUM> in response to the input received from the keyboard UI <NUM>. The user may operate to place the cursor <NUM> at a location where he or she wants to input text on the content <NUM>.

The keyboard user interface (UI) <NUM> may include the space key <NUM>. The processor may determine whether there is a long press input on the space key <NUM>. The long press input may be an operation in which the user touches the space key <NUM> for a predetermined time. The predetermined time may, for example, be a time longer than a time required to touch the space key <NUM> to input a space. The current location <NUM> of the user's touch may be displayed on the display.

Referring back to <FIG> and <FIG>, when it is determined that there is no long press input on the space key <NUM>, the processor may continuously display the existing keyboard UI <NUM> (<NUM>).

When it is determined that there is a long press input on the space key <NUM>, the processor may display a touch pad user interface (UI) <NUM> on the display (<NUM>). Although the space key <NUM> is described as an example with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, according to an embodiment, the processor may display the touch pad UI <NUM> based on reception of a long press input on another key of the keyboard UI <NUM>. In addition, although long press input is described as an example with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, an input for entering the touch pad UI <NUM> mode is not limited thereto, and there are diverse inputs such as a drag, consecutive touches, rotation, a touch with two fingers, a flick, a rotation with two fingers, etc..

Referring to <FIG>, when the long press input on the space key <NUM> of the keyboard UI <NUM> is received, the processor may display the touch pad UI <NUM> at a location of the keyboard UI <NUM>. The touch pad UI <NUM> may include a rectangular touch input area <NUM> having an area corresponding to a key pad of the keyboard UI <NUM>.

The processor may change a color of the cursor <NUM> in response to activation of the touch pad UI <NUM>. As the color of the cursor <NUM> is changed, the user may recognize that the touch pad UI <NUM> is activated.

The processor may display a touch <NUM> of a current user on the touch pad UI <NUM>. The reference coordinates <NUM> displayed on the touch pad UI <NUM> may indicate a location of the user's touch at a time point at which the touch pad UI <NUM> starts to be activated or a location at which the user starts touching after the touch pad UI <NUM> is displayed. The coordinates of the touch <NUM> of the current user and the reference coordinates <NUM> may be equal to each other.

After the touch pad UI <NUM> is activated, the processor may display a circular distance threshold area <NUM> centered on the reference coordinates <NUM> on the touch pad UI <NUM>. The radius of the distance threshold area <NUM> may be a first distance threshold value (Dthreshold1).

The user's touch <NUM>, the reference coordinates <NUM>, and the distance threshold area <NUM> may be for providing a visual guide to the user and at least one of the user's touch <NUM>, the reference coordinates <NUM>, and the distance threshold area <NUM> may not be displayed.

When the user's touch <NUM> moves within the distance threshold area <NUM>, the processor may enter a size change mode of the cursor <NUM>. The processor may change a size of the cursor <NUM>' in the size change mode in response to a user's touch.

Hereinafter, a size change mode of a cursor of an electronic device according to an embodiment will be described in greater detail below with reference to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example cursor size change mode of an electronic device according to an embodiment. <FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example cursor size change mode of an electronic device according to an embodiment.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the processor determines whether a movement speed (Vmove) of a user's touch <NUM> on a touch input area <NUM> is less than a speed threshold value (Vthreshold) (<NUM>). In this example, the user's touch <NUM> may be continuous with a long press input for a space key of a keyboard UI for entering a touch pad UI mode, or may be a new input after release after the long press input is performed. However, determination process <NUM>, determination process <NUM>, determination process <NUM>, and determination process <NUM> of <FIG>, which will be described in greater detail below, may be sequentially performed on one continuous user's touch without release.

The processor may display reference coordinates <NUM> and a distance threshold area <NUM> centered on the reference coordinates <NUM> on the touch input area <NUM>.

When it is determined that a movement speed (Vmove) of the user's touch <NUM> is less than the speed threshold value (Vthreshold), the processor may determine whether a movement distance (Dmove) of the user's touch <NUM> is greater than or equal to a first distance threshold value (Dthreshold1) (<NUM>). For example, the processor may determine whether the user's touch <NUM> escapes from the distance threshold area <NUM>.

When the movement distance (Dmove) of the user's touch <NUM> is less than the first distance threshold value (Dthreshold1), for example, when the user's touch <NUM> has moved within the distance threshold area <NUM>, the processor may enter to the size change mode of a cursor <NUM> (<NUM>).

Referring to <FIG>, when the user's touch <NUM> has moved to the left side with respect to the reference coordinates <NUM> within the distance threshold area <NUM> at a speed less than the speed threshold value (Vthreshold), the processor enters a size change mode of the cursor <NUM> and the processor increases a width of a cursor <NUM>' in the size change mode to the left side, which is the movement direction of the user's touch <NUM>. In this example, the processor may change the width of the cursor <NUM>' in the size change mode to be proportional to the movement distance of the user's touch <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, when a user's touch <NUM> has moved to the upper side with respect to reference coordinates <NUM> within the distance threshold area <NUM> at a speed less than the speed threshold value (Vthreshold) on a touch input area <NUM>, the processor enters a size change mode a the cursor <NUM> and increase a height of a cursor <NUM>' in the size change mode to the upper side, which is the movement direction of the user's touch <NUM>. In this example, the processor may change the height of the cursor <NUM>' in the size change mode to be proportional to the movement distance of the user's touch <NUM>.

Hereinafter, an example method of determining a size of a cursor in a size change mode of an electronic device according to an embodiment will be described in greater detail with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> are diagrams illustrating an example method of determining a size of a cursor in a size change mode of an electronic device according to an embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, a cursor <NUM> may have a first width W and a first height H in a normal mode before entering a size change mode. A maximum change height (△Hmax) may refer, for example, to a maximum value to which the height H of the cursor <NUM> is able to increase in the size change mode. A maximum change width (△Wmax) may refer, for example, to a maximum value at which the width W of the cursor <NUM> is able to increase in the size change mode.

The processor may display the current user's touch <NUM> on a touch input area <NUM> in a touch pad UI <NUM>. The coordinates of a first position p0 of the user's touch <NUM> is (x0, y0).

The processor may display reference coordinates <NUM> and a distance threshold area <NUM> centered on the reference coordinates <NUM> on the touch input area <NUM>. The distance threshold area <NUM> may, for example, be a circular area having a first distance threshold value (Dthreshold1) as a radius around the reference coordinates <NUM>. The reference coordinates <NUM> may indicate the user's touch position at a time point at which the touch pad UI <NUM> starts to be activated or a position at which the user starts touching after the touch pad UI <NUM> is displayed.

Referring to <FIG>, the user's touch <NUM> may move to a second position p1. The coordinates of the second position p1 may be expressed as (x1, y1). In this example, the processor identifies that the user's touch <NUM> moves to the second position p1 within the distance threshold area <NUM> at a speed less than the speed threshold value (Vthreshold), and the processor enters the size change mode of the cursor <NUM>.

The cursor <NUM>' in the size change mode has a second width (W + △W) and a second height (H + △H). For example, the width of the cursor <NUM>' in the size change mode is changed from the first width W of the cursor <NUM> in a normal mode to the second width (W+△W), and the height of the cursor <NUM> in the normal mode is changed from the first height H to the second height (H + △H). In this case, the processor may, for example, and without limitation, determine a change height (ΔH) based on the following equations (<NUM>) and (<NUM>).

For example, the processor may determine the change height (ΔH) using a proportional relationship in which the first distance threshold value (Dthreshold1) versus the maximum change height (△Hmax) is equal to the change height (ΔH) versus the vertical movement distance (△y = y1-y0) of the user's touch <NUM>.

The processor may, for example, and without limitation, determine the change width (ΔW) of the cursor <NUM>' in the size change mode based on the following equations (<NUM>) and (<NUM>).

For example, the processor may determine the change width (ΔW) based on the proportional relationship in which the distance threshold value (Dthreshold1) versus the maximum change width (ΔWmax) is equal to the change width (ΔW) versus horizontal movement distance (△x = x1-x0) of the user's touch <NUM>.

The processor may change the size of the cursor <NUM>' in the size change mode in the direction identical to or corresponding to the movement direction of the user's touch <NUM> in the distance threshold area <NUM> and may change the size of the cursor <NUM>' at a ratio corresponding to the moving distance of the user's touch <NUM> within the distance threshold area <NUM>.

Although a description had been provided by taking, as an example, the case where the distance threshold area <NUM> has a circular shape having a first distance threshold value (Dthreshold1) that is constant as a radius in <FIG>, the distance threshold area <NUM> may have an elliptical shape having a varied radius according to an embodiment.

Hereinafter, a movement operation of a cursor of an electronic device according to an embodiment will be described in greater detail with reference to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example movement operation of a cursor of an electronic device according to an embodiment. <FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example movement operation of a cursor of an electronic device according to an embodiment.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the processor determines whether a movement speed (Vmove) of a user's touch <NUM> on a touch input area <NUM> is less than a speed threshold value (Vthreshold) (<NUM>). The processor may display the touch input area <NUM> on the display, and display reference coordinates <NUM> and a distance threshold area <NUM> centered on the reference coordinates <NUM> on the touch input area <NUM>.

When a movement speed (Vmove) of the user's touch <NUM> is less than a speed threshold value (Vthreshold), the processor determines whether the movement distance (Dmove) of the user's touch <NUM> is greater than or equal to a first distance threshold value (Dthreshold1) (<NUM>). For example, the processor may determine whether the user's touch <NUM> escapes from the distance threshold area <NUM>.

When the movement distance (Dmove) of the user's touch <NUM> is greater than or equal to the first distance threshold value (Dthreshold1), the processor moves a cursor <NUM> on content <NUM> in the direction identical to or corresponding to the movement direction of the user's touch <NUM> by one space (<NUM>). One space may correspond, for example, to an interval of one character on the content <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, when the user's touch <NUM> moves upwards with respect to the reference coordinates <NUM> outside the distance threshold area <NUM> at a speed less than the speed threshold value (Vthreshold), the processor moves the cursor <NUM> on the content <NUM> upwards by one space.

When the user's touch <NUM> moves out of the distance threshold area <NUM>, the processor may display new reference coordinates <NUM>' and a new distance threshold area <NUM>' based on the position of the moved user's touch <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, when a user's touch <NUM> moves to the left side with respect to reference coordinates <NUM> within a distance threshold area <NUM> on a touch input area <NUM> at a speed less than a speed threshold value (Vthreshold), the processor moves a cursor <NUM> on content <NUM> to the left side by one space.

Hereinafter, a movement operation of a cursor of an electronic device according to an embodiment will be described in greater detail with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example movement operation of a cursor of an electronic device according to an embodiment.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the processor may determine whether a movement speed (Vmove) of a user's touch <NUM> on a touch pad UI <NUM> is less than a speed threshold value (Vthreshold) (<NUM>). The processor may display reference coordinates <NUM> on the touch pad UI <NUM> and a distance threshold area <NUM> centered on the reference coordinates <NUM>.

When a movement speed (Vmove) of the user's touch <NUM> is greater than a speed threshold value (Vthreshold), the electronic device determines whether the movement distance (Dmove) of the user's touch <NUM> is greater than or equal to a second distance threshold value (Dthreshold2) (<NUM>). The second distance threshold value (Dthreshold2) may be expressed, for example, as in Equation (<NUM>) below.

For example, the second distance threshold value (Dthreshold2) may be equal to a value obtained by multiplying a value obtained by dividing the speed threshold value (Vthreshold) by the movement speed (Vmove) of the user's touch <NUM> and the first distance threshold value (Dthreshold1).

When it is determined that the movement distance (Dmove) of the user's touch <NUM> is greater than or equal to the second distance threshold value (Dthreshold2), the processor may move a cursor <NUM> in a movement direction of the user's touch <NUM> (<NUM>). In this example, the processor may move the cursor <NUM> in the movement direction of the user's touch <NUM> by a plurality of spaces at a time.

Referring to <FIG>, when the user's touch <NUM> moves to the left side based on the reference coordinates <NUM> at a speed greater than the speed threshold value (Vthreshold), the processor may also move the cursor <NUM> on content <NUM> to the left side by a plurality of spaces.

In this example, the processor may determine a distance (D1) by which the cursor <NUM> is to move to be proportional to an actual movement distance (Dmove) of the user's touch <NUM>. The processor moves the distance (D1) by which the cursor <NUM> is to move based on a proportional relationship indicating that a straight line from the reference coordinates <NUM>, which is a start location of the user's touch <NUM>, to an end of the touch input area <NUM> in the left direction (a direction in which the user's touch <NUM> moves) versus an actual movement distance (Dmove) of the user's touch <NUM> is equal to a straight line (D2) from a current location of the cursor <NUM> to an end of the content <NUM> in the left direction (a direction in which the user's touch <NUM> moves) versus a movement distance (D1) of the cursor <NUM>.

The actual movement distance of the cursor <NUM> may not necessarily equal to the movement distance (D1) obtained through the proportional relationship, and when the movement distance (D1) is located in the middle of one character on the content <NUM>, the cursor may move to enter the left space or right space of a relevant character.

When the user's touch <NUM> moves at a speed greater than the speed threshold value (Vthreshold), the processor may display new reference coordinates <NUM>' and a new distance threshold area <NUM>' based on the position of the moved user's touch <NUM>.

Referring back to <FIG> and <FIG>, when the movement distance (Dmove) of the user's touch <NUM> is less than a second distance threshold area (Dthreshold2), the processor may not perform movement of the cursor <NUM> for movement of a relevant user's touch <NUM>. When the movement distance (Dmove) of the user's touch <NUM> is less than the second distance threshold area (Dthreshold2), the processor may not perform the movement of the cursor <NUM> for the movement of the user's touch <NUM> and determine whether the movement speed (Vmove) is less than the speed threshold value (Vthreshold) for movement of a next new user's touch <NUM> (<NUM>).

Hereinafter, a text selection mode of a cursor of an electronic device according to an embodiment will be described in greater detail with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example text selection mode of a cursor of an electronic device according to an embodiment.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the processor may determine whether the change width (ΔW) of a cursor <NUM>' in the size change mode satisfies the following equation (<NUM>) and the change height (ΔH) satisfies the following equation (<NUM>). <MAT><MAT>.

For example, the processor may determine whether the cursor <NUM>' in a size change mode is maintained in an unchanged state with a change width (△W) and a change height (△H) for a predetermined time (△t) (<NUM>). For example, the processor may determine whether the user's touch is maintained at one position for the predetermined time (△t) in the size change mode (<NUM>).

Referring to <FIG>, the processor may display a current user's touch <NUM> on a touch input area <NUM>, and display reference coordinates <NUM> and a distance threshold area <NUM> centered on the reference coordinates <NUM>. The processor may display a cursor <NUM> on content <NUM>.

When the user's touch <NUM> moves within the distance threshold area <NUM> at a speed less than the speed threshold value (Vthreshold), the processor may enter a size change mode of the cursor <NUM>. The processor may change the size of the cursor <NUM>' in the size change mode by the change width (△W) and the change height (△H) based on the direction and movement distance of the user's touch <NUM>.

When it is determined that the cursor <NUM>' in the size change mode is changed by the magnitudes of the change width (△W) and the change height (△H), and is maintained with very little changes in the magnitudes for a predetermined time (△t), a bubble user interface (UI) <NUM> may be displayed on one side of a cursor <NUM> in a text selection mode while the text selection mode is entered based on the direction and the movement distance of the user's touch <NUM>.

Referring back to <FIG> and <FIG>, when the cursor <NUM>' in the size change mode is maintained with very little changes in the magnitudes for the predetermined time (△t), the processor enters the text selection mode while displaying the bubble UI <NUM> (<NUM>). The orders of the display of the bubble UI (<NUM>) and the entry (<NUM>) to the text selection mode may be reversed or may be performed simultaneously.

In a case in which the processor determines the movement operation of the cursor <NUM> in the text selection mode, when the movement speed (Vmove) of the user's touch <NUM> is less than the speed threshold value (Vthreshold) (<NUM>) and the movement distance (Dmove) is greater than or equal to the first distance threshold value (Dthreshold1) (<NUM>), the processor moves the cursor <NUM> by one space in a direction identical to or corresponding to the movement direction of the user's touch <NUM> (<NUM>), and when the movement speed (Vmove) of the user's touch <NUM> is larger than the speed threshold value (Vthreshold) (<NUM>) and the movement distance (Dmove) is larger than or equal to the second distance threshold value (Dthreshold2) (<NUM>), the processor may move the cursor <NUM> by a plurality of spaces in a direction identical to or corresponding to the movement direction of the user's touch <NUM> (<NUM>). The user's touch for moving the cursor <NUM> in the text selection mode may be continuous with the user's touch for entering the text selection mode or a new touch after release when the user's touch for entering the text selection mode had been made.

Referring back to <FIG>, the processor may perform control to display a selection area for selecting at least a part of the contents of the content <NUM> while the cursor <NUM> in the text selection mode is moving. When it is determined that the movement of the cursor <NUM> in the text selection mode is completed, the processor may change a color of the cursor <NUM> while individually displaying the bubble UI <NUM>' at both ends of the cursor <NUM> in the text selection mode in which multiple characters are selected to inform the user that the selection of the text is completed. The processor may determine that the movement of the cursor <NUM> in the text selection mode is completed as the user's touch is released.

In addition, when the text selection is completed, the processor may display a pop-up menu <NUM> displaying a link operation menu. The pop-up menu <NUM> may include at least one of menus such as select all, cut, copy, share, and more,.

The processor may identify the end of the use of a touch pad UI, such as an input for selecting an icon or menu for entering a keyboard UI mode, a release of a touch input, or a lapse of a certain time after the release of the touch input, thus again finishing display of the touch pad UI and again displaying the keyboard UI.

Hereinafter, a touch pad UI mode of an electronic device according to an embodiment will be described in greater detail with reference to <FIG>. A description for the same configuration as the embodiment described above may not be repeated.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example method for entering a touch pad UI mode of an electronic device according to an embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, an electronic device according to an embodiment may display a keyboard UI <NUM>. The keyboard UI <NUM> may include a space key <NUM>. The processor may determine whether there is a long press input on the space key <NUM>. The processor may display a current user's touch <NUM> on the keyboard UI <NUM>.

The processor may display a UI <NUM> for entering the touch pad UI mode on the upper side of the space key <NUM> when there is a long press input on the space key <NUM>. The processor may determine whether there is a slide input <NUM>' in the UI <NUM> for entering the touch pad UI mode. The slide input <NUM>' may be continuous with the long press input on the space key <NUM>. When there is the slide input <NUM>', the processor may enter a touch pad UI <NUM> mode while displaying the touch pad UI <NUM> to be unfolded.

Referring to <FIG>, an electronic device according to an embodiment may display a keyboard UI <NUM>. The keyboard UI <NUM> may include a space key <NUM>. The electronic device may determine whether there is a long press input on the space key <NUM>. The processor may display a location <NUM> of the current user's touch on the keyboard UI <NUM>.

The processor may display an UI <NUM> for entering the touch pad UI mode when there is a long press input on the space key <NUM>. The UI <NUM> for entering the touch pad UI mode may include a slide guide <NUM>. The slide guide <NUM> may inform a user of a location of a slide input.

The processor may enter the touch pad UI mode by displaying the touch pad UI <NUM> when there is the user's slide input <NUM>'in the slide guide <NUM> of the UI <NUM> for entering the touch pad UI mode.

Hereinafter, a text selection mode of a cursor of an electronic device according to an embodiment will be described in greater detail with reference to <FIG>. A description for the same configuration as in the above-described embodiment will be omitted.

Referring to <FIG>, the electronic device may display a current user's touch <NUM> on a touch input area <NUM>, and display reference coordinates <NUM> and a distance threshold area <NUM> centered on the reference coordinates <NUM>. The electronic device may display a cursor <NUM> on content <NUM>.

The processor may enter the cursor <NUM> in the text selection mode while displaying a bubble UI <NUM> on one side of a cursor <NUM>' of which the size increases according to an area of a user's touch when an area of the user's touch <NUM> is increased by a threshold value <NUM>' or more, such as when the user performs touch with a greater pressure.

When the user's touch <NUM> moves within the distance threshold area <NUM> at a speed less than a speed threshold value (Vthreshold), the processor may change a size of a cursor <NUM>' in the size change mode based on the direction and movement distance of the user's touch <NUM>.

When the user's touch <NUM> is maintained for a predetermined time at one location, the processor may display a temporary bubble UI <NUM>, which is a UI for selecting an entry into a text selection mode on one side of the cursor <NUM>' in the size change mode.

When there is an input <NUM>' of the user selecting the temporary bubble UI <NUM>, for example, when there is the input <NUM>' of the user selecting entry to the text selection mode, the processor may enter the text selection mode and display a bubble UI <NUM>' on one side of a cursor <NUM> in the text selection mode.

In this example, the user's input <NUM>' selecting the temporary bubble UI <NUM> may, for example, be an operation of dragging the user's touch <NUM> in the direction identical to or corresponding to a direction in which the temporary bubble UI <NUM> is located. When the temporary bubble UI <NUM> is located at the lower side of the cursor <NUM>' in the size change mode, the user's input <NUM>' for selecting the temporary bubble UI <NUM> may be an operation of dragging the user's touch <NUM> toward the lower side of the reference coordinates <NUM>. The movement of the user's touch <NUM> within the distance threshold area <NUM> and the user's input <NUM>' for selecting the temporary bubble UI <NUM> may be a continuous touch in which the touch is not interrupted in the middle.

Claim 1:
An electronic device (<NUM>) comprising:
a display device (<NUM>) including a touch sensor (<NUM>); and
a processor (<NUM>) electrically connected to the touch sensor (<NUM>) and the display device (<NUM>),
wherein the processor (<NUM>) is configured to control the electronic device (<NUM>) to:
display content and a cursor on a first area of the display device (<NUM>),
display a touch pad user interface (<NUM>) configured to receive a touch input on a second area of the display device (<NUM>), and
control the cursor on the first area based on the touch input received through the touch pad user interface (<NUM>) displayed on the second area,
wherein the processor (<NUM>) is configured to control the electronic device (<NUM>) to
control the cursor to move one space in a direction corresponding to a movement direction of the touch input based on identifying that a movement speed (Vmove) of the touch input is less than a speed threshold value (Vthreshold) and a movement distance (Dmove) of the touch input is greater than or equal to a first distance threshold value (Dthreshold1);
control the cursor to move a plurality of spaces in a direction corresponding to a movement direction of the touch input based on identifying that the movement speed (Vmove) of the touch input is greater than or equal to the speed threshold value (Vthreshold) and the movement distance (Dmove) of the touch input is greater than or equal to a second distance threshold value (Dthreshold2) ;
change a size of the cursor based on identifying that the movement speed (Vmove) of the touch input is less than a speed threshold value (Vthreshold) and a movement distance (Dmove) of the touch input is less than the first distance threshold value (Dthreshold1), wherein a width of the cursor is changed in proportion to a horizontal movement distance of the movement distance (Dmove) of the touch input, and a height of the cursor is changed in proportion to a vertical movement distance of the movement distance of the touch input; and
enter a text selection mode for displaying a selection area in which at least a part of the content is selected based on movement of the cursor by identifying that the size of the cursor is maintained in a changed state for a threshold time.