Patent ID: 8761748

Claim:
A method of controlling a mobile terminal, the method comprising: assigning at least a first function and a second function to each of one or more variable function keys, the first function corresponding to a first operating mode and the second function corresponding to a second operating mode; performing the first function assigned to a specific one of the one or more variable function keys when the specific one of the one or more variable function keys is input during the first operating mode and performing the second function assigned to the specific one of the one or more variable function keys when the specific one of the one or more variable function keys is input during the second operating mode, wherein the first operating mode comprises a text message writing mode and the second operating mode comprises a text message viewing mode; and performing a fixed function assigned to a specific one of one or more non-variable function keys regardless of an operation mode of the mobile terminal when the specific one of one or more non-variable function keys is input, wherein the one or more non-variable function keys represent character keys of a keypad, wherein the one or more variable function keys represent remaining keys of the keypad other than the character keys of the keypad and comprises a “*” key, wherein performing the first function comprises: displaying an input string generated using the one or more character keys; determining that one of the one or more variable function keys is input while the input string is displayed; dividing the displayed input string into one or more segments in response to the determination; and displaying the segments in a predefined manner if the input string is a number string, the predefined manner representing the one or more segments as a phone number, date or time, and wherein performing the second function comprises: detecting one or more predetermined strings from a text message displayed on a display unit; setting the detected one or more predetermined strings as string links to which a specific operating mode can be linked; displaying the string links as underlined when the specific one of the one or more variable function keys is input during the second operating mode; detecting a touch input received on one of the displayed string links, the touch input for selecting the touched string link; and entering an operation mode corresponding to the selected string link.