U.S. patent application number 10/829791 was filed with the patent office on 2005-01-27 for method and communication terminal apparatus for displaying function in communication.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Jin, Jeong-Gyu.
Application Number | 20050020306 10/829791 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33487933 |
Filed Date | 2005-01-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050020306 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jin, Jeong-Gyu |
January 27, 2005 |
Method and communication terminal apparatus for displaying function
in communication
Abstract
A method and communication terminal apparatus for displaying a
function in communication is disclosed that includes a display
unit, a memory unit for storing and managing operation information
including an additional function information and a function list in
communication provided by the communication terminal apparatus. A
main processing unit automatically reads the function list in
communication stored in the memory unit and displays the list on
the display unit when an operation mode of the communication
terminal apparatus changes from a communication waiting mode to a
communication mode. In the communication terminal apparatus, when
an operation mode of the communication terminal apparatus changes
to a communication mode, a function list in communication stored in
advance is automatically read and then displayed. Accordingly, in
the communication terminal apparatus, a function in communication
is automatically informed to a user, and therefore, users can use
the function in communication more conveniently.
Inventors: |
Jin, Jeong-Gyu; (Suwon-si,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DILWORTH & BARRESE, LLP
333 EARLE OVINGTON BLVD.
UNIONDALE
NY
11553
US
|
Assignee: |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO.,
LTD.
GYEONGGI-DO
KR
|
Family ID: |
33487933 |
Appl. No.: |
10/829791 |
Filed: |
April 22, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
455/557 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/04842 20130101;
G06F 3/04817 20130101; H04M 1/72469 20210101; H04M 1/72484
20210101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/557 |
International
Class: |
H04B 001/38 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 21, 2003 |
KR |
49849/2003 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A communication terminal apparatus including a display unit, the
communication terminal apparatus comprising: a memory unit for
storing and managing operation information including an additional
function information and a function list in communication; and a
main processing unit for automatically reading the function list in
communication stored in the memory unit and displaying the list on
the display unit, when an operation mode of the communication
terminal apparatus changes from a communication waiting mode to a
communication mode.
2. The communication terminal apparatus of claim 1, wherein the
main processing unit displays the function list in communication in
a type selected from among a text type and an icon type.
3. The communication terminal apparatus of claim 1, wherein the
main processing unit displays the function list in communication
during a predetermined display time and deletes the function list
on the display unit in communication after expiration of the
predetermined display time.
4. The communication terminal apparatus of claim 1, wherein the
main processing unit periodically displays the function list in
communication according to a predetermined display time
interval.
5. The communication terminal apparatus of claim 1, wherein the
main processing unit further comprises an input unit for receiving
a control command of a user and modifies the function list in
communication on the basis of the control command of the user
inputted through the input unit.
6. The communication terminal apparatus of claim 5, wherein the
main processing unit reads the additional function information
stored in the memory unit in response to the user's command to add
in-communication functions, provides the additional function
information to the user, and adds a corresponding item to the
function list in communication on the basis of information selected
by the user.
7. The communication terminal apparatus of claim 5, wherein the
main processing unit deletes a corresponding item from the function
list in communication in response to a command from the user to
delete the item.
8. The communication terminal apparatus of claim 1, wherein the
function list in communication includes sending a self number.
9. The communication terminal apparatus of claim 1, wherein the
function list in communication includes sending a dual tone
multi-frequency (DTMF).
10. The communication terminal apparatus of claim 1, wherein the
function list in communication includes a call shift.
11. The communication terminal apparatus of claim 1, wherein the
function list in communication includes a call holding.
12. The communication terminal apparatus of claim 1, wherein the
function list in communication includes a transmission sound
interception.
13. A method for displaying a function in communication of a
communication terminal apparatus including a display unit, the
method comprising the steps of: when an operation mode of the
communication terminal apparatus changes to a communication mode,
automatically reading a stored function list in communication; and
displaying the function list in communication on the display
unit.
14. The method for displaying a function in communication of a
communication terminal apparatus of claim 13, wherein the function
list in communication is displayed in a type selected from among a
text type or an icon type.
15. The method for displaying a function in communication of a
communication terminal apparatus of claim 13 wherein the function
list in communication is displayed during a predetermined display
time and the function list in communication is deleted on the
display unit after expiration of the predetermined display
time.
16. The method for displaying a function in communication of a
communication terminal apparatus of claim 13 wherein the function
list in communication is periodically displayed according to a
predetermined display time interval.
17. The method for displaying a function in communication of a
communication terminal apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a
step of modifying the function list in communication according to a
control command of a user.
18. The method for displaying a function in communication of a
communication terminal apparatus of claim 17, wherein the modifying
step further comprises: reading additional function information
stored in advance in response to the user's command to add an
additional function in communication and providing the additional
function information to the user; and adding a corresponding item
to the function list in communication on the basis of information
selected by the user.
19. The method for displaying a function in communication of a
communication terminal apparatus of claim 18, wherein a
corresponding item is deleted from the function list in
communication in response to a command from the user to delete the
item.
20. The method for displaying a function in communication of a
communication terminal apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a
step of performing a function selected by a user.
21. The method for displaying a function in communication of a
communication terminal apparatus of claim 13, further comprises
performing the function selected by user in communication.
Description
PRIORITY
[0001] This application claims priority to an application entitled
"Method and Communication Terminal Apparatus For Displaying
Function In Communication" filed in the Korean Industrial Property
Office on Jul. 21, 2003 and assigned Serial No. 2003-49849, the
contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a method and communication
terminal apparatus for displaying a function in communication, more
particularly to a method and communication terminal apparatus
capable of displaying and selecting functions which can be
performed in communication.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] In general, a communication terminal apparatus such as a
portable telephone or a wire/wireless telephone provides functions
which can be performed in communication (hereinafter, referred to
as `function in communication`). For instance, the function list in
communication may include a telephone directory, a
transmission/reception volume control, a transmission sound
interception (i.e. "mute") and a key sound control.
[0006] However, conventional communication terminals do not
positively inform a user of such a function in communication. For
instance, in order to use the function in communication, a user
calling by means of the conventional communication terminal must
display menus with respect to the function in communication through
a separate key operation. Then, the user must select a desired
function in communication from among the menus displayed by the
result of the key operation.
[0007] FIG. 1 is an exemplary view regarding a screen in
communication of a conventional portable telephone. Referring to
FIG. 1, a portable telephone in communication displays an antenna
bar representing a reception intensity of the portable telephone, a
communication state, a power state of the portable telephone, a
communication time of a corresponding communication and a telephone
number of a counterpart. FIG. 1 shows, as an example, a portable
telephone that includes a display unit for displaying items as
described above.
[0008] That is, in the prior art, since the communication terminals
in communication displays only communication information with
respect to a corresponding communication, users can't conveniently
use or readily be informed of function in communication.
Furthermore, there have been users who have not known the function
in communication itself. Therefore, there have been many users who
are unable to effectively use such communication terminal
apparatuses.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve
the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art, and a
primary object of the present invention is to provide a method and
a communication terminal apparatus, which enable a user to
effectively use the communication terminal apparatus.
[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
method and a communication terminal apparatus, which enable users
to conveniently use a function in communication.
[0011] In order to accomplish the aforementioned objects, according
to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a
communication terminal apparatus comprising: a memory unit for
storing and managing operation information including an additional
function information and a function list in communication; and a
main processing unit for automatically reading the function list in
communication stored in the memory unit and displaying the list on
the display unit, when an operation mode of the communication
terminal apparatus changes from a communication waiting mode to a
communication mode.
[0012] In order to accomplish the aforementioned objects, according
to an embodiment of the present, there is also provided a method
for displaying a function in communication of a communication
terminal apparatus comprising the steps of: (1) when an operation
mode of the communication terminal apparatus changes to a
communication mode, automatically reading a function list in
communication stored in advance; and (2) displaying the read
function list in communication on the display unit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the
present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[0014] FIG. 1 is an exemplary view regarding a screen in
communication of a conventional portable telephone;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a construction of a
communication terminal apparatus according to an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a display method of a
function in communication of a communication terminal apparatus
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for displaying a
function in communication in a communication terminal apparatus
according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0018] FIGS. 5a and 5b are exemplary views regarding a screen in
communication of a portable telephone according to an embodiment of
the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0019] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments according to the present
invention will be described with reference to the accompanying
drawings. In the following description of the present invention, a
detailed description of known functions and configuration
incorporated herein are omitted to avoid making the subject matter
of the present invention unclear.
[0020] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a construction of a
communication terminal apparatus, which displays a function in
communication, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 2, the communication terminal 100 according to an
embodiment of the present invention includes a main processor 110,
a display unit 120, an input unit 130, a memory 140, a speaker unit
150 and a communication interface unit 160.
[0021] The input unit 130 and the speaker unit 150 provide an
interface between the communication terminal 100 and a user, and
they are commonly included in general communication terminal
apparatuses, such as a wire/wireless telephone or a portable
telephone, together with a microphone unit (not shown).
Accordingly, a detailed description regarding the input unit 130
and the speaker unit 150 is omitted.
[0022] The display unit 120 displays an operation state of the
communication terminal 100 and an input item provided from a user,
and particularly displays communication information when the
communication terminal 100 is on line.
[0023] The communication interface unit 160 provides a
communication interface between the communication terminal 100 and
an outside network connection device (not shown). Herein, the
outside network connection device supports a call service between a
communication terminal apparatus and a network, such as a telephone
exchange in a public switched telephone network and a base station
in a mobile telephone network. A detailed description regarding the
outside network connection device is omitted.
[0024] The memory 140 stores and manages operation information
including basic operation information, additional function
information and a function list in communication. Herein, the basic
operation information are information for supporting a call service
function which is an inherent function of the communication
terminal 100. The additional function information are services,
such as an alarm, a morning call or a telephone directory, which
can be provided by the communication terminal 100 in addition to
the call service function. The function list in communication is a
list for items of functions (so-called "in-communication
functions") which can be selected and performed from among the
additional functions while the communication terminal 100 is in
communication. Herein, the function in communication may include a
telephone directory, a transmission/reception volume control, a
transmission sound interception (i.e. "mute") and a key sound
control, a transmission of self number, a call shift, a call
holding, conference call, call recording, Dual Tone Multi-Frequency
(DTMF), memo, etc. A transmission of self number is used to send
the self number. DTMF is used to send the number inputted by the
user as a DTMF tone signal. A call shift is used to connect an
incoming call and hold with an current call.(i.e. shift between a
current call and an incoming call). A call holding is used to hold
a current call.
[0025] In order to perform such functions, the memory 140 includes
a basic operation information storage 142 for storing and managing
the basic operation information, an additional function information
storage 144 for storing and managing the additional function
information, and a function list in communication storage 146 for
storing and managing the function list in communication.
[0026] The main processor 110 preferably controls the entire
operation of the communication terminal 100. Particularly, when an
operation mode of the communication terminal 100 changes from a
communication waiting mode to a communication mode, the main
processor 110 reads a menu (hereinafter, a menu in communication)
capable of selecting the function in communication from the
function list in communication storage 146 and displays the menu on
the display unit 120.
[0027] Further, the main processor 110 may modify the function list
in communication on the basis of an operation signal of a user
inputted through the input unit 130. For instance, the main
processor 110 deletes an item, which a user wants to delete, from
among items included in a predetermined function list in
communication, and the main processor 110 adds an item, which a
user wants to add, to a predetermined function list in
communication. Particularly, for additional modification of the
function list in-communication, the main processor 110 reads an
item, which can be added to the function list in communication,
from the additional function information storage 144 and provides
the item to a user.
[0028] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a display method of a
function in communication of a communication terminal 100 according
to an embodiment of the present invention. In the example in FIG.
3, a network connection device for supporting a call service
between the communication terminal 100 and a network is shown as a
base station (or an exchange) (hereinafter, referred to as a base
station 200).
[0029] Referring to FIG. 3, when the communication terminal 100
having received a call request (S110) from the base station 200
responds with respect to the request (S120), a call-set up for
calling is performed between the communication terminal 100 and the
base station 200 (S130). Through steps S110 to S130, a general
call-set up process was briefly described, but a call-set up
process is not limited to the method exemplified in FIG. 3.
[0030] Next, when the call-set up is performed between the
communication terminal 100 and the base station 200 through the
aforementioned steps, an operation mode of the communication
terminal 100 changes from a communication waiting mode to a
communication mode. Then, the communication terminal 100 reads an
already stored function list in communication from the function
list in communication storage 146 in the memory 140 and then
displays the list as a menu on the display unit 120 (S140). Herein,
it is preferred that the function list in communication is
displayed by a text type or an icon type.
[0031] Next, when a user selects a desired menu from among the
function list in communication (S150), a function corresponding to
the selection is performed (S160).
[0032] Also, the communication terminal 100 may enable the function
list in communication to be displayed according to a predetermined
display time. For instance, the function list in communication is
displayed just after an operation mode of the communication
terminal 100 changes to a communication mode, but the function list
in communication is displayed during a predetermined display time.
Herein, when information selected by a user is not inputted during
the display time, the communication terminal 100 may enable the
function list in communication to be deleted on a screen. Further,
the communication terminal 100 may enable the function list in
communication to be periodically displayed according to a
predetermined display time interval.
[0033] Further, when a user does not want to display the function
list in communication, the communication terminal 100 may be set
according to information selected by a user so that the
communication terminal 100 does not display the function list in
communication even if an operation mode of the communication
terminal 100 changes to a communication mode.
[0034] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for displaying a
function in communication in a communication terminal apparatus
according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to
FIG. 4, the communication terminal 100 receives a call request
message from an outside network connection device such as a base
station or an exchange (S210) and responds with respect to the
request (S220). As a result of the response, when a call-set up is
performed between the communication terminal 100 and the outside
network connection device (S230), an operation mode of the
communication terminal 100 changes to a communication mode (S240).
That is, the operation mode of the communication terminal 100
changes from a communication waiting mode to a communication mode.
Then, the communication terminal 100 reads a function list in
communication stored in advance from the memory 140 and displays
the function list in communication (S250).
[0035] Further, when a user selects an item that the user wants to
perform from the function list in communication_(S260), a function
corresponding to the selection is performed (S270).
[0036] Further, though not shown in drawings, the communication
terminal 100 can modify the function list in communication on the
basis of request of a user. For instance, according to a user's
command to add/delete the function list in communication, it is
possible that a menu selected by the user is added to the function
list in communication or a corresponding menu is deleted from the
function list in communication.
[0037] FIGS. 5a and 5b are exemplary views regarding a screen in
communication of a portable telephone according to an embodiment of
the present invention. That is, FIGS. 5a and 5b show an example in
which a function list in communication is displayed on a portable
telephone in communication. FIG. 5a shows an example in which the
function list in communication is displayed by a text type and FIG.
5b shows an example in which the function list in communication is
displayed by an icon type.
[0038] In a method and communication terminal apparatus for
displaying a function in communication according to the present
invention, the function in communication is automatically informed
to a user, thereby enabling a user to conveniently use the function
in communication. Accordingly, in the present invention, a user can
effectively use the communication terminal apparatus. Further, a
user can select the function in communication, thereby realizing an
operation environment of a communication terminal apparatus
according to the user's individual preferences.
[0039] While the invention has been shown and described with
reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, it will be
understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form
and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *