U.S. patent application number 13/973399 was filed with the patent office on 2014-02-27 for method of controlling a list scroll bar and an electronic device using the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. The applicant listed for this patent is Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Sung-Joon WON.
Application Number | 20140059482 13/973399 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49084750 |
Filed Date | 2014-02-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140059482 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
WON; Sung-Joon |
February 27, 2014 |
METHOD OF CONTROLLING A LIST SCROLL BAR AND AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE
USING THE SAME
Abstract
A method controls a list scroll bar, including displaying a
partial area of a list having at least one first item, and a first
list scroll bar to scroll the list; expanding and displaying a
first index area having at least one first index corresponding to
the at least one first item in the first list scroll bar;
downscaling a second index area having at least one second index
corresponding to at least one second item different from the at
least one first item and displaying a representative second index
representing the second index area in the first list scroll bar;
and upon detecting a gesture to select the representative second
index, expanding and displaying the second index area in the first
list scroll bar while downscaling the first index area and
displaying a representative first index representing the first
index area in the first list scroll bar.
Inventors: |
WON; Sung-Joon;
(Gyeonggi-do, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. |
Gyeonggi-do |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
Samsung Electronics Co.,
Ltd.
Gyeonggi-do
KR
|
Family ID: |
49084750 |
Appl. No.: |
13/973399 |
Filed: |
August 22, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
715/787 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/04842 20130101;
G06F 3/0488 20130101; G06F 3/0485 20130101; G06F 3/04855
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
715/787 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/0485 20060101
G06F003/0485 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 27, 2012 |
KR |
10-2012-0093915 |
Claims
1. A method of controlling a first list scroll bar, the method
comprising: displaying, on a screen, a partial area of a list that
includes at least one first item formed of at least one of
characters, numbers, and symbols, and the first list scroll bar to
scroll the list; expanding and displaying, on the screen, a first
index area that includes at least one first index corresponding to
the at least one first item in the first list scroll bar;
downscaling at least one second index area that includes at least
one second index corresponding to at least one second item
different from the at least one first item and displaying, on the
screen, a representative second index that represents the second
index area in the first list scroll bar; and in response to
detecting a gesture to select the representative second index,
expanding and displaying, on the screen, the second index area in
the first list scroll bar while downscaling the first index area
and displaying, on the screen, a representative first index that
represents the first index area in the first list scroll bar.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one first index is
sequentially arranged and displayed in the first index area; and
the at least one second index is sequentially arranged and
displayed in the second index area.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one first and second
items include at least one of first language items, second language
items, number items, and symbol items.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: in response to
detecting scrolling across the first index area including the at
least one first index, scrolling and displaying the list according
to the detected scrolling across the first index area; and in
response to detecting scrolling across the second index area
including the at least one second index, scrolling and displaying
the list according to the detected scrolling across the second
index area.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: in response to
detecting a gesture to select one of the at least one first index,
displaying the list by jumping over to the selected first index;
and in response to detecting a gesture to select one of the at
least one second index, displaying the list by jumping over to the
selected second index.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: when expanding and
displaying the first index area, displaying all of the at least one
first index in the first list scroll bar; and when expanding and
displaying the second index area, displaying all of the at least
one second index in the first list scroll bar.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the representative first index is
a first index or a last index among the at least one first index
sequentially arranged in a first predetermined order; and wherein
the representative second index is a first index or a last index
among the at least one second index sequentially arranged in a
second predetermined order.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the gesture is a dragging over
the first index area to the representative second index, or a touch
on the representative second index.
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising: in response to
detecting the gesture to select the representative second index,
expanding and displaying the second index area in a second list
scroll bar different from the first list scroll bar.
10. The method of claim 1, further comprising: if the at least one
first item displayed on the screen is changed to the at least one
second item by scrolling of the list, expanding and displaying the
second index area in the first list scroll bar while downscaling
the first index area and displaying the representative first index
that represents the first index area in the first list scroll
bar.
11. An electronic device having a first list scroll bar, the
electronic device comprising: a display unit for displaying a
screen; a controller for: displaying, on the screen, a partial area
of a list that includes at least one first item formed of at least
one of characters, numbers, and symbols, and the first list scroll
bar to scroll the list; expanding and displaying, on the screen, a
first index area that includes at least one first index
corresponding to the at least one first item in the first list
scroll bar; downscaling at least one second index area that
includes at least one second index corresponding to at least one
second item different from the at least one first item and
displaying, on the screen, a representative second index that
represents the second index area in the first list scroll bar; and
in response to detecting a gesture to select the representative
second index, expanding and displaying, on the screen, the second
index area in the first list scroll bar while downscaling the first
index area and displaying, on the screen, a representative first
index that represents the first index area in the first list scroll
bar; and a storage for storing the at least one first item and the
at least one second item.
12. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the at least one
first index is sequentially arranged and displayed in the first
index area; and the at least one second index is sequentially
arranged and displayed in the second index area.
13. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the at least one
first and second items include at least one of first language
items, second language items, number items, and symbol items.
14. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the controller: in
response to detecting scrolling across the first index area
including the at least one first index, scrolls and displays the
list according to the detected scrolling across the first index
area; and in response to detecting scrolling across the second
index area including the at least one second index, scrolls and
displays the list according to the detected scrolling across the
second index area.
15. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the controller: in
response to detecting a gesture to select one of the at least one
first index, displays the list by jumping over to the selected
first index; and in response to detecting a gesture to select one
of the at least one second index, displays the list by jumping over
to the selected second index.
16. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the controller: when
expanding and displaying the first index area, displays all of the
at least one first index in the first list scroll bar; and when
expanding and displaying the second index area, displays all of the
at least one second index in the first list scroll bar.
17. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the representative
first index is a first index or a last index among the at least one
first index sequentially arranged in a first predetermined order:
and wherein the representative second index is a first index or a
last index among the at least one second index sequentially
arranged in a second predetermined order.
18. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the gesture is a
dragging over the first index area to the representative second
index, or a touch on the representative second index.
19. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the controller, in
response to detecting the gesture to select the representative
second index, expands and displays the second index area in a
second list scroll bar different from the first list scroll
bar.
20. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the controller, if
the at least one first item displayed on the screen is changed to
the at least one second item by scrolling of the list, expands and
displays the second index area in the first list scroll bar while
downscaling the first index area and displaying the representative
first index that represents the first index area in the first list
scroll bar.
Description
CLAIM OF PRIORITY
[0001] This application claims, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119(a),
priority to and the benefit of the earlier filing date of a Korean
Patent Application filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office
on Aug. 27, 2012, and assigned Serial No. 10-2012-0093915, the
entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present disclosure relates generally to an electronic
device, and more particularly, to a control method of scrolling a
list displayed on a screen of the electronic device.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] In the prior art, mobile devices can run many different
applications. The applications may include various kinds of lists.
The list includes at least one item. For example, a music
application can play music in the mobile device. Here, the music
application includes a music list including at least a piece of
music that corresponds to the at least one item.
[0006] In addition, in the prior art, the mobile device provides a
method of scrolling the list. In particular, a mobile device
established with a touchscreen can scroll the list by detecting
dragging or scrolling across the touchscreen displaying the
list.
[0007] The mobile device can also display at least one index on the
screen such that the list may be easily scrolled. The mobile device
can provide a method of quickly scrolling the list to an item that
corresponds to a selected index by detecting the selection of the
index.
[0008] Meanwhile, the list may include the at least one item formed
of a plurality of characters, numbers, or symbols. It is difficult
to generate at least one index or to receive a choice of the at
least one index, because the at least one index corresponding to
the plurality of characters, numbers, or symbols are numerous.
Thus, there is a need for a method of the mobile device for easily
displaying at least one index that corresponds to at least one item
formed of the foregoing plurality of characters, numbers, or
symbols on the screen of the mobile device, and detecting the
choice of the at least one index.
SUMMARY
[0009] The present invention provides a control method of scrolling
a list displayed on a screen of an electronic device.
[0010] The present invention also provides a method of scrolling a
list displayed on a screen using a list scroll bar.
[0011] The present invention further provides a method of
controlling the list scroll bar that includes indexes corresponding
to a plurality of characters, numbers, or symbols.
[0012] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a
method is provided for controlling a list scroll bar, with the
method including: displaying a partial area of a list that includes
at least one first item formed of at least one of characters,
numbers, and symbols, and a first list scroll bar to scroll the
list; expanding and displaying a first index area that includes at
least one first index corresponding to the at least one first item
in the first list scroll bar; downscaling a second index area that
includes at least one second index corresponding to at least one
second item different from the at least one first item and
displaying a representative second index that represents the second
index area in the first list scroll bar; and upon detecting a
gesture to select the representative second index, expanding and
displaying the second index area in the first list scroll bar while
downscaling the first index area and displaying a representative
first index that represents the first index area in the first list
scroll bar.
[0013] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
an electronic device is provided having a list scroll bar, with the
electronic device including: a display unit for displaying a
screen; a controller for displaying a partial area of a list that
includes at least one first item formed of at least one of
characters, numbers, and symbols, and a first list scroll bar to
scroll the list; expanding and displaying a first index area that
includes at least one first index corresponding to the at least one
first item in the first list scroll bar; downscaling a second index
area that includes at least one second index corresponding to at
least one second item different from the at least one first item
and displaying a representative second index that represents the
second index area in the first list scroll bar; and upon detecting
a gesture to select the representative second index, expanding and
displaying the second index area in the first list scroll bar while
downscaling the first index area and displaying a representative
first index that represents the first index area in the first list
scroll bar; and a storage for storing the at least one first item
and the at least one second item.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The above and other features and advantages of the present
invention will become more apparent by describing in detail
exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached
drawings in which:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an electronic device,
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a front view of the electronic device, according
to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a rear view of the electronic device, according to
the exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a flowchart, according to the exemplary embodiment
of the present invention;
[0019] FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D illustrate diagrams representing a
method of controlling a list scroll bar, according to the exemplary
embodiment of the present invention;
[0020] FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D illustrate diagrams representing a
second example, according to the exemplary embodiment of the
present invention;
[0021] FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C and 7D illustrate diagrams representing a
third example, according to the exemplary embodiment of the present
invention;
[0022] FIGS. 8A, 8B, 8C and 8D illustrate diagrams representing a
fourth example, according to the exemplary embodiment of the
present invention;
[0023] FIGS. 9A, 9B, 9C, 9D and 9E illustrate diagrams representing
a fifth example, according to the exemplary embodiment of the
present invention;
[0024] FIG. 10 is a flowchart, according to an alternative
exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0025] FIGS. 11A, 11B, 11C, and 11D illustrate diagrams
representing a method of controlling a list scroll bar, according
to the alternative exemplary embodiment of the present
invention;
[0026] FIGS. 12A, 12B, 12C, 12D and 12E illustrate diagrams
representing a sixth example, according to the exemplary embodiment
of the present invention;
[0027] FIGS. 13A, 13B, 13C and 13D illustrate diagrams representing
a method of controlling a list scroll bar, according to the
alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0028] FIGS. 14A, 14B and 14C illustrate diagrams representing a
seventh example, according to the exemplary embodiment of the
present invention;
[0029] FIG. 15 illustrates a diagram representing an eighth
example, according to the exemplary embodiment of the present
invention;
[0030] FIG. 16 illustrates a diagram representing a ninth example,
according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
and
[0031] FIG. 17 illustrates a diagram representing a tenth example,
according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0032] The invention now will be described more fully hereinafter
with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which illustrative
exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention
may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be
construed as limited to the exemplary embodiments set forth herein;
rather, these exemplary embodiments are provided so that this
disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the
scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers
refer to like elements throughout.
[0033] In the following description, a detailed explanation of
known related functions and constructions may be omitted to avoid
unnecessarily obscuring the subject matter of the present
invention. In addition, terms described herein, which are defined
with reference to the functions of the present invention, may be
implemented differently depending on a user or operator's intention
and practice. Therefore, the terms should be understood on the
basis of the disclosure throughout the specification. The
principles and features of this invention may be employed in varied
and numerous exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope
of the invention.
[0034] Furthermore, although the drawings represent exemplary
embodiments of the invention, the drawings are not necessarily to
scale and certain features may be exaggerated or omitted in order
to more clearly illustrate and explain the present invention.
[0035] Among the terms set forth herein, a terminal, mobile device,
portable device, or electronic device refers to any kind of device
capable of processing data which is transmitted or received to or
from any external entity. The terminal, mobile device, portable
device, or electronic device may display icons or menus on a screen
to which stored data and various executable functions are assigned
or mapped. The terminal, mobile device, portable device, or
electronic device may include a computer, a notebook, a tablet PC,
a cellphone, and the like.
[0036] Among the terms set forth herein, a screen refers to a
display or other output devices which visually display information
to the user, and which optionally are capable of receiving and
electronically processing tactile inputs from a user using a stylo,
a finger of the user, or other techniques for conveying a user
selection from the user to the output devices.
[0037] Among the terms set forth herein, an icon refers to a
graphical element such as a figure or a symbol displayed on the
screen of the device such that a user can easily select a desired
function or data. In particular, each icon has a mapping relation
with any function being executable in the device or with any data
stored in the device and is used for processing functions or
selecting data in the device. When a user selects one of the
displayed icons, the device identifies a particular function or
data associated with the selected icon. Then the device executes
the identified function or displays the identified data.
[0038] Among the terms set forth herein, data refers to any kind of
information processed by the device, including text and/or images
received from any external entities, messages transmitted or
received, and information created when a specific function is
executed by the device.
[0039] It will be understood that, although the terms "first",
"second", "third", etc., may be used herein to describe various
elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these
elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be
limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish
one element, component, region, layer or section from another
element, component, region, layer or section. Thus, a first
element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could
be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section
without departing from the teachings of the present invention.
Descriptions shall be understood as to include any and all
combinations of one or more of the associated listed items when the
items are described by using the conjunctive term "and/or" or the
like.
[0040] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
particular exemplary embodiments only and is not intended to be
limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms "a",
"an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well,
unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further
understood that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising", when
used in this specification, specify the presence of stated
features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components,
but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other
features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or
groups thereof.
[0041] Unless otherwise defined, all terms including technical and
scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly
understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this
invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such
as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be
interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their
meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be
interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly
so defined herein.
[0042] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an electronic device,
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0043] Referring to FIG. 1, the electronic device 100 may be
connected to an external device by using an external device
connection, such as a sub-communication module 130, a connector
165, and an earphone connector jack 167. The "external device" may
include a variety of devices, such as earphones, external speakers,
universal serial bus (USB) memories, chargers, cradles/docks, DMB
antennas, mobile payment related devices, health care devices
(e.g., blood sugar testers), game consoles, vehicle navigation
systems, or the like, which may be removable from the electronic
device 100 and connected thereto via cable. The "external device"
may also include a short range communication device that may be
wirelessly connected to the electronic device 100 via short range
communication, such as BLUETOOTH, a short range wireless
communications technology at the 2.4 GHz band, commercially
available from the BLUETOOTH SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP, INC., Near
Field Communication (NFC), etc., and a wireless communication
device using WI-FI DIRECT, a wireless technology for data exchange
over a computer network, commercially available from the WI-FI
ALLIANCE, a wireless access point (AP), etc. Furthermore, the
external device may include any other device, such as a cell phone,
a smartphone, a tablet PC, a desktop PC, and a server.
[0044] Referring to FIG. 1, the electronic device 100 includes a
display unit which may be a touchscreen 190 and a display
controller which may be a touchscreen controller 195. The
electronic device 100 also includes a controller 110, the mobile
communication module 120, the sub-communication module 130, a
multimedia module 140, a camera module 150, a Global Positioning
System (GPS) module 155, an input/output (I/O) module 160, a sensor
module 170, a storage or memory 175, and a power supply 180. The
sub-communication module 130 includes at least one of a wireless
local area network (WLAN) 131 and a short-range communication
module 132, and the multimedia module 140 includes at least one of
a broadcasting communication module 141, an audio play module 142,
and video play module 143. The camera module 150 includes at least
one of a first camera 151 and a second camera 152; and the
input/output module 160 includes at least one of buttons 161, a
microphone 162, a speaker 163, a vibration motor 164, a connector
165, a keypad 166, and the earphone connector jack 167.
Hereinafter, the display unit 190 and the display controller 195
may be e.g., a touchscreen and a touchscreen controller,
respectively.
[0045] The controller 110 may include a central processing unit
(CPU) 111, a read only memory (ROM) 112 for storing a control
program to control the electronic device 100, and a random access
memory (RAM) 113 for storing signals or data input from an external
source or external device, or for being used as a memory space for
working results in the electronic device 100. The CPU 111 may
include a single core, dual cores, triple cores, or quad cores. The
CPU 111, ROM 112, and RAM 113 may be connected to each other via an
internal bus, represented by the arrows and lines in the controller
110 in FIG. 1.
[0046] The controller 110 may control the mobile communication
module 120, the sub-communication module 130, the multimedia module
140, the camera module 150, the GPS module 155, the input/output
module 160, the sensor module 170, the storage or memory 175, the
power supply 180, the touchscreen 190, and the touchscreen
controller 195.
[0047] The mobile communication module 120 uses at least a
one-to-one antenna or a one-to-more antenna under the control of
the controller 110 to connect the electronic device 100 to an
external device through a mobile communication. The mobile
communication module 120 transmits/receives wireless signals for
voice calls, video conference calls, short message service (SMS)
messages, or multimedia message service (MMS) messages to/from a
cell phone, a smart phone, a tablet PC, or another device, with the
phones having phone numbers entered into the electronic device
100.
[0048] The sub-communication module 130 may include at least one of
the WLAN module 131 and the short-range communication module 132.
For example, the sub-communication module 130 may include either
the WLAN module 131 or the short-range communication module 132, or
both.
[0049] The WLAN module 131 may be connected to the Internet and/or
other networks in a place where there is a wireless access point
(AP), under the control of the controller 110. The WLAN module 131
supports the IEEE's WLAN standard IEEE802.11x. The short-range
communication module 132 may conduct near-field communication
between the electronic device 100 and an image rendering device
under the control of the controller 110. The near-field
communication may be performed using BLUETOOTH, a short range
wireless communications technology at the 2.4 GHz band,
commercially available from the BLUETOOTH SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP,
INC., infrared data association (IrDA), WI-FI DIRECT, a wireless
technology for data exchange over a computer network, commercially
available from the WI-FI ALLIANCE, NFC, etc.
[0050] The electronic device 100 may include at least one of the
mobile communication module 120, the WLAN module 131 and the
short-range communication module 132 based on the performance
requirements of the electronic device 100. For example, the
electronic device 100 may include a combination of the mobile
communication module 120, the WLAN module 131 and the short-range
communication module 132 based on the performance requirements of
the electronic device 100.
[0051] The multimedia module 140 may include the broadcasting
communication module 141, the audio play module 142, or the video
play module 143. The broadcasting communication module 141 may
receive broadcast signals (e.g., television broadcast signals,
radio broadcast signals, or data broadcast signals) and additional
broadcast information (e.g., an electronic program guide (EPG) or
an electronic service guide (ESG)) transmitted from a broadcasting
station through a broadcast communication antenna under the control
of the controller 110. The audio play module 142 may play digital
audio files (e.g., files having audio extensions, such as mp3, wma,
ogg, or way) stored or received under the control of the controller
110. The video play module 143 may play digital video files (e.g.,
files having video extensions, such as mpeg, mpg, mp4, avi, move,
or mkv) stored or received under the control of the controller 110.
The video play module 143 may also play digital audio files.
[0052] The multimedia module 140 may include the audio play module
142 and the video play module 143 and, in alternative embodiments,
may omit the broadcast communication module 141. The audio play
module 142 or video play module 143 of the multimedia module 140
may be included in the controller 110.
[0053] The camera module 150 may include at least one of the first
and second cameras 151 and 152 for capturing still images or video
images under the control of the controller 110. Furthermore, the
first or second camera 151 or 152 may include an auxiliary light
source (e.g., a flash 153, shown in FIG. 3) for providing as much
an amount of light as required for capturing images. The first
camera 151 may be placed on the front of the electronic device 100
and the second camera 152 may be placed on the back of electronic
device 100. In an alternative configuration, the first and second
cameras 151 and 152 are arranged adjacent to each other (e.g., the
distance between the first and second cameras 151 and 152 may be in
the range of 1 cm. to 8 cm.), for capturing 3D still images or 3D
video images.
[0054] The GPS module 155 receives radio signals from a plurality
of GPS satellites in Earth orbit, and may calculate the position of
the electronic device 100 by using times of arrival of the radio
signals from the GPS satellites to the electronic device 100.
[0055] The input/output module 160 may include at least one of the
plurality of buttons 161, the microphone 162, the speaker 163, the
vibration motor 164, the connector 165, the keypad 166, and the
earphone connector jack 167.
[0056] The at least one of the buttons 161 may be arranged on the
front, side, or back of a housing of the electronic device 100, and
may include at least one of a power/lock button, a volume button, a
menu button, a home button, a back button, and a search button, as
shown in more detail in FIGS. 2-3.
[0057] The microphone 162 generates electric signals by converting
received voice or sound under the control of the controller
110.
[0058] The speaker 163 may output sounds externally, with the
sounds corresponding to various signals (e.g., radio signals,
broadcast signals, digital audio files, digital video files or
photography signals) from the mobile communication module 120, the
sub-communication module 130, the multimedia module 140, or the
camera module 150 under the control of the controller 110. The
speaker 163 may output sounds (e.g., button-press sounds or
ringback tones) that correspond to functions performed by the
electronic device 100. There may be one or multiple speakers 163
arranged in an appropriate position or appropriate positions of the
housing of the electronic device 100.
[0059] The vibration motor 164 may convert an electric signal to a
mechanical vibration under the control of the controller 110. For
example, the electronic device 100 in a vibrating mode operates the
vibration motor 164 when receiving a voice call from another
device. There may be one or more vibration motors 164 inside the
housing of the electronic device 100. The vibration motor 164 may
operate in response to a touch activity or continuous touches of a
user over the touchscreen 190.
[0060] The connector 165 may be used as an interface for connecting
the electronic device 100 to the external device or a power source.
Under the control of the controller 110, the electronic device 100
may transmit data stored in the storage or memory 175 of the
electronic device 100 to the external device via a cable connected
to the connector 165, or may receive data from the external device.
Furthermore, the electronic device 100 may be powered by the power
source via a cable connected to the connector 165 or may charge the
battery, as the power supply 180, with the power source.
[0061] The keypad 166 may receive key inputs from the user to
control the electronic device 100. The keypad 166 includes a
physical keypad formed in the electronic device 100, or a virtual
keypad displayed on the touchscreen 190. The mechanical keypad
formed in the electronic device 100 may be, in an alternative
embodiment, omitted from the electronic device 100, depending on
the performance requirements or the structure of the electronic
device 100.
[0062] An earphone may be inserted into the earphone connector jack
167 and thus connected to the electronic device 100.
[0063] The sensor module 170 includes at least one sensor for
detecting a status of the electronic device 100. For example, the
sensor module 170 may include a proximity sensor for detecting
proximity of a user to the electronic device 100; an illumination
sensor for detecting an amount of ambient light of the electronic
device 100; a motion sensor for detecting any motion of the
electronic device 100 (e.g., a rotation of the electronic device
100, an acceleration or a vibration applied to the electronic
device 100); a geomagnetic sensor for detecting a direction using
the geomagnetic field of the Earth; a gravity sensor for detecting
a direction of gravity; and an altimeter for detecting an altitude
of the electronic device 100 by measuring, for example, atmospheric
pressure. At least one sensor may detect the status and generate a
corresponding signal to be transmitted to the controller 110. The
sensor of the sensor module 170 may be added or removed depending
on the performance requirements of the electronic device 100.
[0064] The storage or memory 175 may store signals or data
input/output according to operations of the mobile communication
module 120, the sub-communication module 130, the multimedia module
140, the camera module 150, the GPS module, the input/output module
160, the sensor module 170, and the touchscreen 190 under the
control of the controller 110. The storage or memory 175 may store
data as well as the control programs and applications for
controlling the electronic device 100 or the controller 110.
[0065] The term "storage" refers to not only the storage or memory
175, but also the ROM 112 and the RAM 113 in the controller 110, or
a memory card (e.g., an SD card, a memory stick) installed in the
electronic device 100. The storage or memory 175 may also include a
non-volatile memory, a volatile memory, a hard disc drive (HDD), or
a solid state drive (SSD).
[0066] The power supply 180 may supply power to one or more
batteries arranged inside the housing of the electronic device 100
under the control of the controller 110. The one or more batteries
power the electronic device 100. The power supply 180 may supply
the electronic device 100 with the power input from the external
power source via a cable connected to the connector 165. The power
supply 180 may also supply the electronic device 100 with wireless
power from an external power source based on a wireless charging
technology.
[0067] The display unit 190 may display a screen of the electronic
device 100. The display unit 190 may be the touchscreen, and may
provide the user with a user interface for various services (e.g.,
call, data transmission, broadcasting, and photography services).
The touchscreen 190 may send an analog signal, corresponding to at
least one touch input to the user interface, to the touchscreen
controller 195. The touchscreen 190 may receive the at least one
touch from user's physical contact (e.g., with fingers including
the thumb), or via a touchable input device (e.g., a stylus pen).
The touchscreen 190 may receive consecutive moves of the at least
one input touch. The touchscreen 190 may send an analog signal
corresponding to the consecutive moves of the input touch to the
touchscreen controller 195.
[0068] Here, the touch is not limited to the user's physical
contact or the touchable input device, and may include non-touches.
The detectable distance from the touchscreen 190 may vary depending
on the performance requirements or structure of the electronic
device 100.
[0069] The touchscreen 190 may be implemented by, e.g., a resistive
type, a capacitive type, an infrared type, or an acoustic wave type
touchscreen known in the art.
[0070] The touchscreen controller 195 converts the analog signal
received from the touchscreen 190 to a digital signal (e.g., XY
coordinates) and transmits the digital signal to the controller
110. The controller 110 may control the touchscreen 190 by using
the digital signal received from the touchscreen controller 195.
For example, in response to the touch, the controller 110 may
enable a shortcut icon displayed on the touchscreen 190 to be
selected or to be executed. The touchscreen controller 195 may also
be incorporated in the controller 110.
[0071] FIG. 2 is a front view of the electronic device 100,
according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a rear view of the electronic device 100, according to
the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0072] Referring to FIG. 2, the touchscreen 190 is arranged in the
center of the front face 100a of the electronic device 100. The
touchscreen 190 is formed to be large enough to occupy most of the
front face 100a of the apparatus implementing the electronic device
100. In FIG. 2, the touchscreen 190 shows an example of displaying
a main home screen. The main home screen may be a first screen to
be displayed on the touchscreen 190 when the electronic device 100
is powered on. In a case that the electronic device 100 has
multiple pages of different home screens, the main home screen may
be the first of the home screens. In the main home screen, shortcut
icons 191-1, 191-2, 191-3 for running frequently-used applications,
as well as a main menu key 191-4, a time indicator, a weather
indicator, etc. may be displayed. If selected, the main menu key
191-4 displays a menu screen on the touchscreen 190. In an upper
part of the touchscreen 190, there may be a status bar 192 in which
statuses of the electronic device 100, such as a battery charging
state, intensity of received signals, current time, etc. are
displayed.
[0073] In a lower part of the touchscreen 190, there may be a home
button 161a, a menu button 161b, and a back button 161c arranged to
be conveniently selected while holding the electronic device
100.
[0074] When selected, the home button 161a displays the main home
screen on the touchscreen 190. For example, if the home key 161a is
touched while any home screen other than the main home screen or a
menu screen is displayed in the touchscreen 190, the main home
screen may be displayed on the touchscreen 190. Furthermore, while
applications are running on the touchscreen 190, if the home button
161a is touched, the main home screen, as shown in FIG. 2, may be
displayed on the touchscreen 190. The home button 161a may also be
used to display recently used applications or a task manager on the
touchscreen 190.
[0075] The menu button 161b provides a link menu that may be used
on the touchscreen 190. The link menu may include a widget addition
menu, a background change menu, a search menu, an edit menu, an
environment setting menu, etc.
[0076] A back button 161c, when touched, may display a screen that
was displayed right before a current screen was displayed, or may
end a most recently used application.
[0077] On at least one edge of the front face 100a of the
electronic device 100, shown in FIG. 2, the first camera 151, the
illumination sensor 170a, and the proximity sensor 170b may be
arranged. On the back 100c of the electronic device 100, shown in
FIG. 3, the second camera 152, the flash 153, and the speaker 163
may be arranged.
[0078] Referring to FIGS. 2-3, on at least one side 100b of the
electronic device 100, e.g., a power/reset button 161d, a volume
button 161e with a volume-up button 161f and a volume-down button
161g, a terrestrial DMB antenna 141a for broadcast reception, one
or more microphones 162, etc. may be arranged. The DMB antenna 141a
may be fixed to the electronic device 100, or may be removably
arranged.
[0079] On at least one lower side of the electronic device 100,
shown in FIG. 3, the connector 165 and the microphone 162 are
arranged. The connector 165 has at least one electrode or jack, and
may be connected to an external apparatus via a cable. On at least
one upper side of the electronic device 100 shown in FIGS. 2-3, the
earphone connector jack 167 may be positioned. The earphone
connector jack 167 may receive a plug of an external earphone.
[0080] FIG. 4 is a flowchart, according to the exemplary embodiment
of the present invention. FIGS. 5A-5D illustrate diagrams
representing a method of controlling a list scroll bar, according
to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0081] Referring both FIGS. 4 and 5A-5D, first, the method of
controlling the list scroll bar 230 includes displaying a partial
area of a list and a first list scroll bar 230, in step S100. The
controller 110 of the electronic device 100 may display the partial
area of the list including at least one item formed of at least one
of characters, numbers, and symbols, and the first list scroll bar
for scrolling the list on the touchscreen 190 of the electronic
device 100.
[0082] The electronic device 100 may store the at least one item.
The at least one item may be included in the list. The at least one
item included in the list is stored in the electronic device 100.
For example, a contacts list may include at least one contact
corresponding to the at least one item. In other words, the at
least one contact, e.g., 200 contacts stored by a user may be
included in the contacts list and may be stored in the electronic
device 100. The contacts may be formed of at least one of
characters, numbers, and symbols. For example, a contact called ""
may be formed from characters and symbols in Korean alphabets, such
as Hangul. There may be another contact called "1st street shop",
consisting of an Arabic number `1` and English characters. There
may be a further contact called "#kind", consisting of a symbol "#"
and English characters. In another example, the list may be an
applications list including at least one application, which may be
operated or executed by the controller 110, as at least one item.
In other words, at least one application, e.g., 50 applications
stored by a user may be included in the applications list and may
be stored in the electronic device 100. The identifiers of
applications, such as titles or file names, may be formed of at
least one of characters, numbers, and symbols. For example, an
application called "note" may be formed of English characters.
Another application called " 2" may be formed of Korean characters
"" and a number "2". In another example, the list may be a music
list including at least one piece of music as the at least one
item. In other words, at least one piece of music, e.g., 150 pieces
of music stored by a user may be included in the music list and be
stored in the electronic device 100. The at least one piece of
music may be formed of at least one of characters, numbers, and
symbols. For example, a piece of music called or identified as
"Girl" may be formed of English characters. Another piece of music
called or identified as "track 1" may be formed of English
characters and a number "1". There may be a further piece of music
called "#OASIS", consisting of a symbol "#" and English characters
"OASIS".
[0083] The at least one item may be sequentially arranged in the
list. The at least one item consisting of at least one of
characters, numbers, and symbols may be arranged in the list in the
sequence of characters, numbers, or symbols. The order of the
sequence may be determined in advance. For example, the order may
be in Korean (consonant and vowel) alphabetical order, English
alphabetical order, or numerical order. The at least one item may
be sequentially arranged depending on a first character of the at
least one item. For example, the at least one item may be
sequentially arranged in Korean alphabetical order, English
alphabetical order, or numerical order of the first letter of the
at least one item. For example, if the list has items "Bob",
"Alice", and "Charlie", the items of the list may be arranged in
the alphabetical order of the first letters `a`, `b`, and `c` of
the items, i.e., in the order of "Alice", "Bob", and "Charlie". In
another example, if the list has items "", "", and "", the items of
the list may be arranged in the Korean alphabetical order of the
first letters ``, ``, and `` of the items, i.e., in the order of
"", "", and "". In a further example, if the list has items
"23lady", "34", and "1 jason", the items of the list may be
arranged in the numerical order of the first letters `1`, `2`, and
`3` of the items, i.e., in the order of "1 jason", "23lady", and
"34". Furthermore, if the list has items "#plus", "+nice", and
"-jay", the items of the list may be arranged in a rule of the
symbolic order of the first symbols or characters `+`, `-`, and `#`
of the items, i.e., in the order of "+nice", "-jay", and
"#plus".
[0084] The at least one item may correspond to any of a first
language item, a second language item, a number item, or a symbol
item based on its first letter, character, number, or symbol. For
example, at least one first language item may be at least one first
item with the first letter in Korean (or beginning with a Korean
letter). In other words, the at least one first language item may
be an item with the first letter in Korean (or beginning with a
Korean letter), such as "", "", or "". At least one second language
item may be at least one second item with the first letter in
English (or beginning with an English letter). In other words, the
at least one second language item may be an item with the first
letter in English (or beginning with an English letter), such as
"Alice", "Bob", or "Charlie". The at least one number item may be
at least one third item with the first letter of a numeric value
(or beginning with a number). In other words, the at least one
number item may be an item with the first letter of a numeric value
(or beginning with a number), such as "1 jason", "23lady", or "34".
The at least one symbol item may be at least one fourth item with a
symbol for the first letter (or beginning with a symbol). In other
words, the at least one symbol item may be an item with a symbol
for the first letter (or beginning with a symbol), such as "+nice",
"-jay", or "#plus". The at least one number or symbol item may be
at least one fifth item with a number or symbol for the first
letter (or beginning with a number or symbol). In other words, the
at least one number or symbol item may be an item with a number or
symbol for the first letter (or beginning with a number or symbol),
such as "1nice", "7jay", or "#plus".
[0085] The controller 110 may generate at least one index
corresponding to the at least one item based on the first letter of
the at least one item. For example, if first items are "", "", and
"" consisting of Korean alphabets, the controller 110 may generate
first indexes "", "", and "" corresponding to the first items. If
second items are "Alice", "Bob", and "Charlie" consisting of
English alphabets, the controller 110 may generate second indexes
"A", "B", and "C" corresponding to the second items. If third items
are "1 jason", "23lady", and "34" including numbers, the controller
110 may generate third indexes "1", "2", and "3" corresponding to
the third items. If fourth items are "+nice", "-jay", and "#plus"
including symbols, the controller 110 may generate fourth indexes
"+", "-", and "#" corresponding to the fourth items.
[0086] The list may be displayed on the touchscreen 190 of the
electronic device 100. That is, the controller 110 of the
electronic device 100 may control the list to be displayed on the
touchscreen 190. In this regard, the controller 110 may display the
at least one item included in the list on the touchscreen 190. As
described above, the at least one item may be sequentially arranged
in the list.
[0087] Only a partial area of the list may be displayed on the
touchscreen 190 depending on the number of the at least one item.
That is, there may be an instance that not all of the at least one
item may be displayed depending on a size of an area in which each
of the at least one item is to be displayed. For example, there may
be an instance that only 10 of the at least one item of a total of
200 items are displayed on the touchscreen 190 due to the limit of
the screen size. In other words, in the case of displaying only 10
items on the touchscreen 190 depending on each size of the at least
one item, only the partial area containing the 10 items of the list
is displayed on the touchscreen 190 and the remaining 190 items may
not be displayed on the touchscreen 190.
[0088] The controller 110 may display the at least one index
corresponding to the at least one item on the touchscreen 190. As
described above, the controller 110 may generate the at least one
index corresponding to the at least one item, and the controller
110 may display the generated at least one index on the touchscreen
190. The controller 110 may sequentially arrange the at least one
item in the list and display the list on the touchscreen 190, and
may also sequentially arrange the at least one index corresponding
to the sequentially arranged at least one item and display the at
least one index on the touchscreen 190. The controller 110 may
display at least one first index corresponding to the at least one
first item (e.g., the first language) and at least one second index
corresponding to the at least one second item (e.g., the second
language) on the touchscreen 190, simultaneously. The at least one
first index may be sequentially displayed on the touchscreen 190
according to the sequentially arranged at least one first item, and
the at least one second index may be sequentially displayed on the
touchscreen 190 according to the sequentially arranged at least one
second item.
[0089] The controller 110 may display an index area including the
at least one index in the list scroll bar. The index area includes
the at least one index, and the list scroll bar includes at least
one index area and may be displayed in a bar shape on the
touchscreen 190. In other words, a first index area including at
least one first index that corresponds to the at least one first
item (e.g., the first language) and a second index area including
at least one second index that corresponds to the at least one
second item (e.g., the second language) may be displayed in the
list scroll bar.
[0090] The controller 110 may detect scrolling across or up or down
the list scroll bar and control the list to be scrolled according
to the detected scrolling. The controller 110 may detect scrolling
across the index area included in the list scroll bar and control
the list to be scrolled accordingly. In other words, the controller
110 may detect scrolling across indexes included in the index area
and then scrolls the list to display items corresponding to the
indexes. In this case, the controller 110 may scroll the list to
display a partial area of the list that includes first items having
letters starting with the index. For example, upon detecting
scrolling across indexes `` to ``, the controller 100 scrolls the
list from a partial area of the list including first items starting
with `` to a partial area including first items starting with
``.
[0091] Detecting a gesture to select an index included in the list
scroll bar, the controller 110 may control the list to jump over to
the items having first letters starting with the selected index.
That is, the controller 110 may detect the gesture to select the
index included in the list scroll bar and then control the list to
jump to and display a partial area of the list including the items
having first letters starting with the selected index. For example,
if a gesture to select an index `` is detected by the controller
110 while items having first letters starting with an index `` are
displayed on the touchscreen 190, the controller 110 may jump to a
partial area of the list including first items having letters
starting with the index `` and display the partial area on the
touchscreen 190.
[0092] Step S100, described above, may be described in detail with
reference to FIGS. 5A-5D. In FIG. 5A, for example, the touchscreen
190 shows that a contacts application is running in the electronic
device 100. The contacts application includes a contacts list 200.
The contacts list 200 may include at least one item 210. The at
least one item 210 may be at least one contact stored in the
electronic device 100. The at least one contact may be formed of at
least one of characters, numbers, and symbols.
[0093] At least one first item may be at least one first language
item starting with a first language, such as English. At least one
second item may be at least one second language item starting with
a second language, such as Korean. At least one third item may be
at least one number or symbol item starting with a number or
symbol. The contacts list 200 may include the at least one first
language item, the at least one second language item, or the at
least one number or symbol item. The at least one first language
item in the first language, such as English, may start with any of
`A` to `Z`, the at least one second language item in the second
language, such as Korean, may start with any of `` to ``, and the
at least one number or symbol item consisting of numbers or symbols
may start with any of `1` to `#`.
[0094] In FIG. 5A, items 210, indicating C Items 1 to 7 starting
with `C` and items 212 indicating D items 1 to 4 starting with `D`
among the at least one first language item starting with any of `A`
to `Z` are displayed on the touchscreen 190 in sections 220, 222,
respectively. C Item 1 refers to a first item among the at least
one item starting with `C` sequentially arranged in an order.
Specifically, C Item 1 to 7 refer to first to seventh items among
the at least one first language item starting with `c` sequentially
arranged in alphabetical order. In FIG. 5A, C Items 1 to 7 and D
Items 1 to 4 among the first language items of the contacts list
200 are sequentially arranged and displayed in the alphabetical
order on the touchscreen 190. However, not all items included in
the contacts list 200 may be displayed on the touchscreen 190 and
so, only a partial area of the contacts list including C Item 1 to
7 and D Item 1 to 4 among the first language items of the contacts
list 200 is displayed on the touchscreen 190 of FIG. 5A. The
contacts list 200 may also include the at least one second language
item starting with the second language and the at least one number
or symbol item starting with a number or symbol, but, due to the
limit of screen size, the at least one second language item and the
at least one number or symbol item are not displayed on the
touchscreen 190 in FIG. 5A.
[0095] The controller 110 may generate and display the at least one
index corresponding to the at least one item on the touchscreen
190. Since the at least one first language item starts with an
English letter, the controller 110 may generate `A` to `Z` as the
at least one first index corresponding to the at least one first
language item. The controller 110 may display the at least one
first index 240 on the touchscreen 190, as shown in FIG. 5A, with
section indicators 270, 272 indicating the sections 220, 222 of
items 210, 212, respectively. The at least one first index 240 may
be sequentially arranged and displayed in the first index area 250.
In this regard, the at least one first index 240 may be included in
the first index area 250 to be displayed in the list scroll bar
230.
[0096] Since the at least one second language item starts with a
Korean character, the controller 110 may generate `` to `` as the
at least one second index corresponding to the at least one second
language item. The controller 110 may display the at least one
second index on the touchscreen 190, as shown in FIG. 5D. The at
least one second index 340 may be sequentially arranged and
displayed in the second index area 350. In this regard, the at
least one second index 340 may be included in the second index area
350 to be displayed in the list scroll bar 230.
[0097] Since the at least one number or symbol item starts with a
number or symbol, the controller 110 may generate `1` to `#` as the
at least one third index 460 corresponding to the at least one
number or symbol item. The controller 110 may display the at least
one third index 460 on the touchscreen 190, as shown in FIG. 5A.
The at least one third index may be sequentially arranged and
displayed in the third index area 450. In this regard, the at least
one third index 460 may be included in the third index area 450 to
be displayed in the list scroll bar 230.
[0098] The first index area 250, the second index area 350, and the
third index area 450 may come in different colors or different
shapes. For example, the first index area 250 may be displayed in
red on the touchscreen 190; the second index area 350 in blue; and
the third index area 450 in green.
[0099] Next, referring to FIG. 4, the method of controlling the
list scroll bar includes displaying the first index area 250 and
the second index area 350 in the first list scroll bar 230 by
expanding the first index area 250 while downscaling the second
index area 350, in step S110. The controller 110 of the electronic
device 100 may expand and display the first index area 250
including the at least one first index 240 that corresponds to the
at least one first item in the first list scroll bar 230, while
displaying a representative second index 360 in the first list
scroll bar 230 on behalf of the second index area 350 by
downscaling the second index area 350 including the at least one
second index 340 corresponding to the at least one second item,
different from the at least one first item. The controller 110 may
also display a representative third index 460 in the first scroll
bar 230 on behalf of the third index area 450 by downscaling the
third index area 450 including the at least one third index
corresponding to the at least one number or symbol item. When
expanding the first index area 250 for display, the controller 110
may display all of the at least one first index in the list scroll
bar 230, or may display some of the at least one first index in the
list scroll bar 230.
[0100] In other words, the controller 110 may display all of the at
least one first index 240 in the first list scroll bar 230 when
expanding the first index area 250 for display. For example, if the
at least one first index 240 is formed of `A` to `Z` according to
the at least one first language item starting with the first
language, such as English, as shown in FIG. 5A, the controller 110
may display all of the at least one first index `A` to `Z` in the
first index area 250 when expanding and displaying the first index
area 250. On the other hand, the controller 110 may display some of
the at least one first index 240 in the first list scroll bar 230
when expanding the first index area 250 for display. For example,
the controller 110 may display some of the at least one first
index, e.g., A, D, G, K, O, V, and Z, in the first index area 250
when expanding the first index area 250 for display.
[0101] The controller 110 may also display the representative
second index 360 in the first scroll bar 230 on behalf of the
second index area 350 by downscaling the second index area 350
including the at least one second index corresponding to the at
least one second item, different from the at least one first item.
For example, in FIG. 5A, the second index area 350 including the at
least one second index corresponding to the at least one second
language item starting with the second language, such as Korean, is
scaled down and the representative second index 360 is included in
the first list scroll bar 230 on behalf of the second index area
350 and displayed on the touchscreen 190. That is, the at least one
second language item, different from the first language item,
starts with the second language, such as Korean. The controller 110
may generate `` to `` as the at least one second index
corresponding to the at least one second language item. When
scaling down and displaying the second index area 350 in the first
list scroll area 230, the controller 110 may display one of the at
least one second index, e.g., `` as the representative second index
360 in the second index area 350. The representative second index
360 may be the first or the last of the at least one second index
340 sequentially arranged in an order. The second index area 350
including the representative second index 360 may be included in
the first list scroll bar 230 for display. The controller 110 may
also display a representative third index 460 in the first scroll
bar 230 on behalf of the third index area 450 by downscaling the
third index area 450 including the at least one third index
corresponding to the at least one number or symbol item, in the
same way of downscaling the second index area 350.
[0102] Referring to FIG. 5B, upon detecting scrolling across the
first index area 250 including the at least one first index 240,
the controller 110 may scroll the list 200 for display according to
the detected scrolling. Upon detecting scrolling across the second
index area 350 including the at least one second index 340, the
controller 110 may scroll the list for display according to the
direction of the detected scrolling. That is, the controller 110
may detect scrolling across, up, or down the first index area 250
included in the first list scroll bar 230 and scroll the list 200
accordingly. The controller 110 may scroll the list 200 according
to the first index 240 included in the first list scroll bar 230.
In other words, upon detecting scrolling 402 over `F` among the
first indexes, as shown in FIG. 5B, the controller 110 may scroll
the list 200 to a selected section indicator 274, for example, for
the items starting with "F" to display the first language items
starting with `F`. That is, as shown FIG. 5B, upon detecting the
scrolling 402 over `F` among the first indexes, the controller 110
may scroll the list 200 to the at least one first language item 214
starting with `F`. The controller 110 may also display an `F`
section 224 on the touchscreen 190 when the list 200 is scrolled to
display `F` indexes. Furthermore, in case of being able to display
all of the at least one first language item 214 starting with `F`
on the touchscreen 190, the controller 110 may also display at
least one first language item 216 starting with next letter `G` in
the English alphabet and a `G` section 226 on the touchscreen 190.
In addition, upon detecting a gesture to select one of the at least
one first index, the controller 110 may jump over the list 200 to
the selected first index for display. Also, upon detecting a
gesture to select one of the at least one second index, the
controller 110 may jump over the list 200 to the selected second
index. For example, in FIG. 5B, upon detecting a gesture to select
the index `F` among the first indexes, the controller 110 may jump
over the list 200 to the first language items 214 starting with the
selected first index `F` and display the first language items 214
immediately. The gesture may be a touch on the first index. The
touch may be any of e.g., one tap, double taps, and a long
touch.
[0103] Then, the method of controlling the list scroll bar 230
according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention
includes determining whether the gesture to select the
representative second index 360 is detected, in step S120. If no
gesture is detected in step S120, the method loops back to repeat
step S120 until a gesture is detected. Once a gesture is detected,
the method proceeds to step S130. Referring to FIG. 5C, the
controller 110 may detect the gesture 404 to select the
representative second index 360. The gesture may be scrolling from
the first index area 250 to the representative second index 360, or
may be a touch on the representative second index 360. The
representative second index 360 refers to an index that represents
the at least one second index 350 corresponding to the at least one
second language item. In FIG. 5B, the representative second index
360, ``, among the at least one second index, `` to ``, that
correspond to the at least one second language item in the second
language, such as Korean, is displayed on the touchscreen 190.
Thus, the controller 110 may detect whether the representative
second index 360 is selected by detecting a touch on `` displayed
as the representative second index. The controller 110 may detect a
gesture to select the representative third index 460 in the same
way of detecting the gesture to select the representative second
index 360. The gesture may be scrolling from the first index area
250 to the representative third index 460, or may be a touch on the
representative third index 460.
[0104] Next, the method of controlling the list scroll bar 230
includes displaying the first index area 250 and the second index
area 350 in the first list scroll bar 230 by downscaling the first
index area 250 while expanding the second index area 350, in step
S130. Upon detecting the gesture to select the representative
second index 360, the controller 110 may expand and display the
second index area 350 in the first list scroll bar 230, while
downscaling the first index area 250 and displaying the
representative first index 260 in the first list scroll bar 230. In
step S120, as shown in FIG. 5C, upon detecting the gesture to
select the representative second index 360, the controller 110 may
expand and display the second index area 350, as shown in FIG. 5D
while downscaling the first index area 250 for display. That is,
the controller 110 may expand the second index area 350 including
the selected representative second index 360 and display all of the
at least one second index 340 included in the second index area 350
in the first list scroll bar 230. For example, the controller 110
may display `` to ``, that is, all of the at least one second index
340, as shown in FIG. 5D, in the list scroll bar 230. On the other
hand, the controller 110 may display some of the at least one
second index 340 in the first list scroll bar 230 when expanding
the second index area 350 for display. That is, the controller 110
may display some of the at least one second index 340, e.g., ``,
``, ``, ``, and `` included in the second index area 350 in the
first list scroll bar 230.
[0105] On the contrary, the controller 110 downscales the first
index area 250 for display. That is, the controller 110 may
downscale the first index area 250 and display the representative
first index 260 on behalf of the at least one first index, e.g.,
`A` to `Z`, included in the first index area 250. The
representative first index 260 may be the first or the last of the
sequentially arranged at least one first index 240. For example,
the controller 110 may display `A` as the representative first
index 260 of the first index area 250 in the list scroll bar 230,
as shown in FIG. 5D.
[0106] Furthermore, upon detecting the gesture to select the
representative third index 460, the controller 110 may expand and
display the third index area 450 in the first list scroll bar 230,
in the same way of expanding and displaying the second index area
350 in the first list scroll bar 230. In addition, the controller
110 may downscale the first index area 250 and display the
representative first index 260 on behalf of the first index area
250 in the first list scroll bar 230.
[0107] Therefore, the method of controlling the list scroll bar 230
according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention
facilitates scrolling of the list by displaying the plurality of
index areas 250, 350, 450 on the touchscreen 190. In other words,
the present invention takes advantage of each index area included
in the scroll bar 230 to scroll the list by expanding or
downscaling each index area 250, 350, 450. That is, expanding the
each index area 250, 350, 450 to scroll indexes included in the
list scroll bar 230 facilitates quick scrolling of the list by
touching an index included in the expanded index area. To scroll
the list to the second indexes included in the second index area
350 downscaled as in FIGS. 5A-5B, the controller 110 may detect the
gesture to select the representative second index 360 that
represents the second index area 350 and then expand the second
index area 350. A touch or scrolling of a second index included in
the second index area 350 may cause the list 200 to be scrolled to
the second items corresponding to the second index. Thus, in the
case of a list having items starting with a plurality of languages,
e.g., the contacts list having first language items and second
language items in English and Korean, respectively, as shown in
FIGS. 5A-5D, expanding or downscaling of the first index area 250
or the second index area 350 according to the exemplary embodiment
of the present invention facilitates easy scrolling of the contacts
list to display indexes included in the each index area by
expanding or downscaling the first index area 250 or second index
area 350.
[0108] FIGS. 6A-6D illustrate diagrams representing a second
example, according to the exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
[0109] In a method of controlling the list scroll bar 230 according
to the second example of the present invention, in determining
whether there is the gesture to select the representative second
index, the gesture may be scrolling from the first index area 250
to the second index area 350. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 6A-6D,
specifically, in the method of controlling the list scroll bar 230,
a partial area of the list 200 and the first list scroll bar 230
are displayed, in step S100 of FIG. 4. Referring to FIG. 6A, the
contacts list 200 is displayed on the touchscreen 190 of the
electronic device 100. The contacts list 200 may include at least
one first language item starting with a first language, such as
Korean, at least one second language item starting with a second
language, such as English, and at least one number or symbol item
starting with a number or symbol.
[0110] The controller 110 of the electronic device 100 may display
a partial area of the contacts list 200 on the touchscreen 190. In
FIG. 6A, e.g., items 210 starting with a letter `` among the at
least one first language item are displayed. Item 1 refers to a
first item among the at least one first language item starting with
``. The controller 110 may also display a `` section 220 indicating
that items starting with `` are on the touchscreen 190.
[0111] The controller 110 may generate `` to `` as the at least one
first index 240 corresponding to the at least one first language
item starting with a Korean character and display the generated
Korean characters on the touchscreen 190. In addition, the at least
one first index 240 may be included in the first index area 250 to
be displayed in the list scroll bar 230.
[0112] The contacts list 200 may also include at least one second
language item starting with a second language, such as English, and
the controller 110 may display the second index area 350 in the
first list scroll bar 230 by having the second index area include
the at least one second index corresponding to the at least one
second language item.
[0113] The contacts list 200 may also include at least one number
or symbol item starting with a number or symbol, and the controller
110 may display the third index area 450 in the first list scroll
bar 230 by having the third index area 450 include the at least one
third index corresponding to the at least one number or symbol
item.
[0114] Next, referring to FIG. 4, the method of controlling the
list scroll bar includes displaying the first index area 250 and
the second index area 350 in the first list scroll bar 230 by
expanding the first index area 250 while downscaling the second
index area 350, in step S110. When expanding the first index area
250 for display, the controller 110 may display all of the at least
one first index 240 in the list scroll bar 230, or may display some
of the at least one first index 240 in the list scroll bar 230. On
the other hand, the controller 110 may display the representative
second index 360 that represents the second index area 350 in the
first list scroll bar 230 when downscaling the second index area
350 for display. The controller 110 may display the representative
third index 460 that represents the third index area 450 in the
first list scroll bar 230 when downscaling the third index area 450
for display.
[0115] For example, referring to FIG. 6A, when expanding and
displaying the first index area 250 including the at least one
first index that corresponds to the at least one first language
item starting with a Korean character, the controller 110 may
display `` to `` corresponding to all of the at least one first
index 240 in the first index area 250. Also, when expanding and
displaying the first index area 250, the controller 110 may display
some of the at least one first index, ``, ``, ``, ``, and ``, in
the first index area 250. On the contrary, when downscaling the
second index area 350 that includes the at least one second index
corresponding to the at least one second language item starting
with an English letter, the controller 110 may display the
representative second index 360 that represents the second index
area 350 in the second index area 350. For example, referring to
FIG. 6A, the controller 110 may display `A` as the representative
second index 360 among `A` to `Z` indexes that correspond to the at
least one second language item in the second index area 350.
Furthermore, the controller 110 may display `#` as the
representative third index 460 among `1` to `#` indexes that
correspond to the at least one number or symbol item in the third
index area 450. The controller 110 may also display the first index
area 250, the second index area 350, and the third index area 450
in the first list scroll bar 230.
[0116] Then, the method of controlling the list scroll bar 230
according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention
includes determining whether the gesture to select the
representative second index 360 is detected, in step S120. The
controller 110 may detect a gesture 406 as shown in FIG. 6B to
select the representative second index 360, e.g., scrolling from
the first index area 250 to the representative second index 360.
For example, referring to FIG. 6C, the controller 110 may detect
the gesture 408 to select the representative second index 360,
e.g., the scrolling from the first index area 250 to the
representative second index 360. Furthermore, the controller 110
may detect a gesture to select the representative third index 460
in the same way of detecting the gesture to select the
representative second index 360.
[0117] Next, the method of controlling the list scroll bar 230
includes step S130 of displaying the first index area 250 and the
second index area 350 in the first list scroll bar 230 by
downscaling the first index area 250 while expanding the second
index area 350. For example, referring to FIG. 6D, expanding and
displaying the second index area 350 including the at least one
second index that corresponds to the at least one second language
item starting with an English letter, the controller 110 may
display `A` to `Z` corresponding to all of the at least one second
index 340 in the second index area 350. Also, expanding and
displaying the second index area 350, the controller 110 may
display some of the at least one first index, `A`, `F`, `M`, `O`,
and `Z`, in the second index area 350. On the contrary, downscaling
and displaying the first index area 250 that includes the at least
one first index corresponding to the at least one first language
item starting with a Korean character, the controller 110 may
display the representative first index that represents the first
index area 250 in the first index area 250. For example, referring
to FIG. 6D, the controller 110 may display `` as the representative
first index 260 among `` to `` that correspond to the at least one
first language item in the first index area 250. The controller 110
may also display the first index area 250 and the second index area
350 in the first list scroll bar 230. Thus, the controller 110 may
detect the gesture to select the representative second index that
represents the second index area 350 downscaled and displayed in
step S110, and expand the second index area 350 again.
[0118] Furthermore, upon detecting a gesture to select the
representative third index 460, the controller 110 may expand and
display the third index area 450 in the first list scroll bar 230,
in the same way of expanding and displaying the second index area
350 in the first list scroll bar 230.
[0119] According to the second example of the present invention, in
determining whether there is a gesture to select the representative
second index, the gesture may be scrolling from the first index
area 250 to the second index area 350. Thus, detection of the
scrolling across the representative second index may lead to
expansion and display of the second index area 350.
[0120] FIGS. 7A-7D illustrate diagrams representing a third
example, according to the exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
[0121] In a method of controlling the list scroll bar 230 according
to the third example of the present invention, in determining
whether there is a gesture to select the representative second
index, the gesture may be a touch on the representative second
index. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 7A-7D, specifically, in the method
of controlling the list scroll bar 230, a partial area of the list
200 and the first list scroll bar 230 are displayed in step S100.
Referring to FIG. 7A, the contacts list 200 is displayed on the
touchscreen 190 of the electronic device 100. The contacts list 200
may include at least one first language item starting with a first
language, such as English, at least one second language item
starting with a second language, such as Korean, and at least one
number or symbol item starting with a number or symbol.
[0122] The controller 110 of the electronic device 100 may display
a partial area of the contacts list 200 on the touchscreen 190. In
FIG. 7A, e.g., items 210 starting with a letter `C` among the at
least one first language item are displayed. C Item 1 refers to a
first item among the at least one first language item starting with
`C`. The controller 110 may also display a `C` section 220 that
represents items starting with `C` on the touchscreen 190.
[0123] The controller 110 may generate `A` to `Z` as the at least
one first index 240 corresponding to the at least one first
language item starting with an English letter and display the
generated English letters on the touchscreen 190. In addition, the
at least one first index 240 may be included in the first index
area 250 to be displayed in the list scroll bar 230.
[0124] The contacts list 200 may also include at least one second
language item starting with a second language, such as Korean, and
the controller 110 may display the second index area 350 in the
first list scroll bar 230 by having the second index area include
the at least one second index corresponding to the at least one
second language item.
[0125] The contacts list 200 may also include at least one number
or symbol item starting with a number or symbol, and the controller
110 may display the third index area 450 in the first list scroll
bar 230 by having the third index area 450 include the at least one
third index corresponding to the at least one number or symbol
item.
[0126] Next, referring to FIG. 4, the method of controlling the
list scroll bar 230 includes displaying the first index area 250
and the second index area 350 in the first list scroll bar 230 by
expanding the first index area 250 while downscaling the second
index area 350, in step S110. When expanding the first index area
250 for display, the controller 110 may display all of the at least
one first index in the list scroll bar 230, or may display some of
the at least one first index in the list scroll bar 230. On the
other hand, the controller 110 may display the representative
second index 360 that represents the second index area 350 in the
first list scroll bar 230 when downscaling the second index area
350 for display. The controller 110 may display the representative
third index 460 that represents the third index area 450 in the
first list scroll bar 230 when downscaling the third index area 450
for display.
[0127] For example, referring to FIG. 7A, when expanding and
displaying the first index area 250 including the at least one
first index that corresponds to the at least one first language
item starting with an English letter, the controller 110 may
display `A` to `Z` indexes corresponding to all of the at least one
first index 240 in the first index area 250. Also, when expanding
and displaying the first index area 250, the controller 110 may
display some of the at least one first index, `A`, `F`, `M`, `U`,
and `Z`, in the first index area 250. On the contrary, downscaling
and displaying the second index area 350 that includes the at least
one second index corresponding to the at least one second language
item starting with a Korean character, the controller 110 may
display the representative second index that represents the second
index area 350 in the second index area 350. For example, referring
to FIG. 7A, the controller 110 may display `` as the representative
second index 360 among `` to `` indexes that correspond to the at
least one second language item in the second index area 350. The
controller 110 may also display a representative third index 460 in
the first scroll bar 230 on behalf of the third index area 450 by
downscaling the third index area 450 including the at least one
third index corresponding to the at least one number or symbol
item, in the same way of downscaling the second index area 350. The
controller 110 may also display the first index area 250, the
second index area 350, and the third index area 450 in the first
list scroll bar 230.
[0128] Then, the method of controlling the list scroll bar 230
according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention
includes determining whether the gesture as shown in FIG. 7B to
select the representative second index 360 is detected, in step
S120. The controller 110 may detect the gesture to select the
representative second index 360, e.g., a touch on the
representative second index 360. For example, referring to FIG. 7C,
the controller 110 may detect the gesture 410 to select the
representative second index 360, e.g., the touch on the
representative second index 360. Furthermore, the controller 110
may detect a gesture to select the representative third index 460
in the same way of detecting the gesture to select the
representative second index 360.
[0129] Next, the method of controlling the list scroll bar 230
includes displaying the first index area 250 and the second index
area 350 in the first list scroll bar 230 by downscaling the first
index area 250 while expanding the second index area 350, in step
S130. For example, referring to FIG. 7D, when expanding and
displaying the second index area 350 including the at least one
second index that corresponds to the at least one second language
item starting with a Korean character, the controller 110 may
display `` to `` indexes corresponding to all of the at least one
second index 340 in the second index area 350. Also, expanding and
displaying the second index area 350, the controller 110 may
display some of the at least one second index, ``, ``, ``, ``, and
``, in the second index area 350. On the contrary, downscaling and
displaying the first index area 250 that includes the at least one
first index corresponding to the at least one first language item
starting with an English letter, the controller 110 may display the
representative first index that represents the first index area 250
in the first index area 250. For example, referring to FIG. 7D, the
controller 110 may display `A` as the representative first index
260 among `A` to `Z` indexes that correspond to the at least one
first language item in the first index area 250. The controller 110
may also display the first index area 250 and the second index area
350 in the first list scroll bar 230. Thus, the controller 110 may
detect the gesture to select the representative second index that
represents the second index area 350 downscaled and displayed in
step S110, and expand the second index area 350 again.
[0130] Furthermore, upon detecting a gesture to select the
representative third index 460, the controller 110 may expand and
display the third index area 450 in the first list scroll bar 230,
in the same way of expanding and displaying the second index area
350 in the first list scroll bar 230.
[0131] According to the third example of the present invention, in
determining whether there is a gesture to select the representative
second index, the gesture may be a touch on the representative
second index. Thus, detection of the touch on the representative
second index may lead to expansion and display of the second index
area 350.
[0132] FIGS. 8A-8D illustrate diagrams representing a fourth
example, according to the exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
[0133] In a method of controlling the list scroll bar 230 according
to the fourth example of the present invention, the representative
second index may be the first of the sequentially arranged at least
one second index. In other words, the controller 110 may display
the representative second index that represents the second index
area 350 in the first list scroll bar 230 when downscaling the
second index area 350 for display. The representative second index
360 may be the first of the sequentially arranged at least one
second index 340.
[0134] Referring to FIGS. 8A-8D, specifically, in the method of
controlling the list scroll bar 230, a partial area of the list 200
and the first list scroll bar 230 are displayed in step S100.
Referring to FIG. 8A, the contacts list 200 is displayed on the
touchscreen 190 of the electronic device 100. The contacts list 200
may include at least one first language item starting with a first
language, such as English, at least one second language item
starting with a second language, such as Korean, and at least one
number or symbol item starting with a number or symbol.
[0135] The controller 110 of the electronic device 100 may display
a partial area of the contacts list 200 on the touchscreen 190. In
FIG. 8A, e.g., items 210 starting with a letter `C` among the at
least one first language item are displayed. C Item 1 refers to a
first item among the at least one first language item starting with
`C`. The controller 110 may also display a `C` section 220 that
represents items starting with `C` on the touchscreen 190.
[0136] The controller 110 may generate `A` to `Z` as the at least
one first index 240 corresponding to the at least one first
language item starting with an English letter and display the
generated English letters on the touchscreen 190. In addition, the
at least one first index 240 may be included in the first index
area 250 to be displayed in the list scroll bar 230.
[0137] The contacts list 200 may also include at least one second
language item starting with a second language, such as Korean, and
the controller 110 may display the second index area 350 in the
first list scroll bar 230 by having the second index area include
the at least one second index corresponding to the at least one
second language item.
[0138] The contacts list 200 may also include at least one number
or symbol item starting with a number or symbol, and the controller
110 may display the third index area 450 in the first list scroll
bar 230 by having the third index area 450 include the at least one
third index corresponding to the at least one number or symbol
item.
[0139] Next, the method of controlling the list scroll bar includes
displaying the first index area 250 and the second index area 350
in the first list scroll bar 230 by expanding the first index area
250 while downscaling the second index area 350, in step S110. When
expanding the first index area 250 for display, the controller 110
may display all of the at least one first index in the list scroll
bar 230, or may display some of the at least one first index in the
list scroll bar 230. On the other hand, the controller 110 may
display the representative second index that represents the second
index area 350 in the first list scroll bar 230 when downscaling
the second index area 350 for display. The representative second
index 360 may be the first of the sequentially arranged at least
one second index 340. The controller 110 may display the
representative third index that represents the third index area 450
in the first list scroll bar 230 when downscaling the third index
area 450 for display.
[0140] For example, referring to FIG. 8A, expanding and displaying
the first index area 250 including the at least one first index
that corresponds to the at least one first language item starting
with an English letter, the controller 110 may display `A` to `Z`
corresponding to all of the at least one first index 240 in the
first index area 250. Also, expanding and displaying the first
index area 250, the controller 110 may display some of the at least
one first index, `A`, `F`, `M`, `U`, and `Z`, in the first index
area 250. On the contrary, downscaling and displaying the second
index area 350 that includes the at least one second index
corresponding to the at least one second language item starting
with a Korean character, the controller 110 may display the
representative second index that represents the second index area
350 in the second index area 350. The representative second index
360 may be the first of the sequentially arranged at least one
second index 340. For example, referring to FIG. 8A, the controller
110 may display `` as the representative second index 360 among
sequentially arranged `` to `` that correspond to the at least one
second language item in the second index area 350. The controller
110 may also display the first index area 250 and the second index
area 350 in the first list scroll bar 230.
[0141] Then, the method of controlling the list scroll bar 230
according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention
includes determining whether a gesture as shown in FIG. 8B to
select the representative second index is detected, in step S120.
The controller 110 may detect a gesture to select the
representative second index 360, e.g., a touch on the
representative second index 360. For example, referring to FIG. 8C,
the controller 110 may detect the gesture to select the
representative second index 360, e.g., the touch on the
representative second index 360.
[0142] Next, the method of controlling the list scroll bar 230
includes displaying the first index area 250 and the second index
area 350 in the first list scroll bar 230 by downscaling the first
index area while expanding the second index area, in step S130. For
example, referring to FIG. 8D, expanding and displaying the second
index area 350 including the at least one second index that
corresponds to the at least one second language item starting with
a Korean character, the controller 110 may display `` to `` indexes
corresponding to all of the at least one second index 340 in the
second index area 350. The controller 110 may display the list 200
from the at least one second language item starting with the
representative second index on the touchscreen 190. Also, expanding
and displaying the second index area 350, the controller 110 may
display some of the at least one second index, ``, ``, ``, ``, and
``, in the second index area 350. On the contrary, downscaling and
displaying the first index area 250 that includes the at least one
first index corresponding to the at least one first language item
starting with an English letter, the controller 110 may display the
representative first index that represents the first index area 250
in the first index area 250. For example, referring to FIG. 8D, the
controller 110 may display `A` as the representative first index
260 among sequentially arranged `A` to `Z` indexes that correspond
to the at least one first language item in the first index area
250. The controller 110 may also display the first index area 250
and the second index area 350 in the first list scroll bar 230.
Thus, the controller 110 may detect the gesture to select the
representative second index that represents the second index area
350 downscaled and displayed in step S110, and expand the second
index area 350 again.
[0143] According to the fourth example of the present invention,
while the at least one second index is sequentially arranged with
the second index area 350 as the representative second index, the
controller 110 may display on the touchscreen 190 the list from the
at least one second language item starting with the representative
second index.
[0144] FIGS. 9A-9E illustrate diagrams representing a fifth
example, according to the exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
[0145] A method of controlling the list scroll bar 230 according to
the fifth example of the present invention includes displaying at
first at least one item corresponding to the representative second
index on the touchscreen 190 if the representative second index is
the first of the sequentially arranged second indexes; and
displaying for the next time at least one item corresponding to the
last of the sequentially arranged second indexes if a touch on a
holding icon displayed on the touchscreen 190 is held for a few
seconds.
[0146] On the contrary, the method of controlling the list scroll
bar 230 according to the fifth example of the present invention
includes initially displaying at least one item corresponding to
the representative second index on the touchscreen 190 if the
representative second index is the last of the sequentially
arranged second indexes; and displaying for the next time at least
one item corresponding to the first of the sequentially arranged
second indexes if a touch on a holding icon displayed on the
touchscreen 190 is held for a few seconds.
[0147] Referring to FIGS. 9A-9E, specifically, in the method of
controlling the list scroll bar 230, a partial area of the list 200
and the first list scroll bar 230 are displayed, in step S100.
Referring to FIG. 9A, the contacts list 200 is displayed on the
touchscreen 190 of the electronic device 100. The contacts list 200
may include at least one first language item starting with a first
language, such as English, at least one second language item
starting with a second language, such as Korean, and at least one
number or symbol item starting with a number or symbol.
[0148] The controller 110 of the electronic device 100 may display
a partial area of the contacts list 200 on the touchscreen 190. In
FIG. 9A, e.g., items 210 starting with a letter `C` among the at
least one first language item are displayed. C Item 1 refers to a
first item among the at least one first language item starting with
`C`. The controller 110 may also display a `C` section 220 that
represents items starting with `C` on the touchscreen 190.
[0149] The controller 110 may generate `A` to `Z` as the at least
one first index 240 corresponding to the at least one first
language item starting with an English letter and display the
generated English letters on the touchscreen 190. In addition, the
at least one first index 240 may be included in the first index
area 250 to be displayed in the list scroll bar 230.
[0150] The contacts list 200 may also include at least one second
language item starting with a second language, such as Korean, and
the controller 110 may display the second index area 350 in the
first list scroll bar 230 by having the second index area 350
include the at least one second index corresponding to the at least
one second language item.
[0151] The contacts list 200 may also include at least one number
or symbol item starting with a number or symbol, and the controller
110 may display the third index area 450 in the first list scroll
bar 230 by having the third index area 450 include the at least one
third index corresponding to the at least one number or symbol
item.
[0152] Next, the method of controlling the list scroll bar 230
includes displaying the first index area 250 and the second index
area 350 in the first list scroll bar by expanding the first index
area 250 while downscaling the second index area, in step S110.
When expanding the first index area 250 for display, the controller
110 may display all of the at least one first index in the list
scroll bar 230, or may display some of the at least one first index
in the list scroll bar 230. On the other hand, the controller 110
may display the representative second index that represents the
second index area 350 in the first list scroll bar 230 when
downscaling the second index area 350 for display. The
representative second index 360 may be the first of the
sequentially arranged at least one second index 340. The controller
110 may display the representative third index that represents the
third index area 450 in the first list scroll bar 230 when
downscaling the third index area 450 for display.
[0153] For example, referring to FIG. 9A, expanding and displaying
the first index area 250 including the at least one first index
that corresponds to the at least one first language item starting
with an English letter, the controller 110 may display `A` to `Z`
corresponding to all of the at least one first index 240 in the
first index area 250. Also, expanding and displaying the first
index area 250, the controller 110 may display some of the at least
one first index, `A`, `F`, `M`, `U`, and `Z`, in the first index
area 250. On the contrary, downscaling and displaying the second
index area 350 that includes the at least one second index
corresponding to the at least one second language item starting
with a Korean character, the controller 110 may display the
representative second index 360 that represents the second index in
the second index area 350. The representative second index 360 may
be the first of the sequentially arranged at least one second index
340. For example, referring to FIG. 9A, the controller 110 may
display `` as the representative second index 360 among
sequentially arranged `` to `` that correspond to the at least one
second language item in the second index area 350. The controller
110 may also display a representative third index 460 in the first
scroll bar 230 on behalf of the third index area 450 by downscaling
the third index area 450 including the at least one third index
corresponding to the at least one number or symbol item, in the
same way of downscaling the second index area 350. The controller
110 may also display the first index area 250, the second index
area 350, and the third index area 450 in the first list scroll bar
230.
[0154] Then, the method of controlling the list scroll bar
according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention
includes determining whether a gesture to select the representative
second index is detected, in step S120. The controller 110 may
detect a gesture as shown in FIG. 9B to select the representative
second index 360, e.g., scrolling from the first index area 250 to
the representative second index 360. For example, referring to FIG.
9C, the controller 110 may detect the gesture to select the
representative second index 360, e.g., the scrolling from the first
index area 250 to the representative second index 360. Furthermore,
the controller 110 may detect a gesture to select the
representative third index 460 in the same way of detecting the
gesture to select the representative second index 360.
[0155] Next, the method of controlling the list scroll bar includes
step S130 of displaying the first index area 250 and the second
index area 350 in the first list scroll bar 230 by downscaling the
first index area 250 while expanding the second index area 350. For
example, referring to FIG. 9D, expanding and displaying the second
index area 350 including the at least one second index that
corresponds to the at least one second language item starting with
a Korean character, the controller 110 may display `` to ``
corresponding to all of the at least one second index 340 in the
second index area 350. The controller 110 may display the list 200
from the at least one second language item starting with the
representative second index 360, `` on the touchscreen 190. In this
case, the controller 110 may display the holding icon 500 in a
position of the touchscreen 190 where there was the representative
second index 360 before expansion of the second index area, as
shown in FIG. 9D. If a touch on the holding icon 500 is held for a
predetermined duration of time, such as a few seconds, then the
controller 110 may display for the next time at least one item
corresponding to the last of the sequentially arranged second
indexes. In other words, for example, as shown in FIG. 9E, the
controller 110 may display the at least one second language item,
Item 1 to 10, corresponding to the last index `` among the
sequentially arranged second indexes, `` to ``. Thus, by pressing
the holding icon 500, the at least one item corresponding to the
last of the sequentially arranged second indexes, such as the items
312, are set and held to be displayed.
[0156] Furthermore, the controller 110 may expand and display the
third index area 450 in the first list scroll bar 230, in the same
way of expanding and displaying the second index area 350 in the
first list scroll bar 230.
[0157] Thus, according to the fifth example of the present
invention, when expanding a downscaled index area including the
holding icon 500, the controller 110 may rearrange the list, which
has been arranged from the first index, from the last index when a
touch on the holding icon 500 is held for the predetermined
duration of time. That is, according to the fifth example of the
present invention, in case of expanding a downscaled index area,
the holding icon 500 is advantageously used to select the list to
be scrolled from the first index or the last index.
[0158] FIG. 10 is a flowchart, according to an alternative
exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 11A-11D
illustrate diagrams representing a method of controlling a list
scroll bar 230, according to the alternative exemplary embodiment
of the present invention.
[0159] Referring both FIGS. 10 and 11A-11D, first, the method of
controlling the list scroll bar 230 has displaying a partial area
of a list and a first list scroll bar 230, in step S200. The
controller 110 of the electronic device 100 may display a partial
area of the contacts list 200 on the touchscreen 190. In FIG. 11A,
e.g., items 210 starting with a letter `C` among the at least one
first language item are displayed. C Item 1 refers to a first item
among the at least one first language item starting with `C`. The
controller 110 may also display a `C` section 220 that represents
items starting with `C` on the touchscreen 190.
[0160] The controller 110 may generate `A` to `Z` as the at least
one first index 240 corresponding to the at least one first
language item starting with an English letter and display the
generated English letters on the touchscreen 190. In addition, the
at least one first index 240 may be included in the first index
area 250 to be displayed in the list scroll bar 230.
[0161] The contacts list 200 may also include at least one second
language item starting with a second language, such as Korean, and
the controller 110 may display the second index area 350 in the
first list scroll bar 230 by having the second index area 350
include the at least one second index corresponding to the at least
one second language item.
[0162] The contacts list 200 may also include at least one number
or symbol item starting with a number or symbol, and the controller
110 may display the third index area 450 in the first list scroll
bar 230 by having the third index area 450 include the at least one
third index corresponding to the at least one number or symbol
item.
[0163] Next, the method of controlling the list scroll bar to
display a second list scroll bar 330 includes displaying the first
index area 250 and the second index area 350 in the first list
scroll bar 230 by expanding the first index area 250 while
downscaling the second index area 350, in step S210. When expanding
the first index area 250 for display, the controller 110 may
display all of the at least one first index in the first list
scroll bar 230, or may display some of the at least one first index
in the first list scroll bar 230. On the other hand, the controller
110 may display the representative second index that represents the
second index area 350 in the first list scroll bar 230 when
downscaling the second index area 350 for display. The controller
110 may downscale and display the third index area 450 for the
number or symbol items in the same way of downscaling and
displaying the second index area 350.
[0164] For example, referring to FIG. 11A, expanding and displaying
the first index area 250 including the at least one first index
that corresponds to the at least one first language item starting
with an English letter, the controller 110 may display `A` to `Z`
corresponding to all of the at least one first index 240 in the
first index area 250. Also, expanding and displaying the first
index area 250, the controller 110 may display some of the at least
one first index, `A`, `F`, `M`, `U`, and `Z`, in the first index
area 250. On the contrary, downscaling and displaying the second
index area 350 that includes the at least one second index
corresponding to the at least one second language item starting
with a Korean character, the controller 110 may display the
representative second index 360 that represents the second index in
the second index area 350. For example, referring to FIG. 11A, the
controller 110 may display `` as the representative second index
360 among `` to `` indexes that correspond to the at least one
second language item in the second index area 350. On the contrary,
downscaling and displaying the third index area 450 that includes
the at least one third index corresponding to the at least one
number or symbol item starting with a number or symbol, the
controller 110 may display the representative third index 460 that
represents the third index in the third index area 450. The
controller 110 may also display the first index area 250 and the
second index area 350 in the first list scroll bar 230.
[0165] Then, the method of controlling the list scroll bar
according to the alternative exemplary embodiment of the present
invention includes determining whether a gesture as shown in FIG.
11B to select the representative second index 360 is detected in
step S220. If no gesture is detected in step S220, the method loops
back to repeat step S220 until a gesture is detected. Once a
gesture is detected, the method proceeds to step S230. The
controller 110 may detect a gesture to select the representative
second index 360, e.g., scrolling from the first index area 250 to
the representative second index 360. For example, referring to FIG.
11C, the controller 110 may detect the gesture to select the
representative second index 360, e.g., the scrolling from the first
index area 250 to the representative second index 360. Furthermore,
the controller 110 may detect a gesture to select the
representative third index 460 in the same way of detecting the
gesture to select the representative second index 360.
[0166] Next, the method of controlling the list scroll bar includes
displaying the second index area 350 in the second list scroll bar
330 by expanding the second index area 350, in step S230. For
example, referring to FIG. 11D, expanding and displaying the second
index area 350 including the at least one second index that
corresponds to the at least one second language item starting with
a Korean character, the controller 110 may display `` to `` indexes
corresponding to all of the at least one second index 340 in the
second list scroll bar 330 by including the displayed indexes in
the second index area 350. In other words, the controller 110 may
display the expanded second index area in the second list scroll
bar 330, different from the first list scroll bar 230. Furthermore,
the controller 110 may expand and display the third index area 450
in the second list scroll bar 330, in the same way of expanding and
displaying the second index area 350 in the first list scroll bar
230.
[0167] Thus, the method according to the alternative exemplary
embodiment of the present invention facilitates scrolling of the
plurality of language items, symbol items, or number items
displayed on a plurality of list scroll bars 230, 330 by providing
the plurality of list scroll bars 230, 330.
[0168] FIGS. 12A-12E illustrate diagrams representing a sixth
example, according to the exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
[0169] According to a method of controlling the list scroll bar
according to the sixth example of the present invention, the list
may be scrolled by displaying the plurality of list scroll bars
230, 330 on the touchscreen 190.
[0170] Referring FIG. 12A, first, the method of controlling the
list scroll bar includes displaying a partial area of a list and a
first list scroll bar 230, in step S200. The controller 110 of the
electronic device 100 may display a partial area of the contacts
list 200 on the touchscreen 190. In (FIG. 12A, e.g., items 210
starting with a letter `C` among the at least one first language
item are displayed. C Item 1 refers to a first item among the at
least one first language item starting with `C`. The controller 110
may also display a `C` section 220 that represents items starting
with `C` on the touchscreen 190.
[0171] The controller 110 may generate `A` to `Z` as the at least
one first index 240 corresponding to the at least one first
language item starting with an English letter and display the
generated English letters on the touchscreen 190. In addition, the
at least one first index 240 may be included in the first index
area 250 to be displayed in the first list scroll bar 230.
[0172] The contacts list 200 may also include at least one second
language item starting with a second language, such as Korean, and
the controller 110 may display the second index area 350 in the
first list scroll bar 230 by having the second index area include
the at least one second index corresponding to the at least one
second language item.
[0173] The contacts list 200 may also include at least one third
language item starting with a third language, such as Japanese, and
the controller 110 may display the third index area 450 in the
first list scroll bar 230 by having the third index area 450
include the at least one third index corresponding to the at least
one third language item.
[0174] Next, the method of controlling the list scroll bar includes
displaying the index areas 250, 350, 450 in the first list scroll
bar 250 by expanding the first index area 250 while downscaling the
second index area 350 and the third index area 450, in step S210.
When expanding the first index area 250 for display, the controller
110 may display all of the at least one first index in the first
list scroll bar 230, or may display some of the at least one first
index in the first list scroll bar 230. On the other hand, the
controller 110 may display the representative second index 360 that
represents the second index area 350 in the first list scroll bar
230 when downscaling the second index area 350 for display.
Downscaling the third index area 450 for display, the controller
110 may display the representative third index that represents the
third index area 450 in the first list scroll bar 230.
[0175] For example, referring to FIG. 12A, expanding and displaying
the first index area 250 including the at least one first index
that corresponds to the at least one first language item starting
with an English letter, the controller 110 may display `A` to `Z`
corresponding to all of the at least one first index 240 in the
first index area 250. Also, when expanding and displaying the first
index area 250, the controller 110 may display some of the at least
one first index, `A`, `F`, `M`, `U`, and `Z`, in the first index
area 250. On the contrary, when downscaling the second index area
350 that includes the at least one second index corresponding to
the at least one second language item starting with a Korean
character, the controller 110 may display the representative second
index that represents the second index area 350 in the second index
area 350. For example, referring to FIG. 12A, the controller 110
may display `` as the representative second index 360 among `` to
`` indexes that correspond to the at least one second language item
in the second index area 350.
[0176] On the contrary, when downscaling the third index area 450
that includes the at least one third index corresponding to the at
least third language item starting with a Japanese character, the
controller 110 may display the representative third index 460 that
represents the third index in the third index area 450. For
example, referring to FIG. 12A, the controller 110 may display ``
as the representative third index 460 among the at least one third
index, `` to ``, that correspond to the at least one third language
item in the third index area 450. The controller 110 may also
display the first index area 250, the second index area 350, and
the third index area 450 in the first list scroll bar 230.
[0177] Then, the method of controlling the list scroll bar
according to the alternative exemplary embodiment of the present
invention includes determining whether a gesture to select the
representative second index is detected, in step S220. The
controller 110 may detect a gesture to select the representative
second index 360, e.g., scrolling from the first index area 250 to
the representative second index 360. For example, referring to FIG.
12B, the controller 110 may detect the gesture to select the
representative second index 360, e.g., the scrolling 1210 from the
first index area 250 to the representative second index 360.
[0178] Next, the method of controlling the list scroll bar includes
displaying the second index area 350 in the second list scroll bar
330 by expanding the second index area 350, in step S230. For
example, referring to FIG. 12B, when expanding and displaying the
second index area 350 including the at least one second index that
corresponds to the at least one second language item starting with
a Korean character, the controller 110 may display `` to `` indexes
corresponding to all of the at least one second index 340 in the
second list scroll bar 330 by including the displayed Korean
indexes in the second index area 350. In other words, the
controller 110 may display the expanded second index area 350 in
the second list scroll bar 330, different from the first list
scroll bar 230.
[0179] Then, the method of controlling the list scroll bar
according to the alternative exemplary embodiment of the present
invention includes determining whether a gesture to select the
representative third index is detected, in step S240. The
controller 110 may detect a gesture to select the representative
third index 460, e.g., scrolling from the second index area 350 to
the representative third index 460. For example, referring to FIG.
12B, the controller 110 may detect the gesture to select the
representative third index 460, e.g., the scrolling 1220 from the
second index area 350 to the representative third index 460.
[0180] Next, the method of controlling the list scroll bar includes
displaying the third index area 450 in the third list scroll bar by
expanding the third index area 450, in step S250. For example,
referring to FIG. 12C, when expanding and displaying the third
index area 450 including the at least one third index that
corresponds to the at least one third language item starting with a
Japanese character, the controller 110 may display `` to `` indexes
corresponding to all of the at least one third index 440 in the
third list scroll bar 430 by including the displayed indexes in the
third index area 450. In other words, the controller 110 may
display the expanded third index area 460 in the third list scroll
bar 430, different from the list scroll bars 230 and 330.
Furthermore, the controller 110 may detect scrolling for the third
index area 460 and accordingly scroll the list 200. Specifically,
as shown in FIG. 12C, detecting scrolling of the third index area
460 e.g., the scrolling 1230 from `` to ``, the controller 110 may
scroll the list 200.
[0181] Upon detecting the scrolling from the third list scroll bar
430 to the second list scroll bar 330 in FIG. 12C, the controller
110 may eliminate the third list scroll bar 430 from the
touchscreen 190. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 12C, when detecting
scrolling from the third list scroll bar 430 to the second list
scroll bar 330, e.g., the scrolling from an index `` included in
the third list scroll bar 430 to an index `` included in the second
list scroll bar 330, the controller 110 may eliminate the third
list scroll bar 430 from the touchscreen 190, as shown in FIG.
12D.
[0182] Upon detecting the scrolling 1240 from the second list
scroll bar 330 to the first list scroll bar 230 in FIG. 12D, the
controller 110 may eliminate the second list scroll bar 330 from
the touchscreen 190. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 12D, detecting
scrolling from the second list scroll bar 330 to the first list
scroll bar 230, e.g., the scrolling from an index `` included in
the second list scroll bar 330 to an index `J` included in the
first list scroll bar 230, the controller 110 may eliminate the
second list scroll bar 330 from the touchscreen 190, as shown in
FIG. 12E. Thus, the method according to the sixth example of the
present invention facilitates scrolling across the plurality of
language items, symbol items, or number items displayed on a
plurality of list scroll bars 230, 330 by providing the plurality
of list scroll bars 230, 330. Furthermore, the method according to
the sixth example of the present invention may eliminate the second
list scroll bar 330 from the touchscreen 190 by detecting the
scrolling from the second list scroll bar 330 to the first list
scroll bar 230.
[0183] FIGS. 13A-13D illustrate diagrams representing a method of
controlling the list scroll bar 230, according to the alternative
exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0184] The method includes expanding and displaying the second
index area 350 in the first list scroll bar 230 if the scrolling of
the list leads to a change from a first item to a second item among
the at least one item displayed on the touchscreen 190, and
downscaling the first index area 250 and displaying the
representative first index 260 that represents the first index area
250 in the first list scroll bar 230.
[0185] In FIG. 13A, the touchscreen 190 shows that a contacts
application is running in the electronic device 100. The contacts
application includes a contacts list 200. The contacts list 200 may
include at least one item 210. The at least one item 210 may be at
least one contact stored in the electronic device 100. The at least
one contact may be formed of at least one of characters, numbers,
and symbols.
[0186] At least one first item may be at least one first language
item starting with a first language, such as English. At least one
second item may be at least one second language item starting with
a second language, such as Korean. At least one third item may be
at least one number or symbol item starting with a number or
symbol. The contacts list 200 may include the at least one first
language item, the at least one second language item, or the at
least one number or symbol item. The at least one first language
item in the first language, such as English, may start with any of
`A` to `Z`, the at least one second language item in the second
language, such as Korean, may start with any of `` to ``, and the
at least one number or symbol item consisting of numbers or symbols
may start with any of `1` to `#`.
[0187] In FIG. 13A, items 210 including C Items 1 to 7 starting
with `C` and items 212 including D items 1 to 4 starting with `D`,
among the at least one first language item starting with any of `A`
to `Z`, are displayed on the touchscreen 190. C Item 1 refers to a
first item among the sequentially arranged at least one item
starting with `C`. C Item 1 to 7 refer to first to seventh items
among the at least one first language item starting with `c`
sequentially arranged in alphabetical order. In FIG. 13A, C Items 1
to 7 and D Items 1 to 4 among the first language items of the
contact list 200 are sequentially arranged and displayed in the
alphabetical order on the touchscreen 190. However, not all items
included in the contacts list may be displayed on the touchscreen
190 and so, only a partial area of the contacts list including C
Item 1 to 7 and D Item 1 to 4 among the first language items of the
contacts list 200 is displayed on the touchscreen 190 of FIG. 13A.
The contacts list 200 may also include the at least one second
language item starting with the second language and the at least
one number or symbol item starting with a number or symbol, but,
due to the limit of screen size, the at least one second language
item and the at least one number or symbol item are not displayed
on the touchscreen 190 in FIG. 13A.
[0188] The controller 110 may generate and display the at least one
index corresponding to the at least one item on the touchscreen
190. Since the at least one first language item starts with an
English letter, the controller 110 may generate `A` to `Z` as the
at least one first index corresponding to the at least one first
language item. The controller 110 may display the at least one
first index 240 on the touchscreen 190, as shown in FIG. 13A. In
this regard, the at least one first index 240 may be included in
the first index area 250 to be displayed in the list scroll bar
230.
[0189] Since the at least one second language item starts with a
Korean character, the controller 110 may generate `` to `` as the
at least one second index corresponding to the at least one second
language item. The controller 110 may display the at least one
second index on the touchscreen 190, as shown in FIG. 13A. In this
regard, the at least one second index 360 may be included in the
second index area 350 to be displayed in the list scroll bar
230.
[0190] Since the at least one number or symbol item starts with a
number or symbol, the controller 110 may generate `1` to `#` as the
at least one third index 460 corresponding to the at least one
number or symbol item. The controller 110 may display the at least
one third index 460 on the touchscreen 190, as shown in FIG. 13A.
In this regard, the at least one third index 460 may be included in
the third index area 450 to be displayed in the list scroll bar
230.
[0191] The controller 110 may detect the scrolling of the first
index items and accordingly scroll the list 200. Specifically, the
controller 110 may detect scrolling 1300 across a screen area where
the first language items are displayed, and accordingly may scroll
the list 200. That is, as shown in FIG. 13A, upon detecting up
scrolling 1300 across a screen area where the C Items 1 to 7 are
displayed, the controller 110 may scroll the list 200 upward, as
shown in FIG. 13B.
[0192] Meanwhile, if the at least one first item displayed on the
touchscreen 190 is changed to the at least one second item by
scrolling the list, the controller 110 may expand and display the
second index area 350 in the first list scroll bar 230 while
downscaling the first index area 250 and displaying the
representative first index in the first list scroll bar 230.
[0193] Furthermore, if the at least one first item of the at least
one item displayed on the touchscreen 190 is changed to the at
least one third item by scrolling the list, the controller 110 may
expand and display the third index area 450 in the first list
scroll bar 230 while downscaling the first index area 250 and
displaying the representative first index in the first list scroll
bar 230.
[0194] In FIG. 13A, if the at least one first language item
displayed on the touchscreen 190 is changed to the at least one
second language item by scrolling the list, the controller 110 may
expand and display the second index area 350 in the first list
scroll bar 230 while downscaling the first index area 250 and
displaying the representative first index in the first list scroll
bar 230.
[0195] Specifically, due to the scrolling 1310 of the list, if the
at least one first language item e.g., 214 and 216 starting with
`F`, displayed on the touchscreen 190, as in FIG. 13C, is changed
to the at least one second language item 310, as shown in FIG. 13D,
the controller 110 may expand and display the second index area 350
in the first scroll bar 230 while downscaling the first index area
250 and displaying the representative first index 260 that
represents the first index area 250 in the first list scroll bar
230. That is, as in FIG. 13D, the controller 110 may expand the
second index area 350 corresponding to the second language items
starting with a Korean character and display `` to `` indexes in
the first list scroll bar 230, while downscaling the first index
area 250 corresponding to the first language items starting with an
English letter and displaying the representative first index 260,
`A`, that represents the first index area 250 in the first list
scroll bar 230.
[0196] Thus, according to the alternative exemplary embodiment of
the present invention, scrolling of the list causes a change of
index areas 250, 350, 450 to be expanded or downscaled. This
facilitates finer scrolling of items displayed on the touchscreen
190 by expanding an index area that corresponds to items displayed
on the touchscreen 190 by the list scrolling.
[0197] FIGS. 14A-14C illustrate diagrams representing a seventh
example, according to the exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
[0198] The method of controlling the list scroll bar 230 according
to the seventh example of the present invention may include
scrolling the list by displaying first indexes corresponding to
first language items starting with the first language and number of
symbol indexes corresponding to number or symbol items starting
with a number or symbol in the first list scroll bar 230.
[0199] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 14A-14C, specifically, in the
method of controlling the list scroll bar 230, a partial area of
the list 200 and the first list scroll bar 230 are displayed, in
step S100. Referring to FIG. 14A, the contacts list 200 is
displayed on the touchscreen 190 of the electronic device 100. The
contacts list 200 may include at least one first language item
starting with the first language, such as English, and at least one
number or symbol item starting with a number or symbol.
[0200] The controller 110 of the electronic device 100 may display
a partial area of the contacts list 200 on the touchscreen 190. In
FIG. 14A, e.g., items 210 starting with a letter `C` among the at
least one first language item are displayed. C Item 1 refers to a
first item among the at least one first language item starting with
`C`. The controller 110 may also display a `C` section 220
indicating that items starting with `C` are on the touchscreen
190.
[0201] The controller 110 may generate `A` to `Z` as the at least
one first index 240 corresponding to the at least one first
language item starting with an English letter and display the
generated English letters on the touchscreen 190. In addition, the
at least one first index 240 may be included in the first index
area 250 to be displayed in the list scroll bar 230.
[0202] The contacts list 200 may also include at least one number
or symbol item starting with a number or symbol, and the controller
110 may display the second index area 350 in the first list scroll
bar 230 by having the second index area 350 include the at least
one second index corresponding to the at least one number or symbol
item.
[0203] Next, the method of controlling the list scroll bar 230
includes displaying the first and second index areas 250 and 350 in
the first list scroll bar 230 by expanding the first index area 250
while downscaling the second index area 350, in step S110. When
expanding the first index area for display, the controller 110 may
display all of the at least one first index in the list scroll bar
230, or may display some of the at least one first index in the
list scroll bar 230. On the other hand, the controller 110 may
display the representative second index that represents the second
index area 350 in the first list scroll bar 230 when downscaling
the second index area 350 for display.
[0204] For example, referring to FIG. 14A, when expanding and
displaying the first index area 250 including the at least one
first index that corresponds to the at least one first language
item starting with an English letter, the controller 110 may
display `A` to `Z` corresponding to all of the at least one first
index 240 in the first index area 250. Also, when expanding and
displaying the first index area 250, the controller 110 may display
some of the at least one first index, `A`, `F`, `M`, `U`, and `Z`,
in the first index area 250. On the contrary, when downscaling and
displaying the second index area 350 that includes the at least one
second index corresponding to the at least one number or symbol
item starting with a number or symbol, the controller 110 may
display the representative second index that represents the second
index area 350 in the second index area 350. For example, referring
to FIG. 14A, the controller 110 may display `#` as the
representative second index 360 among `0` to `#` indexes that
correspond to the at least one number or symbol item in the second
index area 350. The controller 110 may also display the first index
area 250 and the second index area 350 in the first list scroll bar
230.
[0205] Then, the method of controlling the list scroll bar 230
according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention
includes determining whether the gesture to select the
representative second index 360 is detected, in step S120. The
controller 110 may detect the gesture to select the representative
second index 360, e.g., the scrolling from the first index area 250
to the representative second index 360. For example, referring to
FIG. 14B, the controller 110 may detect the gesture to select the
representative second index 360, e.g., the scrolling 1410 from the
first index area 250 to the representative second index 360.
[0206] Next, the method of controlling the list scroll bar 230
includes displaying the first index area 250 and the second index
area 350 in the first list scroll bar 230 by downscaling the first
index area 250 while expanding the second index area 350, in step
130. For example, referring to FIG. 14C, when expanding and
displaying the second index area 350 including the at least one
second index that corresponds to the at least one number or symbol
item starting with a number of symbol, the controller 110 may
display `0` to `#` corresponding to all of the at least one second
index 340 in the second index area 350. Also, expanding and
displaying the second index area 350, the controller 110 may
display some of the at least one second index, `0`, `3`, `9`, `!`,
and `#`, in the second index area 350. On the contrary, when
downscaling the first index area 250 that includes the at least one
first index corresponding to the at least one first language item
starting with an English letter, the controller 110 may display the
representative first index that represents the first index area 250
in the first index area 250. For example, referring to FIG. 14C,
the controller 110 may display `Z` as the representative first
index 260 among `A` to `Z` indexes that correspond to the at least
one first language item in the first index area 250. The controller
110 may also display the first index area 250 and the second index
area 350 in the first list scroll bar 230. Thus, the controller 110
may detect the gesture to select the representative second index
that represents the second index area 350 downscaled and displayed
in step S110, and expand the second index area 350 again. According
to the seventh example of the present invention, even the list
including items starting with a number or symbol may be scrolled by
using indexes corresponding to the items.
[0207] FIG. 15 illustrates a diagram representing an eighth
example, according to the exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
[0208] In the eighth example, a contacts application is running.
The contacts application includes a contacts list 200 having
contact items. The contacts list 200 may include at least one
number or symbol item starting with a number or symbol, at least
one first language item starting with a first language, such as
English, and at least one second language item starting with a
second language, such as Korean. The controller 110 may generate
first indexes corresponding to the number or symbol items, second
indexes corresponding to the second language items, and third
indexes corresponding to the third language items. The controller
110 may also display the first index area 250 having the first
indexes, the second index area 350 having the second indexes, and
the third index area 450 having the third indexes in the first list
scroll bar 230. The controller 110 may also downscale and display
the index areas 250, 350, and 450 in the first list scroll bar 230.
Furthermore, the controller 110 may detect scrolling across the
index areas 250, 350, 450 and scroll the list 200 accordingly.
Thus, according to the eighth example of the present invention, the
first list scroll bar 230 including the index areas 250, 350, and
450 may be advantageously used to scroll the contacts list 200
included in the contacts application.
[0209] FIG. 16 illustrates a diagram representing a ninth example,
according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0210] In the ninth example, an applications window is opened. The
applications window includes an applications list 1600 having
application items. The applications list 1600 may include at least
one number or symbol item starting with a number or symbol, at
least one first language item starting with a first language, such
as English, and at least one second language item starting with a
second language, such as Korean. The controller 110 may generate
first indexes corresponding to the number or symbol items, second
indexes corresponding to the second language items, and third
indexes corresponding to the third language items. The controller
110 may also display the first index area 250 having the first
indexes, the second index area 350 having the second indexes, and
the third index area 450 having the third indexes in the first list
scroll bar 230. The controller 110 may also downscale and display
the index areas 250, 350, and 450 in the first list scroll bar 230.
Furthermore, the controller 110 may detect scrolling for the index
areas 250, 350, 450 and scroll the list 1600 accordingly. Thus,
according to the ninth example of the present invention, the first
list scroll bar 230 including the index areas 250, 350, and 450 may
be advantageously used to scroll the applications list 1600
included in the applications window.
[0211] FIG. 17 illustrates a diagram representing a tenth example,
according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0212] In the tenth example, a music application is running. The
music application includes a music list 1700 having music items.
The music list 1700 may include at least one number or symbol item
starting with a number or symbol, at least one first language item
starting with a first language, such as English, and at least one
second language item starting with a second language, such as
Korean. The controller 110 may generate first indexes corresponding
to the number or symbol items, second indexes corresponding to the
second language items, and third indexes corresponding to the third
language items. The controller 110 may also display the first index
area 250 having the first indexes, the second index area 350 having
the second indexes, and the third index area 450 having the third
indexes in the first list scroll bar 230. The controller 110 may
also downscale and display the index areas 250, 350, and 450 in the
first list scroll bar 230. Furthermore, the controller 110 may
detect scrolling across the first to third index areas and scroll
the music list 1700 accordingly. Thus, according to the tenth
example of the present invention, the first list scroll bar 230
including the index areas 250, 350, and 450 may be advantageously
used to scroll the music list 1700 included in the music
application.
[0213] It will be appreciated that the exemplary embodiments of the
present invention may be implemented in a form of hardware,
software, or a combination of hardware and software. The software
may be stored as program instructions or computer readable codes
executable on the processor on a computer-readable medium. Examples
of the computer readable recording medium include magnetic storage
media (e.g., ROM, floppy disks, hard disks, etc.), and optical
recording media (e.g., CD-ROMs, or DVDs). The computer readable
recording medium can also be distributed over network coupled
computer systems so that the computer readable code is stored and
executed in a distributed fashion. This media can be read by the
computer, stored in the memory, and executed by the processor. The
memory included in the power transmitter or the power receiver may
be an example of the computer readable recording medium suitable
for storing a program or programs having instructions that
implement the exemplary embodiments of the present invention.
[0214] The above-described apparatus and methods according to the
present invention can be implemented in hardware or firmware, or as
software or computer code, or combinations thereof. Various
components such as a controller, a central processing unit (CPU), a
processor, and any unit or device described herein includes at
least hardware and/or other physical structures and elements. In
addition, the software or computer code can also be stored in a
non-transitory recording medium such as a CD ROM, a RAM, a ROM
whether erasable or rewritable or not, a floppy disk, CDs, DVDs,
memory chips, a hard disk, a magnetic storage media, an optical
recording media, or a magneto-optical disk or computer code
downloaded over a network originally stored on a remote recording
medium, a computer readable recording medium, or a non-transitory
machine readable medium and to be stored on a local recording
medium, so that the methods described herein can be rendered in
such software, computer code, software modules, software objects,
instructions, applications, applets, apps, etc. that is stored on
the recording medium using a general purpose computer, a digital
computer, or a special processor or in programmable or dedicated
hardware, such as an ASIC or FPGA. As would be understood in the
art, the computer, the processor, microprocessor controller or the
programmable hardware include volatile and/or non-volatile storage
and memory components, e.g., RAM, ROM, Flash, etc. that may store
or receive software or computer code that when accessed and
executed by the computer, processor or hardware implement the
processing methods described herein. In addition, it would be
recognized that when a general purpose computer accesses code for
implementing the processing shown herein, the execution of the code
transforms the general purpose computer into a special purpose
computer for executing the processing shown herein. In addition,
the program may be electronically transferred through any medium
such as communication signals transmitted by wire/wireless
connections, and their equivalents. The programs and computer
readable recording medium can also be distributed in
network-coupled computer systems so that the computer readable code
is stored and executed in a distributed fashion.
[0215] The electronic device 100 may receive the program from a
program provider wired/wirelessly connected thereto, and store the
program. The program provider may include a memory for storing
programs having instructions to perform the exemplary embodiments
of the present invention, information necessary for the exemplary
embodiments of the present invention, etc., a communication unit
for wired/wirelessly communicating with the electronic device 100,
and the controller 110 for sending the program to the transceiver
at the request of the electronic device 100 or automatically.
[0216] Several exemplary embodiments have been illustrated and
described, but it will be understood that various modifications can
be made without departing the scope of the present invention. Thus,
it will be apparent to those ordinary skilled in the art that the
invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described,
but can encompass not only the appended claims but the
equivalents.
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