U.S. patent application number 14/797883 was filed with the patent office on 2015-11-05 for mobile communication terminal and method for running an application therein.
The applicant listed for this patent is Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Jong-Hee JUNG, Kyoung-Taek KIM, Sang-Kyung OH.
Application Number | 20150319283 14/797883 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37401161 |
Filed Date | 2015-11-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150319283 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
JUNG; Jong-Hee ; et
al. |
November 5, 2015 |
MOBILE COMMUNICATION TERMINAL AND METHOD FOR RUNNING AN APPLICATION
THEREIN
Abstract
A mobile communication terminal and method are provided for
running an application therein. When a user inputs a variable in an
idle state, variable-related applications are displayed. When the
user selects a predetermined application, the input variable is
input as an input value of a predetermined input field of the
selected application.
Inventors: |
JUNG; Jong-Hee; (Seoul,
KR) ; OH; Sang-Kyung; (Seoul, KR) ; KIM;
Kyoung-Taek; (Gyeonggi-do, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. |
Gyeonggi-do |
|
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
37401161 |
Appl. No.: |
14/797883 |
Filed: |
July 13, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11510144 |
Aug 25, 2006 |
9083809 |
|
|
14797883 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
455/418 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M 1/72519 20130101;
H04M 1/7258 20130101; H04M 1/72522 20130101; G06F 3/04895
20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04M 1/725 20060101
H04M001/725 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 25, 2005 |
KR |
10-2005-0078351 |
Claims
1. A mobile communication terminal, comprising: at least one
application implemented on the mobile communication terminal; a
controller for outputting variable-related applications when a user
inputs a variable in an idle state, and inputting the input
variable as an input value of a predetermined input field of a
selected application when the user selects a predetermined
application; and a display unit for displaying outputted
variable-related applications.
2. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the
variable is one of a number and a character.
3. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the
controller determines whether the input variable conforms to an
input format of the selected application, and outputs an error
message on the display unit, if the input variable does not conform
to the input format of the selected application.
4. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the
controller inputs the input variable as a calculation target value
when the application selected by the user is a calculator
application.
5. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the
controller inputs the input variable as a unit conversion target
value when the application selected by the user is a unit converter
application.
6. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the
controller inputs the input variable as an alarm time value when
the application selected by the user is an alarm setup
application.
7. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the
controller inputs the input variable as a management target date
value when the application selected by the user is a schedule
management application.
8. A method for running an application in a mobile communication
terminal, comprising the steps of: displaying variable-related
applications when a user inputs a variable in an idle state; and
inputting the input variable as an input value of a predetermined
input field of a selected application when the user selects a
predetermined application.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the variable is one of a number
and a character.
10. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of:
determining whether the input variable conforms to an input format
of the selected application; and displaying an error message if the
input variable does not conform to the input format of the selected
application;
11. The method of claim 8, wherein the inputting step comprises
inputting the input variable as a calculation target value when the
application selected by the user is a calculator application.
12. The method of claim 8, wherein the inputting step comprises
inputting the input variable as a unit conversion target value when
the application selected by the user is a unit converter
application.
13. The method of claim 8, wherein the inputting step comprises
inputting the input variable as an alarm time value when the
application selected by the user is an alarm setup application.
14. The method of claim 8, wherein the inputting step comprises
inputting the input variable as a management target date value when
the application selected by the user is a schedule management
application.
Description
PRIORITY
[0001] This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser.
No. 11/510,144, which was filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark
Office on Aug. 25, 2006, and claims priority under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.119(a) to Korean Application Ser. No. 10-2005-0078351, which
was filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Aug. 25,
2005, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein
by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a mobile communication
terminal and method for running an application therein.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Generally, an application implemented in a mobile
communication terminal receives a number or character for a
predetermined input item from a user. After running the
application, the user inputs a number or character in the input
item provided by the application. When a text message is sent, the
user selects a button for a Short Message Service (SMS), selects a
menu option of "Message Sending", and inputs a receiver number or
transmission message content. For example, when the user of the
mobile communication terminal wants to send predetermined text to a
receiver number, for example "010-123-4567", the user selects the
"SMS" button, selects the menu option of `Message Sending`, inputs
the receiver number, for example 0101234567 and transmission
message content, then selects a menu option of "Send" to send a
text message.
[0006] In the text message transmission method as described above,
the user enters an associated application menu and then inputs the
receiver number or transmission message content. When the receiver
number or transmission message content is first displayed on the
mobile communication terminal, the user must remember the displayed
content or must make a record of the displayed content, in order to
use the displayed content as an input value of a predetermined
application.
[0007] The user is inconvenienced because he or she must input a
number or character after running a predetermined application even
when a special hot key is set for the predetermined
application.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to
provide a mobile communication terminal and a method thereof that
allow a user to easily input a number or character for an
application.
[0009] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a mobile communication terminal, including one or more
applications implemented on the mobile communication terminal; a
controller for outputting on a display unit variable-related
applications when a user inputs a variable in an idle state, and
inputting the input variable as an input value of a predetermined
input field of a selected application when the user selects a
predetermined application; the display unit for displaying the
variable-related applications.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of the
present invention will be more clearly understood from the
following detailed description taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a mobile
communication terminal in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a control process for
running a number-related application in the mobile communication
terminal in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0013] FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate examples of screens of a display
unit when a number-related application runs in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a first embodiment for
running a number-related application in the mobile communication
terminal in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0015] FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate examples of screens of the
display unit when a number-related application runs in accordance
with the embodiment of FIG. 4;
[0016] FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C illustrate examples of screens of the
display unit when a unit converter application runs in accordance
with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating a second embodiment for
running a number-related application in the mobile communication
terminal in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0018] FIGS. 8A, 8B, 8C, 8D, and 8E illustrate examples of screens
of the display unit when a number-related application runs in
accordance with an embodiment of the embodiment of FIG. 7;
[0019] FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C illustrate example of screens of the
display unit when a schedule management application runs in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0020] FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a control process for
running a character-related application in the mobile communication
terminal in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0021] A mobile communication terminal determines whether an input
variable is a number or character when a user inputs a number or
character in an idle state. If the input variable is a number,
number-related applications are displayed. If the input variable is
a character, character-related applications are displayed. When the
user selects a predetermined application among the displayed
applications, the input number/character is input to an input field
of the selected application while the selected application runs.
Therefore, the convenience for the user is improved because a
number or character for a predetermined application can be input
before the application runs even when the input field is not
selected after a user desired application runs.
[0022] Various embodiments of the present invention will be
described in detail herein below with reference to the accompanying
drawings. In the following description, detailed descriptions of
functions and configurations incorporated herein that are well
known to those skilled in the art are omitted for clarity and
conciseness.
[0023] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a mobile
communication terminal in accordance with the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 1, the mobile communication terminal is provided
with a controller 2, a radio processor 4, a voice processor 6, a
display unit 8, a key input unit 10, and a memory 12.
[0024] The controller 2 controls the overall operation of the
mobile communication terminal. In accordance with the present
invention, the controller 2 controls the running of various
applications while performing an operation. When the user presses
keys of the key input unit 10 in an idle state of the controller 2,
the controller 2 detects a number in response to the pressed keys
and then displays the number on the display unit 8. That is, the
controller 2 is present in number input mode in the idle state.
Moreover, the controller 2 switches to character input mode when a
predetermined key is long pressed in the idle state, such that a
character can be input. The predetermined key may be any key of the
key input unit 10, for example, a "Cancel" key.
[0025] In the character input mode, the controller 2 switches to
the number input mode when a predetermined key is long pressed.
That is, number and character input switching is easy because the
number input mode and the character input mode can be switched in a
toggle scheme.
[0026] When a variable (e.g., a character or number) is input, the
controller 2 displays variable-related applications. For example,
the controller 2 can display application icons mapped to the UP,
DOWN, LEFT, and RIGHT directional keys on the display unit 8, and
can allow the user to know an application to be run according to
the variable input by the user. The user can select a desired
application by pressing one of the four directional keys.
[0027] That is, icons indicating four number-related applications
are displayed on the display unit 8 when a number has been input. A
general "number-related application" is an application in which a
number is received from the user in operation. The general
"number-related application" includes, but is not limited to, a
calculator, a unit converter, a schedule management function, or a
text message transmission function. When the user inputs a receiver
number and presses the UP directional key under an assumption that
the UP directional key of the four directional keys is mapped to
the text message transmission function, the controller 2 of the
terminal temporarily stores a receiver number, activates a menu
option of the text message transmission function, and inputs the
receiver number to an input field therefore. Moreover, the
controller 2 controls the running of an associated application
while performing a control operation such that the associated
application can detect the input number as an input value of the
input field.
[0028] Moreover, the controller 2 switches from the number input
mode to the character input mode when in the idle state the
"Cancel" key is long pressed by the user. When the user inputs
characters in the character input mode, the controller 2 displays
an icon indicating at least one character-related application on
the display unit 8.
[0029] A general "character-related application" is an application
in which a character is received from the user in operation. The
general "character-related application" includes, but is not
limited to, a text message transmission function, or a schedule
management function. If the user presses a key mapped to the text
message transmission function, the controller 2 of the terminal
temporarily stores input text content in the memory 12, outputs a
menu option of the text message transmission function, and inputs
the text content to an input field for message content.
[0030] However, when a variable unsuitable for an associated
application has been input, the controller 2 outputs an alarm
message through the display unit 8 and allows the user to input a
number or character in a proper input format. For example, the
controller 2 allows the user to input a suitable number of
digits/letters for an associated application. Alternatively, the
controller 2 allows the user to input a number in a range suitable
for the associated application.
[0031] For example, when the user inputs a number of digits
unsuitable for an existing format of a mobile phone number such as
12345 or so on and selects a text message transmission application
among displayed applications, the controller 2 can output an alarm
messages such as "This is incorrect format" on the display unit 8.
When the user inputs letters exceeding a limit of text message
length and selects the text message transmission application among
displayed applications, the controller 2 can output an alarm
message of "This exceeds transmission text capacity" on the display
unit 8.
[0032] The radio processor 4 converts voice data and control data
to a radio signal and transmits the radio signal. Moreover, the
radio processor 4 receives a radio signal, converts the received
radio signal to voice data and control data, and outputs the voice
data and the control data. The voice processor 6 converts the voice
data to audible sound and outputs the audible sound. Moreover, the
voice processor 6 converts a voice signal received from a
microphone to voice data and then outputs the voice data. The key
input unit 10 can be configured by a plurality of number and
character keys. The key input unit 10 is a device for receiving a
keyword to retrieve a phone number, and outputs a keyword input
signal to the controller 2. The display unit 8 can be implemented
with a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD). In accordance with the present
invention, the display unit 8 is responsible for displaying an
application through a User Interface (UI) or Graphic User Interface
(GUI). The memory 12 stores a plurality of applications and data,
and is provided with a buffer for temporarily storing a
number/character input of the user.
[0033] FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a control process for
running a number-related application in the mobile communication
terminal in accordance with the present invention. FIGS. 3A and 3B
illustrate examples of screens of the display unit 8 when a
number-related application runs in accordance with the present
invention.
[0034] Referring to FIG. 2, the controller 2 of the mobile
communication terminal determines whether the user inputs a number
at the time of the idle state in step 102. When the user inputs a
number, the controller 2 proceeds to step 104 to output
number-related applications on the display unit 8. For example,
when the user inputs 123456 in the idle state, the controller 2
outputs to the display unit 8 as illustrated in FIG. 3A. Referring
to FIG. 3A, the number-related applications are displayed on the
screen along with keys mapped thereto. Thus, the user can run a
desired application among the displayed applications by selecting a
key mapped thereto.
[0035] Subsequently, the controller 2 monitors which one of the
displayed applications is selected by the user in step 106. When
the user selects a predetermined application, the controller 2
determines whether the input number conforms to a number input
format for the selected application in step 108. If the input
number does not conform to the number input format for the selected
application, the controller 2 proceeds to step 112 to output an
error message on the display unit 8 indicating that the input
number is not suitable for the input format of the application. The
error message is displayed as illustrated in FIG. 3B. At this time,
the error message may differ according to an application.
[0036] However, if the input number conforms to the number input
format for the selected application, the controller 2 proceeds to
step 110 to run an associated application while controlling the
associated application to detect the input number as an input value
of a predetermined input field. Alternatively, the controller 2 can
temporarily store the number input by the user in the memory 12,
and can input the input number to an associated input field of the
application.
[0037] FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a first embodiment for
running a number-related application in the mobile communication
terminal in accordance with the present invention, and FIGS. 5A and
5B illustrate examples of screens of the display unit when a
number-related application runs in accordance with the embodiment
of FIG. 4.
[0038] Referring to FIG. 4, the controller 2 of the mobile
communication terminal determines whether the user inputs a number
at the time of the idle state in step 120. If the user inputs a
number, the controller 2 proceeds to step 122 to output
number-related applications on the display unit 8 as illustrated in
FIG. 5A. As described above, the "number-related applications"
include but are not limited to a calculator, an alarm, a unit
converter, a schedule management function, a text message
transmission function. This embodiment corresponds to the case
where the user selects a calculator application.
[0039] Thus, the controller 2 determines whether the user selects
the calculator application in step 124. When the user selects the
calculator application, the controller 2 proceeds to step 126 to
determine whether the input number is an input value for which
calculation is possible. In the calculator application, the number
of digits for which the calculation is possible is designated.
Therefore, the controller 2 must determine whether the number input
by the user is an input value in a calculation range. If the input
number has the number of digits for which the calculation is
possible in the calculator application, the controller 2 proceeds
to step 128 to run an associated application while controlling the
calculator application to detect the input number as a calculation
target value. When the application runs, a screen as illustrated in
FIG. 5B is displayed. Referring to FIG. 5B, the number, input by
the user, serving as the calculation target value is input to an
input field of the calculator application.
[0040] If the input number does not have the number of digits for
which the calculation is possible in the calculator application,
the controller 2 outputs an error message on the display unit 8 in
step 130. At this time, it is preferred that the error message is a
message such as "You can input only N digits".
[0041] Similarly, the first embodiment can be applied to a unit
converter application. FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6c illustrate examples of
screens of the display unit when the unit converter application
runs in accordance with the present invention. When the user
selects the unit converter application after inputting a number,
the controller 2 determines whether the input number is an input
value for which unit conversion is possible. In the unit converter
application similar to the calculator application, the number of
digits for which the unit conversion is possible is designated.
Therefore, the controller 2 must determine whether the number input
by the user is an input value within a unit conversion range. If
the input number has an input value for which the unit conversion
is possible, the controller 2 runs an associated application while
controlling the unit converter application to detect the input
number as a unit conversion target value. This case is illustrated
in FIG. 6. FIG. 6A illustrates a screen in which a number is input
by the user. When the application runs, a screen as illustrated in
FIG. 6B is displayed. Referring to FIG. 6B, the number input by the
user is detected as the unit conversion target value in the unit
converter application, and the unit converter application displays
a screen for asking the user which unit is applied for an
associated number. When the user selects Currency, the controller 2
inputs the input number corresponding to the unit conversion target
value to an input field as illustrated in FIG. 6C.
[0042] FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating a second embodiment for
running a number-related application in the mobile communication
terminal in accordance with the present invention, and FIGS. 8A,
8B, 8C, 8D, and 8E illustrate examples of screens of the display
unit when a number-related application runs in accordance with the
embodiment of FIG. 7.
[0043] Referring to FIG. 7, the controller 2 of the mobile
communication terminal determines whether the user inputs a number
at the time of the idle state in step 150. If the user inputs a
number, the controller 2 proceeds to step 152 to output
number-related applications on the display unit 8 as illustrated in
FIG. 8A. As described above, the "number-related applications"
include, but are not limited to, a calculator, an alarm, a unit
converter, a schedule management function, or a text message
transmission function. This embodiment corresponds to the case
where the user selects an alarm setup application.
[0044] Thus, the controller 2 determines whether the user selects
the alarm setup application in step 154. If the user selects the
alarm setup application, the controller 2 proceeds to step 156 to
determine whether the input number indicates hour and minute
values. The alarm setup application generally receives an alarm
time from the user. When the user inputs a number and selects the
alarm setup application, the controller 2 detects the first two
digits of the input number as the hour value and detects the last
two digits of the input number as the minute value. In a number of
1130 corresponding to the number input by the user in FIG. 8A, a
value of 11 is detected as the hour value and a value of 30 is
detected as the minute value. In this case, it is preferred that
the input number is fixed to four digits. When the input number is
a three-digit number, the controller 2 can detect the value of the
first digit as the hour value and can detect the value of the
remaining two digits as the minute value. For example, when the
input number is 520, the value of the first digit is detected as
the hour value and the value of the remaining two digits are
detected as the minute value, such that the input number of 520 is
detected as a time of 05:20 as illustrated in FIG. 8D.
[0045] Subsequently, the controller 2 determines whether the
detected hour value is in a proper time range. Similarly, the
controller 2 determines whether the detected minute value is in a
proper time range. The hour value indicates one of 12 hours and the
minute value indicates one of 60 minutes of one hour. If the input
number indicating the hour and minute values is in the proper time
range, the controller 2 proceeds to step 158 to run an associated
application while controlling the alarm setup application to detect
the input number as an alarm time value.
[0046] The alarm setup application detects the number input by the
user as the alarm time value. Then, the alarm setup application
displays a screen for asking the user which alarm is set up for an
associated number as illustrated in FIG. 8C. Referring to FIG. 8C,
the user can select a type of alarm for the input alarm time value.
In FIG. 8, Morning Call, Alarm1, and Alarm 2 are shown. The user
selects a type of alarm for an input alarm time value. At this
time, a cursor in a display screen is positioned on the
highest-order alarm of an alarm list when a currently set alarm is
absent or all possible alarms (e.g., three alarms) are set up. When
the currently set alarm and all unset alarms are present, the
cursor is positioned on an empty alarm. If one or more empty alarms
are present, the cursor can be positioned according to a proper
criterion. When the user has shifted the cursor to select a desired
alarm, the alarm setup application displays a screen for setting up
an associated alarm as illustrated in FIG. 8C.
[0047] When the controller 2 determines whether the hour value is
in the proper time range, the hour value can be expressed as one of
24 hours. For example, when the input number is 1640, the value of
the first two digits is detected as the hour value and the value of
the remaining two digits is detected as the minute value, such that
the input number of 1640 is detected as a time of 04:40 as
illustrated in FIG. 8E.
[0048] However, if the input number is out of the proper time
range, the controller 2 proceeds to step 160 to output an error
message on the display unit 8. At this time, the error message may
be a message of "Input time is incorrect". When the user inputs a
five-digit number, the controller 2 can output the error message on
the display unit 8.
[0049] Similarly, the second embodiment can be applied to a
schedule management application. FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C illustrate
examples of screens of the display unit when the schedule
management application runs in accordance with the present
invention. When the user selects the schedule management
application after inputting a number, the controller 2 determines
whether the input number indicates month and day values. The
schedule management application generally receives a management
target date from the user. Thus, the controller 2 detects the input
number as the management target date, and inputs the management
target date to a date input field of the schedule management
application. For this, the controller 2 detects a value of the
first two digits of the input number as the month value and detects
a value of the last two digits of the input number as the day
value. In a number of 0423 corresponding to the number input by the
user in FIG. 9A, a value of 04 is detected as the month value and a
value of 23 is detected as the day value. In this case, it is
preferred that the input number is fixed to four digits. The day
value is valid only when it is one of available dates in the input
month.
[0050] When the input number is in a proper date range, the
schedule management application displays a screen for asking the
user which schedule management is applied for an associated date as
illustrated in FIG. 9B. Referring to FIG. 9B, types of schedule
management include, but are not limited to, Schedule, Anniversary,
or Miscellaneous. The user sets a type of schedule management to be
applied for the input date. When the user selects Schedule, a
screen for setting Schedule is displayed as illustrated in FIG. 9C,
and the date input by the user is input to an associated input
field.
[0051] FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a control process for
running a character-related application in the mobile communication
terminal in accordance with the present invention.
[0052] Referring to FIG. 10, the controller 2 of the mobile
communication terminal determines whether the user enters the
character input mode at the time of the idle state in step 170.
When a predetermined key is long pressed by the user, the input
mode is switched to the character input mode, such that a character
can be input. The predetermined key is any key of the key input
unit 10, e.g., the "Cancel" key. When the character input mode is
entered, the controller 2 determines whether the user inputs a
character in step 172. If the user inputs a character, the
controller 2 outputs character-related applications on the display
unit 8 in step 174. A general "character-related application" is an
application in which a character is received from the user in
operation. The general "character-related application" may be a
text message transmission function, a schedule management function,
or so on.
[0053] When the user selects one of the displayed applications, the
controller 2 runs an associated application while performing a
control operation such that the associated application can detect
an input character as an input value.
[0054] As described above, the present invention provides a method
for running an associated application after inputting a number or
character corresponding to a target of interest of the user without
a special application selection process. The user can quickly and
conveniently use an application requiring a number/character input
in a terminal by directly inputting number/character content to the
terminal.
[0055] In the detailed description of the present invention, the
concrete embodiments such as a calculator, a unit converter, an
alarm function, a schedule management function, and so on have been
described. Notably, the present invention can be applied to all
applications in which a number or character is input. Therefore,
the present invention is not limited to the above-described
embodiments, but is defined by the following claims, along with
their full scope of equivalents.
* * * * *