U.S. patent application number 14/657064 was filed with the patent office on 2016-03-17 for mobile terminal and control method for the mobile terminal.
This patent application is currently assigned to LG ELECTRONICS INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is LG ELECTRONICS INC.. Invention is credited to Changkeun CHOI, Taewon JANG, Gwanggoo KANG, Daehwan KIM, Wooseong PARK.
Application Number | 20160080542 14/657064 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52824064 |
Filed Date | 2016-03-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160080542 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
PARK; Wooseong ; et
al. |
March 17, 2016 |
MOBILE TERMINAL AND CONTROL METHOD FOR THE MOBILE TERMINAL
Abstract
Disclosed are a mobile terminal to which a touch input is
applicable, and a control method thereof. The mobile terminal
includes: a terminal body; a wireless communication unit configured
to receive position information on the terminal body; and a
controller configured to extract one or more schedules stored in
the terminal body, to acquire azimuth information on positions
related to the extracted schedules based on the received position
information, and to output one or more icons related to the
extracted schedule(s) to an edge region of the display unit,
wherein when a tilted state of the terminal body is sensed, the
controller controls the one or more icons to move along the edge
region of the display unit, based on azimuth information changed
according to a sensed gradient.
Inventors: |
PARK; Wooseong; (Seoul,
KR) ; KIM; Daehwan; (Seoul, KR) ; CHOI;
Changkeun; (Seoul, KR) ; KANG; Gwanggoo;
(Seoul, KR) ; JANG; Taewon; (Seoul, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
LG ELECTRONICS INC. |
Seoul |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
LG ELECTRONICS INC.
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
52824064 |
Appl. No.: |
14/657064 |
Filed: |
March 13, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
455/566 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01C 21/3682 20130101;
G06F 3/04817 20130101; G06F 3/0346 20130101; H04M 1/72522 20130101;
H04W 88/02 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04M 1/725 20060101
H04M001/725; H04W 4/02 20060101 H04W004/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 16, 2014 |
KR |
10-2014-0122872 |
Claims
1. A mobile terminal, comprising: a display; a memory; a wireless
communication unit configured to receive position information
related to a current location of the mobile terminal; and a
controller configured to: identify an azimuth between a location
associated with a schedule stored in the memory, and the current
location and orientation of the mobile terminal; cause the display
to display an icon corresponding to the schedule according the
identified azimuth, wherein a displayed location of the icon within
the display corresponds to the location associated with the
schedule relative to the current location and the orientation of
the mobile terminal; cause the display to change the displayed
location of the icon according to changes in the current location
of the mobile terminal; and cause the display to change the
displayed location of the icon according to changes in the
orientation of the mobile terminal.
2. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is
further configured to cause the display to display a schedule
preview screen corresponding to the displayed icon in response to a
touch input received with respect to the displayed icon.
3. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein: an image of the
displayed icon comprises at least the location associated with the
schedule, a person related to the schedule, or time associated with
the schedule; and the controller is further configured to cause the
display to display a plurality of icons for a plurality of
schedules such that a number of the plurality of icons corresponds
to a number of the plurality of schedules.
4. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is
further configured to cause the display to: display a lock screen
corresponding to a locked state; and display the icon within an
edge portion of the lock screen.
5. The mobile terminal of claim 4, wherein the controller is
further configured to cause the display to display a menu for
executing at least one function associated with the schedule
corresponding to the icon at a specific location of the lock screen
when a drag touch input applied to the icon is released at the
specific location of the lock screen.
6. The mobile terminal of claim 5, wherein the controller is
further configured to: cause the mobile terminal to transition from
the locked state to an active state in response to a touch input
applied to a menu item of the menu displayed on the lock screen;
and execute a function corresponding to the menu item with respect
to the schedule corresponding to the icon.
7. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is
further configured to cause the display to display a schedule
preview screen related to the schedule corresponding to the
displayed icon in response to a drag input applied to the displayed
icon such that at least a size of the displayed schedule preview
screen is determined according to a length of the drag input.
8. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein: an image of the
displayed icon is associated with a specific person associated with
the schedule corresponding to the displayed icon; and the
controller is further configured to cause the display to display a
schedule preview screen corresponding to the schedule near the
displayed icon when a terminal registered to the specific person is
within a threshold distance with respect to the mobile
terminal.
9. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is
further configured to: cause the display to display a lock screen
corresponding to a locked state; cause the display to display a
profile icon representing the received position information at a
predetermined location on the lock screen; and arrange the icon
displayed within an edge portion of the lock screen with respect to
the displayed profile icon based on the identified azimuth.
10. The mobile terminal of claim 9, wherein the controller is
further configured to: transition the mobile terminal from the
locked state to an active state in response to a drag touch input
applied to the profile icon, the drag touch input released at the
displayed icon; cause the display to display an execution screen of
an application corresponding to the icon in the active state; and
cause the display to display the profile icon indicating the
current location of the mobile terminal and a graphic object
indicating the location associated with the schedule corresponding
to the icon on the execution screen.
11. The mobile terminal of claim 9, wherein the controller is
further configured to cause the display to display the icon within
the edge portion of the lock screen in response to a touch input
applied to the profile icon displayed on the lock screen.
12. The mobile terminal of claim 9, wherein the controller is
further configured to: identify time information; and control the
display such that the displayed location of the icon is changed
toward a side on which the profile icon is displayed according to
changes in the identified time information.
13. The mobile terminal of claim 12, wherein the controller is
further configured to cause the display to: re-arrange the icon
based on the azimuth in response to a first input applied to the
profile icon; and re-arrange the icon based on the time information
in response to a second input applied to the profile icon while the
icon re-arranged in response to the first input is displayed.
14. The mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein the controller is
further configured to cause the display to display: a first image
in the profile icon in response to the first input, the first image
representing the azimuth; and a second image in the profile icon in
response to the second input, the second image representing the
time information.
15. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is
further configured to: identify time information; and control a
size of the displayed icon according to the time information and
time associated with the schedule.
16. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the displayed location
is within an edge portion of the display.
17. A mobile terminal, comprising: a display; a memory; and a
controller configured to: cause the display to display an icon
corresponding to a schedule stored in the memory according to
current time information and time associated with the schedule,
wherein a displayed location of the icon within the display
corresponds to the time associated with the schedule relative to
the current time information; and cause the display to change the
displayed location of the icon according to changes in difference
between the current time information and the time associated with
the schedule.
18. The mobile terminal of claim 17, wherein: wherein the displayed
location is within an edge portion of the display; and the
controller is further configured to control the display such that
the displayed icon appears to move along the edge portion toward a
reference time line set on the display.
19. The mobile terminal of claim 18, wherein the controller is
further configured to: cause output of an alarm when the displayed
icon reaches the reference time line; and cause the display to stop
displaying the icon after outputting the alarm for a predetermined
period of time.
20. The mobile terminal of claim 19, wherein the controller is
further configured to: change the time associated with the schedule
that corresponds to the displayed icon from first time to second
time in response to a touch input applied to the icon that reached
the reference time line, dragging of the touch input-applied icon
in a second direction that is generally an opposite direction of
the first direction, and releasing of the dragged icon at a point
on the display; and. cause the display to display guide information
indicating the changed time in response to the releasing of the
dragged icon.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119(a), this application claims
the benefit of earlier filing date and right of priority to Korean
Application No. 10-2014-0122872, filed on Sep. 16, 2014, the
contents of which is incorporated by reference herein in its
entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] 1. Field of the Disclosure
[0003] This specification relates to a mobile terminal to which a
touch input is applicable, and a control method thereof.
[0004] 2. Background of the Disclosure
[0005] Terminals may be generally classified as mobile/portable
terminals or stationary terminals according to their mobility.
Mobile terminals may also be classified as handheld terminals or
vehicle mounted terminals according to whether or not a user can
directly carry the terminal.
[0006] Mobile terminals have become increasingly more functional.
Examples of such functions include data and voice communications,
capturing images and video via a camera, recording audio, playing
music files via a speaker system, and displaying images and video
on a display. Some mobile terminals include additional
functionality which supports game playing, while other terminals
are configured as multimedia players. More recently, mobile
terminals have been configured to receive broadcast and multicast
signals which permit viewing of content such as videos and
television programs.
[0007] Various attempts have been made to implement complicated
functions in such a multimedia device by means of hardware or
software.
[0008] The mobile terminal may store information on one or more
schedules through a user input. In this case, in order to check
positions related to the stored schedules, a user should release a
locked state of the mobile terminal, and then execute a schedule
application so as to check a position related to a specific
schedule. Then, the user should execute a map application so as to
display the checked position on a map screen, etc. Such complicated
steps may cause a user's inconvenience.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0009] Therefore, an aspect of the detailed description is to
provide a mobile terminal capable of intuitively displaying
schedule-related positions based on a current position thereof,
without undergoing a plurality of steps for checking positions
related to stored schedules, and a control method thereof.
[0010] Another aspect of the detailed description is to provide a
mobile terminal capable of intuitively displaying a remaining time
until a scheduled time based on a current time, and a control
method thereof.
[0011] To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with
the purpose of this specification, as embodied and broadly
described herein, there is provided a mobile terminal, including: a
terminal body; a wireless communication unit configured to receive
position information on the terminal body; and a controller
configured to extract one or more schedules stored in the terminal
body, to acquire azimuth information on positions related to the
extracted schedules based on the received position information, and
to output one or more icons related to the extracted schedule(s) to
an edge region of the display unit, wherein when a tilted state of
the terminal body is sensed, the controller controls the one or
more icons to move along the edge region of the display unit, based
on azimuth information changed according to a sensed gradient.
[0012] Further scope of applicability of the present application
will become more apparent from the detailed description given
hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed
description and specific examples, while indicating preferred
embodiments of the disclosure, are given by way of illustration
only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and
scope of the disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in
the art from the detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a
further understanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification, illustrate exemplary
embodiments and together with the description serve to explain the
principles of the disclosure.
[0014] In the drawings:
[0015] FIG. 1A is a block diagram of a mobile terminal according to
an embodiment of the present invention;
[0016] FIGS. 1B and 1C are views illustrating a mobile terminal
according to the present invention, which are viewed from different
directions;
[0017] FIGS. 2(a) to 2(d) illustrate conceptual views for
explaining an operation implemented by the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining an operation method of
a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0019] FIGS. 4(a) to 4(c) illustrate conceptual views for
explaining a method of displaying schedule-related icons in a
position based manner, in a mobile terminal according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0020] FIGS. 5(a) to 5(d) illustrate conceptual views for
explaining a method of executing one or more functions related to a
selected schedule, in a mobile terminal according to an embodiment
of the present invention;
[0021] FIGS. 6(a) to 6(d) illustrate conceptual views for
explaining a method of outputting a schedule preview screen of a
selected schedule, in a mobile terminal according to an embodiment
of the present invention;
[0022] FIGS. 7A(a) to 7B(c) are conceptual views for explaining a
method of informing that a mobile terminal according to an
embodiment of the present invention approaches a schedule-related
position;
[0023] FIGS. 8(a) to 8(c) illustrate conceptual views for
explaining a method of executing a schedule-related application in
a locked state of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of
the present invention;
[0024] FIGS. 9A(a) to 9C(e) are conceptual views for explaining a
method of displaying schedule-related icons according to time, in a
mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0025] FIGS. 10(a) to 10(c) illustrates conceptual views for
explaining how to change a method of displaying schedule-related
icons in a time or position-based manner, into a method of
displaying schedule-related icons in a position or time-based
manner, in a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the
present invention; and
[0026] FIGS. 11A(a) to 11B(c) are conceptual views for explaining a
method of executing a function to view schedule-related icons in an
overlapped manner, and a function to view schedule-related icons in
a scattered manner, in a mobile terminal according to an embodiment
of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0027] Description will now be given in detail according to
exemplary embodiments disclosed herein, with reference to the
accompanying drawings. For the sake of brief description with
reference to the drawings, the same or equivalent components may be
provided with the same or similar reference numbers, and
description thereof will not be repeated. In general, a suffix such
as "module" and "unit" may be used to refer to elements or
components. Use of such a suffix herein is merely intended to
facilitate description of the specification, and the suffix itself
is not intended to give any special meaning or function. In the
present disclosure, that which is well-known to one of ordinary
skill in the relevant art has generally been omitted for the sake
of brevity. The accompanying drawings are used to help easily
understand various technical features and it should be understood
that the embodiments presented herein are not limited by the
accompanying drawings. As such, the present disclosure should be
construed to extend to any alterations, equivalents and substitutes
in addition to those which are particularly set out in the
accompanying drawings.
[0028] It will be understood that although the terms first, second,
etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these
elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are
generally only used to distinguish one element from another.
[0029] It will be understood that when an element is referred to as
being "connected with" another element, the element can be
connected with the other element or intervening elements may also
be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being
"directly connected with" another element, there are no intervening
elements present.
[0030] A singular representation may include a plural
representation unless it represents a definitely different meaning
from the context.
[0031] Terms such as "include" or "has" are used herein and should
be understood that they are intended to indicate an existence of
several components, functions or steps, disclosed in the
specification, and it is also understood that greater or fewer
components, functions, or steps may likewise be utilized.
[0032] Mobile terminals presented herein may be implemented using a
variety of different types of terminals. Examples of such terminals
include cellular phones, smart phones, user equipment, laptop
computers, digital broadcast terminals, personal digital assistants
(PDAs), portable multimedia players (PMPs), navigators, portable
computers (PCs), slate PCs, tablet PCs, ultra books, wearable
devices (for example, smart glasses), head mounted displays (HMDs),
and the like.
[0033] By way of non-limiting example only, further description
will be made with reference to particular types of mobile
terminals. However, such teachings apply equally to other types of
terminals, such as those types noted above. In addition, these
teachings may also be applied to stationary terminals such as
digital TV, desktop computers, and the like.
[0034] Reference is now made to FIGS. 1A-1C, where FIG. 1A is a
block diagram of a mobile terminal in accordance with the present
disclosure, and FIGS. 1B and 1C are conceptual views of one example
of the mobile terminal, viewed from different directions.
[0035] The mobile terminal 100 is shown having components such as a
wireless communication unit 110, an input unit 120, a sensing unit
140, an output unit 150, an interface unit 160, a memory 170, a
controller 180, and a power supply unit 190. It is understood that
implementing all of the illustrated components of FIG. 1A is not a
requirement, and that greater or fewer components may alternatively
be implemented.
[0036] Referring now to FIG. 1A, the wireless communication unit
110 typically includes one or more modules which permit
communications such as wireless communications between the mobile
terminal 100 and a wireless communication system, communications
between the mobile terminal 100 and another mobile terminal,
communications between the mobile terminal 100 and an external
server. Further, the wireless communication unit 110 typically
includes one or more modules which connect the mobile terminal 100
to one or more networks.
[0037] To facilitate such communications, the wireless
communication unit 110 includes one or more of a broadcast
receiving module 111, a mobile communication module 112, a wireless
Internet module 113, a short-range communication module 114, and a
location information module 115.
[0038] The input unit 120 includes a camera 121 for obtaining
images or video, a microphone 122, which is one type of audio input
device for inputting an audio signal, and a user input unit 123
(for example, a touch key, a push key, a mechanical key, a soft
key, and the like) for allowing a user to input information. Data
(for example, audio, video, image, and the like) is obtained by the
input unit 120 and may be analyzed and processed by controller 180
according to device parameters, user commands, and combinations
thereof.
[0039] The sensing unit 140 is typically implemented using one or
more sensors configured to sense internal information of the mobile
terminal, the surrounding environment of the mobile terminal, user
information, and the like. For example, in FIG. 1A, the sensing
unit 140 is shown having a proximity sensor 141 and an illumination
sensor 142. If desired, the sensing unit 140 may alternatively or
additionally include other types of sensors or devices, such as a
touch sensor, an acceleration sensor, a magnetic sensor, a
G-sensor, a gyroscope sensor, a motion sensor, an RGB sensor, an
infrared (IR) sensor, a finger scan sensor, a ultrasonic sensor, an
optical sensor (for example, camera 121), a microphone 122, a
battery gauge, an environment sensor (for example, a barometer, a
hygrometer, a thermometer, a radiation detection sensor, a thermal
sensor, and a gas sensor, among others), and a chemical sensor (for
example, an electronic nose, a health care sensor, a biometric
sensor, and the like), to name a few.
[0040] The output unit 150 is typically configured to output
various types of information, such as audio, video, tactile output,
and the like. The output unit 150 is shown having a display unit
151, an audio output module 152, a haptic module 153, and an
optical output module 154. The display unit 151 may have an
inter-layered structure or an integrated structure with a touch
sensor in order to facilitate a touch screen. The touch screen may
provide an output interface between the mobile terminal 100 and a
user, as well as function as the user input unit 123 which provides
an input interface between the mobile terminal 100 and the
user.
[0041] The interface unit 160 serves as an interface with various
types of external devices that can be coupled to the mobile
terminal 100. The interface unit 160, for example, may include any
of wired or wireless ports, external power supply ports, wired or
wireless data ports, memory card ports, ports for connecting a
device having an identification module, audio input/output (I/O)
ports, video I/O ports, earphone ports, and the like. In some
cases, the mobile terminal 100 may perform assorted control
functions associated with a connected external device, in response
to the external device being connected to the interface unit
160.
[0042] The memory 170 is typically implemented to store data to
support various functions or features of the mobile terminal 100.
For instance, the memory 170 may be configured to store application
programs executed in the mobile terminal 100, data or instructions
for operations of the mobile terminal 100, and the like. Some of
these application programs may be downloaded from an external
server via wireless communication. Other application programs may
be installed within the mobile terminal 100 at time of
manufacturing or shipping, which is typically the case for basic
functions of the mobile terminal 100 (for example, receiving a
call, placing a call, receiving a message, sending a message, and
the like). It is common for application programs to be stored in
the memory 170, installed in the mobile terminal 100, and executed
by the controller 180 to perform an operation (or function) for the
mobile terminal 100.
[0043] The controller 180 typically functions to control overall
operation of the mobile terminal 100, in addition to the operations
associated with the application programs. The controller 180 may
provide or process information or functions appropriate for a user
by processing signals, data, information and the like, which are
input or output by the various components depicted in FIG. 1A, or
activating application programs stored in the memory 170. As one
example, the controller 180 controls some or all of the components
illustrated in FIGS. 1A-1C according to the execution of an
application program that have been stored in the memory 170.
[0044] The power supply unit 190 can be configured to receive
external power or provide internal power in order to supply
appropriate power required for operating elements and components
included in the mobile terminal 100. The power supply unit 190 may
include a battery, and the battery may be configured to be embedded
in the terminal body, or configured to be detachable from the
terminal body.
[0045] Referring still to FIG. 1A, various components depicted in
this figure will now be described in more detail. Regarding the
wireless communication unit 110, the broadcast receiving module 111
is typically configured to receive a broadcast signal and/or
broadcast associated information from an external broadcast
managing entity via a broadcast channel. The broadcast channel may
include a satellite channel, a terrestrial channel, or both. In
some embodiments, two or more broadcast receiving modules 111 may
be utilized to facilitate simultaneously receiving of two or more
broadcast channels, or to support switching among broadcast
channels.
[0046] The mobile communication module 112 can transmit and/or
receive wireless signals to and from one or more network entities.
Typical examples of a network entity include a base station, an
external mobile terminal, a server, and the like. Such network
entities form part of a mobile communication network, which is
constructed according to technical standards or communication
methods for mobile communications (for example, Global System for
Mobile Communication (GSM), Code Division Multi Access (CDMA),
Wideband CDMA (WCDMA), High Speed Downlink Packet access (HSDPA),
Long Term Evolution (LTE), and the like).
[0047] Examples of wireless signals transmitted and/or received via
the mobile communication module 112 include audio call signals,
video (telephony) call signals, or various formats of data to
support communication of text and multimedia messages.
[0048] The wireless Internet module 113 is configured to facilitate
wireless Internet access. This module may be internally or
externally coupled to the mobile terminal 100. The wireless
Internet module 113 may transmit and/or receive wireless signals
via communication networks according to wireless Internet
technologies.
[0049] Examples of such wireless Internet access include Wireless
LAN (WLAN), Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi), Wi-Fi Direct, Digital Living
Network Alliance (DLNA), Wireless Broadband (WiBro), Worldwide
Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), High Speed Downlink
Packet Access (HSDPA), HSUPA (High Speed Uplink Packet Access),
Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-A (Long Term Evolution-Advanced),
and the like. The wireless Internet module 113 may transmit/receive
data according to one or more of such wireless Internet
technologies, and other Internet technologies as well.
[0050] In some embodiments, when the wireless Internet access is
implemented according to, for example, WiBro, HSDPA, GSM, CDMA,
WCDMA, LTE and the like, as part of a mobile communication network,
the wireless Internet module 113 performs such wireless Internet
access. As such, the Internet module 113 may cooperate with, or
function as, the mobile communication module 112.
[0051] The short-range communication module 114 is configured to
facilitate short-range communications. Suitable technologies for
implementing such short-range communications include BLUETOOTH.TM.,
Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID), Infrared Data Association
(IrDA), Ultra-WideBand (UWB), ZigBee, Near Field Communication
(NFC), Wireless-Fidelity (Wi-Fi), Wi-Fi Direct, Wireless USB
(Wireless Universal Serial Bus), and the like. The short-range
communication module 114 in general supports wireless
communications between the mobile terminal 100 and a wireless
communication system, communications between the mobile terminal
100 and another mobile terminal 100, or communications between the
mobile terminal and a network where another mobile terminal 100 (or
an external server) is located, via wireless area networks. One
example of the wireless area networks is a wireless personal area
networks.
[0052] In some embodiments, another mobile terminal (which may be
configured similarly to mobile terminal 100) may be a wearable
device, for example, a smart watch, a smart glass or a head mounted
display (HMD), which is able to exchange data with the mobile
terminal 100 (or otherwise cooperate with the mobile terminal 100).
The short-range communication module 114 may sense or recognize the
wearable device, and permit communication between the wearable
device and the mobile terminal 100. In addition, when the sensed
wearable device is a device which is authenticated to communicate
with the mobile terminal 100, the controller 180, for example, may
cause transmission of data processed in the mobile terminal 100 to
the wearable device via the short-range communication module 114.
Hence, a user of the wearable device may use the data processed in
the mobile terminal 100 on the wearable device. For example, when a
call is received in the mobile terminal 100, the user may answer
the call using the wearable device. Also, when a message is
received in the mobile terminal 100, the user can check the
received message using the wearable device.
[0053] The location information module 115 is generally configured
to detect, calculate, derive or otherwise identify a position of
the mobile terminal. As an example, the location information module
115 includes a Global Position System (GPS) module, a Wi-Fi module,
or both. If desired, the location information module 115 may
alternatively or additionally function with any of the other
modules of the wireless communication unit 110 to obtain data
related to the position of the mobile terminal.
[0054] As one example, when the mobile terminal uses a GPS module,
a position of the mobile terminal may be acquired using a signal
sent from a GPS satellite. As another example, when the mobile
terminal uses the Wi-Fi module, a position of the mobile terminal
can be acquired based on information related to a wireless access
point (AP) which transmits or receives a wireless signal to or from
the Wi-Fi module.
[0055] The input unit 120 may be configured to permit various types
of input to the mobile terminal 120. Examples of such input include
audio, image, video, data, and user input. Image and video input is
often obtained using one or more cameras 121. Such cameras 121 may
process image frames of still pictures or video obtained by image
sensors in a video or image capture mode. The processed image
frames can be displayed on the display unit 151 or stored in memory
170. In some cases, the cameras 121 may be arranged in a matrix
configuration to permit a plurality of images having various angles
or focal points to be input to the mobile terminal 100. As another
example, the cameras 121 may be located in a stereoscopic
arrangement to acquire left and right images for implementing a
stereoscopic image.
[0056] The microphone 122 is generally implemented to permit audio
input to the mobile terminal 100. The audio input can be processed
in various manners according to a function being executed in the
mobile terminal 100. If desired, the microphone 122 may include
assorted noise removing algorithms to remove unwanted noise
generated in the course of receiving the external audio.
[0057] The user input unit 123 is a component that permits input by
a user. Such user input may enable the controller 180 to control
operation of the mobile terminal 100. The user input unit 123 may
include one or more of a mechanical input element (for example, a
key, a button located on a front and/or rear surface or a side
surface of the mobile terminal 100, a dome switch, a jog wheel, a
jog switch, and the like), or a touch-sensitive input, among
others. As one example, the touch-sensitive input may be a virtual
key or a soft key, which is displayed on a touch screen through
software processing, or a touch key which is located on the mobile
terminal at a location that is other than the touch screen. On the
other hand, the virtual key or the visual key may be displayed on
the touch screen in various shapes, for example, graphic, text,
icon, video, or a combination thereof.
[0058] The sensing unit 140 is generally configured to sense one or
more of internal information of the mobile terminal, surrounding
environment information of the mobile terminal, user information,
or the like. The controller 180 generally cooperates with the
sending unit 140 to control operation of the mobile terminal 100 or
execute data processing, a function or an operation associated with
an application program installed in the mobile terminal based on
the sensing provided by the sensing unit 140. The sensing unit 140
may be implemented using any of a variety of sensors, some of which
will now be described in more detail.
[0059] The proximity sensor 141 may include a sensor to sense
presence or absence of an object approaching a surface, or an
object located near a surface, by using an electromagnetic field,
infrared rays, or the like without a mechanical contact. The
proximity sensor 141 may be arranged at an inner region of the
mobile terminal covered by the touch screen, or near the touch
screen.
[0060] The proximity sensor 141, for example, may include any of a
transmissive type photoelectric sensor, a direct reflective type
photoelectric sensor, a mirror reflective type photoelectric
sensor, a high-frequency oscillation proximity sensor, a
capacitance type proximity sensor, a magnetic type proximity
sensor, an infrared rays proximity sensor, and the like. When the
touch screen is implemented as a capacitance type, the proximity
sensor 141 can sense proximity of a pointer relative to the touch
screen by changes of an electromagnetic field, which is responsive
to an approach of an object with conductivity. In this case, the
touch screen (touch sensor) may also be categorized as a proximity
sensor.
[0061] The term "proximity touch" will often be referred to herein
to denote the scenario in which a pointer is positioned to be
proximate to the touch screen without contacting the touch screen.
The term "contact touch" will often be referred to herein to denote
the scenario in which a pointer makes physical contact with the
touch screen. For the position corresponding to the proximity touch
of the pointer relative to the touch screen, such position will
correspond to a position where the pointer is perpendicular to the
touch screen. The proximity sensor 141 may sense proximity touch,
and proximity touch patterns (for example, distance, direction,
speed, time, position, moving status, and the like).
[0062] In general, controller 180 processes data corresponding to
proximity touches and proximity touch patterns sensed by the
proximity sensor 141, and cause output of visual information on the
touch screen. In addition, the controller 180 can control the
mobile terminal 100 to execute different operations or process
different data according to whether a touch with respect to a point
on the touch screen is either a proximity touch or a contact
touch.
[0063] A touch sensor can sense a touch applied to the touch
screen, such as display unit 151, using any of a variety of touch
methods. Examples of such touch methods include a resistive type, a
capacitive type, an infrared type, and a magnetic field type, among
others.
[0064] As one example, the touch sensor may be configured to
convert changes of pressure applied to a specific part of the
display unit 151, or convert capacitance occurring at a specific
part of the display unit 151, into electric input signals. The
touch sensor may also be configured to sense not only a touched
position and a touched area, but also touch pressure and/or touch
capacitance. A touch object is generally used to apply a touch
input to the touch sensor. Examples of typical touch objects
include a finger, a touch pen, a stylus pen, a pointer, or the
like.
[0065] When a touch input is sensed by a touch sensor,
corresponding signals may be transmitted to a touch controller. The
touch controller may process the received signals, and then
transmit corresponding data to the controller 180. Accordingly, the
controller 180 may sense which region of the display unit 151 has
been touched. Here, the touch controller may be a component
separate from the controller 180, the controller 180, and
combinations thereof.
[0066] In some embodiments, the controller 180 may execute the same
or different controls according to a type of touch object that
touches the touch screen or a touch key provided in addition to the
touch screen. Whether to execute the same or different control
according to the object which provides a touch input may be decided
based on a current operating state of the mobile terminal 100 or a
currently executed application program, for example.
[0067] The touch sensor and the proximity sensor may be implemented
individually, or in combination, to sense various types of touches.
Such touches includes a short (or tap) touch, a long touch, a
multi-touch, a drag touch, a flick touch, a pinch-in touch, a
pinch-out touch, a swipe touch, a hovering touch, and the like.
[0068] If desired, an ultrasonic sensor may be implemented to
recognize position information relating to a touch object using
ultrasonic waves. The controller 180, for example, may calculate a
position of a wave generation source based on information sensed by
an illumination sensor and a plurality of ultrasonic sensors. Since
light is much faster than ultrasonic waves, the time for which the
light reaches the optical sensor is much shorter than the time for
which the ultrasonic wave reaches the ultrasonic sensor. The
position of the wave generation source may be calculated using this
fact. For instance, the position of the wave generation source may
be calculated using the time difference from the time that the
ultrasonic wave reaches the sensor based on the light as a
reference signal.
[0069] The camera 121 typically includes at least one a camera
sensor (CCD, CMOS etc.), a photo sensor (or image sensors), and a
laser sensor.
[0070] Implementing the camera 121 with a laser sensor may allow
detection of a touch of a physical object with respect to a 3D
stereoscopic image. The photo sensor may be laminated on, or
overlapped with, the mobile terminal. The photo sensor may be
configured to scan movement of the physical object in proximity to
the touch screen. In more detail, the photo sensor may include
photo diodes and transistors at rows and columns to scan content
received at the photo sensor using an electrical signal which
changes according to the quantity of applied light. Namely, the
photo sensor may calculate the coordinates of the physical object
according to variation of light to thus obtain position information
of the physical object.
[0071] The display unit 151 is generally configured to output
information processed in the mobile terminal 100. For example, the
display unit 151 may display execution screen information of an
application program executing at the mobile terminal 100 or user
interface (UI) and graphic user interface (GUI) information in
response to the execution screen information.
[0072] In some embodiments, the display unit 151 may be implemented
as a stereoscopic display unit for displaying stereoscopic images.
A typical stereoscopic display unit may employ a stereoscopic
display scheme such as a stereoscopic scheme (a glass scheme), an
auto-stereoscopic scheme (glassless scheme), a projection scheme
(holographic scheme), or the like.
[0073] The audio output module 152 is generally configured to
output audio data. Such audio data may be obtained from any of a
number of different sources, such that the audio data may be
received from the wireless communication unit 110 or may have been
stored in the memory 170. The audio data may be output during modes
such as a signal reception mode, a call mode, a record mode, a
voice recognition mode, a broadcast reception mode, and the like.
The audio output module 152 can provide audible output related to a
particular function (e.g., a call signal reception sound, a message
reception sound, etc.) performed by the mobile terminal 100. The
audio output module 152 may also be implemented as a receiver, a
speaker, a buzzer, or the like.
[0074] A haptic module 153 can be configured to generate various
tactile effects that a user feels, perceive, or otherwise
experience. A typical example of a tactile effect generated by the
haptic module 153 is vibration. The strength, pattern and the like
of the vibration generated by the haptic module 153 can be
controlled by user selection or setting by the controller. For
example, the haptic module 153 may output different vibrations in a
combining manner or a sequential manner.
[0075] Besides vibration, the haptic module 153 can generate
various other tactile effects, including an effect by stimulation
such as a pin arrangement vertically moving to contact skin, a
spray force or suction force of air through a jet orifice or a
suction opening, a touch to the skin, a contact of an electrode,
electrostatic force, an effect by reproducing the sense of cold and
warmth using an element that can absorb or generate heat, and the
like.
[0076] The haptic module 153 can also be implemented to allow the
user to feel a tactile effect through a muscle sensation such as
the user's fingers or arm, as well as transferring the tactile
effect through direct contact. Two or more haptic modules 153 may
be provided according to the particular configuration of the mobile
terminal 100.
[0077] An optical output module 154 can output a signal for
indicating an event generation using light of a light source.
Examples of events generated in the mobile terminal 100 may include
message reception, call signal reception, a missed call, an alarm,
a schedule notice, an email reception, information reception
through an application, and the like.
[0078] A signal output by the optical output module 154 may be
implemented in such a manner that the mobile terminal emits
monochromatic light or light with a plurality of colors. The signal
output may be terminated as the mobile terminal senses that a user
has checked the generated event, for example.
[0079] The interface unit 160 serves as an interface for external
devices to be connected with the mobile terminal 100. For example,
the interface unit 160 can receive data transmitted from an
external device, receive power to transfer to elements and
components within the mobile terminal 100, or transmit internal
data of the mobile terminal 100 to such external device. The
interface unit 160 may include wired or wireless headset ports,
external power supply ports, wired or wireless data ports, memory
card ports, ports for connecting a device having an identification
module, audio input/output (I/O) ports, video I/O ports, earphone
ports, or the like.
[0080] The identification module may be a chip that stores various
information for authenticating authority of using the mobile
terminal 100 and may include a user identity module (UIM), a
subscriber identity module (SIM), a universal subscriber identity
module (USIM), and the like. In addition, the device having the
identification module (also referred to herein as an "identifying
device") may take the form of a smart card. Accordingly, the
identifying device can be connected with the terminal 100 via the
interface unit 160.
[0081] When the mobile terminal 100 is connected with an external
cradle, the interface unit 160 can serve as a passage to allow
power from the cradle to be supplied to the mobile terminal 100 or
may serve as a passage to allow various command signals input by
the user from the cradle to be transferred to the mobile terminal
there through. Various command signals or power input from the
cradle may operate as signals for recognizing that the mobile
terminal is properly mounted on the cradle.
[0082] The memory 170 can store programs to support operations of
the controller 180 and store input/output data (for example,
phonebook, messages, still images, videos, etc.). The memory 170
may store data related to various patterns of vibrations and audio
which are output in response to touch inputs on the touch
screen.
[0083] The memory 170 may include one or more types of storage
mediums including a Flash memory, a hard disk, a solid state disk,
a silicon disk, a multimedia card micro type, a card-type memory
(e.g., SD or DX memory, etc), a Random Access Memory (RAM), a
Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), a Read-Only Memory (ROM), an
Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM), a
Programmable Read-Only memory (PROM), a magnetic memory, a magnetic
disk, an optical disk, and the like. The mobile terminal 100 may
also be operated in relation to a network storage device that
performs the storage function of the memory 170 over a network,
such as the Internet.
[0084] The controller 180 may typically control the general
operations of the mobile terminal 100. For example, the controller
180 may set or release a lock state for restricting a user from
inputting a control command with respect to applications when a
status of the mobile terminal meets a preset condition.
[0085] The controller 180 can also perform the controlling and
processing associated with voice calls, data communications, video
calls, and the like, or perform pattern recognition processing to
recognize a handwriting input or a picture drawing input performed
on the touch screen as characters or images, respectively. In
addition, the controller 180 can control one or a combination of
those components in order to implement various exemplary
embodiments disclosed herein.
[0086] The power supply unit 190 receives external power or provide
internal power and supply the appropriate power required for
operating respective elements and components included in the mobile
terminal 100. The power supply unit 190 may include a battery,
which is typically rechargeable or be detachably coupled to the
terminal body for charging.
[0087] The power supply unit 190 may include a connection port. The
connection port may be configured as one example of the interface
unit 160 to which an external charger for supplying power to
recharge the battery is electrically connected.
[0088] As another example, the power supply unit 190 may be
configured to recharge the battery in a wireless manner without use
of the connection port. In this example, the power supply unit 190
can receive power, transferred from an external wireless power
transmitter, using at least one of an inductive coupling method
which is based on magnetic induction or a magnetic resonance
coupling method which is based on electromagnetic resonance.
[0089] Various embodiments described herein may be implemented in a
computer-readable medium, a machine-readable medium, or similar
medium using, for example, software, hardware, or any combination
thereof.
[0090] Referring now to FIGS. 1B and 1C, the mobile terminal 100 is
described with reference to a bar-type terminal body. However, the
mobile terminal 100 may alternatively be implemented in any of a
variety of different configurations. Examples of such
configurations include watch-type, clip-type, glasses-type, or as a
folder-type, flip-type, slide-type, swing-type, and swivel-type in
which two and more bodies are combined with each other in a
relatively movable manner, and combinations thereof. Discussion
herein will often relate to a particular type of mobile terminal
(for example, bar-type, watch-type, glasses-type, and the like).
However, such teachings with regard to a particular type of mobile
terminal will generally apply to other types of mobile terminals as
well.
[0091] The mobile terminal 100 will generally include a case (for
example, frame, housing, cover, and the like) forming the
appearance of the terminal. In this embodiment, the case is formed
using a front case 101 and a rear case 102. Various electronic
components are incorporated into a space formed between the front
case 101 and the rear case 102. At least one middle case may be
additionally positioned between the front case 101 and the rear
case 102.
[0092] The display unit 151 is shown located on the front side of
the terminal body to output information. As illustrated, a window
151a of the display unit 151 may be mounted to the front case 101
to form the front surface of the terminal body together with the
front case 101.
[0093] In some embodiments, electronic components may also be
mounted to the rear case 102. Examples of such electronic
components include a detachable battery 191, an identification
module, a memory card, and the like. Rear cover 103 is shown
covering the electronic components, and this cover may be
detachably coupled to the rear case 102. Therefore, when the rear
cover 103 is detached from the rear case 102, the electronic
components mounted to the rear case 102 are externally exposed.
[0094] As illustrated, when the rear cover 103 is coupled to the
rear case 102, a side surface of the rear case 102 is partially
exposed. In some cases, upon the coupling, the rear case 102 may
also be completely shielded by the rear cover 103. In some
embodiments, the rear cover 103 may include an opening for
externally exposing a camera 121b or an audio output module
152b.
[0095] The cases 101, 102, 103 may be formed by injection-molding
synthetic resin or may be formed of a metal, for example, stainless
steel (STS), aluminum (Al), titanium (Ti), or the like.
[0096] As an alternative to the example in which the plurality of
cases form an inner space for accommodating components, the mobile
terminal 100 may be configured such that one case forms the inner
space. In this example, a mobile terminal 100 having a uni-body is
formed in such a manner that synthetic resin or metal extends from
a side surface to a rear surface.
[0097] If desired, the mobile terminal 100 may include a
waterproofing unit (not shown) for preventing introduction of water
into the terminal body. For example, the waterproofing unit may
include a waterproofing member which is located between the window
151a and the front case 101, between the front case 101 and the
rear case 102, or between the rear case 102 and the rear cover 103,
to hermetically seal an inner space when those cases are
coupled.
[0098] FIGS. 1B and 1C depict certain components as arranged on the
mobile terminal. However, it is to be understood that alternative
arrangements are possible and within the teachings of the instant
disclosure. Some components may be omitted or rearranged. For
example, the first manipulation unit 123a may be located on another
surface of the terminal body, and the second audio output module
152b may be located on the side surface of the terminal body.
[0099] The display unit 151 outputs information processed in the
mobile terminal 100. The display unit 151 may be implemented using
one or more suitable display devices. Examples of such suitable
display devices include a liquid crystal display (LCD), a thin film
transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD), an organic light
emitting diode (OLED), a flexible display, a 3-dimensional (3D)
display, an e-ink display, and combinations thereof.
[0100] The display unit 151 may be implemented using two display
devices, which can implement the same or different display
technology. For instance, a plurality of the display units 151 may
be arranged on one side, either spaced apart from each other, or
these devices may be integrated, or these devices may be arranged
on different surfaces.
[0101] The display unit 151 may also include a touch sensor which
senses a touch input received at the display unit. When a touch is
input to the display unit 151, the touch sensor may be configured
to sense this touch and the controller 180, for example, may
generate a control command or other signal corresponding to the
touch. The content which is input in the touching manner may be a
text or numerical value, or a menu item which can be indicated or
designated in various modes.
[0102] The touch sensor may be configured in a form of a film
having a touch pattern, disposed between the window 151a and a
display on a rear surface of the window 151a, or a metal wire which
is patterned directly on the rear surface of the window 151a.
Alternatively, the touch sensor may be integrally formed with the
display. For example, the touch sensor may be disposed on a
substrate of the display or within the display.
[0103] The display unit 151 may also form a touch screen together
with the touch sensor. Here, the touch screen may serve as the user
input unit 123 (see FIG. 1A). Therefore, the touch screen may
replace at least some of the functions of the first manipulation
unit 123a.
[0104] The first audio output module 152a may be implemented in the
form of a speaker to output voice audio, alarm sounds, multimedia
audio reproduction, and the like.
[0105] The window 151a of the display unit 151 will typically
include an aperture to permit audio generated by the first audio
output module 152a to pass. One alternative is to allow audio to be
released along an assembly gap between the structural bodies (for
example, a gap between the window 151a and the front case 101). In
this case, a hole independently formed to output audio sounds may
not be seen or is otherwise hidden in terms of appearance, thereby
further simplifying the appearance and manufacturing of the mobile
terminal 100.
[0106] The optical output module 154 can be configured to output
light for indicating an event generation. Examples of such events
include a message reception, a call signal reception, a missed
call, an alarm, a schedule notice, an email reception, information
reception through an application, and the like. When a user has
checked a generated event, the controller can control the optical
output unit 154 to stop the light output.
[0107] The first camera 121a can process image frames such as still
or moving images obtained by the image sensor in a capture mode or
a video call mode. The processed image frames can then be displayed
on the display unit 151 or stored in the memory 170.
[0108] The first and second manipulation units 123a and 123b are
examples of the user input unit 123, which may be manipulated by a
user to provide input to the mobile terminal 100. The first and
second manipulation units 123a and 123b may also be commonly
referred to as a manipulating portion, and may employ any tactile
method that allows the user to perform manipulation such as touch,
push, scroll, or the like. The first and second manipulation units
123a and 123b may also employ any non-tactile method that allows
the user to perform manipulation such as proximity touch, hovering,
or the like.
[0109] FIG. 1B illustrates the first manipulation unit 123a as a
touch key, but possible alternatives include a mechanical key, a
push key, a touch key, and combinations thereof.
[0110] Input received at the first and second manipulation units
123a and 123b may be used in various ways. For example, the first
manipulation unit 123a may be used by the user to provide an input
to a menu, home key, cancel, search, or the like, and the second
manipulation unit 123b may be used by the user to provide an input
to control a volume level being output from the first or second
audio output modules 152a or 152b, to switch to a touch recognition
mode of the display unit 151, or the like.
[0111] As another example of the user input unit 123, a rear input
unit (not shown) may be located on the rear surface of the terminal
body. The rear input unit can be manipulated by a user to provide
input to the mobile terminal 100. The input may be used in a
variety of different ways. For example, the rear input unit may be
used by the user to provide an input for power on/off, start, end,
scroll, control volume level being output from the first or second
audio output modules 152a or 152b, switch to a touch recognition
mode of the display unit 151, and the like. The rear input unit may
be configured to permit touch input, a push input, or combinations
thereof.
[0112] The rear input unit may be located to overlap the display
unit 151 of the front side in a thickness direction of the terminal
body. As one example, the rear input unit may be located on an
upper end portion of the rear side of the terminal body such that a
user can easily manipulate it using a forefinger when the user
grabs the terminal body with one hand. Alternatively, the rear
input unit can be positioned at most any location of the rear side
of the terminal body.
[0113] Embodiments that include the rear input unit may implement
some or all of the functionality of the first manipulation unit
123a in the rear input unit. As such, in situations where the first
manipulation unit 123a is omitted from the front side, the display
unit 151 can have a larger screen.
[0114] As a further alternative, the mobile terminal 100 may
include a finger scan sensor which scans a user's fingerprint. The
controller 180 can then use fingerprint information sensed by the
finger scan sensor as part of an authentication procedure. The
finger scan sensor may also be installed in the display unit 151 or
implemented in the user input unit 123.
[0115] The microphone 122 is shown located at an end of the mobile
terminal 100, but other locations are possible. If desired,
multiple microphones may be implemented, with such an arrangement
permitting the receiving of stereo sounds.
[0116] The interface unit 160 may serve as a path allowing the
mobile terminal 100 to interface with external devices. For
example, the interface unit 160 may include one or more of a
connection terminal for connecting to another device (for example,
an earphone, an external speaker, or the like), a port for near
field communication (for example, an Infrared Data Association
(IrDA) port, a Bluetooth port, a wireless LAN port, and the like),
or a power supply terminal for supplying power to the mobile
terminal 100. The interface unit 160 may be implemented in the form
of a socket for accommodating an external card, such as Subscriber
Identification Module (SIM), User Identity Module (UIM), or a
memory card for information storage.
[0117] The second camera 121b is shown located at the rear side of
the terminal body and includes an image capturing direction that is
substantially opposite to the image capturing direction of the
first camera unit 121a. If desired, second camera 121a may
alternatively be located at other locations, or made to be
moveable, in order to have a different image capturing direction
from that which is shown.
[0118] The second camera 121b can include a plurality of lenses
arranged along at least one line. The plurality of lenses may also
be arranged in a matrix configuration. The cameras may be referred
to as an "array camera." When the second camera 121b is implemented
as an array camera, images may be captured in various manners using
the plurality of lenses and images with better qualities.
[0119] As shown in FIG. 1C, a flash 124 is shown adjacent to the
second camera 121b. When an image of a subject is captured with the
camera 121b, the flash 124 may illuminate the subject.
[0120] As shown in FIG. 1B, the second audio output module 152b can
be located on the terminal body. The second audio output module
152b may implement stereophonic sound functions in conjunction with
the first audio output module 152a, and may be also used for
implementing a speaker phone mode for call communication.
[0121] At least one antenna for wireless communication may be
located on the terminal body. The antenna may be installed in the
terminal body or formed by the case. For example, an antenna which
configures a part of the broadcast receiving module 111 may be
retractable into the terminal body. Alternatively, an antenna may
be formed using a film attached to an inner surface of the rear
cover 103, or a case that includes a conductive material.
[0122] A power supply unit 190 for supplying power to the mobile
terminal 100 may include a battery 191, which is mounted in the
terminal body or detachably coupled to an outside of the terminal
body. The battery 191 may receive power via a power source cable
connected to the interface unit 160. Also, the battery 191 can be
recharged in a wireless manner using a wireless charger. Wireless
charging may be implemented by magnetic induction or
electromagnetic resonance.
[0123] The rear cover 103 is shown coupled to the rear case 102 for
shielding the battery 191, to prevent separation of the battery
191, and to protect the battery 191 from an external impact or from
foreign material. When the battery 191 is detachable from the
terminal body, the rear case 103 may be detachably coupled to the
rear case 102.
[0124] An accessory for protecting an appearance or assisting or
extending the functions of the mobile terminal 100 can also be
provided on the mobile terminal 100. As one example of an
accessory, a cover or pouch for covering or accommodating at least
one surface of the mobile terminal 100 may be provided. The cover
or pouch may cooperate with the display unit 151 to extend the
function of the mobile terminal 100. Another example of the
accessory is a touch pen for assisting or extending a touch input
to a touch screen.
[0125] The controller 180 of the mobile terminal according to an
embodiment of the present invention, which can include at least one
of the aforementioned components, may receive position information
of the mobile terminal through the wireless communication unit 110.
And the controller 180 may acquire azimuth information indicating
positions related to one or more schedules pre-stored in the mobile
terminal, based on the received position information. Then, the
controller 180 may output one or more schedule-related icons on an
edge region of the display unit 151, based on the acquired azimuth
information. Upon sensing of a tilted state of the mobile terminal,
the controller 180 controls the icons to move along the edge region
of the display unit 151, based on azimuth information changed
according to the sensed gradient. This may allow a user to
intuitively check a direction of a schedule-related place on the
display unit 151, based on a current position of the mobile
terminal.
[0126] The `edge region` of the display unit 151 is an inner region
of the display unit 151 formed along a circumferential region of a
front surface of the display unit 151, which may mean a
circumference having a predetermined thickness. Alternatively, the
`edge region` of the display unit 151 may mean a boundary region
between the display unit 151 and a bezel portion (not shown) formed
along an edge of a front surface of the display unit 151. Still
alternatively, the `edge region` of the display unit 151 may mean a
boundary region among four surfaces, except for a status display
region output to an upper end of the display unit 151 and
indicating a status of the mobile terminal, and except for a key
input unit (e.g., a home key) output to a lower end of the display
unit 151.
[0127] Outputting schedule-related icons to the edge region of the
display unit 151 may mean that schedule-related icons are displayed
on one of an upper end, a lower end, a left end, a right end and
each corner of the display unit 151.
[0128] In the drawings of the present invention, schedule-related
icons have been displayed out of the display unit 151 for
convenience. However, the edge region of the display unit 151 means
an inner region of the display unit 151.
[0129] Hereinafter, a method of outputting schedule-related icons
will be explained in brief, and a method of checking
schedule-related information using icons displayed on the edge
region of the display unit 151 will be explained in more
detail.
[0130] FIGS. 2(a) to 2(d) are views illustrating a method of
outputting schedule-related icons in a mobile terminal according to
an embodiment of the present invention.
[0131] Referring to FIG. 2(a), when a screen of the display unit
151 is in an `ON` state, a lock screen 201, corresponding to a
locked state where input of a control command with respect to an
application is restricted, may be output to the display unit 151.
The lock screen 201 may include a lock-state releasing region at a
central portion thereof, the lock-state releasing region where a
touch for releasing a locked state of the mobile terminal is input.
Although not shown, a home screen, where icons of applications
installed at the mobile terminal are displayed, may be output to
the display unit 151.
[0132] Under such state, the controller 180 may output one or more
schedule-related icons to the edge region of the display unit
151.
[0133] The schedule includes information on times and/or places
preset by a user, and means information registered to a scheduling
calendar installed at the mobile terminal 100.
[0134] The information may be registered by a user input, or may be
automatically registered after being extracted from a message
stored in the mobile terminal 100 (e.g., an SMS text message, an
e-mail, a chatting record file using an SNS, etc. For instance, the
information may include schedule content, a schedule execution
time, a schedule-related place, and a schedule-related person.
[0135] For this, the controller 180 may extract one or more
schedules stored in the mobile terminal 100, and may generate one
or more icons based on information related to the extracted
schedules. In this case, the controller 180 may control only a
schedule or schedule-related information which satisfies a preset
condition, to be extracted. For instance, the controller 180 may
control only a schedule or schedule-related information which has
been pre-displayed on a scheduling calendar, to be extracted.
[0136] In a case where a position or a place related to the
extracted schedule has been stored, the controller 180 may detect
the position or the place. Then the controller 180 may acquire
azimuth information indicating a position or a place related to the
detected schedule, based on a current position of the mobile
terminal. For instance, if a current position of the mobile
terminal is `Sillim 2-dong` and a position related to an extracted
schedule is `Munjeong 2-dong`, the controller 180 may acquire
azimuth information indicating that a schedule-related position is
the North East.
[0137] Referring to FIG. 2(a) back, schedule-related icons 231, 232
and 233 are displayed on the edge region of the display unit 151 in
a floated manner, which may be representative images indicating
corresponding schedules.
[0138] More specifically, images of icons floated on the edge
region of the display unit 151 may correspond to at least one of a
position, a specific person and a time each related to an extracted
schedule. The number of icons floated on the edge region of the
display unit 151 may be determined in proportion to the number of
extracted schedules.
[0139] For instance, a first icon 231 related to a hospital
schedule is displayed as a `cross` image, a second icon 232 related
to a home schedule is displayed as a `home` image, and a third icon
233 related to an airport schedule is displayed as an `airplane`
image. Each of the illustrated icons has a circular shape. However,
the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the icons
may have any shape which can be displayed on the edge region of the
display unit 151. For instance, the circular shape may be replaced
by an arrow, a quadrangular shape, etc. As another example, as a
long touch input is applied to the floated icons, the controller
180 may enter an edition mode to change the images of the icons
into other images.
[0140] Positions of the icons 231, 232 and 233 indicate schematic
azimuths of corresponding schedules. For this, it may be defined
that, on the edge region of the display unit 151, a left side
indicates the East, a right side indicates the West, an upper end
indicates the North, and a lower end indicates the South.
Alternatively, it may be defined that a central region of the
display unit 151 is a virtual reference line, an upper region
indicates the North, and a lower region indicates the South.
[0141] For instance, the first icon 231 indicates that a position
of a reserved hospital is the North-North-East based on a current
position of the mobile terminal, and the second icon 232 indicates
that a position of a home is the North-East based on a current
position of the mobile terminal. And the third icon 233 indicates
that a position of an airport is the North-West based on a current
position of the mobile terminal. This seems as if places related to
schedules to be executed next time were schematically displayed on
the display unit 151 regarded as a virtual map. Accordingly, a user
can efficiently make a plan for executing next schedules based on
the arrangement of the icons.
[0142] As shown in FIG. 2(a), if a screen of the display unit 151
is turned on, icons may be immediately arranged on the edge region
of the display unit 151. In a case where a specific key has been
input in a locked state, icons may be arranged on the edge region
of the display unit 151. Whether to display such schedule-related
icons on the display unit 151 or not may be determined by a user's
setting.
[0143] In a state where schedule-related icons have been output to
the edge region of the display unit 151, the sensing unit 140 of
the mobile terminal may sense a gradient and a gradient direction
of the mobile terminal. The controller 180 may re-calculate azimuth
information about a schedule-related position, based on the sensed
gradient and gradient direction. Then the controller 180 may
control icons to move along the edge region of the display unit
151, based on the re-calculated azimuth information.
[0144] That is, the controller 180 may rearrange schedule-related
icons not only in a case where a position of the mobile terminal
has been changed, but also in a case where only a gradient of the
mobile terminal has been changed.
[0145] For instance, as shown in FIG. 2(b), if a user tilts the
mobile terminal to the right by a predetermined gradient value, the
controller 180 may move the icons arranged on the edge region of
the display unit 151 to a direction opposite to the tilted
direction, by the gradient value, so as to maintain the existing
azimuth information shown in FIG. 2(a). Accordingly, the first icon
231 is moved to a left direction by the gradient value (231''), the
second icon 232 is moved to an upper direction by the gradient
value (232''), and the third icon 233 is moved to a lower direction
by the gradient value (233'').
[0146] Thus, if a user tilts or rotates the mobile terminal,
azimuth information fixed based on a current position of the mobile
terminal is displayed.
[0147] If a touch input is applied to one (233) of the
schedule-related icons 231, 232 and 233 floated on the edge region
of the display unit 151 as shown in FIG. 2(c), a schedule preview
screen 243 is popped-up around the selected icon 233.
[0148] The schedule-preview screen 243 may include position
information, time information and schedule content each related to
schedules stored in the mobile terminal. Each of the schedule
content may include a check box indicating whether a schedule has
been checked or not (e.g., a box image). If a large amount of
content is included in the schedule preview screen 243, the
schedule preview screen 243 is scrolled to one direction so as to
have a changed output range.
[0149] Although not shown, if a preset touch input (e.g., a long
touch input or a long press touch input) is applied to the
popped-up schedule preview screen 243, a locked state of the mobile
terminal may be converted into a released state, and an application
related to the popped-up schedule preview screen 243 may be
executed.
[0150] A released state of the mobile terminal may mean that a
locked state with respect to some applications is released. For
instance, a locked state with respect to some applications for
receiving detailed information on schedules, e.g., a scheduling
calendar, a specific SNS application, a camera application, a map
application, etc., may be released.
[0151] Under such configuration, can be solved a user's
inconvenience to firstly release a locked state of the mobile
terminal so as to execute an entire screen viewing function with
respect to the popped-up schedule preview screen 243, and then to
execute a related application.
[0152] On the other hand, if a touch input (e.g., a short touch
input or a short press touch input) is applied to one point on the
lock screen 201 rather than the popped-up schedule preview screen
243, or if a predetermined time has lapsed, the popped-up schedule
preview screen 243 disappears.
[0153] As aforementioned, the mobile terminal of the present
invention may output schedule-related icons to the edge region of
the display unit, by acquiring azimuth information about positions
related to schedules stored in the mobile terminal, based on a
current position of the mobile terminal. Especially, as the
schedule-related icons floated on the edge region of the display
unit move based on azimuth information changed whenever a gradient
of the mobile terminal is changed, azimuths of schedule-related
positions are intuitively displayed. Further, a user may be
immediately provided with schedule information even in a locked
state of the mobile terminal, by using a touch input applied to an
icon.
[0154] FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining an operation method of
a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0155] Firstly, the mobile terminal 100 according to an embodiment
of the present invention may receive position information of the
terminal body, through the wireless communication unit 110
(S310).
[0156] Specifically, the wireless communication unit may receive
position information of the terminal body, using a global
positioning system (GPS) or a Wi-Fi positioning system (WPS) among
positioning techniques.
[0157] The GPS means a system for receiving GPS (Global Positioning
System) information of the terminal body, from a satellite that
goes around the Earth. That is, the wireless communication unit 110
may receive position information of the terminal body, based on
latitude information and longitude information received from the
GPS. The WPS means a system for determining a position of the
terminal body based on virtual access point (AP) database (DB)
information acquired through war-driving, and based on wireless
local area network (WLAN) AP information received from the mobile
terminal 100. That is, the wireless communication unit 110 may
acquire position information of the terminal body, based on a
triangulation method based on a position of an access point (AP) of
Wi-Fi.
[0158] Then the controller 180 of the mobile terminal 100 may
acquire azimuth information on positions of schedules stored in the
mobile terminal, based on the position information received through
the wireless communication unit 110 (S320).
[0159] The schedules stored in the mobile terminal may include
plans registered to a scheduling calendar installed at the mobile
terminal 100, other persons, places (positions), etc. Thus,
positions related to schedules stored in the mobile terminal mean
places related to scheduled plans.
[0160] For instance, in a case where an appointment in `XX`
hospital at 2:00 PM today has been registered to a scheduling
calendar, the `XX` hospital corresponds to a schedule-related
place. Then the controller 180 may collect azimuth information on a
place where the `XX` hospital is located, based on a current
position of the mobile terminal received from the wireless
communication unit 110.
[0161] Then the controller 180 may generate schedule-related icons
and output the generated icons to the edge region of the display
unit 151, based on the acquired azimuth information (S330).
[0162] An image of the icon may be information registered to a
scheduling calendar, e.g., another person's facial image with
respect to a scheduled plan, an image indicating a place in an
intuitive manner, or a text indicating a time of a scheduled plan.
The number of icons to be generated may be determined in proportion
to the number of schedules registered to a scheduling calendar.
[0163] In the present invention, the icons have a circular shape.
However, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the
circular shape may be replaced by at least one of an arrow, a
quadrangular shape, a place-related image, and a speech balloon (in
this case, acquired azimuth information can be indicated more
precisely).
[0164] The controller 180 may preset an output condition of
generated schedule-related icons.
[0165] More specifically, in an activated state (ON' state) of the
display unit 151, if a specific key of the mobile terminal is
pushed or a touch input applied to a specific region of the display
unit 151 is sensed, the controller 180 may control schedule-related
icons to be displayed on the edge region of the display unit 151.
In a case where an output condition of icons has been preset, if a
specific key of the mobile terminal is pushed or a touch input
applied to a specific region of the display unit 151 is re-sensed,
in a state where schedule-related icons have been output to the
edge region of the display unit 151, the controller 180 may control
the output icons to disappear.
[0166] A position of an icon output to the display unit 151
indicates an approximate direction of a place related to a
corresponding schedule. That is, a left edge region of the display
unit 151 indicates a west direction, and a right edge region of the
display unit 151 indicates an east direction. An upper edge region
of the display unit 151 indicates a north direction, and a lower
edge region of the display unit 151 indicates a south
direction.
[0167] For instance, if an icon has been output to an upper end of
the display unit 151, the mobile terminal may recognize that a
schedule-related place is located in the east based on a current
position of the mobile terminal. As another example, if an icon has
been output to a left lower side of the display unit 151, the
mobile terminal may recognize that a schedule-related place is
located in the south-west based on a current position of the mobile
terminal.
[0168] In the present invention, since schedule-related icons are
displayed along the edge region of the display unit 151, the mobile
terminal can allow a user to intuitively recognize a direction of a
place related to a next schedule from a current position, with
minimizing a blocked state of a screen output to the display unit
151.
[0169] The mobile terminal 100 may sense a gradient and a gradient
direction of the mobile terminal 100, using the sensing unit 140
(S340).
[0170] Specifically, the sensing unit 140 may include a motion
recognition sensor (not shown) configured to sense a motion of the
body. The motion recognition sensor (not shown) may be mounted in
the mobile terminal 100, and may recognize a motion of the mobile
terminal 100. The motion recognition sensor (not shown) may include
at least one of a terrestrial magnetism sensor, a gyro sensor and
an acceleration sensor.
[0171] The motion recognition sensor (not shown) may sense whether
the body has been tilted or not, a gradient value and a gradient
direction. That is, the motion recognition sensor (not shown) may
sense a displacement of the mobile terminal due to a tilted state
of the terminal body, i.e., a gradient direction and a gradient
angle, and may generate an electric signal based on the sensing.
The motion recognition sensor (not shown) may become activated when
a schedule-related icon has been output to the edge region of the
display unit 151.
[0172] Upon sensing of a tilted state of the mobile terminal, the
controller 180 may control icons output to the display unit 151 to
move along the edge region of the display unit 151, based on
azimuth information changed according to a direction of a sensed
gradient.
[0173] That is, whenever a tilted state of the mobile terminal is
sensed, the controller 180 may control schedule-related icons
output to the edge region of the display unit 151 to move in
proportion to a gradient direction and a gradient degree, in order
to fix directions indicated by the icons. In this case, an
animation effect to provide icons floated on the water can be
implemented.
[0174] FIGS. 4(a) to 4(c) illustrate conceptual views for
explaining a method of displaying schedule-related icons in a
position based manner, in a mobile terminal according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0175] Once the display unit 151 of the mobile terminal 100 is
activated, a lock screen 401, corresponding to a locked state where
input of a control command with respect to an application is
restricted, may be output to the display unit 151. Although not
shown, the locked state may be implemented when a user pushes a
preset specific key (e.g., hold key) of the mobile terminal
100.
[0176] The lock screen 401 may include a lock-state releasing
region where a touch for releasing a locked state of the mobile
terminal is input. For instance, if a plurality of touch inputs,
applied to a locked-state releasing region output to a central part
of the lock screen 401, matches a preset pattern, a locked state of
the mobile terminal may be converted into a released state. And a
release screen corresponding to a released state (e.g., a home
screen, or an execution screen of a recently-executed application)
may be output to the display unit 151.
[0177] In a state where a lock screen has been output to the
display unit 151, upon sensing of a preset gesture (e.g., a gesture
to move the terminal body by a value more than a reference value,
as shown in FIG. 4(b)), the controller 180 may output
schedule-related icons 421, 422, 423 and 424 to the edge region of
the display unit 151. The reference value, a threshold value
indicating the number of times that the terminal body is moved
right and left, may be set as 3 or more, such that the mobile
terminal recognizes a user's motion to move the terminal body as an
intentional input of a control command.
[0178] Points, where the icons 421, 422, 423 and 424 have been
arranged, indicate schedule-related places.
[0179] A current position of the mobile terminal may correspond to
a fixed position on the mobile terminal, e.g., a home key 130a. In
this case, even if a gradient of the mobile terminal is sensed,
positions of icons output to the display unit 151 may be fixed.
That is, since a current position of the mobile terminal is always
fixed to the specific position 130a, icons are arranged on the edge
region of the display unit 151 based on the specific position 130a.
Thus, the controller 180 needs not re-calculate schedule-related
azimuth information whenever the mobile terminal is moved. Rather,
the controller 180 has only to calculate schedule-related azimuth
information, based on a current position of the mobile
terminal.
[0180] For instance, if a current position of the mobile terminal
has not changed, as shown in FIG. 4(c), the first icon 421
indicating the East is output to a right edge region of the display
unit 151, and the second to fourth icons 422, 423 and 424
indicating the North are output to a left edge region of the
display unit 151. In a case where positions of a plurality of
schedule-related icons are close to each other, some of the
plurality of icons (e.g., the third and fourth icons 423 and 424)
may be displayed in an overlapped manner. Although not shown, in a
case where information on schedules stored in the mobile terminal
does not include place (position) information, an icon may be
output to the edge region of the display unit 151, or may be output
in a shape (e.g., box shape) differentiated from other icons.
[0181] A user may reset a schedule order based on positions of the
schedule-related icons 421, 422, 423 and 424. In a case where
positions of a plurality of schedule-related icons are close to
each other, a user may consecutively perform a schedule
corresponding to the third icon 423, and a schedule corresponding
to the fourth icon 424. This can enhance efficiency of a traffic
line (moving line).
[0182] Hereinafter, a method of executing one or more related
functions using a selected schedule-related icon will be explained
with reference to FIGS. 5(a) to 5(d).
[0183] As shown in FIG. 5(a), a lock screen corresponding to a
locked state of the mobile terminal is output to the display unit
151, and schedule-related icons 521, 522, 523 and 524 are floated
on the edge region of the display unit 151. In this state, as shown
in FIG. 5(b), the mobile terminal may sense that a touch input
applied to the specific icon 522 on the edge region is dragged to a
preset region on a lock screen (e.g., a central region of the
display unit 151) to thus be released.
[0184] As shown in FIG. 5(c), the controller 180 may output a menu
screen 550 for executing one or more functions related to a
schedule corresponding to the dragged icon, to a preset region of
the display unit 151 (e.g., a central region) when the drag input
is released.
[0185] As shown in FIG. 5(c), the menu screen 550 may be a circular
image divided into a plurality of regions and displaying a text
indicating a related function at each region. The plurality of
regions of the menu screen 550 may include an `information sharing
region` 551 with respect to the selected icon 522, a `detailed
schedule viewing region` 552, a `camera (AR: augmented reality)
viewing region` 553, a `route search region` 554, etc.
[0186] As shown in FIGS. 5(b) and (c), the controller 180 may
control icons to move along a path of a drag input, and may control
the icons to return to the edge region of the display unit 151 when
the drag input is released. The popped-up menu screen 550 may
disappear when a touch input is sensed on a background screen where
icons have not been output.
[0187] As shown in FIG. 5(c), when a touch input is sensed on one
region of the popped-up menu screen 550, e.g., the `information
sharing region` 551, the controller 180 may convert a locked state
of the mobile terminal into a released state.
[0188] The released state means a state where a user's input of a
control command with respect to some applications is not
restricted. That is, the released state may mean that a locked
state of the mobile terminal is converted into a released state
with respect to only an application related to a selected
region.
[0189] Once the `information sharing region` 551 is selected, the
controller 180 may control an application related to an information
sharing function, to be executed with respect to a schedule
corresponding to the selected icon 522. As a result, as shown in
FIG. 5(d), the mobile terminal may transmit information on a
schedule corresponding to the selected icon 522, e.g., an airplane
boarding time, things to do at an airport, etc., to another mobile
terminal, via e-mail, SNS application, Bluetooth, etc.
[0190] FIGS. 6(a) to 6(d) illustrate conceptual views for
explaining various examples to output a schedule preview screen of
a selected icon, using a touch input applied to the icon, in a
mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0191] As shown in FIG. 6(a), once a home screen 601 is output to
the display unit 151, schedule-related icons 621, 622 and 623 may
be floated on the edge region of the display unit 151.
[0192] If a touch input is applied to one of the schedule-related
icons 621, 622 and 623, a schedule preview screen 632 corresponding
to the selected icon 622 is output to a region adjacent to the
selected icon 622. The touch input may be a proximity touch having
a duration time less than a reference time, or a single touch (tap
touch).
[0193] If a reference time lapses in a state where the schedule
preview screen 632 has been output, the output schedule preview
screen 632 disappears. If a touch input applied to the schedule
preview screen 632 is sensed, information on the schedule is output
to an entire region of the display unit 151. That is, an execution
screen of an application related to the schedule (e.g., scheduling
calendar) is immediately displayed.
[0194] When a drag input connected from one of a left side and a
right side of the edge region of the display unit 151 to another is
applied to an icon, the controller 180 may control a schedule
preview screen related to the icon to be output to be fixed to said
another. That is, the controller 180 may control an output schedule
preview screen to continuously float on the display unit 151, by
applying a sticker function to the output schedule preview
screen.
[0195] For instance, as shown in FIGS. 6(b) and 6(c), in a state
where the schedule preview screen 632 has been output, if a touch
input applied to another icon 623 is dragged to one direction,
i.e., dragged up to the edge region opposite to the original output
position of the icon 623, a schedule preview screen 633
corresponding to the icon 623 gradually appears to cover part of
the previously-output schedule preview screen 632.
[0196] In this case, an image, of which size is gradually changed
according to a path of the drag input, may be generated on the home
screen 601. Information on a schedule corresponding to the icon 623
is displayed in the image. As a pinch-out/pinch-in touch input is
applied to the fixed schedule preview screen 633 up and down or
right and left, a size of the fixed schedule preview screen 633 may
be controlled.
[0197] Once the schedule preview screen 633 is fixed to the home
screen 601, a position of the selected icon 623 is changed into the
drag input-released point to thus be fixed, as shown in FIG.
6(c).
[0198] Once the selected icon 623 and the schedule preview screen
633 are fixed, the home screen 601 output to the display unit 151
may be changed into another screen 602, and said another screen 602
may be continuously displayed even when said other icons 621 and
622 have disappeared.
[0199] A fixed state of the icon 623 and the schedule preview
screen 633 may be released when a preset touch input (e.g., a long
touch having a duration time more than a reference time, or a long
press touch input) is applied to the icon 623. If a reference time
lapses, the fixed icon 623 and schedule preview screen 633
disappear from the display unit 151. In this case, an animation
effect to roll paper may be applied to the schedule preview screen
633.
[0200] A schedule preview screen corresponding to an icon may be
automatically popped-up when a specific condition is satisfied.
[0201] FIGS. 7A(a) to 7A(c) and 7B(a) to 7B(c) are conceptual views
for explaining an embodiment where a schedule preview screen is
automatically popped-up when the mobile terminal 100 according to
an embodiment of the present invention approaches a
schedule-related position.
[0202] FIGS. 7A(a) to 7A(c) illustrate a method for explaining a
method of informing a user that a mobile terminal according to an
embodiment of the present invention approaches another mobile
terminal related to a schedule.
[0203] Referring to FIG. 7A(a), a schedule-related icon 721 may be
displayed as another person's facial image related to a schedule.
Said another person's facial image may be a facial image pre-stored
in an address book of the mobile terminal, a preset facial image,
or a facial image selected from an edition mode where the mobile
terminal has entered by applying a long touch input to the icon
721.
[0204] In another embodiment, in a case where a facial image has
been displayed on the schedule-related icon 721, when icons are
displayed on the edge region of the display unit 151, the icons may
be arranged based on azimuth information of another person's mobile
terminal. However, in this case, it is assumed that another person
has permitted position-tracking of his or her mobile terminal.
[0205] In a case where an image of the floated icon is associated
with a schedule-related specific person, the controller 180 may
output a corresponding schedule preview screen around the icon, in
response to sensing of the specific person's registered terminal
within a reference range based on the received position
information. Alarm information such as output of a sound, a
vibration and a graphic object, may be further output to the mobile
terminal.
[0206] For instance, as shown in FIG. 7A(b), in a case where the
user's mobile terminal 100 and another person's mobile terminal 200
related to a schedule corresponding to the icon 721 are close to
each other within a predetermined distance (e.g., a predetermined
distance where they can transceive (transmit and receive) Bluetooth
(BT) signals), the controller 180 recognizes that the user is with
another person related to a schedule corresponding to the icon 721.
Then the controller 180 may automatically pop-up things to do on
the display unit 151, as shown in FIG. 7A(c). This can allow a user
to perform all things to do without forgetting his or her schedules
when the user is with a specific person.
[0207] FIGS. 7B(a) to 7B(c) are views illustrating a method of
informing a user that the mobile terminal is close to a
schedule-related place.
[0208] As shown in FIG. 7B(a), icons 722 and 723 floated on the
edge region of the display unit 151 indicate only schematic azimuth
information related to a schedule. Thus, whether a current position
of the mobile terminal is closer to a place corresponding to the
first icon 722, or a place corresponding to the second icon 723 can
be determined, in a case where a touch input has been applied to an
icon.
[0209] If a schedule-related position corresponding to an icon
floated on the edge region of the display unit 151 is within a
reference range (e.g., several tens several meters) based on
received position information, the controller 180 may output preset
alarm information so as to inform a user of things to do nearby.
The alarm information may include at least one of output of a
sound, output of a vibration, output of a graphic object, and
change of an image of the icon.
[0210] For instance, if a current position of the mobile terminal
is close to `XX` hospital corresponding to the icon 723, a message
window such as "The current position is close to `XX` hospital" may
be popped-up on the display unit 151 as shown in FIG. 7B(b). If a
predetermined time lapses or a current position of the mobile
terminal is closer to the `XX` hospital, a schedule preview screen
733 corresponding to the icon 723 may be output as shown in FIG.
7B(c). This can allow a user to efficiently change a schedule with
consideration of a traffic line (moving line), even before a
scheduled time.
[0211] Hereinafter, a method of executing a schedule-related
application by applying a touch input to an icon, in a locked state
of the mobile terminal will be explained with reference to FIGS.
8(a) to 8(c).
[0212] As shown in FIG. 8(a), once the display unit 151 of the
mobile terminal 100 is turned on, a lock screen 801, corresponding
to a locked state where input of a control command with respect to
an application is restricted, may be output. A plurality of
schedule-related icons 821, 822, 823 and 824 may be floated on the
edge region of the display unit 151, on points indicating
schedule-related places.
[0213] A profile icon 840, which indicates position information of
the mobile terminal received through the wireless communication
unit 110, may be output to a preset region of the lock screen,
e.g., a central region of a lower end (or a lower side of a
locked-state releasing region). In this case, the schedule-related
icons 821, 822, 823 and 824 may be arranged based on a position of
the profile icon 840 and pre-obtained azimuth information, rather
than the home key 130a aforementioned with reference to FIG.
4(c).
[0214] An image of the profile icon 840 may be displayed as a
user's pre-registered facial image. Alternatively, as
aforementioned, the image of the profile icon 840 may be an image
selected from an edition mode where the mobile terminal has entered
by applying a long touch input to the icon 840. Text information
(not shown) indicating a current position of the mobile terminal,
and information (not shown) on the number of next schedules may be
displayed around the profile icon 840. A touch input may be applied
to the profile icon 840.
[0215] If a drag touch input applied to the profile icon 840 is
released from the icon floated on the edge region of the display
unit 151, the controller 180 may convert a locked state of the
mobile terminal into a released state, and may output an execution
screen of an application corresponding to the selected icon to the
display unit 151.
[0216] A current position of the mobile terminal, which corresponds
to the profile icon, and a graphic object (e.g., path guide image)
indicating a schedule-related position corresponding to the
selected icon may be displayed on the execution screen.
[0217] For instance, if a touch input applied to the profile icon
840 is dragged to the floated icon 823 as shown in FIG. 8(b), the
controller 180 releases a locked state of the mobile terminal and
then outputs an execution screen of a map application, in order to
provide detailed information on a schedule in a hotel related to
the icon 823 as shown in FIG. 8(c). A first graphic object 841
indicating a current position of the mobile terminal, a second
graphic object 842 indicating a position of a hotel, and a pop-up
window 843 indicating things to do at a hotel, are output to a map
screen 802. If a user presses a back button, a home screen may be
output to the display unit 151.
[0218] In the present invention, a user may be provided with
detailed information on schedule content or schedule-related
positions, even in a locked state of the mobile terminal.
[0219] So far, it has been explained that schedule-related icons
are displayed on the edge region of the display unit 151 in a
position-based manner. Hereinafter, various examples to display
schedule-related icons on the edge region of the display unit 151
in a time-based manner will be explained in more detail with
reference to FIGS. 9A(a) to 9C(e).
[0220] The mobile terminal 100 according to the present invention
may further receive time information with respect to the terminal
body, through the wireless communication unit 110. The wireless
communication unit 110 may receive information on current time,
from a base station.
[0221] FIGS. 9A(a) and 9A(b) illustrate an embodiment where
schedule-related icons have been displayed on the edge region of
the display unit 151 in a time-based manner.
[0222] The controller 180 may extract one or more schedules stored
in the terminal body, and may calculate a remaining time until a
scheduled time with respect to the extracted schedule, based on
time information received through the wireless communication unit
110. The controller 180 may output icons related to the extracted
schedules to the edge region of the display unit, based on the
calculated remaining time. For instance, if a remaining time until
a scheduled time based on a current time is comparatively long, the
controller 180 arranges the icon on a position far from a
predetermined point on the edge region. On the other hand, if a
remaining time until a scheduled time based on a current time is
comparatively short, the controller 180 arranges the icon on a
position close to the predetermined point on the edge region.
[0223] Referring to FIG. 9A(a), the predetermined point may be one
of two lower edge regions. If a calculated remaining time is
comparatively short, the controller 180 arranges the icon on a
position close to the lower edge region. On the other hand, if a
calculated remaining time is comparatively long, the controller 180
arranges the icon on a position far from the lower edge region,
i.e., a position close to one of two upper edge regions.
[0224] The controller 180 may control schedule-related icons to
move to a preset direction along the edge region of the display
unit 151, as time lapses, i.e., in response to change of received
time information. FIG. 9A(a) illustrates that schedule-related
icons 921, 922, 923 and 924 move downward toward a reference time
line on the display unit 151, as time lapses. However, the present
invention is not limited to this. That is, the schedule-related
icons 921, 922, 923 and 924 may rotate to other direction (e.g.,
upper, clockwise or counterclockwise direction).
[0225] For this, as shown in FIG. 9A(a), a reference time line
informing a current time may be set to two lower edge regions of
the display unit 151. The reference time line may be displayed on
the display unit 151 as a straight line, or may not be displayed as
a virtual line. In this case, the schedule-related icons 921, 922,
923 and 924 are not displayed based on azimuth information, but are
displayed on a left edge region or a right edge region of the
display unit 151. As time lapses, the schedule-related icons 921,
922, 923 and 924 are gradually downward moved.
[0226] That is, the controller 180 may control the schedule-related
icons to move toward a reference time line along the edge region of
the display unit 151, according to a changed degree of received
time information.
[0227] Moving speeds of the schedule-related icons 921, 922, 923
and 924 of FIG. 9A(a) toward the reference time line may be
different from each other. That is, a moving speed of a
schedule-related icon may be variable according to a remaining time
until a corresponding schedule is executed, an importance of a
schedule, etc. For instance, if remaining times until scheduled
times corresponding to a plurality of icons overlapped with each
other on the same position are different from each other, the
overlapped icons may be separated from each other as time lapses.
As another example, if a remaining time until a corresponding
schedule is executed is short (e.g., 30 minutes or less), the
mobile terminal may move more rapidly than before.
[0228] In a case where an icon 921 is overlapped with the reference
time line partially or wholly, the controller 180 may recognize
that it's time to execute a schedule corresponding to the icon 921.
Thus, the controller 180 may output an alarm indicating a schedule
corresponding to the icon 921 overlapped with the reference time
line. If a reference time (e.g., 5 seconds) lapses or the icon 921
has completely passed through the reference time line, the
controller 180 may control the icon 921 to disappear from the
display unit 151.
[0229] In a state where the icon 921 has been partially or wholly
overlapped with the reference time line on the display unit 151, if
a touch input applied to the icon 921 is dragged to a direction to
become distant from the reference time line, the controller 180 may
change a scheduled time of the dragged icon 921.
[0230] As a result, as shown in FIG. 9A(b), the icon 921 is moved
to a drag-released point (921''). Then guide information indicating
a changed schedule, i.e., a message indicating a delayed time
(e.g., a schedule has been delayed by 30 minutes.) (950) is
popped-up around the icon 921''.
[0231] If a user wishes to advance a scheduled time, the user has
only to drag touch inputs applied to the schedule-related icons
921, 922, 923 and 924, to a direction close to the reference time
line. In this case, a scheduled time is advanced in proportion to a
dragged length and a remaining time until the scheduled time. Guide
information similar to that shown in FIG. 9A(b) may be popped-up on
the display unit 151.
[0232] FIGS. 9B(a) to 9B(c) and 9C(a) to 9C(e) are views
illustrating embodiments where a time concept is applied to
schedule-related icons arranged in a position-based manner.
[0233] Referring to FIG. 9B(a), floated icons 925, 926, 927 and 928
are displayed on the edge region of the display unit 151 in
different sizes. The icons 925, 926, 927 and 928 are displayed on
an upper end, a lower end, a right edge region and a left edge
region, since they are arranged based on azimuth information unlike
in FIGS. 9A(a) and 9A(b).
[0234] For this, the controller 180 may calculate remaining times
until scheduled times corresponding to the icons 925, 926, 927 and
928, based on time information received through the wireless
communication unit 110. The controller 180 may control the floated
icons to have different sizes based on the calculated remaining
times. In this case, the controller 180 may gradually increase a
size of the icon as time lapses, so that a user can intuitively
recognize that a scheduled time is near at hand. An increased
degree of the size of the icon may be variable according to a
remaining time until a scheduled time, based on a current time.
[0235] For instance, as shown in FIG. 9B(a), the first icon 925 has
been displayed in a largest size, since a remaining time until a
scheduled time is short. On the contrary, the third and fourth
icons 927 and 928 have been displayed in a small size, since a
remaining time until a scheduled time is long.
[0236] As shown in FIG. 9B(b), the first icon 925 is increased to a
largest size, and a schedule preview screen 935 is automatically
output when a scheduled time is near at hand. Alarm information
such as a vibration and a sound may be further output so that a
user can recognize that the current time is a scheduled time. When
a reference time (e.g., 1 minute) lapses, the schedule preview
screen 935 disappears from the display unit 151 as shown in FIG.
9B(c). The icons 925, 926, 927 and 928 move along the edge region
of the display unit 151 when azimuth information on
schedule-related places are changed based on a current position of
the mobile terminal.
[0237] FIGS. 9C(a) to 9C(e) are views illustrating that a time
concept is applied as movement of icons, like a position concept.
As shown in FIG. 9C(a), icons 929 and 930 arranged on the edge
region of the display unit 151 may be further provided with arrow
images indicating azimuth information on schedule-related
positions. A graphic object 941 indicating a current position of
the mobile terminal, and information 942 indicating the number of
schedules to be performed may be displayed around a profile icon
940. A virtual horizontal straight line may be set as a reference
time line, based on a point where the profile icon 940 has been
arranged.
[0238] Under an assumption that the current position of the mobile
terminal is not changed in such a state, the icons 929 and 930 move
toward the profile icon 940 as time lapses, based on remaining
times until scheduled times. In this case, the first icon 929
having a shorter remaining time than the second icon 930 until a
scheduled time may move faster than the second icon 930.
[0239] As the first icon 929 is downward moved, as shown in FIG.
9C(b), the arrow image included in the first icon 929 may clockwise
rotate so as to continue to indicate the original direction.
[0240] Referring to FIG. 9C(c), if the first icon 929 becomes close
to the profile icon 940 within a predetermined range (e.g., 30
minutes based on a calculated remaining time, or 3-5 cm based on a
spaced distance), a keyword window 960 (e.g., `application
conference`) indicating a schedule corresponding to the first icon
929 is popped-up around the first icon 929. Thus, a user can check
a schedule to be executed a little later, without an additional
manipulation. A color of the first icon 929 may be changed, or an
emphasizing effect such as flickering may be applied to the first
icon 929.
[0241] If a touch input is applied to the first icon 929 under such
state, a schedule preview screen 939 is output as shown in FIG.
9C(d). If a touch input is applied to the keyword window 960, a
menu screen 970 including schedule-related messages 971, 972 and
973 to be sent to another person and a call making icon 974 is
popped-up around the first icon 929 as shown in FIG. 9C(e). In this
case, a user can send a message or make a call to a
schedule-related another party. Accordingly, a user's convenience
can be enhanced.
[0242] FIGS. 10(a) to 10(c) illustrate conceptual views for
explaining how to change a method of displaying schedule-related
icons in a position or time-based manner, into a method of
displaying schedule-related icons in a time or position-based
manner, according to a user's selection.
[0243] As shown in FIG. 10(a), if the display unit 151 is converted
into an `ON` state from an `OFF` state, a lock screen corresponding
to a locked state of the mobile terminal, or a home screen may be
output to the display unit 151. A profile icon 1040a may be
popped-up on a lower region of the display unit 151. An image of
the profile icon 1040a may be a preset facial image, or an image
selected in an edition mode where the mobile terminal has entered
by applying a touch input to the icon 1040a. Once the profile icon
1040a is popped-up, position information of the mobile terminal may
be received, and information on schedules stored in the mobile
terminal may be extracted. However, schedule-related icons are not
output.
[0244] Under this state, if a touch input (e.g., a single touch
input or a tab) is applied to the popped-up profile icon 1040a,
icons are arranged on the edge region of the display unit 151,
based on azimuth information of schedule-related icons (or in a
position-based manner), at a time point when the applied touch
input has been released. As a result, as shown in FIG. 10(b), a
plurality of icons 1021a, 1022a, 1023a and 1024a are floated on the
edge region of the display unit 151, and the profile icon 1040a is
changed into an image 1040b indicating azimuth information.
[0245] Once a touch input (e.g., a single touch input or a tab) is
re-applied to the profile icon 1040b, schedule-related icons are
rearranged on the edge region of the display unit 151 based on time
information, at a time point when the applied touch input has been
released. As a result, as shown in FIG. 10(c), a plurality of icons
1021b, 1022b, 1023b and 1024b are floated on right and left edge
regions of the display unit 151, and the image 1040b is changed
into an image 1040c indicating time information.
[0246] That is, the profile icon is changed into a different image,
as an arrangement method of schedule-related icons is changed from
a manner based on one of azimuth information and calculated time
information, to a manner based on another. The different image may
be an image related to an arrangement method of schedule-related
icons.
[0247] Once a touch input (e.g., a single touch input or a tab) is
re-applied to the image 1040c, as shown in FIG. 10(a), the original
profile icon 1040a may appear and the schedule-related icons which
have been output to the edge region of the display unit 151 may
disappear.
[0248] FIGS. 11A(a) to 11A(c) and 11B(a) to 11B(c) are conceptual
views for explaining a method of executing a function to view
schedule-related icons in an overlapped manner, and a function to
view schedule-related icons in a scattered manner, in a mobile
terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0249] Once a large number of icons are displayed on the edge
region of the display unit 151, the display unit 151 has a
complicated screen. The controller 180 may control a
schedule-related icon checked by a user, to disappear from the
display unit 151.
[0250] As shown in FIG. 11A(a), if a touch input applied to an icon
1121 is dragged to a profile icon 1140 to thus be released, the
controller 180 recognizes that a user has checked a corresponding
schedule, and controls the icon 1121 to disappear as shown in FIG.
11A(b). If a long touch input is applied to the profile icon 1140
under this state, the controller 180 recognizes that the user
wishes to view a checked schedule again, and controls the
disappeared icon 1121 to be output to the original position as
shown in FIG. 11A(c).
[0251] As another example, as shown in FIG. 11B(a), if a touch
input starting from the first icon 1121 is dragged to a fourth icon
1124, via a plurality of icons 1122 and 1123, to thus be released,
the first to fourth icons 1121, 1122, 1123 and 1124 are overlapped
with each other on one point. In this case, an icon displayed on an
uppermost side may be the first icon 1121 to which the touch input
has been firstly applied, the fourth icon 1124 positioned on the
touch-released point, or an icon corresponding to a schedule to be
executed most recently. An icon related to an urgent schedule may
be separately displayed on an upper end of the display unit,
without being overlapped with other icons.
[0252] If a pinch-out touch input is applied to the overlapped
icons, the overlapped icons may be separated from each other.
Alternatively, if a touch input is applied to the profile icon 1140
as shown in FIG. 11B(b) and (c), the overlapped icons 1121, 1122,
1123 and 1124 may be separated from each other.
[0253] So far, have been explained embodiments to output icons
related to schedules stored in the mobile terminal to the edge
region of the display unit 151. However, icons may be generated
based on other information stored in the mobile terminal, and the
generated icons may be floated on the edge region of the display
unit 151. For instance, photo images stored in an album of the
mobile terminal may be floated on the edge region of the display
unit 151, based on azimuth information on a position captured based
on a current position of the mobile terminal.
[0254] The mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the
present invention, and the control method thereof can have the
following advantages.
[0255] Firstly, the mobile terminal of the present invention may
output schedule-related icons to the edge region of the display
unit, by acquiring azimuth information about positions related to
schedules stored in the mobile terminal, based on a current
position of the mobile terminal. Especially, as the
schedule-related icons floated on the edge region of the display
unit move based on azimuth information changed whenever a gradient
of the mobile terminal is changed, azimuths of schedule-related
positions are intuitively displayed. Further, a user may be
immediately provided with schedule content or schedule-related
positions even in a locked state of the mobile terminal, by using a
touch input applied to an icon. Accordingly, the user needs not
perform a plurality of procedures for checking content, positions
and times with respect to schedules stored in the mobile
terminal.
[0256] Various embodiments may be implemented using a
machine-readable medium having instructions stored thereon for
execution by a processor to perform various methods presented
herein. Examples of possible machine-readable mediums include HDD
(Hard Disk Drive), SSD (Solid State Disk), SDD (Silicon Disk
Drive), ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a floppy disk, an
optical data storage device, the other types of storage mediums
presented herein, and combinations thereof. If desired, the
machine-readable medium may be realized in the form of a carrier
wave (for example, a transmission over the Internet). The processor
may include the controller 180 of the mobile terminal.
[0257] As the present features may be embodied in several forms
without departing from the characteristics thereof, it should also
be understood that the above-described embodiments are not limited
by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless
otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within
its scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all
changes and modifications that fall within the metes and bounds of
the claims, or equivalents of such metes and bounds are therefore
intended to be embraced by the appended claims.
* * * * *