U.S. patent application number 15/042728 was filed with the patent office on 2016-06-09 for providing information associated with a plurality of communication accounts of a user of a mobile terminal.
The applicant listed for this patent is Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Yun JEGAL, Yong Sung PARK, Soon Young RHEW, Hyun Seok SEO.
Application Number | 20160165029 15/042728 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44930254 |
Filed Date | 2016-06-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160165029 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
JEGAL; Yun ; et al. |
June 9, 2016 |
PROVIDING INFORMATION ASSOCIATED WITH A PLURALITY OF COMMUNICATION
ACCOUNTS OF A USER OF A MOBILE TERMINAL
Abstract
An information provision method and apparatus of a mobile
terminal is provided for managing and providing information items
associated with a plurality of communication accounts of a user in
an integrated manner. An information provision method for a mobile
terminal includes configuring a plurality of identity informations
associated with communications of a specific contact item;
detecting an input for selecting an integrated contact management
menu; and displaying the identity informations or communication
informations associated with individual identity informations in an
integrated manner.
Inventors: |
JEGAL; Yun; (Seoul, KR)
; RHEW; Soon Young; (Seoul, KR) ; PARK; Yong
Sung; (Gyeonggi-do, KR) ; SEO; Hyun Seok;
(Seoul, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. |
Gyeonggi-do |
|
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
44930254 |
Appl. No.: |
15/042728 |
Filed: |
February 12, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
13025778 |
Feb 11, 2011 |
9262053 |
|
|
15042728 |
|
|
|
|
61303505 |
Feb 11, 2010 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
715/811 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M 1/27475 20200101;
H04M 2250/60 20130101; H04M 1/72547 20130101; H04M 1/27457
20200101; G06Q 10/109 20130101; H04W 4/21 20180201; G06F 3/0482
20130101; G06F 3/0481 20130101; H04M 1/27453 20200101 |
International
Class: |
H04M 1/2745 20060101
H04M001/2745; H04M 1/725 20060101 H04M001/725; G06F 3/0482 20060101
G06F003/0482 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 26, 2011 |
KR |
10-2011-0007787 |
Claims
1. An apparatus comprising: a display; a communication module;
memory to store contact information; and a processor adapted to:
receive a selection of the contact information; identify first
content received from a first external electronic device with
respect to the contact information, and second content received
from a second external electronic device with respect to the
contact information; and present, via the display, a first
indication indicating the first content and a second indication
indicating the second content concurrently with respect to the
contact information.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is adapted to:
transmit, via the communication module, a search request to the
first external electronic device or the second external electronic
device.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the processor is adapted to:
obtain the first content or the second content from a corresponding
external electronic device of the first external electronic device
and the second external electronic device in response to the search
request.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the processor is adapted to:
transmit login information corresponding to the contact information
to the corresponding external electronic device in relation with
the search request.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the contact information
comprises a phone number, an email account, or a social networking
service account.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first content or the
second content comprises content updated at a corresponding
external electronic device of the first external electronic device
and the second external electronic device with respect to a social
networking service account corresponding to the contact
information.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first external electronic
device comprises a first one of an email server, a social network
service server, or an instant message server, and the second
external electronic device comprises a second one of the email
server, the social network service server, or the instant message
server.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is adapted to:
perform the presenting such that the first indication is presented
in a first region of a list of indications, and the second
indication is presented in a second region of the list of
indications.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is adapted to:
select, based at least in part on an user input, the first content
and the second content from a plurality of contents received from a
corresponding external electronic device of the first external
electronic device and the second electronic device.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is adapted to:
obtain, as at least part of a corresponding one of the first
content and the second content, updated schedule information from a
corresponding external electronic device of the first external
electronic device and the second external electronic device with
respect to the contact information.
11. A method comprising: receiving, at an electronic device
including a display, memory to store a contact information, and a
processor, a selection of the contact information; identifying,
using the processor, first content received from a first external
electronic device with respect to the contact information, and
second content received from a second external electronic device
with respect to the contact information; and presenting, via the
display, a first indication indicating the first content and a
second indication indicating the second content concurrently with
respect to the contact information.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the receiving comprises:
transmitting, via a communication module included in the electronic
device, a search request to the first external electronic device or
the second external electronic device.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein the identifying comprises:
obtaining the first content or the second content from a
corresponding external electronic device of the first external
electronic device and the second external electronic device in
response to the search request.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the receiving comprises:
transmitting login information corresponding to the contact
information to the corresponding external electronic device in
relation with the search request.
15. The method of claim 11, wherein the displaying comprises:
selecting, based at least in part on a specified condition, the
first content and the second content from a plurality of contents
received from a corresponding external electronic device of the
first external electronic device and the second electronic
device.
16. The method of claim 11, wherein the receiving comprises:
obtaining, as at least part of a corresponding one of the first
content and the second content, updated schedule information from a
corresponding external electronic device of the first external
electronic device and the second external electronic device with
respect to the contact information.
17. A machine-readable storage device storing instructions that,
when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more
processors to perform operations comprising: receiving, at an
electronic device including memory to store contact information and
a display, a selection of the contact information; identifying
first content received from a first external electronic device with
respect to the contact information, and second content received
from a second external electronic device with respect to the
contact information; and presenting, via the display, a first
indication indicating the first content and a second indication
indicating the second content concurrently with respect to the
contact information.
18. The machine-readable storage device of claim 17, wherein the
receiving comprises: transmitting, via a communication module
included in the electronic device, a search request to the first
external electronic device or the second external electronic
device.
19. The machine-readable storage device of claim 18, wherein the
displaying comprises: selecting, based at least in part on a
specified condition, the first content and the second content from
a plurality of contents received from a corresponding external
electronic device of the first external electronic device and the
second electronic device.
20. The machine-readable storage device of claim 18, wherein the
displaying comprises: transmitting login information corresponding
to the contact information to the corresponding external electronic
device in relation with the search request.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a Continuation application of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 13/025,778 filed on Feb. 11, 2011 which is
based on U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/303,505, filed on
Feb. 11, 2010 which claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.119(a) of an application filed in the Korean Intellectual
Property Office on Jan. 26, 2011 and assigned Serial No.
10-2011-0007787, which are hereby incorporated by reference and
priority thereto for common subject matter is hereby claimed.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a mobile terminal and, in
particular, to an information provision method and apparatus of a
mobile terminal for managing and providing information associated
with a plurality of communication accounts of a user in an
integrated manner.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] With its widespread use, a mobile phone has become one of
the indispensable tool in modern life. Recently, the mobile phones
have evolved into multifunctional communication terminals capable
of supporting various supplementary services as well as basic voice
communication service.
[0006] Owing to the functional expansion of the mobile terminal, it
has become possible to use the mobile terminal for accessing
various communication services such as Short Message Service (SMS),
Multimedia Message Service (MMS), Email, Social Network Service
(SNS), and Instant Messenger (IM). In order to use one of such
communication services, the user has to execute the corresponding
application, i.e. one of the SMS, MMS, Email, SNS, and IM
applications that are available in the mobile terminal.
Accordingly, during a multiple communication service mode, the user
has to activate and deactivate each application independently for
operation, thus resulting in user inconvenience.
SUMMARY OF
[0007] In order to solve the problems of the prior arts, the
present invention provides an information provision method and
apparatus capable of improving user convenience by managing and
providing information on plural communication accounts via an
integrated communication accounts menu screen.
[0008] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, an
information provision method for a mobile terminal to manage a
plurality of communication accounts includes configuring a
plurality of identity information items associated with a specific
contact item; detecting an input for selecting an integrated
contact management menu; and displaying the identity information
items or communication information items associated with individual
identity information items in an integrated manner.
[0009] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
an information provision method for a mobile terminal to manage a
plurality of communication accounts includes registering multiple
identity information items of a user; detecting an input for
selecting an integrated identity management menu; and displaying
communication information items associated with the registered
identity information items in an integrated manner.
[0010] In accordance with still another aspect of the present
invention, a mobile terminal includes a control unit which
configures a plurality of identity information items associated a
specific contact or user; an input unit which receives an input for
selecting an integrated contact management menu or an integrated
identity management menu; and a display unit which displays the
configured identity information items or communication information
items associated with the individual identity information item.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The above features and advantages of the present invention
will be more apparent from the following detailed description in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a
mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an information provision
method of a mobile terminal 100 according to an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating detailed process of step
201 of FIG. 2;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary contact
creation menu screen provided in the information provision method
of FIG. 2;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating exemplary screen images
corresponding to the address import process of the information
provision method of FIG. 2;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating detailed process of step
202 of the information provision method of FIG. 2;
[0018] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating detailed process of 203
of the information provision method of FIG. 2;
[0019] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary screen image
of the contact information menu screen displayed when the contact
information menu item is selected from the contact list menu screen
in the information provision method of FIG. 2;
[0020] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating exemplary screen images
corresponding to the history menu-related process of the
information provision method of FIG. 2;
[0021] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating exemplary screen images
corresponding to the activities menu-related process of the
information provision method of FIG. 2;
[0022] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary screen image
displayed when the media menu item is selected in the contact
information menu screen of FIG. 8;
[0023] FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an information provision
method of a mobile terminal 100 according to another embodiment of
the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating detailed process of step
1201 of FIG. 13;
[0025] FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating exemplary screen images
corresponding to the ID information item registration procedure of
FIG. 13;
[0026] FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary "my accounts"
screen having a plurality of accounts registered by the user
through the account registration screen of part [c] of FIG. 14;
[0027] FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating detailed process of step
1202 of the information provision method of FIG. 12 according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0028] FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating detailed process of step
1203 of the information provision method of FIG. 12 according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0029] FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating exemplary screen images
corresponding to the communication menu item-related process of the
information provision method of FIG. 16;
[0030] FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating exemplary screen images
displayed in series when the messaging service account item is
selected in the message checking process of the information
provision method of FIG. 16;
[0031] FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating exemplary screen images
displayed in series when a web account item is selected in the
message checking process of the information provision method of
FIG. 16;
[0032] FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating exemplary screen images
displayed in series when an SNS account item is selected in the
message checking process of the information provision method of
FIG. 16;
[0033] FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating exemplary screen images
displayed in series when an IM service item is selected in the
message checking process of the information provision method of
FIG. 16;
[0034] FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating exemplary screen images
displayed in series when the composition menu item is selected in
the message checking process of the information provision method of
FIG. 16;
[0035] FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating detailed process of step
1202 of the information provision method of FIG. 12 according to
another embodiment of the present invention;
[0036] FIG. 25 is a flowchart illustrating detailed process of step
1203 of FIG. 12 according to another embodiment of the present
invention;
[0037] FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating exemplary screen images
corresponding to the email menu item-related process of the
information provision method of FIG. 16;
[0038] FIG. 27 is a flowchart illustrating an information provision
method for a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0039] FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary integrated
SNS menu screen for an information provision method according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0040] FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating exemplary screen images
provided for an information provision method according to another
embodiment of the present invention;
[0041] FIG. 30 is a diagram illustrating exemplary screen images
provided for an information provision method according to another
embodiment of the present invention; and
[0042] FIG. 31 is a diagram illustrating exemplary screen images
provided for an information provision method according to still
another embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0043] To help understand the invention, the following definitions
are used:
[0044] The term "contact" refers to a counterpart in communication
with the mobile terminal user as one of the items in a contact
list.
[0045] The term "identity (ID) information" refers to the
information necessary for communication which includes phone
number, email account, SNS account, IM account, etc.
[0046] The term "contact information" refers to the basic
information related to each contact which includes the information
on the contact name, phone number, email account, SNS account, IM
account.
[0047] The term "communication information or communication history
information" refers to the information relating to communication
accounts and/or information on the communication history with a
specific contact which includes communication history, outgoing and
incoming SMS message, outgoing and incoming MMS message, outgoing
and incoming email, SMS upload message, IM history, etc.
[0048] The term "contents" refers to a product including photo
file, music file, motion picture file, etc. that can be stored in
the mobile terminal and uploaded on a contents upload menu of SNS
application and IM application.
[0049] The term "integrated contact management menu" refers to the
menu for managing the communication information about multiple IDs
and communication histories associated with each ID to be provided
to the user in an integrated manner.
[0050] The term "integrated ID management menu" is the menu for
managing the communication histories of the individual IDs
registered by the mobile terminal user to be provided to the user
in an integrated manner. In the present invention, the integrated
ID management menu is used to refer to a general term including the
integrated communication menu and integrated SNS menu.
[0051] The term "integrated communication menu refers to the menu,
as one of the main menu items of the mobile terminal, for managing
the messages, emails, SNS messages, IM messages to be provided to
the user in an integrated manner. The integrated communication menu
can include menu items such as outgoing and incoming SMS, outgoing
and incoming MMS, outgoing and incoming email, SNS upload message,
and IM application activation. The integrated communication menu
also can include the menu items such as SMS/MMS composition, email
composition, and SNS message composition.
[0052] The term "integrated SNS menu" refers to the menu for
managing the communication information associated with the SNS
account to be provide to the user in an integrated manner. The user
can check the SNS messages uploaded by a plurality of SNS
applications integrally with the integrated SNS menu.
[0053] The term "integrated IM menu" refers to the menu for
managing the IM IDs of the mobile terminal user, updating the
presence in real time, and providing a chatting environment.
[0054] Now, exemplary embodiments of the present invention are
described with reference to the accompanying drawings in detail.
The same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to
refer to the same or like parts. For the purposes of clarity and
simplicity, detailed description of well-known functions and
structures incorporated herein may be omitted to avoid obscuring
the subject matter of the present invention.
[0055] The mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the
present invention can be any of data communication and multimedia
playback devices including a mobile phone, a Portable Multimedia
Player (PMP), a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a Smartphone, and
an MP3 player.
[0056] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a
mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present
invention. The mobile terminal 100 according to an embodiment of
the present invention includes a Radio Frequency (RF) unit 110, an
audio processing unit 120, a storage unit 130, an input unit 140, a
display unit 150, and a control unit 160.
[0057] The RF unit 110 is responsible for transmitting and
receiving radio signal carrying data. The RF unit 110 can include
an RF transmitter for up-converting and amplifying the transmit
radio frequency signal and an RF receiver for low noise amplifying
and down-converting the receive radio frequency signal. The RF unit
110 delivers the data received on a radio channel to the control
unit 160 and transmits the data output by the control unit 160 on
the radio channel. In the embodiment, the RF unit 1010 receives and
transmits the radio signals carrying SMS message, MMS message, and
email, and further establishes a connection to an SNS server for
registering the upload message and to an IM server for exchanging
instant messages. In the embodiment, the RF unit 110 can be
implemented as a short range communication module such as Bluetooth
module, Near Field Communication (NFC) module, ZigBee module, Radio
Frequency Identification (RFID) module, Infrared Networking module,
and a WiFi module.
[0058] The audio processing unit 120 can include a suite of codecs,
and the codecs can include a data codec for processing packet data
and an audio codec for processing audio signals including voice.
The audio processing unit 120 converts the digital audio signal to
analog audio signal by means of the audio codec and the input
analog audio signal to digital audio signal by means of the audio
codec.
[0059] The storage unit 130 stores the programs and data associated
with the operations of the mobile terminal 100 and can be divided
into a program region and a data region. The program region stores
Operating System (OS) for booting up the mobile terminal, programs
for controlling the general operations of the mobile terminal 100,
application programs for playing multimedia contents, and other
application programs for supporting other supplementary functions
such as camera function, sound playback function, still and motion
picture playback function. The data region is the storage space for
storing the application data such as still and motion pictures,
phonebook data, and audio data.
[0060] The input unit 140 receives the key manipulation signal
input by the user and delivers a corresponding key sequence to the
control unit 160. The input unit 140 can be implemented with any
one of a 3.times.4 keypad, a QWERTY keypad having a plurality of
alphanumeric keys, navigation keys, and a touch panel. The input
unit 140 also can include at least one of button key, jog key, and
wheel key.
[0061] The display unit 150 can be implemented with one of a Liquid
Crystal Display (LCD), an Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLED), and
an Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diodes (AMOLED) to provide
the user with the information such as menu, input data, function
setting status, and others in a visual format. The display unit 150
displays the booting progress screen, idle mode screen, menu
screen, call processing screen, and other application execution
screens.
[0062] The control unit 160 controls entire operations of the
function blocks of the mobile terminal. In the embodiment, the
control unit 160 configures a plurality of contact items associated
with each contact and controls, in response to the selection of the
integrated contact management menu, the display unit to display the
plural contact information items or the communication information
items of the individual contact information items in an integrated
manner. That is, the control unit 160 manages the contact
information items such as the phone number, the email account, and
the SNS account in an integrated manner and provides the
communication information related to the contact information items
in an integrated manner in the integrated contact management
menu.
[0063] In another embodiment of the present invention, the control
unit 160 registers a plurality of ID information items, which may
also include contact items of the mobile terminal user and
controls, when the integrated ID management menu is selected, the
display unit 150 to display the registered ID information items and
the communication information items associated with the individual
ID information items. That is, the control unit 160 manages the ID
information items such as the email account and the SNS account
registered along with the mobile terminal user in the integrated ID
management menu and provides the communication information in
association with the individual ID information items in an
integrated manner.
[0064] FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an information provision
method of a mobile terminal 100 according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0065] Referring to FIG. 2, the control unit 160 first configures a
contact item with a plurality of contact information items (201).
In the embodiment, a contact information item is the basic
information item associated with the contact item and includes ID
information such as contact name, phone number, email account, SNS
account, and IM account.
[0066] The control unit 160 can configure a specific contact item
along with a plurality of contact information items in a contact
creation menu and make links the individual contact information
items to a contact items so as to create a contact item composed of
a plurality of contact information items. Detailed steps of
procedure 201 will be described later with reference FIG. 3.
[0067] Thereafter, the control unit 160 monitors to detect an input
for selecting the integrated contact management menu (202). In the
embodiment, the integrated contact management menu is the menu for
managing the plural ID information items or communication
information items associated with the individual ID information
items so as to be provided to the user in an integrated manner. The
integrated contact management menu can be a contact list menu
representing one of the main menus of the mobile terminal 100 which
includes the submenus including the contact info menu, history
menu, activities menu, and media menu. If the user selects the
integrated contact management menu, the control unit 160 displays a
contact list on the display unit 150 such that the user can select
one of the contact items from the contact list. Detailed steps of
procedure 202 will be described later with reference to FIG. 6.
[0068] Next, the control unit 160 controls such that the contact
information items configured at step 201 or the communication
information items associated with individual contact information
items are displayed by means of the display unit 150 in an
integrated manner (203). If one of the contact items is selected by
the user in the integrated contact management menu, the control
unit 160 controls the display unit 150 to display the plural
contact information items configured in response to the user
request or the communication information items associated with
individual contact information items. The integrated contact
management menu is provided with a plurality submenus such that,
when a submenu is selected by the user, the control unit 160
controls the display unit 150 to display the contact information
items or the communication information items associated with the
contact information items according to the selected submenu.
Detailed steps of procedure 203 will be described later with
reference to FIG. 7.
[0069] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating detailed steps of
procedure 201 of FIG. 2.
[0070] Referring to FIG. 3, the control unit 160 monitors to detect
an input for selecting a contact list menu item (301). The main
menu of the mobile terminal 100 includes the contact list menu item
providing the contact list menu screen in which the user can check
the contact information items of the previously registered contact
items and registers new contact information items. Once the contact
list menu item is selected, the control unit 160 controls the
display unit 150 to display the contact list menu screen having the
contact list which is previously registered in the mobile terminal
100. When the previously registered contact list menu screen is
displayed by the display unit 150, the control unit 160 can control
such that the list of the contact items linked to the selected
contact item and the presence states of the corresponding IMs is
displayed. The list of the linked contact items can be presented as
the web and SNS items. The contact list menu screen may include a
contact creation menu item or an address import menu item. The
contact creation menu item provides a contact creation menu screen
which allows the user to enter characters to register the contact
name and ID information, and the address import menu item provides
an address import menu screen allows registering the address
directory of a web account or a SNS account as the contact item. In
the embodiment, the contact creation menu item and the address
import menu item can be provided in the form of hidden menus in the
contact list menu screen. If a hidden menu show key is input while
the contact list menu screen is presented, the control unit 160
controls such that the contact creation menu item and the address
import menu item appear on the screen.
[0071] While the contact creation menu item and the address import
menu item are shown, the control unit 160 monitors to detects a
user input and, if a user input is detected, determines whether the
user input is the contact creation menu item selection command
(302). If the user input is the contact creation menu item
selection command, the control unit 160 controls the display unit
150 to display the contact creation menu screen having a contact
name and a plurality of ID entry boxes (303). The contact creation
menu screen can include a photo entry box, a contact name entry
box, a phone number entry box, an email account entry box, an IM ID
entry box, a storage selection box, a group selection box, a
ringtone selection, a field addition menu item.
[0072] The user can enter the information on contact name, phone
number, email account, and IM ID by means of the input unit 140,
and the control unit 160 registers the information on the contact
name and multiple ID information items input by the user (304).
Once the information input has been completed, the control unit 160
stores the input contact name and multiple ID information items in
the storage unit 130 (305). For example, if the user has entered
the phone number, the email account, and the IM ID as the ID
information items in the contact creation menu screen, the control
unit 160 stores the phone number, email account, and IM ID in
association with the contact name.
[0073] If the user input is not the contact creation menu item
selection command at step 302, the control unit 160 determines
whether the user input is the address import menu item selection
command (306). If the user input is the address import menu item
selection command, the control unit 160 controls the display unit
150 to display the address import menu screen having the list of
the user accounts that are previously registered in the mobile
terminal (307). The user account list can include at least one of
email account, SNS account, and IM account. In case that there is
no user account, the control unit 160 controls such that an account
registration menu item on the display unit 150. If the user selects
the account registration menu item, the control unit 150 controls
to display a web list, SMS list, and IM list such that, when the
user select one of the list, an account and a password entry boxes
are displayed. If the user enters the account and password, the
control unit 160 creates the user account list having the newly
registered account.
[0074] If a user account is selected from the user account list
(308), the control unit 160 controls such that the address book of
the selected user account is imported and displayed on the display
unit 150 (309). The control unit 160 synchronizes the address book
of the selected user account with the contact list and accesses the
server managing the selected user account by means of the RF unit
110 to receive the address book registered along with the account.
Next, the control unit 160 controls such that the received address
bock is displayed on the display 150. The address book can be
displayed with selection boxes for selecting each and all of the
items. Here, the user can select at least one item to be added to
the contact list.
[0075] After displaying the address book, the control unit 160
monitors to detects a user input for selecting at least one of the
addresses contained in the address book. If at least one address is
selected from the address book (310), the control unit 160 adds the
selected address to the contact list (311). When adding the at
least one address selected by the user to the contact list, the
control unit 160 saves the name of the address as the contact name
and the email account of the address as ID information.
[0076] In the state where the contact list is displayed, the
control unit 160 selects a contact item from the contact list in
response to a user input (312) and selects a link menu item in
response to another user input (313). It can be configured such
that, if the user makes a contact on one of the contact item of the
contact list and selects a hidden menu key, a hidden menu window
including the link menu item is displayed under the control of the
control unit 160. The user can select the link menu in the hidden
menu window. Also, it can be configured such that, if the user
makes a contact on one of the contact items and then a sweeping
action in a direction, the hidden menu window having the link menu
item appears on the display unit 150 under the control of the
control unit 160. Further, it can be configured such that, if the
user makes a contact on one of the contact items, the control unit
160 displays the detailed menu items related to the corresponding
contact. The detailed menu items can be displayed along with the
link menu items.
[0077] Once a link menu item is selected at step 313, the control
unit 160 controls such that the contact list is displayed again. At
this time, the contact list is displayed in the form of a menu
screen for selecting the contact item to be link to the contact
item selected at step 312. Next, the control unit 160 selects the
contact item to be linked to the contact item selected at step 312
in response to the user input (314) and combines the two contact
items (315). At this time, the control unit 160 combines the two
contact items into a single contact item. That is, the control unit
160 configures the contact item having one contact name with
multiple ID information items. For example, the control unit 160
can configure the contact item with one contact name matched with a
phone number, an email account, an SNS account, and an IM account.
The contact information can be displayed along with items
representing the linked ID information.
[0078] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary contact
creation menu screen provided in the information provision method
of FIG. 2.
[0079] As shown in FIG. 4, the contact creation menu screen
includes a photo entry box, contact name entry box, contact
information storage selection box, phone number entry box, email
account entry box, IM ID entry box, group selection box, ringtone
selection box, and field addition menu item. The user can enter
multiple phone numbers, email accounts, and IM IDs for the contact
name of Jennifer Lee.
[0080] If the user makes a touch on the "phone" item of the "save
contact to" section in the contact creation menu screen of FIG. 4,
the control unit 160 controls such that the storage selection menu
window having the items of "phone", "SIM", and "jenni@gmail.com" is
displayed by the display unit 150. If the item "phone" is selected,
the control unit 160 saves the contact information in the storage
unit 130 of the mobile terminal 100. If the item "SIM" is selected,
the control unit 160 saves the contact information in the SIM. If
the item "Jenni@gmail.com" is selected, the control unit 160
updates the address book of the "Jenni@gmail.com" account with the
created contact information.
[0081] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating exemplary screen images
corresponding to the address import process of the information
provision method of FIG. 2.
[0082] Part [a] of FIG. 5 shows the screen displayed when the
address import menu item is selected from the contact list menu
screen. The "Get Friends" is the name of the address import menu,
and "Facebook, dragon@hanmail.net" is the SNS account previously
registered in the mobile terminal 100. The "Add account" item is
the account addition menu item. The user can user the preregistered
account by selecting the dragon@hanmail.net and register a new
account by selecting the "Add account" menu item.
[0083] Part [b] of FIG. 5 shows the screen displayed when the "Add
account" menu item is selected form the "Get Friends" menu screen
of part [a] of FIG. 5. If the "Add account" menu item is selected,
the control unit 160 controls such that the "Add account" menu
screen having the list of websites supporting address book sharing
is displayed by the display unit 150. Part [b] of FIG. 5 shows an
exemplary web list having Google, Yahoo, and MSN that supporting
address book sharing.
[0084] Part [c] of FIG. 5 shows the screen displayed when one of
the websites is selected on the "Add account" menu screen, e.g.
Google is selected. If a website is selected from the web list
provided on the "Add account" menu screen, the control unit 160
controls such that the website account screen having the account
and password entry boxes. In part [c] of FIG. 5, the text box
entitled "Email" is the account entry box, and the text box
entitled "Password" is the password entry box. If the user enters
an account and a password, the control unit 160 creates a new
account with the account name and password entered by the user and
save the newly added account in the storage unit 130.
[0085] Part [d] of FIG. 5 shows the screen displayed when the
"Facebook, dragon@hanmail.net" item is selected on the "Get
Friends" menu screen of part [a] of FIG. 5. If a previously
registered account is selected, the control unit 160 controls such
that the account menu screen having the address book of the
selected account is displayed. Here, the address book can be
displayed along with menu items for selecting each and all of the
address items. In part [d] of FIG. 5, the item "Select all" can be
marked for selecting all of the address contained in the address
bock, and the items "Minjung Kim" and "Jaewook Kim" can be marked
for selecting individual addresses. The user can registers all the
address contained in the address book with the contact list at a
time by selecting the menu item "Select all" or registers each of
the address "Mini ung Kim" and "Jaewook Kim" with the contact list
by selecting the corresponding items one by one.
[0086] In an embodiment of the present invention, if the user
selects the previously registered account, the control unit 160
controls to display an address book synchronization menu item such
that, when the address book synchronization menu item is selected,
the mobile terminal 100 accesses, by means of the RF unit 110, the
server managing the selected account to receive the address bock
and display and displays, by means of the display unit 150, the
received address book.
[0087] Part [e] of FIG. 5 shows the screen displayed when one of
the address item, e.g. "Minjung Kim", is selected on the "Facebook"
account menu screen of part [d] of FIG. 5. It is assumed that the
address item "Minjung Kim" is listed in the contact list with the
ID information of phone number and the contact item registered with
the Facebook account of the user is added to the contact list with
the address import menu item. In this case, the Minjung Kim item in
the contact list is configured with two items (phone number,
Facebook). Part [e] of FIG. 5 shows the menu screen showing two
contact lists entitled Minjung Kim. One of the two items is
displayed with a telephone icon at the right side and the other is
displayed with a Facebook logo icon at the right side.
[0088] The user can recognize, with the telephone icon, that the
corresponding list is created through the contact creation menu and
the phone number is registered as ID information. Also, the user
can recognize, with the Facebook log icon, that the corresponding
list is imported from the Facebook address book through the address
import menu. If the name registered with the Facebook service, Kim
Minjung is presented in the contact list.
[0089] If the user selects a contact item and then makes an input
for selecting a hidden menu key while the menu screen of part [e]
of FIG. 5 is displayed, the control unit 160 controls such that the
hidden menu having the link menu appears on the screen. In the
embodiment, the link menu is the menu for configuring a contact
item by linking a plurality contact items contained in the contact
list. If the user selects the link menu, the control unit 160
controls such that the contact list is displayed by means of the
display unit 150. Here, the contract list is displayed in the form
of a menus screen for selecting at least one contact item to be
linked to the previously selected contact item. The user can select
at least one contact item to be linked from the display contact
list.
[0090] Referring to part [e] of FIG. 5, the user selects the
Minjung Kim item marked with the telephone icon, the link menu
item, and then the Minjung Kim item marked with the Facebook log
icon in series to link the two Minjung Kim items.
[0091] Alternatively, it can be configured such that, if the user
makes a touch on a contact item and then makes a sweeping action in
a direction, the hidden menu having the link menu item appears on
the screen.
[0092] Part [f] of FIG. 5 shows the screen on which two Minjung Kim
contact items are configured into a single contact item. The
control unit 160 can combine plural contact items selected by the
user into one contact item. At this time, the control unit 160 can
register the plural ID information items to one contact name. In
part [f] of FIG. 5, the Minjung Kim contact item having the
telephone icon and the Facebook log icon is displayed. Accordingly,
it can be configured such that, if the user selects the Minjung Kim
item in the screen of part [f] of FIG. 5, the phone number and
Facebook account are displayed on the screen.
[0093] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating detailed steps of
procedure 202 of the information provision method of FIG. 2.
[0094] Referring to FIG. 6, the controls unit 160 detects an input
for selecting the contact list menu (106). The idle mode screen or
home screen is provided with main menu icons including the icon
representing the contact list menu. The user can execute the
contact list menu by making a contact on the contact list menu
icon.
[0095] Once the contact list menu is executed, the control unit 160
controls such that the contact list menu screen having the contact
list is displayed by means of the display unit 150 (602). The
contact list includes the contact items registered in the storage
unit 130. If the user selects a contact item from the contact list
by means of the input unit 140, the control unit 160 detects the
input for selecting the contact item (603). Once the contact item
selection input is detected, the control unit 160 controls such
that the contact information menu item, history menu item,
activities menu item, and media menu items are displayed by means
of the display unit 150 (604).
[0096] When it is configured that the contact information menu item
is selected automatically as default, the control unit 160 controls
such that the aforementioned items are displayed with at least one
information item corresponding to the selected contact item.
[0097] Next, the control unit 160 detects an input for selecting
one of the contact information menu item, history menu item,
activities menu item, and a media menu item (605).
[0098] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating detailed steps of
procedure 203 of the information provision method of FIG. 2.
[0099] Referring to FIG. 7, the control unit 160 monitors to detect
an input for selecting a menu item and, if a menu item is selected,
determines whether the selected menu item is the contact
information menu item (701). If the selected menu item is the
contact information menu item, the control unit 160 controls such
that at least one ID information item corresponding to the selected
contact item is displayed by means of the display unit 150 (702).
That is, the control unit 160 controls the display unit 150 to
display the phone number, email account, and IM ID corresponding to
the selected contact item. In the embodiment, if a plurality of
contact items is linked to the selected contact item, the control
unit 160 controls such that the contact items linked to the
selected contact item are displayed in the form of a list by means
of the display unit 150. The IM ID can be displayed with the
presence state or location of the user. The presence information
can be displayed in the form of a text or an image.
[0100] If the selected menu item is not the contact information
menu item at step 701, the control unit 160 determines whether the
selected menu item is the history menu item (703). If the selected
menu item is the history menu item, the control unit 160 controls
such that the ID and the communication history information items of
the selected contact item by mean of the display unit 150 (704). In
the embodiment, the communication history information items
includes the incoming/outgoing call history, incoming/outgoing
message history, incoming/outgoing email history, SNS message
upload history, and IM history items. The communication history
information items can be displayed along with the contents of the
text message, email, and SMS upload message.
[0101] If the user selects one of the communication history
information items, the control unit 160 executes the application
for the corresponding communication service such that the
application execution screen is displayed by means of the display
unit 150. For example, if the incoming/outgoing message history
item is selected, the control unit 160 executes the text messaging
application and displays the application execution screen with the
message inbox associated with the selected contact item.
[0102] If the selected menu item is not the history menu item at
step 703, the control unit 160 determines whether the selected menu
item is the activities menu item (705). If the selected menu item
is the activities menu item, the control unit 160 controls such
that the SNS upload message items related to the SNS account of the
selected contact item by means of the display unit 150 (706). The
activities menu is the menu representing the activity history of
social network service related to the selected contact item. The
activities menu screen is displayed along with the upload message
of the selected contact item and the response messages of the
upload message. The messages can be displayed along with the
message upload time, comment entry menu item, and comment view menu
item. In case that the selected contact item has a plurality of SNS
accounts and the contact list associated with the selected contact
item has the links to all of the SNS accounts, the activities menu
screen is displayed along with the upload messages of the SNS
accounts that are sorted in order of upload time.
[0103] If the user selects the comment entry menu item, the control
unit 160 executes the corresponding SNS application to display the
comment entry window by means of the display unit 150. If the user
selects the comment via menu item, the control unit 160 executes
the SNS application to display the comment list by means of the
display unit 150.
[0104] If the selected menu item is not the activities menu item at
step 705, the control unit 160 determines whether the selected menu
item is the media menu item (707). If the selected menu item is the
media menu item, the control unit 160 controls such that the
contents list, SNS accounts of the selected contact item, and
upload contents list associated with the IM ID stored in the mobile
terminal 100 are displayed by means of the display unit 150. Here,
the contents list stored in the mobile terminal 100 corresponds to
the contents list registered in association with the selected
contact item. If it is determined that the media menu item is
selected, the control unit 160 accesses the servers managing the
SNS accounts and IM IDs associated with the selected contact to
receive the upload contents list and controls such that the items
of the contents list are displayed in the form of thumbnail images
by means of the display unit 150. The user can check all the
contents associated with the contact selected with the media menu
on a single menu screen.
[0105] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary screen image
of the contact information menu screen displayed when the contact
information menu item is selected from the contact list menu screen
in the information provision method of FIG. 2. In particular, FIG.
8 shows the stretched screen image scrolling across the screen such
that the user can scroll the image across the screen to see the
entire information.
[0106] As shown in FIG. 8, the contact information menu screen
shows the photo and name (Jennifer Lee) of the contact item at the
top of the screen along with the message "I'm in London" which is
most recently uploaded as the presence state of the user
corresponding to the selected contact item in the SNS. In case that
the user represented by the selected contact item uploads his/her
presence state in the corresponding SNS, the updated presence state
is presented on the current screen. The upload interval can be
selectively set by the user. The contact item screen has the
contact information menu item, history menu item, activities menu
item, and media menu item right below the photo and name section.
In FIG. 8, the contact information menu item is shaded to indicate
its selected state and, as a consequence, the ID information items
of the Jennifer Lee are listed therebelow.
[0107] In the exemplary contact item screen of FIG. 8, the ID
information items, for example, include the phone numbers
"010-2222-2222", "010-2222-3333", "010-2222-4444", and
"046-2222-5555"; email accounts "Jenni@google.com" and
"Jennifer@google.com"; instant messenger (Gtalk) ID "Jenni"; linked
contact items "p", "g", "y", and "f"; groups "Work"; ringtone
"Classic tone", birthday "1977.4.22"; address "New York, Uj"; and
memo "meeting 3:30 am".
[0108] The user can change the contact name of one of the linked
contact items. Assuming that Jennifer Lee has the Google account
named "Jenni", Yahoo account named "Jennifer", and Facebook account
named "J. Lee"; it is possible to change the contact name for one
of the Jenni, Jennifer, and J. Lee.
[0109] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating exemplary screen images
corresponding to steps of the history menu-related process of the
information provision method of FIG. 2.
[0110] Part [a] of FIG. 9 shows an exemplary screen image displayed
when the history menu item is selected in the contact information
menu screen. The screen image includes the communication history
information items.
[0111] The Missed call item is presented with the time (10:00 AM)
when the most recent missed call has occurred. The Sent SMS item
represents the outbox of the SMS service, the Dialed call item
represents the outgoing calls, and the Subject item represents the
upload SNS messages. In case of the SMS and SNS, the content of the
outgoing SMS message and uploaded SNS message are partially
displayed as a part of the communication history information.
[0112] Part [b] of FIG. 9 shows an exemplary screen image displayed
when the Subject item is selected from the screen image of part [a]
of FIG. 9.
[0113] The exemplary screen image of part [b] of FIG. 9 shows the
SNS application execution screen as a home screen of the contact
item of Jennifer Lee. In the SNS application execution screen, the
user can check the SNS message uploaded by Jennifer Lee and can
upload a response by using the Reply menu.
[0114] The user can check the communication history with Jennifer
Lee represented by the contact item with the history menu and
execute the corresponding application by the action selecting one
of the communication history items.
[0115] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating exemplary screen images
corresponding steps of the activities menu-related process of the
information provision method of FIG. 2.
[0116] Part [a] of FIG. 10 shows an exemplary screen image
displayed when the activities menu item is selected in the contact
information menu screen. The screen image includes the SNS activity
items.
[0117] The SNS activity items includes the SNS messages uploaded in
association with all the SNS accounts linked to the contact item
(Jennifer Lee).
[0118] In part [a] of FIG. 10, the SNS messages uploaded to the two
different SNS services represented by the text icons "f" and "t"
are listed in order of upload time.
[0119] Part [b] of FIG. 10 shows an exemplary screen image
displayed when the comment view icon of a specific SNS message item
is selected from the screen image of part [a] of FIG. 10. In part
[b] of FIG. 10, the four of the seven comments to the SNS message
having the content of "What a wonderful day .about." are presented
along with the "more comments" option and "add comment" menu item.
If the "more comments" option is selected, the control unit 160
controls such that the rest three comments are presented. If the
"add comment" menu item is selected, the control unit 160 controls
such that a comment entry window is displayed.
[0120] Part [c] of FIG. 10 shows an exemplary image displayed when
the "add comment" icon of a specific SNS message is selected from
the screen image of part [a] of FIG. 10.
[0121] In part [c] of FIG. 10, a comment entry window is displayed
such that, if the user writes a comment in the comment entry
window, the comment is registered with the SNS message having the
content of "Terry Button Has a new issue: .about.".
[0122] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary screen image
displayed when the media menu item is selected in the contact
information menu screen of FIG. 8.
[0123] As shown in FIG. 11, if the media menu item is selected in
the contact information menu screen, the control unit 160 controls
such that the photos associated with the contact item (Jennifer
Lee) that are stored in the storage unit 130 and uploaded to the
SNS are displayed on the screen.
[0124] In FIG. 11, the photos stored in the storage unit 130 of the
mobile terminal 100 in association with the contact item (Jennifer
Lee) is entitled "Phone", the photos uploaded to the Facebook
account of the contact item (Jennifer Lee) is entitled "Facebook",
and the photos uploaded to the MySpace account of the contact item
(Jennifer Lee) is entitled "My Space". The media menu screen
provides the "more albums" key such that, if the user selects the
"more album" key, more photos uploaded to the Facebook account are
displayed. If the user selects one of the photos, the control unit
160 controls such that the original file of the selected photo is
downloaded by means of the RF unit 110 and then displayed by means
of the display unit 150.
[0125] According to an embodiment of the present invention, when a
plurality of ID information items is registered to one contact
item, the mobile terminal user can check all of the ID information
items on the single menu screen and manage the communication
information items associated with the individual ID information
items in integrated manner.
[0126] FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an information provision
method of a mobile terminal 100 according to another embodiment of
the present invention.
[0127] Referring to FIG. 12, the control unit 160 registers a
plurality of ID information items of the mobile terminal user
(1201). In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the ID
information items include email account, SNS account, and IM ID.
The control unit 160 can register the multiple ID information items
of the mobile terminal user with a specific menu entitled "My
account" and also register the email account of the mobile terminal
user by using the email application and the SNS account of the
mobile terminal user by using the SNS application. Detailed steps
of procedure 1201 are described later with reference to FIG.
13.
[0128] Next, the control unit 160 monitors to detect a user input
for selecting the integrated ID management menu (1202). The
integrated ID management menu allows the mobile terminal user to
manage and check the communication information items of the
individual ID information items registered by the mobile terminal
user. In the embodiment, the integrated ID management menu can be
configured in the name of "Social Hub". The integrated ID
management menu includes the SMS/MMS list, web account list, SNS
list, and IM list. Detailed steps of procedure 1202 are described
later with reference to FIG. 16.
[0129] Next, the control unit 160 controls such that the
communication information items associated with individual ID
information items registered at step 1201 are displayed by means of
the control unit 160 in an integrated manner (1203). If the user
selects one of the message (SMS/MMS) list items constituting the
integrated ID management menu, web account item, SNS item, and IM
item, the control unit 160 controls such that the communication
items associated with the selected item is displayed by means of
the display unit 150. Detailed steps of procedure 1203 are
described later with reference to FIG. 17.
[0130] FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating detailed steps of
procedure 1201 of FIG. 13. FIG. 13 shows the ID information item
registration procedure of the information provision method for a
mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present
invention, and the registration procedure can include the processes
for registering the email account, SNS account, and IM ID of the
mobile terminal user using the email application, SNS application,
and IM application, respectively.
[0131] In the ID information item registration procedure, the
control unit 160 monitors to detect an input for selecting the "my
accounts" menu (1301). In the embodiment, the "my accounts" menu is
one of the main menus and provided for the user to register the
email account, SNS account, and IM ID.
[0132] If the "my accounts" menu selection input is detected, the
control unit 160 controls such that a "my accounts" menu screen
with the previously registered accounts and new account
registration menu, is displayed by means of the display unit 150
(1302). At this time, the previously registered accounts can be
provided in the form of list items, and the new account
registration menu can be provided in the form of a menu item.
[0133] Next, the control unit 160 detects the input for selecting
the new account registration menu (1303). If the new account
registration menu selection input is detected, the control unit 160
controls such that a web list and an SNS list are displayed by
means of the display unit 150 (1304). The web list is configured
with the websites that are frequently used by people for email
account services. The SNS list is configured with the SNSs that are
frequently used by people.
[0134] Next, the control unit 160 detects the input for selecting a
website or SNS from the web list and SNS list (1305). If a website
or SNS is selected, the control unit 160 controls such that an
account registration screen having a user name entry box and a
password entry box (1306). Next, the control unit 160 detects the
user name and password input by means of the input unit 140 (1307).
If the user name and password input is detected, the control unit
160 saves the user name and password in the storage unit 130. At
this time, the control unit 160 transmits the user name and
password to a web server by means of the RF unit 110 to
authenticate the user and, if the user is authenticated, saves the
user name and password in the storage unit 130. The "my accounts"
menu screen is updated with the newly registered account.
Thereafter, if the "my accounts" menu is selected, the newly
registered account appears in the account list.
[0135] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
contact list menu can include a "my profile" menu for managing the
information on the mobile terminal user. The "my profile" menu
includes the information fields of the photo, name, SNS presence,
phone number, email account, and IM ID of the mobile terminal user.
The "my profile" menu can include the menu items for editing and
deleting the user information. If the "my profile" menu is
selected, the control unit 160 controls such that the photo, name,
SNS presence state, phone number, email account, and IM ID of the
user are displayed by means of the display unit 150. The control
unit 160 checks the current presence state of user which is set by
the user and then controls such that, when the IM ID is displayed,
the presence state of the user appears along with the IM ID. In an
embodiment of the present invention, if the user selects the
presence state registered to the SNS, the control unit 160 controls
such that a list of the presence states of individual SNS accounts
registered in the mobile terminal 100 and, if one of the presence
states is selected, the presence state field of the "my profile"
menu screen is changed for the selected presence state.
[0136] FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating exemplary screen images
corresponding to steps of the ID information item registration
procedure of FIG. 13.
[0137] Part [a] of FIG. 14 shows a "my accounts" screen displayed
when the user selects the "my accounts" menu, and the "my accounts"
screen includes the previously registered accounts (Google,
sean@gmail.com) and the new account registration menu item (Add
account). The "my accounts" screen of part [a] of FIG. 14 also can
include a "push sync" menu for synchronization of the registered
accounts (phonebook synchronization and calendar synchronization)
and an "account priority" menu for configuring the priorities of
the registered accounts.
[0138] Part [b] of FIG. 14 shows an "add account" screen displayed
when the "add account" menu item is selected on the "my accounts"
screen of part [a] of FIG. 14. The "add account" screen includes a
web list and a SNS list. In part [b] of FIG. 14, the web list
includes Google, Window Liver, Yahoo, AOL, and ICQ; and the SNS
list includes Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, LastFM, Flicker, and
Linkedin. The user can select one of the items of the web list and
the SNS list.
[0139] Part [c] of FIG. 14 shows an account registration screen
displayed when an item is selected from the web list and the SNS
list. The account registration screen includes a user name entry
box and a password entry box. The user enters the user name and
password by means of the input unit 140 such that the user name and
password is authenticated by a web server and then saved in the
storage unit 130. The newly registered account is displayed in the
"my accounts" screen.
[0140] FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary "my accounts"
screen having a plurality of accounts registered by the user
through the account registration screen of part [c] of FIG. 14.
[0141] In FIG. 15, the "my accounts" screen includes a web account
list having 4 web account items and a SNS account list having two
SNS account items. joe@hotmail.com, brin@yahoo.com, sean@gmail.com,
and desing@work.com are web accounts registered by the mobile
terminal user, and terry.joo and Sean are the SNS accounts
registered by the mobile terminal user. In the embodiment, a web
account can be an email account or an IM ID. The mobile terminal
user can registers and manages a plurality of accounts with the "my
accounts" menu.
[0142] FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating detailed steps of
procedure 1202 of the information provision method of FIG. 12
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0143] Referring to FIG. 16, the control unit 160 detects an input
for selecting the integrated communication menu (1601). The
integrated communication menu is one of the main menus of the
mobile terminal 100 and allows the user to manage the communication
information items associated with the message, email, SNS, and IM
identity information items in an integrated manner.
[0144] If the integrated communication menu selection input is
detected, the control unit 160 controls such that the messaging
service item, email account item, SNS item, IM item, and
composition menu item are displayed by means of the display unit
150 (1602). The communication menu can include incoming/outgoing
SMS item, incoming/outgoing MMS item, incoming/outgoing email item,
SNS upload message check menu item, IM application execution menu
item, SMS/MMS message composition menu item, email composition menu
item, and SNS message composition menu item. Some representative
menu items such as the message item, the email account item, the
SNS item, the IM item, and the composition menu item can be
displayed. Here, multiple email account items can be displayed.
[0145] The control unit 160 monitors to detect an input for
selecting one of the items (1603). The user can select an item by
making a touch to an item on the screen.
[0146] FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating detailed steps of
procedure 1203 of the information provision method of FIG. 12
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0147] The control unit 160 monitors to detect an input for
selecting a menu item and, if a menu item is selected, determines
whether the selected menu item is the integrated message item
(1701). If the selected menu item is the integrated message item,
the control unit 160 controls such that the SMS/MMS inboxes are
displayed by means of the display unit 150 (1702).
[0148] If the selected menu item is not the integrated message item
at step 1701, the control unit 160 determines whether the selected
menu item is an email account item (1703). If the selected menu
item is the email account item, the control unit 160 controls such
that the inbox of the selected email account item is displayed by
means of the display unit 150 (1704). In this case, the control
unit 160 accesses a web server by means of the RF unit 110 to
download the emails stored in the inbox of the selected email
account and displays the downloaded emails by means of the display
unit 150.
[0149] If the selected menu item is not the email account item at
step 1703, the control unit 160 determines whether the selected
menu item is an SNS item (1705). If the selected menu item is an
SNS item, the control unit 160 controls such that the upload
messages of the SNS account represented by the selected SNS item by
means of the display unit 150 (1706). In this case, the control
unit 160 accesses the SNS server by means of the RF unit (110) to
download the SNS messages uploaded to the selected SNS and displays
the downloaded SNS messages by means of the display unit 150.
[0150] If the selected menu item is not an SNS item at step 1705,
the control unit 160 determines whether the selected menu item is
an IM item (1707). If the selected menu item is an IM item, the
control unit 160 controls such that the IM execution screen is
displayed by means of the display unit 150 (1708). In this case,
the mobile terminal maintains its log-in state to the IM server
and, when an IM item is selected, the control unit 160 displays the
IM execution screen having the IM buddy list or a chatting window
by means of the display unit 150.
[0151] If the selected menu item is not an IM item at step 1707,
the control unit 160 determines whether the selected menu item is
the composition menu item (1709). If so, the control unit 160
controls such that a communication means list is shown by the
display unit 150 (1710). In an embodiment of the present invention,
the communication means list includes the message item, email
account item, and SNS item. If an input for selecting a
communication means from the communication means list is detected
(1711), the control unit 160 controls such that the composition
window of the selected communication means is displayed by means of
the display unit 150 (1712). For example, when an email account
item is selected, the control unit 160 controls such that the email
composition window having the selected email account as the sender
address is displayed by means of the display unit 150.
[0152] FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating exemplary screen images
corresponding to steps of the communication menu item-related
process of the information provision method of FIG. 16.
[0153] Part [a] of FIG. 18 shows an exemplary home screen image
having an integrated communication menu icon entitled "Social Hub".
The number "20" presented at the top right corner of Social Hub
icon indicates the total number of the SMS/MMS, email, and SNS
upload messages that are not checked by the user. That is, the
control unit 160 controls such that the integrated communication
menu icon is displayed along with the number of communication
information items that are not checked yet by the user. If the user
makes a touch to the Social Hub icon on the screen, the control
unit 150 controls such that the integrated communication menu
screen is displayed by means of the display unit 150.
[0154] Part [b] of FIG. 18 shows an exemplary integrated
communication menu screen. The integrated communication menu screen
includes at least one of messaging service account items, web
account items, email account items, and IM account items.
[0155] The integrated communication menu screen includes a
composition menu item entitled "Compose". The item entitled
"Messages" indicates the messaging service account item; the items
entitled "Google (Jegarry@gmail . . . )", "Google (yun@gmail.com .
. . ), and "Yahoo (yun@yahoo . . . )" indicate web account items,
the items entitled "Facebook" and "MySpace" indicate SNS account
items. Each of the Google and Yahoo web account items are provided
with an envelope icon representing email service and a text balloon
icon representing IM service. Each of the icons representing the
messaging service, email service, and SNS is provided with the
number of messages that are not checked yet by the user. The text
balloon icon can be displayed along with the number of ongoing
chatting windows. The user can select one of the service account
items in the integrated communication menu screen to check the
messages of the SMS/MMS, email, or SNS account, or compose a new
message of the corresponding service account.
[0156] FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating exemplary screen images
displayed in series when the messaging service account item is
selected in the message checking process of the information
provision method of FIG. 16.
[0157] Part [a] of FIG. 19 shows the integrated communication menu
screen on which the messaging service account item entitled
"Messages" is selected, and part [b] of FIG. 19 shows an exemplary
service account screen image displayed when the messaging service
account item representing SMS/MMS service is selected.
[0158] FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating exemplary screen images
displayed in series when a web account item is selected in the
message checking process of the information provision method of
FIG. 16.
[0159] Part [a] of FIG. 20 shows the integrated communication menu
screen on which a web account item entitled "Google (jegarry@gmail
. . . )" is selected, and part [b] of FIG. 20 shows an exemplary
web account screen image displayed when the web account item
entitled "Google (jegarry@gmail . . . ) is selected. In case of
part [b] of FIG. 20, the web account screen is displayed in the
state where the inbox item is selected such that the inbox message
items contained in the Inbox are presented. The web account screen
is provided with the mailbox items entitled "Inbox", "Sentbox", and
"Outbox" respectively such that, when the user selects one of the
mail box items, the messages contained in the mail box represented
by the selected item are displayed.
[0160] FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating exemplary screen images
displayed in series when an SNS account item is selected in the
message checking process of the information provision method of
FIG. 16.
[0161] Part [a] of FIG. 21 shows the integrated communication menu
screen on which the envelope icon provided with an SNS account item
entitled "Facebook" is selected, and part [b] of FIG. 21 shows an
exemplary SNS account screen image displayed when the envelope icon
of the SNS account item entitled "Facebook" is selected. In case of
part [b] of FIG. 21, the SNS account screen is displayed in the
state where the inbox item is selected such that the inbox message
items contained the inbox are presented. If the message box item
entitled "Sent" is selected, the SNS account screen is displayed in
the state where the sent message items contained in the message box
entitled "Sent" is presented on the screen.
[0162] If the user selects the SNS account item entitled "Facebook"
itself in the screen of part [a] of FIG. 21, the control unit 160
executes the Facebook application with the application execution
screen having the SNS messages uploaded in association with the
user.
[0163] FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating exemplary screen images
displayed in series when an IM service item is selected in the
message checking process of the information provision method of
FIG. 16.
[0164] Part [a] of FIG. 22 shows the integrated communication menu
screen on which the text balloon icon provided with the web account
item entitled "Google (jegarry@gmail . . . )" is selected, and part
[b] of FIG. 22 shows an exemplary IM service account screen image
displayed when the text balloon icon of the web account item
entitled "Google (jegarry@gmail . . . )" is selected. As shown in
part [b] of FIG. 22, the user can execute the IM application with
the action for checking the email in the integrated communication
menu entitled "Social Hub".
[0165] FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating exemplary screen images
displayed in series when the composition menu item is selected in
the message checking process of the information provision method of
FIG. 16.
[0166] Part [a] of FIG. 23 shows the integrated communication menu
screen on which the composition menu item is selected, and part [b]
of FIG. 23 shows an exemplary account list window displayed when
the composition menu item is selected. In case of part [b] of FIG.
23, the account list window shows an SMS/MMS account entitled
"Messages"; email accounts entitled "jegarry@gmail.com",
"yun@gmail.com", and "yun@yahoo.com"; and SNS accounts entitled
"Facebook" and "Twitter". If the user selects "Messages" item
representing the SMS/MMS account, the control unit 160 controls
such that the SMS/MMS message composition window is displayed.
Also, if the user selects one of the "jegarry@gmail.com",
"yun@gmail. corn", and "yun@yahoo.com" items, the control unit 160
controls such that the email composition window is displayed. Also,
if the user selects one of the "Facebook" and "Twitter" items, the
control unit 160 controls such that the SNS message composition
window is displayed. Accordingly, the user can execute the
corresponding application for writing a message or an email in the
integrated communication menu without cumbersome steps for
searching for the application such as messaging, email, and SNS
applications.
[0167] FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating detailed steps of
procedure 1202 of the information provision method of FIG. 12
according to another embodiment of the present invention.
[0168] Referring back to FIG. 16, the control unit 160 detects an
input for selecting an email menu (2401). In an embodiment of the
present invention, the email menu is one of the main menus of the
mobile terminal and allows the user to manage and check the email
accounts and inboxes in an integrated manner.
[0169] If the email menu selection input is detected, the control
unit 160 controls such that an integrated email item with at least
one email item (2402). The integrated email item is the menu item
for displaying the individual email items of all the email accounts
registered in the mobile terminal 100, and the email items
represent the emails of the individual email accounts. In an
embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 160 controls
such that the individual email items are displayed along with tags
having different shape and color.
[0170] The control unit 160 monitors to detect an input for
selecting one of the items (2403). The user can select an item by
making a touch to an item on the screen.
[0171] In an embodiment of the present invention, the email menu
includes an email account configuration menu item, and the email
account configuration menu screen includes a list of web accounts
registered in the mobile terminal 100. If one of the web accounts
is selected by the user on the email account configuration menu
screen, the control unit 160 controls such that the synchronization
menu item and IM execution menu item associated with the selected
web account by mean of the display unit 150. The synchronization
menu screen can include an email synchronization menu item, a
calendar synchronization menu item, and a contact synchronization
menu item. Each of the synchronization menu items can be provided
with a synchronization interval setting menu such that the user can
set the synchronization intervals of the email, calendar, and
contact items and save the settings in the storage unit 130 under
the control of the control unit 160. The control unit 160 operates
timers for determining the synchronization such that, when the
synchronization time arrives, the controls accesses the web server
by means of the RF unit 110 to download the updates of the email,
calendar, and contact information and saves the updated
information.
[0172] FIG. 25 is a flowchart illustrating detailed steps of
procedure 1203 of FIG. 12 according to another embodiment of the
present invention.
[0173] The control unit 160 monitors to detect an input for
selecting a menu item and, if a menu item is selected, determines
whether the selected menu item is the integrated email item (2501).
If so, the control unit 160 controls such that all the emails
contained in the inboxes of the email accounts registered in the
mobile terminal 100 by means of the display unit 150 (2502). For
example, if two email accounts are registered in the mobile
terminal 100, the control unit 160 controls such that the emails
received with the two email accounts are displayed in order of
received times. Here, the emails of the different email accounts
can be displayed with tags having different colors or shapes for
the discrimination purpose. That is, the emails of one email
account are itemized with tag A, while the emails of the other
account are itemized with tag B.
[0174] If the selected menu item is not the integrated email item,
the control unit 160 determines whether the selected menu item is
an individual email item (2503). If the selected menu item is an
individual email item, the control unit 160 controls such that the
emails contained in the inbox of the email account to which the
individual email item belongs (2504). That is, if it is determined
that the selected email item belongs to a first email account, the
control unit 160 controls such that the emails contained in the
inbox of the first email account are displayed in the itemized
form. Otherwise, if it is determined that the selected email item
belongs to a second email account, the control unit 160 controls
such that the emails contained in the inbox of the second email
account are displayed in the itemized form.
[0175] FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating exemplary screen images
corresponding to steps of the email menu item-related process of
the information provision method of FIG. 16.
[0176] Part [a] of FIG. 26 shows an exemplary email menu screen
displayed when the email menu item is selected in the home screen
(see FIG. 18). In part [a] of FIG. 26, the email menu screen
includes two email account items under the integrated email menu
entitled "All emails". The two email account items represent a
"Gmail" account and an "Exchange Active Sync" account,
respectively. The two email accounts are itemized with respective
tags having different pattern for the discrimination purpose, each
tag being attached at the left end of the corresponding email
account item.
[0177] Part [b] of FIG. 26 shows an exemplary integrated email
accounts screen displayed when the integrate email menu entitled
"All emails" is selected in the email menu screen of part [a] of
FIG. 26. In part [b] of FIG. 26, the integrated email screen shows
all the emails contained in the inboxes of both the Gmail and
Exchange Active Sync accounts in order of received times. As shown
in part [a] of FIG. 26, each email item has the tag at the left end
such that the user can identify the email account in which the
email is received.
[0178] Part [c] of FIG. 26 shows an exemplary individual email
account screen displayed when one of the email items is selected in
the email menu screen of part [a] of FIG. 26. In part [c] of FIG.
26, the emails contained in the inbox of the Gmail account are
itemized. The individual email account screen displays the emails
items without discrimination tags, as compared to the integrated
email accounts screen, but with a Sentbox and Outbox items.
[0179] FIG. 27 is a flowchart illustrating an information provision
method for a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the
present invention. The description is made with reference to FIG.
27 under the assumption that a plurality of SNS accounts is
registered in the mobile terminal 100.
[0180] The control unit 160 monitors to detect an input for
selecting an integrated SNS menu (2701). In an embodiment of the
present invention, the integrated SNS menu allows the user to
manage and check the communication information items associated
with the SNS accounts of the mobile terminal user.
[0181] If the integrated SNS menu selection input is detected, the
control unit 160 checks at least one SNS account registered as one
of "my accounts" (2702). That is, the control unit 160 checks all
the SNS accounts registered in the mobile terminal 100 by the
user.
[0182] If at least one SNS account is detected, the control unit
160 accesses the SNS server managing the detected SNS account
(2703) and downloads the SNS upload messages (2704). In case that
two SNS accounts are registered in the mobile terminal 100, the
control unit 160 accesses the two SNS servers corresponding to the
individual SNS accounts to received the SNS upload messages.
[0183] Next, the control unit 160 controls such that the downloaded
SNS upload messages are displayed in order of upload times by means
of the display unit 150 (2705). That is, the control unit 160
displays the upload messages of the different SNS accounts in order
of upload times on the screen in an integrated manner. At this
time, the SNS upload messages are displayed in the form of a list
along with a comment entry menu item and a message composition menu
item. The user can enter a comment to a specific upload message
with the comment input menu item and post a new upload message with
the message composition menu item. Once a new message is composed
by the user, the control unit 160 accesses the SNS servers
corresponding to the individual SNS accounts registered in the
mobile terminal 100 to upload the newly composed message.
[0184] FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary integrated
SNS menu screen for an information provision method according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0185] The integrated SNS menu screen is provided in the form of a
widget floating on the home screen. The integrated SNS menu screen
is entitled "Feeds & Update" along with the number of new
upload messages (e.g., 9). In FIG. 28, the upload messages of the
two SNS message accounts represented respectively by "f" and "t"
are displayed in order of upload times in an integrated manner. The
integrated SNS message menu screen includes the message composition
item entitled "Write something", and each upload message is
provided with a text balloon icon marked with a plus (+) symbol.
Once a message is written with the message composition menu item,
the message is uploaded to the two SNS servers of the "f" and "t"
accounts.
[0186] FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating exemplary screen images
provided for an information provision method according to another
embodiment of the present invention. In particular, FIG. 29 shows
an exemplary case when the integrated IM menu is selected. In an
embodiment of the preset invention, the integrated IM menu allows
the user to manage the IM account IDs of the user in an integrated
manner and update the presence state of the user in real time and
provides a chatting environment.
[0187] Part [a] of FIG. 29 shows the home screen or the background
screen in the state where the integrated IM menu icon is selected,
and part [b] of FIG. 29 shows the integrated IM menu screen
displayed when the user makes a touch to the integrated IM menu
icon on the integrated IM menu screen.
[0188] If an input for selecting the integrated IM menu icon is
detected, the control unit 160 controls such that the IM accounts
are displayed by means of the display unit 150. At this time, the
control unit 160 checks the user's IM IDs registered in the mobile
terminal and displays and displays the IM account items with
respective IM IDs. The control unit 160 controls such that the IM
IDs are displayed along with the presence state. In an embodiment
of the present invention, the mobile terminal 100 can configured to
stay in the login state to an IM service, and the presence of the
user can be set by the user. In part [b] of FIG. 29, the integrated
IM menu screen includes the IM accounts (Messenger, Yahoo!
Messenger, Google Talk, AIM, and ICQ), and the Messenger, Yahoo!
Messenger, Google Talk are presented along with corresponding IM
IDs (whale@hotmail.com, Matrix@ymail.com, and Jennifer
Lee@gmail.com). Each IM account item is presented with a presence
indication icon at the right end.
[0189] If one of the IM account items is selected from the IM
account list, the control unit 160 determines whether the selected
IM account has the registered IM ID and, if it has, controls such
that the IM execution screen is displayed by means of the display
unit 150. If the selected IM account has no registered IM ID, the
control unit 160 controls such that the IM ID registration menu
item is displayed by means of the display unit 150. The IM ID
registration menu screen includes and IM ID and password entry
boxes.
[0190] Part [c] of FIG. 29 shows an exemplary individual IM menu
screen displayed when the user selects the IM account item, e.g.
Google Talk, in the integrated IM menu screen. In part [c] of FIG.
29, a list of the friends of Jennifer Lee is displayed. Part [d] of
FIG. 29 shows an exemplary chatting screen displayed when the user
selects one of the friends in the friend list of part [c] of FIG.
29.
[0191] The user can manage the IM IDs registered in the mobile
terminal 100, updates the presence state of each IM service account
in real time, and enter the chatting environment immediately, using
the integrated IM menu.
[0192] FIG. 30 is a diagram illustrating exemplary screen images
provided for an information provision method according to another
embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 30 shows an exemplary
case where the user creates an event in the calendar menu.
[0193] Part [a] of FIG. 30 shows an event creation menu screen
displayed when an event creation item is selected in the calendar
menu screen. The event creation menu screen includes the menu items
such as event title, time, location, alarm, and event participant.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the event creation menu
screen includes a calendar selection menu item. If an input for
selecting the calendar menu item is detected by means of the input
unit 140, the control unit 160 controls such that a list of web
accounts supporting the calendar service among the web accounts
registered in the mobile terminal by means of the display unit 150.
Part [b] of FIG. 30 shows an exemplary calendar account list screen
displayed when the calendar menu item is selected in the event
creation menu screen of part [a] of FIG. 30. The calendar account
list screen shows the list of web accounts supporting calendar
service in the form of built-in calendars of the mobile terminal
100.
[0194] Part [c] of FIG. 30 shows an exemplary calendar account menu
screen displayed when a web account is selected on the calendar
account list screen of part [b] of FIG. 30. In part [b] of FIG. 30,
a web account is marked to indicate that the web account is
selected by the user.
[0195] If an input for finishing the process, the control unit 160
controls such that the event creation menu screen appears again
along with the name of the calendar selected in the calendar
selection menu. Part [d] of FIG. 30 shows an exemplary calendar
creation screen displayed when the user selects a calendar account
in the calendar account menu screen of part [c] of FIG. 30. The
calendar creation screen shows the name of the calendar selected by
the user, e.g. Android TF (brin@gmail.com).
[0196] The user can select a calendar to which an event is added
and can configure such that the web calendar function and the
terminal's calendar function interoperate with each other through
the calendar menu.
[0197] According to an embodiment of the present invention, if the
user selects an event participation menu item, the control unit 160
controls such that a contact list is displayed by means of the
display unit 150. Sequentially, if the user selects at least one
contact item from the contact list, the control unit 160 controls
such that the selected contact item is added as the event
participant. Here, the event creation menu screen can be displayed
along with the event participant menu item having the contact item
selected by the user.
[0198] FIG. 31 is a diagram illustrating exemplary screen images
provided for an information provision method according to still
another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 31 shows an
exemplary case for synchronizing a calendar stored in the mobile
terminal with a web calendar in the calendar menu.
[0199] The calendar menu setting screen according to an embodiment
of the present invention includes a calendar synchronization menu.
Part [a] of FIG. 31 shows the calendar menu settings screen in the
state where the calendar synchronization menu item is selected.
[0200] If an input for selecting the calendar synchronization menu
item is detected, the control unit 160 controls such that a list of
the web and SNS accounts supporting the calendar service among all
the web and SNS accounts registered in the mobile terminal 100 by
means of the display unit 150. If the user selects one of the
accounts from the list, the control unit 160 accesses the server
managing the selected account by means of the RF unit 110 to
download the updates of the calendar and reflects the update to the
internal calendar of the mobile terminal 100. Particularly, the
control unit 160 can receive an event list containing events such
as birthdays from the SNS server and updated the internal calendar
of the mobile terminal 100 with the received event list. In an
embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 160 controls
such that the web and SNS accounts are itemized with different tags
distinguished by color. Part [b] of FIG. 31 shows an exemplary
calendar synchronization menu screen in which the SNS account
"Facebook" is selected by the user, and part [c] of FIG. 31 shows
an exemplary Facebook calendar synchronization screen displayed
when the SNS account "Facebook" is selected in the calendar
synchronization menu screen. Through the Facebook calendar
synchronization screen, the internal calendar of the mobile
terminal 100 can be synchronized with the Facebook calendar.
[0201] In an embodiment of the present invention, the mobile
terminal can be provided with a menu for configuring the calendar
synchronization interval such that the user configures the calendar
synchronization interval with this menu. If the calendar
synchronization interval is configured by the user, the control
unit 160 starts a timer and accesses, when the timer indicates the
calendar synchronization time, the web server or SNS server by
means of the RF unit 110 to updates the internal calendar of the
mobile terminal 100 with the calendar update downloaded from the
server.
[0202] The user can synchronize the internal calendar of the mobile
terminal 100 with the web calendar through the calendar menu and
manages the events in an integrated manner.
[0203] As described above, the information provision method for a
mobile terminal according to the present invention is advantageous
to manage all of the SMS, MMS, email, SNS, and IM accounts that are
registered by the user through an integrated menu and execute the
corresponding communication applications efficiently. Also, the
information provision method for a mobile terminal according to the
present invention allows the user to check a plurality of accounts
of a counterpart and the communication information items of
individual accounts at a time using an integrated menu, resulting
in user convenience of the social communication activities using
the mobile terminal.
[0204] Note that the above-described methods according to the
present invention can be realized in hardware or as software or
computer code that can be stored in a recording medium such as a CD
ROM, an RAM, a floppy disk, a hard disk, or a magneto-optical disk
or downloaded over a network, so that the methods described herein
can be executed by such software using a general purpose computer,
or a special processor or in programmable or dedicated hardware,
such as an ASIC or FPGA. As would be understood in the art, the
computer, the processor or the programmable hardware include memory
components, e.g., RAM, ROM, Flash, etc. that may store or receive
software or computer code that when accessed and executed by the
computer, processor or hardware implement the processing methods
described herein.
[0205] Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have
been described in detail hereinabove, it should be clearly
understood that many variations and/or modifications of the basic
inventive concepts herein taught which may appear to those skilled
in the present art will still fall within the spirit and scope of
the present invention, as defined in the appended claims.
* * * * *