• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
  • 引用文献
  • 法律状态
  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:
    A method of defining the hot keys used to immediately initiate desired functions by the user in a communication terminal, comprises the steps of displaying a plurality of main menu items in the hot key defining mode, displaying a plurality of sub-menu items corresponding to a particular main menu item selected by the user, selecting at least one of the sub-menu items by the user, displaying the keys used for the hot keys, and selecting one of the key as a hot key assigned to the at least one sub-menu.
    公开号:US20010003097A1
    申请号:US09/731,611
    申请日:2000-12-07
    公开日:2001-06-07
    发明作者:Mi-Ran Jeoung
    申请人:Samsung Electronics Co Ltd；
    IPC主号:H04M1-7258
    专利说明:
    [0001] This application makes reference to and claims all benefits accruing under 35 U.S.C. Section 119 from an application entitled “METHOD OF DEFINING SHORT KEYS USED TO SELECT DESIRED FUNCTIONS OF A COMMUNICATION TERMINAL BY THE SER” filed in the Korean Industrial Property Office on Dec. 7, 1999 and there duly assigned Ser. No. 99-55361. [0001] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
    [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0002]
    [0003] The present invention relates to a communication terminal, such as a mobile phone. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of defining short keys used to select desired functions of the communication terminal. [0003]
    [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004]
    [0005] A communication terminal usually includes a keypad, which consist of a plurality of alphanumeric keys and functional keys used to operate the terminal, and a display unit for displaying its operational state. For example, upon pressing a specific functional key to select a particular function, the display device displays an operational menu representing various functions for the user to select on the LCD screen. A common term, a short/hot key, is used when a user wishes to activate a particular key to cause the communication terminal to immediately perform a desired function or display desired menu items. [0005]
    [0006] In a conventional mobile station, various hot keys are predefined by “*”, “#”, and navigation keys (up, down, left, and right keys) to initiate the respective desired functions. For example, a choice of alarm signal used to notify an incoming call may be selected between the normal ring mode or vibration mode by pressing a specific hot key predefined for that function. Accordingly, a mobile user may only use these types of hot keys to predefine most of their desired functions in the mobile terminal. [0006] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
    [0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of defining a plurality of hot keys used to immediately initiate specific functions desired by the user in a communication terminal. [0007]
    [0008] According to the present invention, a method of defining the hot keys used to immediately initiate the desired functions by the user in a communication terminal, comprises the steps of: displaying a plurality of main menu items in the hot key defining mode, displaying a plurality of sub-menu items corresponding to a particular main menu item selected by the user, selecting at least one of the sub-menu items by the user, displaying the keys used for the hot keys, and selecting one of the key as the hot key assigned to the at least one sub-menu. [0008] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ATTACHED DRAWINGS
    [0009] The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the various views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. [0009]
    [0010] FIG. 1 is a block diagram for illustrating the structure of a mobile station; [0010]
    [0011] FIG. 2 is a flow chart for illustrating the process of defining hot keys by the user in a mobile station according to the present invention; [0011]
    [0012] FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate the display screen of a mobile phone displaying the menu items; [0012]
    [0013] FIG. 3C illustrates the display screen of a mobile phone displaying a list of the keys used for hot key activation according to the present invention; [0013]
    [0014] FIG. 4A illustrates the display screen of a mobile phone displaying a calendar initiated by pressing the hot key assigned to the calendar function according to the present invention; and [0014]
    [0015] FIG. 4B illustrates the display screen of a mobile station displaying a list of a plurality of menu items initiated by pressing the hot key assigned to the list function. [0015] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
    [0016] In the following description, for purposes of explanation rather than limitation, specific details are set forth such as particular architecture, interfaces, techniques, etc., in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced in other embodiments that depart from these specific details. For the purpose of clarity, detailed descriptions of well-known devices, circuits, and methods are omitted so as not to obscure the description of the present invention with unnecessary detail. [0016]
    [0017] With reference to FIG. 1, a control unit [0017] 10 controls the whole functions of a mobile station including the process of defining hot keys by the user. A memory device 20 comprises an ROM for storing a control program to control the operation of the mobile station and an RAM for temporarily storing data generated upon executing the control program. The program data required for defining the hot keys is stored into the memory device.
    [0018] A radio frequency (RF) device [0018] 30 converts analog base band signals into the corresponding RF signals to be transmitted to a base station through a radio channel, or down-converts the RF signals received through an antenna AT into the corresponding analog base band signals via a modem 40, which modulates digital data into analog base band signals via the RF device 30 or de modulates analog signals received from the RF device into digital data via an audio signal processor 50.
    [0019] The audio signal processor [0019] 50 converts the analog audio signals inputted through a microphone (MIC) into the corresponding digital data (ADPCM) and transferred to the modem, or the digital audio signals from the modem 40 into the analog audio signals and outputted through a speaker (SP).
    [0020] A key input device [0020] 60 includes a plurality of alphanumeric keys and navigation keys (up, down, left, and right keys) to generate the key data delivered to the control unit 10. The navigation keys are used as the hot keys that are predefined by the user to initiate desired functions according to the present invention. A display device 70 displays the operational state of the mobile phone on an LCD screen under the control of the control unit 10.
    [0021] FIG. 2 describes the process of defining the hot keys according to the user. The control unit [0021] 10 determines in step 211 whether the user selects the hot key-defining mode. If such a mode is selected, the control unit 10 proceeds to step 213, otherwise proceeds to step 231 to perform corresponding function.
    [0022] In step [0022] 213, the control unit 10 displays the main menu items as shown in FIG. 3A, where nine main menu items are depicted. If the user selects one of the main menu items in step 215, the control unit 10 proceeds to step 217, or otherwise return to step 213 to keep on displaying the main menu items.
    [0023] In step [0023] 217, the control unit 10 displays the corresponding sub-menu items of the selected main menu item as shown in FIG. 3B. For example, FIG. 3B shows nine sub-menu items corresponding to the main menu item No. 7 (ORGANIZER) of FIG. 3A. Then, if the user selects one of the sub-menu items in step 219, the control unit 10 proceeds to step 221, or otherwise return to step 217 to keep on displaying the sub-menu items.
    [0024] In step [0024] 221, the control unit displays the list of the keys used for the hot keys as shown in FIG. 3C, which shows UP key, DOWN key, LEFT key, RIGHT key, UP_LONG key (pressing of UP key prolonged), DOWN_LONG key, LEFT_LONG key, and RIGHT_LONG key. The user selects one of the keys listed as the hot key corresponding to the selected sub-menu item. Thus, if the control unit 10 detects a particular key selected at step 223, it proceeds to step 225 to assigned the selected key as the designated hot key to the selected sub-menu item, or otherwise return to step 221 to keep on displaying the key list. In this case, the key selection may be made by directly pressing a particular key or inputting the number representing it in the key list.
    [0025] Then, the control unit [0025] 10 assigns the selected key to the selected sub-menu item in step 225, displaying a message notifying the completion of defining the hot key. The selected key and corresponding menu item are stored into EEPROM as data structure. Finally detecting the end key in step 229, the control unit 10 terminates the hot key-defining program, or otherwise returns to step 213 to repeat the process of defining the hot keys.
    [0026] Meanwhile, a single hot key may be assigned to more than one function. While a hot key linked to one particular function is pressed to immediately execute the linked function, a hot key linked to multiple functions can be pressed to display the multiple menu items for the user to select one of them. For example, assuming that the UP key is assigned to the calendar function numbered “[0026] 4” in FIG. 3B, if the user presses the UP key during the idle state, the mobile phone immediately executes the calendar function as shown in FIG. 4A. However, assuming that the DOWN key is assigned to multiple functions including the scheduler numbered “1”, to-do-list numbered “5”, and calculator numbered “2” of FIG. 3B, if the user presses the DOWN key during the idle state, the mobile phone displays all the menu items linked thereto as shown in FIG. 4B, so that the user may select one of them.
    [0027] Thus, the user may arbitrarily define hot keys to display desired menus or initiate particular functions by a single key-stroke. While the present invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments accompanied by the attached drawings, it will be readily appreciated that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing the gist of the present invention. [0027]
    权利要求:
    Claims (9)
    [1" id="US-20010003097-A1-CLM-00001] 1. A method of defining the hot keys used to immediately initiate desired functions by a user in a communication terminal, comprising the steps of:
    assigning at least one key to a particular function as selected by the user;
    making said particular function to immediately perform by pressing said assigned key;
    selecting one of a plurality of menu items from a display unit,
    selecting a particular key to be used as a hot key to initiate the selected menu item; and
    assigning said selected key to said selected menu item.
    [2" id="US-20010003097-A1-CLM-00002] 2. The method as defined in
    claim 1 , wherein said selected key is one of the navigation keys selected from a group consists of up, down, left, and right keys.
    [3" id="US-20010003097-A1-CLM-00003] 3. The method as defined in
    claim 1 , wherein said selected key and the corresponding selected menu item are stored into a memory means of said communication terminal.
    [4" id="US-20010003097-A1-CLM-00004] 4. The method as defined in
    claim 1 , wherein said plurality of said menu items includes a predetermined number of functions handled by said communication terminal.
    [5" id="US-20010003097-A1-CLM-00005] 5. A method of defining the hot keys used to immediately initiate desired functions by a user in a communication terminal, comprising the steps of:
    displaying a plurality of main menu items during a hot key-defining mode;
    displaying a plurality of sub-menu items corresponding to one of the particular main menu item selected by the user;
    activating at least one of said sub-menu items by the user;
    displaying a plurality of keys used for said hot keys;
    selecting one of said keys as a hot key to be assigned to said activated sub-menu; and
    displaying the sub-menu items corresponding to said activation.
    [6" id="US-20010003097-A1-CLM-00006] 6. The method as defined in
    claim 5 , further including the step of immediately performing the function assigned to said selected hot key.
    [7" id="US-20010003097-A1-CLM-00007] 7. The method as defined in
    claim 5 , said selected hot key is one of the navigation keys selected from a group consists of up, down, left, and right keys.
    [8" id="US-20010003097-A1-CLM-00008] 8. The method as defined in
    claim 5 , wherein said selected hot key and the corresponding said activated sub-menu are stored into a memory means of said communication terminal.
    [9" id="US-20010003097-A1-CLM-00009] 9. The method as defined in
    claim 5 , wherein said plurality of said menu items includes a predetermined number of functions handled by said communication terminal.
    类似技术:
    公开号 | 公开日 | 专利标题
    US6799061B2|2004-09-28|Method of defining short keys used to select desired functions of a communication terminal by the user
    KR100490855B1|2005-05-23|Communication terminal apparatus and method for selecting options using a dial shuttle
    US8121650B2|2012-02-21|Menu displaying method in a mobile terminal
    EP1361729B1|2015-05-27|User interface for a radio telephone
    US6931258B1|2005-08-16|Radiophone provided with an operation key with multiple functionality for handling access to a menu structure
    EP1758350B1|2017-10-11|Mobile communication terminal and method for running an application therein
    GB2310567A|1997-08-27|Radiotelephone with user selectable default modes
    US20010012790A1|2001-08-09|Key input method in a mobile telecommunication terminal
    US7555311B2|2009-06-30|Mobile communication terminal and method
    CN101507244A|2009-08-12|User interface for an electronic device
    US7096010B2|2006-08-22|Method and apparatus for defining and executing features in a personal wireless handset
    US6021193A|2000-02-01|Telephone
    KR100731810B1|2007-06-22|Method of setting speed dial in user interface of mobile communication terminal and the mobile communication terminal
    KR100692001B1|2007-03-09|Mobile communication terminal equipped with hot key input and method of executing a hot key thereof
    KR20010110034A|2001-12-12|A shorten key control method of the PDA by a comsumer definition
    KR100312525B1|2001-11-03|Method for implementing user menu in portable telephone
    JP3024093B2|2000-03-21|Multifunctional telephone
    KR20060044077A|2006-05-16|Method for setting alarm in the mobile phone and alarming thereof
    KR20010018353A|2001-03-05|Method for selecting function utilizing help function in portable phone
    KR100428851B1|2004-04-29|Method for setting short-cut menu
    US6751469B1|2004-06-15|Method of outputting a list of information in a portable cellular telephone using a single function key
    KR20040009156A|2004-01-31|Help function using method for mobile communication terminal
    KR20040037381A|2004-05-07|Method for selecting menu using short-cut key in mobile phone
    KR20030006728A|2003-01-23|Mobile terminal having hot key trigger key and method for triggering hot key using the same
    WO2001080529A2|2001-10-25|Dynamic softkey for electronic device
    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    EP1107544A2|2001-06-13|
    CN1299222A|2001-06-13|
    US6799061B2|2004-09-28|
    DE60035661T2|2007-11-22|
    KR20010054519A|2001-07-02|
    CN101257537B|2013-01-02|
    DE60035661D1|2007-09-06|
    KR100334806B1|2002-05-02|
    CN101257537A|2008-09-03|
    EP1107544A3|2003-09-17|
    EP1107544B1|2007-07-25|
    引用文献:
    公开号 | 申请日 | 公开日 | 申请人 | 专利标题
    US5761610A|1994-09-20|1998-06-02|Motorola, Inc.|Method and apparatus for dynamic radio communication menu|
    US6122530A|1996-02-23|2000-09-19|Nokia Mobile Phones Limited|Radiotelephone operable in plural default modes sharing a common function|
    US6381468B1|1996-11-22|2002-04-30|Nokia Mobiel Phones Limited|User interface for a hand-portable phone|
    US6415164B1|1996-12-31|2002-07-02|Lucent Technologies, Inc.|Arrangement for dynamic allocation of space on a small display of a telephone terminal|
    US6381474B1|1997-06-17|2002-04-30|Nokia Mobile Phones Limited|Method of handling phone operations and a phone using the method|
    US6125287A|1997-09-05|2000-09-26|Fujitsu Limited|Wireless telephone having an improved user interface|
    US6487424B1|1998-01-14|2002-11-26|Nokia Mobile Phones Limited|Data entry by string of possible candidate information in a communication terminal|
    US6463304B2|1999-03-04|2002-10-08|Openwave Systems Inc.|Application launcher for a two-way mobile communications device|US20030040339A1|2001-08-21|2003-02-27|Allen Chang|Method and system for accessing functions of a portable information appliance|
    US20030090471A1|2001-11-09|2003-05-15|Corel Corporation|Shortcut key manager and method for managing shortcut key assignment|
    US20030200508A1|2002-04-18|2003-10-23|International Business Machines Corporation|Apparatus, system and method of automatically assigning mnemonics in a user interface|
    US20040119755A1|2002-12-18|2004-06-24|Nicolas Guibourge|One hand quick dialer for communications devices|
    US20040239973A1|2003-03-13|2004-12-02|Hiroyuki Tanaka|Image forming apparatus and function key assignment method|
    US20050009571A1|2003-02-06|2005-01-13|Chiam Thor Itt|Main menu navigation principle for mobile phone user|
    US20060128437A1|2004-12-09|2006-06-15|Lg Electronics Inc.|Mobile terminal having user assignable hot keys and method for using same|
    US20060198609A1|2005-02-17|2006-09-07|Satoshi Ogata|Audio/video format reproduction apparatus providing superior usability, and audio/video format reproduction method and program therefor|
    US20070094616A1|2005-10-26|2007-04-26|Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.|Method and apparatus for displaying key information in portable terminal|
    US20070093207A1|2005-10-25|2007-04-26|Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.|Method and apparatus for automatic bluetooth connection in a mobile communication terminal|
    US20070202924A1|2006-02-27|2007-08-30|Inventec Appliances Corp.|Method and apparatus for activating features in a mobile communication system|
    US20070263014A1|2006-05-09|2007-11-15|Nokia Corporation|Multi-function key with scrolling in electronic devices|
    US20090227279A1|2004-11-17|2009-09-10|Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.|Mobile terminal device and program selection method|
    JP2009540447A|2006-06-16|2009-11-19|ノキアコーポレイション|Method, apparatus and computer readable storage medium for providing metadata entry|
    US20100088029A1|2008-09-03|2010-04-08|Austin Hu|Systems and methods for connecting and operating portable GPS enabled devices in automobiles|
    US20110025632A1|2006-09-27|2011-02-03|Lee Chang Sub|Mobile communication terminal and method of selecting menu and item|
    US20120094724A1|2010-04-23|2012-04-19|Huizhou Tcl Mobile Communication Co., Ltd.|Method for directly accessing menu item of mobile communication terminal|
    US20130263039A1|2012-03-30|2013-10-03|Nokia Corporation|Character string shortcut key|
    US8600447B2|2010-03-30|2013-12-03|Flextronics Ap, Llc|Menu icons with descriptive audio|
    US20150268855A1|2014-03-21|2015-09-24|Blackberry Sweden Ab|Electronic device and method for previewing content associated with an application|
    US10992858B2|2004-03-17|2021-04-27|Sony Corporation|Electronic device and function assigning method|ES2100206T3|1990-02-20|1997-06-16|Canon Kk|COMMUNICATION DEVICE.|
    DE29503933U1|1994-03-16|1995-12-07|Ericsson Telefon Ab L M|Uniform human-machine interface for cellular mobile phones|
    US5894276A|1996-12-23|1999-04-13|Motorola, Inc.|Communication device with programmable function button and method of operation|
    KR19990011030A|1997-07-21|1999-02-18|윤종용|Key sharing method in communication terminal|
    KR19990018115A|1997-08-26|1999-03-15|윤종용|How to Set Shortcut Menu of Communication Terminal|
    CN1112628C|1997-11-24|2003-06-25|明碁电脑股份有限公司|Keyboard with single key to correct input codes and control method thereof|
    KR100313139B1|1998-12-19|2002-02-28|윤종용|How to Edit Functions by User on the Phone|GB2366488A|2000-08-25|2002-03-06|Nokia Mobile Phones Ltd|Telecommunication terminal|
    KR100425709B1|2001-09-07|2004-04-03|엘지전자 주식회사|Short cut setting method for mobile communication device|
    JP2006024970A|2001-12-13|2006-01-26|Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd|Cellular phone|
    KR100424475B1|2002-01-10|2004-03-25|삼성전자주식회사|Apparatus and method for performing communication function using hot keys in a mobile communication terminal equipment|
    KR20040022059A|2002-09-06|2004-03-11|엘지전자 주식회사|Multipurpose button mapping method for phone|
    KR100970614B1|2003-02-26|2010-07-15|엘지전자 주식회사|Method for displaying setting menu|
    JP2004348255A|2003-05-20|2004-12-09|Mitsubishi Electric Corp|Browser device|
    DE10326807A1|2003-06-13|2005-01-13|Siemens Ag|Method for operating a handset and handset|
    EP1496677A1|2003-07-08|2005-01-12|Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB|Communication apparatus having programmable soft keys and method of programming such soft keys|
    WO2005006162A2|2003-07-08|2005-01-20|Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications Ab|Communication apparatus having programmable soft keys and method of programming soft keys|
    DE602004012532T2|2004-04-30|2009-04-02|Harman Becker Automotive Systems Gmbh|A vehicle multimedia system and method for activating a function of such a system|
    WO2006001794A1|2004-06-10|2006-01-05|Thomson Licensing S.A.|Method for operating a menu system|
    KR100677342B1|2004-07-30|2007-02-02|엘지전자 주식회사|Method for setting configuration of mobile terminal|
    KR100623297B1|2004-08-17|2006-09-19|에스케이 텔레콤주식회사|Method for accessing item using abbreviated code and device implementing the same|
    KR100594050B1|2005-05-17|2006-06-30|삼성전자주식회사|Method for displaying menu screen in mobile communication terminal|
    US7539795B2|2006-01-30|2009-05-26|Nokia Corporation|Methods and apparatus for implementing dynamic shortcuts both for rapidly accessing web content and application program windows and for establishing context-based user environments|
    CN101025659B|2006-02-20|2010-08-25|联想有限公司|Method for realizing shortcut on-off application|
    US20080032681A1|2006-08-01|2008-02-07|Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications Ab|Click-hold Operations of Mobile Device Input Keys|
    KR100782062B1|2006-10-31|2007-12-04|에스케이 텔레콤주식회사|Method and device for setting fluent key behavior in user interface library|
    US8127254B2|2007-06-29|2012-02-28|Nokia Corporation|Unlocking a touch screen device|
    CN102196162A|2010-03-08|2011-09-21|华晶科技股份有限公司|Method for enabling user to define hot key combinations and image pick-up device|
    US8854318B2|2010-09-01|2014-10-07|Nokia Corporation|Mode switching|
    US9830049B2|2011-12-12|2017-11-28|Nokia Technologies Oy|Apparatus and method for providing a visual transition between screens|
    TW201417573A|2012-10-19|2014-05-01|Hon Hai Prec Ind Co Ltd|Remotely controllable electronic device and system using the same|
    CN103197853B|2013-03-11|2018-03-16|广东欧珀移动通信有限公司|A kind of function key of mobile terminal, function key method to set up and its mobile terminal|
    法律状态:
    2000-12-07| AS| Assignment|Owner name: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., KOREA, REPUBLIC OF Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:JEOUNG, MI-RAN;REEL/FRAME:011346/0190 Effective date: 20001110 |
    2004-09-09| STCF| Information on status: patent grant|Free format text: PATENTED CASE |
    2008-02-28| FPAY| Fee payment|Year of fee payment: 4 |
    2012-02-17| FPAY| Fee payment|Year of fee payment: 8 |
    2016-03-24| FPAY| Fee payment|Year of fee payment: 12 |
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    KR1019990055361A|KR100334806B1|1999-12-07|1999-12-07|Method of hot key user assignment in mobile communication terminal|
    KR1999-55361||1999-12-07||
    [返回顶部]