KR100413234B1 - Method and apparatus for selecting menu using key-pad arrangement type icon in portable set - Google Patents

Abstract

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of selecting a menu of a portable terminal, comprising: a first step of displaying a menu item having a corresponding icon type on a display screen in the same arrangement as an arrangement of corresponding keys of a keypad; A second step of checking whether a numeric key at the same arrangement position as the specific icon is pressed; A third step of checking whether a submenu exists in a menu item of a selected specific icon corresponding to the pressed key; A fourth step of performing a control operation from the first step if the lower menu exists in the selected menu item, and setting a function of the selected menu item if the lower menu does not exist in the selected menu item; And a fifth step of returning to the previous screen when the preset back screen entry key is pressed after the execution of the first step.

As a result, the menu items on the screen of the portable terminal are displayed in the same arrangement as the keypad and displayed in one-to-one correspondence with the keypad, so that the menu selection can be intuitively and quickly accessed. In addition, the menu selection can be made only by using a combination of numeric keys, star keys, and hash keys, thereby enabling movement of a small range of keys, and reducing the keys of the portable terminal keypad.

Description

Method of selecting menu using keypad array icon in portable terminal and portable terminal using same {{MEHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SELECTING MENU USING KEY-PAD ARRANGEMENT TYPE ICON IN PORTABLE SET}

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for selecting a menu item of a portable terminal, and more particularly, to display a menu item on the screen in the same arrangement as the keypad and to display the menu items in a one-to-one correspondence with the keypad. The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for enabling quick access, allowing a small range of key access movement, and reducing keys of a keypad.

Conventionally, the menu items on the screen of the portable terminal are made of text. However, in order to select a text menu item, a large number of key operations were required, and the interface of the menu selection made the user feel sick.

In order to solve this problem, Korean Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2000-000518 displays the same level menu in a text form collectively and allows a user to select a predetermined menu item by operating a numeric button (or a function button). A technique for reducing the number of operations and power consumption is disclosed. However, Korean Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2000-000518 corresponds to a technology in which menus and keypads of the same level displayed collectively correspond to one-to-one, but have not been an optimal method for keypad operation for menu selection. That is, since the menu items on the screen of the portable terminal are not iconized in the form of keypads, the user cannot intuitively and quickly access the menus.

Recently, due to the development of the performance of liquid crystal displays (LCDs), menu items on the screen of portable terminals (mobile phones, electronic notebooks, PDAs, presonal digital assistants, notebook computers, etc.) are icons. It is shown in the form. An icon means a sign or picture used to visualize selectable menu items.

In order to select a menu item in the form of an icon, a conventional portable terminal uses display means for displaying icons corresponding to menu items, scroll means for scrolling icons, and each icon for selecting the corresponding menu item. It has some input means for input. The scroll means is a key having an arrow pointing in the direction in which the icons can be scrolled or a rotating key (jog) which can be rotated clockwise or counterclockwise to scroll through the displayed icons and select one of them. Dial). When a mouse (including a ball mouse) is used as a scrolling means, the rotation and movement of the ball are recognized using a cursor on the x and y coordinate planes, and the icon indicator is moved on the display menu using this coordinate movement information. If a separate selection key is input at an appropriate position, the command of the corresponding menu is executed.

However, as described above, means for scrolling icons and input means for selecting each icon, which are conventionally required for menu selection of a portable terminal, should be separately provided for moving and selecting an indicator to a specific icon. Improvements in menu access and selection methods may be unnecessary. In other words, if the separate scroll means and the input means for selecting can be eliminated, it can be a great help in reducing the thickness of the portable terminal.

1 is a view showing an example of a conventional portable terminal keypad.

The keypad includes a scroll key and an input key 110 for menu selection, keys 120 including a star key ("*") at the bottom left of the keypad and a hash key ("#") at the bottom right of the keypad, and a call ( SEND) key 130 and the power / hangup key 140.

As shown, the Soft-Left key at the top left of the keypad is used for selection confirmation when entering or entering the menu, and the Soft-Right key at the top right is used for exiting or canceling the selection. It is used.

In addition, the up, down, left and right scroll keys for menu selection is used to scroll the menu items displayed on the screen of the portable terminal up, down, left and right.

Numeric keys (0-9) are for dialing, text entry and scrolling menu items. The star key ("*") at the bottom left of the keypad and the hash key ("#") at the bottom right of the keypad are for dialing or character entry. It is also used as a navigation key for menu items.

In addition, the calling key 130 is used for dialing the dialed number, and the power / up key 140 is used to turn on / off the power or terminate the call.

As described above, in the conventional portable terminal, since key combinations 110, such as a scroll key and an input key, are provided separately on the keypad, function keys for selecting a menu, such as a scroll key and an input key, have become a barrier to light and small size of the portable terminal. .

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to iconize the menu items on the screen in the portable terminal, display them in the same arrangement as the arrangement of the keypad, and match one-to-one with the keypad, allowing intuitive and quick access to menu selections and accessing a small range of keys. The present invention provides a method and apparatus for enabling movement and for a small range of key access movement, and for reducing keys of a keypad.

Another object of the present invention is to display a menu item in the form of an icon in the same arrangement as the arrangement of the keys of the keypad in a portable terminal, and when the user selects a particular key on the keypad, the menu item is located in the same arrangement position as the selected specific key. A method and apparatus for setting a function promised by a menu item is provided.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for selecting a menu of a portable terminal having a display screen and a keypad, the method comprising: displaying a menu item in the form of an icon on the display screen in the same arrangement as the corresponding keys of the keypad; Stage 1; And

And when the user selects a specific key from the keypad, setting a function of a menu item in the same arrangement position as the selected specific key.

The present invention provides a menu selection method of a portable terminal, comprising: a first step of displaying a menu item having a corresponding icon type on a display screen in the same arrangement as an arrangement of corresponding keys of a keypad; A second step of checking whether a numeric key at the same arrangement position as the specific icon is pressed; A third step of checking whether a submenu exists in a menu item of a selected specific icon corresponding to the pressed key; A fourth step of performing a control operation from the first step if the lower menu exists in the selected menu item, and setting a function of the selected menu item if the lower menu does not exist in the selected menu item; And a fifth step of returning to the previous screen when the preset back screen entry key is pressed after the execution of the first step.

In addition, the present invention provides a portable terminal having a display screen and a keypad, comprising: a memory for storing menu items in the form of icons displayed in the same arrangement as the arrangement of the corresponding keys of the keypad; And controlling an overall operation of the portable terminal, controlling the display screen to display a menu item in the form of an icon from the memory, and when a user selects a specific key on the keypad, the user selects a specific key on the same arrangement position as the selected specific key. It characterized in that it comprises a central controller for setting a predetermined function of the menu item.

1 is a view showing an example of a conventional portable terminal keypad.

Figure 2 is an embodiment of the present invention showing a functional block configuration of a portable terminal.

3a and 3b is an embodiment of the present invention showing the flow of menu selection using an icon of a keypad arrangement type in a portable terminal.

4 is an embodiment of the present invention showing an initial screen of a portable terminal.

5 is an embodiment of the present invention showing a main menu of a portable terminal.

6 shows an example of displaying a description of a specific icon menu selected on a main menu;

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2 is an embodiment of the present invention showing a functional block configuration of a portable terminal.

The central processor 210 controls the overall operation of the portable terminal. The central processor 210 interprets information of wirelessly processed received data (control data, packet data, image data, etc.) and controls the operation of each component of the illustrated portable terminal. In addition, the central processor 210 processes the digital signal of the user's voice data, packet data, and image data to be transmitted, and outputs the digital signal to the wireless signal processor 250. The central processor 210 may perform channel decoding and channel coding on the received signal and the transmitted signal. In addition, in the case of a code division multiple access (CDMA) scheme, the CPU 210 may perform CDMA modulation / demodulation operations on the received signal and the transmitted signal.

In particular, the central processor 210 controls the menu selection method using the icon of the keypad arrangement type of the present invention.

The display screen 220 may include a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a thin film (TFT) liquid crystal crystal display. In addition, the display screen 220 may include a predetermined display that supports a graphic screen. The display screen 220 displays the progress of the various programs of the portable terminal, the text, the image, and the like under the control of the central processor 210. In particular, the display screen 220 icons the menu items on the screen in the same arrangement as the keypad under the control of the central processor 210 and displays them.

The keypad 230 generates corresponding key input data in response to a user's key input and outputs the corresponding key input data to the central processor 210. The keypad 230 may be composed of a call key, a power / up key, a numeric key combination, a "*" key, and a "#" key according to an embodiment of the present invention. In addition, key input data generated by the keypad 230 due to a user pressing a specific key is matched one-to-one with a corresponding specific icon menu on the display screen 220.

The memory 250 stores various programs for operating the portable terminal. The memory 250 also stores a program for controlling a menu selection method using an icon of a keypad arrangement type of the present invention. In addition, the memory 250 temporarily stores data generated by the operation of various programs for operating the portable terminal. In addition, the memory 250 stores menu item data in the form of an icon displayed in the same arrangement as that of the corresponding keys of the keypad 230.

The wireless signal processor 240 performs filtering, amplifying, and down-converting on a signal received through an antenna under the control of the central processor 210, and performs a baseband. Wireless signal processing such as digitization of the received signal and outputs to the central processor 240. In addition, the wireless signal processor 240 wirelessly processes transmission signals such as up-converting, amplifying, filtering, and the like from the central processor 210 and wirelessly outputs them through the antenna.

The voice processor 260 digitally converts and compresses a user's voice input through a microphone and outputs it to the central processor 210. The voice processor 260 processes a corresponding digital signal from the central processor 210 and converts the user's voice into an audible voice signal. To the user through the speaker.

3A and 3B illustrate an embodiment of the present invention illustrating a flow of menu selection using an icon of a keypad arrangement type in a portable terminal. Hereinafter, a description will be given with reference to FIG. 2.

The central processor 210 controls the display screen 220 to display the initial screen. (301) The initial screen is a screen displayed by the portable terminal before the main menu item display step, which will be described later. Can be the first screen displayed. The initial screen may be shown in FIG. 4.

The CPU 210 checks whether a key for displaying a main menu item is input (303). At this time, the key for displaying the main menu item may be a star ("*") key. 4)

In step 303, when a key for displaying the main menu item is input, the central processor 210 controls the display screen 220 to display the main menu items in an icon form in the same arrangement as the keypad. In this case, the main menu item may be shown in FIG. 5.

The central processor 210 controls the keypad 230 to check whether the numeric key at the same arrangement position as the specific icon on the main menu is pressed shortly. (307) In step 307, the specific on the main menu is checked. If the numeric key at the same arrangement position as the icon is pressed briefly, the central processor 210 checks whether a submenu corresponding to the selected menu item exists.

If there is no submenu corresponding to the selected menu item in step 309, the CPU 210 sets the function of the selected menu item. (311) The function setting operation itself of the selected menu item performed in step 311. Can be performed by a conventional general menu function setting operation.

For example, the central processor 210 may control the display screen 220 to display a function setting list of a selected menu item so that a user may finally set a specific function. At this time, the central processor 210 selects the star ("*") key to "next", the hash ("#") key to "determine", and the "0" key to "cancel" so that the user can select a specific final item. Can be assigned to In this case, the CPU 210 may display each function setting item in a pop-up format.

On the other hand, if there is a submenu corresponding to the selected menu item in step 309, the control operation from step 305 is performed to display submenu items in the form of icons in the same arrangement as the keypad.

On the other hand, after performing step 305, if the numeric key at the same arrangement position as the specific icon on the menu item is pressed for a long time (313), the central processor 210 controls the display screen 220 to control the specific icon on the menu item. The selected menu item is displayed on the menu description line (refer to 501 of FIG. 5) (317). The CPU 210 performs the control operation from step 307.

However, after performing step 305, if the confirmation key for the currently selected icon is pressed (319), the central processor 210 performs the control operation from the step 309. The confirmation key for the currently selected icon may be a star ("*") key. Step 319 may be performed in the following two cases. First, after step 305 is performed, a selection may be made for the first menu item selected as a default among the displayed main menu items. (See FIG. 5) Next, steps 313 to 317 may be performed. It can be a selection for a particular menu item that is selected after it is performed.

On the other hand, if after performing the step 305, the Back key to enter the previous screen is pressed (321), the central processor 210 returns to the previous screen to perform the control operation from the step 305, but is currently displayed In operation 305, if the currently displayed item corresponds to the main menu item, the CPU 210 performs the control operation from step 301. The back key entering the previous screen may be a hash ("#") key.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the portable terminal may use only numeric keys, star keys, and hash keys as keys for menu selection. That is, the portable terminal of the present invention may not use the conventional scroll key and menu selection input key for menu selection. In addition, in the embodiment of the present invention, the keypad 230 of the portable terminal may be composed of only a call key, a power / hang key, a combination of numeric keys, a star key, and a hash key.

Of course, in some cases, the portable terminal of the present invention includes a conventional scroll key and a menu selection input key for the conventional menu selection, and the menu selection function according to the conventional method and the menu selection function according to the present invention are mode. It is also possible to perform concurrently by conversion.

3A to 3B have been described on the assumption of a mobile wireless terminal, but according to a specific embodiment, the present invention may be applied to a portable terminal (mobile phone, electronic notebook, portable digital assistant (PDA), notebook computer, etc.). .

In addition, in the description of the present invention, a star ("*") key for menu selection may be used as an operation of a soft-left key provided in a conventional keypad, that is, selection confirmation when entering or entering a menu. The hash ("#") key for returning to the previous screen can be used as an operation of the soft-right key provided in the conventional keypad, that is, menu exit or cancellation of selection.

As described above, the present invention displays the menu items on the screen as icons in the same arrangement as the keypad and displays them in one-to-one correspondence with the keypad, so that the menu selection can be accessed intuitively and quickly. In addition, the menu selection can be made only by using a combination of numeric keys, star keys, and hash keys, thereby enabling movement of a small range of keys, and reducing the keys of the keypad of the portable terminal.

Claims (12)

In the menu selection method of the portable terminal, A first step of displaying a menu item in the form of a corresponding icon on the display screen in the same arrangement as that of the corresponding keys of the keypad; A second step of checking whether a numeric key at the same arrangement position as the specific icon is pressed; A third step of checking whether a submenu exists in a menu item of a selected specific icon corresponding to the pressed key; A fourth step of performing a control operation from the first step if the lower menu exists in the selected menu item, and setting a function of the selected menu item if the lower menu does not exist in the selected menu item; And And a fifth step of returning to the previous screen when the preset back screen entry key is pressed after the execution of the first step. The method according to claim 1, The keypad is, A menu selection method comprising a call key, a power / up key, a combination of numeric keys, a star key, and a hash key. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The preset back key for entering the previous screen is Menu selection method characterized in that the star key. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The preset back key for entering the previous screen is Menu selection method characterized in that the hash key. The method according to claim 1 or 2, If the number key in the same arrangement position as the specific icon is pressed briefly in the second step, perform the third step, And when a number key in the same arrangement position as the specific icon is pressed for a long time, indicating that a specific icon corresponding to the number key is selected and displaying a description of the menu on the display screen. The method according to claim 5, And after the preset confirmation key for the currently selected icon is pressed, after performing the first step, performing the third step. The method according to claim 6, The predetermined confirmation key for the currently selected icon is the hash key. The method according to claim 6, The predetermined confirmation key for the currently selected icon is the star key. In the menu selection method of a portable terminal having a display screen and a keypad, A first step of displaying a menu item in the form of an icon on the display screen in the same arrangement as that of the corresponding keys of the keypad; And And if the user selects a particular key on the keypad, setting a function of a menu item at the same arrangement position as the selected specific key. The method of claim 9, The keypad is, Method consisting of a call key, power / hangup key, a combination of numeric keys, star key and hash key. In a portable terminal having a display screen and a keypad, A memory for storing menu items in the form of icons displayed in the same arrangement as the arrangement of the corresponding keys of the keypad; And Controls the overall operation of the portable terminal, controls the display screen to display a menu item in the form of an icon from the memory, and when a user selects a specific key from the keypad, the user selects a specific key in the same arrangement position as the selected specific key. A portable terminal comprising a central controller for setting a predetermined function of a menu item. The method according to claim 11, The keypad is, A portable terminal comprising a combination of a call key, a power / up key, a star key, a hash key, and a numeric key.