KR101326696B1 - Method for providing menu comprising variable menu-set and multimedia device thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided are a method of providing a menu using a menu set whose display state is changeable, and a multimedia apparatus using the same. The present method of providing a menu includes displaying a menu set including at least one icon on a touch screen, and changing and displaying a display state of at least one icon included in the menu set. Accordingly, by using a menu set whose display state is changeable, it is possible to provide a menu which is more convenient for operation and provides a better visual effect on a relatively small screen.

Touch screen, menu set, menu icon, control icon, operation set

Description

Method for providing menu using a menu set whose display state is changeable and a multimedia device applying the same

Figs. 1A to 1C are diagrams provided in a conceptual description of a movable menu set,

FIGS. 2A to 2C are diagrams for explaining a process of changing the display state of a menu set,

FIGS. 3A through 3D are diagrams provided to explain a more detailed menu set,

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams for explaining a process of changing the gratings displayed on the touch screen in the case where there is a user's touch operation on the touch screen,

5A to 5D are diagrams for explaining a process of executing a menu by using a menu icon constituting a menu set and a process of changing a display state of a menu set in a state where an execution screen for the menu is displayed;

6A and 6B are diagrams provided for explanation of a process of changing the display state of a menu set,

7A and 7B are diagrams provided for explaining a process of moving to a different menu using a menu set while a specific menu is being executed;

8A and 8B are diagrams provided for explaining a process of changing a set of menus by changing an operation set when a content player and a menu set are displayed on a touch screen;

9A and 9B are diagrams for explaining a process of changing a menu represented by a menu icon to another menu,

FIGS. 10A and 10B are drawings provided for explanation of a process of displaying a list of contents that have been recently reproduced,

11 is a block diagram of a multimedia device capable of providing a GUI implemented using the menu set described above.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

210: Multimedia function block

220: GUI section

100, 230: Touch screen

240:

The present invention relates to a menu providing method, and more particularly, to a method of providing a menu through a touch screen of a multimedia device performing various functions.

In recent years, the functions provided by multimedia devices are increasing. This has enabled the implementation of digital technology, which has achieved remarkable development, in video equipment.

Since multimedia devices having many functions as described above have many functions, the method of use is very complicated. Also, since there are many functions to provide, there are many menus that must be provided to the user through the screen.

However, in the case of portable multimedia devices, since the screen size is small, it is important to provide more complicated and many menus efficiently. Also, a request for a menu that is user-friendly and provides good visual effects is still an important challenge.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a menu for providing a menu which is more convenient for operation and provides a better visual effect on a relatively small screen. The present invention provides a menu providing method using a changeable menu set, and a multimedia device applying the same.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a menu providing method comprising: displaying a menu set including at least one icon on a touch screen; And a second display step of changing and displaying a display state of the at least one icon included in the menu set.

The number of icons included in the menu set displayed in the second display step may be smaller than the number of icons included in the menu set displayed in the first display step.

In addition, the number of icons included in the menu set displayed in the first display step is plural, and in the second display step, when a predetermined time elapses after performing the first display step, the icons included in the menu set are displayed. It can be changed to display one.

The menu set displayed in the first display step includes at least one menu icon representing at least one menu and a control icon used to input a control command associated with the display of the menu set, wherein the second display is displayed. Preferably, the menu set displayed in the step is a menu set in which the at least one menu icon disappears from the menu set displayed in the first display step.

In addition, the number of icons included in the menu set displayed in the second display step may be greater than the number of icons included in the menu set displayed in the first display step.

The number of icons included in the menu set displayed in the first display step is one, and in the second display step, if a user's specific operation is performed on the touch screen after performing the first display step, the menu set is displayed. It is preferable to change and display the icons included in the plurality.

The menu set displayed in the first display step may include a control icon used to input a control command related to the display of the menu set, and the menu set displayed in the second display step may include the first display. It may be a menu set to which at least one menu icon representing at least one menu is added in the menu set displayed in the step.

In addition, the user's specific operation on the touch screen is preferably an operation of touching the control icon.

In the second display step, the menu set displayed in the first display step may be changed to be translucent and displayed.

The second display step may be performed when a predetermined time elapses after the first display step is performed.

The menu display method may further include a third display step of changing and displaying the icons included in the menu set semi-transparently changed in the second display step so as to become one.

The menu display method may further include disappearing the menu set displayed on the menu set and the touch screen together.

In addition, the disappearing may be performed after a predetermined time elapses from a time when there is no user's manipulation using the menu set or when a user's touch manipulation is performed on an area where the menu set and the menu block are not located. .

Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings will be described the present invention in more detail.

1A to 1C are diagrams provided in a conceptual description of a movable menu set. 1A shows a 'movable menu set' (hereinafter abbreviated as 'menu set') displayed on the touch screen 100. The menu set is composed of nine icons.

The menu set is movable on the touch screen 100. That is, by the drag operation of the user U as shown in FIG. 1B, the menu set is moved as shown in FIG. 1C. More specifically, when the user U drags an icon located at the center of the menu set (hereinafter, abbreviated as 'center icon') to a desired point, the menu set is moved according to the drag trajectory.

In addition, the display state of the menu set can be changed and will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 2A to 2C.

2A, when the center icon is touched by the user U in a state that the menu set is displayed on the touch screen 100, as shown in FIG. 2B, among the icons constituting the menu set, The remaining icons disappear from the touch screen 100. That is, only the center icon is left on the touch screen 100. In other words, the number of icons displayed on the touch screen 100 is reduced by the user U touching the center icon of the menu set.

Alternatively, if the menu set is displayed on the touch screen 100 and a certain period of time has elapsed without any operation of the user U, only the center icon may be left on the touch screen 100.

2C, when the center icon is again touched by the user U in a state where only the center icon is displayed on the touch screen 100, the icons disappear as shown in FIG. 2A are displayed on the touch screen 100 ). That is, the menu set is displayed on the touch screen 100 again. In other words, the number of icons displayed on the touch screen 100 is increased by the touch of the user U with respect to the center icon left.

3A to 3D are diagrams showing a more specific menu set. FIG. 3A shows the menu set shown in FIG. 1A more specifically. The menu set shown in FIG. 3A also has nine icons. As shown, the sizes of the nine icons are all the same, and the shapes of the outlines are all the same in a circular shape.

Among these nine icons, eight icons located outside the menu set are 'menu icons', and the icon located at the center of the menu set is the 'control icon'. The control icons correspond to the center icons mentioned in the description of FIG. 1A.

The menu icons shown in FIG. 3A correspond to the navigation-menu, the game-menu, the recording-menu, the music-menu, and the music- Menus, movie-menus, photo-menus, document-menus, and DMB-menus.

The 'control icon' is an icon used to input the 'control command related to the display of the menu set'.

The control command related to the display of the menu set refers to a command for moving the menu set, a command for changing the display state of the menu set, and the like. The operation of the user (U) dragging the control icon (center icon) to a desired point is a kind of 'command for moving the menu set'.

In addition, an operation of touching the control icon (center icon) of the menu set to dismiss the menu icons on the touch screen 100 or an operation of touching the left control icon to display the disappeared menu icons on the touch screen 100 Quot; command for changing the display state of the menu set ". According to this, changing the display state of the menu set can be interpreted as changing the display state (displayed / not displayed) of some of the icons included in the menu set.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3A, grids arranged at regular intervals are displayed on the touch screen 100. FIG. These grids represent points where the icons that make up the menu set can be located.

Thus, i) when the user U starts dragging on the control icon as shown in Fig. 3B, ii) ends dragging on the control icon as shown in Fig. 3C, iii) As shown, the control icon moves to a grid located at the point where the dragging is ended, and the menu icons move to the grids located around the control icon, and the menu set is moved.

If there is no grid at the end point of the dragging, the control icon moves to the grid closest to the point where the dragging is completed, and the menu icons move to the grids located around the control icon, do.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 3C, when dragging is terminated, the menu icons are dimly displayed on the grids where the menu icons are positioned before the end of the drag of the user U.

Up to now, the process of moving the menu set by the drag operation of the user U has been described. However, the operation of the user U for moving the menu set is not limited to only the drag operation, and other operation methods can be applied.

For example, if i) the user U touches the control icon as shown in FIG. 3B, and then ii) touches another grid where the control icon is not located as shown in FIG. 3C, iii) The control icon moves to another touched grid, and the menu icons move to the grids located around the control icon, so that the menu set moves.

In another example, i) a control icon is moved to a grid located in a specific direction among grids adjacent to the control icon, and the menu icons are controlled by a control It is also possible to move to the grids located around the icon to cause the menu set to move.

Hereinafter, the process of changing the grid displayed on the touch screen 100 when the user U touches the touch screen 100 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the size of the grid touched by the user U is changed to be larger than that of the other grids. In addition, the size of the gratings closest to the touched grating (grids located at the top / bottom / left / right of the touched grating) is smaller than the size of the touched grating, do.

That is, by the touch of the user U to the touch screen 100, the sizes of the grids appearing on the touch screen 100 are changed, and the changed sizes are 1) a touched grid, 2) , And 3) the grids adjacent to the closest grids.

In addition, when the menu icon is touched by the user U as shown in FIG. 4B, the sizes of the grids adjacent to the menu set are changed. Specifically, the size of the grids closest to the menu set (the grids located at the top / bottom / left / right of the menu set) increases, and the grids adjacent to the grids closest to the menu set / Lower / left / right grids) are slightly smaller than the grids closest to the menu set.

5A to 5D are diagrams for explaining the process of executing the menu represented by the menu icon using the menu icon constituting the menu set and the process of changing the display state of the menu set in the state where the execution screen for the menu is displayed. Will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

When the menu icon is touched by the user U, the menu represented by the menu icon is executed. 5A, when the movie-menu icon is touched by the user U, the movie-menu is executed, and as shown in FIG. 5B, the execution screen for the movie-menu is displayed on the touch screen 100 The video player is displayed. Then, the menu set is changed in a translucent manner, thereby preventing the user's viewing of the video player from being disturbed.

Also, if the user U is not operated for a predetermined time while the video player is displayed, only the semi-transparent control icon remains on the touch screen 100 as shown in FIG. 5C. That is, the translucent menu icons disappear from the touch screen 100.

5B, even when a semitransparent center icon is touched by the user U while a semi-transparent menu set is displayed together with the moving picture player on the touch screen 100, as shown in FIG. 5C Only a translucent control icon is left on the touch screen 100. [

5C, when a semitransparent control icon is displayed on the touch screen 100 together with the moving picture player and the semi-transparent control icon is touched by the user U as shown in FIG. 5D, The translucent menu set is displayed again on the touch screen 100 as shown in FIG. 5B.

Hereinafter, the process of changing the display state of the menu set in a manner different from that described above will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B.

This other method is a method in which when the menu set is displayed on the touch screen 100 and the user U does not operate for a predetermined period of time, the menu set is changed to be translucent (or blurred) to be.

6A, when a semitransparent control icon is touched by the user U in a state that a semi-transparent menu set is displayed on the touch screen 100, a touch screen 100 The opaque (or darker) menu set will reappear.

On the other hand, if a semi-transparent menu set is displayed on the touch screen 100 as shown in FIG. 6A, and there is no manipulation of the user U for a predetermined period of time, only a semi-transparent control icon remains on the touch screen 100 .

On the other hand, when there is no user U operation for a predetermined time while the translucent menu set is displayed on the touch screen 100 as shown in FIG. 6A, the translucent menu set is displayed on the touch screen 100. It can be implemented to disappear.

Such a method can be applied even when a semi-transparent menu set and an execution screen for a specific menu are displayed together on the touch screen 100. [ Specifically, when the user U is not operated for a predetermined period of time while the execution screen and the translucent menu set are displayed on the touch screen 100, the menu block and the menu set displayed on the execution screen disappear together will be.

For example, as shown in FIG. 5B, if there is no operation of the user U for a predetermined period of time while the movie player, which is the execution screen of the movie-menu, and the translucent menu set are displayed together on the touch screen 100, The menu block necessary for the reproduction of the moving picture player shown in the lower part of FIG. 6 and the semi-transparent menu set disappear together.

In addition, if there is a menu block and a touch of the user U on the area of the touch screen 100 where the menu set is not displayed, the menu block and the menu set disappear together.

Hereinafter, a process of directly moving to another menu using a menu set while a specific menu is being executed will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 7A and 7B.

7A shows a touch screen 100 in which a movie-menu is executed and a video player is displayed as an execution screen for a movie-menu. The menu set is displayed in a translucent manner on the touch screen 100. That is, the menu set overlaps the video player.

The menu set can consist of control icons and menu icons representing the top level menus. That is, the menus represented by the menu icons set in the menu set may be the top menu such as the navigation menu, the game menu, the recording menu, the music menu, the movie menu, the photo menu, the document menu and the DMB menu .

In this case, if the menu icons constituting the menu set displayed on the touch screen 100 are the same regardless of the type of the execution screen displayed on the touch screen 100, The execution screen of the top level menu can be displayed on the touch screen 100 by executing the top level menu different from the top level menu to which the execution screen belongs.

That is, the touch screen 100 displays an execution screen for the top level menu indicated by the touched menu icon by touching the menu icon displayed on the menu set.

For example, if the user U touches the music-menu icon while the video player and the menu set are displayed together on the touch screen 100 as shown in FIG. 7A, The screen 100 displays an audio player which is an execution screen for the music-menu.

Similarly, if there is a touch of the user U on the movie-menu icon while the audio player and the menu set are displayed together on the touch screen 100 as shown in Fig. 7B, 100), a video player, which is an execution screen for the movie-menu, is displayed.

On the other hand, if the menu icon touched by the user U is an icon representing a menu related to content playback, a content player that plays the final playback point of the content that was ultimately played back through the content player, It is also possible to implement such that a content player preparing for reproduction at the final playback point is directly displayed on the touch screen 100. [

In addition, if the menu icon touched by the user U is an icon representing a menu related to content reproduction, a list of contents reproducible through the content player may be displayed directly on the touch screen 100. [

Here, the content may be a music, a motion picture such as a movie, or a still image such as a photograph. In this case, the menu icons for the respective contents are a music-menu icon, a movie-menu icon, and a photo-menu icon.

Hereinafter, a process of changing a set of menus and displaying an operation set when the set of content players and menus are displayed on the touch screen 100 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 8A and 8B. Here, the operation set is a set (set) of operation icons for inputting commands related to content reproduction.

8A, when the audio player and the menu set are displayed together on the touch screen 100, if there is a 'long-touch' of the user U with respect to the control icon, as shown in FIG. 8B, The operation set for the audio player is changed. Here, 'long-touch' refers to a touch that is maintained continuously for a predetermined time or longer.

On the other hand, if there is a long-touch of the user U to the operation icon located at the center of the operation set while the audio player and the operation set are displayed together on the touch screen 100 as shown in Fig. 8B, As described, the operation set is restored to the menu set.

As shown in FIG. 8A, the operation set for the audio player is composed of five operation icons. The sizes of the five operation icons are all the same, and the shape of the outline is also the same in the circular shape.

In addition, the size of the operation icon and the shape of the outline are the same as the size of the menu icon (or control icon) and the shape of the outline. Needless to say, the size of the operation icon and the shape of the outline may be different from the size of the menu icon (or control icon) and the shape of the outline.

As shown in FIG. 8B, the operation set for the audio play consists of operation icons for inputting a music play / stop command, a fast forward command, a rewind command, a volume-up command, and a volume-down command.

However, the operation set can be composed of different kinds of operation icons according to the content player. That is, the operation set for the DMB player may comprise operation icons for inputting a volume-up command, a volume-down command, a channel-up command, and a channel-down command.

In addition, the operation set for the video player may be the same as the operation set for the audio play.

Hereinafter, the process of changing the menu represented by the menu icon to another menu will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 9A and 9B.

9A, if there is a long-touch of the user U with respect to the menu icon in a state that the menu set is displayed on the touch screen 100, as shown in FIG. 9B, A list is displayed. At this time, if there is a touch of the user U with respect to any of the menus constituting the menu list, the menu icon is changed to an icon representing the touched menu.

For example, if there is a touch of the user U to the radio-menu among the menus constituting the displayed menu list after the long-touch of the user U with respect to the music-menu icon as shown in FIG. 9B , The music-menu icon is changed to a radio-menu icon representing the radio menu.

Hereinafter, a process of displaying a list of recently played contents will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 10A and 10B.

10A, if there is a long-touch of the user U for a grid where the menu set is not located, the screen of the touch grid 100, as shown in FIG. 10B, (Hereinafter abbreviated as " content list ") is displayed in the adjacent area. At this time, if the user U touches any one of the contents constituting the contents list, the touched contents are reproduced.

For example, as shown in FIG. 10B, among the contents constituting the displayed content list after the long-touch of the user U for any of the grids displayed on the touch screen 100, "Superman.avi Quot ;, a moving picture player for playing "Superman.avi" is displayed on the touch screen 100. [

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 10B, the size of the long-touched lattice by the user U is changed to be larger than the size of the other lattices. Also, the size of the gratings closest to the long-touched grating (grids located at the top / bottom / left / right of the long-touched grating) is smaller than the size of the long-touched grating, Is larger than the size of the other gratings.

That is, by the long-touch of the user U on the touch screen 100, the sizes of the grids appearing on the touch screen 100 are changed and the changed sizes are 1) long-touch lattice, 2) The closest lattice to the closest lattice, and 3) the closest lattice to the closest lattice.

It is also possible to display a list of newly acquired contents or contents having a high frequency of use in addition to the list of contents that have been recently played back. Of course, The type of the list displayed when there is a long-touch of the user U can be set by the user.

In addition, if there is a long-touch of the user U with respect to the grid where the menu set is not located, the list screen access frequency for the Internet sites that have recently been connected to the touch screen 100 May be displayed.

11 is a block diagram of a multimedia device capable of providing a GUI implemented using the menu set described above. 11, the multimedia device includes a multimedia function block 210, a GUI (Graphical User Interface) unit 220, a touch screen 230, and a control unit 240.

The multimedia function block 210 performs functions of the present multimedia devices such as a file search function, a game function, a recording function, a music playback function, a movie playback function, a photo playback function, a document creation function, and a DMB playback function.

The GUI unit 220 adds a GUI implemented using a menu set to an image generated by the multimedia function block 210. [

The touch screen 230 displays an image added with a GUI implemented using the menu set outputted from the GUI unit 220. [ In addition, the touch screen 230 is a means for receiving touch, long-touch, drag operation, etc. of the user U.

The control unit 240 controls the functioning of the multimedia function block 210 according to the user's operation inputted through the touch screen 230 or the operation means (not shown).

In addition, the control unit 240 controls the GUI unit 220 to display a GUI corresponding to a user's operation on the touch screen 230.

Specifically, when a command for moving a menu set is input from the user through the touch screen 230, the control unit 240 controls the GUI unit 220 to move the menu set according to the inputted command and display the menu set.

When a command for changing the display state of the menu set is input from the user through the touch screen 230, the controller 240 controls the GUI unit 220 to change the display state of the menu set according to the inputted command, .

Also, even if no operation of the user is inputted through the touch screen 230 for a predetermined time, the control unit 240 controls the GUI unit 220 so that the display state of the menu set is changed and displayed.

In addition, when there is a user's touch operation on the grid displayed on the touch screen 230, the control unit 240 changes the display state of the grids or displays the menu list or the content list in the peripheral area of the touched grid (220).

In addition, the control unit 240 controls the GUI unit 220 to display a menu set changed to an operation set, and controls the multimedia function block 210 so that a menu touched by the user is executed.

As described above, according to the present invention, by using a menu set whose display state is changeable, it is possible to provide a menu which is more convenient for operation and provides a better visual effect on a relatively small screen.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments, but, on the contrary, It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims (19)

A first display step of displaying a menu set including at least one icon on a touch screen; And And a second display step of changing and displaying a display state of the at least one icon included in the menu set. The menu set includes at least one menu icon and a control icon for controlling a display state of the menu set. Wherein the second display step comprises: If a predetermined time has elapsed after performing the first display step, the at least one menu icon is removed, and only the control icon is displayed on the touch screen. And if the control icon is selected while only the control icon is displayed on the touch screen, displaying the at least one menu icon again. The method of claim 1, The number of icons included in the menu set displayed in the second display step is less than the number of icons included in the menu set displayed in the first display step. delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete A method of displaying a menu using a touch screen, Displaying a menu set including at least two icons including a menu icon representing a menu and a control icon for controlling the menu icon; Detecting whether the touch screen is touched; Hiding the menu icon when it is detected that the control icon is touched on the touch screen; And Hiding the menu icon, and if it is detected that the control icon is touched again, displaying the menu icon again. delete delete delete A method of displaying a menu using a touch screen, Displaying a menu set including at least two icons including a menu icon representing a menu and a control icon for controlling a display state of the menu icon; If the touch on the menu set is not detected for a predetermined time, processing and displaying the menu icon as translucent; And after the menu icon is processed as translucent, if the touch on the menu set is not detected for a predetermined time, processing and displaying the control icon as translucent. 19. The method of claim 18, And after the menu icon or the control icon is processed and displayed as semi-transparent, when a touch on the touch screen is detected, returning to the original state.

Images