KR20100034856A - Mobile terminal and method of providing search function using same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A mobile terminal and a method of providing search function are provided to perform application execution and a region where information is inputted with the kind of the application. CONSTITUTION: A controller(180) offers an input area for the input of the information to a display(151). If first information is inputted through the input area, the controller connects to internet through an internet module. The controller executes a web search through the first information. The controller searches the data from the memory(160). The data comprises the first information. If second information is inputted, the controller uses the second information as an internet access path.

Description

Mobile terminal and method of providing search using same {Mobile Terminal And Method Of Providing Search Function Using Same}

The present invention relates to a mobile terminal, and more particularly, to a mobile terminal capable of providing various search functions in a mobile terminal and a method of providing a search function using the same.

Terminals such as personal computers, laptops, mobile phones, etc. have diversified functions, so that multimedia devices with complex functions such as taking pictures or videos, playing music or video files, receiving games, broadcasting, and accessing the Internet are available. It is implemented in the form of (Multimedia player).

Terminal can move It may be divided into a mobile terminal and a stationary terminal, depending on whether it is present. The mobile terminal may be divided into a handheld terminal and a vehicle mount terminal according to whether a user can directly carry it.

In order to support and increase the function of the terminal, it may be considered to improve the structural part and / or the software part of the terminal.

Recently, as various terminals including mobile terminals provide complex and various functions, the menu structure is also complicated. Therefore, the user has a problem in that the user needs to navigate such a complicated menu structure to access a desired function. Therefore, efforts have been made to simplify the complicated menu structure and provide a user interface (UI) that is convenient for the user. In particular, the provision of such a user interface is very important in a mobile terminal having a small screen size.

Meanwhile, as the mobile terminal provides complex and various functions, the mobile terminal stores various data belonging to various categories, and it is necessary to provide a user with a search user interface for searching such data conveniently. In particular, in a situation where a mobile terminal supports an internet access function, a user interface for accessing data stored in a mobile terminal and data received through the Internet is needed.

The present invention is to provide a mobile terminal and a search function providing method using the same, which can provide an information input area regardless of whether or not an application is executed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mobile terminal capable of using information input through an information input area for memory search and web search or as an internet access path, and a method for providing a search function using the same.

As a first aspect of the present invention for realizing the above object, a mobile terminal according to the present invention includes a display; An internet module for connecting to the internet; A memory for storing a plurality of categories each containing different kinds of data; And providing an input area for receiving information on the display, and accessing the Internet through the Internet module to execute a web search using the first information as a search word when the first information is received through the input area. And a controller which searches for data including the first information in the memory and uses the second information as an internet access path when the second information is received through the input area. The first information and the second information may be distinguished according to a type of information input through an area.

As a second aspect of the present invention for realizing the above object, a mobile terminal according to the present invention, a display; A memory for storing a plurality of categories each containing different kinds of data, and a plurality of applications providing different functions; And a controller configured to provide the display with an input area for receiving a search word used to search the memory, regardless of the type of an application executed among the plurality of applications.

As a third aspect of the present invention for realizing the above object, a method for providing a search function of a mobile terminal according to the present invention includes a memory for storing a plurality of categories each containing different kinds of data. A method for providing a search function, the method comprising: providing an input area for receiving information to a display provided in the mobile terminal; Receiving information through the input area; A search operation of executing a web search using the input information as a search word and searching for data including the input information in the memory according to the type of the input information; and connecting the input information to the Internet. And performing any one of internet access operations used as a path.

As a fourth aspect of the present invention for realizing the above object, a method for providing a search function of a mobile terminal according to the present invention includes a plurality of categories each containing different types of data and a plurality of different functions. In a mobile terminal including a memory for storing applications of the mobile terminal, a method for providing a search function, comprising: displaying an input area for receiving a search word used to search the memory on a desktop of a display provided in the mobile terminal; Doing; Receiving a first command signal instructing execution of the first application; And entering the execution screen of the first application according to the first command signal, and displaying the input area on the display.

According to the mobile terminal and a search function providing method using the same according to the present invention, the following effects are obtained.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an information input area regardless of whether or not an application is executed.

In addition, according to the present invention, there is an effect that the information input for the Internet access operation, the memory search operation and the web search operation can be made through the same information input area.

In addition, according to the present invention, various functions are performed through the same information input area, thereby minimizing the navigation of the complicated menu hierarchy, simplifying the configuration of the screen, and reducing unnecessary waste of the screen.

The above objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. In addition, when it is determined that the detailed description of the known function or configuration related to the present invention may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Hereinafter, a mobile terminal according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The suffixes "module" and "unit" for components used in the following description are given or used in consideration of ease of specification, and do not have distinct meanings or roles from each other.

The mobile terminal described herein may include a mobile phone, a smart phone, a laptop computer, a digital broadcasting terminal, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable multimedia player (PMP), navigation, and the like.

1 is a block diagram of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The mobile terminal 100 includes a wireless communication unit 110, an audio / video input unit 120, a user input unit 130, a sensing unit 140, an output unit 150, a memory unit 160, An interface unit 170, a control unit 180, a power supply unit 190, and the like. The components shown in FIG. 1 are not essential, so that a mobile terminal having more or fewer components may be implemented.

Hereinafter, the components will be described in order.

The wireless communication unit 110 may include one or more modules that enable wireless communication between the mobile terminal 100 and the wireless communication system or between the mobile terminal 100 and a network in which the mobile terminal 100 is located. For example, the wireless communication unit 110 may include a broadcast receiving module 111, a mobile communication module 112, a wireless internet module 113, a short range communication module 114, a location information module 115, and the like. have.

The broadcast receiving module 111 receives a broadcast signal and / or broadcast related information from an external broadcast management server through a broadcast channel.

The broadcast channel may include a satellite channel and a terrestrial channel. The broadcast management server may mean a server that generates and transmits a broadcast signal and / or broadcast related information or a server that receives a previously generated broadcast signal and / or broadcast related information and transmits the same to a terminal. The broadcast signal may include not only a TV broadcast signal, a radio broadcast signal, and a data broadcast signal, but also a broadcast signal having a data broadcast signal combined with a TV broadcast signal or a radio broadcast signal.

The broadcast related information may mean information related to a broadcast channel, a broadcast program, or a broadcast service provider. The broadcast related information may also be provided through a mobile communication network. In this case, it may be received by the mobile communication module 112.

The broadcast related information may exist in various forms. For example, it may exist in the form of Electronic Program Guide (EPG) of Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB) or Electronic Service Guide (ESG) of Digital Video Broadcast-Handheld (DVB-H).

The broadcast receiving module 111 receives broadcast signals using various broadcasting systems, and in particular, digital multimedia broadcasting-terrestrial (DMB-T), digital multimedia broadcasting-satellite (DMB-S), and media forward link (MediaFLO). Digital broadcast signals can be received using digital broadcasting systems such as only), digital video broadcast-handheld (DVB-H), integrated services digital broadcast-terrestrial (ISDB-T), and the like. Of course, the broadcast receiving module 111 may be adapted to other broadcasting systems that provide broadcast signals as well as the digital broadcasting system described above.

The broadcast signal and / or broadcast related information received through the broadcast receiving module 111 may be stored in the memory unit 160.

The mobile communication module 112 transmits and receives a wireless signal with at least one of a base station, an external terminal, and a server on a mobile communication network. The wireless signal may include various types of data according to transmission and reception of a voice call signal, a video call call signal, or a text / multimedia message.

The wireless Internet module 113 refers to a module for wireless Internet access, and the wireless Internet module 113 can be embedded in the mobile terminal 100 or externally. Wireless Internet technologies may include Wireless LAN (Wi-Fi), Wireless Broadband (Wibro), World Interoperability for Microwave Access (Wimax), High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA), and the like.

The short range communication module 114 refers to a module for short range communication. As a short range communication technology, Bluetooth, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), Infrared Data Association (IrDA), Ultra Wideband (UWB), ZigBee, and the like may be used.

The location information module 115 is a module for confirming or obtaining the location of the mobile terminal. A representative example of the location information module is a GPS (Global Position System) module. According to the current technology, the GPS module 115 calculates information about a distance of one point (object) away from three or more satellites, and information on a time at which the distance information is measured, and then calculates the calculated distance information. By applying the trigonometric method to, three-dimensional positional information according to latitude, longitude, and altitude of one point (object) at one time can be calculated. Furthermore, a method of calculating position and time information using three satellites and correcting the error of the calculated position and time information using another satellite is also used. The GPS module 115 may continuously calculate the current position in real time and use the same to calculate speed information.

Referring to FIG. 1, the A / V input unit 120 is for inputting an audio signal or a video signal, and may include a camera 121 and a microphone 122. The camera 121 processes image frames such as still images or moving images obtained by the image sensor in the video call mode or the photographing mode. The processed image frame may be displayed on the display unit 151.

The image frame processed by the camera 121 may be stored in the memory unit 160 or transmitted to the outside through the wireless communication unit 110. The camera 121 may be equipped with two or more cameras according to the configuration of the terminal.

The microphone 122 receives an external sound signal by a microphone in a call mode, a recording mode, a voice recognition mode, etc., and processes the external sound signal into electrical voice data. The processed voice data may be converted into a form transmittable to the mobile communication base station through the mobile communication module 112 and output in the call mode. The microphone 122 may implement various noise removing algorithms for removing noise generated in the process of receiving an external sound signal.

The user input unit 130 generates input data for the user to control the operation of the terminal. The user input unit 130 may include a key pad dome switch, a touch pad (static pressure / capacitance), a jog wheel, a jog switch, and the like.

The sensing unit 140 detects a current state of the mobile terminal 100 such as an open / closed state of the mobile terminal 100, a location of the mobile terminal 100, presence or absence of a user contact, orientation of the mobile terminal, acceleration / deceleration of the mobile terminal, and the like. To generate a sensing signal for controlling the operation of the mobile terminal 100. For example, when the mobile terminal 100 is in the form of a slide phone, it may sense whether the slide phone is opened or closed. In addition, it may be responsible for sensing functions related to whether the power supply unit 190 is supplied with power, whether the interface unit 170 is coupled to an external device, and the like. The sensing unit 140 may include a proximity sensor 141.

The output unit 150 is used to generate an output related to sight, hearing, or tactile sense, and includes a display unit 151, an audio output module 152, an alarm unit 153, and a haptic module 154. Can be.

The display unit 151 displays and outputs information processed by the mobile terminal 100. For example, when the mobile terminal is in a call mode, a user interface (UI) or a graphic user interface (GUI) related to a call is displayed. When the mobile terminal 100 is in a video call mode or a photographing mode, the mobile terminal 100 displays photographed and / or received images, a UI, and a GUI.

The display unit 151 may be a liquid crystal display, a thin film transistor-liquid crystal display, an organic light-emitting diode, a flexible display, a three-dimensional display 3D display).

Some of these displays can be configured to be transparent or light transmissive so that they can be seen from the outside. This may be referred to as a transparent display. A representative example of the transparent display is a transparent LCD. The rear structure of the display unit 151 may also be configured as a light transmissive structure. With this structure, the user can see the object located behind the terminal body through the area occupied by the display unit 151 of the terminal body.

There may be two or more display units 151 according to the implementation form of the mobile terminal 100. For example, in the mobile terminal 100, a plurality of display portions may be spaced apart from one another, or may be disposed integrally with one another, and may be disposed on different surfaces, respectively.

When the display unit 151 and a sensor for detecting a touch operation (hereinafter, referred to as a touch sensor) form a mutual layer structure (hereinafter, abbreviated as “touch screen”), the display unit 151 is an output device. It can also be used as an input device. The touch sensor may have, for example, a form of a touch film, a touch sheet, a touch pad, or the like.

The touch sensor may be configured to convert a change in pressure applied to a specific portion of the display unit 151 or capacitance generated at a specific portion of the display unit 151 into an electrical input signal. The touch sensor may be configured to detect not only the position and area of the touch but also the pressure at the touch.

If there is a touch input to the touch sensor, the corresponding signal (s) is sent to the touch controller. The touch controller processes the signal (s) and then transmits the corresponding data to the controller 180. As a result, the controller 180 can know which area of the display unit 151 is touched.

Referring to FIG. 1, a proximity sensor 141 may be disposed in an inner region of the mobile terminal or in the vicinity of the touch screen, which is surrounded by the touch screen. The proximity sensor refers to a sensor that detects the presence or absence of an object approaching a predetermined detection surface or an object present in the vicinity without using a mechanical contact by using an electromagnetic force or infrared rays. Proximity sensors have a longer life and higher utilization than touch sensors.

Examples of the proximity sensor include a transmission photoelectric sensor, a direct reflection photoelectric sensor, a mirror reflection photoelectric sensor, a high frequency oscillation proximity sensor, a capacitive proximity sensor, a magnetic proximity sensor, and an infrared proximity sensor.

When the touch screen is capacitive, the touch screen is configured to detect the proximity of the pointer by the change of the electric field according to the proximity of the pointer. In this case, the touch screen (touch sensor) may be classified as a proximity sensor.

Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the act of allowing the pointer to be recognized without being in contact with the touch screen so that the pointer is located on the touch screen is referred to as a "proximity touch", and the touch The act of actually touching the pointer on the screen is called "contact touch." The position where the proximity touch is performed by the pointer on the touch screen refers to a position where the pointer is perpendicular to the touch screen when the pointer is in proximity proximity.

The proximity sensor detects a proximity touch and a proximity touch pattern (e.g., a proximity touch distance, a proximity touch direction, a proximity touch speed, a proximity touch time, a proximity touch position, a proximity touch movement state, and the like). Information corresponding to the sensed proximity touch operation and proximity touch pattern may be output on the touch screen.

The sound output module 152 may output audio data received from the wireless communication unit 110 or stored in the memory unit 160 in a call signal reception, a call mode or a recording mode, a voice recognition mode, a broadcast reception mode, and the like. The sound output module 152 outputs an acoustic signal related to a function (e.g., a call signal reception sound, a message reception sound, etc.) performed in the mobile terminal 100. The sound output module 152 may include a receiver, a speaker, a buzzer, and the like.

The alarm unit 153 outputs a signal for notifying occurrence of an event of the mobile terminal 100. Examples of events occurring in the mobile terminal include call signal reception, message reception, key signal input, and touch input. The alarm unit 153 may output a signal for notifying occurrence of an event in a form other than a video signal or an audio signal, for example, vibration. The video signal or the audio signal may also be output through the display unit 151 or the audio output module 152.

The haptic module 154 generates various tactile effects that the user can feel. Vibration is a representative example of the haptic effect generated by the haptic module 154. The intensity and pattern of vibration generated by the haptic module 154 can be controlled. For example, different vibrations may be synthesized and output or may be sequentially output.

In addition to the vibration, the haptic module 154 may be used for the effects of stimulation by the arrangement of pins vertically moving with respect to the contact skin surface, the effect of the injection force of the air through the injection or inlet or the stimulation through the suction force, and the stimulation that rubs the skin surface. Various tactile effects may be generated, such as effects by stimulation through contact of electrodes, effects by stimulation using electrostatic force, and effects of reproducing a sense of warmth and heat using an endothermic or heat generating element.

The haptic module 154 may not only deliver the haptic effect through direct contact, but also implement the haptic effect through the muscle sense of the user's finger or arm. Two or more haptic modules 154 may be provided according to a configuration aspect of the mobile terminal 100.

The memory unit 160 may store a program for the operation of the controller 180 and may temporarily store input / output data (for example, a phone book, a message, a still image, a video, etc.). The memory unit 160 may store data regarding vibration and sound of various patterns output when a touch input on the touch screen is performed.

The memory unit 160 may include a flash memory type, a hard disk type, a multimedia card micro type, a card type memory (for example, SD or XD memory), Random Access Memory (RAM), Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), Read-Only Memory (ROM), Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM), Programmable Read-Only Memory (PROM) Magnetic Memory, Magnetic It may include a storage medium of at least one type of disk, optical disk. The mobile terminal 100 may operate in association with a web storage that performs a storage function of the memory unit 160 on the Internet.

The interface unit 170 serves as a path with all external devices connected to the mobile terminal 100. The interface unit 170 receives data from an external device or receives power from the external device to transfer the data to each component in the mobile terminal 100 or to transmit data in the mobile terminal 100 to an external device. For example, wired / wireless headset ports, external charger ports, wired / wireless data ports, memory card ports, ports for connecting devices with identification modules, audio input / output (I / O) ports, The video input / output (I / O) port, the earphone port, and the like may be included in the interface unit 170.

The identification module is a chip that stores various types of information for authenticating the usage rights of the mobile terminal 100, and includes a user identification module (UIM), a subscriber identify module (SIM), and a universal user authentication module ( Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM), and the like. Devices with identification modules (hereinafter referred to as "identification devices") can be manufactured in a smart card format. Therefore, the identification device may be connected to the terminal 100 through a port.

The interface unit may be a passage through which power from the cradle is supplied to the mobile terminal 100 when the mobile terminal 100 is connected to an external cradle, or various command signals input from the cradle by a user may be transferred. It may be a passage that is delivered to the terminal. Various command signals or power input from the cradle may be operated as signals for recognizing that the mobile terminal is correctly mounted on the cradle.

The control unit 180 typically controls the overall operation of the mobile terminal. For example, perform related control and processing for voice calls, data communications, video calls, and the like. The controller 180 may include a multimedia module 181 for playing multimedia. The multimedia module 181 may be implemented in the controller 180 or may be implemented separately from the controller 180.

The controller 180 may perform a pattern recognition process for recognizing a writing input or a drawing input performed on the touch screen as text and an image, respectively.

The power supply unit 190 receives an external power source and an internal power source under the control of the controller 180 to supply power for operation of each component.

Various embodiments described herein may be implemented in a recording medium readable by a computer or similar device using, for example, software, hardware or a combination thereof.

According to a hardware implementation, the embodiments described herein include application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and the like. It may be implemented using at least one of processors, controllers, micro-controllers, microprocessors, and electrical units for performing the functions. It may be implemented by the controller 180.

In a software implementation, embodiments such as procedures or functions may be implemented with separate software modules that allow at least one function or operation to be performed. The software code may be implemented by a software application written in a suitable programming language. Also, the software codes may be stored in the memory unit 160 and executed by the control unit 180. [

2A is a front perspective view of an example of a mobile terminal or a portable terminal according to the present invention.

The disclosed portable terminal 100 has a terminal body in the form of a bar. However, the present invention is not limited thereto and may be applied to various structures such as a slide type, a folder type, a swing type, a swivel type, and two or more bodies are coupled to be relatively movable.

The body includes a casing (casing, housing, cover, etc.) that forms an exterior. In this embodiment, the case may be divided into a front case 101 and a rear case 102. Various electronic components are embedded in the space formed between the front case 101 and the rear case 102. At least one intermediate case may be additionally disposed between the front case 101 and the rear case 102. [

The cases may be formed by injecting synthetic resin or may be formed of a metal material, for example, a metal material such as stainless steel (STS) or titanium (Ti).

The display unit 151, the audio output unit 152, the camera 121, the user input units 130/131 and 132, the microphone 122, and the interface 170 may be disposed in the terminal body, mainly the front case 101. have.

The display unit 151 occupies most of the main surface of the front case 101. A sound output unit 151 and a camera 121 are disposed in an area adjacent to one end of both ends of the display unit 151 and a user input unit 131 and a microphone 122 are disposed in an area adjacent to the other end. The user input unit 132, the interface 170, and the like are disposed on the side surfaces of the front case 101 and the rear case 102.

The user input unit 130 is manipulated to receive a command for controlling the operation of the portable terminal 100 and may include a plurality of operation units 131 and 132. The manipulation units 131 and 132 may also be collectively referred to as manipulating portions, and may be employed in any manner as long as the user operates the tactile manner with a tactile feeling.

Content input by the first or second manipulation units 116 and 117 may be variously set. For example, the first operation unit 116 receives a command such as start, end, scroll, and the like, and the second operation unit 117 adjusts the volume of the sound output from the sound output unit 152 or the display unit 151. Command), such as switching to the touch recognition mode.

FIG. 2B is a rear perspective view of the portable terminal shown in FIG. 2A.

Referring to FIG. 2B, a camera 121 ′ may be additionally mounted on the rear of the terminal body, that is, the rear case 102. The camera 121 ′ has a photographing direction substantially opposite to that of the camera 121 (see FIG. 2A), and may be a camera having different pixels from the camera 121.

For example, the camera 121 has a low pixel so that the user's face is photographed and transmitted to the counterpart in case of a video call, and the camera 121 'photographs a general subject and does not transmit it immediately. It is desirable to have a high pixel because there are many. The cameras 121 and 121 'may be installed on the terminal body to be rotatable or pop-up.

A flash 123 and a mirror 124 are further disposed adjacent to the camera 121 '. The flash 123 shines light toward the subject when the subject is photographed by the camera 121 '. The mirror 124 allows the user to see his / her own face or the like when photographing (self-photographing) the user using the camera 121 '.

The sound output unit 152 'may be further disposed on the rear surface of the terminal body. The sound output unit 152 ′ may implement a stereo function together with the sound output unit 152 (see FIG. 2A), and may be used to implement a speakerphone mode during a call.

In addition to the antenna for a call or the like, a broadcast signal reception antenna 124 may be additionally disposed on the side of the terminal body. The antenna 124 constituting a part of the broadcast receiving module 111 (see FIG. 1) may be installed to be able to be drawn out from the terminal body.

A power supply unit 190 for supplying power to the portable terminal 100 is mounted on the terminal body. The power supply unit 190 may be embedded in the terminal body or may be directly detachable from the outside of the terminal body.

The rear case 102 may be further equipped with a touch pad 135 for sensing a touch. Like the display unit 151, the touch pad 135 may also be configured to have a light transmission type. In this case, if the display unit 151 is configured to output visual information from both sides, the visual information may be recognized through the touch pad 135. The information output on both surfaces may be controlled by the touch pad 135. Alternatively, a display may be additionally mounted on the touch pad 135, and a touch screen may be disposed on the rear case 102.

The touch pad 135 operates in association with the display unit 151 of the front case 101. The touch pad 135 may be disposed in parallel to the rear of the display unit 151. The touch pad 135 may have the same or smaller size as the display unit 151.

Hereinafter, the operation of the display unit 151 and the touch pad 135 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B.

3A and 3B are front views of a portable terminal for explaining an operation state of the portable terminal according to the present invention.

Various types of time information can be displayed on the display unit 151. [ These pieces of information can be displayed in the form of letters, numbers, symbols, graphics, or icons.

In order to input such information, at least one of the letters, numbers, symbols, graphics, or icons may be displayed in a predetermined arrangement so as to be implemented in the form of a keypad. Such a keypad may be called a so-called " soft key ".

3A illustrates receiving a touch applied to a softkey through the front of the terminal body.

The display unit 151 may operate in an entire area or may be operated in a divided manner. In the latter case, the plurality of areas can be configured to operate in association with each other.

For example, an output window 151a and an input window 151b are displayed on the upper and lower portions of the display unit 151, respectively. In the input window 151b, a soft key 151c displaying a number for inputting a telephone number or the like is output. When the softkey 151c is touched, a number or the like corresponding to the touched softkey is displayed on the output window 151a. When the first manipulation unit 116 is operated, a call connection to the telephone number displayed on the output window 151a is attempted.

3B illustrates receiving a touch applied to a softkey through the rear of the terminal body. If FIG. 3A is a portrait in which the terminal body is arranged vertically, FIG. 3B illustrates a landscape in which the terminal body is arranged horizontally. The display unit 151 may be configured to convert the output screen according to the arrangement direction of the terminal body.

3B shows that the text input mode is activated in the mobile terminal. The display unit 151 displays the output window 135a and the input window 135b. In the input window 135b, a plurality of softkeys 135c on which at least one of letters, symbols, and numbers are displayed may be arranged. The softkeys 135c may be arranged in the form of a QWERTY key.

When the soft keys 135c are touched through the touch pad 135, letters, numbers, symbols, etc. corresponding to the touched soft keys are displayed on the output window 135a. As described above, the touch input through the touch pad 135 has an advantage of preventing the softkey 135c from being blocked by the finger when touched, as compared with the touch input through the display unit 151. When the display unit 151 and the touch pad 135 are transparent, the fingers located at the rear of the terminal body can be visually checked, and thus more accurate touch input is possible.

In addition to the input methods disclosed in the above embodiments, the display unit 151 or the touch pad 135 may be configured to receive a touch input by scrolling. By scrolling the display unit 151 or the touch pad 135, the user may move an object displayed on the display unit 151, for example, a cursor or a pointer located at an icon. Further, when the finger is moved on the display portion 151 or the touch pad 135, the path along which the finger moves may be visually displayed on the display portion 151. [ This may be useful for editing an image displayed on the display unit 151.

One function of the terminal may be executed in response to a case where the display unit 151 (touch screen) and the touch pad 135 are touched together within a predetermined time range. In the case of being touched together, there may be a case where the user clamps the terminal body using the thumb and index finger. For example, the function may include activation or deactivation of the display unit 151 or the touch pad 135.

The proximity sensor 141 described with reference to FIG. 1 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 4. 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a proximity depth of a proximity sensor.

As shown in FIG. 4, when a pointer such as a user's finger is close to the touch screen, the proximity sensor 141 disposed in or near the touch screen detects this and outputs a proximity signal.

The proximity sensor 141 may be configured to output different proximity signals according to a distance between the proximity touched pointer and the touch screen (hereinafter, referred to as “proximity depth”).

The distance at which the proximity signal is output when the pointer approaches the touch screen is called a detection distance. The proximity signal output from each proximity sensor is compared by using a plurality of proximity sensors having different detection distances. I can know the depth.

In FIG. 4, for example, a cross section of a touch screen on which three proximity sensors capable of sensing three proximity depths is disposed is illustrated. Of course, proximity sensors can also detect less than three or more than four proximity depths.

Specifically, when the pointer is completely in contact with the touch screen (d ₀ ), it is recognized as a touch touch. When the pointer is positioned below the distance d ₁ on the touch screen, the pointer is recognized as a proximity touch of a first proximity depth. When the pointer is spaced apart from the distance d ₁ or more and less than d ₂ on the touch screen, the pointer is recognized as a proximity touch of a second proximity depth. When the pointer is spaced apart from the distance d ₂ or more and less than d ₃ on the touch screen, the pointer is recognized as a proximity touch of a third proximity depth. In addition, when the pointer is spaced apart from the distance d ₃ or more on the touch screen, it is recognized that the proximity touch is released.

Accordingly, the controller 180 may recognize the proximity touch as various input signals according to the proximity distance and the proximity position of the pointer touch screen, and perform various operation control according to the various input signals.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.

First, the memory 160 provided in the mobile terminal 100 according to the present invention may store a plurality of categories each having different types of data and a plurality of applications providing different functions.

Examples of the plurality of categories include multimedia content such as photos, videos, or audio, text, call history, messages, and e-mail.

Examples of the plurality of applications include applications related to calls such as call origination and call reception, broadcast related applications, internet related applications, game applications, camera related applications, still image or video related applications, audio related applications, e-book readers. text-related applications such as e-book readers, message-related applications such as short message services (SMS) or multimedia messaging services (MMS), email-related applications, schedulers, phonebooks ( phonebook, alarm application, file management application, and the like.

<Offer of search area>

5 is a flowchart of a method for providing a search function of a mobile terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a detailed flowchart of some steps of a method for providing a search function of a mobile terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 7A to 9B are diagrams illustrating examples of a screen on which a search function providing method of a mobile terminal according to a first embodiment of the present invention is implemented. The search function providing method of the mobile terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention may be implemented in the mobile terminal described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. Hereinafter, a method of providing a search function of a mobile terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 5 to 9B.

The controller 180 activates a background screen on the display unit 151 [S100]. The step S100 may be performed by various control signals. For example, when the user turns on the power of the mobile terminal 100 or the user manipulates the user input unit 130 while the display unit 151 is inactivated, the display unit 151 The desktop may be activated when it is activated or when a message or call is received through the mobile communication module 112.

When the background screen is activated, the controller 180 displays an information input area in which information can be input to the display unit 151 [S110]. The information input area may be displayed at various positions of the display unit 151. FIG. 7A is a diagram illustrating an example in which the information input area 10 is displayed on the background screen 20, and FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating an example in which the information input area 10 is displayed on the indicator area. The indicator area is an area for displaying a variety of information that needs to be informed to the user, such as the strength of the wireless signal, the display of the received message, the time, the battery level, and the like. In the information input area 10, a cursor 12 and a history icon 11 may be displayed. When the user selects the history icon 11, a list of previously input information through the information input area 10 may be displayed in the form of a popup window. The information input area 10 may be displayed in the form of an image. For example, in FIG. 7B, the controller 180 may display the information input area 10 in the form of an image, and when the user touches the information input area 10, the cursor 12 may be displayed. .

The position at which the information input area 10 is displayed may be set or changed by a user. The controller 180 may provide a user interface for setting or changing the display position of the information input area 10.

The controller 180 receives a first command signal for commanding execution of a first application from the user through the user input unit 130 [S120]. For example, a user may command the execution of the first application by manipulating a keyboard or a touch pad (touch screen).

The controller 180 may enter the execution screen of the first application according to the first command signal and display the information input area 10 on the execution screen of the first application [S130]. 8A illustrates an example of a screen on which step S130 is performed. The screen shown in FIG. 8A is an execution screen 21 of an audio player application. The audio player application execution screen 21 may include the information input area 10.

The controller 180 receives a second command signal for commanding execution of a second application from the user through the user input unit 130 [S140]. The controller 180 may enter the execution screen of the second application according to the second command signal and display the information input area 10 on the execution screen of the second application [S150]. In this case, the controller 180 may terminate execution of the first application or maintain execution of the first application. Termination and maintenance of the execution of the first application may vary according to a user's setting or whether the mobile terminal 100 supports a multi-task.

8B is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen on which step S150 is performed. The screen shown in FIG. 8B is an execution screen 22 of a phonebook application. The execution screen of the phonebook application may also include the information input area 10 similarly to the execution screen 21 of the audio player application.

As such, the application execution screens 21 and 22 illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B may include the information input area 10, respectively. The information input areas 10 displayed on the application execution screens 21 and 22 perform the same function as the information input area 10 shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B. The information input area 10 may change its displayed position, size, and color depending on the application to be executed, but essentially performs the same function.

Meanwhile, in steps S130 and S150, the information input area 10 may not be displayed depending on the type of the application to be executed. In addition, the information input area 10 may be displayed on the first execution screen of a specific application, and the information input area 10 may not be displayed on another execution screen of the specific application. The other execution screen may be a screen corresponding to a specific menu or a specific function in the specific application.

Examples of applications and menus (or functions) for which the information input area 10 is not provided include applications and functions that support playback of content including at least one of still images, videos, broadcasts, and texts, and a camera. There may be applications and functions that support image acquisition, game applications and the like. For these, whether or not to provide the information input area 10 can be changed according to the user's setting.

Hereinafter, another embodiment of the step S130 and the step S150 will be described with reference to FIG. 6 and necessary drawings. Assuming only the first application, only the step S130 will be described. The second application executed in the step S150 may also be applied in the same manner as in the step S130.

When the first command signal is received in step S120, the controller 180 determines whether the information input area 10 is provided for the first application [S131].

If the controller 180 is set to provide the information input area 10 as a result of the determination in step S131, the controller 180 enters the execution screen of the first application as described above and the information input area 10 ) Is displayed [S133].

If it is determined that the information input area 10 is not provided as a result of the determination in step S131, the controller 180 enters an execution screen of the first application and displays the information input area 10. Do not [S132]. 9A is a diagram illustrating an example of entering an initial execution screen of a camera application. The first execution screen of the camera application may not display the information input area 10 in order to provide the user with the widest field of view. Whether to provide the information input area 10 on the first execution screen of the camera application may be set or changed by a user.

The controller 180 may receive a command signal for commanding entry of a specific menu (or a specific function) in the first application [S134]. When the command signal is received in the step S134, the controller 180 determines whether the information input area 10 is provided for the specific menu [S135].

If the controller 180 is set to provide the information input area 10 for the specific menu as a result of the determination in step S135, the controller 180 enters a screen corresponding to the specific menu and corresponds to the specific menu. The information input area 10 is displayed on the screen [S137].

If the control unit 180 determines that the information input area 10 is not provided for the specific menu as a result of the determination in step S135, the controller 180 enters a screen corresponding to the specific menu, but the information input area ( 10) is not displayed [S136]. 9B is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen on which a broadcast application such as DMB is executed. 9B illustrates a case of outputting a broadcast in full screen, and enters a specific menu called “Full screen view” of the broadcast application. In this case, as illustrated in FIG. 9B, the information input area 10 may not be displayed. Whether the information input area 10 is provided for a specific menu of a specific application may also be set or changed by a user.

<Provision of Internet connection function and multi search function>

10 is a flowchart of a method for providing a search function of a mobile terminal according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 11A to 14C illustrate examples of screens on which a search function providing method of a mobile terminal according to a second embodiment of the present invention is implemented. The search function providing method of the mobile terminal according to the second embodiment of the present invention may be implemented in the mobile terminal described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. Hereinafter, a method of providing a search function of a mobile terminal according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 10 to 14C.

The controller 180 provides an information input area for receiving information on the display unit 151 [S200]. In this case, the controller 180 may execute a specific function (hereinafter, referred to as a “first function”) provided by the mobile terminal 100 (S201). The step S201 may be performed before or at the same time as the step S200. The information input area provided in step S200 may be the information input area 10 provided in the first embodiment of the present invention described above. Hereinafter, it is assumed that the information input area is the information input area 10 described with reference to FIGS.

The controller 180 receives information through the information input area 10 [S210]. 11A, 11B, and 13 illustrate examples of screens for receiving information through an information input area according to an embodiment of the present invention. In step S210, a user may input the information through the user input unit 130. For example, a user may input the information by operating a keypad. In addition, when the display unit 151 includes a touch pad (or touch screen), the controller 180 displays a virtual keyboard such as a qwerty keyboard on the display unit 151. can do. The user may input the information through the virtual keyboard. Examples of the virtual keyboard are shown in Figs. 3A and 3B. The accompanying drawings show a result of inputting information in various manners as described above and displaying them on a screen.

The controller 180 determines whether the information input in the step S210 corresponds to the internet access path [S220]. Criteria for determining whether the input information corresponds to an internet access path may vary. The controller 180 may determine whether to use the input information for an internet connection operation or a search operation to be described later, according to the type of the input information. For example, when the input information starts with a predetermined phrase such as "www" representing "world wide web" or is previously designated as the Internet access path, the controller 180 may determine the input information. The Internet access path may be determined. The Internet access path may be an address for going to a specific location or a specific website on the Internet.

The screen shown in FIG. 11A is a case where information corresponding to an Internet address of "www.nytimes.com" is input. The screen shown in FIG. 11B is a case where information "NYTIMES" to which an Internet address of "www.nytimes.com" is associated is input. The memory 160 may store a corresponding relationship in which “NYTIMES” and “www.nytimes.com” are matched in advance. The screen shown in FIG. 13 is a case where information "Na", which is information that does not correspond to the Internet connection path, is input.

Meanwhile, the controller 180 may display two function icons in or near the information input area 10 (not shown in the drawing). Among the two function icons, a first function icon may be an icon representing the Internet access function, and a second function icon corresponding to the rest may be an icon representing a search function to be described later. After the user inputs information through the information input area 10, the user may select one of the two function icons to execute a desired function.

If the input information corresponds to the internet access path, the controller 180 performs an internet access operation using the input information as the internet access path [S230]. In operation S230, the controller 180 may drive a predetermined web browser to perform the internet access operation. The web browser may be stored in the memory 160.

FIG. 12 illustrates an example of a result screen of performing an internet access operation using the input internet access path when information corresponding to the internet access path is input in step S210 as shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B.

The controller 180 executes a "multi-search operation" when the inputted information does not correspond to the internet access path as a result of the determination in step S220 [S240]. In the present invention, a "multiple search operation" includes a web search using the input information as a keyword and a memory search for searching data including the input information for the memory 160. Refers to an operation that performs both search). For example, when information that does not correspond to the Internet access path is input in step S210 as shown in FIG. 13, the controller 180 may execute a "multiple search operation" using the input information as a search word.

The controller 180 may execute the web search by using a search engine or a website that provides a web search in advance. For example, the controller 180 may access a website providing the web search, transmit the input information as a search word to the website, and receive the result data from the website. In addition, the controller 180 may use a specific web browser to execute the web search. In addition, the controller 180 may execute the web search by controlling the wireless internet module 113 or the mobile communication module 112.

Meanwhile, when the controller 180 performs the memory search, the controller 180 may target all or a part of the plurality of categories stored in the memory 160. The object of the memory search may be set or changed by a user.

When the multiple search operation is executed, the controller 180 can display an execution result of the multiple search operation on the display unit 151 [S250].

The S250 step may be implemented in various ways.

For example, the controller 180 may display the web search result and the memory search result in different areas of the display unit 151, respectively. 14A and 14B illustrate examples in which the web search result 60 and the memory search result 50 are displayed in different areas according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 14A illustrates a case where the memory search result 50 is displayed without displaying a category, and FIG. 14B illustrates a case where the memory search result 50 is displayed together with an indication of a category. In FIG. 14B, "Favoriates", "Contacts" and "Messages" correspond to the "website favorites", "phonebook" and "message" categories, respectively.

Meanwhile, when the web search result and the memory search result cannot both be displayed in a specific area, the controller 180 may display a scroll bar 61 as illustrated in FIGS. 14A and 14B. The user may operate the scroll bar 61 to display information that is not displayed on the screen.

Also, for example, the controller 180 may collectively sort the web search result and the memory search result by a predetermined criterion, and display the sorted result together in the same area of the display unit 151. have. 14C illustrates an example in which the web search result 60 and the memory search result 50 are displayed in the same area, arranged in alphabetical order.

In this case, the controller 180 may display a specific icon or a specific image 70 or 71 in order to indicate which of each item corresponds to a web search result or a memory search result. For example, in FIG. 14C, the first image 70 may represent an item corresponding to a web search result, and the second image 71 may represent an item corresponding to a memory search result.

In addition, when the first function is executed in step S200 [S201], the controller 180 may preferentially display a result related to the first function among the web search result and the memory search result. For example, when information is input through the information input area 10 while a message related application is running, the controller 180 can display an item related to the message as a search result at the top of the screen. . The display order of the search results may be preset by the user. For example, the phonebook search result may be set to be located at the top of the screen, or the search result of music content may be set to be located at the top of the screen.

In addition, the controller 180 may display, on the display unit 151, at least one function icon 51 each representing at least one function related to the web search result and the memory search result. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 14A to 14C, when the Internet address and the corresponding item are found, the controller 180 may display a first function icon representing a "Internet access" function in the vicinity of the Internet address item. 51a can be displayed. For example, when an item related to a phone book is searched, the controller 180 may display a second function icon 51b representing a "call" function near the phone book related item. The user may select the first function icon 51a and the second function icon 51b, respectively, so that the " internet access " and " dial " functions are performed.

For example, referring to FIG. 14A, when a user selects the first function icon 51a, the controller 180 may access a website corresponding to an internet access path corresponding to “www.naver.com”. An internet access operation may be performed. For example, referring to FIG. 14A, when the user selects the second function icon 51b, the controller 180 may receive a "telephone" whose telephone number corresponds to "010-1111-2222". "Dial" operation.

Meanwhile, the mobile terminal 100 shown in FIG. 1 is a communication system for transmitting data through frames or packets, including a wireless / wired communication system and a satellite communication system. It can be configured to work. Such communication systems may use other air interfaces and / or physical layers. FIG. 15 is a block diagram of a CDMA wireless communication system in communication with the mobile device shown in FIG. 1.

Examples of the air interfaces used by the communication systems include frequency division multiple access (FDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), code division multiple access (CDMA) ), And Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS), Long Term Evolution (LTE) of UMTS, and Global System for Mobile communication (GSM). In the following description, the present invention is limited to the CDMA communication system, but is not limited thereto, and may be applied to other system types.

Referring to FIG. 15, a CDMA wireless communication system includes a plurality of mobile terminals 100, a plurality of base stations 200, base station controllers BSCs 210, and a mobile switching center. Centers; MSCs, 220). The mobile switching center 220 is configured to be connected to a public switch telephone network (PSTN) 230. The mobile switching center 220 is also configured to be connected with the base station controllers 210. The base station controllers 210 are connected to the base stations 200 via backhaul lines. The backhaul lines may be configured according to E1 / T1, ATM, IP, PPP, frame relay, HDSL, ADSL, or xDSL known to those skilled in the art. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the system may include two or more base station controllers 210.

Each of the base stations 200 may include one or more sectors, each of which may include an omnidirectional antenna or an antenna tuned to a specific radial direction from the base station 200. Can be. Alternatively, each sector may include two antennas for diversity reception. Each base station 200 is configured to accommodate a plurality of frequency assignments, which may have a specific spectrum (eg, 1.25 MHz, 5 Mhz).

The intersection of sectors and frequency assignments may be referred to as a CDMA channel. The base stations 27 may also be referred to as Base station Transceiver Subsystems (BTSs). In some examples, the term “base station” may be used to collectively refer to base station controller 210 and one or more base stations 200. The base stations may also be labeled "cell sites". Alternatively, individual sectors of a given base station 200 may be referred to as cell sites.

The terrestrial DMB transmitter 240 may broadcast to mobile terminals 100 operating in the system. The broadcast receiving module 111 of the mobile terminal 100 is generally configured to receive broadcast signals transmitted by the DMB transmitter 240. This may be similarly applied to other types of broadcast and multicast signaling as described above.

FIG. 15 illustrates various Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites 250. Such satellites 250 may track the location of some or all mobile terminals 100. Although two satellites are shown, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that the location information can be obtained from more or fewer satellites. Other types of location techniques (eg, location techniques that can be used in place of or in addition to GPS technology) can be used. If desired, some or all of the GPS satellites 250 may be configured to support satellite DMB transmission separately or additionally.

During operation of the wireless communication system, the base stations 200 receive reverse-link signals from several mobile terminals 100. The mobile terminals 100 may be in a call, sending a message, or performing other communication. Each reverse link signal received by the base station is processed at the base station. The processed data is transmitted to the connected base station controller 210. The base station controller 210 provides call resource allocation and includes mobility management including orchestration of soft handoffs between base stations 200. management functionality). The base station controllers 210 also send the received data to the mobile switching centers (MSCs) 220. The mobile switching center 220 provides additional routing services for interfacing with the public switch telephone network (PSTN) 230. Similarly, the public switching telephone network 230 interfaces with the mobile switching center 220, and the mobile switching center interfaces with the base station controllers 210. The base station controllers 210 in turn control the base stations 200 to transmit forward link signals to the mobile terminals 100.

The method for providing a search function of a mobile terminal according to the present invention described above may be provided by recording on a computer-readable recording medium as a program for executing in a computer.

The method for providing a search function of a mobile terminal according to the present invention can be executed through software. When implemented in software, the constituent means of the present invention are code segments that perform the necessary work. The program or code segments may be stored on a processor readable medium or transmitted by a computer data signal coupled with a carrier on a transmission medium or network.

Computer-readable recording media include all kinds of recording devices that store data that can be read by a computer system. Examples of computer-readable recording devices include ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, DVD ± ROM, DVD-RAM, magnetic tape, floppy disks, hard disks, and optical data storage devices. The computer-readable recording medium may also be distributed to networked computer devices so that computer readable code can be stored and executed in a distributed manner.

The present invention described above is capable of various substitutions, modifications, and changes without departing from the spirit of the present invention for those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. It is not limited by the drawings.

1 is a block diagram of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2A is a front perspective view of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2B is a rear perspective view of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3A and 3B are front views of a portable terminal for explaining an operation state of the portable terminal according to the present invention.

4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a proximity depth of a proximity sensor.

5 is a flowchart of a method for providing a search function of a mobile terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a detailed flowchart of some steps of a method for providing a search function of a mobile terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

7A to 9B are diagrams illustrating examples of a screen on which a search function providing method of a mobile terminal according to a first embodiment of the present invention is implemented.

10 is a flowchart of a method for providing a search function of a mobile terminal according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

11A to 14C illustrate examples of screens on which a search function providing method of a mobile terminal according to a second embodiment of the present invention is implemented.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram of a CDMA wireless communication system for communicating with the mobile terminal shown in FIG.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

100: mobile terminal 130: user input unit

151: display unit 160: memory

180: control unit 10: information input area

20: Desktop 21, 22, 23, 24: Application Launch Screen

Claims (32)

display; An internet module for connecting to the internet; A memory for storing a plurality of categories each containing different kinds of data; And Providing an input area for receiving information on the display, accessing the Internet through the Internet module to execute a web search using the first information as a search word when the first information is input through the input area, and A controller which searches for data including the first information in a memory and uses the second information as an internet access path when the second information is received through the input area; The controller may distinguish the first information from the second information according to a type of information input through the input area. The method of claim 1, wherein the control unit, And the information input through the input area is recognized as the second information when the information input through the input area starts with a predetermined phrase or is previously designated as the Internet access path. The method of claim 1, wherein the control unit, And displaying the web search result and the memory search result on the display. The method of claim 3, wherein the control unit, And displaying the web search result and the memory search result in different areas. The method of claim 3, wherein the control unit, And integrating the web search result and the memory search result according to a predetermined criterion, and displaying the sorted result on the display. The method of claim 3, wherein the control unit, Before executing the web search and the memory search, executing a first function different from the web search and the memory search, And displaying a result related to the first function among the web search result and the memory search result. The method of claim 3, wherein the control unit, And when any one of the web search result and the memory search result is selected, executing a function related to the selected result. The method of claim 3, wherein the control unit, And displaying on the display at least one icon representing at least one function associated with the web search result and the memory search result. The method of claim 1, wherein the control unit, And performing the web search by using a predetermined search engine or a web site providing a web search. The method of claim 1, wherein the control unit, When the second information is received, the mobile terminal, characterized in that for connecting to the Internet by using a predetermined web browser to access the Internet as the second connection path. According to claim 1, wherein the plurality of categories, A mobile terminal comprising a picture, video, call history, message and email. display; A memory for storing a plurality of categories each containing different kinds of data, and a plurality of applications providing different functions; And A control unit for providing the display with an input area for receiving a search word used to search the memory, regardless of the type of an application executed among the plurality of applications; Mobile terminal comprising. 13. The method of claim 12, Further comprising an internet module for connecting to the internet (internet), The search word is used for a web search through the internet module together with the memory search. The method of claim 12, wherein the control unit, And when the at least one application of the plurality of applications is executed, the input area is not provided to the display. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one predetermined application comprises: A mobile terminal comprising at least one of an application supporting reproduction of content including at least one of a still image, a moving picture, a broadcast, and text, an application supporting image acquisition through a camera, and a game application. The method of claim 12, wherein the control unit, And when the at least one predetermined function among functions provided by the plurality of applications is executed, the input area is not provided to the display. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one predetermined function is A mobile terminal comprising at least one of a function of playing a content including at least one of a still image, a moving picture, a broadcast, and a text, and a function of acquiring an image through a camera. The method of claim 12, wherein the control unit, And a position of the input area variably controlled according to a type of an application currently running among the plurality of applications. A method for providing a search function in a mobile terminal including a memory for storing a plurality of categories each containing different kinds of data, Providing an input area for receiving information to a display provided in the mobile terminal; Receiving information through the input area; And A search operation of executing a web search using the input information as a search word and searching for data including the input information in the memory according to the type of the input information; Performing any one of the Internet connection operations Method of providing a search function of a mobile terminal comprising. The method of claim 19, wherein the executing step, And executing the internet access operation when the input information starts with a predetermined phrase or is previously designated as the internet access path. The method of claim 19, If the search operation is executed in the executing step, displaying the web search result and the memory search result on the display. Method for providing a search function of a mobile terminal further comprising. The method of claim 21, wherein the displaying step, And displaying the web search results and the memory search results in different areas. The method of claim 21, wherein the displaying step, And integrating the web search result and the memory search result according to a predetermined criterion and displaying the sorted result. The method of claim 21, Before the executing step, further comprising executing a first function different from the web search and the memory search, And wherein the displaying step first displays a result related to the first function among the web search result and the memory search result. The method of claim 21, If any one of the web search result and the memory search result is selected, executing a function related to the selected result Method for providing a search function of a mobile terminal further comprising. The method of claim 21, wherein the displaying step, And displaying on the display at least one icon each representing at least one function associated with the web search result and the memory search result. The method of claim 19, wherein the executing step, A method for providing a search function of a mobile terminal, characterized in that for executing a web search using a search engine or a web site that provides a web search. The method of claim 19, wherein the executing step, A method of providing a search function of a mobile terminal, characterized in that for executing the Internet connection operation by driving a predetermined web browser (web browser). The method of claim 19, wherein the plurality of categories, A method of providing a search function of a mobile terminal including a picture, a video, a call history, a message and an e-mail. In the mobile terminal device comprising a plurality of categories each of which contains different types of data, and a memory for storing a plurality of applications providing different functions, the method for providing a search function, Displaying an input area for receiving a search word used to search the memory on a background screen of a display provided in the mobile terminal; Receiving a first command signal instructing execution of the first application; And And entering the execution screen of the first application according to the first command signal, and displaying the input area on the display. Method of providing a search function of a mobile terminal comprising. 31. The method of claim 30, Receiving a second command signal instructing execution of a second application; And In response to the second command signal, entering the execution screen of the second application and displaying the input area on the display; Method for providing a search function of a mobile terminal further comprising. The method of claim 31, wherein the input area, A search function for a mobile terminal, characterized in that the same regardless of the type of the first and second applications.

Images