JP2001257762A - Mobile terminal and function selection method used for the mobile terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a function selection method that can efficiently select an object function. SOLUTION: A sub item 'automatic telephone answering' included in a main item 'service' is selected in a menu 31 as initial setting. When a DOWN key is depressed once in this state, a menu 32 is displayed and 'short mail display' being a sub item below the sub item 'automatic telephone answering' is selected. While the menu 33 is displayed, when an UP key is depressed, the menu 32 is displayed and when the UP key is furthermore depressed, the menu 32 is displayed, and when the UP key is depressed furthermore, the menu 32 is displayed. While a display menu with respect to the main item 'service' is displayed as shown in the menus 31-33 when a RIGHT key is depressed, a menu 34 is displayed. In the menu 34, an icon of a main item 'clock' displayed at the right side of the icon of the main item 'service' is displayed in clock/white reverse. Furthermore, a sub item being a 3rd item from the uppermost item among sub items included in the main item 'clock' is displayed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable terminal and a function selecting method used in the portable terminal, and more particularly, to a portable terminal capable of efficiently selecting a target function and a function selecting method used in the portable terminal. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, miniaturization of portable telephones has been progressing, and with miniaturization, the display screen has to be reduced. On the other hand, with the expansion of functions, it has become important how to make the user select the desired function efficiently.

Referring to FIG. 6, there has conventionally been a method in which a plurality of functions are arranged in a hierarchical structure so that a user can select the functions. In this method, a group in which functions of the same type are put together is set as a large item, and functions included in the group are set as small items.
For example, the large item “service” includes small items “answering machine”, “short mail display”, etc. relating to the service provided to the user.

Referring to FIG. 7 (A), when a function selection menu is activated, a list of large items is first displayed on the display screen of the mobile phone. When the user selects one of them, a list of small items included in the selected large item is displayed as shown in FIG. 7B. Here, as an example, a case where the user selects the large item “service” is shown.

[0005] In this way, by forming a plurality of functions in a hierarchical structure, function selection can be performed efficiently.

[0006]

If the desired function is not found at the stage when the small item selection screen as shown in FIG. 7B is displayed, the small item included in the other large items is not displayed. You need to display a list of items. However, in the conventional function selection method, in order to display a list of other small items, a display screen of a large item is first displayed, and after selecting another large item, a list of small items is displayed. I have to do it. For this reason, it is difficult for a user who does not understand the entire hierarchical structure of functions to some extent to find a target function. Further, in order to display a list of small items included in other large items, it is necessary to return to the large item list screen each time, and the operability is poor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a function selecting method capable of efficiently selecting a target function.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable terminal capable of efficiently selecting a target function.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable terminal including a plurality of large items respectively corresponding to a plurality of large items for classifying operation functions, which are displayed on a display screen provided on the portable terminal body. Among the identifiers, a large item selecting means for selecting any of the large item identifiers, and a plurality of operation functions respectively corresponding to a plurality of operation functions included in the large item corresponding to the large item identifier selected by the large item selecting means. Function display means for displaying a small item identifier on the display screen, and small item identification means for selecting any one of the plurality of small item identifiers displayed on the display screen by the function display means And function executing means for executing the operation function corresponding to the small item identifier selected by the small item selecting means.

When a large item identifier is selected, small item identifiers corresponding to functions belonging to the large item are displayed on the same display screen. Therefore, the target function can be efficiently selected without the user having to know the structure of the function in detail.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, a plurality of large item identifiers are displayed in a vertical or horizontal direction on the display screen. The plurality of small item identifiers are displayed side by side in a direction different from the plurality of large item identifiers in the vertical or horizontal direction of the display screen.

The large item identifiers are arranged in the horizontal direction (vertical direction), and the small item identifiers are arranged in the vertical direction (horizontal direction). Therefore, a function can be selected by a vertical (horizontal) movement key while a large item is selected by a horizontal (vertical) movement key, and a function can be selected with a small number of operations.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first or second aspect, the major item identifier includes an icon.

The function selecting method according to the present invention is used in a portable terminal having a display screen. The function selecting method includes: displaying a plurality of identifiers respectively corresponding to a plurality of items on a display screen;
Displaying a plurality of identifiers respectively corresponding to a plurality of functions belonging to the item represented by the selected identifier on the display screen simultaneously with the plurality of identifiers corresponding to the plurality of items; Executing a function corresponding to the selected identifier among the identifiers.

When an identifier corresponding to an item is selected, an identifier corresponding to a function belonging to the item is displayed on the same screen. Therefore, the target function can be efficiently selected without the user having to know the structure of the function in detail.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the fourth aspect, the step of displaying a plurality of identifiers respectively corresponding to the plurality of items on the display screen comprises the steps of: Displaying a plurality of identifiers side by side in either the vertical direction or the horizontal direction of the display screen, and simultaneously displaying the plurality of identifiers includes displaying a plurality of identifiers respectively corresponding to a plurality of functions on the display screen. In the vertical direction or the horizontal direction, the plurality of identifiers respectively corresponding to the plurality of items are arranged in a direction different from the display direction, and simultaneously displayed with the plurality of identifiers corresponding to the plurality of items.

The identifier corresponding to the item is horizontal (vertical)
And the identifier corresponding to the function is displayed vertically (horizontally)
It is arranged in. Therefore, a function can be selected by a vertical (horizontal) movement key while an item is selected by a horizontal (vertical) movement key, and the function can be selected with a small number of operations.

[0018]

1 and 2, a mobile phone 9 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an antenna 4,
A wireless unit 5 connected to the antenna 4 for performing wireless communication with the outside via the antenna 4;
, A speaker 6 for outputting sound, an input unit 2 for inputting data and operation instructions, and a RAM (Ra) for storing data.
ndom Access Memory) 3 and display unit 8 for displaying data
And a CPU (Central Processes) that controls the input unit 2, the RAM 3, the wireless unit 5, the speaker 6, the microphone 7, and the display unit 8.
sing unit) 1 and a bus 10 for mutually connecting the CPU 1, the input unit 2, the RAM 3, the wireless unit 5, the speaker 6, the microphone 7, and the display unit 8.

The CPU 1 converts the sound input from the microphone 7 into a digital signal, transmits the digital signal to the outside through the radio unit 5 and the antenna 4, and converts the signal received through the antenna 4 and the radio unit 5 into an audio signal. And output from the speaker 6. Through this series of processing, a call is made with another telephone.

The CPU 1 implements various other functions. At this time, various data such as a function execution result and a menu selection screen are displayed on the display unit 8.

Referring to FIG. 2, input unit 2 is a dial input unit 2 for inputting a dial number and other data.
f, an upper key 2a for instructing an upward direction, a lower key 2b for instructing a downward direction, a left key 2c for instructing a left direction, and a right key 2d for instructing a right direction. ,
And a decision key 2e used to decide a function or the like displayed on the screen.

Referring to FIG. 3, various functions implemented in portable telephone 9 are classified into large items and small items. Each function corresponds to each small item, and a group in which similar functions are put together corresponds to a large item. For example, the major item "Clock"
Includes six small items such as a small item “easy timer” and “schedule”.

Referring to FIG. 4, display section 8 displays a function selection screen for selecting various functions. The function selection screen includes a large item display section 24 for displaying large items, and a small item display section 2 for displaying small items included in the selected large items.
Consists of two.

In the large item display section 24, icons corresponding to the large items are displayed, and one of them is highlighted differently from the other to indicate that it is selected. In the figure, large items corresponding to “service”, “clock”, and “sound” are displayed from the left, and the large item “clock” is selected among them.

The small item display section 22 has a large item display section 24
A list of the small items included in the selected large item among the large items displayed in is displayed. In the figure, among the small items included in the large item "clock", three items, "easy timer", "schedule", and "alarm setting" are displayed. One of them, unlike the others, is highlighted to indicate that it is selected. The figure shows that the small item “easy timer” is selected. In this state, when the user presses the enter key 2e shown in FIG. 2, the function of the small item "easy timer" is executed.

The display order of large items and small items is as follows.
According to the table shown in FIG. With reference to FIG. 5, a method of selecting a small item will be described in more detail with an example. When the function selection menu is activated, an initial screen 31 is displayed. On the screen 31, as an initial setting, a small item "answering machine" included in the large item "service" is selected. When the down key 2b is pressed once in this state,
The screen 32 is displayed, and the sub-item “Short Mail Display” one level below is selected. Further, when the down key 2b is pressed, a screen 33 is displayed, and a sub-item "service inquiry" immediately below is selected. By further pressing the down key 2b, other small items are sequentially selected.

When the upper key 2a is pressed while the screen 33 is displayed, the screen 32 is displayed. When the upper key 2a is further pressed, the screen 31 is displayed.

While the display screen for the large item "service" is displayed as shown in screens 31 to 33, the right key 2
When d is pressed, a screen 34 is displayed. On the screen 34, the icon of the large item "clock" displayed on the right side of the icon of the large item "service" is highlighted. Also, three items from the top among the small items included in the large item “clock” are displayed. As for the large item "clock", the screens such as the screen 35 or 36 are switched by appropriately pressing the up key 2a and the down key 2b as in the case of the large item "service", and the small item is selected. Will be reworked.

As shown in screens 34 to 36, a large item "clock"
When the left key 2c is pressed in a state where the display screen for is displayed, a screen 31 is displayed. Right key 2d
When is pressed, a screen 37 is displayed. On screen 37,
The icon of the large item “sound” displayed on the right side of the icon of the large item “clock” is highlighted. Also, three items from the top among the small items included in the large item “sound” are displayed,
Among them, the first small item “tone setting” is selected. For the large item “sound”, similarly to the large items “service” and “clock”, the up key 2a and the down key 2b
By appropriately pressing, the screen such as the screen 38 or 39 is switched, and the small item is selected again.

When the left key 2c is pressed while the display screen for the large item "sound" is displayed as in screens 37 to 39, a screen 34 is displayed.

By pressing the enter key 2e on any screen, the function of the selected small item is executed.

As described above, in the portable telephone 9 according to the present embodiment, when a large item is selected, some of the small items (functions) belonging to the large item are displayed on the same screen. Therefore, the target function can be efficiently selected without the user having to know the structure of the function in detail. The structure of the function at this time is a matrix structure as shown in FIG.

Also, large items and small items are displayed on the same screen, and large items can be selected with the left key 2c and right key 2d, and small items can be selected with the up key 2a and the down key 2b. Thus, it is possible to select a small item with a smaller number of operations than before.

The embodiments disclosed this time are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

[0035]

According to the present invention, when a large item identifier is selected, a small item identifier corresponding to a function belonging to the item is displayed on the same screen. For this reason,
The user can efficiently select a desired function without knowing the structure of the function in detail.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the large item identifiers corresponding to the large items are arranged in the horizontal direction (vertical direction).
The small item identifiers corresponding to the functions are arranged vertically (horizontally). Therefore, a function can be selected by a vertical (horizontal) movement key while a large item is selected by a horizontal (vertical) movement key, and a function can be selected with a small number of operations.

According to the invention described in claim 4 or 5,
When an identifier corresponding to an item is selected, an identifier corresponding to a function belonging to the item is displayed on the same screen. Therefore, the target function can be efficiently selected without the user having to know the structure of the function in detail.

According to the fifth aspect, the identifiers corresponding to the items are arranged in the horizontal direction (vertical direction), and the identifiers corresponding to the functions are arranged in the vertical direction (horizontal direction). Therefore, a function can be selected by a vertical (horizontal) movement key while an item is selected by a horizontal (vertical) movement key, and the function can be selected with a small number of operations.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a mobile phone according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view of the mobile phone according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a structure of various functions mounted on the mobile phone according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a function selection screen.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a method of selecting a small item (function).

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a conventional function selection method.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a conventional screen display example for selecting a function.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 input section, 2a up key, 2b down key, 2c left key, 2d right key, 2e confirmation key, 2f dial input section, 4 antenna, 5 radio section, 6 speaker, 7
Microphone, 8 display, 9 mobile phone, 10 bus, 2
2 Small item display, 24 Large item display, 31-38
screen.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A large item identifier for selecting any one of a plurality of large item identifiers respectively corresponding to a plurality of large items for classifying operation functions, which is displayed on a display screen provided in a portable terminal body. Item display means, and function display means for displaying on the display screen a plurality of small item identifiers respectively corresponding to a plurality of operation functions included in a large item corresponding to the large item identifier selected by the large item selection means. A small item identification unit for selecting any one of the small item identifiers among the plurality of small item identifiers displayed on the display screen by the function display unit; and the small item selected by the small item selection unit Function execution means for executing the operation function corresponding to the identifier. 2. The plurality of large item identifiers are displayed side by side in one of a vertical direction and a horizontal direction of the display screen, and the plurality of small item identifiers are displayed in a vertical or horizontal direction of the display screen. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal is displayed side by side in a direction different from the plurality of large item identifiers. 3. The large item identifier includes an icon.
The mobile terminal according to claim 1. 4. A function selection method used in a mobile terminal having a display screen, comprising: displaying a plurality of identifiers respectively corresponding to a plurality of items on the display screen; Displaying, on the display screen, a plurality of identifiers respectively corresponding to a plurality of functions belonging to the item represented by the identifier, the plurality of identifiers corresponding to the plurality of items, respectively; Executing a function corresponding to the selected identifier among the plurality of identifiers. 5. The step of displaying a plurality of identifiers respectively corresponding to a plurality of items on the display screen, the step of displaying the plurality of identifiers respectively corresponding to the plurality of items in a vertical direction or a horizontal direction of the display screen. Including displaying the plurality of identifiers simultaneously with the plurality of identifiers, the plurality of identifiers respectively corresponding to the plurality of functions,
Arranging in a direction different from a display direction of the plurality of identifiers respectively corresponding to the plurality of items in a vertical direction or a horizontal direction of the display screen, and simultaneously displaying the plurality of identifiers corresponding to the plurality of items; The function selection method according to claim 4, comprising: