KR100247036B1 - Menu item selecting method of electronic appliances - Google Patents

Abstract

end. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention described in the claims belongs to an electronic device having a display device.

I. The technical problem to be solved by the invention:

A method of sequentially searching menus by inputting a menu key once in an electronic device having a display device.

All. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A method of selecting a menu of an electronic device includes: reading a menu table corresponding to a first group and sequentially displaying each menu for a predetermined time when a menu key is input; Reading a second group menu table belonging to the menu to which the selection signal is input, and sequentially displaying each read menu for a predetermined time when one of the menus is displayed; If a selection signal is input while one of the menus is displayed, performing the operation corresponding to the menu to which the selection signal is input; and if the selection signal is not input while all of the second group menus are displayed, Method for selecting a menu item in the electronic device, characterized in that the step of displaying a menu.

la. Important uses of the invention

All electronics with display

Description

How to select menu items on an electronic device

The present invention relates to a method of selecting a menu of an electronic device having a display device, and more particularly to a method of searching and selecting a menu of an electronic device.

In general, almost all electronic devices used in recent years have been developed multi-purpose electronic devices having many functions in one device. For example, in the past, an electronic calculator was a device for performing only simple calculations. However, multi-purpose devices have been introduced that add an electronic organizer function to such an electronic calculator or add an electronic calculator function and an electronic organizer function to a mobile phone.

Accordingly, the user must perform a function by searching a menu and selecting a corresponding item to perform a task in order to use the function of the multipurpose device. However, since the multi-purpose device has a large number of menus, it is inconvenient to search the menus one by one by the user's key input unless all the menus are memorized.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for minimizing key input when searching a menu in an electronic device.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of selecting a menu of an electronic device, the method comprising: reading a menu table corresponding to a first group when a menu key is input, and sequentially displaying each menu for a predetermined time; Reading a second group menu table belonging to a menu to which the selection signal is input, and sequentially displaying each read menu for a predetermined time when a selection signal is input while one of the menus of the first group is displayed; When a selection signal is input while one of the menus of the second group is displayed, performing a task corresponding to the menu to which the selection signal is input; and a selection signal is not input while all of the second group menus are displayed. And displaying the next menu selected from among the first group display.

1 is a block diagram of a part of the present invention to which the present invention is applied.

2 is a control flowchart of menu selection in an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

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

1 is a block diagram of a part of the present invention to which the present invention is applied.

The controller 111 controls the overall operation of the electronic device, and in particular, performs the control according to the present invention. The first memory 112 stores data necessary for controlling the electronic device, data necessary for initial setting, and menu data according to the present invention, and may be implemented as an EEPROM. The second memory 113 stores data generated when the electronic device is controlled, or stores menu display time data according to the present invention, and may be implemented as a RAM. The clock generator 114 generates a clock provided to the electronic device and provides the clock to the controller 111. The display unit 115 displays the operation state and operation process of the electronic device under the control of the control unit 111. The input unit 116 includes a key matrix structure and an electronic pen for key input, and converts a signal input by a user into data and outputs the data to the controller 111. The timer 117 is implemented according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and sets a menu item display time and the like under the control of the controller 111 to counter the time, and when the set time has elapsed, sends a signal to the controller 111 according to the elapsed time. Output

2 is a control flowchart of menu selection in an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 2.

The controller 111 maintains the standby state in step 200 and proceeds to step 202 to check whether a signal corresponding to a menu key is input from the input unit 116. The controller 111 proceeds to step 204 when a signal corresponding to the test key is input, and proceeds to step 200 when a signal corresponding to the menu key is not input. Hereinafter, a signal corresponding to the menu key is called a menu selection signal. When the controller 111 proceeds from step 202 to step 204, the controller 111 reads out a threshold time according to the display time from the first memory 112, stores the time in the second memory 113, and proceeds to step 206. In step 206, the controller 111 reads out the first group menu 1 stored in the first memory 112 and displays the first group menu 1 on the display 115. A menu stored in the first memory 112 is shown in Table 1 below.

1st group 2nd group Menu 1 Menu 1-1 Menu 1-2 ... Menu 2 Menu 2-1 Menu 2-2 ... ... ... Menu N Menu N-1 Menu N-2 ...

The first group in Table 1 includes at least one second group menu each as a main menu. The second group may belong to the first group menu as a sub menu, and may include a third group (not shown) menu. The main menu of Table 1 is stored in a first group main menu table of the first memory, and each of the first group main menus includes a second group menu table. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the first group menu is limited to three and the second group menu is limited to two due to limitations of the drawings.

When the controller 111 proceeds from step 206 to step 208, the controller 111 determines whether a signal corresponding to the selection key is input from the input unit 116 by input of a selection key or by an electronic pen or the like. The control unit 111 proceeds to step 234 when a signal corresponding to the test result selection key is input, and proceeds to step 210 when a signal corresponding to the selection key is not input. Hereinafter, a signal corresponding to the selection key is called a selection signal. When the controller 111 proceeds to step 210 in step 208, the controller 111 decreases the display time stored in the second memory 113 and proceeds to step 212. In step 212, the controller 111 checks whether the display time stored in the second memory 113 is zero. The controller 111 proceeds to step 214 when the test result display time is 0, and proceeds to step 206 when the test result is not 0. Therefore, the menu 1 shown in Table 1 is displayed on the display unit 115 for a predetermined time.

When the controller 111 proceeds to step 214 from step 212, the controller 111 reads out a threshold time for displaying a menu from the first memory 112, stores the threshold time for displaying a menu in the second memory 113, and proceeds to step 216. In step 216, the control unit 111 reads out and displays menu 2, which is the next menu of the menu 1, from the first memory 112, and proceeds to step 218. In step 216, the controller 111 checks whether a selection signal is input from the input unit 115. The control unit 111 proceeds to step 250 when the test result selection signal is inputted, and proceeds to step 220 when the selection signal is not inputted, and reads and stores the display time stored in the second memory in step 222. Proceed. In step 222, the controller 111 checks whether the display time stored in the second memory 113 is zero. The controller 111 proceeds to step 224 when the test result display time is 0, and proceeds to step 216 when the display time is non-zero. When the controller 111 proceeds from step 222 to step 224, the controller 111 reads out the threshold time for the display stored in the first memory 112, stores the threshold time in the second memory 113, and proceeds to step 226. In step 226, the controller 111 reads out menu 3 stored in the first memory 112, displays the menu 3 on the display 115, and proceeds to step 228. The controller 111 checks whether a selection signal is input from the input unit 116 in step 228. The controller 111 proceeds to step 274 when the test result selection signal is input, and proceeds to step 230 when the selection signal is not input. The control unit 111 reduces the display time stored in the second memory 113 in step 230 and proceeds to step 232. In step 232, the controller 111 checks whether the display time stored in the second memory 113 is zero. The control unit 111 proceeds to step 204 when the display time is zero as a result of the inspection, and proceeds to step 226 when the display time is not zero. When the user inputs a menu key and does not input another key through the above process, all menus belonging to the first group registered in the first memory are repeatedly displayed for a predetermined time.

Meanwhile, when the controller 111 proceeds from step 208 to step 234, the controller 111 deletes the display time stored in the second memory, reads out the threshold time for display in the first memory, and stores the display time in the second memory 113. Proceed to step. In step 236, the controller 111 reads the menu 1-1 from the first memory 112 as shown in the second group of Table 1 from the first memory 112, displays it on the display unit 115, and proceeds to step 238. In step 238, the controller 111 checks whether a selection signal is input from the input unit 116. When the test result selection signal is input, the control unit 111 proceeds to step 242 to perform a task corresponding to menu 1-1, and when the test result is not input, the control unit 111 of the memory stored in the second memory 113. Reduce the display time and proceed to step 244. In step 244, the controller 111 checks whether the display time stored in the second memory 113 is zero. The control unit 111 proceeds to step 246 if the display time is 0, and proceeds to step 236 if the display time is not 0. When the controller 111 proceeds from step 244 to 246, the controller 111 reads out the threshold time for display stored in the first memory 112, stores the threshold time in the second memory 113, and proceeds to step 248. In step 248, the controller 111 reads menu 1-2, which is menu data stored in the first memory 112, and displays the menu 1-2 on the display unit 115 and proceeds to step 298. The control unit 111 checks whether a selection signal is input from the input unit 116 in step 298. The control unit 111 proceeds to step 302 when the selection signal is input, and proceeds to step 300 when the selection signal is not input. When the controller 111 proceeds from step 298 to step 302, the controller 111 performs a task corresponding to the menu 1-2.

In addition, if the control unit 111 proceeds from step 298 to step 300, the control unit 111 decreases the display time stored in the second memory 113 and proceeds to step 304. In step 304, the controller 111 checks whether the display time stored in the second memory 113 is zero. The control unit 111 proceeds to step 214 when the display time is zero as a result of the inspection and proceeds to step 248 when the value of the display time is not zero.

Therefore, when the user selects the first menu through the above-described process, the sub menus of the first menu are sequentially displayed for a predetermined time period, and then the process proceeds to the second menu selection step.

In addition, when the controller 111 proceeds from step 218 to 250, the controller 111 deletes the threshold time for the display stored in the second memory 113, reads out the display time stored in the first memory 112, and stores the stored time in the second memory 113. And proceed to step 252. In step 252, the control unit 111 reads out the 2-1 menu which is the first menu from the second group menu stored in the first memory 112, displays it on the display unit 115, and proceeds to step 254. In step 254, the controller 111 checks whether a selection signal is input from the input unit 116. The control unit 111 proceeds to step 258 when the selection signal is input, and proceeds to step 256 when the selection result signal is not input. In step 258, the controller 111 performs a task corresponding to 2-1.

If the control unit 111 proceeds from step 254 to step 256, the controller 111 decreases and stores the display time stored in the second memory and proceeds to step 260. In step 260, the controller 111 checks whether the display time stored in the second memory 113 is zero. If the display time is 0, the controller 111 proceeds to step 262 and, if the display time is not 0, proceeds to step 252. The controller 111 reads the threshold time for display stored in the first memory 112 in step 262 and stores the threshold time for display in the second memory 113 and proceeds to step 264. In step 264, the control unit 111 reads out the menu 2-2, which is the second menu belonging to the second group of the menu 2 stored in the first memory 112, and displays the menu 2-2 on the display unit 115 and proceeds to step 266. The controller 111 checks whether a selection signal is input from the input unit 116 in step 266. The control unit 111 proceeds to step 270 when the selection signal is input, and proceeds to step 268 when the selection signal is not input. When the controller 111 proceeds to step 270 in step 266, the controller 111 performs a task corresponding to the menu 2-2.

When the controller 111 proceeds to step 268 from step 266, the controller 111 decreases and stores the display time stored in the second memory 113 and proceeds to step 272. The controller 111 checks whether the display time stored in the second memory 113 is 0 at step 272. The control unit 111 proceeds to step 224 when the display time is zero as a result of the inspection, and proceeds to step 264 when the display time is non-zero as a result of the inspection.

When the second menu of the first group 2 is selected through the above-described process, the second group menus belonging to the menu 2 are sequentially displayed for a predetermined time, and the menu 3 which is the third menu of the first group is displayed. The display proceeds to the step of displaying.

In addition, the method described above with reference to FIG. 2 uses a method of storing display time in the second memory 113. However, the same may be implemented using the timer 117 of FIG. 1. As an example, the step of reading the threshold time for display from the first memory of FIG. 2 and storing the threshold time for display in the second memory 113 is replaced with setting the threshold time in the timer 117. In this case, the same effect can be obtained when the steps for reducing the display time are deleted and the steps for checking whether the display time is zero are replaced with the steps for checking whether the set time elapsed signal is received from the timer 117.

In addition, when one of the menus of the first group is selected, the sub-menus belonging to the selected menu are read out and displayed sequentially for a predetermined time, and when the selection signal is not input, only the sub-menus are sequentially displayed again. You can change the process to create it. For example, when Menu 1, which is the menu of the first group, is selected in step 208, the menu 1-1 and the menu 1-2, which are sub-menus belonging to the menu 1, are displayed. If the display time of the menu has elapsed, instead of proceeding to the menu 2 of the first group, the display proceeds to the step of displaying the submenu 1-1 menu again to continuously perform the submenu sequentially.

As described above, menus that can be performed in the multipurpose electronic device or in an electronic device having many menus are sequentially displayed, thereby reducing the number of key inputs when searching for a menu. In addition, if the user cannot find the menu of the task to be performed, the user can easily search the menu without having to enter the Up key and Down key together with the menu key until the desired menu is searched. There is an advantage to this.

Claims (7)

In the menu selection method of the electronic device, Reading a menu table corresponding to the first group when a menu key is input, and sequentially displaying each menu for a predetermined time; When a selection signal is input while one of the menus of the first group is displayed, reading a second group menu table belonging to the menu to which the selection signal is input and sequentially displaying each read menu for a predetermined time; Wow, Performing a task corresponding to a menu to which the selection signal is input when a selection signal is input while one of the menus of the second group is displayed; And if the selection signal is not input while all of the second group menus are displayed, displaying the next menu selected from among the first group displays. The method of claim 1, And if the last menu of the first group is displayed during the predetermined time, displaying the first group menu again for the predetermined time sequentially from the first displayed first group menu. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined time counter is counted. Reading the set time stored in the first memory of the electronic device, and storing and displaying the set time in the second memory; Reducing the setting time of the second memory when the selection signal is not input as a result of the selection signal input inspection; Checking whether the set time stored in the second memory is zero; And if the test result is set to zero, reading the display time from the first memory, storing the display time in the second memory, and proceeding to the next menu display step. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined time counter is counted. Reading the set time stored in the first memory of the electronic device, setting the timer on the timer, and displaying the set time on the display unit; Checking whether a set time elapsed signal is input from the counter when the selection signal is not input as a result of the selection signal input inspection; And reading out the display time from the first memory, setting the counter to the counter, and proceeding to the next menu display step, when the test result setting time has elapsed. In the menu selection method of the electronic device, Reading a first group menu table and sequentially displaying each menu for a predetermined time when a menu key is input; When a selection signal is input while one of the menus of the first group is displayed, reading a second group menu table belonging to the menu to which the selection signal is input and sequentially displaying each read menu for a predetermined time; Wow, Performing an operation corresponding to a menu to which the selection signal is input when a selection signal is input while one of the second group menus is displayed; And if the selection signal is not input while the last menu display of the second group menu table is terminated, redisplaying the first menu of the second group menu table sequentially for a predetermined time period. How to select menu items on an electronic device. The method of claim 5, wherein the predetermined time counter is counted. Reading the set time stored in the first memory of the electronic device, and storing and displaying the set time in the second memory; Reducing the setting time of the second memory when the selection signal is not input as a result of the selection signal input inspection; Checking whether the set time stored in the second memory is zero; And if the test result is set to zero, reading the display time from the first memory, storing the display time in the second memory, and proceeding to the next menu display step. The method of claim 5, wherein the predetermined time counter is counted. Reading the set time stored in the first memory of the electronic device, setting the timer on the timer, and displaying the set time on the display unit; Checking whether a set time elapsed signal is input from the counter when the selection signal is not input as a result of the selection signal input inspection; And reading out the display time from the first memory, setting the counter to the counter, and proceeding to the next menu display step, when the test result setting time has elapsed.

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