KR101161763B1 - Method for displaying enhanced menu and the digital process device thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A memory for storing menu item information and a menu display program, a key input unit having a direction key to receive a user command, and a display unit for displaying menu item information stored in the memory according to a user command input through the key input unit. And, according to the user's command through the key input unit by driving a menu display program to display the predetermined menu items arranged on the screen of the display unit, the cursor for selecting an arbitrary menu item is located in a certain area of the screen, the cursor Improved menu display interface including a control to arrange the menu items to surround a certain area of the screen is located, to move the cursor in accordance with the user's cursor direction to select the menu item to execute the function of the menu item It provides a digital processing device having a.

According to the present invention, the cursor for selecting an arbitrary menu item is basically positioned at the center of the menu items when each menu is displayed on the screen, thereby significantly reducing the number of key manipulations for selecting the menu. Can be.

Mobile Phone, Menu, Arrow Keys, Joystick, Text Message, Screen, Menu Selection

Description

Improved menu display method and digital processing device therefor {METHOD FOR DISPLAYING ENHANCED MENU AND THE DIGITAL PROCESS DEVICE THEREOF}

1 is a diagram illustrating a screen by a conventional menu display method performed in a mobile communication terminal.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an arrangement of icons shown in FIG. 1 in a 3 × 3 grid structure to explain a conventional menu display and execution method performed in a mobile communication terminal.

3 is an exemplary screen diagram of a mobile communication terminal for performing an improved menu display according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement of icons shown in FIG. 3 in a 3 × 3 grid structure to explain the structure of a menu display interface according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a diagram illustrating a screen of a mobile communication terminal performing menu display according to another embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a mobile communication terminal having an improved menu display interface according to an embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a flowchart of an improved menu display procedure in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an exemplary view illustrating inputting various types of characters by applying an improved menu display interface to a text service according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

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

100: mobile communication terminal 110: memory

120: control unit 121: mobile communication processing unit

122: menu generation unit 123: menu display unit

124: cursor control unit 125: menu execution unit

130: RF unit 140: voice processing unit

150: speaker 160: microphone

170: key input unit 180: display unit

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to menu display, and more particularly, to a method of displaying various menus on a screen and executing a selected menu among the displayed menus in a digital processing apparatus such as a mobile communication terminal, and a digital processing apparatus thereof.

Over time, mobile communication terminals have become a means of living with a number of convenient functions, rather than a simple cordless phone with mobility in the existing landline telephone.

As more functions become available, various methods have been introduced to make menus of mobile communication terminals complicated and complicated.

Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2005-40313 (name of the invention: Method of displaying a menu of a portable terminal) has been published by Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. as a related art for displaying and executing a menu of a mobile communication terminal. 2004-0036368 (name of the invention: menu display method of a mobile communication terminal) is published by LG Electronics.

In general, the mobile communication terminal is composed of a main menu and a sub menu according to a function of a certain category. Conventionally, in order to use the functions in the menu, the first page of the menu is displayed by using the 'menu' key, and the menu item is selected and executed by using the arrow keys, and the submenus belonging to the category of the menu item are displayed. The function of the desired menu item is executed.

1 is a diagram illustrating a screen by a conventional menu display method performed in a mobile communication terminal.

Referring to FIG. 1, various types of menu items are arranged in a screen window in the form of icons. These menu items are displayed on the screen window when a 'menu key' (not shown) provided in the mobile communication terminal is executed. At this time, the cursor is located on the icon 11 on the upper left side among the icons arranged on the screen window. Thereafter, when an arbitrary icon is selected and executed from the icons arranged on the screen window, the function of the menu item set in the corresponding icon is executed.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement of icons shown in FIG. 1 in a 3 × 3 grid structure to explain a conventional menu display and execution method performed in a mobile communication terminal. Each grid in FIG. 2 represents one menu item icon.

Referring to FIG. 2, in the related art, when a menu key is executed, a cursor is placed on a first icon 1 disposed at the upper left corner. In the state where the cursor is placed on the first icon 1, the second key 2 can be moved to the second icon 2, the fourth icon 4, or the fifth icon 5 by using the arrow keys.

At this time, when the direction key is set to move only up and down, the cursor on the first icon (1) is moved to the ninth icon (9). Four cursors (1-> 4-> 7-> 8-> 9) Manipulation is required.

However, if the arrow keys are set to be movable up and down and also diagonally, the cursor on the first icon 1 is moved to the ninth icon 9, but the first two times of 1-> 5-> 9 are moved. Cursor manipulation is required.

As described above, when the menu key is executed, the cursor moves to the other icon by using the arrow keys while the cursor is positioned on the first icon 1 arranged on the upper left. In the case of moving to the eighth and ninth icons 6, 8 and 9, there is a problem that more key operations are required.

An object of the present invention is to provide a menu display interface that enables a user to select and execute a menu with a minimum of key operation when displaying a menu in a digital processing apparatus such as a mobile communication terminal and selecting and executing an arbitrary menu among the displayed menus. To provide.

According to an aspect of the present invention for achieving the technical problem, a memory for storing menu item information and menu display program, a key input unit for receiving a user's command with a direction key, and the user input through the key input unit A display unit for displaying the menu item information stored in the memory on the screen according to a command of the user; and driving the menu display program according to a user's command through the key input unit to arrange the corresponding menu items on the display unit. A cursor for selecting an arbitrary menu item is displayed in a certain area of the screen, and the menu items are arranged to surround a certain area of the screen where the cursor is located, and the cursor is moved according to the user's cursor direction adjustment. Select the menu item to execute the function of the menu item. Provides a digital processing device having an improved menu display interface comprising a control.

Preferably, an image representing menu group information of the menu items is arranged in a predetermined region of a screen where the cursor is located, and the cursor is positioned on the image.

Preferably, an arbitrary menu item is arranged in a predetermined area of the screen where the cursor is located, and the cursor is positioned on the menu item.

Preferably, the predetermined area of the screen where the cursor is located may be a center area of the screen displayed on the display unit.

Preferably, the controller generates a menu screen information by reading the corresponding menu tree information stored in the memory according to a user's menu selection signal input through the key input unit and arranging menus according to the corresponding menu tree information. And a menu display unit which transmits the menu screen information generated by the menu generator to the display unit and displays the screen on the screen, and sets the cursor to be located in the center area of the menu item by default when arbitrary menu items are displayed on the screen. A cursor controller for moving a position of a cursor displayed on a screen in a corresponding direction according to a user's cursor movement signal input through the key input unit in one state, and a user of the user through the key input unit in a state in which a menu item is displayed on a screen Run command with any menu item selected by the cursor by operation It may be input when the configuration including the menu of the function menu, executing part performing a.

According to another aspect of the invention, the step of generating the menu screen information by reading the corresponding menu tree information stored in the memory in accordance with the menu selection signal of the user input through the key input unit to arrange the menu items according to the menu tree information; Transmitting the generated menu screen information to a display unit to display menu items on a screen; and by default, placing a cursor for selecting an arbitrary menu item in a predetermined area of a screen on which the menu items are displayed; Moving a cursor located in a predetermined area of the screen to a menu item in a corresponding direction according to a user's cursor movement signal input through an input unit, and an arbitrary menu item is selected by a cursor by a user's manipulation through the key input unit; If a run command is entered in a state, the method includes performing a function of a corresponding menu. An improved menu processing method of a digital processing device is provided.

Preferably, the predetermined area of the screen where the cursor is located may be a center area of the screen displayed on the display unit.

Hereinafter, a menu display interface according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3 is an exemplary view of a screen of a mobile communication terminal for performing an improved menu display according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 3, nine menu items are displayed on the screen, and the cursor 21 is positioned on the menu item in the center area of the screen. That is, in the menu processing according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when the menu item is displayed on the screen, a cursor 21 for selecting an arbitrary menu item is located at the center of the screen to select the menu item according to the user's cursor adjustment. It is a choice.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement of icons shown in FIG. 3 in a 3 × 3 grid structure to explain the structure of a menu display interface according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the menu display interface according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention has an arrangement structure of 3 × 3 (31 to 39). The arrangement of 3 × 3 is located at the center of the screen and when the menu is displayed, one center area 35 at which the cursor is positioned by the initial setting, and eight areas 31 to 34 arranged around the center area. 36-39).

The cursor 21 is initially located in the central area 35 and moves to the area of the menu in the corresponding direction according to a user's key input for moving the position of the cursor in an arbitrary direction.

In this way, when each menu is displayed on the screen, the cursor for selecting an arbitrary menu is basically positioned at the center of the screen, whereby one menu can be selected from eight menus by one key operation.

5 is a diagram illustrating a screen of a mobile communication terminal for performing a menu display according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 5, eight menu items are displayed on the screen, and the cursor 21 is located in the center area of the screen.

At this time, icons 41 representing name information indicating attributes of the eight menus arranged around the center area are arranged. For example, the icon 41 is marked as 'main', indicating that the main menu is composed of eight menus.

6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a mobile communication terminal having an improved menu display interface according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, a mobile communication terminal 100 having an improved menu display interface according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a memory 110 for storing menu item information and a menu display program, and a memory 110. When each menu is displayed on the screen by running a stored menu program, the cursor for selecting an arbitrary menu is basically positioned at the center of the screen, and one menu item is selected from the menu items arranged on the screen with one key operation. The control unit 120, the RF unit 130, the voice processing unit 140, the speaker 150, the microphone 160, the key input unit 170 composed of a button and the control unit 120 to select And a display unit 180 for providing a menu item selected by the display window.

The memory 110 stores various menu item information, a menu display program, and data generated according to the execution of the menu display program.

Various menu item information includes menu item information for each step. Therefore, when a menu key input signal provided in the key input unit 170 is input, there is a first level menu item to be displayed on the screen and a menu item having lower menus among arbitrary menu items displayed on the first level menu item. If so, the second step menu item information including corresponding submenus is included.

The controller 120 controls the overall operation of the mobile communication terminal, and drives various menu item information stored in the memory 110 according to a user's input by driving a menu display program stored in the memory 110. Display on the screen.

The control unit 120 includes a mobile communication processing unit 121, a menu generating unit 122, a menu display unit 123, a cursor control unit 124, and a menu execution unit 125.

The mobile communication processing unit 121 is a module for performing a mobile communication service using a radio resource in a mobile communication terminal, and is configured and operated using a known mobile communication technology, and thus detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The menu generator 122 reads the corresponding menu tree information stored in the memory 110 according to the user's menu selection signal input through the key input unit 170, arranges the menus according to the menu tree information, and displays menu screen information. Create

The menu display unit 123 transmits the menu screen information generated by the menu generator 122 to the display unit 180 to display the screen.

The cursor controller 124 is configured to display the cursor in the center area of the menu item by default when arbitrary menu items are displayed on the screen, according to the user's cursor movement signal input through the key input unit 170. Move the position of the displayed cursor in the corresponding direction.

The menu execution unit 125 performs a function of a menu when an execution command is input while a certain menu item is selected by a cursor by a user's manipulation through the key input unit 170 while a menu item is displayed on a screen. do.

The RF unit 130 is controlled by the controller 120 and converts the screen output data output from the controller 120 into a wireless signal to perform cellular communication. In addition, the RF unit 130 converts the radio signal received through the antenna into a desired signal and outputs it.

The voice processor 140 converts the voice signal from the microphone 160 into voice data and transmits the voice signal to the memory 110.

The key input unit 170 includes a plurality of numeric keys, menu keys, and function keys for performing various functions, and outputs key data to the control unit 120 by an external operation.

Accordingly, the controller 120 reads the corresponding menu from the memory 110 and displays the menu on the display unit 180 according to a user's menu display request by the key input unit 180. That is, the key input unit 170 is a conventional user information input means, and has a plurality of keys suitable for a mobile communication terminal to be applied, such as a plurality of numeric keys and function keys, and if there is an input of each of the provided keys, Therefore, by outputting the corresponding unique key data to the control unit 120, through the key input operation of the key input unit 170 to enter the menu display mode and selection of the menu is made. Then, the controller 120 reads a menu according to the corresponding key input from the memory 110 and displays the menu on the display unit 180.

The key input unit 170 may have an array of key buttons provided with up, down, left, and right keys to move a cursor for selecting and executing each menu item displayed on the screen window of the display unit 180.

In addition, the key input unit 170 may be provided with a joystick for moving in up, down, left, right, up, down, left, and right directions.

The display unit 180 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD). The display unit 180 displays the state of the mobile communication terminal or the progress of the program under the control of the control unit 120. That is, the overall state of the mobile communication terminal and input user information are displayed.

When the controller 120 drives the menu display program stored in the memory 110 in the mobile communication terminal 100 according to the exemplary embodiment configured as described above, each module of the controller 120 is activated to activate the menu display program. A menu displaying procedure according to the embodiment is performed.

7 is a flowchart of an improved menu display procedure according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, the menu generator 122 determines whether an input signal of a menu key provided in the key input unit 170 is input from the user (S1), and when the input signal of the menu key is input, the memory ( The menu screen information about the first level menu item is read from 110 and menus are arranged according to the menu tree information to generate first level menu screen information (S2).

When the first step menu screen information is generated by the menu generator 122, the menu display unit 123 transmits the first step menu screen information generated by the menu generator 122 to the display unit 180 to display the screen. (S3).

At this time, the first stage menu screen information is displayed with attribute information of the first stage menu screen in the central region, and respective menu items constituting the first stage menu screen are displayed in eight regions surrounding the central region.

When the first stage menu screen information is displayed on the screen by the menu display unit 123, the cursor controller 124 places the cursor in the center area of the screen where the first stage menu items are arranged (S4).

The cursor controller 124 determines whether there is an input signal of a direction key provided in the key input unit 170 from the user while the cursor is positioned in the center area of the screen (S5). The cursor is moved one space in the direction of the input direction key and placed in the menu item located in the corresponding area (S6).

In a state where the cursor is located at an arbitrary menu item by the cursor controller 124, the menu execution unit 125 determines whether an input signal of a menu execution key provided in the key input unit 170 is input from the user (S7). When the input signal of the menu execution key is input, it is determined whether there are submenus of the menu item on which the cursor is currently positioned (S8).

When the menu execution unit 125 determines that there are submenus of the menu item on which the cursor is positioned, the menu generator 122 may determine the submenus of the menu on which the cursor is currently positioned from the memory 110. The tree information is read and low-level menu screen information is generated according to the menu tree information (S9). In this case, since it is a lower level of the first level menu, the second level menu screen information is generated.

At this time, the second stage menu screen information displays attribute information of the second stage menu screen in the central region, and respective menu items constituting the second stage menu screen are displayed in eight regions surrounding the central region.

When the menu screen information is generated by the menu generator 122, the menu display unit 123 displays the generated second stage menu screen information on the screen of the display unit 180 (S10).

When the second stage menu screen information is displayed on the screen by the menu display unit 123, the cursor controller 124 places the cursor in the center area of the screen on which the second stage menu items are arranged (S11).

Meanwhile, as a result of the determination of the menu execution unit 125, the menu execution unit 125 in which the submenus of the menu item where the cursor is located does not exist (S12).

8 is a diagram illustrating an example of inputting various types of characters by applying an improved menu display interface to a text service according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 8, a screen is defined as icons for inputting various characters in a text service.

The first icon 51 is a menu item of a mode for inputting Korean. The second icon 52 is a menu item of English mode for inputting English. The third icon 53 is a menu item of a special character mode in which a special character is inputted as a number. The fourth icon 54 is a menu item for the mode of inputting Chinese characters or Chinese. The fifth icon 55 is a menu item for a mode for inputting sound in Korean. The sixth icon 56 is a menu item of the number mode for inputting a number. The seventh icon 57 is a menu item of a mode for inputting another character. Eighth icon 58 is a menu item of a mode for canceling an executed command. The ninth icon 59 is a menu item of the mode that returns to the previous menu.

Accordingly, when the mobile communication terminal proceeds from the operation mode to the text input mode for performing the text service, the cursor 21 is located in the center area 55 by default. The cursor is moved to an arbitrary menu item according to the user's cursor movement signal, and if a user's execution command is input while the cursor is moved to an arbitrary menu item, the character input function of the menu item is performed. .

The present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments and many specific variations. However, those skilled in the art will understand that many other embodiments other than those specifically described also fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

For example, an embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to an embodiment in which a cursor is positioned in a central area of a screen displayed on a display unit as each menu item is displayed on a display unit using one screen window.

However, the position of the cursor is not limited to the center area of the screen displayed on the display unit. For example, when displaying a plurality of split screens instead of a single screen on a display and displaying a menu item on one of the split screens, the cursor is not positioned at the center of the screen displayed on the display. It is located in the center of the split screen.

That is, when the split screen window of the first quadrant is used as the menu display window while the display unit is divided into four divided screens, the cursor is positioned at the upper left of the screen, not the center of the screen displayed on the display unit.

Accordingly, in the present invention, the cursor for selecting an arbitrary menu item is located in a certain area of the screen displayed on the display unit, and if the menu items can be arranged to surround the area where the cursor is located, the position of the cursor is It may be any area placed on the screen.

According to the present invention, when displaying various menu items on a screen in a digital processing device such as a mobile communication terminal, a cursor for selecting an arbitrary menu is placed in a central area of the menu items, and then the position of the cursor is moved in an arbitrary direction. According to the user's key input, the user moves to the menu area in the corresponding direction.

When each menu is displayed on the screen, the cursor for selecting an arbitrary menu item is basically positioned at the center of the menu items, thereby significantly reducing the number of key operations of the arrow keys or the joystick for selecting a menu. Can be.

Claims (7)

Memory for storing menu item information and menu display programs; A key input unit having a direction key to receive a user's command; A display unit which displays the menu item information stored in the memory on the screen according to a user's command input through the key input unit; In response to a user's command through the key input unit, the menu display program is driven to display preset menu items on the screen of the display unit. A cursor for selecting an arbitrary menu item is located in a certain area of the screen, and the menu items are arranged to surround a certain area of the screen where the cursor is located. It includes a control unit for moving the cursor according to the user's cursor direction to select the menu item to execute the function of the menu item, An image indicating menu group information indicating attributes of the menu items arranged to surround the predetermined area is disposed in a certain area of the screen where the cursor is located, and an improved menu display interface in which the cursor is positioned on the image is provided. Digital processing device provided. delete The method according to claim 1, And the menu group information includes an improved menu display interface including name information representing attributes of the menu items arranged to surround the predetermined area. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined area of the screen where the cursor is located, And an improved menu display interface that is a central area of a screen displayed on the display. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control unit, A menu generator for reading menu menu information stored in the memory according to a user's menu selection signal input through the key input unit and arranging menus according to the menu tree information to generate menu screen information; A menu display unit which transmits menu screen information generated by the menu generator to the display unit and displays the screen on a screen; When any menu item is displayed on the screen, the cursor is positioned in the center area of the menu item by default, and the cursor position displayed on the screen is changed according to the user's cursor movement signal input through the key input unit. A cursor control unit for moving to An improved menu including a menu execution unit that performs a function of a menu when an execution command is input while an arbitrary menu item is selected by a cursor by a user's operation through the key input unit while an arbitrary menu item is displayed on a screen. A digital processing device having a display interface. Reading menu menu information stored in a memory according to a user's menu selection signal input through a key input unit, and generating menu screen information by arranging menu items according to the menu tree information; Transmitting the generated menu screen information to a display unit to display menu items on a screen; Positioning a cursor for selecting an arbitrary menu item by default in a predetermined area of a screen on which the menu items are displayed; Moving a cursor located in a predetermined area of the screen to a menu item in a corresponding direction according to a user's cursor movement signal input through a key input unit; And performing a function of a corresponding menu when an execution command is input while a certain menu item is selected by a cursor by a user's manipulation through the key input unit. A cursor for selecting an arbitrary menu item is located in a certain area of the screen, and the menu items are arranged to surround a certain area of the screen where the cursor is located. An image representing the menu group information indicating the properties of the menu items arranged to surround the predetermined area is disposed in a certain area of the screen where the cursor is located, and the improved image of the digital processing apparatus in which the cursor is located on the image. How to display the menu. The method of claim 6, wherein the predetermined area of the screen where the cursor is located, An improved menu display method of a digital processing device, which is a central area of a screen displayed on the display.

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