KR20090025347A - A method and electronic device for enabling multimedia searching - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of enabling a search using an electronic device, the method comprising, detecting actuation of a user input dedicated to provide access to a graphical user interface, and presenting, in response to the actuation of the dedicated user input, the graphical user interface for enabling a user to input a search parameter where the search parameter may be any one of a plurality of different types of media.

Description

A method and electronic device for enabling multimedia searching}

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and an electronic device that enable discovery. In particular, they relate to an electronic device and a method for enabling a search in which a search parameter may be any of a plurality of different media types.

Search engines, which allow a user of an electronic device to search and retrieve data throughout, are well known in the art. The data retrieved by such search engines may be personal data stored in the electronic device, for example in the memory of the device, and may be third party data stored on a computer network such as an intranet or the internet. Or personal data.

The stored data may be many different media types and the number of media types is growing rapidly. As the number of media types increases, the process of navigating through this data becomes more important and time consuming. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide an improved multimedia navigation mechanism. It would be particularly desirable to provide such a mechanism suitable for use in portable electronics applications.

According to one embodiment of the invention there is provided a method for enabling navigation using an electronic device, the method comprising dedicated user input for providing access to a graphical user interface. Detecting an actuation of a; And in response to actuation of the dedicated user input, presenting the graphical user interface to enable a user to enter a search parameter, which may be any of a plurality of different media types.

In an embodiment of the invention said plurality of different media types comprise at least two media types from among a group of text, audio or picture inputs.

Since embodiments of the present invention only require the user to activate a dedicated user input only once to access the graphical user interface, the embodiments provide fast and convenient access to the graphical user interface for multimedia navigation. It offers the advantage of enabling it.

In addition, embodiments of the present invention also provide the advantage of enabling a simplified method of enabling navigation, since a single graphical user interface can accommodate navigation parameters of a plurality of different media types.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention there is provided an electronic device operable to enable searching using any one of a plurality of different types of search parameters, the electronic device comprising: a display; User input means including user input dedicated for providing access to a graphical user interface; And a processor operable to control the device, the processor responsive to the actuation of the dedicated user input causing the display to allow the user to input a search parameter, which may be any of a plurality of different media types. It includes a processor that controls the display of the user interface.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention there is also provided a computer program comprising program instructions for controlling an electronic device having dedicated user input for providing access to a display and a graphical user interface, the computer program Means for detecting the activation of the dedicated user input when loaded into a processor; And in response to actuation of the dedicated user input, means for presenting a graphical user interface to enable the user to enter a search parameter, which may be any of a plurality of different media types.

According to another embodiment of the present invention there is also provided a graphical user interface for allowing a user to enter a search parameter into an electronic device, which may be any of a plurality of different media types.

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings by way of example only,

1 diagrammatically illustrates an electronic device;

2 is a flow diagram illustrating method steps in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; And

3 illustrates a graphical user interface in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

The figures illustrate a method for enabling navigation using the electronic device 1, which detects the operation of a dedicated user input 13 for providing access to the graphical user interface 41 ( 21, and in response to actuation 21 of the dedicated user input 13, the graphical user interface to allow the user to enter a search parameter 43, which may be any of a plurality of different media types. (23) to (41) is included.

1 schematically illustrates the electronic device 1. Only the features mentioned in the following description are illustrated. However, it should be understood that the electronic device 1 may include additional features not illustrated. The electronic device 1 may be, for example, a mobile cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant, a computer, a portable digital camera or any other operable to enable navigation, which may be operable to send and receive SMS / MMS messages. It may be an electronic device. The device may be operable to enable the search by executing the search on its own or by requesting an external search request.

The illustrated electronic device 1 comprises a processor 3, a memory 5, a user interface 9, and in this example an imaging device 15 and a communication device 17.

The user interface 9 comprises a display 11 and user input means 12. The user input means 12 may comprise, for example, a keypad, a joystick, a voice recognition means or a touch sensitive area of the display 11 to allow a user to enter information into the device 1. It may be any means to enable it. The user input means also includes a dedicated user input 13. The dedicated user input 13 is dedicated to providing access to a graphical user interface to enable multimedia navigation, regardless of the mode of operation of the device 1. The dedicated user input 13 may be a key, which may be part of a keypad, for example, or may be placed separately from other input means 12 of the device 1.

The processor 3 is connected to receive input commands from the user input means 12 comprising a dedicated user input 13 and to provide output commands to the display 11. The processor 3 is also connected to write to the memory 5 and to read the memory 5.

The memory 5 stores computer program instructions 7, which when loaded into the processor 3, allow the processor 3 to control the operation of the device 1 as described below. . The computer program instructions 7 provide logic and routines that enable the electronic device 1 to perform the method illustrated in FIG. 2.

The computer program instructions 7 may reach the electronic device 1 via an electromagnetic carrier signal 8 or may be combined with a memory device, a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a DVD, or a computer program product. It may be copied from the same physical entity (6).

Imaging device 15 may be any device operable to capture images. The imaging device 15 is controlled by the processor 3. Images captured by the imaging device can be stored in the memory 5 and displayed on the display 13.

The communication device 17 may be a transceiver that enables the device 1 to communicate within a wireless communication network, such as a cellular communication network or a wireless LAN. In some embodiments, communication device 17 may include a physical connection, such as a cable, to the external network, which enables device 1 to communicate within the external network.

The communication device 17 is controlled by the processor 3. The device 1 may also enable searching by controlling the communication device 17 to send a search request to an external search engine. The communication device 17 may also be operable to receive search results from its external search engine.

2 diagrammatically illustrates a method for enabling navigation using device 1 according to an embodiment of the invention.

In step 21 the processor 3 detects the operation of the dedicated user input 13 and, in response, causes the device 1 to enable a graphical user interface (GUI) to enable multimedia navigation on the display 11. (23) to control the display.

3 illustrates an example of a GUI 41 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The GUI 41 allows the user to input the search parameter 43 so that a search for finding data corresponding to the information content of the search parameter 43 can be executed. The search parameter 43 entered in FIG. 3 is a text input, but the search parameter may be any of a plurality of different media types, such as text, audio or picture inputs.

If the user wishes to enter a search parameter of the text, the input means 12 may be used to enter the text. For example, a user may enter alpha-numeric characters using the keypad. In some embodiments, the user may also enter a search parameter of the text using the audio input means, for example, the user may speak into the audio input means and the processor 3 then recognizes the input. To convert it to a text string.

The GUI 41 may include a text entry field 45 where the input text appears to the user. In some embodiments, the user selects or highlights the text entry field 45 before they can enter a search parameter of the text. In some embodiments, the text entry field may be automatically activated when the user starts entering text.

 The GUI 41 may also enable the user to enter search parameters of the audio. For example, the user may perform music input by humping or singing a tune, or by reproducing a piece of music into the audio input means. The one piece of music may be music stored in the memory 5 of the device 1. The audio input means may be automatically activated when the user accesses the GUI 41 or the GUI 41 may include a user selectable option 53 to activate the audio input means.

The GUI may also enable the user to enter search parameters of the picture. In one embodiment of the present invention, while the GUI 41 is shown, the user may enter the search parameters of the picture by capturing the image using the imaging device 15. The GUI 41 may also include a user selectable option 55 for activating the imaging device 15 to capture an image.

Imaging device 15 may be operable to detect light wavelengths outside the visible spectrum. The processor 3 may be operable to detect searchable patterns from these wavelengths for use as the search parameter 43.

In some embodiments, the GUI 41 may include an image entry field where the images captured by the imaging device 15 appear to the user. The image entry field may also serve as a viewfinder of the imaging device 15 to enable users to view the images before the images are captured.

The GUI 41 may also enable the user to select an image from the images stored in the memory 5 of the device 1 for use as the search parameter 43. For example, the GUI 41 may include a user selectable option 47 for writing and selecting an image from a database of images. The database of images may include images captured by imaging device 15 or images received in a message such as an email or MMS message or downloaded from a network such as the Internet.

The search parameter 43 may be all or part of the image. In some embodiments, the user may select any portion of the image that he or she wishes to use as the search parameter 43, for example, the user may select a particular object in an image, such as a person's face or a building, or a specific color in that image. You may wish to choose.

In step 25 the processor 3 detects that the search parameter 43 has been entered. In some embodiments, the processor 3 may indicate that a search parameter 43 has been entered, such as activation of an enter key or selection of a user selectable option 51 such as 'OK' or 'enter' from the GUI. It is also possible to detect a signal from the user input means 12. Alternatively, the processor 3 may detect that no additional input has been made within the predetermined time.

Once the processor detects that the search parameter 43 has been entered (25), the processor 3 determines the media type and information content of the search parameter (27).

The media type of the search parameter 43 is in the form of the information content of the search parameter 43, for example text, audio or picture information, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the processor 3 may be operable to automatically determine the media type of the search parameter 43. The processor 3 may be operable to determine the media type of the search parameter 43 by determining which type of input means was used to input the search parameter 43, for example the processor 3 may be an imaging device. It may be detected that (15) has been used to determine that the search parameter 43 is a picture input. In other embodiments GUI 41 may include a user selectable option 49 for indicating the media type of search parameter 43.

The media type of the search parameter 43 may determine algorithms used to extract information content from the search parameter and find its corresponding information. The media type of the search parameter 43 may also determine the databases to be searched.

The information content of the search parameter 43 is the data of the search parameter 43 being input or patterns in the data. The processor 3 also determines 27 the information content of the search parameter 43. For example, if the input is a text input it will determine the text string that was entered.

If the search parameter 43 is a spoken audio input, the processor 3 will convert the spoken words into a text string and then allow the search to be performed to find information corresponding to that text string. If the input is an audio input, such as a music input, the processor 3 may extract information from the input, for example, by determining the patterns in the pitch.

If the search parameter 43 is a picture input then the processor 3 may extract the content information from the image, for example by determining the patterns in the image.

In step 29 the processor 3 enables the search to be carried out to find information corresponding to the information content of the search parameter 43. The search may be to find information that matches or similar to the information content of the search parameter 43. For example, if the information content is a text string, the search may find documents that contain the same text string or a similar text string in either the document or the title of the document. If the search parameter 43 is an image or music input, the search may be to find image or music files that have the same or similar patterns for the search parameter 43.

The search is to search externally stored information about the device 1, for example information stored in a network such as an intranet or the Internet, or internally stored information about the device 1, for example the device 1 The files and folders stored in the memory 5 may be searched.

In some embodiments the device 1 may also be operable to enable searching for data having certain attributes. For example, a user may search for documents that were last modified on a particular date by entering the date as the search parameter 43.

Once the search is complete, the processor 3 controls the display 11 to present the results to the user. The results may be, for example, a list of websites or file names that contain information corresponding to the information content of the search parameter. In some embodiments, a user may access the websites or files directly from the result list.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in the preceding paragraphs with respect to various examples, it will be appreciated that modifications may be made to the given examples without departing from the scope of the claimed invention.

Although efforts have been made in the foregoing specification to draw attention to the features of the present invention, which are deemed of particular importance, the Applicant has, with or without special emphasis, any patentable feature or combination of features shown above and / or shown in the figures. It should be understood that claims are made with respect to.

Claims (25)

Detect actuation of dedicated user input for providing access to a graphical user interface; And In response to actuating the dedicated user input, presenting the graphical user interface to enable a user to enter a search parameter, which may be any of a plurality of different media types. The method of claim 1, Detecting an input of a search parameter in the graphical user interface. The method of claim 2, Determining a media type of the input search parameter and allowing a search to be executed according to the media type. The method of claim 3, Determining information content of the input search parameter and enabling the search to find the corresponding information content. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, Presenting the results of the search to the user. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, Wherein the plurality of different media types comprises at least two media types among a group of text, audio and pictorial inputs. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, Wherein the search is a search for data stored in an electronic device. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, The search is a search for data stored external to the electronic device. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, And the dedicated input is a key. In an electronic device, display; User input means including dedicated user input configured to provide access to a graphical user interface; And A processor configured to control the device, the processor responsive to actuation of the dedicated user input to cause the display to enter a search parameter that may be one of a plurality of different media types. And a processor that controls to display the graphical user interface to enable the display. The method of claim 10, The processor is configured to control the device to detect an input of a search parameter in the user interface. The method of claim 11, The processor is configured to control the device to determine a media type of the input discovery parameter and to enable the search to be executed according to the media type. The method of claim 12, And the processor is configured to control the device to determine an information content of the input search parameter and to search to find a corresponding information content. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 13, The processor is configured to control the device to display the results of the search to the user. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 14, And the plurality of different media types comprises at least two media types among a group of text, audio and pictorial inputs. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 15, The search is a search for data stored in the electronic device. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 15, And the search is a search for data stored outside of the electronic device. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 17, And the dedicated input is a key. A computer program comprising program instructions for controlling an electronic device having dedicated user input for providing access to a display and a graphical user interface, the computer program comprising: The computer program, when loaded into the processor, Means for detecting actuation of the dedicated user input; And In response to actuating the dedicated user input, providing means for presenting a graphical user interface to enable a user to input a search parameter, which may be any of a plurality of different media types. A physical entity implementing the computer program of claim 19. An electromagnetic carrier signal carrying the computer program of claim 19. A graphical user interface that enables a user to enter a search parameter into the electronic device, which may be any of a plurality of different media types. The method of claim 22, The graphical user interface allows the media type of the input search parameter to be determined and the search to be executed according to the media type. The method of claim 23, wherein The graphical user interface allows the information content of the input search parameter to be allowed and to navigate to find the corresponding information content. The method according to any one of claims 22 to 24, The graphical user interface is configured to present the results of the search to the user.

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