KR20100038930A - Mobile terminal and control method of the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A mobile terminal and a control method for performing a designated task in the designated place are provided to increase the convenience of a user by supplying an alarm function to a user according to a place. CONSTITUTION: An operating unit designates an application according to a place from a user. A location sensing unit grasps a place where a mobile terminal is located. If the terminal is located at a designated place, a controller(180) executes the application designated to the place. The controller informs a user that the searched application is to be performed.

Description

MOBILE TERMINAL AND CONTROL METHOD OF THE SAME}

The present invention relates to a mobile terminal which, when located at a designated place, performs a designated task at the place.

Terminal can move It may be divided into a mobile terminal (mobile / portable terminal) and a stationary terminal depending on whether or not. The mobile terminal may be further classified into a handheld terminal and a vehicle mount terminal according to whether a user can directly carry it.

As the terminal functions are diversified, for example, such a terminal is a multimedia player having a complex function such as taking a picture or a video, playing a music or video file, playing a game, or receiving a broadcast. Is being implemented.

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

Mobile terminals are electronic devices that modern people spend most of their time with. Accordingly, among the functions added to the mobile terminal, an alarm or schedule management (implemented as a part of the electronic notebook) that performs notification over time is usefully used.

Modern people not only take the mobile terminal the most time, but also have the mobile terminal in many places to move. Therefore, it is possible to provide great usefulness to the mobile terminal user to notify or perform a task of predetermined information according to the place.

The present invention is to provide a mobile terminal that performs a place alarm function to notify the user when located in a place designated by the user.

In addition, the present invention is to provide a mobile terminal that performs the application specified in the place, if located in a place designated by the user.

A mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention for realizing the above object includes an operation unit for receiving an application to be executed according to a predetermined place and place from a user; A location sensor for identifying a location where the mobile terminal is located; And a control unit for executing the application designated at the corresponding place when the mobile terminal is located at the designated place.

A mobile terminal according to another example of the present invention for realizing the above object includes an operation unit for receiving a predetermined place from a user; A location sensor for identifying a location where the mobile terminal is located; And a control unit for notifying the user when the mobile terminal is located at the designated place.

In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of controlling a mobile terminal, the method comprising: periodically identifying a place where a mobile terminal is located; Determining whether the identified place belongs to a predetermined place; And performing a designated task at the designated place.

The mobile terminal according to at least one embodiment of the present invention configured as described above may increase user convenience by providing an alarm function according to a place to a user.

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

The mobile terminal described herein may include a mobile phone, a smart phone, a laptop computer, a digital broadcasting terminal, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable multimedia player (PMP), navigation, and the like. However, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the configuration according to the embodiments described herein may also be applied to fixed terminals such as digital TVs, desktop computers, etc., except when applicable only to mobile terminals.

The application referred to herein refers to a software module that performs an additional function, not a wireless call function that is a main function of a mobile terminal for a wireless call, and is generally an application program executed on an operating system (OS) of a mobile terminal. It may also be some functional software module of the operating system.

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

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

Hereinafter, the components will be described in order.

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

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

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

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

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

The broadcast receiving module 111 may include, for example, Digital Multimedia Broadcasting-Terrestrial (DMB-T), Digital Multimedia Broadcasting-Satellite (DMB-S), Media Forward Link Only (MediaFLO), and Digital Video Broadcast (DVB-H). Digital broadcast signals can be received using digital broadcasting systems such as Handheld and Integrated Services Digital Broadcast-Terrestrial (ISDB-T). Of course, the broadcast receiving module 111 may be configured to be suitable for not only the above-described digital broadcasting system but also other broadcasting systems.

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

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

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

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

The location information module 115 is a module for obtaining a location of a mobile terminal, and a representative example thereof is a GPS (Global Position System) module.

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

The image frame processed by the camera 121 may be stored in the memory 160 or transmitted to the outside through the wireless communication unit 110. Two or more cameras 121 may be provided according to the use environment.

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

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

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

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

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

The display unit 151 includes a liquid crystal display (LCD), a thin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT LCD), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), and a flexible display (flexible). and at least one of a 3D display.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Examples of the proximity sensor include a transmission photoelectric sensor, a direct reflection photoelectric sensor, a mirror reflection photoelectric sensor, a high frequency oscillation proximity sensor, a capacitive proximity sensor, a magnetic proximity sensor, and an infrared proximity sensor. When the touch screen is capacitive, the touch screen is configured to detect the proximity of the pointer by the change of the electric field according to the proximity of the pointer. In this case, the touch screen (touch sensor) may be classified as a proximity sensor.

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

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

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

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

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

In addition to vibration, the haptic module 154 may be configured to provide a pin array that vertically moves with respect to the contact skin surface, a jetting force or suction force of air through the jetting or suction port, grazing to the skin surface, contact of the electrode, electrostatic force, and the like. Various tactile effects can be generated, such as effects by the endothermic and the reproduction of a sense of cold using the elements capable of endotherm or heat generation.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

According to the software implementation, embodiments such as the procedures and functions described herein may be implemented as separate software modules. Each of the software modules may perform one or more functions and operations described herein. Software code may be implemented in software applications written in a suitable programming language. The software code may be stored in the memory 160 and executed by the controller 180.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Content input by the first or second manipulation units 131 and 132 may be variously set. For example, the first operation unit 131 receives commands such as start, end, scroll, and the like, and the second operation unit 132 controls the size of the sound output from the sound output unit 152 or the size of the sound output from the display unit 151 To the touch recognition mode of the touch screen.

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

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

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

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

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

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

The terminal body is equipped with a power supply unit 190 for supplying power to the mobile terminal 100. The power supply unit 190 may be embedded in the terminal body or may be directly detachable from the outside of the terminal body.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For example, an output window 151a and an input window 151b are displayed on the upper and lower portions of the display unit 151, respectively. The output window 151a and the input window 151b are areas allocated for outputting or inputting information, respectively. In the input window 151b, a soft key 151c displaying a number for inputting a telephone number or the like is output. When the softkey 151c is touched, a number or the like corresponding to the touched softkey is displayed on the output window 151a. When the first manipulation unit 131 is operated, a call connection to the telephone number displayed on the output window 151a is attempted.

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

3B illustrates that a text input mode is activated in a mobile terminal. The display unit 151 displays an output window 151a 'and an input window 151b'. A plurality of soft keys 151c 'displaying at least one of letters, symbols, and numbers may be arranged in the input window 151b'. The softkeys 151c 'may be arranged in the form of a QWERTY key.

When the soft keys 151c 'are touched through the touch pad 135 (refer to FIG. 2B), letters, numbers, symbols, etc. corresponding to the touched soft keys are displayed on the output window 151a'. As described above, the touch input through the touch pad 135 has an advantage of preventing the softkey 151c 'from being covered by the finger when touched, as compared with the touch input through the display unit 151. When the display unit 151 and the touch pad 135 are transparent, the fingers located at the rear of the terminal body can be visually checked, and thus more accurate touch input is possible.

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

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

The proximity sensor 141 described with reference to FIG. 1 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 4.

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

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

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

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

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

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

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a control method for a touch operation when a pair of display units 155 and 156 overlap.

The terminal disclosed in this drawing is a folder-type terminal in which a folder unit is foldable with respect to a main body. The first display unit 155 mounted on the folder unit may be a light transmissive type or a transparent type such as a TOLED, but the second display unit 156 mounted on the main body may have a form in which light does not transmit, such as an LCD. The first and second display units 155 and 156 may be configured as touch screens capable of touch input, respectively.

For example, when a touch (contact touch or proximity-touch) with respect to the first display unit or the TOLED 155 is detected, the controller 180 may be configured according to the type of touch and the touch time. At least one image from the list of images displayed on the TOLED 155 may be selected or run.

Hereinafter, with respect to a method in which information displayed on another display unit or LCD 156 is controlled when a touch is applied to the TOLED 155 exposed to the outside in an overlapped form, touch, long touch, long touch & drag ( The input method divided by drag) is described as a reference.

In the overlapped state (mobile terminal is closed), the TOLED 155 is disposed to overlap the lower side of the LCD 156. In this state, when a touch different from a touch for controlling the image displayed on the TOLED 155 is detected, for example, a long touch (for example, a touch lasting more than 2 seconds to 3 seconds), the controller 180 ) Causes at least one image of the image list displayed on the LCD 156 to be selected according to the sensed touch input. The result of the execution of the selected image is displayed on the TOLED 155.

The long touch can also be used to selectively move a desired one of the objects displayed on the LCD 156 to the TOLED 155 (without its execution operation). That is, the user may select one area of the TOLED 155 corresponding to the specific object of the LCD 156. In the long touch, the controller 180 moves the object to the TOLED 155 for display. Meanwhile, the object displayed on the TOLED 155 may also be transferred to the LCD 156 according to a predetermined touch input, for example, flicking, swirling, or the like, on the TOLED 155. In this figure, the menu No. 2 displayed on the LCD 156 is moved to the TOLED 155 and illustrated.

If another input, for example, a drag, is additionally detected along with the long touch, the controller 180 is a function related to the image selected by the long touch, for example, a preview screen for the image is displayed on the TOLED 155. Can be displayed on. In this figure, the case where the preview (male photograph) with respect to the 2nd menu (image file) is performed is illustrated.

When the preview screen is output and the drag is made to the TOLED 155 to another image while maintaining the long touch, the controller 180 controls the selection cursor (or selection bar) of the LCD 156. The selected cursor is displayed on the preview screen (woman photo). After that, when the touch (long touch and drag) is finished, the controller 180 displays the first image selected by the long touch.

The touch operation (long touch and drag) may be performed when a slide (movement of the proximity touch corresponding to the drag) is detected together with the long proximity touch (the proximity touch lasting at least 2 seconds to 3 seconds) for the TOLED 155. The same applies to.

If a touch operation other than those mentioned above is detected, the controller 180 may operate in the same manner as a general touch control method.

The control method for the touch operation in the overlapped form may be applied to a terminal having a single display. In addition, the present invention can be applied to a terminal different from a folder type having a dual display.

6A and 6B are views referred to for describing a proximity touch recognition region in which a proximity signal is detected and a haptic region in which a haptic effect occurs.

6A shows an object such as an icon or a menu item in a circle for convenience of description. As illustrated in (a) of FIG. 6A, an area where an object is displayed on the display unit 151 may be divided into a first area A in the center and a second area B surrounding the area. The first area A and the second area B may be configured to generate a tactile effect having different intensities or patterns. For example, the first vibration may be output when the second region B is touched, and the second vibration may be output when the first region A is touched.

If it is necessary to simultaneously set the proximity touch recognition area and the haptic area in the area where the object is displayed, the haptic area where the haptic effect occurs and the proximity touch recognition area where the proximity signal is detected Can be set differently. That is, the haptic area may be set narrower than the proximity touch recognition area, or the haptic area may be set wider than the proximity touch recognition area. For example, in (a) of FIG. 6A, an area including the first area A and the second area B may be set as a proximity touch recognition area, and the first area A may be set as a haptic area.

As shown in Fig. 6A (b), the area in which the object is displayed is divided into three areas A, B, and C, or as shown in Fig. 6A (c), N (N> 4). It can also be divided into three areas. Each divided area may be configured to generate a tactile effect having different intensities or patterns. Even when the area in which one object is displayed is divided into three or more areas, the haptic area and the proximity touch recognition area may be set differently according to the use environment.

The display unit 151 may be configured such that the size of the proximity touch recognition area varies depending on the depth of proximity. That is, as shown in (a) of FIG. 6B, the corresponding proximity touch recognition area is gradually reduced to 'C', 'B', and 'A' according to the proximity depth to the display unit 151, Alternatively, the corresponding proximity touch recognition area may be gradually increased according to the depth of proximity to the display unit 151. Even in this case, the haptic region may be set to a constant size regardless of the depth of proximity to the display unit 151 as in the 'H' region illustrated in FIG. 6B.

 In the case of dividing the region where the object is displayed for setting the haptic region or the proximity touch recognition region, in addition to the concentric division as shown in FIG. 6A, the division in the horizontal or vertical direction, the radial division, and a combination thereof Various methods, such as division, can be used.

A mobile terminal for performing an alarm (hereinafter, referred to as a place alarm) function based on place information according to the spirit of the present invention, when the mobile terminal is located at a predetermined place, executes an application designated at the predetermined place; And a second feature for notifying a user that the mobile terminal is located at a predetermined place. Depending on the implementation, the mobile terminal of the present invention may have only one of the first and second features or both.

The mobile terminal having the first feature includes an operation unit for receiving a place for outputting an alarm from an user and an application to be assigned to the place; A location sensor for identifying a location where the mobile terminal is located; And when the mobile terminal is located at a designated place, a control unit for executing an application designated at the corresponding place.

On the other hand, the mobile terminal having the second feature, the operation unit for receiving a place for outputting the alarm from the user; A location sensor for identifying a location where the mobile terminal is located; And a controller for notifying the user when the mobile terminal is located at the designated place.

Comparing the two mobile terminals, it can be seen that the configuration of the position sensing unit is the same and that the first and / or second features are implemented as a function of the control unit. In addition, the operation unit may recognize that there is a slight difference in information received according to a function performed by the controller.

The operation unit may be a user input unit 130 constituting the mobile terminal of FIG. 1.

The controller may be the controller 180 of the mobile terminal of FIG. 1, and according to the implementation, in addition to the functions according to the first and second features, another function for increasing the convenience of the mobile terminal according to the spirit of the present invention. Can be further performed.

For example, when the mobile terminal is located at a designated place, the controller may notify the user of a screen or voice that the searched application is to be executed.

Alternatively, the controller may notify the user that the environmental condition is not satisfied if the environmental condition that the application can be executed at the designated place is not satisfied.

Alternatively, if the environmental condition in which the application can be executed at the designated place is not satisfied, the controller may again check whether the environmental condition is satisfied after a predetermined time elapses.

Alternatively, the controller may periodically check the position detected by the position sensing unit in order to perform functions according to the first and / or second features of the present invention.

Alternatively, when the application and a time zone for executing the application are specified together, the controller may execute the designated application only when the mobile terminal is located at the designated place in a predetermined time zone.

Alternatively, the controller for performing a function according to the second feature may display information on a task to be performed when notifying the user that the mobile terminal is located at the designated place.

The location detecting unit may be the location information module 115 of the mobile terminal of FIG. 1, and may determine the location from an identification signal of a base station in which the mobile terminal forms a wireless communication channel. Alternatively, the location detecting unit may include a GPS module for identifying the place from a signal received from a GPS satellite. The former implementation is less expensive, and the latter implementation can be more precisely positioned so that the convenience is excellent.

7 to 9 illustrate embodiments of a method for controlling a mobile terminal according to the spirit of the present invention. Each control method illustrated in the flowcharts may be performed by the controller 180 of the mobile terminal of FIG. 1.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a method of controlling a mobile terminal includes: periodically identifying a place where a mobile terminal is located; Determining whether the identified place belongs to a predetermined place; And performing a designated task at the designated place.

In order to have the first aspect of the present invention, performing the designated task includes: searching for an application designated at the place; And executing the searched application.

FIG. 7 illustrates a control method of a mobile terminal having the first feature, the control method including: identifying a place where a mobile terminal is located (S110); Determining whether the identified place belongs to a predetermined place (S120); Searching for an application assigned to the place (S130); And executing the found application (S190). If the determined place in step S120 does not belong to the designated place, a delay may be performed (S125), and then the process may return to step S110 again. This is to repeatedly perform the operation of periodically identifying the position of the mobile terminal within a range that does not interfere with the standby function of the mobile terminal and does not increase the battery consumption rate.

FIG. 8 adds a process of searching for an environmental condition for a specified application and receiving a confirmation of execution of an application from a user between steps S130 and S190 of the processes of the control method of FIG. 7. In FIG. 8, the two processes are added. However, only one process may be added according to the implementation.

Part of the control method of the mobile terminal shown in FIG. 8 includes searching for an application designated at a place where the mobile terminal is located (S130); Checking whether an environmental condition for executing the searched application is satisfied (S140); If the environmental condition is satisfied, notifying the user that the searched application is to be executed, and requesting execution instructions (S150); Waiting for receiving an execution instruction for the application from a user (S160); And receiving the execution instruction, performing the searched application (S190).

If the environmental condition is not satisfied as a result of the determination of step S140, after performing a predetermined time delay (S145), it may return to step S110 of FIG.

This is to periodically check the location and application environment conditions within a range that does not interfere with the standby function of the mobile terminal and does not increase the battery consumption rate.

In addition, if the user does not receive the application execution instruction within a predetermined waiting time in step S160, after performing a predetermined time delay (S165), it may return to step S110 again. If the user does not receive the instruction for a predetermined waiting time, it is determined that the user cannot use the mobile terminal for a while, and gives a delay time of step S165, and then returns to step S110 again to repeat the place alarm To do this.

Although the delay times applied in the steps S125, S145 and S165 may be the same, it is preferable to apply different delay times because the intention of the time delay for each step is different.

The illustrated step S140 may be variously modified according to an environmental condition to be inspected. For example, in operation S140, the present time may be checked whether a current time zone is designated to execute the application. To this end, an application to be executed for the place must be specified in the mobile terminal, and a time zone for executing the application must be specified.

For example, if the application is a DMB player, in step S140, it is preferable to check whether the DMB broadcast can be received (e.g., check whether the reception strength of the DMB signal satisfies the reference value), and if the application is the Internet web browser, In step S140, it is preferable to first check whether wireless Internet access is possible.

Alternatively, if the application is an instance message program, and a task to be performed at a designated place is to perform an instance message service with a specific counterpart, in step S140, it is preferable to check whether the specific counterpart is connected to the instance message service.

Or, if the short-range communication connection to the external device specified in the execution of the application is necessary, it is preferable to perform the short-range communication connection to the external device, and check whether the connection in step S140.

According to the implementation, if the environmental condition is not satisfied as a result of the check in step S140, the method may further include notifying the user that the environmental condition is not satisfied. After performing the step of notifying the satisfaction, it is preferable to perform step S145 of the drawing.

In order to have the second aspect of the present invention, the performing of the designated task may be implemented to notify the user that the designated place has been reached.

FIG. 9 illustrates a control method of a mobile terminal having the second feature, and the control method includes: identifying a location where the mobile terminal is located (S110); Determining whether the identified place belongs to a predetermined place (S120); And notifying the user that the designated place has been reached (S131).

In the step S131, it is preferable to display the information on the operation to be performed in the designated place on the screen.

If the determined place in step S120 does not belong to the designated place, a delay may be performed (S125), and then the process may return to step S110 again. According to the illustrated control method, after performing step S131, all or part of steps S130 to S190 illustrated in FIG. 8 may be additionally performed.

The place alarm function according to the spirit of the present invention is preferably implemented as part of an electronic notebook function or a schedule management program that performs an alarm function according to time.

10A and 10B illustrate examples of a screen for notifying a user when a mobile terminal is located at a designated place when the place alarm function according to the spirit of the present invention is implemented as part of a schedule management program.

The screen for notifying the user according to the place alarm (hereinafter, abbreviated as an alarm screen) preferably includes information on a place where the alarm is activated and a job assigned to the place. In addition, when an execution time zone condition is set, information about the set time zone may be further provided.

FIG. 10A is an example in which the information about the place is displayed on a map w1 and the information on the job assigned thereto is displayed in text w2. FIG. 10B shows all the information about the place and the job assigned thereto in text. 10C illustrates an example of displaying a time zone to perform a task in addition to the place and a task designated thereto.

In the case of the alarm screen of FIG. 10A, processing burden due to the execution of separate data and algorithms for displaying the current location on a map is increased, but there is an advantage of increasing user convenience.

The names of places and tasks shown in the drawings may be texts which are given by default in the user's place alarm setting process, or may be texts directly input by the user for the convenience of alarm identification.

11 and 12 illustrate an alarm screen displaying only a designated job at a place where a mobile terminal is located, and a screen automatically executing an application corresponding to the designated job after a predetermined time (1 second in the drawing). In the drawing, the application execution screen is switched after 1 second has elapsed. However, depending on the implementation, when the user presses the 'OK' button on the alarm screen, the application screen may be switched to the application screen.

In FIG. 11, an application for writing a message is executed to send a message as a job assigned to a place. In FIG. 12, a messenger application is executed to perform a messenger service as a job assigned to a place.

13A and 13B illustrate display screens of a mobile terminal for setting a place alarm according to the spirit of the present invention.

In the place setting screen shown in FIG. 13A, a place setting by a map input or an address input may be performed according to a user's selection. In the case of map input, a user designates a corresponding point on a screen on which a map is displayed, and in the case of address input, a user inputs an address in text.

Since the method for inputting the text address or designating a point on the displayed map is widely practiced in a conventional navigation application or the like, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

While both the map input and the address input only specify one point on the two-dimensional area, a certain two-dimensional area is required as a comparison object for the place alarm according to the spirit of the present invention.

To this end, an area within a predetermined distance from a point input from the user may be used as a two-dimensional area to be compared. Alternatively, the allocation area of the base station forming the wireless communication channel at the point input from the user may be a two-dimensional area to be compared.

In FIG. 13B, a name for a job may be input in the name input box w6, and an application for the job may be designated. The name of the job may be directly input by the user as text, and in order to designate the application, it is preferable to use a detailed menu that is output in a pop-up form by pressing the application selection button w7.

In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the above-described method may be implemented as code that can be read by a processor in a medium in which a program is recorded. Examples of processor-readable media include ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, floppy disk, optical data storage, and the like, and may be implemented in the form of a carrier wave (for example, transmission over the Internet). Include.

The mobile terminal which performs the place alarm function as described above may not be limitedly applied to the configuration and method of the above-described embodiments, but the embodiments may be modified in whole or in part to enable various modifications. It may alternatively be configured in combination.

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

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

2b is a rear perspective view of a mobile terminal according to one embodiment of the present invention;

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

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

5 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a control method for a touch operation in a form in which a pair of display units overlap.

6A and 6B are conceptual views for explaining a proximity touch recognition region where a proximity signal is detected and a haptic region that generates a tactile effect, respectively.

7 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

8 is a flowchart illustrating a part of a control method of a mobile terminal according to another embodiment of the present invention.

9 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of a mobile terminal according to another embodiment of the present invention.

10A to 10C are screens for displaying contents of a place alarm according to the spirit of the present invention.

11 is a screen of a mobile terminal performing a place alarm function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

12 is a screen for performing a place alarm function according to another embodiment of the present invention.

13A and 13B are screens of a process of designating a place and an application for a place alarm in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

Claims (17)

An operation unit for receiving an application to be executed according to a place from a user; A location sensor for identifying a location where the mobile terminal is located; And If the mobile terminal is located in the designated place, the mobile terminal comprising a control unit for executing the application specified in the place. The method of claim 1, The control unit, And notifying the user that the searched application is to be executed when the mobile terminal is located at the designated place. The method of claim 1, The control unit, And if the environmental condition that the application can be executed in the designated place is not satisfied, notifying the user that the environmental condition is not satisfied. The method of claim 1, The control unit, And if an environmental condition in which the application can be executed at the designated place is not satisfied, after a predetermined time has elapsed, checking whether the environmental condition is satisfied again. The method of claim 1, The position detection unit, And the mobile station identifies the location from an identification signal of a base station forming a wireless communication channel. The method of claim 1, The position detection unit, And a GPS module for identifying the place from a signal received from a GPS satellite. The method of claim 1, The control unit, The mobile terminal, characterized in that for periodically checking the position detected by the location sensor. The method of claim 1, The control unit, And executing the designated application only when the mobile terminal is located at a designated place in a predetermined time zone. An operation unit for receiving a designation of a place from a user; A location sensor for identifying a location where the mobile terminal is located; And And a control unit for notifying the user when the mobile terminal is located at the designated place. The method of claim 9, The control unit, And displaying information about a task to be performed by the user. Periodically identifying a place where the mobile terminal is located; Determining whether the identified place belongs to a predetermined place; And Performing a designated task at the designated place Control method of a mobile terminal comprising a. The method of claim 11, Performing the specified operation, (a) searching for an application assigned to the place; And (b) executing the found application Control method of a mobile terminal, comprising a. The method of claim 12, Performing the specified operation, After step (a) and before step (b), Notifying a user that the searched application is to be executed; And Receiving an execution instruction for the application from a user Application execution method characterized in that it further comprises. The method of claim 12, In step (b), (b1) checking whether an environmental condition for executing the searched application is satisfied; And (b2) performing the searched application when the environmental condition is satisfied; Application execution method comprising a. The method of claim 14, Step (b1), Checking whether the current time is the time zone authorized to run the application Application execution method comprising a. The method of claim 14, If the environmental condition is not satisfied as a result of the inspection in the step (b1), Notifying the user that the environmental conditions are not met Application execution method characterized in that it further comprises. The method of claim 11, In the step of performing the specified operation, And a method of notifying the user that the user has reached the designated place.

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