KR20110044068A - Mobile terminal and method for controlling menu thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A menu control method of a mobile terminal is provided to easily executes a hierarchical menu access through enlargement/reduction. CONSTITUTION: A control unit displays a top menu on a display screen(S102). If an enlargement command is inputted, the control unit checks whether displayed menus are a bottom menu or not(S103,S104). If the displayed menus are not the bottom menu, the control unit enlarges a menu screen(S105). The control unit forms a polyhedron by displayed menu item. The control unit respectively displays a lower menus of a menu time corresponding to a surface of the polyhedron(S106).

Description

MOBILE TERMINAL AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING MENU THEREOF}

The present invention relates to a mobile terminal for operating a hierarchical menu through enlargement and reduction, and a menu control method thereof.

A terminal such as a personal computer, a notebook computer, or a mobile phone has various functions, for example, a multimedia device having a complex function such as photographing or photographing of a moving picture, reproduction of music or a moving picture file, (Multimedia player).

Terminals may be divided into mobile terminals and stationary terminals according to their mobility. 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.

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

In general, a terminal provides a hierarchical menu. Efforts have been made to provide a user with a more convenient UI for such hierarchical menu manipulation.

The present invention is to provide a mobile terminal for operating a hierarchical menu through enlargement / reduction and a menu control method thereof.

In addition, the present invention is to provide a mobile terminal and a menu control method for moving to the execution screen on the menu screen through the enlargement / reduction.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of controlling a menu of a mobile terminal, the method including displaying a menu screen, receiving a control command through an input means, and controlling the menu screen according to the control command. Moving to a lower menu or reducing the menu screen and moving to a higher menu.

A mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a display unit for displaying a menu screen, an input unit for receiving a control command, and a submenu of menu items displayed on the menu screen by enlarging the menu screen according to the control command. And a control unit for displaying the hierarchical menus of the menu items while displaying the menus in three dimensions or reducing the menu screen.

The mobile terminal according to at least one embodiment of the present invention configured as described above can easily and conveniently perform hierarchical menu access through enlargement / reduction. In other words, the present invention facilitates inter-layer movement between the top menu and the bottom menu.

In addition, the present invention can move from the top menu to the execution screen of the specific menu without switching the screen through the enlargement, and can move from the execution screen of the specific menu to the top menu through the reduction.

Hereinafter, a mobile terminal related 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, and the like, except when applicable only to mobile terminals.

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, and a location information module 115 .

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 can be converted into a form that can be transmitted to the mobile communication base station through the mobile communication module 112 when the voice data is in the call mode, and output. 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 the current state of the mobile terminal 100 such as the open / closed state of the mobile terminal 100, the position of the mobile terminal 100, the presence or absence of user contact, the orientation of the mobile terminal, the 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, if 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 shooting mode, the mobile terminal 100 displays a photographed and / or received image, a UI, or a GUI.

The display unit 151 is a liquid crystal display (LCD), a thin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT LCD), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), 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.

Two or more display units 151 may exist according to the implementation form of the mobile terminal 100. For example, a plurality of display units may be spaced apart or integrally disposed on one surface of the mobile terminal 100, or may be disposed on different surfaces.

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 a mobile terminal surrounded by the touch screen or near 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 at which the proximity touch is performed by the pointer on the touch screen means a position where the pointer vertically corresponds 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 by 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 a configuration aspect 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 At least one type of storage medium may be included. The mobile terminal 100 may operate in association with a web storage that performs a storage function of the memory 160 on the Internet.

The interface unit 170 serves as a passage 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 the data inside the mobile terminal 100 to an external device. For example, a wired / wireless headset port, an external charger port, a wired / wireless data port, a memory card port, a port for connecting a device having an identification module, an audio I / O port, A video input / output (I / O) port, an 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 use authority of the mobile terminal 100, and includes a user identification module (UIM), a subscriber identification 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. Accordingly, the identification device can be connected to the terminal 100 through the 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, perform related control and processing for voice calls, data communications, video calls, and the like. 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, the 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. Embodiments described in the specification 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 can be implemented in a software application 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 mobile terminal according to the present invention.

The disclosed portable 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. The sound output unit 152 and the camera 121 are disposed in regions adjacent to one end of both ends of the display unit 151, and the user input unit 131 and the microphone 122 are disposed in regions 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 manipulated to receive a command for controlling the operation of the portable 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 portable 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 'may have a photographing direction substantially opposite to 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 in the terminal body so as to be rotatable or pop-upable.

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 talking and the like, a broadcast signal reception antenna 116 may be additionally disposed on the side of the terminal body. The antenna 116, which forms part of the broadcast receiving module 111 (see FIG. 1), can be installed to be able to be drawn out from the terminal body.

A power supply unit 190 for supplying power to the portable terminal 100 is mounted on the terminal body. 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 be disposed on the rear case 102 as well.

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.

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

Referring to FIG. 3, when a menu button is input in the standby screen, the controller 180 displays a top menu on the display screen (S101 and S102). Here, the controller 180 may implement the top menu screen in three dimensions. For example, the controller 180 forms a polyhedron when a menu button is input, and displays top menus on each side of the formed polyhedron. At this time, the controller 180 classifies the top menus by type and displays them on each side of the polyhedron. That is, on the first side of the polyhedron, multimedia related menus such as a multimedia player, broadcast reception, camera, etc. are displayed, and on the second side, environment setting menus related to screen, sound, usage environment, communication service, etc. are displayed, and the third side. Service menus such as message, phone book, scheduler, etc. are displayed on the screen, and preference menus selected by the user are displayed on the fourth page.

When an enlarged command is input while displaying the top menu on the display screen, the controller 180 checks whether the menus currently displayed on the display screen are the bottom menu (S103, S104).

As a result of the check, if the menus currently displayed on the display screen are not the lowest menus, the controller 180 enlarges the menu screen displayed on the display unit 151 (S105).

The controller 180 forms a polyhedron for each menu item displayed on the menu screen, and displays different submenus of menu items corresponding to each side of the polyhedron (S106). That is, the controller 180 forms a polyhedron as many as the number of menu items displayed on the menu screen.

When a user command is input on the screen displaying the lower menu of the polyhedron, the controller 180 checks whether the user command is an enlargement command or a reduction command (S107). The user command may be a multi-touch and drag type touch input. For example, if two fingers are touched on the display screen with two fingers, and the two fingers are in close proximity while the multi-touch is maintained (when the distance between the two fingers decreases), the controller 180 recognizes as a reduction command. If the distance between the two fingers increases, the controller 180 recognizes the enlargement command.

When the magnification command is input in step 107, the controller 180 returns to step 104 and checks whether the menus currently displayed on the display screen are the lowest menus.

As a result of the check, if the menus displayed on the current display screen are the lowest menus, the controller 180 enlarges the lowest menu screen displayed on the display screen and displays execution screens of the lowest menus (S111). Here, the controller 180 enlarges the screen composed of the polyhedrons on which the lowest menus are displayed and displays an execution screen of a menu corresponding to each side of the enlarged polyhedron. As the execution screen of the menu, a thumbnail execution screen image may be used, or the execution screen may be used by executing each menu.

Alternatively, when a surface of a polyhedron on which an execution screen of each menu is displayed is selected, the controller 180 executes a menu (function) corresponding to the corresponding surface, and displays the execution screen on the full screen of the display unit 151. do.

When the reduction command is input in step 107, the controller 180 reduces the screen on which the menu items are displayed (S108). Subsequently, the controller 180 moves to an upper menu and displays the upper menu (S109). In other words, since the lower menu screen composed of a plurality of polyhedra is zoomed out, the upper menu screen of the plane is displayed on the display unit 151.

 After displaying the upper menu, the controller 180 checks whether the menus displayed on the display screen are the highest menus (S110).

If the menus displayed on the display screen are the highest menus in step S110, the controller 180 enters a standby mode waiting for a menu selection or an enlargement / reduction command.

If the menus displayed on the display screen are not the highest menus in step S110, the controller 180 returns to step S107 and waits for an enlargement or reduction command to be input.

In the above-described embodiment, the entire menu screen is enlarged / reduced as an example, but specific menu items may be selectively enlarged / reduced.

4 is an example illustrating a process of moving a mobile terminal to a lower menu according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, when a menu button is input by a user, the controller 180 forms a polyhedron and displays different top menus on each side of the polyhedron (a). When the user selects one surface of the polyhedron through a touch, the controller 180 displays the surface on the full screen of the display unit 151 (b).

When multi-touch and drag is input on the display screen displaying one surface of the selected polyhedron, the controller 180 detects the multi-touch and drag through the sensing unit 140. When the user touches and drags using two fingers, the sensing unit 140 checks the coordinate values of the touch points of the two fingers and the coordinate values due to the movement of the touch points and provides them to the controller 180.

When the distance between the touch points increases, the controller 180 recognizes the enlargement command to enlarge the menu screen and move to the lower menu. When the distance between the touch points decreases, the controller 180 reduces the menu screen and moves to the upper menu. . In this case, the controller 180 enlarges the menu screen displayed on the display screen centering on the region (point) where the multi-touch and drag is performed. In addition, the controller 180 enlarges the menu screen at a predetermined ratio according to the distance between the multi-touch points by multi-touch and drag around the point where the multi-touch and drag is detected. Then, the controller 180 forms a polyhedron for each upper menu, and displays different lower menus of the upper menu corresponding to each side of the polyhedron (c).

On the screen displaying the submenu polyhedron, if the multi-touch on the submenu polyhedron is dragged in a direction in which the distance between the touch points increases, the controller 180 recognizes as an enlargement command, and the submenu of the selected specific submenu polyhedron If not, the execution screen of the submenu displayed on each side of the polyhedron is displayed on each side of the submenu polyhedron. At this time, the controller 180 enlarges the lower menu polyhedron.

The submenu polyhedron is enlarged and the controller 180 displays an execution screen of a submenu corresponding to each side of the submenu polyhedron (d).

5 is an example illustrating a process of moving to a higher menu of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, as shown in the figure, a user inputs multi-touch and drag on a display screen on which a message creation screen is displayed while a message is being written. The sensing unit 140 detects the multi-touch and drag input by the user and informs the control unit 180 of this. If the multi-touch and drag detected by the sensing unit 140 is a reduction command, the controller 180 moves to a screen on which a lowest menu is displayed. In this case, the controller 180 may stop the execution of the message, and temporarily store the created message or cancel the execution of the message.

6 is another example illustrating a process of moving to a submenu of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, when a user inputs a menu button, the controller 180 displays a top menu screen of a polyhedron on the display unit 151 (a). When the polyhedron is rotated to select a specific menu, the controller 180 enlarges the top menu screen. That is, when the user touches any one of the top menus displayed on the polyhedron, the controller 180 enlarges the menu screen based on the touch point. When the menu screen is enlarged, the controller 180 forms a polyhedron for each of the top-level menu items, and displays different submenus of the corresponding menu item on each side of the polyhedron (b). The polyhedron in which the submenu is displayed can be individually controlled. If one of the polyhedrons displayed on the display screen is rotated to select a desired submenu (c), the controller 180 enlarges the selected surface of the polyhedron and displays an execution screen of the selected menu on the surface (d) ).

For example, when the message menu is selected on the top menu screen, the controller 180 enlarges the top menu screen. When the submenus of the message menu on the enlarged top menu screen rotate the message submenu polyhedron displayed on each side and select the message receiving submenu, the controller 180 enlarges the message submenu polyhedron and displays the selected submenu. Run it. The controller 180 displays an execution screen of the message inbox on the corresponding surface of the enlarged polyhedron.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the above-described method may be embodied as computer readable codes on a medium in which a program is recorded. The computer-readable medium includes all kinds of recording devices in which data that can be read by a computer system is stored. Examples of the computer-readable medium include ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, floppy disk, optical data storage, and the like, and also implemented in the form of a carrier wave (for example, transmission over the Internet) . In addition, the computer may include the controller 180 of the terminal.

The above-described terminal is not limited to the configuration and method of the above-described embodiments, the embodiments may be configured by selectively combining all or a part of the embodiments so that various modifications can be made have.

1 is a block diagram of a mobile terminal associated with one embodiment of the present invention;

2A is a front perspective view of a mobile terminal related to one embodiment of the present invention;

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

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

4 is an example illustrating a process of moving a mobile terminal to a lower menu according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is an example illustrating a process of moving to a higher menu of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

6 is another example illustrating a process of moving to a submenu of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS

100: mobile terminal 110: wireless communication unit

120: A / V input unit 130: user input unit

140: sensing unit 150: output unit

160: memory 170: interface unit

180: control unit 190: power supply unit

Claims (5)

Displaying the menu screen; Receiving a control command through an input means; And expanding the menu screen and moving to a lower menu or reducing the menu screen and moving to an upper menu according to the control command. The method of claim 1, wherein moving the menu comprises: If the control command is enlarged, enlarging the menu screen to check whether the menu items of the menu screen are the lowest menus; If the menu items are not the lowest menus, forming a polyhedron for each menu item; And displaying a submenu of a corresponding menu item on each side of the formed polyhedron. The method of claim 2, And if the menu items are the lowest menus, displaying an execution screen of the lowest menus. The method of claim 1, wherein moving the menu comprises: If the control command is reduced, confirming whether the menu items of the menu screen are a top menu; If the menu items are a top menu, waiting for input from the input means; and if the menu items are not top menus, reducing the menu screen and displaying a top menu. Control method. A display unit for displaying a menu screen, An input unit for receiving a control command, And a controller for enlarging the menu screen according to the control command, displaying three submenus of menu items displayed on the menu screen in three dimensions, or reducing the menu screen, and displaying upper menus of the menu items. Mobile terminal.

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