KR20110136219A - Mobile terminal and operation method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A mobile terminal and a method for operating the same are provided to input characters with reduced number of input keys. CONSTITUTION: A display unit(151) indicates a plurality of input keys through touch inputs. A user touches an area in which a first key is displayed and drags the touched area to a specific direction. A controller(180) receives the user's command. The controller indicates the vowel corresponding to the specific direction to a display area. The controller receives the touch among the user's command. The controller displays the popup window which includes information about the input available character.

Description

Mobile terminal and operation method thereof

The present invention relates to a portable terminal and a method of operating the same, and more particularly, to a portable terminal and a method for inputting a character.

A portable terminal is a portable device that is portable and has one or more functions for making voice and video calls, inputting and outputting information, and storing data. As the functions of the portable terminal have diversified, they have complicated functions such as photographing and photographing, playing music files and video files, receiving games, receiving broadcasts, and wireless internet, and have developed a comprehensive multimedia player, .

In the portable terminal implemented in the form of such a multimedia device, new attempts have been applied in various ways in terms of hardware and software to implement complex functions. For example, a user interface environment for a user to search for or select a function easily and conveniently. In addition, a double-sided LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), a front touch screen, or the like, which are seen from both sides, may be applied to the mobile terminal.

However, since a mobile terminal must consider mobility and portability, there is a limitation in space allocation for a device for a user interface such as a display or a keypad. Accordingly, even if the front touch screen is applied to the portable terminal, the size thereof is limited.

On the other hand, when a sentence input window such as a QWERTY input window is displayed on the touch screen of the portable terminal and text is input by touch input, the number of keys displayed on the text input window is limited. Therefore, a method of efficiently entering characters with limited keys has been devised.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a portable terminal and a method of operating the same, which enable a user to efficiently input text using a plurality of keys included in a text input window.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of operating a mobile terminal, the display including a plurality of keys for inputting a character through touch input and a character display area for displaying the input character. Making; Receiving a user command of touching a region in which a first key is displayed among the plurality of keys and then dragging in a specific direction; And displaying a character corresponding to the specific direction in the character display area.

In addition, a portable terminal according to the present invention for achieving the above object, a display unit for displaying a plurality of keys and input the characters that can input characters through a touch input; And a controller configured to display a vowel corresponding to the specific direction in the text display area when a user command of touching the area in which the first key is displayed and dragging in a specific direction is received.

According to the present invention, the user can input characters more efficiently with the keys included in the character input window.

In particular, since the characters can be input not only by touch but also by dragging, the number of keys displayed in the text input window can be reduced, and the touch movement for the user's character input can be reduced.

In addition, since the number of keys displayed in the text input window is reduced, the weight of the text input window is displayed on the display may be reduced.

1 is a block diagram of a portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention;
2 is a perspective view of a portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention;
3 is a rear perspective view of the mobile terminal shown in FIG. 2;
4 is a flowchart provided to explain a method of operating a portable terminal capable of consonant input according to an embodiment of the present invention;
5 is a flowchart provided to explain a method of operating a portable terminal capable of vowel input according to an embodiment of the present invention;
6 is a reference view illustrating a display unit on which a text input window is displayed according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
7 is a reference view illustrating a method of inputting consonants according to an embodiment of the present invention;
8 is a reference view for explaining a method of inputting a vowel according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and
9 is a reference view illustrating a display unit on which a text input window is displayed according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

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

The portable terminal described in the present specification includes a mobile phone, a smart phone, a notebook computer, a digital broadcasting terminal, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable multimedia player (PMP), navigation, and the like. In addition, suffixes "module" and " part "for the components used in the following description are given merely for convenience of description, and do not give special significance or role in themselves. Therefore, the "module" and "unit" may be used interchangeably.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a portable terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. Referring to FIG. 1, a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in terms of components according to functions.

1, the portable 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, an interface unit 170, a control unit 180, and a power supply unit 190. Such components may be configured by combining two or more components into one component, or by dividing one or more components into two or more components as necessary when implemented in an actual application.

The wireless communication unit 110 may include a broadcast receiving module 111, a mobile communication module 113, a wireless Internet module 115, a short distance communication module 117, and a GPS module 119.

The broadcast receiving module 111 receives at least one of a broadcast signal and broadcast related information from an external broadcast management server through a broadcast channel. In this case, the broadcast channel may include a satellite channel, a terrestrial channel, and the like. The broadcast management server may mean a server for generating and transmitting at least one of a broadcast signal and broadcast related information, or a server receiving at least one of pre-generated broadcast signals and broadcast related information and transmitting the same to a terminal.

The broadcast related information may mean information related to a broadcast channel, a broadcast program, or a broadcast service provider. 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 also be provided through a mobile communication network, and in this case, may be received by the mobile communication module 113. Broadcast related information may exist in various forms.

The broadcast receiving module 111 may receive a broadcast signal using various broadcast systems, and may receive a digital broadcast signal using a digital broadcast system. In addition, the broadcast receiving module 111 may be configured to be suitable for all broadcast systems providing broadcast signals as well as such digital broadcast systems. Broadcast signals or broadcast related information received through the broadcast receiving module 111 may be stored in the memory 160.

The mobile communication module 113 transmits and receives a radio signal with at least one of a base station, an external terminal, and a server on a mobile communication network. Here, the wireless signal may include various types of data according to voice call signal, video call signal, or text / multimedia message transmission and reception.

The wireless Internet module 115 refers to a module for wireless Internet access, and the wireless Internet module 115 can be embedded in the mobile terminal 100 or externally. 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 117 refers to a module for short-range communication. Bluetooth, radio frequency identification (RFID), infrared data association (IrDA), ultra wideband (UWB), ZigBee, and the like can be used as the short distance communication technology.

A GPS (Global Position System) module 119 receives position information from a plurality of GPS satellites.

The A / V (Audio / Video) input unit 120 is for inputting an audio signal or a video signal, and may include a camera 121 and a microphone 123. 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. The camera 121 may be equipped with two or more cameras according to the configuration of the terminal.

The microphone 123 receives an external sound signal by a microphone in a communication mode, a recording mode, a voice recognition mode, or the like, and processes it as 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 113 and output when the voice data is in the call mode. The microphone 123 may be a variety of noise reduction algorithms for eliminating noise generated in receiving an external sound signal.

The user input unit 130 generates key input data input by the user for controlling the operation of the terminal. The user input unit 130 may include a key pad, a dome switch, a touch pad (constant voltage / capacitance), etc. that may receive a command or information by a user's push or touch operation. In addition, the user input unit 130 may be configured as a jog wheel or a jog method or a joystick that rotates a key, a finger mouse, or the like. Particularly, when the touch pad has a mutual layer structure with the display unit 151 described later, it can be called a touch screen.

The sensing unit 140 senses the current state of the portable terminal 100 such as the open / close state of the portable terminal 100, the position of the portable terminal 100, Thereby generating a sensing signal. 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, it may be responsible for sensing functions related to whether the power supply unit 190 is supplied with power, whether the interface unit 170 is coupled to an external device, and the like.

The sensing unit 140 may include a proximity sensor 141, a pressure sensor 143, a motion sensor 145, and the like. The proximity sensor 141 may detect the presence or absence of an object approaching the portable terminal 100 or an object present in the vicinity of the portable terminal 100 without mechanical contact. The proximity sensor 141 may detect a proximity object by using a change in an alternating magnetic field or a change in a static magnetic field, or by using a change rate of capacitance. Two or more proximity sensors 141 may be provided according to the configuration aspect.

The pressure sensor 143 may detect whether pressure is applied to the portable terminal 100, the magnitude of the pressure, and the like. The pressure sensor 143 may be installed at a portion where the pressure of the portable terminal 100 is required depending on the use environment. If the pressure sensor 143 is installed in the display unit 151, a touch input through the display unit 151 and a greater pressure than the touch input are applied according to a signal output from the pressure sensor 143. The pressure touch input can be identified. Also, the magnitude of the pressure applied to the display unit 151 at the time of the pressure touch input can be determined according to the signal output from the pressure sensor 143. [

The motion sensor 145 detects the position and movement of the portable terminal 100 using an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, or the like. An acceleration sensor that can be used for the motion sensor 145 is a device that converts an acceleration change in one direction into an electric signal and is widely used along with the development of MEMS (micro-electromechanical systems) technology. The acceleration sensor measures the acceleration of a small value built in the airbag system of an automobile and recognizes the minute motion of the human hand and measures the acceleration of a large value used as an input means such as a game There are various types. Acceleration sensors are usually constructed by mounting two or three axes in one package. Depending on the usage environment, only one axis of Z axis is required. Therefore, when the acceleration sensor in the X-axis direction or the Y-axis direction is used instead of the Z-axis direction for some reason, the acceleration sensor may be mounted on the main substrate by using a separate piece substrate.

The gyro sensor is a sensor for measuring the angular velocity, and it can sense the direction of rotation with respect to the reference direction.

The output unit 150 is for outputting an audio signal, a video signal, or an alarm signal. The output unit 150 may include a display unit 151, an audio output module 153, an alarm unit 155, and a haptic module 157.

The display unit 151 displays and outputs information processed by the mobile terminal 100. For example, when the portable terminal 100 is in the call mode, a UI (User Interface) or a GUI (Graphic User Interface) associated with a call is displayed. When the portable terminal 100 is in the video communication mode or the photographing mode, the photographed or received images can be displayed individually or simultaneously, and the UI and the GUI are displayed.

Meanwhile, as described above, when the display unit 151 and the touch pad form a mutual layer structure and constitute a touch screen, the display unit 151 is an input device capable of inputting information by a user's touch in addition to the output device. May also be used.

If the display unit 151 is configured as a touch screen, it may include a touch screen panel, a touch screen panel controller, and the like. In this case, the touch screen panel is a transparent panel attached to the outside and may be connected to the internal bus of the portable terminal 100. The touch screen panel keeps a watch on the contact result, and if there is a touch input, sends the corresponding signals to the touch screen panel controller. The touch screen panel controller processes the signals, and then transmits corresponding data to the controller 180 so that the controller 180 can determine whether the touch input has been made and which area of the touch screen has been touched.

The display unit 151 may be formed of an e-paper. Electronic paper (e-Paper) is a kind of reflective display, and has excellent visual characteristics such as high resolution, wide viewing angle and bright white background as conventional paper and ink. The electronic paper (e-paper) can be implemented on any substrate such as plastic, metal, paper, and the image is retained even after the power is shut off, and the battery life of the portable terminal 100 is long Can be maintained. As the electronic paper, a hemispherical twist ball filled with a telephone can be used, or an electrophoresis method and a microcapsule can be used.

In addition, the display unit 151 may include a liquid crystal display, a thin film transistor-liquid crystal display, an organic light-emitting diode, a flexible display, and a three-dimensional display. It may include at least one of (3D display). In addition, two or more display units 151 may exist according to the implementation form of the mobile terminal 100. For example, the external display unit (not shown) and the internal display unit (not shown) may be simultaneously provided in the portable terminal 100.

The audio output module 153 outputs audio data received from the wireless communication unit 110 or stored in the memory 160 in a call signal reception mode, a call mode or a recording mode, a voice recognition mode, a broadcast reception mode, The sound output module 153 outputs sound signals related to functions performed in the portable terminal 100, for example, a call signal reception tone, a message reception tone, and the like. The sound output module 153 may include a speaker, a buzzer, and the like.

The alarm unit 155 outputs a signal for notifying the occurrence of an event of the portable terminal 100. Examples of events occurring in the portable terminal 100 include call signal reception, message reception, and key signal input. The alarm unit 155 outputs a signal for notifying occurrence of an event in a form other than an audio signal or a video signal. For example, the signal may be output in the form of vibration. The alarm unit 155 can output a signal to notify when a call signal is received or a message is received. Also. When the key signal is input, the alarm unit 155 may output the signal as a feedback to the key signal input. The user may recognize the occurrence of an event through the signal output from the alarm unit 155. A signal for notifying the occurrence of an event in the portable terminal 100 may also be output through the display unit 151 or the sound output module 153. [

The haptic module 157 generates various tactile effects that the user can feel. A typical example of the haptic effect generated by the haptic module 157 is a vibration effect. When the haptic module 157 generates vibration with a haptic effect, the intensity and pattern of the vibration generated by the haptic module 157 can be converted, and the different vibrations can be synthesized and output or sequentially output.

In addition to the vibration, the haptic module 157 may be provided with a function of stimulating by a pin arrangement vertically moving with respect to the contact skin surface, an effect of stimulating air through the injection or suction force of the air through the injection port or the suction port, The effect of stimulation through contact of an electrode (eletrode), the effect of stimulation by electrostatic force, and the effect of reproducing a cold sensation using a device capable of endothermic or exothermic can be generated. The haptic module 157 can be implemented not only to transmit the tactile effect through direct contact but also to feel the tactile effect through the muscular sense of the user's finger or arm. Two or more haptic modules 157 may be provided according to a configuration aspect of the mobile terminal 100.

The memory 160 may store a program for processing and controlling the controller 180 and may provide a function for temporarily storing input or output data (for example, a phone book, a message, a still image, a video, etc.). It can also be done.

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), a RAM , And a ROM. ≪ / RTI > In addition, the mobile terminal 100 may operate a web storage that performs a storage function of the memory 150 on the Internet.

The interface unit 170 serves as an interface with all external devices connected to the portable terminal 100. Examples of the external device connected to the portable terminal 100 include a wired / wireless headset, an external charger, a wired / wireless data port, a memory card, a SIM (Subscriber Identification Module) card, a UIM An audio input / output (I / O) terminal, a video I / O (input / output) terminal, and an earphone. The interface unit 170 receives data from the external device or receives power from the external device and transmits the data to each component in the portable terminal 100 so that data in the portable terminal 100 can be transmitted to the external device .

The interface unit 170 is a path through which power from the cradle connected when the portable terminal 100 is connected to the external cradle is supplied to the portable terminal 100 or various command signals inputted from the cradle by the user are carried And may be a passage to be transmitted to the terminal 100.

The controller 180 typically controls the operation of the respective units to control the overall operation of the mobile terminal 100. For example, perform related control and processing for voice calls, data communications, video calls, and the like. In addition, the controller 180 may include a multimedia playback module 181 for multimedia playback. The multimedia playback module 181 may be configured in hardware in the controller 180 or may be configured in software separately from the controller 180.

The power supply unit 190 receives external power and internal power under the control of the controller 180 and supplies power necessary for operation of the respective components.

The mobile terminal 100 having such a configuration can be configured to be operable in a communication system capable of transmitting data through a frame or a packet, including a wired / wireless communication system and a satellite-based communication system. have.

The portable terminal related to the present invention has been described above in terms of components according to functions. Hereinafter, referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the portable terminal related to the present invention will be further described in terms of components according to appearance. Hereinafter, for convenience of description, a bar type portable terminal having a front touch screen among various types of portable terminals such as a folder type, a bar type, a swing type, a slider type, and the like will be described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to a bar-type portable terminal, but can be applied to all types of portable terminals including the above-mentioned type.

2 is a perspective view of a portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention viewed from the front. Referring to FIG. 2, the case forming the exterior of the portable terminal 100 is formed by the front case 100A-1 and the rear case 100A-2. Various electronic components are embedded in the space formed by the front case 100A-1 and the rear case 100A-2. At least one intermediate case may be further disposed between the front case 100A-1 and the rear case 100A-2. Such cases may be formed by injecting synthetic resin, or may be formed to have a metal material such as stainless steel (STS) or titanium (Ti).

The display unit 151, the first sound output module 153a, the first camera 121a, and the first user input unit 130a may be disposed in the main body, specifically, the first front case 100A-1. In addition, a second user input unit 130b, a third user input unit 130, and a microphone 123 may be disposed on the side surface of the rear case 100A-2.

The display unit 151 includes a liquid crystal display (LCD), organic light emitting diodes (OLED), and the like, which visually express information. Since the touch pad is superimposed on the display unit 151 in a layer structure, the display unit 151 may operate as a touch screen, and may be configured to input information by a user's touch.

The first acoustic output module 153a may be implemented in the form of a receiver or a speaker. The first camera 121a may be implemented to be suitable for capturing an image or a video of a user or the like. The microphone 123 may be implemented in a form suitable for receiving a user's voice, other sounds, and the like.

The first to third user input units 130a, 130b, and 130c may be collectively referred to as the user input unit 130, and may be employed in any manner as long as the user is operating in a tactile manner.

For example, the user input unit 130 may be implemented as a dome switch or a touch pad that may receive a command or information by a user's push or touch operation, or may be operated as a wheel or jog or a joystick that rotates a key. Or the like. In the functional aspect, the first user input unit 130a is for inputting a command such as a start, end, call, etc., and the second user input unit 130b is for inputting a selection of an operation mode. In addition, the third user input unit 130c may operate as a hot-key for activating a special function in the portable terminal 100.

When the user's finger approaches the display unit 151, the proximity sensor 141 installed on the first body detects this and outputs a proximity signal. At this time, it may be configured to output different proximity signals according to the distance the user's finger is located. In general, the distance between the detection object approaching the proximity sensor and outputting the proximity signal is called the detection distance. When the proximity signal output from each proximity sensor is compared using a plurality of proximity sensors having different detection distances, the detection object is detected. You can see how close is.

In addition, a plurality of proximity sensors having different detection areas are arranged to determine which proximity sensor is output from among the proximity sensors to determine which area of the display unit 151 the proximity object approaches, and the detection object. May be determined to move closer to the display unit 151. Accordingly, the controller 180 may control to output a corresponding vibration signal by selecting a touch key corresponding to a close position of a user's finger or the like.

When the user tilts or shakes the mobile terminal, the motion sensor 145 detects the movement of the mobile terminal. The motion sensor 145 generates a signal corresponding to the movement of the mobile terminal and outputs the signal to the controller 180. The controller 180 detects information related to the movement, such as the direction, angle, speed, intensity, and current position of the portable terminal, from the signal generated by the motion sensor 145.

The controller 180 tracks the movement of the mobile terminal based on the information detected from the signal generated by the motion sensor 145. Depending on the components constituting the motion sensor 145, information that can be detected from the signal generated by the gyro sensor may be different. The mobile terminal is provided with a motion sensor 145 according to the motion information of the mobile terminal to be detected. At least one motion sensor 145 may be provided in the mobile terminal. The controller 180 may control the motion sensor 145 to operate only when executing a specific application in response to the information to be detected.

3 is a rear perspective view of the portable terminal shown in FIG. 2. Referring to FIG. 3, a fourth user input unit 130d, a fifth user input unit 130d, and an interface unit 170 may be disposed on the side of the rear case 100A-2, and the rear case 100A-2 may be disposed. The second camera 121b may be additionally mounted on the rear side of the).

The second camera 121b may have a photographing direction substantially opposite to that of the first camera 121a, and may have different pixels from the first camera 121a. For example, in the case of a video call or the like, the first camera 121a has a low pixel so that the user's face is photographed and transmitted to the other party, and the second camera 121b photographs a general subject and does not transmit it immediately. In many cases, it is desirable to have a high pixel.

The mirror 125 and the flash 126 may be further disposed adjacent to the second camera 121b. The mirror 125 allows the user to see his / her own face or the like when the user wants to photograph (self-photograph) the second camera 121b. The flash 126 illuminates the subject when the subject is photographed by the second camera 121b.

A second sound output module (not shown) may be further disposed on the rear case 100A-2. The second sound output module may implement the stereo function together with the first sound output module 153a, and may be used for talking in the speakerphone mode.

In addition, an antenna (not shown) for receiving a broadcast signal may be disposed on one side of the second rear case 100A-2 in addition to an antenna for a call. The antenna may be installed to be pulled out of the rear case 100A-2.

The interface unit 170 serves as a path for allowing the portable terminal 100 to exchange data with an external device. For example, the interface unit 170 may be at least one of a wired or wireless connection terminal for connecting to the earphone, a port for short-range communication, or a power supply terminal for supplying power to the mobile terminal 100. have. The interface unit 170 may be a card socket that accommodates an external card such as a subscriber identification module (SIM) or a user identity module (UIM) and a memory card for storing information.

The rear case 100A-2 is provided with a power supply unit 190 for supplying power to the portable terminal. The power supply unit 190 is, for example, a rechargeable battery, and may be detachably coupled to the rear case 100A-2 for charging.

In the above description, the second camera 121b and the like are disposed on the rear case 100A-2, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In addition, even if the second camera 12b is not separately provided, the first camera 121a may be rotatably formed to be able to shoot up to the photographing direction of the second camera 121b.

4 is a flowchart provided to explain a method of operating a portable terminal capable of consonant input according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, when a text input mode such as writing a mail or writing a memo is set according to a user command (S410), the controller 180 may include a plurality of QWERTY input windows on the display unit 151 configured as a touch screen. A text input window including a key and a text display area for displaying the input text is displayed (S420). Each of the plurality of keys included in the text input window is assigned at least one of a component of a text, for example, a consonant, a vowel, an alphabet, a number, and a special character. Therefore, the character is input by the user command by touch or drag after the touch. In particular, consonant input is as follows.

The controller 180 receives a user command for touching a key to which a consonant is assigned (S430). Then, the controller 180 determines whether a plurality of consonants are assigned to the touched key (S440). If a plurality of consonants are assigned to the touched key (S440-Y), the controller 180 displays one of the plurality of consonants in the text input area of the display unit 151 according to a preset display order (S450). . If one consonant is assigned to the touched key (S440-N), the controller 180 displays the assigned consonant in the character input area of the display unit 151 (S460).

Meanwhile, the user may input a user command for touching the touched key again within a predetermined time, and the controller 180 receives it (S470).

When the touch through the touched key is received within a predetermined time (S470-Y), the controller 180 displays another consonant set to be displayed after the previously displayed consonant according to a preset display order (S480). If the touch through the touched key is not received within a predetermined time (S470-N), the controller 180 determines the displayed consonant and moves the cursor to display it. As such, when a plurality of consonants are assigned to one key, when a user command of touching a plurality of times within a predetermined time is received, the number of keys can be reduced by displaying consonants corresponding to the number of touches.

5 is a flowchart provided to explain a method of operating a portable terminal capable of vowel input according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, when a character input mode such as a mail writing or a memo writing is set according to a user command (S510), the controller 180 may include a plurality of QWERTY input windows on the display unit 151 configured as a touch screen. A text input window including a key is displayed (S520). Each of the plurality of keys included in the text input window is assigned at least one component of a character, for example, a consonant, a vowel, an alphabet, a number, a punctuation mark, a special character, and the like. Therefore, a character is input by touching or dragging the above key. In particular, the vowel input is as follows.

When the user touches an area in which a key to which a vowel is assigned is displayed, the controller 180 receives a user command for touching a key to which the vowel is assigned (S530). Then, the controller 180 generates and displays a popup window which can be input in an area adjacent to the area where the touched key is displayed (S540). In addition, the controller 180 displays a vowel assigned to the touched key in the text display area (S550).

The controller 180 determines whether a dragging user command has been received (S560). When a user wants to input a vowel displayed in a popup window, the user may input a user command of touching a key and dragging the vowel to the area where the vowel to be input is displayed. However, when the vowel assigned to the touched key is to be input, the key is terminated after the key is touched.

When a dragging user command is received (S560-Y), the controller 180 displays a vowel corresponding to the dragged direction in the text display area (S570).

As described above, since characters can be input not only by touch but also by dragging, the number of keys displayed in the text input window can be reduced, and the touch movement for user input of text can be reduced.

6 is a reference diagram illustrating a display unit on which a text input window is displayed according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

In the Hangul mode of the character input mode, as shown in FIG. 6, the character input window 610 is displayed. The text input window 610 is composed of a text display area 611, which is an area where text is displayed according to a user's command, and 20 keys 613, 615, 617, and 619 for detecting a user's motion. It is preferable that it consists of 5 matrices or 5x4 matrix. The key may display information about a character assigned to the key. Thus, the consonant keys 613 and 615 are assigned to the key, the vowel key 617 if the vowel is assigned, and the special key 619 if the special character is assigned. In particular, the consonants are divided into a terminal sound, a double consonant, and a consonant. The consonants are preferably assigned to the same consonant key (hereinafter, referred to as a “first consonant key”) 613 together with the corresponding terminal sound.

It is also desirable to assign the vowel to two keys 617. Consonants can be divided into terminal sound and double consonant. The user may perform one of touch or drag after touch using two keys 617. The first vowel key 616 of the two consonant keys 617 is assigned 'ㅡ' among the vowels. When the area in which the first vowel key 616 is displayed is touched, information on a vowel that can be input by dragging is displayed as the first pop-up window 620 as shown in FIG. In addition, when the area in which the second vowel key 618 is displayed is touched, information on a vowel that can be input by dragging is displayed as the second pop-up window 630, as shown in FIG.

Hereinafter, a method of inputting a character by touch or dragging through a key will be described in detail.

7 is a reference view for explaining a method of inputting consonants according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in (a) of FIG. 7, while the character input window of the Hangul mode is displayed, the user may input Hangul using the character input window. The text input window includes a plurality of keys (?) For inputting text through touch input and a text display area in which the input text is displayed.

Although not shown in the drawing, the user may cause the consonant or special key to be displayed in the character display area by touching the area where the consonant key or the special key is displayed. Specifically, when an area on which a consonant key (hereinafter, referred to as a “first consonant key”) to which one consonant is assigned is touched, the controller 180 displays a consonant assigned to the first consonant key corresponding to the number of touches. do. For example, when the user touches the region in which the first consonant key is displayed twice, the controller 180 displays the consonants corresponding to the first consonant keys in the character display area twice. The character display method through the special key to which one special character is assigned is the same as the character display method through the first consonant key.

On the other hand, when a plurality of consonants, that is, a region on which a consonant key (hereinafter referred to as a 'second consonant key') to which a terminal sound and a double consonant are assigned is touched, is touched, the controller 180 is set to be displayed first according to a preset display order. If there is a touch again within a predetermined time, the consonant is displayed. However, if there is a touch after a predetermined time has elapsed, the consonants set to be displayed first are displayed according to a preset display order.

For example, as shown in (a) of FIG. 7, when a user command of touching once through the 1-1 consonant key 710 assigned with 'ㅂ' and 'ㅃ' is received, the controller 180 ) Displays a consonant 720 called 'ㅂ' in the character display area of the display unit 151. In addition, when a user command to touch again through the first-first consonant key 710 is received within a predetermined time, as shown in FIG. 7B, the controller 180 is referred to as 'ㅃ' instead of 'ㅂ'. The consonant 730 may be displayed on the character display area of the display unit 151. Although not shown in the drawing, when a user command for touching again through the 1-1 consonant key 710 is received within a predetermined time, the controller 180 displays the consonant of 'ㅂ' instead of 'ㅃ'. Can be displayed in the character display area.

In addition, when a user command is received through the 1-1 consonant key 710 after a predetermined time has elapsed, the controller 180 displays a consonant 'ㅂ' in the character display area of the display unit 151.

As described above, when two letters are assigned to one key, the controller 180 may sequentially display the letters corresponding to the number of touches according to a preset display order. In this way, the number of keys can be reduced by assigning a plurality of characters to one key.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, any one of the allocated consonants is displayed in correspondence to the number of touches through the key to which the plurality of consonants are assigned. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Of course, any one of the allocated consonants may be displayed corresponding to the number of touch pointers formed on the keys to which the plurality of consonants are assigned. For example, when a user command of single touch is received through the 1-1 consonant key, the controller 180 displays a consonant 'ㅂ' in the text display area of the display unit 151 and the 1-1 consonant. When a user command of double touching is received through a key, the controller 180 can display a consonant 'ㅃ' in a character display area of the display unit 151.

8 is a reference view for explaining a method of inputting a vowel according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

For example, as illustrated in (a) of FIG. 8, the user touches an area in which the first vowel key 616 is displayed among two vowel keys for inputting a vowel. Then, as illustrated in (b) of FIG. 8, the vowel (hereinafter referred to as 'first vowel') 810 assigned to the first vowel key 616 is displayed in the character display area. In addition, a first popup window 620 including information on a collection that can be input by dragging is displayed in an area adjacent to the area where the first collection key 616 is displayed. The vowels that can be input by the dragging user command are preferably displayed in the upper, lower, left, and right areas of the first vowel key 616. Thus, the user may input a user command to display a specific vowel by touching the area in which the first vowel key 616 is displayed and then dragging it in one of up, down, left, and right directions.

That is, when the user wants to change the text to the vowel displayed in the first pop-up window 620, the user inputs a user command 840 for dragging to the area where the vowel to be changed is displayed. Then, as illustrated in (c) of FIG. 8, the controller 180 may display a text display area instead of the first vowel 810 with a vowel (hereinafter referred to as a “second vowel”) 850 corresponding to the dragging direction. Mark on. When the drag ends, the display of the first pop-up window 620 also ends.

In this manner, a vowel in the second vowel key and a double vowel displayed in the second pop-up window displayed in an area adjacent to the second vowel key may be input. Since the method is the same, a detailed description is omitted.

Meanwhile, a method of displaying a collection that is not displayed on the first meeting key, the second collection key, the first pop-up window, and the second pop-up window may include a user command of touching or dragging at least one of the first meeting key and the second meeting key. Can be entered in combination. For example, when a user wants to input a double vowel called '라는', the user touches the first vowel key and drags it in the right direction to end the touch in the area where 'ㅏ' is displayed. Then, the vowel ‘’ is displayed in the text display area. In addition, when the user touches the first vowel key within a predetermined time and ends the touch without dragging, 'ㅐ' is displayed in the character display area instead of 'ㅏ'.

As described above, if the character is input not only by touch but also by a user command to touch and drag, not only the character can be input by using a smaller key but also the number of touches of the user can be reduced, The text display window can be reduced.

9 is a reference view illustrating a display unit on which a text input window is displayed according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

In the Hangul mode of the character input mode, as shown in FIG. 9A, a character input window is displayed. The character input window is composed of all nine keys, preferably in a 3x3 matrix. Six of the nine keys are assigned three consonants. It is preferable that three consonants are sequentially displayed on each key (hereinafter referred to as a 'fourth consonant key'). Since the character input method assigned to the fourth consonant key is the same, in the drawing, a character input method through one of the fourth consonant keys will be described, and reference numeral 920 will be used. One of the remaining three keys (hereinafter, referred to as a fifth consonant key) is assigned to one consonant, and the second to the second one is assigned three consonants. A first function key for identifiably displaying arranged consonants, and the last one is a second function key for identifiably displaying a third arranged consonant in a key to which three consonants are assigned.

In order to input the consonants 922 arranged first from the keys to which the three consonants are assigned, the user touches an area in which the fourth consonant key 920 on which the consonants to be input is displayed is displayed. Then, the controller 180 displays a consonant corresponding to the touched fourth consonant key 920 in the character display area.

In order to input the second consonant 924 of the fourth consonant key 920, the user touches an area where the first function key 930 is displayed. Then, the controller 180 can identify the second consonant 924 of the fourth consonant key 920 from another consonant (first arranged consonant 922 and third arranged consonant 926). To be displayed. For example, the second consonant 924 may be displayed larger than other consonants, or different colors may be displayed. Then, the user touches the area on which the first function key 930 is displayed, then drags to the area on which the consonant to be input is displayed and ends the touch. Then, the controller 180 displays the second consonant displayed in the character display area among the consonants displayed in the dragged area.

Finally, in order to input the third consonant 926 arranged among the fourth consonant keys 920, the user touches an area in which the second function key 930 is displayed. Then, the controller 180 distinguishes the third consonant 926 of the fourth consonant keys 920 from other consonants (the first consonant 922 and the second consonant 924). Display. For example, the third consonant 926 may be displayed larger than the other consonants 922 and 924, or different colors may be displayed. Then, the user touches the area on which the second function key 940 is displayed, then drags to the area where the consonant to be input is displayed and ends the touch. Then, the controller 180 displays the third consonant displayed among the consonants displayed in the dragged area in the character display area. The consonant assigned to the fourth consonant key 920 may be input in the same manner as described above. Consonants assigned to the fifth consonant key 950 may be input by touching the fifth consonant key 950.

In addition, the user can also input the vowel using the nine keys shown in (a) of FIG. 9. After the user touches the area where the fifth consonant key 950 is displayed, the user drags to a key disposed in one of the up, down, left, and right directions, and ends the touch. Then, the controller 180 displays a short vowel corresponding to the dragged direction in the character display area. For example, each of the dragged up, down, left, and right directions may correspond to 'ㅗ', 'ㅓ', 'ㅏ', and 'ㅜ', respectively.

In order to input 'ㅛ', 'ㅕ', 'ㅑ', and 'ㅠ' of the pair vowels, the user touches the area where the second function key 940 is displayed, and then the area where the fifth vowel key 950 is displayed. Drag to Then, the user drags to the key disposed in any one of the up, down, left, and right directions while touching the area where the fifth vowel key 950 is displayed, and ends the touch. Then, the controller 180 displays one of 'ㅛ', 'ㅕ', 'ㅑ', and 'ㅠ' in the character display area in response to the dragged direction. For example, the dragged up, down, left, and right directions may correspond to 'ㅛ', 'ㅕ', 'ㅑ', and 'ㅠ', respectively.

In addition, when a user command for dragging downward in an area where any one of the fifth consonant keys is displayed is received, the controller 180 can display 'l' in the character display area. When a user command for touching the area where the first function key 930 is displayed and dragging in the right direction is received, the controller 180 can display '-' in the text display area. The remaining pairs of vowels may be input by a combination of the vowel input methods described above.

Lastly, when the user wants to change to the English mode, the numeric mode, or the special character mode, the fifth consonant key 950 may be long touched. Then, the English mode, the numeric mode, the special character mode, and the Korean mode may be cyclically displayed according to the touch time of the long touch.

When the English mode is selected according to the touch of the area where the fifth consonant key 950 is displayed, the controller 180 may include a letter including a key and a letter display area in which an alphabet is displayed, as shown in FIG. An input window 960 is displayed. Since the method of inputting the alphabet displayed on each key is the same as the method of inputting the consonant of Korean, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. However, lowercase and uppercase letters of the alphabet displayed on each key may be determined according to the touch time. For example, the controller 180 may display a lowercase letter if the touch time is shorter than the preset time, and display an uppercase letter if the touch time is longer than the preset time.

Meanwhile, the present invention can be embodied as processor readable codes on a processor readable recording medium provided in a mobile terminal such as a mobile station modem (MSM). The processor-readable recording medium includes all kinds of recording devices that store data that can be read by the processor. Examples of the processor-readable recording medium include ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, floppy disk, optical data storage device, and the like, and may be implemented in the form of a carrier wave such as transmission through the Internet. The processor-readable recording medium can also be distributed over network coupled computer systems so that the processor-readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion.

In addition, although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described above, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, but the technical field to which the invention belongs without departing from the spirit of the invention claimed in the claims. Of course, various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art, and these modifications should not be individually understood from the technical spirit or the prospect of the present invention.

110: wireless communication unit 120: A / V input unit
130: user input unit 140: sensing unit
150: output unit 151: display unit
160: memory 170: interface unit
180:

Claims (10)

Displaying a plurality of keys for inputting characters through touch input and a character display area for displaying the input characters;
Receiving a user command of touching a region in which a first key is displayed among the plurality of keys and then dragging in a specific direction; And
Displaying a character corresponding to the specific direction in the character display area; and operating the mobile terminal. The method of claim 1,
And when the touch is received among the user commands in a region where the first key is displayed, a pop-up window including information on inputable characters is displayed. The method of claim 1,
The specific direction is a method of operating a mobile terminal, characterized in that any one of up, down, left, right. The method of claim 1,
And if the annoying touch of the user command is a single touch, the character is a single vowel. The method of claim 1,
And the character is a double vowel if the touch is multi-touch among the user commands. The method of claim 1,
If the touch is generated by touching the area on which the second key of the plurality of keys is displayed and then dragging the area to the area where the first key is displayed, the operation method of the mobile terminal characterized in that the character pairs . A display unit displaying a plurality of keys for inputting characters through touch input and the inputted characters; And
And a controller configured to display a vowel corresponding to the specific direction in the text display area when a user command of touching a region in which the first key is displayed and dragging in a specific direction is received. Mobile terminal. The method of claim 7, wherein
The control unit,
And a pop-up window including information on inputable characters is displayed when the touch of the user command is received in an area where the first key is displayed. The method of claim 7, wherein
The specific direction is a mobile terminal, characterized in that any one of up, down, left, right. The method of claim 1,
And the character is a vowel.

Images