KR20120031776A - Mobile terminal and control method for mobile terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mobile terminal and a control method of the mobile terminal.
In the present invention, when an item displayed on the touch screen is touched, the mobile terminal sequentially displays a menu group having a hierarchical structure related to the item for each layer.

Description

Mobile terminal and control method for mobile terminal

The present invention relates to a mobile terminal and a control method of the mobile terminal.

Terminals may be divided into mobile terminals and stationary terminals according to their mobility. Again, the mobile terminal may be divided into a handheld terminal and a vehicle mount terminal according to whether the user can carry it directly.

Recently, as the services provided by the mobile terminal are diversified, it is considered to improve the structural part and / or the software part of the terminal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a mobile terminal and a method of controlling the mobile terminal for increasing user convenience when executing an application function using contact information.

A mobile terminal according to an aspect of the present invention, a touch screen; And when the item displayed on the touch screen is touched, a menu group having a hierarchical structure related to the item is sequentially displayed for each layer, and a menu corresponding to a lower layer is displayed while all corresponding upper layer menus including the item are simultaneously touched. And a control unit for displaying the group.

A control method of a mobile terminal according to an aspect of the present invention includes the steps of displaying an item; And sequentially displaying a menu group of a hierarchical structure related to the item, if the item is touched, for each hierarchical layer. The displaying may include: when all corresponding upper layer menus including the item are simultaneously touched, Displaying a menu group corresponding to the hierarchy.

The mobile terminal and the method for controlling the mobile terminal according to the present invention have the effect of increasing the convenience of the user when executing the application function using the profile information.

1 is a block diagram of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 illustrates an example of hierarchically storing a menu group in relation to an item in the mobile terminal 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of a mobile terminal 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 to 7 illustrate examples of executing an application function using profile information in the mobile terminal 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
8 illustrates an example of arranging menu items in an elliptical shape in the mobile terminal 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The above objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and similarities. Like reference numerals designate like elements throughout the specification. In addition, when it is determined that the detailed description of the known function or configuration related to the present invention may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. In addition, numerals (e.g., days, days, etc.) used in the description of the present invention are merely an identifier for distinguishing one component from another component

It is to be understood that when an element is referred to as being "connected" or "connected" to another element, it may be directly connected or connected to the other element, . On the other hand, when an element is referred to as being "directly connected" or "directly connected" to another element, it should be understood that there are no other elements in between.

In addition, the suffixes "module" and "unit" for the components used in the following description are given or mixed in consideration of ease of specification, and do not have distinct meanings or roles from each other.

In addition, 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. .

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

1 is a block diagram of a mobile terminal according to embodiments 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, and 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 BroadcastHandheld (DVBH).

The broadcast receiving module 111 receives broadcast signals using various broadcasting systems. In particular, the broadcast receiving module 111 may be a digital multimedia broadcasting broadcasting (DMBT), a digital multimedia broadcasting satellite (DMBS), a media forward link only (MediaFLO), a digital video broadcasting ), And ISDBT (Integrated Services Digital Broadcast Terrestrial). Of course, the broadcast receiving module 111 may be adapted to other broadcasting systems that provide broadcast signals as well as the digital broadcasting system described above.

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 the wireless Internet module 113 can be embedded in the mobile terminal 100 or externally. WLAN (WiFi), Wibro (Wireless broadband), Wimax (World Interoperability for Microwave Access), HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) and the like can be used as wireless Internet technologies.

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 confirming or obtaining the location of the mobile terminal. A representative example of the location information module is a GPS (Global Position System) module. According to the current technology, the GPS module 115 calculates information about a distance of one point (object) away from three or more satellites, and information on a time when the distance information is measured, and then calculates the calculated distance information. By applying the trigonometric method to, three-dimensional positional information according to latitude, longitude, and altitude of one point (object) in one time can be calculated. Furthermore, a method of calculating position and time information using three satellites and correcting the error of the calculated position and time information using another satellite is also used. The GPS module 115 may continuously calculate the current position in real time and use the same to calculate speed information.

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 can be displayed on the display module 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 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 a current state of the mobile terminal 100 such as an open / closed state of the mobile terminal 100, a location of the mobile terminal 100, presence or absence of a user contact, orientation of the mobile terminal, acceleration / deceleration of the mobile terminal, and the like. To generate a sensing signal for controlling the operation of the mobile terminal 100. For example, when the mobile terminal 100 is in the form of a slide phone, it may sense whether the slide phone is opened or closed. In addition, 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. Meanwhile, the sensing unit 140 may include a proximity sensor.

The output unit 150 is for generating output related to visual, auditory or tactile sense and includes a display module 151, an acoustic output module 152, an alarm unit 153, and a haptic module 154 .

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

The display module 151 is a liquid crystal display, a thin film transistor liquid crystal display, an organic light emitting diode, a flexible display, or a 3D display. It may include at least one.

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 a transparent LCD. The rear structure of the display module 151 may also be of a light transmission type. With this structure, the user can see the object located behind the terminal body through the area occupied by the display module 151 of the terminal body.

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

In a case where the display module 151 and the sensor for sensing the touch operation (hereinafter, referred to as 'touch sensor') have a mutual layer structure (hereinafter referred to as 'touch screen' It 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 module 151 or capacitance generated at a specific portion of the display module 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. Thus, the control unit 180 can know which area of the display module 151 is touched or the like.

Referring to FIG. 1, a proximity sensor may be disposed in an inner region of the mobile terminal or in the vicinity of the touch screen, which is enclosed by the touch screen. The proximity sensor refers to a sensor that detects the presence or absence of an object approaching a predetermined detection surface or a nearby object without mechanical contact using the force of an electromagnetic field or infrared rays. The proximity sensor has a longer life span than the contact sensor and its utilization is also high.

Examples of the proximity sensor include a transmission type photoelectric sensor, a direct reflection type photoelectric sensor, a mirror reflection type photoelectric sensor, a high frequency oscillation type proximity sensor, a capacitive proximity sensor, a magnetic proximity sensor, and an infrared proximity sensor.

When the touch screen is capacitive, the touch screen is configured to detect the proximity of the pointer by the change of the electric field according to the proximity of the pointer. In this case, the touch screen (touch sensor) may be classified as a proximity sensor.

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

The proximity sensor detects a proximity touch and a proximity touch pattern (e.g., a proximity touch distance, a proximity touch direction, a proximity touch speed, a proximity touch time, a proximity touch position, a proximity touch movement state, and the like). 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 outputs an acoustic signal related to a function (e.g., a call signal reception sound, a message reception sound, etc.) performed in the mobile terminal 100. The sound output module 152 may include a receiver, a speaker, a buzzer, and the like.

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

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 the vibration, the haptic module 154 may be used for the effects of stimulation by the arrangement of pins vertically moving with respect to the contact skin surface, the effect of the injection force of the air through the injection or inlet or the stimulation through the suction force, and the stimulation that rubs the skin surface. Various tactile effects may be generated, such as effects by stimulation through contact of electrodes, effects by stimulation using electrostatic force, and effects of reproducing a sense of warmth and heat using an endothermic or heat generating element.

The haptic module 154 may not only deliver the haptic effect through direct contact, but also implement the haptic effect through the muscle sense of the user's finger or 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 relating to various patterns of vibration and sound 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), a RAM At least one of a random access memory (RAM), a static random access memory (SRAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a programmable read- Type storage medium. The mobile terminal 100 may operate in connection with a web storage that performs a storage function of the memory 160 on the Internet.

The interface unit 170 serves as a path with all external devices connected to the mobile terminal 100. The interface unit 170 receives data from an external device or receives power from the external device to transfer the data to each component in the mobile terminal 100 or to transmit data in 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 identify module (SIM), and a universal user authentication module. (Universal Subscriber Identity Module, USIM) and the like. Devices with identification modules (hereinafter referred to as "identification devices") can be manufactured in a smart card format. 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 moved. 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 control unit 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 may be implemented as application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field programmable gate arrays May be implemented using at least one of processors, controllers, microcontrollers, microprocessors, and electrical units for performing functions. In some cases such embodiments may be implemented using a controller 180 < / RTI >

According to a software implementation, embodiments such as procedures or functions may be implemented with separate software modules that perform at least one function or operation. The software code may be implemented by a software application written in a suitable programming language. In addition, the software codes may be stored in the memory 160 and executed by the control unit 180. [

An embodiment disclosed in this document may be implemented in the mobile terminal 100 described with reference to FIG. 1. Hereinafter, the operation of the mobile terminal 100 for the implementation of the embodiments disclosed in this document will be described in more detail.

The memory 160 stores hierarchical menu groups associated with items. 2 illustrates an example of hierarchically storing a menu group in relation to an item, and illustrates an example in which the item is profile information.

Referring to FIG. 2, menu groups related to profile information are divided into three layers. The menu group corresponding to the first layer, which is the highest layer, corresponds to the type of service that can be provided using profile information. The menu group of the first layer includes a call M1 corresponding to a call service, a short message service (SMS) / multimedia message service (M2) M2 corresponding to a message service, and an SNS corresponding to a social network service. Social Network Service (M3) and an E-mail (M4) menu corresponding to an email service may be included. The lower group of the Call (M1) menu, that is, the menu group of the second layer, includes a Voice Call (M11) menu and a Video Call (M12) menu. In addition, the lower hierarchical menu group of SMS / MMS M2 includes SMS 21 and MMS 22 menus. In addition, the lower layer menu group of the SNS M3 includes a Twitter M31, a Facebook M32, and a My Space M33 menu. In addition, the lower hierarchical menu group of the Twitter (M31) menu, that is, the menu group of the third hierarchical layer, includes @user (M311) corresponding to the tweet upload function, DM user (M312) corresponding to the direct message function, and follow ( Follow) includes the Follow / Unfollow (M313) menu corresponding to the setting function. The lower hierarchical menu group of the E-mail M4 also includes a reply M41, a Reply All M42, and a Forwarding M43 menu.

When an item displayed on the touch screen 151 is touched, the controller 180 sequentially displays a menu group having a hierarchical structure related to the touched item for each layer. Here, the controller 180 displays a menu group corresponding to the lower layer while all corresponding upper layer menus including the item are simultaneously touched.

Hereinafter, a method of controlling the mobile terminal 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 8.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of a mobile terminal 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 4 to 8 are diagrams for describing a control method of the mobile terminal 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the controller 180 displays an item on the touch screen 151 (S101). Thereafter, when the displayed item is touched (S102), the controller 180 displays a menu group corresponding to the highest layer among the menu groups associated with the item stored in the memory 160 on the touch screen 151 (S103). Here, the display of the menu group is activated only while the touch on the item is maintained. That is, the controller 180 displays the menu group only while the item is touched.

As one menu is touched in the menu group of the uppermost layer (S104), the controller 180 checks whether a menu group corresponding to the lower layer of the touched menu exists (S105). If there is a menu group corresponding to the lower layer of the touched menu, the controller 180 displays the menu group on the touch screen 151 (S106). Subsequently, when any one menu is touched in the menu group corresponding to the lowest layer among the menu groups displayed on the screen (S104), the controller 180 displays a menu group corresponding to the lower layer of the touched menu (S106). In this manner, menu groups associated with the items are sequentially displayed for each layer. Here, when one menu is touched, the controller 180 deactivates the display of the remaining menus included in the menu group of the same layer as the touched menu. In addition, the controller 180 displays a menu group corresponding to the lower layer only when all corresponding upper layer menus including the item are simultaneously touched.

In operation S105, when a menu group corresponding to a lower layer of the touched menu does not exist, the controller 180 executes an application mapped to the touched menu using information or content corresponding to the touched item. (S107). For example, when the touched item is profile information, the corresponding application may be executed using the profile information.

4 to 7 illustrate examples of displaying a menu group related to an item, and show an example in which the item is a profile image.

Referring to FIG. 4, the controller 180 displays the profile image 3a on the touch screen 151 (S201). As the profile image 3a displayed on the touch screen 151 is touched, the controller 180 displays menu groups M1 to M4 corresponding to the highest layer among the menu groups associated with the profile image 3a (S202). ). Here, the controller 180 displays the menu groups M1 to M4 on the touch screen only while the touch on the profile image 3a is maintained. The controller 180 touches the call M1 among the menus M1 to M4 while the touch on the item 3a is maintained, so that the menu groups M11 and M12 corresponding to lower layers of the call M1 are touched. That is, the voice call M11 and the video call M12 are displayed on the touch screen 151 (S203). In addition, the display of the remaining menus M2 to M4 included in the menu group of the same layer as the call M1 is deactivated. Referring to FIG. 2, a menu group corresponding to lower layers of the voice call M11 and the video call M12 does not exist. Accordingly, when the voice call (M11) or the video call (M12) menu is touched, the controller 180 uses an application number corresponding to the profile image 3a, that is, a voice call function or a video call function. Run On the other hand, the controller 180 displays the menu groups M11 and M12 corresponding to the lower layer of the Call (M1) menu on the touch screen 151 only while the touch on the item 3a and the Call (M1) menu is maintained. Display.

Referring to FIG. 5, when the profile image 3a displayed on the touch screen 151 is touched, the controller 180 controls the menu groups M1 to M4 corresponding to the highest layer among the menu groups associated with the profile image 3a. ) Is displayed (S301). Thereafter, the controller 180 corresponds to a lower layer of the SMS / MMS M2 as the SMS / MMS M2 menu of the menus M1 to M4 is touched while the touch on the item 3a is maintained. The menu groups M21 and M22, that is, the SMS M21 and the MMS M22, are displayed on the touch screen 151 (S302). In addition, the display of the remaining menus M1 and M3 to M4 of the same layer as the SMS / MMS M2 menu is deactivated. Referring to FIG. 2, no menu group corresponding to the lower layers of the SMS M21 and the MMS M22 exists. Accordingly, when the SMS M11 or MMS M12 menu is touched, the controller 180 executes an SMS writing function or an MMS writing function using a phone number corresponding to the profile image 3a. On the other hand, the controller 180 is a menu group corresponding to the lower layer of the SMS / MMS (M2) menu only while the touch on the profile image (3a) and SMS / MMS (M2) menu is maintained as in FIG. M21 and M22 are displayed on the touch screen 151.

Referring to FIG. 6, when the profile image 3a displayed on the touch screen 151 is touched, the controller 180 controls the menu groups M1 to M4 corresponding to the highest layer among the menu groups associated with the profile image 3a. ) Is displayed (S401). Subsequently, the controller 180 touches the SNS M3 menu among the menus M1 to M4 while the touch on the item 3a is maintained. M31, M32, M33, that is, Twitter (M31), Facebook (M32), and Myspace (M33) are displayed on the touch screen 151 (S402). In addition, the display of the remaining menus M1 to M2 and M4 of the same layer as the SNS M3 menu is deactivated. Referring to FIG. 2, menu groups M311 to M313 corresponding to lower layers of the Twitter M31 exist. Accordingly, when the Twitter (M31) menu is touched, the controller 180 displays menu groups M311 to M313 corresponding to the lower layers of the Twitter M31 (S403). In addition, the display of the remaining menus M32 to M33 in the same hierarchy as the Twitter M31 menu is deactivated. When any one of the menus is touched in the menu groups M311 to M313 corresponding to the lower layers of the Twitter M31, the touched menu functions using the SNS address mapped to the profile image 3a. Here, the controller 180 touches the menu groups M311 to M313 only when the profile image 3a and the upper layer menus SNS M3 and Twitter M31 of the menu groups M311 to M313 are simultaneously touched. (151).

Referring to FIG. 7, when the profile image 3a displayed on the touch screen 151 is touched, the controller 180 controls the menu groups M1 to M4 corresponding to the highest layer among the menu groups associated with the profile image 3a. ) Is displayed (S501). Thereafter, the controller 180 corresponds to a lower layer of the E-mail M4 as the E-mail M4 menu is touched among the menus M1 to M4 while the touch on the item 3a is maintained. The menu groups M41 to M43, that is, Reply (M41), Reply All (M42), and Forward (M43), are displayed on the touch screen 151 (S502). In addition, the display of the remaining menus M1 to M3 in the same hierarchy as the E-mail (M4) menu is deactivated. 2, there is no menu group corresponding to the lower hierarchies of Reply (M41), Reply All (M42), and Forward (M43). Accordingly, when the Reply (M41), Reply All (M42), or Forward (M43) menus are touched, the controller 180 performs an email reply, reply all, or forward function using an email address corresponding to the profile image 3a. Run it. Meanwhile, as in FIG. 4, the control unit 180 corresponds to a menu group corresponding to a lower layer of the E-mail (M4) menu only while the touch on the profile image 3a and the E-mail (M4) menu is maintained. M41 to M43 are displayed on the touch screen 151.

4 to 7, the menu group corresponding to each layer is displayed in a vertical direction. However, in the case of a menu group including a plurality of menus, arranging the menu groups corresponding to each layer in a vertical direction may cause inconvenience to a user touching a menu item with one hand. In addition, if the number of menus to be displayed is too large, the display area may be insufficient. Accordingly, in an embodiment of the present invention, the menu groups of each layer may be arranged in a planet shape around the items. In addition, only some menus included in the menu group for each layer may be displayed on the screen, and a menu displayed on the screen may be changed based on a dragging or flicking input.

8 illustrates an example of arranging menu items in a planetary shape.

Referring to FIG. 8, when the item 8a and the upper layer menu L1 (8b) are touched at the same time, the controller 180 may select some menus L21 to L25 (8c) corresponding to the lower layer of the L1 8b. 8g) is displayed on the touch screen 151 (S601). Here, the controller 180 displays some menus L21 to L25 (8c to 8g) corresponding to the lower layer of the L1 8b in a planetary shape with respect to the item 8a. Meanwhile, the menu group corresponding to the lower layer of the L1 8b includes more menus than the menus L21 to L25 8c to 8g displayed on the screen. Accordingly, when the control unit 180 drags while the upper layer menu L1 (8b) is touched, the controller 180 changes the menu of the lower layer displayed on the screen (S602). For example, as L1 (8b) is dragged downward while L21 to L25 (8c to 8g) menu is displayed on the screen, the menus of the lower hierarchy displayed on the screen are changed to L22 to L26 (8d to 8h). To display. Accordingly, the user can easily touch a desired menu even for a menu group composed of a plurality of menus.

In FIG. 8, a case in which lower layer menus of the L1 8b displayed on the screen are changed by dragging the upper layer menu L1 (8b) is illustrated as an example, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In the present invention, menus displayed on the screen may be changed by directly dragging an area where a menu of a layer to be changed is displayed. In addition, in the present invention, menus displayed on the screen may be changed by dragging an area other than the area where the menus are displayed.

In addition, the controller 180 according to an exemplary embodiment may change the display position of the menus included in the menu group with respect to the menu group including the number of menus that can be displayed on the screen, using the method illustrated in FIG. 8. have. That is, by dragging the upper layer menu, it is possible to change the display position of the corresponding lower layer menus. Accordingly, in order to touch the menu of the lower layer while simultaneously touching the item or the corresponding upper layer menu, the user may move and display the menu to a position that is easy to touch.

According to the embodiment of the present invention described above, when a user wants to execute an application function other than the currently running application, the user does not need to terminate the currently running application and re-execute the desired application. Only by touching an item displayed on the screen, and sequentially displaying and touching menu items related to the item, it is possible to find and execute a desired application function. For example, if you want to send an e-mail while running an SMS application, touch the area where the profile information of the user you want to send the e-mail is displayed, and display and touch menu items related to the profile information sequentially to activate the e-mail function. It is possible to execute. In this case, when the email function is executed, the email address mapped to the profile information displayed on the SMS application execution screen is automatically input. Accordingly, the user's convenience is increased, and there is an effect of minimizing a time delay until the application function is executed.

The method for controlling a mobile terminal according to the present invention described above may be provided by recording on a computer-readable recording medium as a program for executing in a computer.

The control method of the mobile terminal according to the present invention can be executed through software. When implemented in software, the constituent means of the present invention are code segments that perform the necessary work. The program or code segments may be stored in a processor readable medium or transmitted by a computer data signal coupled with a carrier in a transmission medium or communication network.

The computer-readable recording medium includes a mode type recording device in which data that can be read by a computer system is stored. Examples of computer-readable recording devices include ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, magnetic tape, floppy disk, hard disk, optical data storage device, and the like. The computer readable recording medium can also be distributed over network coupled computer devices so that the computer readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. The present invention is not limited to the drawings, and all or some of the embodiments may be selectively combined so that various modifications may be made.

Claims (5)

touch screen; And
When an item displayed on the touch screen is touched, a menu group having a hierarchical structure related to the item is sequentially displayed for each layer, and a menu group corresponding to a lower layer is displayed while all corresponding upper layer menus including the item are simultaneously touched. Control to display
Mobile terminal comprising a.
The method of claim 1,
And when the menu group of the lower layer is displayed, the controller deactivates the display of the upper layer menu except for all the upper layer menus.
The method of claim 1,
The controller is arranged to display menus included in the menu group in a planetary shape around the item.
The method of claim 1,
The control unit changes the display position of menu items included in the menu group corresponding to the lower layer when a drag input is received while the menu group corresponding to the lower layer is displayed.
Displaying an item; And
If the item is touched, sequentially displaying a menu group of a hierarchical structure related to the item for each layer,
The displaying step,
If all corresponding upper layer menus including the item are touched at the same time, displaying a menu group corresponding to the lower layer
Control method of a mobile terminal comprising a.

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