Electronic device and method of controlling object in electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016147384-A1
Application number	US-201514877340-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 7, 2015
Priority date	Nov 25, 2014
Publication date	May 26, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a display module functionally connected to the electronic device and an object control module configured to create object property information based on a characteristic of an application and configure and display an object for controlling at least some functions of the application based on the object property information when the application is executed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An electronic device comprising:
a display module functionally connected to the electronic device; and an object control module configured to:
create object property information based on a characteristic of an application, and
configure and display an object for controlling at least some functions of the application based on the object property information when the application is executed.

2 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the object property information comprises at least one of the shape of an object, the number of items contained in the object, functions of the items contained in the object, or the location of the object.

3 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein, when a screen change occurs while the application is executed, the object control module is further configured to:
create object property information based on the changed screen, and configure and display an object for controlling at least some functions of the application based on the object property information.

4 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein, when an event occurs while the application is executed, the object control module is further configured to:
create object property information based on information of the event, and configure and display an object for controlling the event based on the object property information.

5 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein, while execution screens of a plurality of applications are displayed in a plurality of windows, respectively, the object control module is further configured to:
create object property information based on a characteristic of an application executed in an activated window among the plurality of windows, and configure and display an object for controlling the application executed in the activated window based on the object property information.

6 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein, while displaying an execution screen of an identical application in a plurality of windows, the object control module is further configured to:
create object property information based on a characteristic of the application, and configure and display an object for controlling the application based on the object property information.

7 . The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein, when an input for selecting a specific application is detected after a specific item is selected from at least one item contained in the object, the object control module is further configured to perform a function corresponding to the specific item in the specific application.

8 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein, while displaying a plurality of applications in a plurality of windows, respectively, the object control module is further configured to:
create a plurality of pieces of object property information based on the characteristics of the plurality of applications, and configure and display an object for controlling the plurality of applications based on the plurality of pieces of object property information.

9 . The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the object control module is further configured to distinguishably arrange and display a plurality of items contained in the object for controlling the plurality of applications, based on at least one of shapes, sizes, colors, or locations thereof according to the plurality of pieces of object property information.

10 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein, while executing the application, the object control module is further configured to:
identify at least one hold detection signal, and distinguishably display the object in at least one partial area of the display module that correspond to the at least one hold detection signal.

11 . A method of controlling an object in an electronic device, the method comprising:
creating object property information based on a characteristic of an application when the application is executed; and configuring and displaying an object for controlling at least some functions of the application based on the object property information.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the object property information comprises at least one of the shape of an object, the number of items contained in the object, functions of the items contained in the object, or the location of the object.

13 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
creating, when a screen change occurs while the application is executed, object property information based on the changed screen; and configuring and displaying an object for controlling at least some functions of the application based on the object property information.

14 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
creating, when an event occurs while the application is executed, object property information based on information of the event; and configuring and displaying an object for controlling the event based on the object property information.

15 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
creating, while execution screens of a plurality of applications are displayed in a plurality of windows, respectively, object property information based on a characteristic of an application executed in an activated window among the plurality of windows; and configuring and displaying an object for controlling the application executed in the activated window based on the object property information.

16 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
creating, while displaying an execution screen of an identical application in a plurality of windows, object property information based on a characteristic of the application; and configuring and displaying an object for controlling the application based on the object property information.

17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
displaying at least one item contained in the object; and performing, when an input for selecting a specific application is detected after a specific item is selected from at least one item contained in the object, a function corresponding to the specific item in the specific application.

18 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
creating, while displaying a plurality of applications in a plurality of windows, respectively, a plurality of pieces of object property information based on characteristics of the plurality of applications; and configuring and displaying an object for controlling the plurality of applications based on the plurality of pieces of object property information.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the displaying of the object comprises:
distinguishably arranging and displaying a plurality of items contained in the object for controlling the plurality of applications, based on at least one of shapes, sizes, colors, or locations thereof according to the plurality of pieces of object property information.

20 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
identifying, while executing the application, at least one hold detection signal; and distinguishably displaying the object in one or more partial areas of the display module that correspond to the at least one hold detection signal.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Hong Jee-Eun
• Kwak Kyung-Moon
• Jung Young-Il

Classifications

• G06F3/04817

  using icons (graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34) · CPC title

• G06F3/0482 Primary

  Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus · CPC title

• G06F3/04842

  Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements (G06F3/0482 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06F9/451

  Execution arrangements for user interfaces · CPC title

• G06F3/048 Primary

  Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] · CPC title