Method for operating three-dimensional handler and terminal supporting the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9552671-B2
Application number	US-201313746529-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 22, 2013
Priority date	Jan 25, 2012
Publication date	Jan 24, 2017
Grant date	Jan 24, 2017

Abstract

A terminal for supporting an operation of a three-dimensional handler includes: a display unit displaying a three-dimensional handler region having at least one link object and a link object information region outputting link object information in response to a movement or selection of the at least one link object on the three-dimensional handler and outputting the collected link object information in the link object information region.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A terminal for supporting an operation of a three-dimensional handler, comprising:
a display unit displaying:
the three-dimensional handler in a three-dimensional handler region, the three-dimensional handler including link objects categorized in link object groups partitioning the three-dimensional handler, and
a link object information region outputting a link object information corresponding a selected link object, and
an indicator region interposed between the three-dimensional handler region and the link object information region, the indicator region including indicators each corresponding to one of the categorized link object groups displayed on the three-dimensional handler, such that each indicator in the indicator region is aligned with a corresponding link object group on the three-dimensional handler; and

a controller for:
collecting the link object information in response to a movement of the three-dimensional handler or a selection of one of the link objects on the three-dimensional handler and outputting the collected link object information in the link object information region, and
removing the indicator region and the indicators from display in response to detecting an input to one of the link object groups,

wherein the controller is configured to determine whether a corresponding user function requires updating of the link object information in real time or during a predetermined time period and to update the link object information region based on the determination, and
wherein the three-dimensional handler comprises a border having a curvature, and at least one indicator is aligned with another indicator in the indicator region along an arc defined by the curvature.

2. The terminal of claim 1 , wherein the three-dimensional handler is selectively rotated in a predetermined direction according to a touch operation and displays a plurality of link objects on the three-dimensional handler as being rotated, and
wherein each link object group is aligned along a radius of the three-dimensional handler corresponding to the curvature to align with a corresponding indicator of the indicator region.

3. The terminal of claim 2 , wherein the link object information region provides one of:
a background image corresponding to the at least one of the link objects;
a plurality of link object information corresponding to at least one of the link object groups; and
a function button for executing at least one of the link object information corresponding to the at least one of the link objects.

4. The terminal of claim 2 , wherein the controller changes a size of the three-dimensional handler outputted on the display unit when a control operation for changing a location of the three-dimensional handler is requested.

5. The terminal of claim 2 , wherein the controller updates link object information according to generation of a preset touch operation in the link object information region, and updates a link object outputted on the three-dimensional handler corresponding to the updated link information when the link object information is updated.

6. The terminal of claim 1 , wherein the indicators define user function characteristics of a plurality of link objects forming a link object group.

7. The terminal of claim 6 , wherein the controller:
in response to detecting an input switching a displayed indicator to a new indicator in the indicator region, removes the plurality of link objects from display in the three-dimensional handler region, and controls the display unit to display a new plurality of link objects forming a second link group corresponding to the new indicator.

8. The terminal of claim 1 , wherein, in response to the input to the one of the link object groups, the link object information region is expanded to include a portion of the display unit from where the indicator region and the indicators are removed, and
wherein the three-dimensional handler is temporarily removed from the display unit or is displayed on the display unit in a semitransparent state in response to detecting a release of the input to the one of the link object groups.

9. The terminal of claim 8 , wherein when a touch object approaches or a touch event occurs in an output location of the three-dimensional handler, the display unit redisplays the temporarily removed three-dimensional handler, or reverts the three-dimensional handler in the semitransparent state back to an original state.

10. The terminal of claim 1 , further comprising a communication unit forming a communication channel for receiving the link object information from a specific server or another terminal.

11. The terminal of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further for:
after the indicator region and the indicators are removed from display, detecting a drag input in the link object information region; and
in response to the drag input detected in the link object information region, switching display of the link object information to new link object information and updating at least one link object group within the three-dimensional handler to correspond to the new link object information.

12. A method for operating a three-dimensional handler, the method comprising:
displaying the three-dimensional handler in a three-dimensional handler region disposed at a first end of a display unit, the three-dimensional handler including link objects categorized in link object groups partitioning the three-dimension handler;
displaying a link object information region having a link object information corresponding to a selected link object at a second end of the display unit opposite the first end;
displaying an indicator region interposed between the three-dimensional handler region and the link object information region, the indicator region including indicators each corresponding to one of the categorized link object groups displayed on the three-dimensional handler, such that each indicator in the indicator region is aligned with a corresponding link object group on the three-dimensional handler;
displaying a new link object information in response to a movement of the three-dimensional handler or a selection of one of the link objects on the three-dimensional handler;
determining whether a corresponding user function requires updating of the link object information in real time or during a predetermined time period and updating the link object information based on the determination; and
removing the indicator region and the indicators from display in response to detecting an input to one of the link object groups,
wherein the three-dimensional handler comprises a border having a curvature, and at least one indicator is aligned with another indicator in the indicator region along an arc defined by the curvature.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the three-dimensional handler is selectively rotated in a predetermined direction according to a touch operation and displays a plurality of link objects on the three-dimensional handler as being rotated, and
wherein each link object group is aligned along a radius of the three-dimensional handler corresponding to the curvature to align with a corresponding indicator of the indicator region.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
controlling a size of the three-dimensional handler outputted on the display unit in response to a location change of the three-dimensional handler.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
updating link object information according to generation of a preset touch operation in the link object information region; and
updating

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Park Kyungdae
• Kim Bonghee
• Myung Jihye
• Park Hyebin
• Oh Saegee

Classifications

• H04M2250/22

  including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector · CPC title

• G06T19/00 Primary

  Manipulating three-dimensional [3D] models or images for computer graphics · CPC title

• G06F3/04815 Primary

  Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional [3D], e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object · CPC title

• G06F3/0488

  using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures · CPC title

• H04B1/40 Primary

  Circuits · CPC title