Terminal for supporting icon operation and icon operation method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9678622-B2
Application number	US-201313856814-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 4, 2013
Priority date	Apr 4, 2012
Publication date	Jun 13, 2017
Grant date	Jun 13, 2017

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for an icon operation. A signal for designating a preset non-use period is received. An icon is output in a display format according to a non-use history of the icon and based on the preset non-use period.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A visual element operation method in a terminal, the method comprising;
receiving an input for designating a preset non-use period;
outputting, on a specific page, a visual element adjusted based on a non-use period of the visual element and the preset non-use period;
generating an additional page; and
moving, when the non-use period of the visual element is at least equal to the preset non-use period, a portion of the visual element onto the additional page while retaining a remaining portion of the visual element on the specific page,
wherein the additional page includes the moved portion of a visual element classified based on a type of an application corresponding to the visual element and a non-use period of the visual element.

2. The visual element operation method of claim 1 , wherein outputting the visual element comprises at least one of:
gradually reducing a size of the portion of the visual element in proportion to the non-use period;
gradually increasing a transparency of the portion of the visual element in proportion to the non-use period;
gradually increasing a dimness of the portion of the visual element in proportion to the non-used period;
gradually reducing the size of the portion of the visual element in proportion to the non-use history, and removing the portion of the visual element when the non-use period is at least equal to the preset non-use period;
gradually increasing the transparency of the portion of the visual element in proportion to the non-use history, and removing the portion of the visual element when the non-use period is a least equal to the preset non-use period; and
gradually increasing the dimness of the portion of the visual element in proportion to the non-use history, and displaying the portion of the visual element so the portion of the visual element is not recognized when the non-use period is at least equal to the preset non-use period.

3. The visual element operation method of claim 2 , wherein the remaining portion of the visual element comprises description information that describes the visual element, and
wherein the method further comprises maintaining the description information in an original state while the portion of the visual element is adjusted on the specific page or moved to the additional page.

4. The visual element operation method of claim 3 , further comprising automatically removing the portion of the visual element and an application associated with the visual element from an area of memory in which the portion of the visual element and the application are stored in response to the elapse of the preset non-use period for the visual element.

5. The visual element operation method of claim 1 , wherein moving the portion of the visual element comprises one of:
automatically moving the portion of the visual element when the non-use period of the visual element is at least equal to the preset non-use period for the visual element; and
outputting a pop-up window for moving the portion of the visual element onto the additional page when the non-use period is at least equal to the preset non-use period, and moving the portion of the visual element to the additional page when a move command is inputted through the pop-up window.

6. The visual element operation method of claim 5 , further comprising:
outputting a list of pages in the pop-up window such that the portion of the visual element is moved onto one of the listed pages when the pop-up window is outputted.

7. The visual element operation method of claim 1 , further comprising:
designating an additional preset non-use period for adjusting the moved portion of the visual element on the additional page according to the non-use period of the visual element; and
displaying the moved portion of the visual element on the additional page adjusted based on the non-use period of the visual element and based on the additional preset non-use period.

8. The visual element operation method of claim 7 , further comprising removing the moved portion of the visual element from the additional page, when the non-use period with respect to the visual element is at least equal to the additional preset non-use period.

9. The visual element operation method of claim 8 , wherein removing the moved portion of the visual element from the additional page comprises one of:
automatically removing the moved portion of the visual element and an application associated with the visual element from an area of memory in which the moved portion of the visual element and the application are stored, when the non-use history of the visual element elapses the additional preset non-use period; and
outputting a pop-up window for removing the moved portion of the visual element from the addition page when an input for selecting the moved portion of the visual element is generated while the non-use period of the visual element is at least equal to the additional preset non-use period, and removing the moved portion of the visual element and the application associated with the visual element from the area of memory in which the moved portion of the visual element and the application are stored when a move command is inputted through the pop-up window.

10. The visual element operation method of claim 9 , further comprising:
generating a list including meta data for restoring the removed portion of the visual element and the application associated with the visual element; and
restoring display of the removed portion of the visual element and an installation of the application associated with the visual element, when an input for reinstalling the application in the list is generated.

11. A terminal for supporting a visual element operation, the terminal comprising:
a display unit configured to output, on a specific page, visual element;
an input unit configured to receive an input for designating a preset non-use period for the at least one visual element; and
a processor configured to:
output the visual element adjusted based on a non-use period of the visual element and the preset non-use period,
generate an additional page, and
move, when the non-use period of the visual element is at least equal to the preset non-use period, a portion of the visual element onto the additional page, while retaining a remaining portion of the visual element on the specific page,
wherein the additional page includes the moved portion of a visual element classified based on a type of an application corresponding to the visual element and a non-use period of the visual element.

12. The terminal of claim 11 , wherein the processor performs at least one of:
visual element display control to gradually reduce a size of the portion of the visual element in proportion to the non-use period, and remove the portion of the visual element when the non-use period is at least equal to the preset non-use period;
visual element display control to gradually increase a transparency of the portion of the visual element in proportion to the non-use history, and remove the image of the portion of the visual element
visual element display control to gradually increase a dimness of the portion of the visual element in proportion to the non-use history, and display the portion of the visual element so that the portion of the visual elment is not recognized when the non-use period is at least equal to the preset non-use period.

13. The terminal of claim 12 , wherein the remaining portion of the visual element comprises description information that describe the visual element, and
wherein the display unit maintains the description information in an original state, an

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Lim Kyungsoo
• Seo Suckho
• Ahn Kisuh
• Yang Hyejung
• Rhim Eunhee
• Jun Jinha
• Cho Siejoon

Classifications

• G06F2203/04804

  Transparency, e.g. transparent or translucent windows · CPC title

• G06F3/04817 Primary

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

• H04M1/72586

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H04B1/40

  Circuits · CPC title

• G06F3/048 Primary

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