Electronic device and operating method thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9971712-B2
Application number	US-201414211664-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 14, 2014
Priority date	Mar 14, 2013
Publication date	May 15, 2018
Grant date	May 15, 2018

Abstract

A method for operating an electronic device is provided. In the method, an electronic cover is connected. Configuration information of the electronic cover is obtained. A User Interface (UI) corresponding to the configuration information is set. Various other embodiments are also possible.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method in an electronic device, the method comprising:
detecting that an electronic cover device is connected to the electronic device,
wherein the electronic cover device includes a first cover and a second cover, the first cover rotatably coupled to the second cover and electronically connected to the second cover,
wherein the second cover is coupled to a back side of the electronic device to cover the back side of the electronic device, and wherein the second cover is electronically connected to the electronic device when the second cover is coupled to the back side of the electronic device,
wherein the first cover is rotatable to cover a first screen on a front side of the electronic device, and wherein the electronic device is disposed between the first cover and the second cover when the first cover is rotated to cover the first screen, and
wherein the first cover comprises opposite first and second surfaces, and the first surface conceals the first screen when the first cover is rotated to cover the first screen;
when it is determined that the first cover includes only a second screen disposed on the first surface:
in response to a detection that the first cover is rotated to cover the first screen, deactivating the first and second screens, and
in response to a detection that the first cover is rotated to open the first screen, activating at least one of the first screen and the second screen when displaying content;

when it is determined that the first cover includes only a third screen disposed on the second surface:
in response to a detection that the first cover is rotated to cover the first screen, activating the third screen when displaying the content, and
in response to a detection that the first cover is rotated to open the first screen, activating the first screen when displaying the content; and

when it is determined that the first cover includes the second screen disposed on the first surface and the third screen disposed on the second surface:
in response to a detection that the first cover is rotated to cover the first screen, activating the third screen when displaying the content, and
in response to a detection that the first cover is rotated to open the first screen, activating at least one of the first screen and the second screen when displaying the content, and deactivating the third screen.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, when it is determined that the first cover includes the second screen disposed on the first surface, and it is detected that the first cover is rotated to open the first screen:
displaying an image via the first screen, and in response to a touch input on the first screen, enlarging the image, dividing and displaying the enlarged image to two sides of the first screen and the second screen, or
displaying an image via the second screen, and in response to a touch input on the second screen, enlarging the image, dividing and displaying the enlarged image to two sides of the first screen and the second screen.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, when it is determined that the first cover includes the second screen disposed on the first surface, and it is detected that the first cover is rotated to open the first screen:
displaying a first contents via the first screen and a second contents via the second screen, and in response a touch input on the first screen or the second screen, displaying the first contents via the second screen, and displaying the second contents via the first screen.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, when it is determined that the first cover includes the second screen disposed on the first surface, and it is detected that the first cover is rotated to open the first screen:
displaying scrollable contents via two sides of the first screen and the second screen, and in response a user input, scrolling the contents.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the user input comprises:
a touch input on the first screen or the second screen, or
a gesture input over the electronic device or the electronic cover device.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, when it is determined that the first cover includes the second screen disposed on the first surface, and it is detected that the first cover is rotated to open the first screen:
displaying a list of items via the first screen, and in response to a selection of one among the list of items, displaying, via the second screen, content according to the selected items, or
displaying a list of items via the second screen, and in response to a selection of one among the list of items, displaying, via the first screen, content according to the selected items.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, when it is determined that the first cover includes the second screen disposed on the first surface, and it is detected that the first cover is rotated to open the first screen:
displaying a list of phone book entries via the second screen; and
in response to a selection of one among the list of phone book entries, calling a phone number of the selected phone book entry, and displaying a call screen via the first screen.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, when it is determined that the first cover includes the second screen disposed on the first surface, and it is detected that the first cover is rotated to open the first screen:
executing a user-selected application; and
displaying, via the first screen, a first content based on the executed application, and displaying, via the second screen, a second content based on the executed application.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, when it is determined that the first cover includes the second screen disposed on the first surface, and it is detected that the first cover is rotated to open the first screen:
concurrently executing user-selected first and second applications; and
displaying, via the first screen, a first content based on the executed first application, and displaying, via the second screen, a second content based on the executed second application.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, when it is determined that the first cover includes the third screen disposed on the second surface, and it is detected that the first cover is rotated to cover the first screen:
detecting at least one event, wherein the at least one event includes:
user inputs generated in the electronic device or the electronic cover device, or
a wireless signal received from an external electronic device; and

displaying, via the third screen, content according to the at least one event.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the at least one event is associated with a call reception or a message reception from the external electronic device.

12. The method of claim 10 ,
wherein the at least one event is generated when a stylus is separated from the electronic device, and
wherein in response to the at least one event, providing, via the third screen, a screen for a handwriting mode.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, when it is determined that the first cover includes the third screen disposed on the second surface, and it is detected that the first cover is rotated to cover the first screen:
displaying scrollable contents via the third screen; and
in response to a touch input on the third screen, scrolling the contents.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising, when it is detected that the first cover is rotated to open the first screen:
inactivating the third screen; and
displaying the content via the first screen.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Oh Hun Cheol
• Kim Soo-Hyung
• Yoon Seok-Hyun
• Kim Jin-Woo
• Kim Hyun-Jung
• Cheong Cheol-Ho
• Hong Myunggon

Classifications

• G06F2203/04803

  Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas · CPC title

• G06F2200/1634

  Integrated protective display lid, e.g. for touch-sensitive display in handheld computer · CPC title

• G06F3/04886

  by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus · CPC title

• G06F3/0487

  using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser · CPC title

• G06F3/0482

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