Touch screen device and method of displaying and selecting menus thereof

Abstract

A touch screen device and method for displaying and selecting menus thereof are provided. The touch screen device includes a screen with a display for displaying menu images thereon and a detector for detecting a touch on a screen, and a controller which displays one or more menu bars on the screen. Each of the menu bars may have an expanded portion at one end thereof, and the menu bars may be displayed such that the expanded portions are arranged in a zigzag pattern to facilitate menu selection and reduce input errors. When two or more menu bars are erroneously touched, the controller may enlarge and display the touched menus so that a new touch input for the correct menu can be easily made. Thus, menus displayed on the touch screen may be arranged for easy selection, and input errors may be easily corrected.

Description

[0001]This is a Continuation application of Ser. No. 11 / 646,604 filed Dec. 28, 2006, which claims priority to Application Serial Nos. 10-2006-0035443 filed Apr. 19, 2006 and 10-2006-0046719 filed on May 24, 2006 in Korea, the entirety of which are incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND[0002]1. Field[0003]A touch screen device method of displaying menus on a touch screen device are disclosed herein.[0004]2. Background Art[0005]Generally, electronic devices are provided with a menu screen to allow a user to easily use the functions provided by the device. Since a single device typically provides a variety of services and functions, menu screen(s) and the related menu information is necessary, and a variety of methods for more easily executing the functions provided by the menus are continuously being developed and introduced. A menu structure typically includes a main menu where functions are classified by categories, and submenus linked to respective menu items of the main menu....

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent text describes a method for displaying menus on a touch screen device. The technical effect of this patent is to improve the accuracy and ease of use of portable information terminals by reducing the size of the menu bars on the touch screen and allowing for easier selection of desired functions. Additionally, the patent describes a method for correcting touch errors and erroneous selections, which is currently not possible with conventional key button input methods.

Problems solved by technology

Since portable information terminals must be small enough in overall size to be easily carried, conventional key button input methods are difficult to use.

However, due to the size of most portable information terminals, a plurality of menu bars are inevitably displayed close together on the touch screen making it difficult to accurately select a desired menu, resulting in touch errors and / or erroneous selections.

Further, when such an error occurs, there is no way to correct the error.

That is, a user must typically first execute an undesired function before returning to an earlier menu to correct the error, or the touch screen does not respond to the user's input when the touch error occurs.

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