Title of Invention

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING VIRTUAL GRAFFITI FUNCTION

Abstract This invention relates to an apparatus for providing a virtual graffiti function, comprising; a touch-screen display (500) for displaying information on its screen (402), and at the same time receiving user-entry data created by a user touching the screen (402); and a controller (506) connected to the touch-screen display (500), which overlaps a graffiti screen image with a main screen image in a virtual graffiti area (404) for providing a portion of the screen (402) with virtual graffiti, the controller (506) classifying the user-entry data created by the user touching the screen (402) into application execution entry data and graffiti entry data according to the touched position and / or a manner in which the user touches the screen (402), and processes the classified user-entry data according to the classification.
Full Text BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hand-held device (such as a mobile
phone, PDA, or other mobile terminal), and more particularly to an apparatus for
providing virtual graffiti using a touch-screen display for displaying information
on its screen simultaneously with receiving user-entry data resulting from the user
touching the screen.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional hand-held devices, such as for example, PDAs (Personal
Digital Assistants) and smart phones where a PDA function is combined with a
mobile terminal function, receive user-entry data from a touchpad. Particularly,
a specific hand-held device (e.g., a smart phone) for receiving user-entry data
from a keypad configured in the form of a 3x4 matrix keypad (i.e., ten number
keys 0-9 and two function keys * and #) must enable a user to directly draw-
desired numeric or character information on its touchpad. The number of overall
keys contained in the keypad is limited to a predetermined number, whereby it is
difficult for the user of the smart phone to effectively enter all the characters using
only the keys contained in the keypad. Such a hand-held device capable of
receiving numeric or character data generally contains a predetermined data entry
area. The data entry area is called a graffiti area in the case of Palm OS
(operating System).
The first-generation PDA or smart phone has generally printed the graffiti
area on a touchpad to implement a graffiti function as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
Fig. 1 is an exemplary view illustrating a touch-screen display 100 equipped with
a graffiti area 108 printed on a touchpad 102. Fig. 2 is an exemplary
configuration where a touchpad 202 equipped with a graffiti area 208 is separated
from a touch-screen display 200. Generally, the touch-screen display 100 of Fig.
1 and the touch-screen display 200 of Fig. 2 are constructed by covering an LCD
(Liquid Crystal Display) panel for displaying images with a TSP (Touch-Sensitive
Panel) for receiving user-entry data, respectively. Therefore, the touch-screen
display 100 and the touch-screen display 200 can display information on their
screens 104 and 204, and at the same time can receive user-entry as a result of the
user touching the screens 104 and 204, respectively. Various application
information is displayed on the screens 104 and 204 so that the user can view the
displayed information. Figs. 1 and 2 show display formats of icons 106 and 206
for executing a variety of applications. An icon 112 and a graffiti input box 110
are printed on the graffiti area 108 of Fig. 1. An icon 212 and a graffiti input
box 210 are printed on the graffiti area 208 of Fig. 2. The icons 112 and 212 are
adapted to implement a graffiti function. The graffiti input boxes 110 and 210
are adapted to receive graffiti entered by a user using a stylus pen.
There has recently been proposed a virtual graffiti scheme as shown in Fig.
3 A for implementing the graffiti area using a software program, and the virtual
graffiti scheme has become increasingly popular as a substitute for a current
mobile phone. The virtual graffiti scheme enables a user to draw desired images
(i.e., graffiti) on a screen of a touch-screen display so that the drawn graffiti is
displayed on the screen. If the virtual graffiti is implemented using the software
program, a flexible GUI (Graphic User Interface) service can be established, and
at the same time the virtual graffiti area can disappear from the screen when the
graffiti function is unused, as shown in Fig. 3B, resulting in increased efficiency
of screen use. Referring to Figs. 3 A and 3B, a graffiti area 304 is displayed on a
screen 302 of the touch-screen display 300. The screen 302 includes a plurality
of icons 306 for executing a variety of applications in the same way as in the
screens 104 and 204 of Figs. 1 and 2. Similar to the graffiti areas 108 and 208 of
Figs. 1 and 2, the graffiti area 304 includes a plurality of icons 310 for executing
the graffiti function and a graffiti input box 308 for enabling the user to enter
desired graffiti using a data entry tool such as a stylus pen.
However, the graffiti implementation scheme for physically implementing
the graffiti area as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and the virtual graffiti implementation
scheme for software implementation of the graffiti area as shown in Figs. 3 A and
3B must assign additional dedicated areas or space to their graffiti areas.
Hand-held devices must be a small-sized and lightweight communication terminal,
such that the additional dedicated area for the graffiti area may encounter
limitations due to the small-size and lightweight requirements. Particularly, in
case of using a specific hand-held device having a screen where the size ratio of a
width to a height is equal to 1:1 in a way similar to a folder-type smart phone, the
specific hand-held device cannot use the graffiti function due to its use of a
small-sized keyboard instead of the graffiti function.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above
problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and
method for effectively implementing a graffiti function in a hand-held device
limited in size, and a recording medium for the same.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and
method which need not assign an additional area or space to a virtual graffiti area,
and a recording medium for the same.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and
method for providing a screen having a specific size ratio of 1:1 with a virtual
graffiti function.
In accordance with the present invention, the above and other objects can
be accomplished by the provision of an apparatus for providing virtual graffiti,
comprising: a touch-screen display for displaying information on its screen, and at
the same time receiving user-entry data created by a user touching the screen; and
a controller connected to the touch-screen display, which overlaps a graffiti screen
image with a main screen image in a virtual graffiti area for providing a portion of
the screen with the virtual graffiti, the controller classifies the user-entry data
created by the user touching the screen into application execution entry data and
graffiti entry data according to the touched position and/or a manner in which the
user touches the screen, and processes the classified user-entry data according to
its classification.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present
invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figs. 1 and 2 are exemplary views each illustrating a graffiti area printed
on a touchpad;
Figs. 3A and 3B are exemplary views each illustrating a virtual graffiti area
displayed on a screen contained in a touch-screen display in which the virtual
graffiti area is implemented using software;
Figs. 4A and 4B are exemplary views each illustrating a virtual graffiti area
displayed on a screen contained in a touch-screen display in accordance with a
preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Fig 5 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for providing virtual
graffiti in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a display update process in accordance
with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 7 is an example of the display update process in accordance with a
preferred embodiment of the present invention; and
Fig. 8 is a flow chart illustrating a method for processing data created by
the user touching a screen in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Now, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in
detail with reference to the annexed drawings. In the drawings, the same or
similar elements are denoted by the same reference numerals even though they are
depicted in different drawings. In the following description, a detailed
description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be
omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention unclear.
Referring to Figs. 4A and 4B showing examples for providing virtual
graffiti, some parts of the screen 402 contained in the touch-screen display 400 are
assigned to a virtual graffiti area 404 in such a way that it may provide a virtual
graffiti function. If the virtual graffiti function of the present invention is
enabled, a graffiti screen image and a main screen image are overlapped with each
other in the virtual graffiti area 404 as shown in Fig. 4A. Otherwise, if the
virtual graffiti function is disabled, only a main screen image is displayed, as
shown in Fig. 4B. Similar to images displayed on screens 104, 204, and 302 of
Figs. 1, 2, 3 A and 3B, respectively, the main screen image of Fig. 4B indicates an
image generated by the execution of an OS (Operating System) or various
applications. Similar to the graffiti area 304 of Fig. 3 A, the graffiti screen image
of Fig. 4A indicates an image displayed to provide a user with a virtual graffiti
function. The virtual graffiti area 404 of Fig. 4A is partially overlapped with the
screen 402, whereas the graffiti area of Fig. 3A is used as a dedicated area for
virtual graffiti. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 4A, some icons 412 contained in the
plurality of icons needed for the execution of various applications are overlapped
with a graffiti screen image whereas the other icons 406 are displayed on the
screen 402 without any change. In more detail, in the same way as in Fig. 3A,
the virtual graffiti area 404 includes a plurality of icons 410 needed for the graffiti
function and a graffiti input box 408 for receiving graffiti generated by the user
touching box 408 using a stylus pen. The graffiti input box 408 is overlapped
with the main screen image so that it is translucently displayed on the main screen
image.
Fig 5 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for providing the virtual
graffiti function in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention. Referring to Fig. 5, a touch-screen display 500 corresponds to the
touch-screen displays 400 of Figs. 4A and 4B, and includes an LCD (Liquid
Crystal Display) 504 for displaying images thereon and a TSP (Touch-Sensitive
Panel) 502 for receiving user-entry data from a user. The touch-screen display
500 generally is constructed such that the LCD 504 is covered with the TSP 502,
so as to display information on the screen 402 of Figs. 4A and 4B and at the same
time can receive user-entry data as a result of the user touching the screen 402.
A controller 506 connected to the touch-screen display 500 overlaps the
graffiti screen image with the main screen image, and displays the overlapped
image on the virtual graffiti area 404. The controller 506 classifies user-entry
data created by the user touching the screen 402 into application execution entry
data and graffiti entry data according to the user's touch position and/or the user's
touch method, and processes the application execution entry data and the graffiti
entry data differently from each other. The controller 506 includes an ADC
(Analog-to-Digital Converter) 512, a memory 514, a DMA (Direct Memory
Access) controller 522, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) controller 524, a CPU
(Central Processing Unit) 508, and a host interface 510., The ADC 512, the
memory 514, the DMA controller 522, and the LCD controller 524 are connected
to the CPU (Central Processing Unit) 508 via the host interface 510.
The ADC 512 is connected to the TSP 502 of the touch-screen display 500,
converts an analog user-entry signal created by the user touching the screen 402
into a digital signal, and transmits the digital signal to the CPU 508 via the host
interface 510. The LCD controller 524, acting as a display controller, is
connected to the LCD 504 of the touch-screen display 500 while simultaneously
being connected to the DMA controller 522, drives the LCD 504 upon receiving
video data from the DMA controller 522, and displays an image corresponding to
the received video data on the screen 402.
The memory 514 includes first and second video buffers 516 and 518 and a
graffiti screen memory 520, and stores video data by means of the CPU 508.
The graffiti screen memory 520 stores video data of the graffiti screen image. The
first video buffer 516 stores video data of the main screen image displayed on the
screen 402. The second video buffer 518 stores the overlapped video data where
the graffiti screen image is overlapped with the main screen image. The
overlapped area occupies a portion of the main screen image, and corresponds to a
virtual graffiti area 404 as shown in Fig. 4A. In this way, individual video data
stored in the first and second video buffers 516 and 518 are selectively read by the
DMA controller 522 upon receiving a control signal from the CPU 508, and the
read data is transmitted to the LCD controller 524.
The CPU 508 processes user-entry data received from the ADC 512,
selectively updates the video data of the first and second video buffers 516 and
518 according to the user-entry data, and controls a selective video data readout
operation of the DMA controller 522 on the basis of specific information
indicative of an enable or disable state of the virtual graffiti function upon receipt
of a user's selection signal.
A display update process for the CPU 508 for use in the apparatus of Fig. 5
is described in Fig. 6. A method for displaying images on the screen 402 to
provide a user with a virtual graffiti function will hereinafter be described with
reference to Fig. 7. The CPU 508 begins to perform operations of Fig. 6
according to a predetermined condition, and determines whether there is a need
for the screen 402 to display an image thereon at step 600. There are a variety of
startup conditions of the above CPU 508 's operation, for example, a first
condition where the user enters desired data on the screen 402 using a
screen-touch method, a second condition where a current time reaches a periodic
display update time determined by an OS(Operating System)timer, a third
condition where display update operations are required due to the execution of
various applications, etc.
If it is determined that such a display update operation is currently required
at step 600, the CPU 508 updates data of the first video buffer 516 with a main
screen image of Fig. 7(a) at step 602. Therefore, the first video buffer 516 stores
video data of a specific image to be displayed on the screen 402 according to an
OS or current active application. The CPU 508 determines if the virtual graffiti
function is enabled or not at step 604. The enable or disable operation of the
virtual graffiti function is selected by the user. If the user wishes to enter graffiti
on the screen, the virtual graffiti function is enabled. Otherwise, if the user does
not wish to enter graffiti on the screen, the virtual graffiti function is disabled.
In this way, the user can freely select either one of two modes (i.e., the virtual
graffiti enable mode and the virtual graffiti disable mode) in the same way as in
Figs. 3A and 3B.
If it is determined that the virtual graffiti function is enabled at step 604,
the CPU 508 goes to step 606. Otherwise, if it is determined that the virtual
graffiti function is disabled at step 604, the CPU 508 goes to step 614. The main
screen image (e.g., Fig. 7(a)) stored in the first video buffer 516 is overlapped
with a graffiti screen image (e.g., Fig. 7(b)) stored in the graffiti screen memory
520 using an alpha-blending method at step 606, such that the overlapped result is
configured in the form of a specific image (e.g., Fig. 7(c)). The overlapped
image is stored in the second video buffer 518 in such a way that the second video
buffer 518 can be updated at step 606. In this case, the graffiti screen memory
520 is designed to pre-store the graffiti screen image of Fig. 7(b) in the form of a
bitmap file or database. Therefore, the graffiti screen image can be replaced
with a user-desired image, and the user can freely set up attribution (e.g., shape,
size, and color, etc.) of the graffiti screen image. In order to provide the user
with the graffiti screen image setup service, a user-setting window is provided on
the screen in the same way as in a general image setup scheme, so that the user
can freely change data displayed on the screen. Furthermore, the user can freely
set up other attribution (e.g., position and transparency) of the virtual graffiti area
404 using the user-setting window. In this case, using an alpha-blending method,
the main screen image is combined with the graffiti screen image at a
predetermined overlap ratio varying with the setup transparency. For example,
provided that the transparency of the graffiti screen image associated with the
main screen image is set to 0.7 using a user-selection value or default value, a
pixel value of the main screen image and the other pixel value of the graffiti
screen image are blended with each other at a predetermined ratio of 7:3.
After the second video buffer 518 has been updated at step 606, the CPU
508 determines whether a stroke-inking operation is required at step 608. In the
case where the user writes desired graffiti on the screen using screen-touch action
to generate user's strokes, the stroke-inking operation is adapted to display the
user's strokes on the virtual graffiti area 404 as shown in Fig. 7(d). In this case,
the user can freely set up a variety of attribution (e.g., stroke-inking enable/disable
state, color, transparency, etc.) using the user-setting window. Provided that the
stroke-inking process is set up and the user writes desired data on the screen using
screen-touch action, the CPU 508 generates a stroke-inking image caused by the
user's stroke at step 610, stores the image in the second video buffer 518, and
goes to step 612. Therefore, the stroke-inking image (e.g., Fig. 7(d)) is
overlapped with the overlapped image (e.g., Fig. 7(c)) between the main screen
image and the graffiti screen image. As shown in Fig. 7(d), a stroke-inking
image of 2 is overlapped with the image of Fig. 7(c) when the user records a
specific number 2 on the screen. Provided that the stroke-inking process is not
set up and the user does not write desired data on the screen, the CPU 508 jumps
from step 608 to step 612 without passing through step 610.
The DMA controller 522 transmits video data stored in the second video
buffer 518 to the LCD controller 524 in such a way that a display update operation
can be established at step 612. In this case, if the stroke-inking process of step
610 is not performed, the DMA controller 522 transmits the video data of Fig.
7(c) equal to the overlapped image between the main screen image and the graffiti
screen image to the LCD controller 524, such that the video image of Fig. 7(c) is
displayed on the screen 402. Otherwise, if the stroke-inking process of step 610
is performed, the DMA controller 522 transmits the video data of Fig. 7(d) where
the stroke-inking image is overlapped with the overlapped image between the
main screen image and the graffiti screen image to the LCD controller 524, such
that the video image of Fig. 7(d) is displayed on the screen 402.
If it is determined that the virtual graffiti function is disabled at step 604,
the DMA controller 522 transmits video data stored in the first video buffer 516 to
the LCD controller 524 at step 614 so that a display update operation can be
established. In other words, the DMA controller 522 transmits video data
composed of only the main screen image of Fig. 7(a) to the LCD controller 524,
such that a specific image having no virtual graffiti is displayed on the screen 402
as shown in Fig. 7(a).
The main screen image and the graffiti screen image are overlapped with
each other in the virtual graffiti area 404. Accordingly, upon receiving
user-entry data from the virtual graffiti area 404 contained in the screen 402, the
CPU 508 must determine whether the received user-entry data is either entry data
for application execution or graffiti entry data, and must process the received
user-entry data according to the determined result. For this purpose, the CPU
508 classifies the user-entry data into application execution entry data and graffiti
entry data according to a user's touch position and/or user's touch action, and
differently processes the classified data. For example, if the user touches the
screen 402 with a stylus pen and does not move the stylus pen contacted with the
screen 402 during a predetermined time, the CPU 508 determines that the
user-entry data is application execution entry data. In more detail, provided that
a user's stylus pen touches the application icon 412 contained in the overlapped
image between the main screen image and the graffiti screen image and remains at
the touched position without any movement during a predetermined time, the
CPU 508 executes an application program corresponding to the touched icon 412.
In a different manner from the example shown in Fig. 4A, the
aforementioned method for executing the application program may also be
adapted to another case where another application program different from the
application program has already been executed, and may also be easily
implemented using buttons currently displayed on the virtual graffiti area 404 of
the screen 402 according to a current execution application program. On the
other hand, provided that the user touches the screen 402 using the stylus pen,
moves the stylus pen contacted with the screen 402 to another place of the screen
402, or takes the stylus pen off of the screen 402 before a predetermined time
elapses, the CPU 508 determines that the user-entry data is graffiti entry data. In
more detail, although the user's stylus pen touches the application icon 412
contained in the overlapped image between the main screen image and the graffiti
screen image, if the user moves the stylus pen contacted with the screen 402 to
another place on the screen 402, or takes the stylus pen off of the screen 402
before a predetermined time elapses, the CPU does not execute the application
program corresponding to the icon 412 and determines that the user-entry data is
graffiti entry data. In the case of recognizing the user-entry data as graffiti entry
data, the graffiti entry data can be classified into two touch data units composed of
first touch data created by the user touching the graffiti input box 412 and second
touch data created by the user touching the graffiti icons 410. In more detail, if
the user touches any place contained in the graffiti input box 412 using the stylus
pen, and either moves the stylus pen contacted with the screen to another place or
takes the stylus pen out of the screen before a predetermined time elapses, the
CPU 508 determines that the user enters graffiti in the graffiti input box 412,
resulting in the creation of the first touch data. If the user touches either the
overlapped image between the application icon and the graffiti icon or only the
graffiti icon using the stylus pen and takes the stylus pen off of the screen before a
predetermined time elapses, the CPU 508 executes a program corresponding to
the touched graffiti icon.
An exemplary method for controlling the CPU 508 to differently recognize
the user-entry data resulting from the user touching the screen and process the
differently-recognized data will hereinafter be described with reference to Fig. 8.
Referring to Fig. 8, upon receiving user entry data resulting from the user
touching the screen at step 700, the CPU 508 determines whether the touched
position is contained in the virtual graffiti area 404 at step 702. If it is
determined that the touched position is outside of the virtual graffiti area 404 at
step 702, the corresponding touched position indicates a desire to execute an
application program, so that the CPU 508 recognizes the user's touch data as entry
data for application execution at step 706 and processes the application execution
entry data. If the touched position is positioned in the virtual graffiti area 404 at
step 702, the user's touch data may function as the application execution entry
data or the graffiti entry data. Therefore, the CPU 508 determines if a duration
time of the user touching a single point is longer than a predetermined time T at
step 704. In this case, the user's touch duration time is called a fixed touch time,
and indicates a predetermined time during which the user's stylus pen touches one
point of the screen 402 and remains at the touched point without any movement.
If the fixed touch time is longer than the predetermined time T at step 704, it is
determined that the user-entry data generated by the user's touch is application
execution entry data by the CPU 508 at step 706 and CPU 508 processes the
recognized data. Otherwise, if the fixed touch time is shorter than a
predetermined time T, it is determined that the user-entry data is equal to either the
first touch data created by the user touching the graffiti input box 412 or the
second touch data created by the user touching the graffiti icons 410, and the CPU
508 recognizes the user-entry data as graffiti entry data at step 708 and performs a
corresponding process. In this case, if the touched position is in the graffiti input
box 408, the CPU 508 recognizes the user-entry data as the first touch data
indicative of graffiti entry data, and performs a corresponding process.
Otherwise, if the touched position is outside of the graffiti input box 408, the CPU
508 performs an application program associated with a corresponding graffiti icon
410.
Therefore, a virtual graffiti area is set up in some parts of the screen of the
touch-screen display, a graffiti screen image is overlapped with a main screen
image in the virtual graffiti area, the overlapped image between the main screen
image and the graffiti screen image is displayed on the virtual graffiti area, and
user-entry data created by the user touching the screen is classified into
application entry data and graffiti entry data according to the user's touch position
and/or the user's touch method, such that the classified entry data units are
processed differently. In this way, the virtual graffiti area can display application
or virtual graffiti data, and can selectively execute either one of application data
and virtual graffiti data while the user's touch for entering the application or
virtual graffiti data remains in an active state, such that there is no need to require
an additional area or space needed for providing a terminal with the virtual graffiti
area. Therefore, a hand-held device limited in size can effectively implement a
graffiti function, and can provide even a screen having a size ratio of 1:1 with
virtual graffiti.
As is apparent from the above description, the method for providing virtual
graffiti according to the present invention can be implemented with a
computer-readable recording medium storing an execution program, and the
computer-readable recording medium having the execution program is contained
in an apparatus equipped with a CPU and a touch-screen display. In this case,
the touch-screen display can receive user-entry data as a result of the user
touching the screen, and at the same time can display information on the screen.
In the case of performing a stroke-inking process, the present invention enables
the controller to automatically determine color and transparency of user's stroke
image on the basis of background color of the screen, such that the user's stroke
image can be easily distinguished from the background color, resulting in an
increased visual recognition degree of the user's stroke image.
Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been
disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that
various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing
from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying
claims.
WE CLAIM
1. An apparatus for providing a virtual graffiti function, comprising:
a touch-screen display (500) for displaying information on its screen
(402), and at the same time receiving user-entry data created by a user
touching the screen (402); and
a controller (506) connected to the touch-screen display (500), which
overlaps a graffiti screen image with a main screen image in a virtual
graffiti area (404) for providing a portion of the screen (402) with virtual
graffiti, the controller (506) classifying the user-entry data created by the
user touching the screen (402) into application execution entry data and
graffiti entry data according to the touched position and / or a manner in
which the user touches the screen (402), and processes the classified
user-entry data according to the classification.
2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller (506) enables
or disables the virtual graffiti function upon user's selection.
3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller (506) can
change one or more pieces of attribution from among a variety of pieces
of attribution composed of position, shape, transparency, size, and color
data of the virtual graffiti area (404) to other data upon user's selection.
4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller (506) overlaps
user's stroke image resulting from touching of the virtual graffiti area
(404) with the virtual graffiti area (404), and controls the overlapped
image to be displayed.
5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the controller (506)
determines color and transparency of the user' stroke image on the basis
of a background color of the screen (402) such that the user's stroke
image can be distinguished from the background color.
6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller (506)
comprises:
a display controller (524) for displaying an image corresponding to entry
video data on the screen (402);
an ADC (Analog-to-Digital Converter) (512) for converting an analog user-
entry signal generated by the user touching the screen (402) into a digital
signal;
a memory (514) having a graffiti screen memory (520) for storing video
data of the graffiti screen image, a first video buffer (516) for storing
video data of the main screen image, and a second video buffer (518) for
storing video data of the overlapped image between the main screen
image and the graffiti screen image.
a DMA (Direct Memory Access) controller (522) for selectivity reading
individual video data stored in the first and second video buffers (516,
518) and transmitting the read video data to the display controller (524);
a CPU (Central Processing Unit) (508) for processing user-entry data
received from the ADC (512), selectively updating video data stored in the
first or second video buffer (516,518) according to the user-entry data,
and controlling the selective video readout operation of the DMA controller
(522) according to enable or disable state information of the virtual graffiti
function generated by the user-entry data; and
a host interface (510) for providing the display controller (524), the
memory (514), and the DMA controller (522) with an interface of the CPU
(508).
7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein :
if the virtual graffiti function is enabled, the CPU (508) updates the first
video buffer (516), updates the second video buffer (518) by overlapping
the graffiti screen image stored in the graffiti screen memory (520) with
the main screen image stored in the first video buffer (516), controls the
DMA controller (522) to read the video data of the second video buffer
(518), and transmits the read video data to the display controller (524),
and
if the virtual graffiti function is disabled, the CPU (508) updates the first
video buffer (516), control the DMA controller (522) to read the video
data of the first video buffer (516), and transmits the read video data to
the display controller (524).
8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the CPU (508) can change
one or more attribution from among a variety of attribution composed of
position, shape, transparency, size and color data of the virtual graffiti
area (404) upon receiving a selection signal from the user.
9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the CPU (508) overlaps
stroke-inking data indicative of a stroke image generated by the user's
touch when the virtual graffiti function is enabled.
10.The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the CPU (508) determines
color and transparency of the stroke image on the basis of a background
color of the screen (402) such that the stroke image can be distinguished
from the background color.
11.A method for providing a virtual graffiti function using a touch-screen
display which displays information on its screen and at the same time
receives user-entry data created by a user touching the screen,
comprising the steps of:
a) overlapping a graffiti screen image with a main screen image in a
virtual graffiti area for providing a portion of the screen with virtual
graffiti, and displaying the overlapped image; and
b) classifying the user-entry data created by the user touching the
virtual graffiti area into application execution entry data and graffiti
entry data according to the touched position and/or a manner in
which the user touches the virtual graffiti area, and processing the
classified user-entry data according to the classification.
12. The method as claimed in claim 11, comprising the step of:
c.) enabling or disabling the virtual graffiti function according to a user's
selection.
13.The method as claimed in claim 11, comprising the step of:
d.) changing one or more piece of attribution from among a variety of
attribution composed of position, shape, transparency, size, and color
data of the virtual graffiti area to other data according to a user's
selection.
14.The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein step (a) comprises the step
of:
a1) overlapping user's stroke image resulting from the user touching the
virtual graffiti area with the virtual graffiti area, and displaying the
overlapped image.
15.The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein step (a) comprises the step
of:
a2) determining color and transparency of the user's stroke image on the
basis of a background color of the screen such that the user's stroke
image can be distinguished from the background color.
16.The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein step (a) comprises the steps
of:
a3) if the virtual graffiti function is enabled, updating data of the screen
upon receiving the overlapped image between the graffiti screen image
and the main screen image; and
a4) if the virtual graffiti function is disabled, updating display data of the
screen upon receiving the main screen image.
17.The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein step (a) comprises the step
of:
a5) changing one or more attribution from among a variety of attribution
composed of position, shape, transparency, size, and color data of the
virtual graffiti area to other data according to a user's selection.
18.The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein step (a3) comprises the step
of:
a3-l) overlapping stroke-inking data indicative of a stroke image
generated by the user's touch with the overlapped image between the
graffiti screen image and the main screen image, and updating display
data of the screen.
19.The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein step (a3) comprises the step
of:
a3-2) determining color and transparency of the stroke image on the basis
of the background color of the screen such that the stroke image can be
distinguished from the background color.

This invention relates to an apparatus for providing a virtual graffiti function,
comprising; a touch-screen display (500) for displaying information on its screen
(402), and at the same time receiving user-entry data created by a user touching
the screen (402); and a controller (506) connected to the touch-screen display
(500), which overlaps a graffiti screen image with a main screen image in a
virtual graffiti area (404) for providing a portion of the screen (402) with virtual
graffiti, the controller (506) classifying the user-entry data created by the user
touching the screen (402) into application execution entry data and graffiti entry
data according to the touched position and / or a manner in which the user
touches the screen (402), and processes the classified user-entry data according
to the classification.

Documents:

442-kol-2004-abstract.pdf

442-kol-2004-claims.pdf

442-kol-2004-correspondence.pdf

442-kol-2004-description (complete).pdf

442-kol-2004-drawings.pdf

442-kol-2004-examination report.pdf

442-kol-2004-form 1.pdf

442-kol-2004-form 18.pdf

442-kol-2004-form 2.pdf

442-kol-2004-form 3.pdf

442-kol-2004-form 5.pdf

442-KOL-2004-FORM-27.pdf

442-kol-2004-gpa.pdf

442-kol-2004-granted-abstract.pdf

442-kol-2004-granted-claims.pdf

442-kol-2004-granted-correspondence.pdf

442-kol-2004-granted-description (complete).pdf

442-kol-2004-granted-drawings.pdf

442-kol-2004-granted-examination report.pdf

442-kol-2004-granted-form 1.pdf

442-kol-2004-granted-form 18.pdf

442-kol-2004-granted-form 2.pdf

442-kol-2004-granted-form 3.pdf

442-kol-2004-granted-form 5.pdf

442-kol-2004-granted-gpa.pdf

442-kol-2004-granted-priority document.pdf

442-kol-2004-granted-reply to examination report.pdf

442-kol-2004-granted-specification.pdf

442-kol-2004-granted-translated copy of priority document.pdf

442-kol-2004-reply to examination report.pdf

442-kol-2004-specification.pdf

442-kol-2004-translated copy of priority document.pdf


Patent Number 234602
Indian Patent Application Number 442/KOL/2004
PG Journal Number 24/2009
Publication Date 12-Jun-2009
Grant Date 09-Jun-2009
Date of Filing 26-Jul-2004
Name of Patentee SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO. LTD.
Applicant Address 416 MAETAN-DONG, YEONGTONG-GU, SUWON-SI, GYEONGGI-DO
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 SEUNG YI LEE NO. 105-701, HYUNDAI APT., YEONWON, 550-4, MABUK-RI, GUSEONG-MYEON, YONGIN-SI, GYEONGGI-DO
2 SEUNG YI LEE NO. 105-701, HYUNDAI APT., YEONWON, 550-4, MABUK-RI, GUSEONG-MYEON, YONGIN-SI, GYEONGGI-DO
PCT International Classification Number G09G 5/00
PCT International Application Number N/A
PCT International Filing date
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 78483/2003 2003-11-06 Republic of Korea