Method of controlling pointer in mobile terminal having pointing device

Abstract

Provided is a method of controlling a pointer, such as changing between a pointer mode for activating the pointer and a search key mode for deactivating the pointer, in a mobile terminal having a pointing device. The method of controlling a pointer includes detecting movement input by the pointing device; identifying whether the detected movement satisfies a condition of changing a display mode; if the detected movement satisfies a condition of changing a display mode, displaying the pointer by changing the current display mode to a pointer mode; identifying whether a specific key is input; and if the specific key is input, hiding the pointer by changing the current display mode to a search key mode. Additionally, if elapsed time measured after displaying the pointer exceeds a predetermined value, the display mode of the mobile terminal may automatically be changed to a search key mode.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of controlling a pointer in a mobile terminal having a pointing device for controlling a pointer in a display unit, the method comprising:
 detecting movement input by the pointing device;   identifying whether the detected movement satisfies a condition of changing a display mode;   if the detected movement satisfies a condition of changing the display mode, displaying the pointer by changing a current display mode to a pointer mode;   identifying whether a specific key is input; and   if the specific key is input, hiding the pointer by changing the current display mode to a search key mode,   wherein the condition of changing a display mode is that a number of the detected movements exceeds a predetermined number greater than one within a predetermined period.   
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising identifying, before identifying whether the detected movement satisfies a condition of changing a display mode, whether the current display mode is the search key mode. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, after hiding the pointer, executing a function of the specific key. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein hiding the pointer and executing the function of the specific key are performed simultaneously. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the condition of changing a display mode is that a value of the detected movement exceeds a predetermined value. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the specific key is a search key. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 starting a measurement of an elapsed time while simultaneously displaying the pointer;   identifying whether the measured elapsed time exceeds a predetermined value; and   if the measured elapsed time exceeds a predetermined value, hiding the pointer by changing the current display mode to the search key mode.   
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 identifying, after starting the time measurement, whether a movement or a clicking of the pointer is detected by the pointing device;   if the movement or the clicking of the pointer is detected by the pointing device, resetting the measured elapsed time; and   restarting the time measurement.   
     
     
       9. A method of controlling a pointer in a mobile terminal having a pointing device for controlling the pointer in a display unit, the method comprising:
 detecting movement input by the pointing device;   identifying whether a current display mode is a search key mode;   if the current display mode is the search key mode, identifying whether the detected movement satisfies a condition of changing the display mode;   if the detected movement satisfies a condition of changing the display mode, displaying the pointer by changing the current display mode to a pointer mode;   starting a measurement of an elapsed time while simultaneously displaying the pointer;   identifying whether the measured elapsed time exceeds a predetermined value; and   if the measured elapsed time exceeds a predetermined value, hiding the pointer by changing the current display mode to the search key mode,   wherein the condition of changing a display mode is that the number of the detected movements exceeds a predetermined number greater than one within a predetermined period.   
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 if the measured elapsed time does not exceed a predetermined value, identifying whether the search key is input; and   if the search key is input, hiding the pointer by changing the current display mode to the search key mode and moving a focus simultaneously.   
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 if the search key is not input, identifying whether a movement or a clicking of the pointer is detected by the pointing device;   if movement or clicking of the pointer is detected by the pointing device, resetting the measured elapsed time; and   restarting the time measurement.   
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the condition of changing a display mode is that a value of a detected movement exceeds a predetermined value. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the condition of changing a display mode is that a value of the detected movement exceeds a predetermined value and the number of the detected movements exceeds a predetermined number within a predetermined period. 
     
     
       14. A method of controlling a pointer displayed in a display unit, comprising:
 receiving movement information from a movement information generating unit;   in response to receiving the movement information while the electronic apparatus operates in a non-pointing mode, determining whether the received movement information satisfies a predefined condition, the predefined condition being based on a number of movements indicated by the received movement information;   changing, when the received movement information satisfies the predefined condition, an operation mode from the non-pointing mode to a pointing mode in which a pointer is displayed on the display unit and a position of the pointer displayed on the display unit is determined based on the received movement information;   receiving information associated with a selected button while in the pointing mode; and   in response to the received information regarding the selected button, if the selected button is a first button, processing a function corresponding to the first button while remaining in the pointing mode, and if the selected button is a second button for controlling movement of a focus for indicating a selected item displayed in the display unit, changing the operation mode from the pointing mode to the non-pointing mode and processing a function corresponding to the received information, and causing the pointer to not be displayed in response to the second button being selected,   wherein the predefined condition for changing the operation mode from the non-pointing mode to the pointing mode is that the movement information received from the movement information generating unit indicates that a number of movements exceeds a predetermined number greater than one within a predetermined period.    
     
     
       15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:
 changing from the non-pointing mode to the pointing mode based on information generated in the movement information generating unit while in the non-pointing mode.    
     
     
       16. The method of claim 14, wherein the movement information generating unit is a pointing device.  
     
     
       17. The method of claim 14, wherein the function corresponding to the first button is one of a movement and a clicking of the pointer and the function corresponding to the second button is a movement of a focus displayed in the display unit.  
     
     
       18. The method of claim 14, wherein in response to the change from the pointing mode to the non-pointing mode, a focus for indicating a selected item is displayed and the pointer disappears from the display unit.  
     
     
       19. The method of claim 14, wherein a control unit is configured to change the operation mode from the pointing mode to the non-pointing mode when no movement is detected for a predetermined amount of time in the pointing mode.  
     
     
       20. The method of claim 14, wherein the predefined condition for changing the operation mode from the non-pointing mode to the pointing mode is that a value of the received movement information exceeds a predetermined value.  
     
     
       21. An electronic apparatus, comprising:
 a display unit; and   a control unit configured, in response to receiving movement information while the electronic apparatus operates in a non-pointing mode, to determine whether the received movement information satisfies a predefined condition, the predefined condition being based on a number of movements indicated by the received movement information, and when the received movement information satisfies the predefined condition, to control to change an operation mode from the non-pointing mode to a pointing mode in which a pointer is displayed on the display unit and a position of a pointer displayed on the display unit is determined based on the received movement information,   wherein in response to receiving information associated with selection of a first button while in the pointing mode, the control unit is configured to process a function corresponding to the first button while remaining in the pointing mode, and in response to receiving information associated with selection of a second button for controlling of movement of a focus for indicating a selected item displayed in the display unit, the control unit is configured to change the operation mode from the pointing mode to the non-pointing mode and process a function corresponding to the received information, and to cause the pointer to not be displayed in response to the second button being selected,   wherein the predefined condition for changing the operation mode from the non-pointing mode to the pointing mode is that the received movement information indicates that a number of movements exceeds a predetermined number greater than one within a predetermined period.    
     
     
       22. The electronic apparatus of claim 21, wherein the control unit is further configured to receive the movement information from a movement information generating unit, the information associated with selection of the first button and the information associated with selection of the second button.  
     
     
       23. The electronic apparatus of claim 21, wherein the control unit is configured to change from the non-pointing mode to the pointing mode based on information generated in the movement information generating unit while in the non-pointing mode.  
     
     
       24. The electronic apparatus of claim 21, wherein the movement information generating unit is a pointing device.  
     
     
       25. The electronic apparatus of claim 21, wherein the function corresponding to the first button is one of a movement and a clicking of the pointer and the function corresponding to the second button is a movement of a focus displayed in the display unit.  
     
     
       26. The electronic apparatus of claim 21, wherein in response to the change from the pointing mode to the non-pointing mode, the focus for indicating a selected item is displayed and the pointer disappears from the display unit.  
     
     
       27. The electronic apparatus of claim 21, wherein the control unit is configured to change the operation mode from the pointing mode to the non-pointing mode when no movement is detected for a predetermined amount of time in the pointing mode.  
     
     
       28. The electronic apparatus of claim 21, wherein the predefined condition for changing the operation mode from the non-pointing mode to the pointing mode is that a value of the received movement information exceeds a predetermined value.