Method and apparatus for providing user keypad in a portable terminal

Abstract

A method of providing a user defined user keypad and a mobile terminal supporting the same are provided. The method includes displaying guide information when entering a user keypad setting mode, determining a designation range for the user keypad according to a user interaction inputted based on the guide information, computing a key arrangement of the user keypad in response to the determined range, and configuring the user keypad according to the computed key arrangement.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of providing a user keypad in a mobile terminal, the method comprising:
 receiving a first user input for designating a first location on a display unit for displaying a user keypad; and   displaying the user keypad within the first location,   wherein the first location includes a first side, a second side, a third side and a fourth side, the first side being parallel to the second side and the third side being parallel to the fourth side, the first side spaced a first distance from a first lateral edge of the display unit, the second side spaced a second distance, greater than the first distance, from a second lateral edge, parallel to the first lateral edge, of the display unit, the third side being spaced a third distance from a third lateral edge of the display unit, and the fourth side being spaced a fourth distance, greater than or equal to the third distance, from a fourth lateral edge, parallel to the third lateral edge, of the display unit.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a second user input for designating a second location on the display unit for displaying the user keypad; and   displaying the user keypad in the second location,   wherein the second location includes a fifth side and a sixth side, the fifth side being parallel to the sixth side, the fifth side spaced a fifth distance from the first lateral edge of the display unit, and the sixth side spaced a sixth distance, less than the fifth distance, from the second lateral edge of the display unit.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving a selection of a keypad setting mode of the mobile terminal,
 wherein the first user input is received in the keypad setting mode.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising receiving a selection of a keypad setting mode of the mobile terminal,
 wherein the second user input is received in the keypad setting mode.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing related setting information for the user keypad. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the storing of the related setting information comprises storing setting information related to information of a range where the user keypad is configured, key arrangement information according to a corresponding range, and type information of the user keypad. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 detecting a change of posture information of the mobile terminal; and   executing an input function according to the changed posture information.   
     
     
         8 . A mobile terminal comprising:
 a controller configured to receive a first user input for designating a first location on a display unit for displaying a user keypad; and   a display unit configured to display the user keypad within the first location,   wherein the first location includes a first side, a second side, a third side and a fourth side, the first side being parallel to the second side and the third side being parallel to the fourth side, the first side spaced a first distance from a first lateral edge of the display unit, the second side spaced a second distance, greater than the first distance, from a second lateral edge, parallel to the first lateral edge, of the display unit, the third side being spaced a third distance from a third lateral edge of the display unit, and the fourth side being spaced a fourth distance, greater than or equal to the third distance, from a fourth lateral edge, parallel to the third lateral edge, of the display unit.   
     
     
         9 . The mobile terminal of  claim 8 , wherein the controller is further configured to receive a second user input for designating a second location on the display unit for displaying the user keypad and the display unit is further configured to display the user keypad in the second location, and wherein the second location includes a fifth side and a sixth side, the fifth side being parallel to the sixth side, the fifth side spaced a fifth distance from the first lateral edge of the display unit, and the sixth side spaced a sixth distance, less than the fifth distance, from the second lateral edge of the display unit. 
     
     
         10 . The mobile terminal of  claim 8 , wherein the controller is further configured to receive a selection of a keypad setting mode of the mobile terminal and wherein the first user input is received in the keypad setting mode. 
     
     
         11 . The mobile terminal of  claim 9 , wherein the controller is further configured to receive a selection of a keypad setting mode of the mobile terminal and wherein the second user input is received in the keypad setting mode. 
     
     
         12 . The mobile terminal of  claim 8 , further comprising a storage unit configured to store related setting information for the user keypad. 
     
     
         13 . The mobile terminal of  claim 12 , wherein the storage unit is further configured to store the related setting information by storing setting information related to information of a range where the user keypad is configured, key arrangement information according to a corresponding range, and type information of the user keypad. 
     
     
         14 . The mobile terminal of  claim 8 , wherein the controller is further configured to detect a change of posture information of the mobile terminal and to execute an input function according to the changed posture information. 
     
     
         15 . A method of providing a user keypad in a mobile terminal, the method comprising:
 receiving a first user input for designating a first location on a display unit for displaying a keypad; and   displaying the keypad within the first location,   wherein the first location is one of a right side and a left side of the display unit.   
     
     
         16 . A method of providing a user keypad in a mobile terminal, the method comprising:
 receiving a first user input for designating a first location on a display unit for displaying a keypad; and   displaying the keypad within the first location,   wherein the first location is oriented toward one side of the display unit such that the keypad is displayed off-center with respect to the display unit.