Mobile device supporting touch semi-lock state and method for operating the same

Abstract

A mobile device and a method support a touch semi-lock state. When entering into the touch semi-lock state, a predefined hot menu including items and a touch-lock icon are provided on a touch screen. An output area of the touch-lock icon on the touch screen is defined as a touch event allowable region. A specific item of the hot menu is selected in response to a user input that moves the touch-lock icon onto the specific item. A particular end-user function corresponding to the selected item is activated.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method for operating a mobile device supporting a touch lock state, the method comprising:
 displaying, when the mobile device enters into the touch lock state, a plurality of icons on a screen, the plurality of icons including a first icon and a second icon;   receiving an indication of a user touch of the first icon;   determining, based on the received indication of the user touch of the first icon, whether the first icon at least partially overlaps the second icon; and   executing, when the first icon at least partially overlaps the second icon, a function corresponding to the second icon.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 converting, when the first icon at least partially overlaps the second icon, the mobile device from the touch lock state to a touch unlock state.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 maintaining, when the first icon does not at least partially overlap the second icon, the mobile device in the touch lock state.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 moving the first icon based on the received indication of the user touch of the first icon.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 displaying a change of a location of the moving first icon from an original location of the first icon, when the mobile device enters into the touch lock state.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 returning, when the first icon does not at least partially overlap the second icon, the first icon to the original location.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein a user touch on regions of the screen other than an area displaced by the first icon is disregarded when the mobile device enters into the touch lock state. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the function corresponding to the second icon is a camera function. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 displaying the executed function when the first icon at least partially overlaps the second icon.   
     
     
         30 . A mobile device supporting a touch lock state, the mobile device comprising:
 a touch screen configured to display a plurality of icons, the plurality of icons including a first icon and a second icon, and receive a user touch of the first icon; and   a control unit configured to:
 control the touch screen to display, when the mobile device enters into the touch lock state, the plurality of icons including the first icon; 
 determine, based on an indication of the user touch of the first icon, whether the first icon at least partially overlaps the second icon; and 
 execute, when the first icon at least partially overlaps the second icon, a function corresponding to the second icon. 
   
     
     
         31 . The mobile device of  claim 30 , wherein the controller is further configured to convert, when the first icon at least partially overlaps the second icon, the mobile device from the touch lock state to a touch unlock state. 
     
     
         32 . The mobile device of  claim 30 , wherein the controller is further configured to maintain, when the first icon does not at least partially overlap the second icon, the mobile device in the touch lock state. 
     
     
         33 . The mobile device of  claim 30 , wherein the controller is further configured to move the first icon based on the indication of the user touch of the first icon. 
     
     
         34 . The mobile device of  claim 33 , wherein the controller is further configured to control the touch screen to display a change of a location of the moving first icon from an original location of the first icon, when the mobile device enters into the touch lock state. 
     
     
         35 . The mobile device of  claim 34 , wherein the controller is further configured to return, when the first icon does not at least partially overlap the second icon, the first icon to the original position. 
     
     
         36 . The mobile device of  claim 30 , where a user touch on regions of the touch screen other than an area displaced by the first icon is disregarded, when the mobile device enters into the touch lock state. 
     
     
         37 . The mobile device of  claim 30 , wherein the function corresponding to the second icon is a camera function. 
     
     
         38 . The mobile device of  claim 30 , wherein the controller is further configured to control the touch screen to display the executed function when the first icon at least partially overlaps the second icon. 
     
     
         39 . A non-transitory machine-readable storage device in a mobile device that supports a touch lock state, the storage device storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
 displaying, when the mobile device enters into the touch lock state, a plurality of icons on a screen, the plurality of icons including a first icon and a second icon;   receiving an indication of a user touch of the first icon;   determining, based on the received indication of the user touch of the first icon, whether the first icon at least partially overlaps the second icon; and   executing, when the first icon at least partially overlaps the second icon, a function corresponding to the second icon.   
     
     
         40 . The storage device of  claim 39 , further storing instructions for:
 converting, when the first icon at least partially overlaps the second icon, the mobile device from the touch lock state to a touch unlock state.