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:
 displaying a user keypad having a first configuration on a display unit of the mobile terminal;   determining if a change in orientation of the mobile terminal occurs; and   displaying the user keypad having a second configuration on the display unit of the mobile terminal if the change in orientation occurs,   wherein the first configuration is a split configuration in which a first plurality of keys of the user keypad are displayed in a first range of the display unit and a second plurality of keys of the user keypad are displayed in a second range of the display unit, the first range being separated from the second range.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the displaying of the user keypad having the first configuration occurs when the mobile terminal is in a first orientation and the displaying of the user keypad having the second configuration occurs when the mobile terminal is in a second orientation. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first orientation is a landscape orientation and the second orientation is a portrait orientation. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving a selection of a keypad setting mode of the mobile terminal,
 wherein a size and a location of the first range and a size and a location of the second range are set by a user 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 the first range and the second range, key arrangement information according to at least one of the first range and the second 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 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second configuration is an offset orientation in which the plurality of keys of the user keypad are displayed closer to a first lateral side of the display unit than a second lateral side of the display unit, the first lateral side being parallel to the second lateral side. 
     
     
         9 . A mobile terminal comprising:
 a controller configured to determine if a change in orientation of the mobile terminal occurs; and   a display unit configured to display a user keypad having a first configuration on a display unit of the mobile terminal and to display the user keypad having a second configuration on the display unit of the mobile terminal if the change in orientation occurs,   wherein the first configuration is a split configuration in which a first plurality of keys of the user keypad are displayed in a first range of the display unit and a second plurality of keys of the user keypad are displayed in a second range of the display unit, the first range being separated from the second range.   
     
     
         10 . The mobile terminal of  claim 9 , wherein the display unit is further configured to display the user keypad having the first configuration when the mobile terminal is in a first orientation and to display of the user keypad having the second configuration when the mobile terminal is in a second orientation. 
     
     
         11 . The mobile terminal of  claim 10 , wherein the first orientation is a landscape orientation and the second orientation is a portrait orientation. 
     
     
         12 . 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,
 wherein a size and a location of the first range and a size and a location of the second range are set by a user in the keypad setting mode.   
     
     
         13 . The mobile terminal of  claim 9 , further comprising a storage unit configured to store related setting information for the user keypad. 
     
     
         14 . The mobile terminal of  claim 13 , wherein the storage unit is further configured to store the related setting information by storing setting information related to the first range and the second range, key arrangement information according to at least one of the first range and the second range, and type information of the user keypad. 
     
     
         15 . The mobile terminal of  claim 9 , 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. 
     
     
         16 . The mobile terminal of  claim 9 , wherein the second configuration is an offset orientation in which the plurality of keys of the user keypad are displayed closer to a first lateral side of the display unit than a second lateral side of the display unit, the first lateral side being parallel to the second lateral side.