Method and apparatus for selecting link entities in touch screen based web browser environment

Abstract

A method and apparatus is provided for more easily selecting a desired one of a plurality of corresponding link entities displayed on a touch screen. The method includes verifying the number of link entities which exist within a touch region of a predetermined size around a touch point, and if the number of the link entities which exist within the touch region of the predetermined size is greater than or equal to a threshold value, displaying a window which enlarges and displays contents displayed on the touch region of the predetermined size by a certain magnification, and then waiting for touch and selection of one of the corresponding link entities enlarged and displayed on the window.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for displaying contents in a web browser environment of a portable terminal having a touch screen, the method comprising:
 detecting a touch input on the touch screen while displaying a webpage including a plurality of link entities on the touch screen;   determining whether at least two link entities of the plurality of link entities are concurrently touched or a single link entity is touched by the touch input;   in response to a determination that the at least two link entities are concurrently touched by the touch input: setting a region of a size based on the touch input, displaying, on the touch screen, a window which enlarges and displays contents displayed in the region by a certain magnification, the contents including the at least two link entities that were concurrently touched, if one of the enlarged at least two link entities is touched within the window, changing the webpage on the touch screen to a webpage corresponding to that link entity touched within the window, and if a subsequent user touch input outside the window is detected, closing the window; and   in response to a determination that the single link entity is touched by the touch input, changing the webpage on the touch screen to a webpage corresponding to the touched single link entity.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 waiting for touch and selection of one of the at least two link entities enlarged and displayed in the window.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the touch input includes a touch contact area defined by sensed points on the touch screen. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subsequent user touch input outside the window is a request for closing the window. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein changing the webpage in response to the determination that the single entity is touched is executed without displaying the window which enlarges and displays the contents. 
     
     
         6 . A portable terminal comprising:
 a touch screen; and   a controller configured to:
 detect a touch input on the touch screen while displaying, in a web browser environment on the touch screen, a webpage including a plurality of link entities; 
 determine whether at least two link entities of the plurality of link entities are concurrently touched or a single link entity is touched by the touch input; 
 in response to a determination that the at least two link entities are concurrently touched by the touch input: set a region of a size based on the touch input, display, on the touch screen, a window which enlarges and displays contents displayed in the region by a certain magnification, the contents including the at least two link entities that were concurrently touched, if one of the at least two link entities is touched within the window, change the webpage on the touch screen to a webpage corresponding to that link entity touched within the window, and close the window if a subsequent user touch input outside the window is detected; and 
 in response to a determination that the single link entity is touched by the touch input, change the webpage to a webpage corresponding to the touched single link entity. 
   
     
     
         7 . The portable terminal of  claim 6 , further comprising a communication unit for transmitting and receiving a wire or wireless signal. 
     
     
         8 . The portable terminal of  claim 6 , wherein the controller is configured to wait for touch and selection of one of the at least two link entities enlarged and displayed in the window. 
     
     
         9 . The portable terminal of  claim 6 , wherein the touch input includes a touch contact area defined by sensed points on the touch screen. 
     
     
         10 . The portable terminal of  claim 6 , wherein the subsequent user touch input outside the window is a request for closing the window. 
     
     
         11 . The portable terminal of  claim 6 , wherein changing the webpage in response to the determination that the single entity is touched is executed without displaying the window which enlarges and displays the contents. 
     
     
         12 . A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having stored therein program instructions, which when executed by a processor of a portable terminal having a touch screen and operating in a web browser environment, causes the portable terminal to perform a method for displaying contents comprising:
 detecting a touch input on the touch screen while displaying a webpage including a plurality of link entities on the touch screen;   determining whether at least two link entities of the plurality of link entities are concurrently touched or a single link entity is touched by the touch input;   in response to a determination that the at least two link entities are concurrently touched by the touch input: setting a region of a size based on the touch input, displaying, on the touch screen, a window which enlarges and displays contents displayed in the region by a certain magnification, the contents including the at least two link entities that were concurrently touched, if one of the enlarged at least two link entities is touched within the window, changing the webpage on the touch screen to a webpage corresponding to that link entity touched within the window, and if a subsequent user touch input outside the window is detected, closing the window; and   in response to a determination that the single link entity is touched by the touch input, changing the webpage on the touch screen to a webpage corresponding to the touched single link entity.   
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium of  claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises:
 waiting for touch and selection of one of the at least two link entities enlarged and displayed in the window.   
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium of  claim 12 , wherein the touch input includes a touch contact area defined by sensed points on the touch screen. 
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium of  claim 12 , wherein the subsequent user touch input outside the window is a request for closing the window. 
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium of  claim 12 , wherein changing the webpage in response to the determination that the single entity is touched is executed without displaying the window which enlarges and displays the contents.