Mobile terminal and method of controlling operation of the mobile terminal

{
  "publication_number": "US2009098911A1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A1",
  "title": "Mobile terminal and method of controlling operation of the mobile terminal",
  "abstract": "A mobile terminal and a method of controlling the operation of the mobile terminal are provided. The method includes displaying an idle screen; if a communication event occurs, displaying an avatar image corresponding to a party of the communication event on the idle screen, the communication event including making or receiving a call and sending or receiving a call; and modifying the avatar image according to the amount of occurrence of the communication event. Therefore, it is possible for a user to easily recognize the occurrence of a communication event and the amount of occurrence of the communication event from an avatar image displayed on an idle screen.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A method of controlling the operation of a mobile terminal having a display screen, the method comprising: when a communication event occurs, displaying an avatar image corresponding to a party of the communication event on the display screen, the communication event including making or receiving a call and sending or receiving a call; and modifying the avatar image according to a predetermined characteristic of the communication event.",
    "2. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined characteristic is one of a total amount of occurrences of the communication event within a predetermined time period, a priority of the communication event, a type of the communication event, a time of the communication event, and a date of the communication event.",
    "3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining if a phone number of the party of the communication event is registered in a phone book stored in the mobile terminal, wherein the step of displaying an avatar image includes displaying an avatar image representing a phone number group registered in the phone book and a name registered in the phone book.",
    "4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining if a phone number of the party of the communication event is not registered in a phone book stored in the mobile terminal, wherein the step of displaying an avatar image includes displaying the phone number of the party of the communication event and an avatar image indicating that the phone number of the party of the communication event is an unregistered phone number.",
    "5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: displaying the avatar image when the mobile terminal is not in a call with the party; selecting the avatar image by one of a touch input or another input; and one of initiating a call to the party, sending a message to the party, and opening a phone book stored in the mobile terminal.",
    "6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of displaying the avatar image when the mobile terminal is not in a call with the party comprises displaying the avatar image among a plurality of avatar images, and the step of selecting the avatar image comprises displaying the selected avatar image differently from other avatar images to indicate that the avatar image is a selected avatar image.",
    "7. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined characteristic is a total amount of occurrences of the communication event within a predetermined tune period and the step of modifying comprises: displaying a number of objects corresponding to the total amount of occurrences of the communication event with the avatar image.",
    "8. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined characteristic is a total amount of occurrences of the communication event within a predetermined time period and the step of modifying comprises: adjusting a size of the avatar image according to the total amount of occurrences.",
    "9. The method of claim 1, further comprising: modifying the avatar image based on weather information.",
    "10. The method of claim 1, further comprising: modifying the avatar image based on a predetermined date.",
    "11. The method of claim 1, further comprising: setting the avatar image when registering one of a phone number, an email address, a text address, or another address of the party in a phone book stored in the mobile terminal.",
    "12. The method of claim 1, further comprising: initializing the avatar image at regular intervals of time.",
    "13. A mobile terminal having a display screen, comprising: a display; a communication module; and a controller operatively connected to the display and communication module, the controller configured to display an avatar image corresponding to a party of a communication event on the display screen when the communication event occurs, the communication event including making or receiving a call and sending or receiving a call; and modify the avatar image according to a predetermined characteristic of the communication event.",
    "14. The mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein the predetermined characteristic is one of a total amount of occurrences of the communication event within a predetermined time period, a priority of the communication event, a type of the communication event, a time of the communication event, and a date of the communication event.",
    "15. The mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to determine if a phone number of the party of the communication event is registered in a phone book stored in the mobile terminal, and display an avatar image representing a phone number group registered in the phone book and a name registered in the phone book.",
    "16. The mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to determine if a phone number of the party of the communication event is not registered in a phone book stored in the mobile terminal, and display the phone number of the party of the communication event and an avatar image indicating that the phone number of the party of the communication event is an unregistered phone number.",
    "17. The mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to display the avatar image when the mobile terminal is not in a call with the party; select the avatar image by one of a touch input or another input; and one of initiate a call to the party, send a message to the party, and open a phone book stored in the mobile terminal.",
    "18. The mobile terminal of claim 17, wherein the controller is configured to display the avatar image among a plurality of avatar images, and display the selected avatar image differently from other avatar images to indicate that the avatar image is a selected avatar image.",
    "19. The mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein the predetermined characteristic is a total amount of occurrences of the communication event within a predetermined time period, and the controller is configured to displaying a number of objects corresponding to the total amount of occurrences of the communication event with the avatar image.",
    "20. The mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein the predetermined characteristic is a total amount of occurrences of the communication event within a predetermined time period, and the controller is configured to adjust a size of the avatar image according to the total amount of occurrences.",
    "21. The mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to modify the avatar image based on weather information.",
    "22. The mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to modify the avatar image based on a predetermined date.",
    "23. The mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to set the avatar image when registering one of a phone number, an email address, a text address, or another address of the party in a phone book stored in the mobile terminal.",
    "24. The mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to initialize the avatar image at regular intervals of time.",
    "25. The mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein the display comprises a touch screen."
  ],
  "cpc": [
    "H04B 1/40",
    "H04M 1/56",
    "H04M 1/576",
    "H04M 1/72427",
    "H04M 1/72469",
    "H04M 2250/22"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "LG ELECTRONICS INC"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2008-10-08",
  "publication_date": "2009-04-16",
  "priority_date": "2007-10-09",
  "application_number": "US-24766208-A",
  "family_id": "40534755",
  "citations": [
    "US7697960B2"
  ]
}