System and method for controlling display of mobile terminal

<u>BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION</u>

1. <u>Field of the Invention</u>

0001The invention relates to a mobile terminal and, more particularly, to a system and method for controlling a display unit of a mobile terminal.

2. <u>Background of the Related Art</u>

0002In general, screen information (data) to be displayed on a display unit of a mobile terminal is configured and stored in an external memory such as a Random Access Memory (RAM). There are two methods typically used to display the screen information stored in the external memory.

0003A first related art display method is shown in Figure 1. In this first method, a controller, such as a central processing unit (CPU) is used to configure and output the screen information. More specifically, as shown in Figure 1, a controller 13 records screen data in a screen output buffer (not shown) of an external memory 12, reads the screen data from the screen output buffer, and outputs the data to a display unit 11.

0004However, this reading/writing of display data from/into the external memory 12 and outputting data to the display unit 11 requires multiple clock cycles, thus restricting performance of the display unit 11. More specifically, by using this first display method, the reading/writing time associated with the external memory 12 and the controller 13, as well as a transfer rate between the external memory 12 and the controller 13, limit the display speed, and thus the type of display unit that can be used with the related art mobile terminal.

0005A second related art display method is shown in Figure 2. In this second method, screen data is configured by a controller and output by an external memory. More specifically, as shown in Figure 2, a controller 23 configures screen data in a screen output buffer (not shown) of an external memory 22, and the external memory 22 outputs the configured screen data directly to the display unit 21.

0006This second related art display method is advantageous in dial a lesser number of clock cycles are required for the transfer of screen information, and display data can be output to the display unit 21 more quickly than in the first related art display method.

0007However, this second related display method suffers deficiencies similar to this first method, in that performance of the display unit is still somewhat limited by the reading/writing time required by the external memory 22, a transfer rate between the external memory 22 and the controller 23, and a transfer rate between the external memory 22 and the display unit 21.

0008Thus, when screen data is configured in an external memory in accordance with these related art display methods, performance of the display unit is limited by the performance of the external memory and the interface speed. That is, since the output speed of the display unit is limited by a reading/writing time from/into the external memory by the controller, a data transfer rate between the external memory and the controller, and a data transfer rate between the external memory and the display unit, the related art mobile terminal cannot take advantage of the enhanced display capabilities associated with a high performance display unit.

<u>SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION</u>

0009An object of the invention is to solve at least the above problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described hereinafter.

0010To achieve at least the above objects in whole or in parts, there is provided a system for controlling display of a mobile terminal including: a display unit for displaying various screen data; and a controller having a screen output buffer for the display unit and outputting screen data stored in the screen output buffer directly to the display unit.

0011Preferably, the controller includes: a screen output buffer allocated for a certain region of the internal memory; and a display interface for transmitting screen data outputted from the screen output buffer to the display unit.

0012Preferably, the internal memory is a random access memory (RAM).

0013To achieve at least these advantages in whole or in parts, there is further provided a method for controlling display of a mobile terminal including: allocating a screen output buffer in an internal memory; configuring screen data in the screen output buffer when screen information is inputted from outside; and reading by a controller screen data from the screen output buffer and outputting it directly to a display unit when the screen data configured in the screen output buffer is requested to be outputted.

0014Preferably, writing and reading operation of the screen output buffer is performed according to a clock cycle of an internal bus of the controller and the read screen data is outputted through a display interface of the controller.

0015To achieve at least these advantages in whole or in parts, there is further provided a system for controlling display of a mobile terminal, including a display unit configured to display screen data on a screen of the display unit, and a controller comprising a screen output buffer portion configured to receive and to store screen data, wherein the controllcr is configured to output screen data stored in the screen output buffer portion directly to the display unit.

0016To achieve at least these advantages in whole or in parts, there is further provided a method for controlling a display of a mobile terminal, including allocating a screen output buffer portion in an internal memory of a controller of the mobile terminal, configuring screen data in the screen output buffer portion when screen information is input from an external source, and reading screen data from the screen output buffer portion of the controller and outputting the screen data directly to a display unit of the mobile terminal in response to a request for the screen data configured in the screen output buffer to be output, wherein reading the screen data and outputting the screen data is done by the controller.

0017To achieve at least these advantages in whole or in parts, there is further provided a system for controlling a mobile terminal, including a controller which transmits screen data to a display of the terminal, and a memory included within the controller for storing the screen data.

0018To achieve at least, these advantages in whole or in parts, there is further provided a method for controlling a mobile terminal, including storing screen data in an internal memory of a controller, and transmitting the screen data from the memory to a display of the terminal.

0019To achieve at least these advantages in whole or in parts, there is further provided a mobile terminal, including a display unit, and a controller having an internal memory for storing screen data and an interface which transfers the screen data from the memory to the display unit.

0020Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained as particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

<u>BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS</u>

0021The invention will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements, wherein:

0022Figure 1 shows a related art display control system in accordance with a first related art display method;

0023Figure 2 shows a related art display control system in accordance with a second related art display method;

0024Figure 3 shows a system for controlling a display of a mobile terminal in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and

0025Figure 4 is a flow chart of a method for controlling a display of a mobile terminal in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

<u>DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS</u>

0026A system and method for controlling a high performance display unit of a mobile terminal by using a memory provided in a controller, such as, for example, a CPU, is provided. In this system and method, screen output data is configured by an internal memory of the controller, and not by an external memory of the controller, and screen output data is transmitted directly from the internal memory to the display unit. Further, the screen output buffer, which is, in the related art, allocated to the external memory of the controller, is instead allocated to the internal memory region of the controller, and an interface is provided which allows the screen output data to be output directly from the controller to the display unit. Using this system and method, screen information (data) may be configured and transmitted based on a bus clock cycle of a high speed controller so as to fully utilize the enhanced display characteristics associated with a high performance display unit.

0027As shown in Figure 3, a display control system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention includes a controller 30 for outputting screen information (data). The screen information is stored in an internal memory 31 of the controller 30, and is output through a display interface 32. A display unit 40 is provided for displaying the screen information output by the controller 30.

0028A screen output buffer 31a for temporarily storing data to be output to the display unit 40 is allocated a predetermined region of the internal memory 31. The internal memory 31 may be a RAM, or any other such data storage device. Data writing/reading to/from the screen output buffer 31a is performed based on an internal bus clock cycle of the controller 30. The output buffer and internal memory may be located within a same chip, package, or module as other circuits of the controller, as well as the same printed circuit board. The display interface may also be located on the same chip, package, module, or board.

0029The operation of the system for controlling display of a mobile terminal constructed as described above will now be described with reference to Figures 3 and 4.

0030As shown in Figure 4, a predetermined region of the internal memory 31 is allocated as a region for the screen output buffer 31a (step S10). The predetermined region allocated for the screen output buffer 31a may be determined by a manufacturer.

0031When screen information is provided by, for example, an external source, the controller 30 configures the screen data by storing the input screen information in the screen output buffer 31a (step S11). The screen data stored in the screen output buffer 31a is continuously changed based on input screen information, and reading/writing of data from/to the screen output buffer 31a is performed based on an internal bus clock cycle associated with a control bus of the controller 30.

0032Thereafter, the controller 30 checks for a request to output or to change the configured screen data (step S12). If a request for outputting or changing the screen data is detected, the controller 30 changes the screen data stored in the screen output buffer 31a (step S13) and outputs the changed screen data to the display interface 32 via the screen output buffer 31a (step S14). A data bus is provided for transmitting and receiving the screen data between the internal memory 31 and the display interface 32. Once the screen data is received by the display interface 32, the display interface 32 can transmit screen data to the display unit 40. Thus, screen data transferred to the display interface 32 through the data bus after being read from the screen output buffer 31a is transferred to the display unit 40 through the data bus, thereby updating the screen of the display unit 40 (step S15).

0033In this manner, screen data stored in the internal memory is output directly to the external display unit based on a clock cycle of the controller. This allows for a high transfer rate of the screen data due to the high processing rate of the internal memory. Thus, screen data can be displayed and updated on a high performance display unit at an optimum speed.

0034As embodied and broadly described herein, the system and method for controlling a high performance display unit used for a mobile terminal have the following advantages.

0035That is, the internal memory of the controller includes a screen output buffer region to store screen data, and the stored screen data is directly transmitted to the display unit, thereby increasing display speed.

0036Therefore, the system and method for controlling a display unit of a mobile terminal as embodied and broadly described herein is capable of improving an output speed of a display unit, and of achieving optimum screen output efficiency by using a high performance display unit.

0037The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention. The present teaching can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. The description of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims. Many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures.