Method for controlling external electronic device and electronic device for processing same

• US 10,136,286 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2016
• Issued: 11/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Namgoong, Bo-Ram, Ahn, Jeongho, Kim, Chulkwi, Sagong, Jin
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Nam C
• Application Number:
  US15/200,332
• Publication Number:
  US 20170006149A1
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 340 125, 455411, 455456, 4554041, 455410, 455466, 379421, 713100, 713300, 713310, 713320
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

An electronic device and a method for controlling an external electronic device connected to the electronic device through wireless communication are provided herein. A first electronic device includes a communication module configured to communicate with a second electronic device; and a processor configured to, in response to an entry event of a communication restriction mode in which at least one communication function of the first electronic device is deactivated, provide entry information of the communication restriction mode and release information of the communication restriction mode to the second electronic device, and control performance of the communication restriction mode using the entry information and the release information.

Claims

1. A first electronic device comprising:

a communication module configured to communicate with a second electronic device; and

a processor configured to;

in response to an entry event for switching a mode of the first electronic device into a communication restriction mode, set release information for releasing the communication restriction mode, wherein at least one communication function of the first electronic device is deactivated in the communication restriction mode,

transmit, to the second electronic device, entry information of the communication restriction mode and the release information of the communication restriction mode,

wherein the entry information includes information for switching a mode of the second electronic device into the communication restriction mode, in which at least one communication function of the second electronic device is deactivated, and

after transmitting the entry information and the release information to the second electronic device, control, based on the entry event, the first electronic device to enter into the communication restriction mode.

2. The first electronic device of claim 1, wherein the entry information and the release information further include at least one of location information and time information associated with an entry into the communication restriction mode and a release of the communication restriction mode.

3. The first electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

detect a predefined release condition for releasing the communication restriction mode, in response to detecting the predefined release condition, transmit a release command to the second electronic device by using at least one activated communication function, and

after transmitting the release command to the second electronic device, release the communication restriction mode.

4. The first electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to detect the entry event based on at least one of sensor information acquired through a sensor of the first electronic device, a button input, and notification information transmitted from an external electronic device.

5. The first electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to set the entry information and the release information based on schedule information that is stored in advance or received from an external electronic device, and

wherein the schedule information comprises at least one of memo information and ticket information.

6. The first electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to set the entry information and the release information based on an input with respect to a configuration screen of the communication restriction mode.

7. A second electronic device comprising:

a communication module configured to communicate with a first electronic device; and

a processor configured to;

receive, from the first electronic device, entry information of the communication restriction mode and release information of the communication restriction mode, and

in response to receiving the entry information and the release information, control the second electronic device to enter the communication restriction mode, wherein at least one communication function of the second electronic device is deactivated in the communication restriction mode,

wherein the received release information is set at the first electronic device in response to an entry event of the communication restriction mode,

wherein the entry event for switching a mode of the first electronic device into the communication restriction mode occurs at the first electronic device, and

wherein the first electronic device enters the communication restriction mode after transmitting, by the first electronic device, the entry information and the release information to the second electronic device.

8. The second electronic device of claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to, in response to receiving a release command from the first electronic device while performing the communication restriction mode, release the communication restriction mode.

9. The second electronic device of claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to:

detect a predefined release condition while performing the communication restriction mode, and

provide the predefined release condition to the first electronic device.

10. The second electronic device of claim 7, wherein the entry information of the communication restriction mode and the release information of the communication restriction mode comprise at least one of location information and time information associated with an entry into the communication restriction mode and a release of the communication restriction mode, and

wherein the processor is further configured to, in response to receiving time information associated with an entry into and release of a communication restriction mode in which all communication functions are deactivated, control the entry into and the release of the communication restriction mode based on the time information.

11. The second electronic device of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to, in response to receiving the location information and the time information associated with an entry into and a release of the communication restriction mode, control the entry into and the release of the communication restriction mode based on at least one of the location information and time information.

12. A method for operating a first electronic device, the method comprising:

in response to identifying an entry event for switching a mode of the first electronic device into a communication restriction mode, setting release information for releasing the communication restriction mode, wherein at least one communication function of the first electronic device is deactivated in the communication restriction mode;

transmitting, to a second electronic device, entry information of the communication restriction mode and the release information of the communication restriction mode such that at least one communication function of the second electronic device is deactivated, wherein the entry information includes information for switching a mode of the second electronic device into the communication restriction mode in which at least one communication function of the second electronic device is deactivated; and

after transmitting the entry information and the release information to the second electronic device, control, based on the entry event, the first electronic device to enter into the communication restriction mode.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the entry information and the release information comprise at least one of location information and time information associated with an entry into the communication restriction mode and a release of the communication restriction mode.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

detecting a predefined release condition for releasing the communication restriction mode,

in response to detecting the predefined release condition, transmitting a release command to the second electronic device by using at least one activated communication function; and

after transmitting the release command to the second electronic device, releasing the communication restriction mode.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the entry event occurs based on at least one of sensor information, a button input, and notification information transmitted from an external electronic device.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the entry information and the release information are set based on schedule information which is stored in advance or received from an external electronic device, and

wherein the schedule information comprises at least one of memo information and ticket information.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the entry information and the release information are set based on an input with respect to a configuration screen of the communication restriction mode.