Method for controlling function based on battery information and electronic device therefor

• US 10,149,067 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2015
• Issued: 12/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Sang-Wook, Choi, Young-Joon, Han, Jong-Hee
• Primary Examiner(s): Dabney, Phylesha
• Application Number:
  US14/966,405
• Publication Number:
  US 20160183009A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 381315, 381314, 381312
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/30 Monitoring or testing of hearing aids, e.g. functioning, settings, battery power
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/552 Binaural
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/558 Remote control, e.g. of amplification, frequency

Abstract

A method and apparatus for operating an electronic device may include: acquiring the battery status information of two or more element devices, and determining whether the battery status information satisfies a reference condition. A function of at least one device among the two or more element devices is controlled based on the information such as the battery status information.

Claims

1. A method for operating an electronic device comprising a first hearing aid which is connected to a second hearing aid, the method comprising:

acquiring battery status information of the electronic device;

transmitting the battery status information and information indicating a first function being operated in the electronic device to an external electronic device;

receiving, from the external electronic device, a control signal comprising information associated with a second function which is determined based on the battery status information and information indicating the first function being operated in the electronic device; and

in response to receiving the control signal, stopping the first function and receiving an audio signal through a microphone included in the first hearing aid based on control signal; and

transmitting the audio signal to the external electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the battery status information comprises at least one status selected from among information regarding a remaining amount of charge of a battery, information regarding an amount of consumption of the battery, information regarding a difference between the amounts of battery remaining when two or more batteries are provided, and information regarding a battery lifetime.

3. The method of claim 1, in response to receiving the control signal, controlling the second hearing aid to stop at least one operation associated to a microphone included in the second hearing aid;

and

controlling the second hearing aid to stop at least one operation associated to communication for the external electronic device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to receiving the control signal, further performing at least one operation based on the control signal,

wherein the at least one operation comprises at least one operation from among, encoding the audio signal received through the microphone, and storing the audio signal received through the microphone.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the encoded audio data to the external electronic device corresponds to transmitting the data using a communication protocol of short-range wireless communication connected with the external electronic device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a first audio signal from the external electronic device;

outputting the first audio signal; and

in response to receiving the control signal, stopping the reception of the first audio signal and receiving the audio signal through the microphone,

wherein the battery status information is transmitted while outputting the first audio signal.

7. An electronic device comprising:

a first hearing aid configured to connected to a second hearing aid;

a battery;

a communication interface; and

a processor configured to;

acquire battery status information of the electronic device;

control the communication interface to transmit the battery status information and information indicating a first function being operated in the electronic device to an external electronic device;

control the communication interface to receive, from the external electronic device, a control signal comprising information associated with a second function which is determined based on the battery status information and information indicating the first function being operated in the electronic device; and

in response to receiving the control signal, control the communication interface to stop the first function and receive an audio signal through a microphone included in the first hearing aid based on control signal, and control the communication interface to transmit the received audio signal to the external electronic device.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the battery status information comprises at least one information from among information on remaining amounts of a charge of the battery, information on an amount of consumption of the battery, information on a difference between remaining amounts when two or more batteries are provided, and information on battery lifetimes.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein, in response to receiving the control signal, the processor is configured to control the second hearing aid to stop at least one operation associated to a microphone included in the second hearing aid, and control the second hearing aid to stop at least one operation associated to communication for the external electronic device.

10. The device of claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to perform at least one operation from among encoding the audio signal received through the microphone, or storing the audio signal received through the microphone.

11. The device of claim 7, wherein the processor transmits data using a communication protocol of a short-range wireless communication connected with the external electronic device.

12. The device of claim 7, wherein, the processor is further configured to receive a first audio signal from the external electronic device, and output the first audio signal, and in response to receiving the control signal, stop the reception of the first audio signal and receiving the audio signal through the microphone, and

wherein the battery status information is transmitted while outputting the first audio signal.

13. An electronic device comprising:

a first hearing aid configured to connected to a second hearing aid;

a battery;

a communication interface; and

a processor configured to;

acquire battery status information of the electronic device;

control the communication interface to transmit the battery status information and information indicating a first function being operated in the electronic device to an external electronic device;

control the communication interface to receive, from the external electronic device, a control signal comprising information associated with a second function which is determined based on the battery status information and information indicating the first function operated in the electronic device; and

in response to receiving the control signal, stop an operation of the first function, and perform the second function based on the control signal.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the first function comprises at least one of a first reception function receiving a first audio signal from the external electronic device, and an output function outputting the received first audio signal through the first hearing aid;

wherein the second function is a function comprises at least one of a second reception function receiving an audio signal through a microphone included in the first hearing aid, and a transmission function transmitting the received audio signal to the external electronic device.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the second function comprises a volume control function.