Electronic device and method for providing external environment information

• US 10,168,190 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2015
• Issued: 01/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Sang Hoon
• Primary Examiner(s): Yi, Changhyun
• Application Number:
  US14/681,732
• Publication Number:
  US 20150292920A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,364 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 7/00 Indicating measured values
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/00 Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion

Abstract

A method and an electronic device for providing environment information are provided. The electronic device includes a sensor configured to measure an environmental factor and obtain first data based on the measured environmental factor, a communication module configured to receive, from at least one external electronic device, second data obtained by the at least one external device, a processor configured to generate environment information based on the first data and the received second data received, and an output module configured to display the environment information.

Claims

1. A mobile device comprising:

a sensor configured to measure an environmental factor and obtain first data based on the measured environmental factor;

a communication module configured to receive, from at least one external mobile device, second data obtained by the at least one external mobile device;

a processor configured to generate environment information on an area in which the mobile device is located, calculated from the first data and the received second data; and

an output module configured to display the environment information,

wherein the first data, the second data and the environment information are associated with the same environmental factor including at least one of temperature, humidity, concentration of carbon dioxide, atmospheric pressure, and an ultraviolet index on the area in which the mobile device is located,

wherein the mobile device requests second data from the at least one external mobile device through a provision server, and

wherein the mobile device receives, from the provision server, at least one second data obtained by the at least one external mobile device.

2. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one external mobile device is located within the area in which the mobile device is located.

3. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the generation of the environment information includes applying a respective weight or a respective priority to at least one of the first and second data.

4. The mobile device according to claim 3, wherein the processor checks a state of each of the mobile device and the at least one external mobile device based upon the first and second data and determines whether the weight or the priority is applied according to a result of checking the state of each of the mobile device and the at least one external mobile device.

5. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the first data includes a plurality of first data items obtained at a plurality of respective locations along a movement path of the mobile device,

wherein the environment information includes a plurality of environment information items based on the plurality of first data items,

wherein the processor is further configured to generate a history information map including the environment information, and

wherein the output module is further configured to display the history information map.

6. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to generate, when the first and second data are within a predetermined range each other,

a group information map by grouping the first and second data together, and

wherein the output module is further configured to display the group information map.

7. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to check the second data obtained by the at least one external mobile device at a location corresponding to an input keyword and generate a movement route map including a route from a location a location of the mobile device to a location corresponding to the keyword, and

wherein the output module is further configured to display the movement route map.

8. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the second data is generated based on an environmental factor measured by the at least one external mobile device.

9. A method of providing environment information, which is performed by a mobile device, the method comprising:

measuring an environmental factor and obtaining first data based on the measured environmental factor;

receiving, from at least one external mobile device, second data obtained by the at least one external mobile device;

generating environment information on an area in which the mobile device is located, calculated from the first data and the received second data; and

displaying the environment information,

wherein the first data, the second data and the environment information are associated with the same environmental factor including at least one of temperature, humidity, concentration of carbon dioxide, atmospheric pressure, and an ultraviolet index on the area in which the mobile device is located,

wherein the mobile device requests second data from the at least one external mobile device through a provision server, and

wherein the mobile device receives, from the provision server, at least one second data obtained by the at least one external mobile device.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the at least one external mobile device is located within the area in which the mobile device is located.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein generating the environment information includes applying a respective weight or a respective priority to at least one of the first and second data.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

checking a state of each of the mobile device and the at least one external mobile device based upon the first and second data; and

determining whether the weight or the priority is applied according to a result of checking the state of each of the mobile device and the at least one external mobile device.

13. The method according to claim 9, wherein measuring the environmental factor and obtaining the first data based on the environmental factor includes:

obtaining a plurality of first data elements at a plurality of respective locations along a movement path of the mobile device,

wherein generating the environment information includes generating a plurality of environment information items based on the plurality of first data items, and

wherein the method further comprises;

generating a history information map including the plurality of environmental information items; and

displaying the history information map.

14. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

generating a group information map by grouping the first and second data when the first and second data are within a predetermined range each other; and

displaying the group information map.

15. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

generating a route map including a route from a location of the mobile device to a location corresponding to an input keyword and further including environment information of the location corresponding to the input keyword; and

displaying the route map.

16. The method according to claim 9, wherein the second data is generated based on an environmental factor measured by the at least one external mobile device.

17. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having instructions recorded thereon, which, when executed by a computer, are able to control operations of a mobile device and allow the mobile device to perform a method comprising:

measuring an external environment and creating first data;

receiving second data from at least one external mobile device;

creating environment information on an area in which the mobile device is located, calculated from the first and second data; and

outputting the environment information,

wherein the first data, the second data and the environment information are associated with the same environmental factor including at least one of temperature, humidity, concentration of carbon dioxide, atmospheric pressure, and an ultraviolet index on the area in which the mobile device is located,

wherein the mobile device requests second data from the at least one external mobile device through a provision server, and

wherein the mobile device receives, from the provision server, at least one second data obtained by the at least one external mobile device.