APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR BLUETOOTH CONNECTION IN A PORTABLE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

• US 20080194203A1
• Filed: 02/12/2008
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: HONG, Il-Pyo
• Granted Patent: US 8,155,590 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 370/908 Local area network

Abstract

A mobile communication system and method for supporting an automatic Bluetooth connection are provided. The system includes a portable terminal and a Bluetooth device. When a coupling with a connection terminal of the Bluetooth device is detected, the portable terminal enables a Bluetooth function of the portable terminal, performs a pairing process and performs a communication connection with the Bluetooth device. After coupling with a connection terminal of the portable terminal, the Bluetooth device performs a process of pairing with the portable terminal and performs a communication connection with the portable terminal.

Claims

1. A mobile communication system supporting an automatic Bluetooth connection, the system comprising:

a portable terminal; and

a Bluetooth device,

wherein the portable terminal enables a Bluetooth function of the portable terminal when a Bluetooth device is connected, performs a pairing process with the Bluetooth device and further wherein the Bluetooth device performs a pairing process with the portable terminal and performs a communication connection with the portable terminal after coupling with a connection terminal of the portable terminal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable terminal further comprises:

a communication unit for communicating with the Bluetooth device; and

a controller for processing and performing a Bluetooth function and for processing and performing an operation necessary for performing the communication connection with the Bluetooth device using the communication unit when an interrupt caused by a coupling between the connection terminal of the portable terminal and the connection terminal of the Bluetooth device is detected.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the portable terminal further comprises a power manager configured to provide power from the portable terminal to the Bluetooth device.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein, when receiving a request for power from the Bluetooth device, the controller controls the power manager to provide power of the portable terminal to the Bluetooth device.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the power manager provides at least one of a regulated voltage and a regulated current to the Bluetooth device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the Bluetooth device further comprises:

a communication unit for communicating with the portable terminal; and

a controller for controlling an operation necessary for performing the communication connection with the portable terminal using the communication unit when an interrupt caused by a coupling between the connection terminal of the Bluetooth device and the connection terminal of the portable terminal is detected.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the controller of the Bluetooth device sends a request for power to the portable terminal when a request for providing power to the Bluetooth device from the portable terminal is input by a user.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the controller of the Bluetooth device controls the charging of a battery of the Bluetooth device using power received from the portable terminal in response to the request for power.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the portable terminal searches for neighboring Bluetooth devices before performing the pairing process.

10. A method of providing an automatic Bluetooth connection in a mobile communication system, the method comprising:

connecting, by a Bluetooth device, to a portable terminal;

detecting, by the portable terminal, a connecting to the Bluetooth device;

enabling a Bluetooth function of the portable terminal if the connecting is detected;

performing a pairing process between the portable terminal and the Bluetooth device; and

performing a communication connection between the portable terminal and the Bluetooth device.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving, by the portable terminal, a request for power from the Bluetooth device after the performing of the communication connection between the portable terminal and the Bluetooth device; and

providing power from the portable terminal to the Bluetooth device.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising charging a battery in the Bluetooth device using the power provided from the portable terminal.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising managing, by the portable terminal, the providing of the power from the portable terminal using at least one of voltage regulation and current regulation.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

after performing the communication connection between the portable terminal and the Bluetooth device, detecting a user request for auxiliary power at the Bluetooth device;

sending, by the Bluetooth device, a request for power to the portable terminal; and

providing, by the portable terminal, power to the Bluetooth device.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising charging a battery of the Bluetooth device using the power provided by the portable terminal.

16. A portable terminal for providing a Bluetooth connection comprising:

a controller; and

a connection terminal,

wherein the controller enables a Bluetooth function if a coupling to a Bluetooth device at the connection terminal is detected and performs a pairing process with the Bluetooth device.

17. The portable terminal of claim 16, further comprising a communication unit wherein the controller performs the pairing process using the communication unit.

18. The portable terminal of claim 17, further comprising a power manager for providing power from the portable terminal to the Bluetooth device using the connection terminal.

19. The portable terminal of claim 18, wherein the power manager provides the power by using at least one of a regulated voltage and a regulated current.

20. The portable terminal of claim 19, wherein the controller controls a search for neighboring Bluetooth devices prior to performing the pairing process.

21. A Bluetooth device for providing a Bluetooth connection with a portable terminal, comprising:

a controller; and

a connection terminal,

wherein the controller enables a Bluetooth function if a coupling to a portable terminal at the connection terminal is detected and performs a pairing process with the portable device.

22. A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for providing an automatic Bluetooth connection in a mobile communication system, comprising:

a first segment, for coupling, by a Bluetooth device, to a connection terminal of a portable terminal;

a second segment, for detecting, by the portable terminal, a coupling to a connection terminal of the Bluetooth device;

a third segment, for enabling a Bluetooth function of the portable terminal if the coupling is detected;

a fourth segment, for performing a pairing process between the portable terminal and the Bluetooth device; and

a fifth segment, for performing a communication connection between the portable terminal and the Bluetooth device.