SHORT-RANGE COMMUNICATION DEVICE AND MOBILE TERMINAL, AND CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THE SAME

• US 20100130132A1
• Filed: 11/25/2009
• Published: 05/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Jin Yong, LEE, Myeong Lo, Kim, Kyung Hwa, Shin, Seung Woo, Oh, Jung Yeob
• Application Number:
  US12/625,989
• Publication Number:
  US 20100130132A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.300
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/02 using transceiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/48 Transceivers

Abstract

A short-range communication device and mobile terminal, and a control method and system for the same are disclosed. The control method enables the user to control the mobile terminal through the short-range communication device having motion sensing capability. Hence, the user can conveniently control the operation of the mobile terminal through the short-range communication device.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal control system, comprising:

a short-range communication device configured to generate a motion signal corresponding to a movement of the communication device; and

a mobile terminal configured to execute a first function, and to execute a second function associated with the motion signal and the first function.

2. The mobile terminal control system of claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal comprises:

an input unit configured to generate an input signal;

a first short-range communication unit to receive the motion signal from the short-range communication device;

a storage unit to store at least one application program, the at least one application program to execute the first function in response to the input signal; and

a first control unit to execute the second function.

3. The mobile terminal control system of claim 2, wherein the storage unit stores an operation list defining actions corresponding to the motion signal and associated with the second function.

4. The mobile terminal control system of claim 2, wherein the short-range communication device comprises:

a sensor unit configured to generate a sensing signal corresponding to the movement;

a second control unit to analyze the sensing signal and to generate the motion signal, the motion signal corresponding to the sensing signal; and

a second short-range communication unit to transmit the motion signal to the mobile terminal.

5. The mobile terminal control system of claim 4, wherein the short-range communication device further comprises a microphone to receive an audio signal, and a speaker to output an audio signal from the mobile terminal.

6. The mobile terminal control system of claim 4, wherein the short-range communication device comprises a headset or an earpiece.

7. The mobile terminal control system of claim 4, wherein the sensor unit comprises at least one of a proximity sensor, a pressure sensor, an acceleration sensor, a tap sensor, a gyro sensor, and an orientation sensor.

8. The mobile terminal control system of claim 7, wherein the second control unit activates at least one of the acceleration sensor, the tap sensor, the gyro sensor, and the orientation sensor after receiving a sensing signal from the proximity sensor or the pressure sensor.

9. A method, comprising:

forming a communication channel between a mobile terminal and a short-range communication device;

executing a first function of the mobile terminal;

activating a sensor unit of the short-range communication device;

generating a motion signal corresponding to movement of the short-range communication device; and

executing a second function associated with the motion signal and the first function.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein generating a motion signal comprises at least one of:

detecting an object within a determined distance of the short-range communication device;

detecting a touch in response to contact of the short-range communication device with an object;

detecting a tap on the short-range communication device;

detecting a shake in response to the short-range communication device being shaken; and

detecting a rotation of the short-range communication device in one direction.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein generating a motion signal further comprises:

activating at least one of a proximity sensor and a pressure sensor in the sensor unit; and

activating at least one of an acceleration sensor, a tap sensor, a gyro sensor, and an orientation sensor in the sensor unit in response to receiving a sensing signal from the proximity sensor or the pressure sensor.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising reading from a storage unit, an operation list defining actions corresponding to the motion signal and associated with the second function.

13. A headset, comprising:

a sensor unit to generate a sensing signal corresponding to a movement of a headset;

a control unit to analyze the sensing signal and to generate a motion signal corresponding to the sensing signal;

a short-range communication unit to transmit the motion signal to a mobile terminal;

a microphone to receive an audio signal; and

a speaker to output an audio signal from the mobile terminal.

14. The headset of claim 13, wherein the sensor unit comprises at least one of a proximity sensor, a pressure sensor, an acceleration sensor, a tap sensor, a gyro sensor, and an orientation sensor.

15. The headset of claim 14, wherein the control unit activates at least one of the acceleration sensor, the tap sensor, the gyro sensor, and the orientation sensor in response to receiving a sensing signal from the proximity sensor or the pressure sensor.

16. An apparatus, comprising:

a mobile terminal; and

a short-range communication device,

wherein the mobile terminal comprises;

an input unit configured to generate an input signal;

a first communication unit to receive a motion signal from the short-range communication device;

a storage unit to store at least one application program configured to execute a first function in response to the input signal; and

a first control unit to execute a second function according to the motion signal.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the storage unit stores an operation list defining actions corresponding to the motion signal and associated with the second function.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the short-range communication device comprises:

a sensor unit to sense a motion of a user wearing the short-range communication device, to sense a force applied to the short-range communication device, and to generate a sensing signal corresponding to the motion and the force;

a second control unit to analyze the sensing signal and to generate the motion signal, the motion signal corresponding to the sensing signal; and

a second short-range communication unit to transmit the motion signal to the mobile terminal.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the second control unit analyzes the sensing signal and generates the motion signal in response to receiving a proximity signal indicating that the short-range communication device is within a determined distance of the user.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the short-range communication device comprises a headset or an earpiece.