METHOD FOR PERFORMING COOPERATIVE FUNCTION AUTOMATICALLY AND DEVICE USING THE SAME

• US 20110045773A1
• Filed: 08/24/2010
• Published: 02/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Chang, Woo-yong, YU, Seung-dong, Park, Se-jun, Moon, Min-jeong
• Granted Patent: US 8,995,913 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0619 in relation to data integrity, e.g. data losses, bit errors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/065 Replication mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/067 Distributed or networked storage systems, e.g. storage area networks [SAN], network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1204 resulting in reduced user or operator actions, e.g. presetting, automatic actions, using hardware token storing data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1236 Connection management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/128 Direct printing, e.g. sending document file, using memory stick, printing from a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1292 Mobile client, e.g. wireless printing
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/007 only remotely, e.g. at a host computer dedicated computer interfaces to print systems G06F3/1201
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/30 Services specially adapted for particular environments, situations or purposes
• 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

A method for performing a cooperative function and a device thereof are provided. It is determined whether another device is in a surrounding area of a device. When it is determined that the other device is in the surrounding area, the cooperative function is performed by the device with the other device according to a location of the other device. Accordingly, the cooperative function may be performed automatically if devices are in adjacent areas without a user'"'"'s command.

Claims

1. A method for performing a cooperative function, comprising the steps of:

determining whether there is another device in a surrounding area of a device; and

when it is determined that the other device is in the surrounding area, performing the cooperative function, by the device, with the other device according to a location of the other device.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

determining the location of the other device by the device;

wherein performing the cooperative function comprises performing a first cooperative function by the device when it is determined that the other device is located in a first position, and performing a second cooperative function by the device when it is determined that the other device is located in a second position.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising:

automatically performing, in the device, a back-up of photos stored in the other device when the other device is above the device; and

reproducing photos stored in the other device as a slideshow in the device when the other device is in front of the device.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising:

synchronizing an address book stored in the other device with an address book stored in the device when the other device and the device are side by side; and

synchronizing photos stored in the other device with photos stored in the device when the other device faces the device.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising:

reproducing photos stored in the other device as a slideshow in the device when the other device is in front of the device; and

synchronizing contents stored in the other device with contents stored in or connected to the device when the other device is located next to the device.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein performing the cooperative function comprises performing the cooperative function when the cooperative function is preset.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein performing the cooperative function comprises stopping a function that is being performed by the device and performing the cooperative function.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein performing the cooperative function comprises performing the cooperative function continuously even if the other device becomes distant from the device.

9. A device for automatically performing a cooperative function with another device, the device comprising:

a communication unit that determines whether the other device is in a surrounding area of the device; and

a controller that controls the device to automatically perform the cooperative function with the other device according to a location of the other device when it is determined that the other device is in the surrounding area.

10. The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the controller determines the location of the other device, performs a first cooperative function when it is determined that the other device is located in a first position, and performs a second cooperative function when it is determined that the other device is located in a second position.

11. The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the controller performs the cooperative function if the cooperative function is preset.

12. The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the controller stops a function that is being performed by the device and performs the cooperative function.

13. The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the controller performs the cooperative function continuously even if the other device becomes distant from the device.

14. A system for automatically performing a cooperative function, comprising:

a first device that automatically performs the cooperative function with at least one device; and

a second device that determines whether the first device is in a surrounding area of the second device, and when it is determined that the first device is in the surrounding area, performs the cooperative function with the first device according to a location of the first device.

15. The system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the second device determines the location of the first device, performs a first cooperative function when it is determined that the first device is located in a first position, and performs a second cooperative function when it is determined that the first device is located in a second position.