MOBILE TERMINAL AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE MOBILE TERMINAL

• US 20120142379A1
• Filed: 11/08/2011
• Published: 06/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: PARK, Kyunglang
• Granted Patent: US 8,731,584 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/457
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724631 by limiting the access to the user interface, e.g. locking a touch-screen or a keypad
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver

Abstract

A mobile terminal includes a position location module, a wireless communication unit, a user input unit, and a controller. The controller is configured to obtain first position information via the position location module in response to a first command received via the user input unit, receive second position information via the wireless communication unit, wherein the second position information relates to a geographical location of the external device, identify a relative distance between the mobile terminal and the external device using the first position information and the second position information, and perform an interlock function at the mobile terminal in response to a second command received via the user input unit if the relative distance between the mobile terminal and the external device is less than a threshold distance, where the interlock function restricts the mobile terminal from performing a function.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a position location module configured to obtain position information related to a geographical location of the mobile terminal;

a wireless communication unit configured to permit wireless communication with an external device;

a user input unit configured to receive user input; and

a controller configured to;

obtain first position information via the position location module in response to a first command received via the user input unit;

receive second position information via the wireless communication unit, wherein the second position information relates to a geographical location of the external device;

identify a relative distance between the mobile terminal and the external device using the first position information and the second position information; and

perform an interlock function at the mobile terminal in response to a second command received via the user input unit if the relative distance between the mobile terminal and the external device is less than a threshold distance,

wherein the interlock function restricts the mobile terminal from performing a function.

2. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the first position information indicates a current position of the mobile terminal when the first command is received and wherein the second position information indicates a current position of the external device when a request is made via the first command.

3. The mobile terminal of claim 1, further comprising a display,

wherein the user input unit and the display are configured as a touch screen, and wherein the first position information and the second position information are displayed on the touch screen, such that a first visual effect is displayed for the first position information and a second visual effect is displayed for the second position information.

4. The mobile terminal of claim 3, wherein when the first command is received, the controller is further configured to:

display a first map according to the first position information on a prescribed region of the touch screen; and

display the first and second visual effects at positions on the first map that respectively correspond to the first and second position information.

5. The mobile terminal of claim 4, wherein if a position of the second visual effect on the first map is changed to a position based on an offset value in response to a touch input via the touch screen, the controller transmits the offset value to the external device.

6. A mobile terminal comprising:

a position location module configured to obtain position information related to a first geographical location of the mobile terminal;

a wireless communication unit configured to permit wireless communication with an external device;

a user input unit configured to receive user input; and

a controller configured to;

obtain first position information via the position location module after the interlock function of the mobile terminal has been set and if a first command for canceling the interlock function is received, wherein the interlock function restricts the mobile terminal from performing a function;

receive second position information of an external device, wherein the second position information relates to a geographical location of the external device;

identify a first relative distance between the mobile terminal and the external device using the first position information and the second position information; and

disable the interlock function in response to a second command received via the user input unit if the first relative distance between the mobile terminal and the external device is less than a first threshold distance.

7. The mobile terminal of claim 6, wherein the first position information indicates a current position of the mobile terminal when the first command is received and wherein the second position information indicates a current position of the external device when a request is made via the first command.

8. The mobile terminal of claim 7, further comprising a memory configured to store third position information related to a second geographical location of the mobile terminal when the interlock function is set,

wherein when a third command for setting the interlock function is received via the user input unit, the controller is further configured to:

control the memory to store the third position information; and

identify a second relative distance between the first and second geographical locations using the first position information and the stored third position information after receiving the first command,

wherein the controller is further configured to cancel the interlock function in response to the second command only if the second relative distance is equal to or less than a second threshold distance.

9. The mobile terminal of claim 7, further comprising a display,

wherein the user input unit and the display are configured as a touch screen, and wherein the first position information and the second position information are displayed on the touch screen such that a first visual effect is displayed for the first position information and a second visual effect is displayed for the second position information.

10. The mobile terminal of claim 9, wherein when the first command is received, the controller is further configured to:

display a first map according to the first position information on a prescribed region of the touch screen; and

display the first and second visual effects at positions on the first map that respectively correspond to the first and second position information.

11. The mobile terminal of claim 10, wherein the second position information relates to a geographical location of the external device when the interlock function is set, and wherein the controller is further configured to transmit an offset value to the external device when the second position information is changed by moving a position of the second visual effect based on the offset value in response to a touch input on the touch screen.

12. The mobile terminal of claim 6, wherein the second position information relates to a geographical location of the external device determined by applying an offset value to a current position of the external device when a request is made by the mobile terminal via the first command.

13. The mobile terminal of claim 12, wherein the controller is further configured to calculate the second relative distance when the first command is received by comparing the first position information with a value that is generated by removing the offset value from the second position information.

14. A method for controlling a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

obtaining first position information related to a geographical location of the mobile terminal via a position location module in response to a first command received via a user input unit;

receiving second position information via a wireless communication unit, wherein the second position information relates to a geographical location of the external device;

calculating a first relative distance between the mobile terminal and the external device using the first position information and the second position information; and

setting an interlock function at the mobile terminal in response to a second command received via the user input unit if the relative distance between the mobile terminal and the external device is less than a threshold distance,

wherein the interlock function restricts the mobile terminal from performing a function.

15. A method for controlling a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

setting an interlock function that restricts the mobile terminal from performing a function;

receiving a first command for disabling the interlock function via a user input unit;

obtaining first position information related to a first geographical location of the mobile terminal via a position location module;

receiving second position information via a wireless communication unit, wherein the second position information relates to a geographical location of the external device;

calculating a first relative distance between the mobile terminal and the external device using the first position information and the second position information; and

disabling the interlock function in response to a second command received via the user input unit if the first relative distance between the mobile terminal and the external device is less than a first threshold distance.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising storing third position information in a memory, the third position information relating to a second geographical location of the mobile terminal when the interlock function is set,

wherein disabling the interlock function is performed only after receiving a third command and when a second relative distance between the first and second geographical locations is equal to or less than a second threshold value.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the first position information and the second position information are displayed on a touch screen comprising the user input unit, such that a first visual effect is displayed for the first position information and a second visual effect is displayed for the second position information.

18. A method for controlling a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

searching for at least one external device;

selecting a specific external device from the at least one external device;

requesting that the specific external device set an interlock function that restricts the mobile terminal from performing at least a partial command received via a user input unit;

receiving a lock signal from the specific external device; and

setting the interlock function in accordance with the lock signal.

19. A method for controlling a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

setting an interlock function that restricts at least a partial command received via a user input unit in accordance with a lock signal received from a specific external device;

receiving an unlock signal from the specific external device;

determining whether the unlock signal matches the lock signal; and

disabling the interlock function when the unlock signal matches the lock signal.

20. A mobile terminal comprising:

a position location module configured to obtain position information related to a geographical location of the mobile terminal;

a wireless communication unit configured to permit wireless communication with an external device;

a user input unit configured to receive user input; and

a controller configured to;

display an icon for enabling or disabling an interlock function that restricts the mobile terminal from performing a function;

receive a touch input performed on the icon via a touch screen display;

obtain first position information via the position location module in response to a first command received via the user input unit;

receive second position information via the wireless communication unit, wherein the second position information relates to a geographical location of the external device;

display at least the first position information or the second position information via the touch screen display; and

enable or disable the interlock function in response to a second command received via the user input unit if a relative distance between the mobile terminal and the external device is less than a threshold distance.

21. The mobile terminal of claim 20, wherein the touch input comprises a touch and drag input.

22. The mobile terminal of claim 20, wherein the first and second position information are displayed on a map image.

23. A method for controlling a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

displaying an icon for enabling or disabling an interlock function that restricts the mobile terminal from performing a function;

receiving a touch input performed on the icon via a touch screen display;

obtaining first position information via the position location module in response to a first command received via the user input unit;

receiving second position information via the wireless communication unit, wherein the second position information relates to a geographical location of the external device;

displaying at least the first position information or the second position information via the touch screen display; and

enabling or disabling the interlock function in response to a second command received via the user input unit if a relative distance between the mobile terminal and the external device is less than a threshold distance.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the touch input comprises a touch and drag input.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the first and second position information are displayed on a map image.