DATA TRANSMISSION METHOD AND MOBILE DEVICE ADAPTED THERETO

• US 20120172060A1
• Filed: 12/30/2011
• Published: 07/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Qing, Ni Yong, Lee, Kwang Bin, Im, Seong Won, Lee, Sang Hun, Choi, Jong Moon, Park, Sang Woo
• Granted Patent: US 9,270,803 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.6
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/64 file transfer between terminals

Abstract

A method and a mobile device are adapted to transmit data through short-range communication based on movement of the mobile device. External mobile devices near the mobile device are searched. Location information for each external mobile device found near the mobile device is acquired. Data to be transmitted is set. The movement of the mobile device is recognized. At least one target mobile device is set to receive data, based on the movement of the mobile device and the acquired location information of the found external mobile devices. And the data is transmitted to the at least one target mobile device.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting data in a mobile device, the method comprising:

searching for external mobile devices near the mobile device;

acquiring location information for each external mobile device found near the mobile device;

setting data to be transmitted;

recognizing a movement of the mobile device;

setting at least one target mobile device from among the found external mobile devices to receive the data, based on the movement of the mobile device and the acquired location information of the found external mobile devices; and

transmitting the data to the at least one target mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein acquiring the location information comprises:

connecting to at least one of the found external mobile devices;

transmitting a location information request message to the at least one external mobile device connected to the mobile device;

receiving the location information regarding a current location for each of the at least one external mobile device connected to the mobile device;

measuring a current location of the mobile device;

calculating a distance and an azimuth for each of the at least one external mobile device connected to the mobile device, based on the measured current location of the mobile device; and

storing the calculated distance and azimuth.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein setting the data to be transmitted comprises:

displaying a data writing menu;

setting data entered by a user as the data to be transmitted;

displaying a data transmission mode setting menu including a single mode and a multi mode; and

setting the data transmission mode as one of the single mode and the multi mode, according to a user'"'"'s selection.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein setting the at least one target mobile device comprises:

measuring a direction of motion of the mobile device; and

setting, as the at least one target mobile device, at least one of the found external mobile devices that is in the measured direction of motion.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein setting the at least one target mobile device comprises:

measuring a direction and a strength level of motion input by the user;

detecting at least one of the found external mobile devices in the measured direction of motion;

when more than one of the found external mobile devices are detected and the mobile device is in a single mode, setting one of the found external mobile devices located at a distance corresponding to the measured strength level of motion as the at least one target mobile device; and

when one of the found external mobile devices is detected, setting the detected external mobile device as the at least one target mobile device.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein setting the at least one target mobile device comprises:

measuring a strength level and a range of motion input by the user;

determining whether the measured range of motion is not less than a preset azimuth range;

determining the data transmission mode when the measured range of motion is not less than a preset azimuth range; and

setting, as the at least one target mobile device, at least one of the found external mobile devices in the range of motion when the data transmission mode is set to the multi mode.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

setting, as the at least one target mobile device, one of the found external mobile devices that is closest to the mobile device, when the data transmission mode is set to the single mode.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether a data sharing mode of the mobile device is set to an active state; and

operating, when the data sharing mode is set to the active state, a short-range communication unit, a location measurement module, a geomagnetic sensor, and an acceleration sensor in the mobile device.

20. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to determine whether a data sharing mode of the mobile device is set to an active state, and operate the location measurement module, the geomagnetic sensor, and the acceleration sensor when the data sharing mode is set to the active state.

9. A mobile device comprising:

a short-range communication unit configured to search for external mobile devices near the mobile device, acquiring location information for each external mobile device found near the mobile device, and for transmitting data to at least one target mobile device;

a location measurement module configured to measure a current location of the mobile device;

a motion sensing unit configured to sense a movement of the mobile device; and

a controller configured to set the data to be transmitted, and set the at least one target mobile device from among the found external mobile devices to receive the data based on the movement of the mobile device and the acquired location information of the found external mobile devices.

10. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the short-range communication unit is further configured to connect to at least one of the found external mobile devices, transmit a location information request message to the at least one external mobile device connected to the mobile device, and receive the location information regarding a current location for each of the at least one external mobile device connected to the mobile device, and

wherein the motion sensing unit is further configured to measure a current location of the mobile device calculate a distance and an azimuth for each of the at least one external mobile device connected to the mobile device based on the measured current location of the mobile device, and store the calculated distance and azimuth in a storage unit.

11. The mobile device of claim 10, further comprising a display unit, wherein the controller is further configured to display a data writing menu on the display unit, set data entered by a user as the data to be transmitted, display a data transmission mode setting menu including a single mode and a multi mode on the display, and set the data transmission mode as one of the single mode and the multi mode, according to a user'"'"'s selection.

12. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the motion sensing unit comprises:

a geomagnetic sensor configured to measure a direction of motion of the mobile device; and

an acceleration sensor configured to measure a strength level of motion of the mobile device.

13. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the short-range communication unit comprises at least one of a Bluetooth communication module, a WiFi communication module, a Zigbee communication module, an infrared communication module, a Near Field Communication (NFC) communication module, and a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) communication module.

14. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein the controller is further configured to set at least one of the found external mobile devices that is in the measured direction of motion as the at least one target mobile device.

15. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the controller comprises a data setting unit configured to set the data transmission mode as one of the single mode and the multi mode.

16. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein the controller comprises a target mobile device setting unit configured to detect external mobile devices in the measured direction of motion, set one of the found external mobile devices located at a distance corresponding to the measured strength level of motion as one of the at least one target mobile device when more than one of the found external mobile devices are detected and the mobile device is in a single mode, and set the detected external mobile device as the at least one target mobile device when one of the found external mobile devices is detected.

17. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein the motion sensing unit is further configured to measure a range of motion of the mobile device.

18. The mobile device of claim 17, wherein the controller comprises a target mobile device setting unit configured to determine whether the measured range of motion is not less than a preset azimuth range, determine when the data transmission mode when the measured range of motion is equal not less than a preset azimuth range, and set, as the at least one target mobile device, at least one of the found external mobile devices in the range of motion when the data transmission mode is set to the multi mode.

19. The mobile device of claim 18, wherein the target mobile device setting unit is further configured to set, as the at least one target mobile device, one of the found external mobile devices that is closest to the mobile device, when the data transmission mode is set to the single mode.