COMMUNICATION CONNECTING APPARATUS AND METHOD

• US 20120244876A1
• Filed: 10/04/2011
• Published: 09/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Jungwoo, Park, Jihwan
• Granted Patent: US 9,332,105 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3688 Systems comprising multiple parts or multiple output devices (not client-server), e.g. detachable faceplates, key fobs or multiple output screens
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/236 including keys on side or rear faces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces

Abstract

A communication connecting apparatus, a mobile terminal, and a method of communicating among the apparatus and the terminal are discussed. According to an embodiment, the apparatus includes a communication unit configured to receive key information relating to at least one key disposed on the mobile terminal, when the communication connecting apparatus is coupled with the mobile terminal; a display unit; and a controller configured to generate at least one key image corresponding to the at least one key based upon the received key information, and to display, on the display unit, at least one soft key having the generated at least one key image thereon.

Claims

1. A communication connecting apparatus for communicating with a mobile terminal including at least one key, the apparatus comprising:

a communication unit configured to receive key information relating to the at least one key disposed on the mobile terminal, when the communication connecting apparatus is coupled with the mobile terminal;

a display unit; and

a controller configured to generate at least one key image corresponding to the at least one key based upon the received key information, and to display, on the display unit, at least one soft key having the generated at least one key image thereon.

2. The communication connecting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the received key information is hard key information relating to at least one hard key disposed on the mobile terminal.

3. The communication connecting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the received key information is soft key information relating to at least one soft key disposed on the mobile terminal.

4. The communication connecting apparatus of claim 1, wherein upon a user'"'"'s selection of one of the at least one soft key having the at least one key image displayed thereon, an operation corresponding to the selected soft key is performed at the communication connecting apparatus, at the mobile terminal, or at both the communication connecting apparatus and the mobile terminal.

5. The communication connecting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one soft key is located at least one side of an external body of the communication connecting apparatus, and the display unit further comprises a screen disposed adjacent to the at least one soft key.

6. The communication connecting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication unit is configured to communicate with a plurality of mobile terminals, and

wherein the controller displays, on the display unit, a plurality of key images corresponding to keys of the plurality of mobile terminals, when the plurality of mobile terminals are connected to the communication connecting apparatus at a same time, and the plurality of key images are displayed such that the key images for one mobile terminal are distinguishable from the key images for another mobile terminal.

7. The communication connecting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the key information includes icon information relating to an application installed in the mobile terminal.

8. The communication connecting apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the communication connecting apparatus is disconnected from the mobile terminal, the controller changes the displayed at least one soft key having the at least one key image thereon to a default image.

9. The communication connecting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication connecting apparatus is installed in a vehicle.

10. The communication connecting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the key information includes a key image and a key function associated with the at least one key.

11. A mobile terminal for communicating with a communication connecting apparatus, the mobile terminal comprising:

a position locating unit configured to provide location information associated with the mobile terminal;

at least one key configured to receive a user input;

a communication unit configured to transmit key information relating to the at least one key to the mobile terminal, when the mobile terminal is coupled to the communication connecting apparatus; and

a controller configured to control the position locating unit and the communication unit, to receive a request signal corresponding to an operation of the at least one key from the communication connecting apparatus, and to generate at least one control signal for performing the operation of the at least one key at least one of the mobile terminal and the communication connecting apparatus.

12. The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein the communication unit transmits the at least one control signal to the communicating connecting apparatus for performing the operation of the at least one key at the communication connecting apparatus.

13. The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein the transmitted key information is hard key information relating to at least one hard key disposed on the mobile terminal.

14. The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein the transmitted key information is soft key information relating to at least one soft key disposed on the mobile terminal.

15. The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein the at least one control signal is for performing the operation of the at least one key, at the mobile terminal.

16. The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein the at least one control signal is for performing the operation of the at least one key, at the communication connecting apparatus such that the controller transmits the generated at least one control signal to the communication connecting apparatus.

17. The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein the key information relating to the at least one key includes a key image and a key function associated with the at least one key.

18. The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein the key information includes icon information relating to an application installed in the mobile terminal.

19. The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein the mobile terminal is positioned within a vehicle.

20. A communication method comprising:

when a communication connecting apparatus and a mobile terminal are connected to each other, receiving key information relating to at least one key disposed on the mobile terminal by the communication connecting apparatus from the mobile terminal;

generating, by the communication connecting apparatus, at least one key image corresponding to the at least one key based upon the received key information;

displaying, on a display unit of the communication connecting apparatus, at least one soft key having the generated at least one key image thereon; and

when a selection of a soft key from the displayed at least one soft key is received, performing a function corresponding to the selected soft key at least one of the communication connecting apparatus and the mobile terminal.