METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING AN OPERATION MODE OF A MOBILE TERMINAL

• US 20130055001A1
• Filed: 08/22/2012
• Published: 02/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: JEONG, Yong-Soo, PARK, Jin, KIM, Min-Ji
• Granted Patent: US 9,152,209 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/323
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3228 Monitoring task completion, e.g. by use of idle timers, stop commands or wait commands
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3231 Monitoring the presence, absence or movement of users
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/325 Power saving in peripheral device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3265 Power saving in display device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method and apparatus for controlling an operation mode in a mobile terminal provides the mobile terminal to determine whether a predetermined time has elapsed, after a lapse of which it enters a first power-saving mode, and drive a camera module if the predetermined time has elapsed. Meanwhile, the mobile terminal determines whether a predetermined subject is recognized by the camera module, and then delays changing to the first power-saving mode if the predetermined subject is recognized, and enters the first power-saving mode if the predetermined subject is not recognized.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an operation mode in a mobile terminal, comprising:

activating a camera module when a predetermined duration corresponding to an inactive mode of the mobile terminal has elapsed;

determining whether a predetermined subject is recognized by the camera module;

delaying the mobile terminal from entering into a first power-saving mode when the predetermined subject is detected; and

entering the first power-saving mode when the predetermined subject is not recognized.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising inactivating the camera module after entering into the first power-saving mode or after the entry into the first power-saving mode.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first power-saving mode includes a dimming mode for adjusting a brightness of a display screen of the mobile terminal, and wherein the brightness of the display screen decreases when the mobile terminal enters the first power-saving mode.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising adjusting a gamma value and a contrast value of the display screen when the mobile terminal enters the first power-saving mode.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising entering a second power-saving mode upon a lapse of a predetermined time period after the entry into the first power-saving mode.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second power-saving mode includes a lock screen mode to be displayed on a display screen of the mobile terminal until a predetermined input is received.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the predetermined subject is recognized by the camera module comprises detecting an iris and a movement of the iris.

8. An apparatus for controlling an operation mode in a mobile terminal, comprising:

a display;

a camera module; and

a controller for activating a camera module when a predetermined duration corresponding to an inactive mode of the mobile terminal has elapsed, determining whether a predetermined subject is recognized by the camera module, postponing entering the first power-saving mode when the predetermined subject is recognized, and entering the first power-saving mode when the predetermined subject is not recognized.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the controller inactivating the camera module after entering into the first power-saving mode or after the entry into the first power-saving mode.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first power-saving mode includes a dimming mode for adjusting a brightness of the display, and wherein the brightness decrease when the mobile terminal enters the first power-saving mode.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the controller adjusts a gamma value and a contrast value of the display when the mobile terminal enters the first power-saving mode.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the controller enters a second power-saving mode upon a lapse of a predetermined time period after the entry into the first power-saving mode.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the second power-saving mode includes a lock screen mode to be displayed on a display screen of the mobile terminal until a predetermined input is received.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein determining whether the predetermined subject is recognized by the camera module comprises detecting an iris and a movement of the iris.

16. The method of claim 14, further inactivating the camera module after entering the first power-saving mode.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the first power-saving mode includes a dimming mode for adjusting a brightness of a display screen of the mobile terminal;

and wherein the brightness of the display screen gradually decreases when the mobile terminal enters the first power-saving mode.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising adjusting a gamma value and a contrast value of the display screen when the mobile terminal enters the first power-saving mode.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising entering a second power-saving mode upon a lapse of a predetermined time period after the entry into the first power-saving mode.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein determining whether the predetermined subject is detected by the camera module comprises detecting an iris and a movement of the iris.

15. A method for controlling an operation mode in a mobile terminal, comprising:

determining whether a predetermined subject is recognized by a camera module;

delaying an entry into a first power-saving mode when the predetermined subject is recognized; and

entering the first power-saving mode when the predetermined subject is not recognized.