APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONNECTING TO DEVICE IN WIRELESS TERMINAL

• US 20130137373A1
• Filed: 11/29/2012
• Published: 05/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: CHOI, Jong-Mu, KIM, Chang-Soon
• Granted Patent: US 9,118,355 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/062 Pre-authentication
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for connecting to a device in a wireless terminal, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for more conveniently connecting to a desired device in a communication mode of a wireless terminal are provided. The apparatus includes a near distance communication module for exchanging device information for a communication connection through a contact with a specific device, and a controller for controlling the near distance communication module to connect communication to the specific device based on the exchanged device information.

Claims

1. An apparatus for connecting to a device in a wireless terminal, the apparatus comprising:

a near distance communication module for exchanging device information for a communication connection through a contact with a specific device; and

a controller for controlling the near distance communication module to connect communication to the specific device based on the exchanged device information.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication connection corresponds to Wi-Fi Peer to Peer (Wi-Fi P2P) or Wi-Fi Direct.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the near distance communication module is a Near Field Communication (NFC) module.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the near distance communication module exchanges a Media Access Control (MAC) address with the specific device.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller automatically switches to a communication connection mode, if the specific device is contacted through the near distance communication module.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller performs a device search operation while the controller exchanges a Media Access Control (MAC) address with the specific device through the near distance communication module in a communication connection mode, and

if the controller determines that the MAC address of the specific device exists based on a device search result, then the controller controls to connect communication to the specific device, and

if the controller determines that the MAC address of the specific device does not exist based on the device search result, then the controller controls the near distance communication module to exchange device information for a communication connection with the specific device and then controls to connect communication to the specific device.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the controller controls the near distance communication module to connect communication to the specific device after performing a role determining process and an authentication information exchanging process with the specific device.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller controls the near distance communication module to connect communication to the specific device based on a Media Access Control (MAC) address and device information exchanged through the near distance communication module.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the controller controls the near distance communication module to connect communication to the specific device without a device search operation, a process of determining roles with the specific device, and a process of exchanging authentication information with the specific device.

10. A method of connecting to a device in a wireless terminal, the method comprising:

if a specific device is contacted, exchanging device information for a communication connection through near distance communication; and

connecting communication to the specific device based on device information received from the specific device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the communication connection corresponds to Wi-Fi Peer to Peer (Wi-Fi P2P) or Wi-Fi Direct.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the near distance communication connection corresponds to Near Field Communication (NFC).

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising switching to a communication connection mode, if the near distance communication is performed with the specific device.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the connecting of the communication to the specific device comprises:

exchanging a Media Access Control (MAC) address with the specific device through the near distance communication in a communication connection mode;

performing a device search operation while exchanging the MAC address with the specific device;

if the MAC address of the specific device is determined to exist in a device search result, then connecting communication to the specific device; and

if the MAC address of the specific device is determined not to exist in the device search result, then exchanging device information for a communication connection with the specific device through the near distance communication and then connecting communication to the specific device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the communication with the specific device is connected, after a role determining process and an authentication information exchanging process are performed with the specific device.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

exchanging a Media Access Control (MAC) address and device information with the specific device through the near distance communication; and

connecting communication to the specific device based on the MAC address and the device information that have been received from the specific device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the communication is connected to the specific device without a device search operation, a process of determining roles with the specific device, and a process of exchanging authentication information with the specific device.

18. A method of connecting a wireless terminal to a device through a near distance communication connection, the method comprising:

determining whether the wireless terminal is connected to a specific device via the near distance communication connection;

exchanging, if the wireless terminal is connected to the specific device via the near distance communication connection, device information between the wireless terminal and the specific device over the near distance communication connection; and

establishing a second connection between the wireless terminal and the specific device based on the exchanged device information.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the second connection corresponds to a Wi-Fi Peer to Peer (P2P) connection or a Wi-Fi Direct connection.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the establishing of the second connection comprises:

performing a device search;

determining whether results of the device search include the specific device based at least on some of the exchanged device information;

determining, if the results of the device search include the specific device, roles of the wireless terminal and the specific device; and

exchanging, if the results of the device search do not include the specific device, device information for the second connection between the wireless terminal and the specific device.