MOBILE TERMINAL AND CONTROL METHOD BASED ON BODY PART SIGNALS

• US 20130257757A1
• Filed: 10/11/2012
• Published: 10/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: KIM, Jonghwan
• Granted Patent: US 9,495,093 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/043 using propagating acoustic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path

Abstract

A mobile terminal includes a communication unit, a sensor to sense a first body signal from a first body part and a controller. The controller determines a first target device corresponding to the first body signal and generates a signal for output to the first target device through the communication unit. The first body signal includes information indicative of a characteristic of the first body part. Alternatively, the first target device may be determined by a server coupled to the mobile terminal.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal comprising:

a sensor to generate a first body signal;

an input device to receive a command signal; and

a controller to determine a first target device corresponding to the first body signal, wherein first body signal includes information indicative of a characteristic of a first body part and wherein the command signal is to control an operation of the first target device.

2. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the characteristic is a frequency generated from the first body part.

3. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the first body signal is based on a predetermined movement of a user of the mobile terminal.

4. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the first body signal is based on a predetermined position of the first body part or another body part of a user.

5. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the first body signal is based on contact of the mobile terminal to the first body part.

6. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the first body signal is received from the first body part and wherein the characteristic of the first body part is at least partially influenced based on a position of another body part.

7. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the command signal is received after the first body signal is generated and wherein the controller generates a control signal for the first target device based on the command signal.

8. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the input device is a microphone to receive speech corresponding to the command signal.

9. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the first target device is a home appliance, a home system, or an electronic information device.

10. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the sensor is to sense a second body signal corresponding to a second body part different from the first body part, and wherein the controller is to:

determine a second target device corresponding to the second body signal,

generate a signal for output to the second target device, wherein the second body signal includes information indicative of a characteristic of the second body part and wherein the first body signal is different from the second body signal.

11. A mobile terminal comprising:

a transmitter;

a sensor to sense a first body signal from a first body part; and

a controller to determine a first target device corresponding to the first body signal and to generate a signal for output to the first target device through the transmitter, wherein the first body signal includes information indicative of a characteristic of the first body part and wherein the first target device is different from the mobile terminal.

12. The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein the characteristic is a frequency generated from the first body part.

13. The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein the first body signal is based on a predetermined movement of a user of the mobile terminal.

14. The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein the first body signal is based on a predetermined position of the first body part or another body part of a user.

15. The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein the first body signal is based on contact of the mobile terminal to the first body part or another body part of a user.

16. The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein the signal generated for output to the first target device controls performance of an operation in the first target device.

17. The mobile terminal of claim 11, further comprising:

an input device to receive a command,

wherein the signal for output to the target device controls performance of an operation in the first target device corresponding to the command.

18. The mobile terminal of claim 17, wherein the input device is a microphone to receive speech corresponding to the command.

19. The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein the first target device is a home appliance, a home system, or an electronic information device.

20. The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein the sensor is to sense a second body signal corresponding to a second body part different from the first body part, and wherein the controller is to:

determine a second target device corresponding to the second body signal,

generate a signal for output to the second target device, wherein the second body signal includes information indicative of a characteristic of the second body part and wherein the first body signal is different from the second body signal.

21. A method for controlling a mobile terminal, comprising:

generating a first body signal;

receiving a command signal; and

determining a first target device corresponding to the first body signal,

wherein first body signal includes information indicative of a characteristic of a first body part and wherein the command signal is to control an operation of the first target device.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the characteristic is a frequency generated from the first body part.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the first body signal is based on a predetermined movement of a user of the mobile terminal.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the first body signal is based on a predetermined position of the first body part or another body part of a user.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the first body signal is based on contact of the mobile terminal to the first body part.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the first body signal is received from the first body part and wherein the characteristic of the first body part is at least partially influenced based on a position of another body part.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein the command signal is generated based on speech received through a microphone.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein the first target device is a home appliance, a home system, or an electronic information device.

29. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

sensing a second body signal corresponding to a second body part different from the first body part;

determining a second target device corresponding to the second body signal; and

generating a signal for transmission to the second target device,

wherein the second body signal includes information indicative of a characteristic of the second body part and wherein the first body signal is different from the second body signal.

30. A method for controlling a mobile terminal, comprising:

receiving a first body signal;

determining a first target device corresponding to the first body signal; and

generating a signal for output to the first target device, wherein the first body signal includes information indicative of a characteristic of the first body part and wherein the first target device is different from the mobile terminal.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the characteristic is a frequency generated from the first body part.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the first body signal is based on a predetermined movement of a user of the mobile terminal.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the first body signal is based on a predetermined position of the first body part or another body part of a user.

34. The method of claim 30, wherein the first body signal is based on contact of the mobile terminal to the first body part or another body part of a user.

35. The method of claim 30, wherein the signal generated for output to the first target device controls performance of an operation in the first target device.

36. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

receiving a command,

wherein the signal for output to the target device controls performance of an operation in the first target device corresponding to the command.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the command is received based on a microphone.

38. The method of claim 30, wherein the first target device is a home appliance, a home system, or an electronic information device.

39. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

receiving a second body signal corresponding to a second body part different from the first body part;

determining a second target device corresponding to the second body signal; and

generating a signal for output to the second target device,

wherein the second body signal includes information indicative of a characteristic of the second body part and wherein the first body signal is different from the second body signal.