METHOD AND DEVICE FOR EXECUTING APPLICATION

• US 20140073244A1
• Filed: 09/10/2013
• Published: 03/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: KO, Jae-woo, SHIN, Hang-sik, PARK, Se-jun
• Granted Patent: US 9,277,576 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A method for executing an application based on a connection between devices by automatically connecting devices, and a device, are disclosed. The method includes: detecting an occurrence of first short distance communication between at least one external device and the device; receiving connection information which relates to a second short distance communication mode and application information which relates to the at least one external device from the at least one external device via the first short distance communication; establishing a connection based on the second short distance communication mode between the at least one external device and the device based on the received connection information which relates to the second short distance communication mode; and controlling the at least one external device via the second short distance communication mode by using an application which is executable based on the received application information.

Claims

1. An application execution method which is performable by using a first device, the method comprising:

detecting an occurrence of a first short distance communication between at least one external device and the first device;

receiving connection information which relates to a second short distance communication mode and application information which relates to the at least one external device from the at least one external device via the first short distance communication;

establishing a connection based on the second short distance communication mode between the at least one external device and the first device by using the received connection information; and

controlling the at least one external device via the second short distance communication mode by using an application which is executable based on the received application information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting the occurrence of the first short distance communication is performed by using one of near field communication (NFC) and Bluetooth low energy (BLE) communication.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting the occurrence of the first short distance communication is performed based on whether a distance between the at least one external device and the first device is within a first short distance communication radius.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting the occurrence of the first short distance communication is performed based on whether a broadcast signal based on Bluetooth low energy (BLE) communication is received from the at least one external device.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

displaying information which relates to the at least one external device; and

establishing the connection based on the second short distance communication mode when a connection between the first device and an external device from among the at least one external device is selected based on the displayed information which relates to the at least one external device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the connection information which relates to the second short distance communication mode comprises information which relates to the second short distance communication mode which is performed by the at least one external device and additional information to be used when establishing the connection between the first device and the at least one external device based on the second short distance communication mode.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the additional information comprises address information which relates to the at least one external device when the second short distance communication mode is based on a direct communication mode between devices.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the establishing the connection based on the second short distance communication mode comprises:

determining the second short distance communication mode between the at least one external device and the first device by using the received connection information which relates to the second short distance communication mode;

transmitting, from the first device to the at least one external device, connection information which relates to a relay to the at least one external device via first short distance communication when the second short distance communication mode is based on a communication mode which uses the relay; and

receiving, from the at least one external device, a signal which indicates that a connection between the relay and the at least one external device is established.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the establishing the connection based on the second short distance communication mode comprises:

determining the second short distance communication mode between the at least one external device and the first device by using the received connection information which relates to the second short distance communication;

transmitting, from the first device to the at least one external device, a connection request signal by using the received connection information which relates to the second short distance communication when the second short distance communication mode is based on a direct communication between devices; and

receiving a connection acceptance signal from the at least one external device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the second short distance communication mode comprises at least one from among a wireless local area network (LAN) communication mode, a wireless fidelity (WiFi) direct communication mode, a Bluetooth communication mode, an ultra wideband (UWB) communication mode, and a Zigbee communication mode.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the establishing the connection based on the second short distance communication mode comprises:

registering the at least one external device in the first device when a registration request is received from the at least one external device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the application information which relates to the at least one external device comprises at least one of identification information which relates to the application and an execution command.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the controlling the at least one external device comprises:

searching for the application from the first device by using the received application information;

if the application is determined not to be installed in the first device as a result of the searching, downloading and executing the application from an outside; and

if the application is determined to be installed in the first device as a result of the searching, executing the application by the first device.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the connection information which relates to the second short distance communication mode further comprises authentication information which relates to the at least one external device,

wherein the establishing the connection based on the second short distance communication is performed after performing authentication processing by using the received authentication information.

15. A first device comprising:

a first short distance communication unit which is configured to communicate between at least one external device and the first device by using a first short distance communication mode;

a second short distance communication unit which is configured to communicate between the at least one external device and the first device by using a second short distance communication mode, when the first device is connected to the at least one external device based on a connection information which relates to the second short distance communication mode which is received from the at least one external device via the first short distance communication unit; and

a processor which is configured to receive the connection information which relates to the second short distance communication mode and application information which relates to the at least one external device via the first short distance communication unit, in order to establish a connection between the at least one external device and the first device based on the connection information which relates to the second short distance communication mode, and to control the at least one external device via the second short distance communication unit by executing an application based on the received application information.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the first short distance communication unit comprises a first communication module which is configured to communicate between the at least one external device and the first device based on a near-field communication (NFC) mode, and a second communication module which is configured to communicate between the at least one external device and the first device based on a Bluetooth low energy (BLE) communication mode.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the first short distance communication unit comprises a communication module which is configured to communicate between the at least one external device and the first device when a distance between the at least one external device and the first device is within a first short distance communication radius.

18. The device of claim 15, wherein the first short distance communication unit comprises a communication module which is configured to communicate between the at least one external device and the first device based on a Bluetooth low energy (BLE) communication mode.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the processor displays information which relates to the at least one external device which is received based on the BLE communication mode, and establishes the connection based on the second short distance communication mode when a connection request signal with respect to the at least one external device is received based on the displayed information which relates to the at least one external device, and

the first device further comprises:

an information input and output unit which is configured to display the information which relates to the at least one external device and to input the received connection request signal with respect to the at least one external device.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the information input and output unit is configured based on a touch screen.

21. The device of claim 15, wherein the connection information which relates to the second short distance communication mode comprises information which relates to the second short distance communication mode which is performed by the at least one external device and additional information to be used to establish the connection based on the second short distance communication mode.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the additional information comprises address information which relates to the at least one external device when the second short distance communication mode is based on a direct communication mode between devices.

23. The device of claim 15, wherein the processor is configured to determine the second short distance communication mode between the first device and the at least one external device based on the received connection information which relates to the second short distance communication mode, transmit connection information which relates to a relay to the at least one external device via the first short distance communication unit when the second short distance communication mode is based on a communication mode which uses the relay, and receive, from the at least one external device, a signal which indicates that the at least one external device is connected to the relay.

24. The device of claim 15, wherein the processor is configured to determine the second short distance communication mode between the first device and the at least one external device based on the received connection information which relates to the second short distance communication mode, transmit, via the second short distance communication unit, a connection request signal to the at least one external device by using the received connection information which relates to the second short distance communication mode when the second short distance communication mode is based on a direct communication mode between devices, and receive, via the second short distance communication unit, a connection acceptance signal from the at least one external device.

25. The device of claim 15, further comprising:

a memory which is configured to store registration information which relates to the at least one external device,

wherein the processor is configured to store the registration information which relates to the at least one external device in the memory when a registration request is received from the at least one external device via the first short distance communication unit.

26. The device of claim 15, wherein the application information which relates to the at least one external device comprises at least one of identification information which relates to the application and an execution command.

27. The device of claim 15, further comprising:

a memory which is configured to store at least one application,

wherein the processor is configured to search for a first application in the memory by using the received application information, and if the first application is not stored in the memory, download the first application from an outside, and store and execute the first application in the memory, and if the first application is stored in the memory, execute the first application.

28. The device of claim 15, wherein the connection information which relates to the second short distance communication mode further comprises authentication information which relates to the at least one external device,

wherein the processor is configured to establish the connection between the first device and the at least one external device based on the second short distance communication mode after performing authentication processing by using the received authentication information.

29. The device of claim 15, wherein the second short distance communication mode comprises at least one from among a wireless local area network (LAN) communication mode, a wireless fidelity (WiFi) direct communication mode, Bluetooth communication mode, an ultra wideband (UWB) communication mode, and a Zigbee communication mode.

30. A non-transitory computer readable recording medium having recorded thereon at least one program which includes commands for executing an application execution method which is performable by using a first device,

wherein the application execution method comprises:

detecting an occurrence of first short distance communication between at least one external device and the first device;

receiving connection information which relates to a second short distance communication mode and application information which relates to the at least one external device from the at least one external device via first short distance communication;

establishing a connection based on the second short distance communication mode between the at least one external device and the first device based on the received connection information which relates to the second short distance communication mode; and

controlling the at least one external device via the second short distance communication mode by using an application which is executed based on the received application information.

31. An application execution method which is performable by using an external device, the method comprising:

detecting an occurrence of first short distance communication between at least one device and the external device;

transmitting connection information which relates to a second short distance communication mode to be performed by the external device and application information which relates to the external device to the at least one device via first short distance communication;

establishing a connection based on a second short distance communication mode between the external device and the at least one device based on the information which is received from the at least one device;

receiving a control signal which is based on an application which is executed by the at least one device via the second short distance communication mode; and

operating the external device based on the received control signal.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the information which is received from the at least one device comprises a connection request signal when the second short distance communication mode is based on a direct communication mode between devices and connection information which relates to a relay when the second short distance communication mode is based on a communication mode which uses the relay.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the detecting the occurrence of the first short distance communication is performed based on whether a distance between the at least one external device and the at least one device is within a first short distance communication radius.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the establishing the connection based on the second short distance communication mode is based on one from among a wireless local area network (LAN) communication mode, a wireless fidelity (WiFi) direct communication mode, a Bluetooth communication mode, an ultra wideband (UWB) communication mode, and a Zigbee communication mode.

35. An application execution method which is performable by using an external device, the method comprising:

broadcasting connection information which relates to a second short distance communication mode and application information which relates to the external device via first short distance communication;

establishing a connection which is based on the second short distance communication mode between at least one device and the external device based on information which is received from the at least one device;

receiving a control signal via an application which is executed by the at least one device via the second short distance communication mode; and

operating hardware of the external device based on the received control signal.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the information which is received from the at least one device comprises a connection request signal when the second short distance communication mode is based on a direct communication mode between devices and connection information which relates to a relay when the second short distance communication mode is based on a communication mode which uses the relay.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein first short distance communication is performed based on a Bluetooth low energy (BLE) communication mode.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein the establishing the connection based on the second short distance communication mode is based on one from among a wireless local area network (LAN) communication mode, a wireless fidelity (WiFi) direct communication mode, a Bluetooth communication mode, an ultra wideband (UWB) communication mode, and a Zigbee communication mode.

39. A method for using a first device to control a second device, the method comprising:

receiving, by the first device and from the second device, while operating in a first communication mode, connection information which relates to a second communication mode and application information which relates to an application which is executable by using the second device;

establishing a communication connection based on the second communication mode between the first device and the second device by using the received connection information; and

controlling the second device via the second communication mode by using the application.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the first communication mode includes a short distance communication mode which is implemented by using one from among near field communication (NFC) and Bluetooth low energy (BLE) communication.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the establishing the communication connection comprises:

transmitting, from the first device to the second device while operating in the first communication mode, relay information which relates to establishing a communication connection between a relay and the second device; and

receiving, from the second device, a signal which indicates that the communication connection between the relay and the second device is established.

42. The method of claim 39, wherein the controlling the second device comprises:

searching for the application by using the received application information;

if the application is determined not to be installed in the first device as a result of the searching, downloading the application from an outside and executing the downloaded application; and

if the application is determined to be installed in the first device as a result of the searching, executing the application.

43. A first device, comprising:

a communication module which is configured to receive, from a second device and while operating in a first communication mode, connection information which relates to a second communication mode and application information which relates to an application which is executable by using the second device; and

a processor which is configured to establish a communication connection based on the second communication mode between the first device and the second device by using the received connection information, and to control the second device via the second communication mode by using the application information.

44. The first device of claim 43, wherein the first communication mode includes a short distance communication mode which is implemented by using one from among near field communication (NFC) and Bluetooth low energy (BLE) communication.

45. The first device of claim 44, wherein the processor is further configured to establish the communication connection by causing the communication module to transmit, to the second device while operating in the first communication mode, relay information which relates to establishing a communication connection between a relay and the second device;

and

wherein the communication module is further configured to receive, from the second device, a signal which indicates that the communication connection between the relay and the second device is established.

46. The first device of claim 43, wherein the processor is further configured to control the second device by searching for the application in a memory of the first device by using the received application information, and:

if the application is determined not to be stored in the memory of the first device, using the communication module to download the application from an outside and then executing the downloaded application; and

if the application is determined to be stored in the memory of the first device, executing the application.