SMART WATCH AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME

• US 20140334271A1
• Filed: 06/21/2013
• Published: 11/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: PARK, Hyorim, LEE, Doyoung, KIM, Yongsin
• Granted Patent: US 9,086,687 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 368/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/16 for measuring distance of clearance between spaced objects
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 37/1486 Arrangements for fixing to a bracelet building watches into bracelets (montre marquise) G04B37/12; arrangements for hanging pocket- or other watches on chains G04B37/1446
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 3/002 Position, e.g. inclination dependent switches
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/04 using radio waves radio-controlled time-pieces G04R
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/06 using voice
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/08 Touch switches specially adapted for time-pieces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means

Abstract

Discussed are a smart watch and a method for controlling the same, which determine a notification device that provides a notification of an event, based on wearing/non-wearing of a smart watch and on a distance between the smart watch and an external digital device. The smart watch includes a display unit configured to display content, a sensor unit configured to detect an input signal and transmit the detected input signal to a processor, a communication unit configured to transmit/receive data, and the processor configured to control the display unit, the sensor unit, and the communication unit, wherein the processor is configured to detect a mode of the smart watch, wherein the mode of the smart watch includes a worn mode and an unworn mode of the smart watch.

Claims

1. A smart watch comprising:

a display unit configured to display content;

a sensor unit configured to detect an input signal and transmit the detected input signal to a processor;

a communication unit configured to transmit/receive data; and

the processor configured to control the display unit, the sensor unit, and the communication unit,

wherein the processor is configured to;

detect a mode of the smart watch, wherein the mode of the smart watch includes a worn mode and an unworn mode of the smart watch,

detect an external digital device paired with the smart watch, and

determine a notification device providing a notification of an event occurring in at least one of the smart watch and the external digital device based on the detected worn mode or unworn mode of the smart watch, wherein the notification device includes at least one of the smart watch and the external digital device.

2. The smart watch according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to obtain a distance between the smart watch and the external digital device, and

determine the notification device providing the notification of the event based on the detected worn mode or unworn mode of the smart watch and the distance between the smart watch and the external digital device.

3. The smart watch according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to determine the smart watch as the notification device, if the smart watch is in the worn mode.

4. The smart watch according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to determine the external digital device as the notification device, if the smart watch is in the unworn mode.

5. The smart watch according to claim 4, wherein the processor is further configured to determine the smart watch as the notification device, if the smart watch detect a grip signal of a user with respect to the smart watch in the unworn mode.

6. The smart watch according to claim 2, wherein the processor is further configured to determine the external digital device as the notification device, if the distance between the smart watch and the external digital device is within a preset distance.

7. The smart watch according to claim 2, wherein the processor is further configured to determine the smart watch and the external digital device as the notification device, if the distance between the smart watch and the external digital device is not within a preset distance.

8. The smart watch according to claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to detect absence of an input signal with respect to the external digital device for a preset time, if the notification of the event is provided by the external digital device, and

determine the smart watch and the external digital device as the notification device in response to the detected absence of the input signal.

9. The smart watch according to claim 3, wherein the processor is further configured to detect absence of an input signal with respect to the smart watch for a preset time, if the notification of the event is provided by the smart watch, and

determine the smart watch and the external digital device as the notification device in response to the detected absence of the input signal.

10. The smart watch according to claim 9, wherein the input signal for the smart watch includes at least one of gaze, voice, touch, and gesture of a user.

11. The smart watch according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to adjust strength level of notifications of the smart watch and the external digital device differently, if the smart watch and the external digital device are determined as the notification device.

12. The smart watch according to claim 1, wherein the notification of the event includes at least one of a speech notification, a text message notification, a vibration notification, and an image notification.

13. The smart watch according to claim 1, wherein the worn mode or unworn mode of the smart watch is determined based on at least one of an input signal for the rear surface of smart watch and an input signal for a buckle of the smart watch.

14. The smart watch according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to provide the notification via the smart watch, if the smart watch is determined as the notification device, and,

transmit a notification start signal to the external digital device, if the external digital device is determined as the notification device.

15. The smart watch according to claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to terminate providing the notification, if an input signal for the notification device is detected while providing the notification.

16. The smart watch according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to determine the external digital device as a main device and the smart watch as a sub device.

17. The smart watch according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to detect the event occurring in at least one of the smart watch and the external digital device.

18. A method for controlling a smart watch, comprising:

detecting a mode of the smart watch, wherein the mode of the smart watch includes a worn mode and an unworn mode of the smart watch;

detecting an external digital device paired with the smart watch; and

determining a notification device providing a notification of an event occurring in at least one of the smart watch and the external digital device based on the worn mode or unworn mode of the smart watch,

wherein the notification device includes at least one of the smart watch and the external digital device.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising:

obtaining a distance between the smart watch and the external digital device; and

determining the notification device providing the notification of the event based on the detected worn mode or unworn mode and the distance between the smart watch and the external digital device.

20. The method according to claim 18, further comprising determining the external digital device as the notification device in the unworn mode of the smart watch.