ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME

• US 20150230056A1
• Filed: 08/28/2013
• Published: 08/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Shin, Jeongeun, Kim, Seungman, An, Sungje
• Granted Patent: US 9,497,595 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3492 employing speed data or traffic data, e.g. real-time or historical traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• 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 8/24 Transfer of terminal data

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electronic device capable of providing route information and a method for controlling same. An electronic device capable of providing route information according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a wireless communications unit, a search unit for searching out a destination inputted by the user, a display unit for setting, as a destination, one of the places searched out by the search unit and for displaying the route of the set destination, and a control unit for sending a control signal to control at least one electric home appliance based on an expected time of arrival at the destination.

Claims

1. An electronic device capable of providing route information, the electronic device comprising:

a wireless communication unit;

a display unit; and

a controller configured to;

perform a search for a destination that corresponds to an input by a user;

determine a route to the destination;

cause displaying the route to the destination on the display unit; and

transmit, based on an estimated time of arrival at the destination along the route, a control signal for controlling at least one home appliance.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication unit is configured to utilize near field communication, and

wherein the controller is configured to receive, from an external device through the wireless communication unit, a setting for controlling the at least one home appliance.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to transmit, based on an estimated time of arrival at the destination, a control signal for controlling at least one home appliance by being configured to:

calculate the estimated time of arrival at the destination along the route;

load control time information related to an operation of the at least one home appliance;

determine, based on the control time information related to an operation of the at least one home appliance and based on the estimated time of arrival at the destination along the route, a point along the route at which to transmit a control signal to the at least one home appliance;

determine whether the point along the route has been passed; and

based on determining that the point along the route has been passed, transmit the control signal to a home appliance that corresponds to the point that was passed along the route.

4. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the control time information related to an operation of the at least one home appliance is set by the user.

5. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the control time information comprises at least one of operation start time information or operation end time information both related to the at least one home appliance.

6. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the wireless communication unit is further configured to receive updated traffic information from at least one external server, and

wherein the controller is further configured to determine, based on the received traffic information, the point along the route at which to transmit the control signal.

7. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the controller is further configured to output, based on the traffic information, screen information on one region of the display unit, the screen information configured to enable the user to select a detour route.

8. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the controller is further configured to change, based on the control time information and in response to a user selection of the detour route, the point along the route at which to transmit the control signal to the at least one home appliance.

9. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the controller is further configured to:

output screen information on one region of the display unit, the screen information configured to enable a user to change the point along the route at which to transmit the control signal relevant to the operation of the at least one home appliance, and

based on a user selection in the screen information, change the point along the route at which to transmit the control signal.

10. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the controller is further configured to output, on a relevant point on the route displayed on the display unit, a particular graphic object corresponding to the at least one home appliance.

11. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the particular graphic object is implemented by at least one of an image, an icon or text corresponding to one of the at least one home appliance.

12. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to output, adjacent to the graphic object on the display unit, control time information related to a home appliance corresponding to the particular graphic object.

13. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured to change, in response to a user'"'"'s drag-based input, a point along the route at which to transmit a control signal of a home appliance corresponding to the particular graphic object.

14. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to set, based on the control time information related to the home appliance that corresponds to the particular graphic object, an estimated time of arrival at the destination from the changed point.

15. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to output, on one region of the display unit, setting information related to the home appliance corresponding to the particular graphic object.

16. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the setting information comprises at least one of an operation time or an operation setting of a home appliance corresponding to a graphic object that has a user'"'"'s touch input applied thereto, and

wherein at least part of the setting information is changed by a user selection.

17. A method of controlling an electronic device capable of providing route information, the method comprising:

setting a route to a destination;

receiving a control signal for controlling at least one home appliance; and

transmitting, based on an estimated time of arrival at the destination along the route, the control signal for controlling the at least one home appliance.

18. The method of claim 17, transmitting, based on an estimated time of arrival at the destination, the control signal for controlling the at least one home appliance comprises:

calculating the estimated time of arrival at the destination along the route;

loading control time information related to an operation of the at least one home appliance;

determining, based on the control time information related to an operation of the at least one home appliance and based on the estimated time of arrival at the destination along the route, a point along the route at which to transmit a control signal to the at least one home appliance on the basis of the control time information;

determining whether the point along the route has been passed through; and

based on determining that the point along the route has been passed, transmitting the control signal to a home appliance that corresponds to the point that was passed along the route.

19. An automatic control system interoperable with an electronic device capable of providing route information, the system comprising:

an electronic device configured to transmit, based on an estimated time of arrival at a destination, a control signal for remotely controlling at least one home appliance;

a home network server that is configured to remotely control a relevant home appliance based on receiving the control signal; and

at least one home appliance wirelessly connected to the home network server and remotely controlled by the home network server.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the electronic device is configured to:

determine, based on control time information related to an operation of the at least one home appliance and based on the estimated time of arrival at the destination, a point along the route at which to transmit the control signal to the at least one home appliance, and transmit, based on determining that the point along the route has been passed, the control signal to a home appliance that corresponds to the point that was passed along the route.