Mobile terminal and schedule management method using the same

• US 8,014,794 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2007
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Cho, Shin Hee, Lee, Jea Hyuck, Huh, Jae Young, Jung, Ji Hyun
• Primary Examiner(s): MIZRAHI, DIANE D
• Application Number:
  US11/986,123
• Publication Number:
  US 20080139245A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,386 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.3, 455/412.1, 455/414.1, 455/418, 455/442, 455/461, 455/566, 455/556.2, 370/252, 370/329, 370/345, 715/710
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver

Abstract

A mobile terminal and schedule management method using the same. The method includes: setting a schedule, the schedule including an alarm time, planned event time, planned event and a destination; and information about the location of the scheduled destination from a map search feature. A current location of the mobile terminal can be computed at an alarm time of a current schedule, using global positioning system (GPS) satellite signals. A first estimated travel time from the current location of the mobile terminal to a destination of the current schedule is provided. An alarm is output in which at least the computed first estimated travel time and the current schedule are displayed. The schedule management function integrates location and traffic information to provide effective schedule guidance to a user.

Claims

1. A schedule management method for use in a mobile terminal, comprising:

(a) inputting a current schedule that includes one or more of an alarm time, planned event time, planned event, destination, and indicator of a transportation means by which a user travels to a destination of the current schedule;

(b) receiving location information of the input destination of the schedule input in step (a) from a map search feature;

(c) determining, at an alarm time of the current schedule of the schedules input in step (a), a current location of the mobile terminal using global positioning system (GPS) satellite signals;

(d) providing a first estimated travel time from the current location of the mobile terminal to a destination of the current schedule by calculating a distance from the current location of the mobile terminal to the destination of the current schedule, and dividing the calculated distance by an average speed of a transportation means for the current schedule; and

(e) outputting an alarm, and displaying the first estimated travel time in step (d) and the current schedule in step (a).

2. The schedule management method recited in claim 1, wherein in step (d) the estimated travel time is provided to a memory unit of the mobile terminal.

3. The schedule management method of claim 1, wherein the providing of the first estimated travel time in step (d) comprises:

receiving a distance between the current location of the mobile terminal and the destination of the current schedule, obtained from the map search feature; and

dividing the received distance by an average speed of a transportation means for the current schedule.

4. The schedule management method of claim 3, wherein the transportation means is one of walking, car, train, subway, bicycle, and motor cycle.

5. The schedule management method of claim 4, further comprising:

repeatedly computing a tentative estimated travel time between the current location of the mobile terminal and the destination of the current schedule at regular time intervals from the alarm time to the planned event time of the current schedule; and

issuing an alarm when the tentative estimated travel time is greater than the difference between the first estimated travel time and a preset time duration.

6. The schedule management method of claim 5, wherein the repeated computing of a tentative estimated travel time between the current location of the mobile terminal and the destination of the current schedule is performed at one of a traffic information server or another server in communication with the mobile terminal.

7. The schedule management method of claim 5, further comprising displaying, at a preset time before the planned event time of the current schedule, a guide image of the destination of the current schedule.

8. The schedule management method of claim 7, wherein the guide image is received from a traffic information server.

9. The schedule management method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, at the alarm time of the current schedule, whether a preceding schedule is pending between the alarm time and a planned event time of the current schedule;

computing a second estimated travel time from a destination of the preceding schedule to the destination of the current schedule when a preceding schedule is pending; and

outputting an alarm, and displaying the computed second estimated travel time and the current schedule.

10. The schedule management method of claim 9, wherein the second estimated travel time is displayed at a planned event time of the preceding schedule at or after the alarm time.

11. The schedule management method of claim 1, further comprising:

inputting the schedule comprises selecting one of input schedules in step (a);

computing a current location of the mobile terminal using GPS satellite signals;

computing a third estimated travel time from the current location of the mobile terminal to a destination of the selected schedule; and

displaying the computed third estimated travel time and the selected schedule.

12. The schedule management method of claim 1, further comprising:

extracting, in response to a schedule display request, an unexpired schedule whose planned event time is closest to the current time;

computing a current location of the mobile terminal using GPS satellite signals;

computing a fourth estimated travel time from the current location of the mobile terminal to a destination of the extracted schedule; and

displaying the computed fourth estimated travel time and the extracted schedule.

13. A schedule management method using a mobile terminal, comprising:

setting, by a controller, a schedule including an alarm time, planned event time, planned event and destination;

receiving, by a GPS module, location information of a destination of the schedule through a map search feature;

determining, by the controller at an alarm time of a current schedule, whether a preceding schedule is pending between the alarm time and a planned event time of the current schedule;

computing, by the controller, an estimated travel time from a destination of the preceding schedule to a destination of the current schedule when preceding schedule is pending;

outputting an alarm, by an audio processor, and display unit the computed estimated travel time and the current schedule at a planned event time of the preceding schedule at or after the alarm time of the current schedule;

repeatedly computing, by the controller, a tentative estimated travel time between the current location of the mobile terminal and the destination of the current schedule at regular time intervals from the alarm time to the planned event time of the current schedule; and

issuing an alarm, by the audio processor, when the tentative estimated travel time is greater than the difference between the estimated travel time and a preset time duration, an alarm.

14. The schedule management method of claim 13, further comprising displaying, by the display unit, at a preset time before the planned event time of the current schedule, a guide image of the destination of the current schedule.

15. The schedule management method of claim 14, wherein the guide image is received from a traffic information server.

16. A mobile terminal comprising:

an input unit for inputting a schedule composed of an alarm time, planned event time, planned event, destination, and transportation means;

a wireless unit for receiving location information of a destination of a schedule from a map search feature;

a global positioning system (GPS) module for receiving GPS satellite signals to compute a current location of the mobile terminal at an alarm time of a current schedule;

a control unit for computing a first estimated travel time from the current location of the mobile terminal to a destination of the current schedule and for calculating a second estimated travel time from a destination of the preceding schedule to the destination of the current schedule when the preceding schedule is pending between the alarm time and the planned event time of the current schedule;

a display unit for displaying the computed first and second estimated travel time and the current schedule; and

an alarm unit for producing an alarm at an alarm time of a schedule.

17. The mobile terminal of claim 16, wherein the control unit repeatedly computes a tentative estimated travel time between a current location of the mobile terminal and the destination of the current schedule at regular time intervals from the alarm time to the planned event time of the current schedule, and outputs an alarm to the alarm unit when the tentative estimated travel time is greater than the difference between the first or second estimated travel time and a preset time duration.

18. The mobile terminal of claim 17, wherein the control unit displays a guide image of the destination of the current schedule at a preset time before the planned event time of the current schedule.

19. The mobile terminal of claim 18, wherein the first estimated travel time and second estimated travel time are a time value obtained through dividing a distance between the current location of the mobile terminal and the destination of the current schedule by an average speed of a transportation means for the current schedule.