Apparatus and method for connecting with bluetooth devices in portable terminal

• US 8,903,316 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2011
• Issued: 12/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Jang, Jin-Ho
• Primary Examiner(s): Gonzalez, Amancio
• Application Number:
  US13/286,491
• Publication Number:
  US 20120115464A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,127 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/426.1
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/006 with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

An apparatus and method for connecting with a plurality of Bluetooth devices is provided in a portable terminal. The apparatus includes a position determining unit and a Bluetooth connecting unit. The position determining unit searches for a second Bluetooth device by using a movement direction of the terminal, when performing a call by the second Bluetooth device while maintaining a call. The Bluetooth connecting unit processes the performance of a call using a first Bluetooth device and the second Bluetooth device. When searching the second Bluetooth device, the Bluetooth connecting unit releases the connection of the first Bluetooth device while maintaining the call and performs a connection with the second Bluetooth device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for connecting with a plurality of Bluetooth devices in a portable terminal, comprising:

a processor to;

connect the portable terminal engaged in a call with a first Bluetooth hands free device using a Bluetooth connecting unit;

compare three dimensional coordinates of the portable terminal with that of a second Bluetooth hands free device using a position determining unit, while engaged in the call using the first Bluetooth hands free device; and

switch a connection with the first Bluetooth hands free device to the second Bluetooth hands free device such that the portable terminal is engaged in the call with the second Bluetooth hands free device, when a difference between the three dimensional coordinates of the portable terminal and the second Bluetooth hands free device is below a threshold.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the position determining unit creates a list of a plurality of peripheral devices based on an order of signal strength utilizing Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) values to search the second Bluetooth hands free device.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the position determining unit compares the RSSI values of the plurality of peripheral devices with a predetermined threshold value, and creates a list of peripheral devices having RSSI values greater than the predetermined threshold value.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the second Bluetooth hands free device comprise one peripheral device having a good RSSI value from among the list of the peripheral devices.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the position determining unit measures the three dimensional coordinates according to a detected movement of the terminal by using a sensing unit, and determines a movement direction of the terminal.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the Bluetooth connecting unit searches for the second Bluetooth hands free device, and connects with the second Bluetooth hands free device when it is determined that the second Bluetooth hands free device is an authorized device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the Bluetooth connecting unit switches the call to the second Bluetooth hands free device from the first Bluetooth hands free device, when a selection of the second Bluetooth hands free device is detected.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the Bluetooth connecting unit releases a Service Link Connection (SLC) link and a Synchronous Connection-Oriented (SCO) link with the first Bluetooth hands free device while maintaining the call, and performs an SLC connection and an SCO connection with the second Bluetooth hands free device to perform with the second Bluetooth hands free.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first Bluetooth hands free device and the second Bluetooth hands free device comprises a headset.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the position determining unit comprises at least one of as gyro sensors or magnetic sensors to detect a movement direction of the portable terminal.

11. A method for connecting with a plurality of Bluetooth devices in a portable terminal, comprising:

engaging a portable terminal in a call with, a first Bluetooth hands free device;

comparing three dimensional coordinates of the portable terminal with that of a second Bluetooth hands free device, while engaged in the call using the first Bluetooth hands free device; and

switching a connection with the first Bluetooth hands free device to the second Bluetooth hands free device such that the portable terminal is engaged in the call with the second Bluetooth hands free device, when a difference between the three dimensional coordinates of the portable terminal and the second Bluetooth hands free device is below a threshold.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising creating a list of peripheral devices by using Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSS) values, and storing in a memory or displaying on a display the created list.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the creating of the list of the peripheral devices comprises:

measuring RSSI values of the peripheral devices;

comparing the measured RSSI values with a predetermined threshold value; and

creating the list of peripheral devices corresponding to the RSSI values greater than the predetermined threshold value.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the second Bluetooth hands free device comprises the device having an RSSI value greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold value from among the list of the peripheral devices.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein comparing three dimensional coordinates comprises:

operating a sensing unit for sensing a movement of the terminal;

measuring the three dimensional coordinates of the terminal in accordance with a movement of the terminal; and

determining a movement direction of the terminal using the three dimensional coordinates.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

searching the second Bluetooth hands free device and determining whether the second Bluetooth hands free device comprises an authorized device; and

connecting with the second Bluetooth hands free device when it is determined that the second Bluetooth hands free device comprises the authorized device.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising switching the call to the second Bluetooth hands free device from the first Bluetooth hands free device, when selection of the second Bluetooth hands free device is detected.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the performing of the call by the second Bluetooth hands free device while maintaining the call comprises releasing a Service Link Connection (SLC) link and a Synchronous Connection-Oriented (SCO) link with the first Bluetooth hands free device while maintaining the call, and performing an SLC connection and an SCO connection with the second Bluetooth hands free device.

19. The method according to claim 11, wherein at least one of the first Bluetooth hands free device and the second Bluetooth hands free device comprises a headset.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein at least one of the first Bluetooth hands free device and the second Bluetooth hands free device comprises a headset.