Method for performing cooperative function automatically and device using the same

• US 8,995,913 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2010
• Issued: 03/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: Yu, Seung-dong, Chang, Woo-yong, Park, Se-jun, Moon, Min-jeong
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TUAN HOANG
• Application Number:
  US12/862,301
• Publication Number:
  US 20110045773A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,680 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/404.2, 455/412.1, 455/420, 455/426.2, 455/456.1, 370/259, 370/338, 370/354, 340/572.1, 709/201, 709/213, 709/221, 709/223, 709/224
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0619 in relation to data integrity, e.g. data losses, bit errors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/065 Replication mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/067 Distributed or networked storage systems, e.g. storage area networks [SAN], network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1204 resulting in reduced user or operator actions, e.g. presetting, automatic actions, using hardware token storing data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1236 Connection management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/128 Direct printing, e.g. sending document file, using memory stick, printing from a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1292 Mobile client, e.g. wireless printing
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/007 only remotely, e.g. at a host computer dedicated computer interfaces to print systems G06F3/1201
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/30 Services specially adapted for particular environments, situations or purposes
• 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

Abstract

A method for performing a cooperative function and a device thereof are provided. It is determined whether another device is in a surrounding area of a device. When it is determined that the other device is in the surrounding area, the cooperative function is performed by the device with the other device according to a location of the other device. Accordingly, the cooperative function may be performed automatically if devices are in adjacent areas without a user'"'"'s command.

Claims

1. A method for performing a cooperative function by a multimedia device, comprising the steps of:

determining whether there is another multimedia device in a surrounding area of the multimedia device; and

selecting one cooperative function from among a plurality of cooperative functions according to a relative position of the multimedia device with respect to the another multimedia device and performing the selected cooperative function, by the multimedia device, with the another multimedia device.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by the multimedia device, the relative position,

wherein performing the selected cooperative function comprises performing a first cooperative function by the multimedia device when it is determined that the another multimedia device is located in a first relative position, and performing a second cooperative function by the multimedia device when it is determined that the another multimedia device is located in a second relative position.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising:

automatically performing, in the multimedia device, a back-up of photos stored in the another multimedia device when the another multimedia device is above the multimedia device; and

reproducing photos stored in the another multimedia device as a slideshow in the multimedia device when the another multimedia device is in front of the multimedia device.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising:

synchronizing an address book stored in the another multimedia device with an address book stored in the multimedia device when the another multimedia device and the multimedia device are side by side; and

synchronizing photos stored in the another multimedia device with photos stored in the multimedia device when the another multimedia device faces the multimedia device.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising:

reproducing photos stored in the another multimedia device as a slideshow in the multimedia device when the another multimedia device is in front of the multimedia device; and

synchronizing contents stored in the another multimedia device with contents stored in or connected to the multimedia device when the another multimedia device is located next to the multimedia device.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein performing the selected cooperative function comprises performing the selected cooperative function when the cooperative function is preset.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein performing the selected cooperative function comprises stopping a function that is being performed by the multimedia device and performing the selected cooperative function.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein performing the selected cooperative function comprises performing the selected cooperative function continuously even if the another multimedia device becomes distant from the multimedia device.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the multimedia device is capable of at least one of reproducing a multimedia content and generating the multimedia content, and

wherein the multimedia content comprises at least one of a photo and a moving image.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the determining detects the location of the another multimedia device using at least one of a directional antenna or a directional sensor.

11. A multimedia device for performing a cooperative function with another multimedia device, the multimedia device comprising:

a communication unit that communicates with the another multimedia device; and

a controller that determines whether the another multimedia device is in a surrounding area of the multimedia device, controls the multimedia device to select one cooperative function from among a plurality of cooperative functions according to a relative position of the multimedia device with respect to the another multimedia device and perform the selected cooperative function with the another multimedia device.

12. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the controller determines the relative position, performs a first cooperative function when it is determined that the another multimedia device is located in a first relative position, and performs a second cooperative function when it is determined that the another multimedia device is located in a second relative position.

13. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the controller performs the selected cooperative function if the cooperative function is preset.

14. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the controller stops a function that is being performed by the multimedia device and performs the selected cooperative function.

15. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the controller performs the selected cooperative function continuously even if the another multimedia device becomes distant from the multimedia device.

16. A system for performing a cooperative function, comprising:

a first multimedia device; and

a second multimedia device that determines whether the first multimedia device is in a surrounding area of the second multimedia device, selects one cooperative function from among a plurality of cooperative functions according to a relative position of the first multimedia device with respect to the second multimedia device, and performs the selected cooperative function with the first multimedia device.

17. The system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the second multimedia device determines the relative position, performs a first cooperative function when it is determined that the first multimedia device is located in a first relative position, and performs a second cooperative function when it is determined that the first multimedia device is located in a second relative position.

18. A method for performing a cooperative function by a multimedia device, comprising the steps of:

determining whether there is another multimedia device in a surrounding area of the multimedia device; and

selecting one cooperative function from among a plurality of cooperative functions according to a relative position of the multimedia device with respect to the another multimedia device and performing selected the cooperative function, by the multimedia device, with the another multimedia device according to a type of the another multimedia device.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising:

determining, by the multimedia device, the relative position,

wherein performing the selected cooperative function comprises;

performing a first cooperative function by the multimedia device when it is determined that first type of the another multimedia device is located in a first relative position; and

performing a second cooperative function by the multimedia device when it is determined that second type of the another multimedia device is located in a second relative position.

20. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein when the another multimedia device is a type capable of reproducing a multimedia content, the multimedia device transmits the multimedia content to the another multimedia device and the another multimedia device reproduces the multimedia content received from the multimedia device.

21. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein when the another multimedia device is a type capable of storing a multimedia content, the multimedia device transmits the multimedia content to the another multimedia device and the another multimedia device stores the multimedia content received from the multimedia device.

22. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein when the another multimedia device is a type capable of printing a multimedia content, the multimedia device transmits the multimedia content to the another multimedia device and the another multimedia device prints the multimedia content received from the multimedia device.