Mobile terminal and control method thereof

• US 9,155,047 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2013
• Issued: 10/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Ko, Youngseok, You, Soolim
• Primary Examiner(s): DEAN, RAYMOND S
• Application Number:
  US13/747,082
• Publication Number:
  US 20130310112A1
• Time in Patent Office: 987 Days
• Field of Search: 455/573, 320/107, 320/108
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0264 by selectively disabling software applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0267 by controlling user interface components
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A mobile terminal including a wireless communication unit configured to receive charging standby information for a plurality of wireless chargers, respectively; a display unit configured to display a plurality of display objects corresponding to the plurality of wireless chargers, respectively; and a controller configured to select at least one of the plurality of wireless chargers based on the received charging standby information, and distinctively display a display object corresponding to the selected wireless charger to distinguish the display object from the other objects.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a wireless communication unit configured to receive charging standby information from a plurality of wireless chargers, respectively;

a display unit configured to display a message including a full charge menu and a partial charge menu as information associated with a selection of an amount of power when one of the plurality of wireless chargers is sensed;

a power receiver configured to wirelessly receive power from a wireless charger; and

a controller configured to;

display, on the display unit, a list of applications for receiving an input to select at least one application from the list of applications when the partial charge menu is selected,

determine an amount of power needed to execute the at least one application selected from the list of applications,

control the power receiver to receive only the amount of power needed to execute the selected at least one application, and

transmit a message notifying that wireless charging has been completed to the wireless charger, when the amount of power needed to execute the selected at least one application is received.

2. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to distinctively display a display object corresponding to the selected wireless charger to distinguish the display object from other objects corresponding to non-selected wireless chargers,

wherein when the wireless charger is selected, the display unit is further configured to display a menu including at least one of an immediate charging menu option and a reserved charging menu option, and

wherein the controller is further configured to immediately wirelessly receive power from the selected wireless charger when the immediate charging menu option is selected, and to wirelessly receive power from the selected wireless charger after a predetermined period of time has passed when the reserved charging menu option is selected.

3. The mobile terminal of claim 2, wherein the charging standby information comprises at least one of a number of users waiting to wirelessly receive power from the wireless chargers and a standby time for wirelessly receiving power from the wireless chargers.

4. The mobile terminal of claim 3, wherein the controller is further configured to set a size, shape or color of the display objects corresponding to the plurality of wireless chargers, respectively, based on at least one of the number of users waiting to wirelessly receive power from the wireless chargers and the standby time for wirelessly receiving power from the wireless chargers.

5. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the display unit is further configured to display power energy information associated with an amount of power energy to be received from the selected wireless charger.

6. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to automatically select applications in the list of applications based on at least one of time information, location information and weather information, determine the amount of power needed to execute the automatically selected applications, and wirelessly receive the determined amount of power from the selected wireless charger.

7. The mobile terminal of claim 6, wherein the controller is further configured to automatically display icons corresponding to the selected applications on a home screen of the mobile terminal.

8. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to display a payment option menu to pay for the wireless charging, and perform a settlement process with an external entity based on inputs to the payment option menu.

9. The mobile terminal of claim 1, further comprising:

a sensing unit configured to measure electromagnetic waves between the mobile terminal and the selected wireless charger, and to display progress information indicating a progress of wireless charging the mobile terminal from the selected wireless charger.

10. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to display a map including locations of the plurality of wireless chargers.

11. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein when the selected wireless charger is receiving power from an external device having a battery, the controller is further configured to display battery remaining amount information of the external device on the display unit.

12. The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to display information indicating a battery remaining amount of the battery of the external device and an option for cancelling receiving power or continuing receiving power from the battery of the external device.

13. A method of controlling a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

receiving, via a wireless communication unit, charging standby information for a plurality of wireless chargers, respectively;

displaying a message including a full charge menu and a partial charge menu as information associated with a selection of an amount of power when one of the plurality of wireless chargers is sensed;

wirelessly receiving, via a power receiver, power from a wireless charger selected based on the charging standby information among the plurality of wireless chargers for a wireless charging;

displaying a list of applications for receiving an input to select at least one application from the list of applicatons when the partial charge menu is selected;

determining an amount of power needed to execute the at least one application selected from the list of applications;

controlling the power receiver to receive only the amount of power needed to execute the selected at least one application; and

transmitting a message notifying that wireless charging has been completed to the wireless charger, when the amount of power needed to execute the selected at least one application is received.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

distinctively displaying, via the display unit, a display object corresponding to the selected wireless charger to distinguish the display object from other objects corresponding to non-selected wireless chargers.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein when the wireless charger is selected, the method further comprises:

displaying a menu including least one of an immediate charging menu option and a reserved charging menu option;

immediately wirelessly receiving power from the selected wireless charger when the immediate charging menu option is selected; and

wirelessly receiving power from the selected wireless charger after a predetermined period of time has passed when the reserved charging menu option is selected.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the charging standby information comprises at least one of a number of users waiting to wirelessly receive power from the wireless chargers and a standby time for wirelessly receiving power from the wireless chargers.