Method for connecting with external device and electronic device thereof

• US 9,288,609 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2014
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kwon, Ki-Hyun, Koh, Myung-Geun
• Primary Examiner(s): Gonzales, April G
• Application Number:
  US14/244,163
• Publication Number:
  US 20140302799A1
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: 455/556.1, 455/41.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/02 Manually-operated control H03G3/001 and H03G3/002 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72466 with selection means, e.g. keys, having functions defined by the mode or the status of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]

Abstract

A method for connecting with an external device and an electronic device thereof are provided. The method includes determining whether an input for increasing a volume is received is determined while the volume of the electronic device is at a maximum value. If the input for increasing the volume is received, an external device is detected, the electronic device connects with the external device, and the external device outputs an output associated with a current function of the electronic device.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an electronic device, the method comprising:

receiving an input for increasing an audio volume level of the electronic device;

determining whether to connect with an external device, based on the audio volume level and a maximum audio volume level of the electronic device when the input is received;

connecting with the external device based on the determination; and

outputting an audio output of the electronic device via the connected external device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining whether to connect with an external device, based on the audio volume level and a maximum audio volume level of the electronic device comprises:

determining whether the audio volume level is the maximum audio volume level before the receiving the input.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the connecting with the external device based on the determination comprises:

identifying the external device to be connectable with the electronic device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the connecting with the external device based on the determination comprises:

displaying a menu for selecting the external device to be connected with the electronic device;

receiving a user input for selecting the external device; and

connecting with the external device according to the user input via a wireless communication link.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the connecting with the external device based on the determination comprises:

automatically connecting with the external device via a wireless communication link.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the connecting with the external device based on the determination comprises:

automatically connecting with the external device via a wireless communication link if a user input for allowing to connect with the external device is received.

7. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

if a plurality of determined external devices exists, determining an order of priority of the determined external devices; and

automatically connecting with an external device having a highest priority from the determined external devices via a wireless communication link.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the outputting the audio output of the electronic device comprises:

outputting an audio output of the electronic device at a preset volume via the connected external device.

9. An electronic device comprising:

a processor;

a touchscreen display; and

a memory,

wherein the processor is configured to;

receive an input for increasing an audio volume level of the electronic device,

determine whether to connect with an external device based on the audio volume level and a maximum audio volume level of the electronic device when the input is received,

connect with the external device based on the determination, and

output an audio output of the electronic device via the connected external device.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether the audio volume level is the maximum audio volume level before the receiving the input.

11. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to identify the external device to be connectable with the electronic device.

12. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to:

control the touchscreen to display a menu for selecting the external device to be connected with the electronic device,

receive a user input for selecting the external device, and

connect with the external device according to the user input via a wireless communication link.

13. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to automatically connect with the external device via a wireless communication link.

14. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to automatically connect with the external device via a wireless communication link if a user input for allowing to connect with the external device is received.

15. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine, if a plurality of determined external devices exists, an order of priority of the determined external devices, and

automatically connect with an external device having a highest priority from the determined external devices via a wireless communication link.

16. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to output an audio output of the electronic device at a preset volume via the connected external device.