Mobile terminal and device control method for the same

• US 9,318,016 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2013
• Issued: 04/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Park, Bum Sun
• Primary Examiner(s): Lo, Kenneth M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rapp, Chad
• Application Number:
  US13/854,239
• Publication Number:
  US 20130225154A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,114 Days
• Field of Search: 700/15, 700/17, 700/83, 3405391-53919
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/91 Remote control based on location and proximity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2809 indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• 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: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

A mobile terminal and device control method for the same are disclosed. The device control method for a mobile terminal having a touch screen, includes: downloading, during registration of a device capable of short-range wireless communication operating in a short-range communication mode, a user interface (UI) of the device; finding a list of registered devices, displaying the found list, selecting a device from the displayed list, calling the selected device, and connecting to the selected device; and displaying a device UI of the connected device on the touch screen, and controlling the connected device through the displayed device UI according to a touch operation. Electronic devices within a range can be easily and accurately controlled using a mobile terminal having a touch screen. In particular, the use of a user interface downloaded from an electronic device enables easy control of full functions of the device, enhancing user convenience.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

registering, at a first device capable of wireless communication, a second device;

receiving at the first device, a notification from the second device, wherein the notification is generated in response to a determination at the second device that the first device has previously been registered with the second device and in response to a determination at the second device that at least one of the first device or the second device is powered on; and

providing, via the first device, an indication of a location of the first device in response to receiving the notification.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

registering one of the first device and the second device with another device of the same type as one of the first device and the second device prior to the determination at the second device that at least one of the first device or the second device is powered on.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein registering comprises:

storing user interference (UI) information of the second device on the first device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a communication connection between the first device and the second device in response to identifying the first device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

controlling the second device using the first device based at least in part on user interface (UI) information of the second device.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving, by the first device, the UI information from the second device.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein controlling comprises:

displaying, via the first device, at least a portion of the UI information.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting the indication comprises:

receiving, by the first device, at least a portion of the indication from the second device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication comprises an alert signal.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device is a device that has most recently engaged in short-range communication.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a memory unit configured to store location information; and

a control unit configured to;

register a device capable of wireless communication;

receive a notification from the device, wherein the notification is generated in response to a determination at the device that the apparatus has previously been registered with the device and in response to a determination at the device that at least one of the apparatus or the device is powered on; and

provide an indication of a location of the apparatus in response to receiving the notification in order to enable a user to locate the apparatus.

12. The first apparatus of claim 11, wherein the control unit is further configured to:

display a list of registered apparatuses capable of wireless communication when at least one registered apparatus is present.

13. The first apparatus of claim 12, wherein the control unit is further configured to:

receive a selection of the second apparatus from the list and establish a communication connection between the second apparatus and the first apparatus.

14. The first apparatus of claim 13, wherein the selection is received using a touch operation.

15. The first apparatus of claim 13, wherein the control unit is further configured to:

receive user interface (UI) information of the second apparatus and store the UI information in the memory unit.

16. The first apparatus of claim 11, wherein the control unit is further configured to:

control the second apparatus based at least in part on user interface (UI) information of the second apparatus.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the control unit is further configured to:

establish a communication connection between the first apparatus and the second apparatus.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the indication comprises an alert signal.

19. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium comprising one or more executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

register, at a first device capable of wireless communication, a second device;

receive, at the first device, a notification from the second device, wherein the notification is generated in response to a determination at the second device that the first device has previously been registered with the second device and in response to a determination at the second device that at least one of the first device or the second device is powered on; and

provide, via the first device, an indication of a location of the first device in response to receiving the notification.

20. The medium of claim 19, wherein the one or more executable instructions are further configured to cause the one or more processors to:

display, on a user interface (UI) of the first device, one or more devices that the first device has recently established communication connections.

21. The storage device of claim 19, wherein the indication comprises an alert signal.