Mobile terminal and method of controlling function of the mobile terminal

• US 9,363,010 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2013
• Issued: 06/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Ju-youn, Lee, Sang-hyup
• Primary Examiner(s): Trinh, Sonny
• Application Number:
  US14/077,840
• Publication Number:
  US 20140154987A1
• Time in Patent Office: 938 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/432.3, 455/422.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/26 at least one of which is mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/11 Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/27 Transitions between radio resource control [RRC] states

Abstract

A method of controlling a function of a mobile terminal is provided. The method includes placing the mobile terminal within a communication range of a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) device previously registered in the mobile terminal, receiving identification information of the BLE device from the BLE device, extracting function information corresponding to the received identification information of the BLE device, and performing a previously set function corresponding to the extracted function information.

Claims

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

placing the mobile terminal within a communication range of a Bluetooth low energy (BLE) device previously registered in the mobile terminal;

receiving identification information of the BLE device from the BLE device;

extracting function information corresponding to the received identification information of the BLE device; and

performing a previously set function corresponding to the extracted function information.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a user input for connecting at least one function supported by the mobile terminal with the BLE device; and

mapping and storing the identification information of the BLE device and the at least one function based on the user input.

3. The method of claim 2,

wherein the receiving of the user input comprises receiving a user input for connecting the BLE device with a plurality of functions, and

wherein the mapping and storing of the identification information comprises mapping and storing the identification information of the BLE device and the plurality of functions.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the receiving of the user input further comprises:

receiving a user input for classifying and connecting the BLE device with the plurality of functions according to time.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the previously set function comprises at least one of a text sending function, a call connection function, and a content playback function.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the performing of the previously set function comprises:

extracting an application for performing the previously set function; and

executing the extracted application.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the extracting of the function information comprises:

receiving sensing information detected by the BLE device from the BLE device; and

extracting the function information additionally in consideration of the received sensing information.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the sensing information comprises at least one of motion information, weight information, illuminance information, temperature information, humidity information, acceleration information, and proximity information which are detected by the BLE device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the motion information comprises at least one of a motion pattern, a motion frequency, a motion occurrence time, a motion speed, and a motion direction.

10. The method of claim 1,

wherein the extracting of the function information comprises confirming mode information corresponding to the identification information of the BLE device, and

wherein the performing of the previously set function comprises automatically setting a mode of the mobile terminal based on the confirmed mode information.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the automatic setting of the mode comprises:

setting at least one of a communication mode related to a communication method of the mobile terminal, a sound output mode, a vibration mode, an airplane mode, a driving mode, and a data transmission/reception mode in which data is transmitted and received to and from a previously determined external device based on the confirmed mode information.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed, cause at least one processor to perform the method of claim 1.

13. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a communication unit configured to, when the mobile terminal is disposed within a communication range of a Bluetooth low energy (BLE) device previously registered in the mobile terminal, receive identification information from the BLE device;

processor configured to;

extract function information corresponding to the received identification information of the BLE device, and

perform a previously set function corresponding to the extracted function information; and

a memory configured to map and store the identification information of the BLE device and at least one function supported by the mobile terminal.

14. The mobile terminal of claim 13, further comprising:

a user input unit configured to receive a user input for connecting the at least one function supported by the mobile terminal with the BLE device.

15. The mobile terminal of claim 14, wherein the user input unit is further configured to receive a user input for classifying and connecting the BLE device and a plurality of functions according to time.

16. The mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to:

extract an application for performing the previously set function; and

execute the extracted application.

17. The mobile terminal of claim 13,

wherein the communication unit is further configured to receive sensing information detected by the BLE device from the BLE device, and

wherein the processor is further configured to extract the function information additionally in consideration of the received sensing information.

18. The mobile terminal of claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured to request a call connection to a previously set external device based on the identification information and sensing information of the BLE device.

19. The mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to:

confirm mode information corresponding to the identification information of the BLE device, and

automatically set a mode of the mobile terminal based on the confirmed mode information.

20. The mobile terminal of claim 19, wherein the processor is further configured to set at least one of a communication mode related to a communication method of the mobile terminal, a sound output mode, a vibration mode, an airplane mode, a driving mode, and a data transmission/reception mode in which data is transmitted and received to and from a previously determined external device based on the confirmed mode information.

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

detecting a Bluetooth low energy (BLE) device previously registered in the mobile terminal;

receiving identification information from the BLE device; and

performing a previously set function corresponding to the received identification information of the BLE device,

wherein the previously set function is previously set by a user.

22. The method of claim 21,

wherein the BLE device comprises a sensor based BLE device, and

wherein the receiving of identification information comprises, when the sensor based BLE device is detected:

receiving identification information; and

sensing information from the sensor based BLE device.

23. The method of claim 21,

wherein the previously set function comprises a mode changed and performed by the mobile terminal, and

wherein the mode comprises at least one of a communication mode related to a communication method of the mobile terminal, a sound output mode, a vibration mode, an airplane mode, a driving mode, and a data transmission/reception mode in which data is transmitted and received to and from a previously determined external device.