Smart watch and method for controlling the same

• US 9,946,229 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2013
• Issued: 04/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Park, Hyorim, Lee, Doyoung, Kim, Yongsin
• Primary Examiner(s): Pardo, Thuy
• Application Number:
  US14/889,742
• Publication Number:
  US 20160098017A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,751 Days
• Field of Search: 345156, 345173, 345174, 600473
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/16 for measuring distance of clearance between spaced objects
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 37/1486 Arrangements for fixing to a bracelet building watches into bracelets (montre marquise) G04B37/12; arrangements for hanging pocket- or other watches on chains G04B37/1446
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 3/002 Position, e.g. inclination dependent switches
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/04 using radio waves radio-controlled time-pieces G04R
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/06 using voice
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/08 Touch switches specially adapted for time-pieces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means

Abstract

Disclosed are a smart watch and a method for controlling the same, which determine a notification device that provides a notification of an event, based on wearing/non-wearing of a smart watch and on a distance between the smart watch and an external digital device. The smart watch includes a display unit configured to display content, a sensor unit configured to detect an input signal and transmit the detected input signal to a processor, a communication unit configured to transmit/receive data, and the processor configured to control the display unit, the sensor unit, and the communication unit, wherein the processor is configured to detect a mode of the smart watch, wherein the mode of the smart watch includes a worn mode and an unworn mode of the smart watch, detect an external digital device paired with the smart watch, and determine a notification device providing a notification of an event occurring in at least one of the smart watch and the external digital device based on the detected worn mode or unworn mode of the smart watch, wherein the notification device includes at least one of the smart watch and the external digital device.

Claims

1. A smart watch comprising:

a display unit configured to display content;

a sensor unit configured to detect an input signal and transmit the detected input signal to a processor;

a communication unit configured to transmit/receive data; and

the processor configured to control the display unit, the sensor unit, and the communication unit,

wherein the processor is further configured to;

obtain a distance between the smart watch and the external digital device, and

display a notification of an event at the smart watch if the watch is in a worn mode and the distance between the smart watch and an external digital device is within a preset distance, wherein the event is occurred in at least one of the smart watch and the external digital device.

2. The smart watch according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to transmit a notification signal to the external digital device if the watch is in an unworn mode.

3. The smart watch according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to display the notification of the event at the smart watch and transmit a notification start signal to the external digital device if the watch is in the unworn mode and the distance between the smart watch and the external digital device is not within the preset distance.

4. The smart watch according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to transmit a notification start signal to the external digital device if the watch is in the unworn mode and the distance between the smart watch and the external digital device is within the preset distance.

5. The smart watch according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to display a notification of an event at the smart watch if the watch is in a worn mode and a distance between the smart watch and an external digital device is not within a preset distance.

6. The smart watch according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to transmit a notification start signal to the external digital device if an input signal to the smart watch is not detected during a preset time after displaying the notification of the event at the smart watch.

7. The smart watch according to claim 6, wherein the input signal for the smart watch includes at least one of gaze, voice, touch, and gesture of a user.

8. The smart watch according to claim 1, wherein the notification of the event includes at least one of a speech notification, a text message notification, a vibration notification, and an image notification.

9. The smart watch according to claim 1, wherein the worn mode or unworn mode of the smart watch is determined based on an input signal for the rear surface of smart watch and an input signal for a buckle of the smart watch.

10. The smart watch according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to terminate displaying the notification, if an input signal with respect to the smart watch is detected while providing the notification.

11. A method for controlling a smart watch, comprising:

obtaining a distance between the smart watch and the external digital device,

displaying a notification of an event at the smart watch if the watch is in a worn mode and the distance between the smart watch and an external digital device is within a preset distance, and

transmitting a notification start signal to the external digital device if the watch is in an unworn mode,

wherein the event is occurred in at least one of the smart watch and the external digital device.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of displaying the notification of the event at the smart watch and transmitting the notification start signal to the external digital device if the watch is in the unworn mode and the distance between the smart watch and the external digital device is not within the preset distance.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of transmitting the notification start signal to the external digital device if the watch is in the unworn mode and the distance between the smart watch and the external digital device is within the preset distance.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of displaying a notification of an event at the smart watch if the watch is in a worn mode and a distance between the smart watch and an external digital device is not within a preset distance.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of transmitting the notification start signal to the external digital device if an input signal to the smart watch is not detected during a preset time after displaying the notification of the event at the smart watch.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the input signal for the smart watch includes at least one of gaze, voice, touch, and gesture of a user.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the notification of the event includes at least one of a speech notification, a text message notification, a vibration notification, and an image notification.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the worn mode or unworn mode of the smart watch is determined based on an input signal for the rear surface of smart watch and an input signal for a buckle of the smart watch.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of terminating displaying the notification, if an input signal with respect to the smart watch is detected while providing the notification.