Electronic device and method of operating same

• US 10,154,400 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2016
• Issued: 12/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Chulkwi, Kim, Jimin
• Primary Examiner(s): GONZALES, APRIL GUZMAN
• Application Number:
  US15/382,098
• Publication Number:
  US 20170180920A1
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 455 413
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• 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 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/25 Maintenance of established connections

Abstract

An electronic device and a method of operating the same may include: detecting mounting of a first external device through first short range communication, outputting a first object corresponding to the first external device, detecting an approach of a second external device through second short range communication, and outputting a second object corresponding to the second external device.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a housing comprising an accommodation part;

a first short range communication module configured to perform first short range communication with a first external device mounted on the accommodation part; and

a second short range communication module configured to perform second short range communication with a second external device accumulated on the first external device,

wherein the first external device comprises a relay antenna for the second short range communication with the second external device.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the second short range communication module comprises a first connection terminal exposed through the accommodation part and electrically connected to the first external device.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the first external device comprises:

a first short range antenna for the first short range communication with the first short range communication module;

and

a second connection terminal extended from the relay antenna and connected to the first connection terminal.

4. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the second external device comprises a second short range antenna connected to the relay antenna for the second short range communication with the first external device.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first short range communication module comprises a first short range antenna for the first short range communication.

6. The electronic device of claim 5, wherein the second short range communication module comprises a second short range antenna for the second short range communication.

7. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein one of the first short range antenna and the second short range antenna is arranged in an edge area of the other one.

8. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the first short range antenna and the second short range antenna are arranged to face each other on the accommodation part.

9. An electronic device comprising:

a first short range communication module configured to perform first short range communication;

a second short range communication module configured to perform second short range communication;

a controller functionally connected to the first short range communication module and the second short range communication module; and

a display functionally connected to the controller,

wherein the controller is configured to detect mounting of a first external device through first short range communication, output a first object corresponding to the first external device, detect an approach of a second external device, through second short range communication, and output a second object corresponding to the second external device,

wherein the first external device comprises a relay antenna for the second short range communication with the second external device.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to output the first object and activates the second short range communication while maintaining activation of the first short range communication.

11. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to detect a detachment of the first external device, remove the first object, and deactivate the second short range communication.

12. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to apply the second object to the first object.

13. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to determine that the second external device is different from the first external device, and determine the second object according to whether the second object corresponding to the second external device is stored or download the second object based on identification data of the second external device.

14. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to determine the first object according to whether the first object corresponding to the first external device is stored or download the first object based on identification data of the first external device.

15. A method of operating an electronic device, the method comprising:

detecting mounting of a first external device through first short range communication;

outputting a first object corresponding to the first external device;

detecting an approach of a second external device, through second short range communication; and

outputting a second object corresponding to the second external device,

wherein the first external device comprises a relay antenna for the second short range communication with the second external device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the outputting of the first object comprises:

outputting the first object; and

activating the second short range communication while maintaining activation of the first short range communication.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

detecting a detachment of the first external device;

removing the first object; and

deactivating the second short range communication.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the outputting of the second object comprises applying the second object to the first object.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the outputting of the second object comprises:

determining that the second external device is different from the first external device; and

detecting the second object according to whether the second object corresponding to the second external device is stored,

wherein the detecting of the second object comprises;

determining the stored second object;

or

downloading the second object based on identification data of the second external device.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the outputting of the first object comprises detecting the first object according to whether the first object corresponding to the first external device is stored, and

the detecting of the first object comprises:

determining the stored first object;

or

downloading the first object based on identification data of the first external device.