Watch-type mobile terminal and method for controlling the same

• US 10,489,046 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2016
• Issued: 11/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Yang, Yoonseok, Seo, Kyunghye, Hyun, Juha, Kang, Shinnyue
• Primary Examiner(s): Bhargava, Anil K
• Application Number:
  US14/990,692
• Publication Number:
  US 20170031556A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,419 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/04 using radio waves radio-controlled time-pieces G04R
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/642 storing speech in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/74 with voice recognition means voice activated dialling H04M1/271; voice recognition algorithms G10L15/00

Abstract

The present invention is related to a watch-type mobile terminal and a method for controlling the watch-type mobile terminal. In case a call is received, the present invention can respond to an incoming call in an automatic answering mode due to an agent through a watch-type mobile terminal worn by the user on his/her wrist. In case the user searches for a paired external electronic device and attempts call conversation, the automatic answering mode due to an agent can be terminated. Accordingly, in case the user is unable to promptly respond to a received call through the paired external electronic device, the received call can be efficiently controlled through the watch-type mobile terminal.

Claims

1. A watch-type mobile terminal, comprising:

a body;

a band structured to be worn on a wrist of a user;

a display positioned on a front side of the body;

a communication unit configured to communicate with a paired external electronic device; and

a controller configured to;

cause the display to display a call waiting screen when an incoming call from a calling terminal is received at the external electronic device;

control an agent to provide a response to the calling terminal for the received call in an automatic answering mode in response to an input received via the call waiting screen;

terminate the automatic answering mode when the received call is connected to the calling terminal in response to an operation of the external electronic device; and

transmit to the external electronic device a signal which controls output power of an output unit located in the external electronic device to a maximum when the automatic answering mode is maintained for a first threshold period of time, wherein the output unit includes at least one of a speaker or a vibration unit.

2. The watch-type mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the agent is an application operating in a voice recognition mode, and wherein the controller is further configured to:

activate a microphone as the watch-type mobile terminal enters the automatic answering mode; and

include voice input received via the activated microphone in the response to the calling terminal.

3. The watch-type mobile terminal of claim 2, wherein the call waiting screen comprises a first graphic object to permit connecting the received call and a second graphic object to permit declining the received call;

and wherein the controller is further configured to;

cause the display to display a third graphic object corresponding to the automatic answering mode when a touch input is received at the first graphic object for more than a second threshold period of time; and

enter the automatic answering mode in response to a touch input selecting the third graphic object.

4. The watch-type mobile terminal of claim 3, wherein the controller is further configured to:

cause the display to display a fourth graphic object when the touch input is received at the first graphic object for more than a second threshold period of time, wherein the third graphic object and the fourth graphic object are displayed simultaneously for a period of time; and

connect the received call in a speaker mode, and activate the microphone, in response to a touch input selecting the fourth graphic object.

5. The watch-type mobile terminal of claim 3, wherein the controller is further configured to activate the microphone in response to a touch input selecting the third graphic object for a second threshold period of time.

6. The watch-type mobile terminal of claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to:

cause the display to display a response from the calling terminal, wherein the response from the calling terminal comprises Speech-To-Text (STT) converted text.

7. The watch-type mobile terminal of claim 6, wherein the controller is further configured to:

set content of the response from the calling terminal as search keywords; and

cause the display to display a search result obtained using the search keywords.

8. The watch-type mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

receive location information of the external electronic device and cause the display to display the location information when the automatic answering mode is maintained for a second threshold period of time.

9. The watch-type mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

cause predetermined content to be shared with the calling terminal according to the automatic answering mode in response to an input received at the mobile terminal during the automatic answering mode.

10. The watch-type mobile terminal of claim 9, wherein the controller is further configured to:

control the predetermined content to be played at the calling terminal during the call.

11. The watch-type mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

cause the display to display the call waiting screen when distance between the mobile terminal and the external electronic device is less than a threshold distance; and

cause the display to display a message list for declining the incoming call when the distance between the mobile terminal and the external electronic device is greater than a threshold distance.

12. The watch-type mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

temporarily suspend connection to the call and cause the display to display a graphic object on the call waiting screen upon detection of connection to the received call being attempted by operation of the external electronic device; and

control the external electronic device to resume connection to the call in response to selection of the graphic object.

13. The watch-type mobile terminal of claim 12, wherein the controller is further configured to:

receive from the external electronic device an image captured through a camera of the external electronic device; and

cause the display to display the received image on the call waiting screen.

14. A method for controlling a watch-type mobile terminal having a display, the method comprising:

detecting an external electronic device paired with the watch-type mobile terminal;

displaying, on the display, a call waiting screen when an incoming call from a calling terminal is received at the external electronic device;

controlling an agent to provide a response to the calling terminal for the received call in an automatic answering mode in response to an input received via the call waiting screen;

terminating the automatic answering mode when the received call is connected to the calling terminal in response to an operation of the external electronic device; and

transmitting to the external electronic device a signal which controls output power of an output unit located in the external electronic device to a maximum when the automatic answering mode is maintained for a first threshold period of time, wherein the output unit includes at least one of a speaker or a vibration unit.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the call waiting screen comprises a first graphic object to permit connecting the received call and a second graphic object to permit declining the received call;

and wherein the method further comprises;

displaying, on the display, a third graphic object corresponding to the automatic answering mode when a touch input is received at the first graphic object for more than a threshold period of time; and

entering the automatic answering mode in response to a touch input selecting the third graphic object.