Electronic device and operation method thereof

A method of operating an electronic device includes: determining whether an external electronic device is connected to an access point to which the electronic device is connected; transmitting state information of the electronic device to the external electronic device connected to the access point; receiving an input corresponding to the transmitted state information of the electronic device, from the external electronic device; displaying a result corresponding to the received input on a display; and transmitting the result displayed on the display to the external electronic device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2016-0031465, filed on Mar. 16, 2016, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to an electronic device and an operation method thereof, and for example, to an electronic device configured to use an external electronic device and an operation method thereof.

With the development of networks and multimedia technologies, various convergence services using a network established among electronic devices have appeared.

The network established among electronic devices may be easily obtained via a WiFi network that is commonly used by the electronic devices.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides an electronic device which is connected to an access point of a WiFi network and uses an external electronic device sharing the WiFi network, and an operation method of the electronic device.

According to an example aspect of the present disclosure, an electronic device is provided, including: a display; a communicator comprising communication circuitry; and a controller configured to determine whether an external electronic device is connected to an access point to which the electronic device is connected, and to control the communicator to transmit state information of the electronic device to the external electronic device connected to the access point, wherein the controller is configured to receive, from the external electronic device, an input corresponding to the transmitted state information of the electronic device, to control the display to display a result corresponding to the received input, and to control the communicator to transmit the displayed result to the external electronic device.

The electronic device may further include a storage unit configured to store information of the external electronic device, wherein the controller is configured to control the communicator to scan external electronic devices connected to the access point to which the electronic device is connected, and to transmit the state information of the electronic device to an external electronic device from among the scanned external electronic devices, the external electronic device being pre-registered in the storage unit.

The controller may be configured to identify the pre-registered external electronic device by scanning MAC addresses of the external electronic devices connected to the access point using an address resolution protocol and comparing the scanned MAC addresses of the external electronic devices with a MAC address registered in the storage unit.

The controller may be configured to determine whether the external electronic device is connected to the access point, regardless of a power state of the electronic device.

The state information of the electronic device may include at least one of information indicating a power state of the electronic device, and a type of content reproduced in the electronic device.

The electronic device may be automatically connected to the access point when the electronic device is within a pre-determined distance from the access point, in which communication between the electronic device and the access point is possible, and the controller may be configured to control the communicator to transmit information about the connection of the electronic device, to the external electronic device connected to the access point.

The controller may be configured to control the communicator to transmit information to the external electronic device, which is necessary for the external electronic device to display a user interface to identify the electronic device.

According to another example aspect of the present disclosure, a portable electronic device is provided, including: a communicator comprising communication circuitry; a display; and a controller configured to be connected to an access point to which an electronic device is connected, to receive state information of the electronic device from the electronic device, based on the connection, to control the display to display a user interface including the received state information of the electronic device, to receive an input via the user interface, and to control the communicator to transmit the received input to the electronic device.

The state information of the electronic device may include at least one of information indicating a power state of the electronic device, and a type of content reproduced in the electronic device.

The portable electronic device may be automatically connected to the access point when the portable electronic device is within a pre-determined distance from the access point, in which communication between the portable electronic device and the access point is possible, and the controller may be configured to receive a program for displaying the user interface, from at least one of the electronic device and a server, by using information for displaying the user interface, the information being received from the electronic device.

According to another example aspect of the present disclosure, method of operating an electronic device is provided, the method including: determining whether an external electronic device is connected to an access point to which the electronic device is connected; transmitting state information of the electronic device to the external electronic device connected to the access point; receiving an input corresponding to the transmitted state information of the electronic device, from the external electronic device; displaying a result corresponding to the received input on a display; and transmitting the result displayed on the display to the external electronic device.

The determining whether an external electronic device is connected to an access point to which the electronic device is connected may include determining whether the external electronic device is connected to the access point regardless of a power state of the electronic device.

The state information of the electronic device may include at least one of information indicating a power state of the electronic device, and a type of content reproduced in the electronic device.

The electronic device may be automatically connected to the access point when the electronic device is within a pre-determined distance from the access point, in which communication between the electronic device and the access point is possible, and the operation method may further include transmitting information about the connection of the electronic device to the external electronic device connected to the access point.

The operation method may further include transmitting information to the external electronic device, which is necessary for the external electronic device to display a user interface to identify the electronic device.

According to another example aspect of the present disclosure, method of operating a portable electronic device is provided, the method including: connecting to an access point to which an electronic device is connected; receiving state information of the electronic device from the electronic device based on the connection; displaying a user interface including the received state information of the electronic device on a display of the portable electronic device; receiving an input via the user interface; and transmitting the received user input to the electronic device.

The state information of the electronic device may include at least one of information indicating a power state of the electronic device, and a type of content reproduced in the electronic device.

The portable electronic device may be automatically connected to the access point when the portable electronic device is within a pre-determined distance from the access point, in which communication between the portable electronic device and the access point is possible, and the operation method may further include receiving a program for displaying the user interface, from at least one of the electronic device and a server, by using information for displaying the user interface, the information being received from the electronic device.

According to another example aspect of the present disclosure, a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium is provided having embodied thereon a computer program for executing the method according to various example aspects of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Most of the terms used herein are general terms that have been widely used in the technical art to which the present disclosure pertains. However, some of the terms used herein may be created reflecting intentions of technicians in this art, precedents, or new technologies. Accordingly, the specific terms used herein should be understood based on the meanings thereof and the whole context of the present disclosure.

In this specification, the phrase “in some embodiments” or “according to an embodiment” does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment.

The present disclosure may be described in terms of functional block components and various processing steps. Such functional blocks may be realized by any number of hardware and/or software components configured to perform the specified functions. For example, the functional blocks of the present disclosure may be realized by one or more microprocessors or circuit components for predetermined functions. Also, for example, the functional blocks of the present disclosure may be realized by various programming or scripting languages. The functional blocks may be realized by an algorithm executed by one or more processors. Furthermore, the present disclosure could employ any number of conventional techniques for electronics configuration, signal processing and/or control, data processing and the like. The words “mechanism,” “element,” “unit,” and “component” are used broadly and are not limited to mechanical or physical embodiments.

FIG. 1is a diagram illustrating an example electronic device100and an external electronic device110connected via a wireless fidelity (WiFi) network, according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIG. 1, the electronic device100may be a television (TV). However, it is only an embodiment, and the electronic device100may include electronic devices including a display. For example, the electronic device100may include various electronic devices, such as cellular phones, tablet personal computers (PCs), digital cameras, camcorders, laptop computers, desktop computers, electronic book terminals, digital broadcasting terminals, personal digital assistants (PDAs), portable multimedia players (PMP), navigation devices, MPEG audio layer 3 (MP3) players, and wearable devices, or the like, but is not limited thereto. In particular, embodiments of the present disclosure may be conveniently realized by display devices having a large display, such as TVs. However, the embodiments are not limited thereto. The electronic device100may be a stationary or a mobile device, and may be a digital broadcasting receiver which is capable of receiving digital broadcasting.

The electronic device100may communicate via a WiFi network, and may use peer to peer (P2P) communication, such as WiFi direct, Bluetooth, or ZigBee.

The external electronic device110may include various types of devices configured to control the electronic device100, such as cellular phones, tablet PCs, wearable devices, or remote controllers, or the like, but is not limited thereto.

The external electronic device110may communicate via a WiFi network, and may use P2P communication, such as WiFi direct, Bluetooth, or ZigBee.

The external electronic device110may control the electronic device100by using short-range communication, such as infrared or Bluetooth. The external electronic device110may control functions of the electronic device100by using at least one of a key (including a button), a touchpad, a microphone (not shown) which is capable of receiving a voice of a user, and a sensor (not shown) which is capable of recognizing motion of the external electronic device110, which are provided in the external electronic device110.

The external electronic device110may include a power on/off button to turn on or turn off the electronic device100. The external electronic device110may perform channel change, volume adjustment, ground wave broadcasting/cable broadcasting/satellite broadcasting selection, or environment setting with respect to the electronic device100, based on a user input.

The electronic device100may be controlled by an input (e.g., a user input) that moves the external electronic device110in an up, down, right, or left direction or inclines the external electronic device110in a certain direction. Information about the motion of the external electronic device110, sensed via a sensor of the external electronic device110, may be transmitted to the electronic device100.

The electronic device100may calculate (determine) a pointing position coordinate on a display of the electronic device100from the information about the motion of the external electronic device110and move the pointing position of the electronic device100to correspond to the calculated coordinate. Accordingly, the pointing position on the display of the electronic device100may be changed or various displayed menus may be activated. Alternatively, when the external electronic device110includes a touch pad, the pointing position on the display of the electronic device100may be changed or various displayed menus may be selectively activated, according to a displacement value of an object, such as a finger of a user, etc., which moves on the touch pad.

In the present disclosure, the term “user” may denote a person controlling a function or an operation of the electronic device100or the external electronic device110, and may include a viewer, a manager, or an installation engineer.

The electronic device100according to an embodiment may determine whether the external electronic device110is connected to an access point (AP)120, to which the electronic device100is connected. Also, the electronic device100may transmit state information of the electronic device100to the external electronic device110connected to the AP120.

The electronic device100may be connected to the AP120in a WiFi network environment. The electronic device100may store connection information with respect to the AP120in the electronic device100. The connection information with respect to the AP120may include various pieces of information that are necessary for connection with the AP120in the WiFi network environment. For example, the connection information may include subsystem identification (SSID) of the AP120and a password for connection with the AP120. However, the connection information is not limited thereto. Also, according to an embodiment, the electronic device100may be automatically connected to the AP120when the electronic device100is within a predetermined distance in which the electronic device100may communicate with the AP120.

The external electronic device110may be registered in the electronic device100, and the electronic device100may store information of the external electronic device110to register the external electronic device110. In detail, the information of the external electronic device110may include a media access control (MAC) address of the external electronic device110, a name of the external electronic device110, a name of a user, connection information with respect to the AP120, etc. However, the information of the external electronic device110is not limited thereto, and information identifying the external electronic device110, such as user information or a name of the device, may be pre-set in the electronic device100. The electronic device100, via this process of registering the external electronic device110, may determine whether the external electronic device110registered in the electronic device100is connected to the AP120to which the electronic device100is connected, and may transmit state information of the electronic device100to the external electronic device110connected to the AP120.

To determine whether the external electronic device110is connected to the AP120to which the electronic device100is connected may denote to scan external electronic devices110connected to the AP120to which the electronic device100is connected. According to an embodiment, the electronic device100may scan MAC addresses of the external electronic devices110connected to the AP120by using an address resolution protocol (ARP), and compare the scanned MAC addresses of the external electronic devices110with a pre-registered MAC address to identify whether a registered external electronic device110is connected to the AP120. The determining whether the external electronic device110is connected to the AP120to which the electronic device100is connected may be performed when the electronic device100is in a power-off state or in a standby mode. For example, only some components of the electronic device100, including a communicator (e.g., including communication circuitry), which is necessary to scan the external electronic devices110connected to the AP120, may remain in a power-on state, and other components of the electronic device100may be in a power-off state. Thus, a user who wishes to control the electronic device100via the external electronic device110may identify and control a state of the electronic device100only by being connected to the AP120to which the electronic device100is connected, without manually pairing the external electronic device110to the electronic device100.

Also, the electronic device100may transmit the state information of the electronic device100to the external electronic device110connected to the AP120. To transmit the state information of the electronic device100to the external electronic device110connected to the AP120, via the electronic device100, may denote to transmit the state information of the electronic device100to the registered external electronic device110from among the scanned external electronic devices110.

The state information of the electronic device100may denote information indicating an on/off state of the electronic device100or a source of content displayed on a display of the electronic device100, or information related to a screen or a sound played on the display of the electronic device100. For example, the state information of the electronic device100may include information indicating that the electronic device100is in a power-off state, information indicating that a source of the electronic device100is live broadcasting, information indicating that the source of the electronic device100is an external input, information indicating that the source of the electronic device100is an application, information about a channel of the electronic device100, or information about a volume of the electronic device100. Also, the state information of the electronic device100may include information about a screen mode or information about a sound mode. According to an embodiment, the information about a screen mode may include information related to image quality adjustment, screen size, screen brightness, screen sharpness or tone density based on viewing environments. Also, according to an embodiment, the information about a sound mode may include information related to sound adjustment, sound equilibrium, or a sound equalizer based on listening environments.

The electronic device100and the external electronic device110may communicate via a WiFi network. Also, the electronic device100and the external electronic device110may use P2P communication, such as WiFi direct, Bluetooth, or ZigBee. Hereinafter, embodiments will be described based on the example of communication between the electronic device100and the external electronic device110in a WiFi direct network environment. However, the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto, and may include other types of P2P communication between the electronic device100and the external electronic device110, such as Bluetooth, ZigBee, or the like.

WiFi direct devices supporting WiFi direct may perform P2P communication without using an infra network. In detail, in the case of previous WiFi technologies, a WiFi device has to be wirelessly connected to an AP, that is, a sharer connected to an infra network that is already established, in order to form a wireless network. However, in the case of WiFi direct technology, any one of the WiFi direct devices that are to form the wireless network may perform a function of the AP, and the remaining WiFi direct devices may be wirelessly connected to the WiFi direct device performing the function of the AP. Thus, the WiFi direct devices may form a wireless network without an AP connected to an infra network. The WiFi direct devices may include the electronic device100and the external electronic device110.

According to an embodiment, the electronic device100may transmit the state information of the electronic device100to the external electronic device110connected to the AP120, in the WiFi direct network environment.

Also, the electronic device100according to an embodiment may receive, from the external electronic device110, a user input corresponding to the state information of the electronic device100, which is transmitted to the external electronic device110.

According to the embodiment, the electronic device100may receive, from the external electronic device110, the user input corresponding to the state information of the electronic device100, which is transmitted to the external electronic device110, in the WiFi direct network environment.

Also, the electronic device100according to an embodiment may display a result corresponding to the received user input on a display thereof, and transmit the result displayed on the display thereof to the external electronic device110. The result displayed on the display of the electronic device100may denote state information which is being displayed on the display of the electronic device100, wherein the state information reflects the user input received from the external electronic device110. For example, the state information displayed on the display of the electronic device100may include information indicating that the electronic device100is in a power-off state, information indicating that a source of the electronic device100is live broadcasting, information indicating that the source of the electronic device100is an external input, information indicating that the source of the electronic device100is an application, information related to a channel of the electronic device100, information related to a volume of the electronic device100, or the like. Also, the state information displayed on the display of the electronic device100may include information about a screen mode or information about a sound mode. The information about a screen mode according to an embodiment may include information related to image quality adjustment, screen size, screen brightness, screen sharpness or tone density based on viewing environments. Also, the information about a sound mode according to an embodiment may include information related to sound adjustment, sound equilibrium, or a sound equalizer based on listening environments.

According to an embodiment, the electronic device100may display the result corresponding to the received user input on the display thereof and transmit the result displayed on the display to the external electronic device110, in the WiFi direct network environment.

The external electronic device110according to an embodiment may be connected to the AP to which the electronic device100is connected. Also, the external electronic device110may receive the state information of the electronic device100, from the electronic device100, based on the connection to the AP. Also, the external electronic device110may display a user interface corresponding to the received state information of the electronic device100, on a display thereof. Here, the user interface displayed on the external electronic device110may be based on a program, such as an application, etc., which is pre-installed in the external electronic device110. However, the user interface is not limited thereto. The external electronic device110may directly receive an application or a program from the electronic device100or may receive an application or a program from an external server, etc., according to the state information received from the electronic device100. The external electronic device110may receive the user input via the user interface. The external electronic device110may transmit the received user input to the electronic device100. Also, the external electronic device110may determine whether a program, such as an application for operating the displayed user interface, may be upgraded or not. When the program may be upgraded, the external electronic device110may automatically upgrade the program, or may request a selection of a user, by displaying an alert window indicating the upgrade.

The user interface displayed on the display of the external electronic device110may denote an interface that is displayed on the display of the external electronic device110, wherein via the interface, a user input is performed in correspondence to each piece of the received state information of the electronic device100. For example, when the electronic device100is in a power-off state, the user interface displayed on the display of the external electronic device110may be a user interface for turning on the electronic device100or a user interface related to a source, but is not limited thereto. Also, when, for example, the source of the electronic device100is live broadcasting, the user interface displayed on the display of the external electronic device110may be a user interface related to channel change, volume adjustment, or electronic program guide (EPG) identification, but is not limited thereto.

According to an embodiment, the external electronic device110may receive the state information of the electronic device100from the electronic device100in the WiFi direct network environment, when the external electronic device110is connected to the AP. Also, the external electronic device110may transmit the received user input to the electronic device100in the WiFi direct network environment.

FIG. 2is a block diagram illustrating an example structure of the electronic device100and the external electronic device110, according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIG. 2, the electronic device100according to an embodiment may include a controller (e.g., including processing circuitry)200, a display210, and a communicator (e.g., including communication circuitry)220.

The controller200may include various processing circuitry and process an image signal and input the processed image signal to the display210. Accordingly, an image corresponding to the image signal may be displayed on the display210. Also, the controller200may control the electronic device100via a user input received via the communicator220, a user input sensed via a sensor, or an internal program.

The display210may convert an image signal, a data signal, an OSD signal, a control signal, etc., processed by the controller200to generate a driving signal. The display210may be realized as a PDP, an LCD, an OLED display, or a flexible display, or the like, but is not limited thereto. Also, the display210may be realized as a three-dimensional (3D) display. Also, the display210may be formed as a touch screen and may be used as an input device as well as an output device.

According to an embodiment, the communicator220may include various communication circuitry and determine whether the external electronic device110is connected to the AP120to which the electronic device100is connected, and may transmit state information of the electronic device100to the external electronic device110which is connected to the AP120. The communicator220may scan external electronic devices connected to the AP120to which the electronic device100is connected, and may transmit the state information of the electronic device100to the registered external electronic device110from among the scanned external electronic devices. Also, the communicator220may identify the registered external electronic device110by scanning MAC addresses of the external electronic devices connected to the AP120by using an ARP, and comparing the scanned MAC addresses of the external electronic devices with the pre-registered MAC address. The connection of the external electronic device110may be determined even when the electronic device100is in a power-off state, since power is supplied to the communicator220, etc., which performs the corresponding function. Thus, a user may identify and control the state of the electronic device100only by registering the external electronic device110in the AP120, without restrictions according to an on/off condition of the electronic device100.

According to an embodiment, the display210may display information reflecting a user input received from the external electronic device110, in correspondence to the state information of the electronic device100.

According to an embodiment, the controller200may control the display210and the communicator220.

Referring toFIG. 2, the external electronic device110according to an embodiment may include a controller (e.g., including processing circuitry)250, a display260, and a communicator (e.g., including communication circuitry)270.

The controller250may include various processing circuitry and control generation operations related to controlling of the external electronic device110. The controller250may transmit a signal corresponding to manipulation of certain keys of an input unit, or a signal corresponding to an input received via the communicator270or corresponding to motion of the external electronic device110, which is sensed by a sensor, to the electronic device100, via the communicator270.

The display260may convert an image signal, a data signal, an OSD signal, a control signal, etc., processed by the controller250to generate a driving signal. The display260may be realized as a plasma display panel (PDP), a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light-emitting device (OLED) display, or a flexible display, or the like, but is not limited thereto. Also, the display260may be realized as a 3D display. Also, the display260may be formed as a touch screen and may be used as an input device as well as an output device.

The communicator270may include various communication circuitry and transmit and receive a signal to and from any one of the electronic devices100according to the embodiments described above. The communicator270may include communication circuitry, such as, for example, and without limitation, a radio frequency (RF) module which may transmit and receive a signal to and from the electronic device100according to the RF communication standards. Also, the external electronic device110may include communication circuitry, such as, for example, and without limitation, an information retrieval (IR) module which may transmit and receive a signal to and from the electronic device100according to the IR communication standards.

According to an embodiment, the controller250may be connected to an AP to which the electronic device100is connected, may receive state information of the electronic device100from the electronic device100based on the connection, and may control the display260to display a user interface corresponding to the received state information of the electronic device100. Also, the controller250may control the communicator270to receive a user input via the user interface and transmit the received user input to the electronic device100.

FIG. 3is a block diagram illustrating an example structure of the electronic device100, according to another example embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIG. 3, the electronic device100according to an example embodiment may further include an audio processor (e.g., including audio processing circuitry)315, an audio output unit (e.g., including audio output circuitry)325, a sensor330, an input/output unit (e.g., including input/output circuitry)370, a video processor (e.g., including video processing circuitry)380, a storage unit390, and a power unit (e.g., a power supply)360, in addition to the controller200, the display210, and the communicator220.

The audio processor315may include various audio processing circuitry that process audio data.

The audio output unit325may include various audio output circuitry to output audio included in a broadcasting signal received under control of the controller200.

The sensor330may sense a voice of a user, an image of the user, or interaction of the user.

The input/output unit370may include various input/output circuitry to receive a video (for example, a moving picture, etc.), an audio (for example, a voice, music, etc.), and additional information (for example, EPG, etc.) from the outside of the electronic device100, under control of the controller200.

The video processor380may include various video processing circuitry to process the video data received by the electronic device100. The video processor380may perform various types of image processing, such as decoding, scaling, noise filtering, frame rate conversion, resolution conversion, etc., on the video data.

The storage unit390may store various data, programs, or applications to drive and control the electronic device100under control of the controller200.

The controller200may include various processing circuitry to control general operations of the electronic device100and signal flow among internal components of the electronic device100and may process data. When there is a user input, or a condition which is pre-set and stored is satisfied, the controller200may execute an operation system (OS) and various applications stored in the storage unit390.

According to an embodiment, the controller200may control the display210and the communicator220.

The display210may display, on a screen, a video included in a broadcasting signal received under control of the controller200. Also, the display210may display content (for example, a video) that is input via the communicator220or the input/output unit370.

According to an embodiment, the display210may display a result corresponding to a received user input.

The communicator220may include various communication circuitry to connect the electronic device100with an external device (for example, a peripheral device, etc.) under control of the controller200.

According to an embodiment, the communicator220may determine whether the external electronic device110is connected to the AP120, to which the electronic device100is connected, and may transmit the state information of the electronic device100to the external electronic device110which is connected to the AP120. Also, the communicator220may scan external electronic devices connected to the AP120, to which the electronic device100is connected, and may transmit the state information of the electronic device100to the external electronic device from among the scanned external electronic devices, which is registered in the storage unit390.

The power unit360may include a power supply to supply power to each component of the electronic device100when the electronic device100is turned on and is in a normal mode state, so that the component of the electronic device100may operate. Also, the power unit360may supply power to only some components of the electronic device100and may not supply power to other components, when the electronic device100is turned off and is in a standby mode.

According to an embodiment, the power unit360may continually supply power to the communicator220when the electronic device100is in the standby mode, so that the communicator220may continually operate when the electronic device100is in a power-off state. Thus, the communicator220may sense the connection of the external electronic device even when the electronic device100is in an off mode, and may transmit the state information of the electronic device100to the sensed external electronic device.

FIG. 4is a flowchart illustrating example operations among the electronic device100, the external electronic device110, and the AP120, according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure.

In operation S400, information about the external electronic device110may be registered in the electronic device100.

For example, a user may register a desired external electronic device110to the electronic device100. Information for registration may include, but is not limited to, a MAC address of the external electronic device110, a name of the external electronic device110, a name of a user of the external electronic device110, and connection information between the external electronic device110and the AP120. Via this registration process, the electronic device100may determine whether the external electronic device110is connected to the AP120, to which the electronic device100is connected, and may transmit the state information of the electronic device100to the external electronic device110connected to the AP120.

Registering the information of the external electronic device110in the electronic device100may be performed to transmit the state information of the electronic device100only to the registered external electronic device110. The registration of the information of the external electronic device110is optionally performed, and may not be necessarily required for the operations illustrated inFIG. 4.

If the external electronic device110is not required to be registered in the electronic device100, the electronic device100may transmit the state information of the electronic device100to all external electronic devices110connected to the AP120to which the electronic device100is connected. Thus, when, for example, a friend of a user of the electronic device100, which is connected to the AP120, encounters the user, and an external electronic device of the friend of the user is connected to the same AP120to which the electronic device100is connected, the electronic device100may also transmit the state information of the electronic device100to the external electronic device110of the friend of the user. This operation may cause a problem in that the electronic device100may be manipulated by the external electronic device110, which is not intended by the user manipulating the electronic device100. Thus, it may be desirable that the external electronic device110be pre-registered in the electronic device100so that the state information of the electronic device100is transmitted to only the pre-registered external electronic device110.

However, according to another embodiment, when there is a need that all external electronic devices110connected to the AP120manipulate the electronic device100, regardless of whether or not the external electronic devices110are registered in the electronic device100, the electronic device100may transmit the state information of the electronic device100to all the external electronic devices110connected to the AP120.

Alternatively, according to another embodiment, the external electronic device110may receive the state information of the electronic device100via an additional authentication process without the registration in the electronic device100, and may determine whether to display the state information of the electronic device100.

That is, the external electronic device110may be automatically connected to the AP120, when the external electronic device110is within a certain distance in which the external electronic device110may communicate with the AP120. In this case, the electronic device100may transmit information about the connection of the electronic device100to the AP120, to the external electronic device110connected to the AP120. The information about the connection of the electronic device100to the AP120, according to an embodiment, may include information for the authentication of the external electronic device110.

For example, the electronic device100may transmit a key value for the authentication of the external electronic device110to the external electronic device110, and the external electronic device110may compare the received key value for the authentication with an authentication value that is input by a user, and when the received key value for the authentication and the authentication value that is input by the user are the same, may determine that the external electronic device110is authenticated. When it is determined that the external electronic device110is authenticated, the external electronic device110may perform an operation using the state information of the electronic device100.

Also, for example, when the external electronic device110receives information for the authentication of the external electronic device110, the external electronic device110may request a user to select whether to control the electronic device100via the external electronic device110.

In operation S410, the electronic device100may be connected to the AP120. The electronic device100may be connected to the AP120in a WiFi network environment. The electronic device100may store connection information with respect to the AP120in the electronic device100. The connection information with respect to the AP120may include various pieces of information that are necessary for connection with the AP120in the WiFi network environment. For example, the connection information may include subsystem identification (SSID) of the AP120or a password for connection with the AP120, but is not limited thereto.

In operation S420, the external electronic device110may be connected to the AP120to which the electronic device100is connected, in operation S420.

The external electronic device110may be connected to the AP120to which the electronic device100is connected in the WiFi network environment. The external electronic device110may store connection information with respect to the AP120in the external electronic device110. The connection information with respect to the AP120may include various pieces of information that are necessary for the connection to the AP120in the WiFi network environment. Also, without storing the connection information with respect to the AP120or without an additional user input, the external electronic device110may be automatically connected to the AP120when the external electronic device110is within a distance in which the external electronic device110may communicate with the AP120.

In operation S430, the electronic device100may determine whether the external electronic device110is connected to the AP120to which the electronic device100is connected.

The determining whether the external electronic device110is connected to the AP120to which the electronic device100is connected may denote scanning all the external electronic devices110connected to the AP120to which the electronic device100is connected. According to an embodiment, the electronic device100may identify the registered external electronic device110by comparing information, such as MAC addresses of the external electronic devices connected to the AP120, user information of the external electronic devices, or names of the external electronic devices, with pre-registered information, by using an ARP. The determining whether the external electronic device110is connected to the AP120to which the electronic device100is connected may be performed regardless of a power state of the electronic device100.

In operation S440, the electronic device100may transmit the state information of the electronic device100to the external electronic device110which is connected to the AP120.

To transmit the state information of the electronic device100to the external electronic device110connected to the access point120, via the electronic device100, may denote to transmit the state information of the electronic device100to the registered external electronic device110from among the scanned external electronic devices

In operation S450, the external electronic device110may display a user interface on a display thereof, based on the received state information of the electronic device100.

The user interface displayed on the display of the external electronic device110may be based on a program, such as an OS or an application, which is pre-installed in the external electronic device110. However, the user interface is not limited thereto. The external electronic device110may directly receive an application or a program from the electronic device100or may receive an application or a program from an external server, etc., according to the state information received from the electronic device100.

According to another embodiment, before operation S450, the external electronic device110may display, on the display, an alert window indicating that the state information of the electronic device100is received, and may request a user to select whether to display the user interface that is necessary for controlling of the electronic device100.

The electronic device100may provide information related to the user interface for the external electronic device110to identify the electronic device100. For example, the information related to the user interface may include a program, such as an OS or an application, which is to be installed in the external electronic device110for the user interface, but is not limited thereto.

FIGS. 5A and 5Bare diagrams illustrating example operations of the electronic device100and the external electronic device110which share a WiFi network, according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure.

The electronic device100may register the external electronic device110, and the information for the registration may include a MAC address of the external electronic device110, a name of the external electronic device110, a name of a user, connection information with respect to the AP120, etc., but is not limited thereto. Via this registration process, it may be determined whether the external electronic device110is connected to the AP120to which the electronic device100is connected so that the state information of the electronic device100is transmitted to the external electronic device110connected to the AP120.

According to an embodiment, the electronic device100may transmit the state information of the electronic device100to the external electronic device110. Also, the external electronic device110may display, on a display thereof, a user interface via which the electronic device100is controlled, according to the received state information of the electronic device100.

The user interface displayed on the display of the external electronic device110may denote an interface that is displayed on the display of the external electronic device110, wherein via the interface, a user input is performed in correspondence to each piece of the received state information of the electronic device100. For example, when the electronic device100is in a power-off state, the user interface displayed on the display of the external electronic device110may be a user interface for turning on the electronic device100or a user interface related to a source, but is not limited thereto. Also, when, for example, the source of the electronic device100is live broadcasting, the user interface displayed on the display of the external electronic device110may be a user interface related to channel change, volume adjustment, or electronic program guide (EPG) identification, but is not limited thereto.

FIG. 5Ais a diagram illustrating example operations of the electronic device100and the external electronic device110when the electronic device100is in a power-off state500, according to an embodiment. Referring toFIG. 5A, the electronic device100may transmit information about the power-off state500of the electronic device100to the external electronic device110connected to the AP120. Also, the external electronic device110may display, on the display thereof, a user interface510including the received information about the power-off state500of the electronic device100. For example, when the electronic device100is in the power-off state500, the user interface510displayed on the display of the external electronic device110may be a user interface related to the source of the electronic device100, but is not limited thereto. In detail, the external electronic device110may display, on the display, the current state (“power off”) of the electronic device100and a menu to select the source (“live broadcasting,” “high definition multimedia interface (HDMI),” “component,” or “universal serial bus (USB)”) which is to be used when the electronic device100is turned on.

FIG. 5Bis a diagram illustrating example operations of the electronic device100and the external electronic device110when the source of the electronic device100is a USB, according to an embodiment. Referring toFIG. 5B, the electronic device100may transmit information550indicating that the source of the electronic device100is the USB to the external electronic device110connected to the AP120. Also, the external electronic device110may display, on the display thereof, a user interface560including the received information550indicating that the source of the electronic device100is the USB. For example, in the case of the information550indicating that the source of the electronic device100is the USB, the user interface560displayed on the display of the external electronic device110may be a user interface related to music, images, videos, etc., but is not limited thereto. In detail, the external electronic device110may display, on the display, the current state (“USB”) of the electronic device100and a menu (“music,” “images,” or “videos”) which is to be used when the source of the electronic device100is the USB.

FIG. 6is a flowchart illustrating example operations among the electronic device100, the external electronic device110, and the AP120, according to another example embodiment of the present disclosure.

The electronic device100may register the external electronic device110in operation S600. In operation S610, the electronic device100may be connected to the AP120. In operation S620, the external electronic device110may be connected to the AP120to which the electronic device100is connected. In operation S630, the electronic device100may determine whether the external electronic device110is connected to the AP120to which the electronic device100is connected. In operation S640, the electronic device100may transmit the state information of the electronic device100to the external electronic device110connected to the AP120. In operation S650, the external electronic device110may display, on a display thereof, a user interface including the received state information of the electronic device100.

The external electronic device110may receive an input (e.g., a user input) via the user interface in operation S660.

The external electronic device110may transmit the received user input to the electronic device100in operation S670.

The electronic device100may display, on a display thereof, a result corresponding to the received user input, in operation S680.

The electronic device100may transmit the result displayed on the display to the external electronic device110in operation S690.

In addition, according to another embodiment, before operation S650, the external electronic device110may display, on the display thereof, an alert window indicating that the state information of the electronic device100is received, and may request a user to select whether to display the user interface that is necessary for controlling of the electronic device100.

FIGS. 7A and 7Bare diagrams illustrating example operations of the electronic device100and the external electronic device110which share a WiFi network, according to another example embodiment of the present disclosure.

According to an embodiment, the external electronic device110may receive a user input via a user interface. Also, the external electronic device110may transmit the received user input to the electronic device100. The electronic device100may display, on a display thereof, a result corresponding to the received user input. Also, the electronic device100may transmit the result displayed on the display to the external electronic device110. The external electronic device110may display, on a display thereof, the user interface including the received result displayed on the display of the electronic device100.

FIG. 7Ais a diagram illustrating example operations of the electronic device100and the external electronic device110when the electronic device100is in a power-off state700, according to an embodiment. The power-off state700and a user interface710displayed on the display of the external electronic device110ofFIG. 7Amay correspond to the power-off state500and the user interface510displayed on the display of the external electronic device110ofFIG. 5A. Since the power-off state500and the user interface510are described in detail, the power-off state700and the user interface710will not be further described here.

Referring toFIG. 7A, the external electronic device110may receive a user input720that selects “live broadcasting,” via the user interface710. Also, the external electronic device110may transmit the received user input720to the electronic device100. Here, since the electronic device100is in the power-off state700, the external electronic device110may transmit a control signal corresponding to a power-on state of the electronic device100and a control signal instructing that the source of the external electronic device110is live broadcasting, to the electronic device100.

FIG. 7Bis a diagram illustrating example operations of the electronic device100and the external electronic device1110when the electronic device100receives the user input720from the external electronic device110, according to an embodiment. Referring toFIGS. 7A and 7B, the electronic device100may receive the user input720from the external electronic device110and may display on a display thereof, a result750corresponding to the received user input720. In detail, the electronic device100may receive the user input720selecting “live broadcasting” from the external electronic device110, and may display on the display the result750corresponding to the received user input720selecting “live broadcasting,” that is, the source, “live broadcasting.”

Also, the electronic device100may transmit the result750displayed on the display to the external electronic device110, and the external electronic device110may display, on the display thereof, the user interface760including the received result750displayed on the display of the electronic device100. In detail, the external electronic device110may display the current state (“live broadcasting”)760of the electronic device100and a menu (“channel up,” “channel down,” “volume up,” “volume down,” “EPG,” or “recording”) which is to be used in the electronic device100in the live broadcasting state. The electronic device100may receive the user input770selecting “volume down” from the external device110and implement this function in the electronic device100.

The present disclosure may be embodied as a program executed in a computer, and may be implemented in a general purpose digital computer by using a computer-readable medium. Also, a structure of data used in the method may be recorded by using various units on a computer-readable medium. The present disclosure may be embodied as a recording medium, e.g., a program module to be executed in computers, which include computer-readable commands. For example, any processes may be implemented as software modules or algorithms, and may be stored as program instructions or computer readable codes executable by a processor on a computer-readable media.

While the present disclosure has been illustrated and described with reference to example embodiments thereof, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the following claims. Hence, it will be understood that the embodiments described above are not limiting of the scope of the disclosure. For example, each component described in a single type may be executed in a distributed manner, and components described distributed may also be executed in an integrated form.

The scope of the present disclosure is indicated by the claims rather than by the detailed description, and it should be understood that the claims and all modifications or modified forms drawn from the concept of the claims are included in the scope of the present disclosure.