ELECTRONIC DEVICE FOR PROVIDING PERSONALIZED GROUP SERVICE, AND CONTROL METHOD OF SAME

Disclosed are an electronic device for providing personalized group service and a control method. The electronic device includes a touchscreen display, communication circuitry, and at least one processor. The at least one processor may be set to: detect at least one external electronic device positioned around the electronic device by the communication circuitry, receive a request for generating a group including the at least one external electronic device and the electronic device, determine, in response to receiving the request, whether a number of communications between the at least one detected external electronic device and the electronic device is at least a pre-designated number, determine a attributes of the group including the at least one external electronic device based on at least the result of the determination and display an indicator, indicating the at least one detected external electronic device, on the touch screen display according to the attribute.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The disclosure relates to an electronic device for providing a personalized group service and a control method therefor.

2. Description of Related Art

Various services and additional functions provided via an electronic device, for example, a portable electronic device such as a smartphone, have been gradually increased. To increase the effective value of such an electronic device, and to satisfy various desires of users, communication service providers or electronic device manufacturers have provided various functions, and have competitively developed an electronic device distinguished from other companies. Accordingly, various functions provided via an electronic device have been gradually advanced.

In order to produce (i.e., configure) a set (also referred to as a “group” in this document) of a plurality of electronic devices to share data stored in a predetermined electronic device (e.g., accessing a cloud server via a predetermined application (e.g., a Samsung® account application, a Samsung® cloud application, or an application providing a service related to a group) and downloading data of the electronic device stored in the cloud server) and/or to access data stored in a predetermined electronic device, a user of the electronic device needs to directly input, via the electronic device, identification information of a user of an external electronic device, or the user of the electronic device needs to capture a predetermined quick response code (QR code), so as to produce a group (i.e., inviting the user of the external electronic device), which is a generally used scheme. However, the group produced in this manner is a group manually produced by the user of the electronic device. The relationship between the electronic device that belongs to the produced group (e.g., the electronic device that invites an external electronic device) and at least one external electronic device (an electronic device that is invited) may not be taken into consideration, and thus only a static group function may be provided. For example, a second user of an external electronic device invited by a first user of the electronic device may be a user of which contact information is stored in a contact list (e.g., a contact information application) of the electronic device of the first user, and who frequently contacts with the first user. In this instance, according to the scheme that manually produces a group, although the second user invited to a group is a user who frequently contacts the first user and of which contact information is stored in the contact list of the first user, the second user is incapable of accessing an application installed in the electronic device of the first user, and only a predetermined static group function may be provided. That is, according to the scheme of manually producing a group, only a group function that does not take into consideration the relationship between the first user and the second user included in the group may be provided.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, in case of production of a group, a group may be automatically produced in consideration of context information of an electronic device and/or the relationship between a first user of the electronic device and a second user of at least one external electronic device, and thus there is provided an electronic device that may provide a personalized group service (e.g., a data access service, a data sharing service, and/or a service for accessing a sub-electronic device subordinate to the electronic device).

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, each of a plurality of produced groups may be configured to provide a group service based on context information of an electronic device and/or the relationship between a first user of the electronic device and a second user of at least one external electronic device, and thus there is provided an electronic device that may provide a personalized group service to a user of the electronic device.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, in case of production of a group, a group may be automatically produced in consideration of context information of an electronic device and/or the relationship between a first user of the electronic device and a second user of at least one external electronic device, and thus there is provided a control method of an electronic device that may provide a personalized group service (e.g., a data access service, a data sharing service, and/or a service for accessing a sub-electronic device subordinate to the electronic device).

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, each of a plurality of produced groups may be configured to provide a group service based on context information of an electronic device and/or the relationship between a first user of the electronic device and a second user of at least one external electronic device, and thus there is provided a control method of an electronic device that may provide a personalized group service to a user of the electronic device.

SUMMARY

An electronic device according to an embodiment of the disclosure may include a touch screen display, communication circuitry, and at least one processor, and the at least one processor may be configured to detect, via the communication circuitry, at least one external electronic device located around the electronic device, to receive a request for producing a group including the electronic device and the at least one external electronic device, to determine whether the number of times communication is performed between the at least one external electronic device and the electronic device is greater than or equal to a predetermined number of times, in response to reception of the request, to determine an attribute of the group to which the at least one external electronic device belongs based at least on a determination result and to display an indicator indicating the at least one detected external electronic device on the touch screen display according to the determined attribute.

A method of controlling an electronic device according to an embodiment of the disclosure may include an operation of detecting at least one external electronic device located around the electronic device, an operation of receiving a request for producing a group including the at least one external electronic device and the electronic device, an operation of determining whether the number of times communication is performed between the at least one detected external electronic device and the electronic device is greater than or equal to a predetermined number of times, in response to reception of the request, an operation of determining an attribute of the group to which the at least one external electronic device belongs based at least on a determination result, and an operation of displaying an indicator indicating the at least one detected external electronic device on a touch screen display of the electronic device according to the determined attribute.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, in case of production of a group, a group may be automatically produced in consideration of context information of an electronic device and/or the relationship between a first user of the electronic device and a second user of at least one external electronic device, and thus there may be provided a personalized group service (e.g., a data access service, a data sharing service, and/or a service for accessing a sub-electronic device subordinate to the electronic device).

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, each of a plurality of produced groups may be configured to provide a group service based on context information of an electronic device and/or the relationship between a first user of the electronic device and a second user of at least one external electronic device, and thus there may be provided a personalized group service to a user of the electronic device.

The effect of various embodiments is not limited to the above-described effects, and it is apparent to those skilled in the art that various effects are immanent in the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG.2Ais a flow diagram illustrating a function or an operation of determining the attribute of a group according to an embodiment of the disclosure.FIG.2Bis a diagram illustrating a function or an operation of determining a first type of group, a second type of group, a third type of group, and a fourth type of group according to an embodiment of the disclosure.FIGS.3A to3Care diagrams illustrating the content illustrated inFIG.2Afrom the perspective of the experience of a user.

Referring toFIG.2Aand toFIGS.3A to3C, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may detect at least one external electronic device located around the electronic device101in operation210. The electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may detect at least one external electronic device located around the electronic device101by using various short-distance communication schemes (e.g., Bluetooth low energy (BLE) and/or ultra wide band (UWB) communication scheme). In the disclosure, the term, “detection” may refer to a function or an operation of setting up a wireless communication channel with at least one external electronic device, and receiving identification information (e.g., an MAC address, a phone number of an external electronic device, a unique identification number (e.g., IMEI) of an external electronic device, and/or a model number (e.g., SM-G980F) of an external electronic device). The electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may periodically perform operation210at predetermined time intervals, or may perform in response to a request from a user of the electronic device101.

The electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may receive a request for producing a group including at least one external electronic device and an electronic device in operation220. In case at least one external electronic device is detected, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may display a notification310indicating that at least one external electronic device capable of being grouped is detected from around the electronic device101, as illustrated inFIG.3A. In case input of selecting the notification310is received, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may determine the attribute of a group to which the at least one detected external electronic device belongs.

In operation230, in response to reception of the request in operation220, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may determine whether the number of times of phone number-based communication between the electronic device101and at least one external electronic device (e.g., the number of times of receiving/making a call (e.g., a voice call, video call), the number of times of receiving/sending a text message (SMS), and/or the number of times of receiving/sending an SNS message) is greater than or equal to a predetermined number of times. The electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may perform operation230by determining whether the number of times communication for each of a plurality of types of communication (e.g., a phone call, a text message (SMS), an SNS message) is performed is greater than or equal to a predetermined number of times, or by summing the number of times communication of the plurality of types of communication is performed and determining whether the sum is greater than or equal to a predetermined number of times.

In operation240, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may determine, based at least on a determination result of operation230, the attribute of the group to which at least one external electronic device belongs. In case that the number of times communication is performed between at least one external electronic device and the electronic device101is greater than or equal to a predetermined number of times, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may determine the type of the group to which the at least one external electronic device belongs as a third type of group (e.g., a sustainable group capable of sharing only public data) or a fourth type of group (e.g., a sustainable group capable of sharing public data and privacy data). In case the number of times communication is performed between at least one external electronic device and the electronic device101is less than the predetermined number of times, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may determine the type of a group to which the at least one external electronic device belongs as a first type of group (e.g., an instant group capable of sharing only public data) or a second type of group (e.g., an instant group capable of sharing public data and privacy data).

The electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may display an indicator indicating at least one external electronic device according to the determined attribute in operation250.

FIG.2Aillustrates an embodiment that distinguishes, as a sustainable group and an instant group, the attribute of a group to which at least one external electronic device belongs according to the number of times communication is performed between the at least one external electronic device and the electronic device101. However,FIG.2Billustrates a function or an operation of producing a first type of group, a second type of group, a third type of group, and a fourth type of group by the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure. Referring toFIG.2B, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may receive a group production request in operation201. As described above, the group production request according to an embodiment of the disclosure may include input of selecting the notification310. The electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may determine whether the current location of the electronic device101is a predetermined location stored in the electronic device101in operation202. The predetermined location according to an embodiment of the disclosure may be, for example, a home, an office, a school, and/or other places. Based on the current location information of the electronic device101and/or a period of time (e.g., from 7 AM to 6 PM) during which the electronic device101stays in a predetermined place, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may determine a current location, that is, may determine whether the current location is a home, an office, or a school. In case the current location of the electronic device101is not a predetermined location stored in the electronic device101, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may determine whether at least one detected external electronic device is an electronic device stored in a contact list of the electronic device101in operation203. The electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may determine whether the at least one detected external electronic device is an electronic device stored in the contact list of the electronic device101, by using, for example, identification information (e.g., a phone number) received from the at least one external electronic device101. Alternatively, whether the at least one detected external electronic device is an electronic device stored in the contact list of the electronic device101may be determined by determining whether a phone number corresponding to identification information received from at least one external electronic device is stored in the electronic device101by using the identification information (e.g., a MAC address or an IMEI) received from the at least one external electronic device. In case the external electronic device is an electronic device that is not stored in the contact list of the electronic device101, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may determine whether the external electronic device is an electronic device that is detected at least a predetermined number of times in operation204. The electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may determine whether an external electronic device is an electronic device that is detected at least a predetermined number of times by using the number of times that identification information transmitted from the external electronic device is detected. In case the external electronic device is a device that is detected less than the predetermined number of times, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may configure a group to which the at least one detected external electronic device belongs as a first type of group, and may produce the first type of group in operation205. The first type of group according to an embodiment of the disclosure may be a group having an attribute that shares data in a group (e.g., a group chat room) during a first period of time (e.g., 24 hours) and allows at least one external electronic device or the electronic device to access only data designated as public data. To access data designated as public data, an external electronic device according to an embodiment of the disclosure may access a cloud server via a data sharing menu, a predetermined application (e.g., a Samsung® account application, a Samsung® cloud application), or a link (e.g., a URL address) provided by the electronic device101, thereby accessing data stored in the electronic device101. In the cloud server according to an embodiment of the disclosure, data uploaded by an electronic device and an external electronic device may be stored. Alternatively, via short-distance communication, the electronic device101may directly access an external electronic device, thereby accessing data stored in the external electronic device. According to an embodiment of the disclosure, whether data is public data may be designated in advance or may be designated by a user of the electronic device (e.g., the electronic device101).

In case the current location of the electronic device101is a predetermined location stored in the electronic device101, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may determine whether the current location of the electronic device101is a location detected at least a predetermined number of times (i.e., whether the current location is a location that the user of the electronic device101frequently visits) in operation206. In case the current location of the electronic device101is a location detected less than the predetermined number of times, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may determine whether the number of times of phone number-based communication with a detected external electronic device (e.g., the number of times of receiving/making a call (e.g., a voice call, a video call), the number of times of receiving/sending a text message (SMS), and/or the number of times of receiving/sending an SNS message) is greater than or equal to a predetermined number of times in operation207. The electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may perform operation207by determining whether the number of times of communication for each of a plurality of types of communication (e.g., a phone call, a text message (SMS), an SNS message) is greater than or equal to a predetermined number of times, or by summing the number of times of communication of the plurality of types of communication and determining whether the sum is greater than or equal to a predetermined number of times. In case the number of times of phone number-based communication with a detected external electronic device is less than the designated number of times, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may determine whether the number of times of sharing data with the detected external electronic device (e.g., file transmission or reception, streaming data transmission or reception) is greater than or equal to a predetermined number of times in operation208. The electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may determine which electronic device shares data, by using identification information (e.g., MAC address) transmitted from a detected external electronic device, and, based thereon, may determine whether the number of times of data sharing with the detected external electronic device is greater than or equal to a predetermined number of times. In case the number of times of data sharing is less than the predetermined number of times, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may determine, as a first type of group, a group to which the detected external electronic device belongs. In case the number of times of data sharing is greater than or equal to the predetermined number of times, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may determine, as a second type of group, a group to which the detected external electronic device belongs in operation212. The second type of group according to an embodiment of the disclosure may be a group having an attribute that shares data in a group (e.g., a group chat room) during a first period of time (e.g., 24 hours) and allows at least one external electronic device or the electronic device101to access data designated as public data and privacy data. According to an embodiment of the disclosure, whether data is privacy data may be designated in advance or may be designated by a user of the electronic device (e.g., the electronic device101).

In case the current location of the electronic device101is a location detected at least a predetermined number of times in operation206, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may determine whether at least one detected external electronic device is an electronic device stored in a contact list of the electronic device101in operation209. The electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may determine whether the at least one detected external electronic device is an electronic device stored in the contact list of the electronic device101, by using, for example, identification information (e.g., a phone number) received from the at least one external electronic device101. Alternatively, whether the at least one detected external electronic device is an electronic device stored in the contact list of the electronic device101may be determined by determining whether a phone number corresponding to identification information received from at least one external electronic device is stored in the electronic device101, by using the identification information (e.g., a MAC address or an IMEI) received from the at least one external electronic device. In case the at least one detected external electronic device is not an electronic device stored in the contact list of the electronic device101in operation209, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may determine, as the first type of group, a group to which the external electronic device belongs. In case the at least one detected external electronic device is an electronic device that is stored in the contact list of the electronic device101, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may determine whether the number of times of phone number-based communication with the detected external electronic device (e.g., the number of times of receiving/making a call (e.g., a voice call, a video call), the number of times of receiving/sending a text message (SMS), and/or the number of times of receiving/sending an SNS message) is greater than or equal to a predetermined number of times on operation211. The electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may perform operation211by determining whether the number of times of communication for each of a plurality of types of communication (e.g., a phone call, a text message (SMS), an SNS message) is greater than or equal to a predetermined number of times, or by summing the number of times of communication of the plurality of types of communication and determining whether the sum is greater than or equal to a predetermined number of times. In case the number of times of phone number-based communication with the detected external electronic device is less than the predetermined number of times, the electronic device101according to an embodiment may determine, as a second type of group, the group to which the detected external electronic device belongs in operation212. In case the number of times of phone number-based communication with the detected external electronic device is greater than or equal to the predetermined number of times, the electronic device101according to an embodiment may determine whether the external electronic device is an electronic device detected at least a predetermined number of times in operation213. The electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may determine whether an external electronic device is an electronic device that is detected at least a predetermined number of times by using the number of times that identification information transmitted from the external electronic device is detected. In case the external electronic device is a device detected less than the predetermined number of times, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may determine a group to which at least one external electronic device belongs as a third type of group, and may produce the third type of group in operation215. The third type of group according to an embodiment of the disclosure may be a group having an attribute that shares data with the at least one external electronic device during a second period of time (e.g., 6 months), and allows at least one external electronic device or the electronic device101to access only data designated as public data.

In case the external electronic device is a device detected at least the predetermined number of times, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may determine whether the number of times of sharing data with the detected external electronic device (e.g., file transmission or reception, streaming data transmission or reception) is greater than or equal to a predetermined number of times in operation214. The electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may determine which electronic device shares data, by using identification information (e.g., a MAC address) transmitted from a detected external electronic device, and, based thereon, may determine whether the number of times of data sharing performed with the detected external electronic device is greater than or equal to the predetermined number of times. In case the number of times of data sharing is less than the predetermined number of times, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may determine, as a third type of group, a group to which the detected external electronic device belongs. In case the number of times of data sharing (e.g., file transmission or transmission, streaming data transmission or reception) with the detected external electronic device is greater than or equal to a predetermined number of times, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may determine a group to which at least one detected external electronic device belongs as a fourth type of group, and may produce the fourth type of group in operation216. The fourth type of group according to an embodiment of the disclosure may be a group having an attribute that shares data with the at least one external electronic device during a second period of time (e.g., 6 months), and allows at least one external electronic device or the electronic device101to access data designated as public data and privacy data.

The electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may display an indicator indicating at least one external electronic device according to the determined attribute of a group. Referring toFIG.3B, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may display a first screen320to produce a group. In the first screen320according to an embodiment of the disclosure, a first indicator326indicating the electronic device that searches for an external electronic device, an indicator (e.g., a second indicator322, a third indicator324) indicating a detected external electronic device, a first button327for cancelling production of a group, and a second button328for producing a group may be displayed. In case the at least one detected external electronic device is determined as belonging to the third type of group or the fourth type of group, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may display the second indicator322and the third indicator324in the same area (e.g., a sustainable group area) as illustrated inFIG.3B. The electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may receive, from a user, input of selecting an indicator (e.g., the second indicator322and the third indicator324). The electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may produce a group so that the group includes only an external electronic device corresponding to an indicator (e.g., the second indicator322and the third indicator324) selected by the user. In case input of selecting the second button328is received, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may display a second screen330as illustrated inFIG.3C. In the second screen330according to an embodiment of the disclosure, graphic elements (e.g., a first graphic element331indicating a first group, a second graphic element332indicating a second group, and a third graphic element333indicating a third group) associated with a previously configured group, a fourth graphic element334indicating a newly produced group, and a fifth graphic element345for producing a group may be displayed. In a graphic element (e.g., the first graphic element331) according to an embodiment of the disclosure, at least one among the name of a group (e.g., family), the number of members included in a group (e.g., 3), and the attribute of a group (e.g., “private”) may be displayed. For example, in case the attribute of the group is displayed as “private”, it may indicate that users in the group are capable of accessing and/or sharing data designated as privacy data, as well as data designated as public data. For example, in case the attribute of the group is displayed as “public”, it may indicate that users in the group are capable of accessing and/or sharing only data designated as public data. For example, in case the attribute of the group is displayed as “instant”, it may indicate that the corresponding group has an attribute of a first type of group or a second type of group.

FIG.4is a flow diagram illustrating a function or an operation of producing a group according to an embodiment of the disclosure.FIGS.5A to5Fare diagrams illustrating the content illustrated inFIG.4from the perspective of the experience of a user.

Referring toFIG.4, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may receive a group production request in operation410. The electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure, as illustrated inFIG.5A, may receive a user input (e.g., a touch input) to the fifth graphic element345for producing a group. In case a user input (e.g., a touch input) to the fifth graphic element345for producing a group is received, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may display a third screen510for producing a group as illustrated inFIG.5B. A name512of a group may be displayed in the third screen510according to an embodiment of the disclosure. As the name512of the group according to an embodiment of the disclosure, the name of a place corresponding to the current location of the electronic device101or the name of a predetermined place may be displayed as the name of the group. To this end, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may perform a function or an operation of obtaining information associated with the current location.

The electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may detect at least one external electronic device located around the electronic device101in operation420. In case a user input (e.g., a touch input) to the fifth graphic element345for producing a group is received from a user, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may perform a function or an operation of detecting an external electronic device located around the electronic device101. Alternatively, according to an embodiment of the disclosure, in case the group production request (e.g., input of selecting a “Next” button) is received after input of the name512of the group is received from a user, a function or an operation of detecting an external electronic device located around the electronic device101may be performed. Alternatively, before a user input (e.g., a touch input) to the fifth graphic element345for producing a group is received from a user, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may detect an external electronic device located around the electronic device101.

In operation430, the electronic device430according to an embodiment of the disclosure may determine the attribute of the group to which at least one external electronic device belongs. The content described with reference toFIGS.2B and2Cmay be equally applied to operation430according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

The electronic device430according to an embodiment of the disclosure may display an indicator indicating at least one external electronic device according to the determined attribute in operation440. Referring toFIG.5C, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may display a first screen320to produce a group. In the first screen320according to an embodiment of the disclosure, a first indicator326indicating the electronic device101that searches for an external electronic device, an indicator (e.g., the second indicator322, the third indicator324, and a fourth indicator329) indicating a detected external electronic device, and a second button328for producing a group may be displayed. In case the at least one detected external electronic device is determined as belonging to a third type of group or a fourth type of group, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may display the second indicator322and the third indicator324in the same area (e.g., a sustainable group area) as illustrated inFIG.5C. In addition, in case the at least one detected external electronic device is determined as belonging to a first type of group or a second type of group, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may display the fourth indicator329in an area (e.g., an instant group area) different from the area where the second indicator322and the third indicator324are displayed. The electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may receive, from a user, input of selecting an indicator (e.g., the second indicator322and the third indicator324). The electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may produce a group so that the group includes only an external electronic device corresponding to an indicator (e.g., the second indicator322and the third indicator324) selected by the user. In case input of selecting the second button328is received, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may display a second screen330as illustrated inFIG.5D. In the second screen330according to an embodiment of the disclosure, the fourth graphic element334for indicating a newly produced group and the fifth graphic element345for producing a group may be displayed. The electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may receive a user input (e.g., a touch input) for selecting an indicator (e.g., the second indicator322and the fourth indicator327) included in a different type of group, as illustrated inFIG.5E. In this instance, as illustrated inFIG.5F, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may determine the attribute of a group as a type of a group (the first type of group or the second type of group) in which an external electronic device corresponding to the fourth indicator329is included.

FIG.6is a flow diagram illustrating a function or an operation of joining an already configured single group by the electronic device101in case a plurality of external electronic devices is already grouped into a single group according to an embodiment of the disclosure.FIGS.7A and7Bare diagrams illustrating the content illustrated inFIG.6from the perspective of the experience of a user.

Referring toFIG.6, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may detect a plurality of external electronic devices located around the electronic device101in operation610. The electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may detect at least one external electronic device located around the electronic device101by using various short-distance communication schemes (e.g., Bluetooth low energy (BLE) and/or ultra wide band (UWB) communication scheme).

The electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may receive a request for producing a group including a plurality of external electronic devices and the electronic device101in operation620. In case at least one external electronic device is detected, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may display the notification310indicating that at least one external electronic device capable of being grouped is detected from around the electronic device101, as illustrated inFIG.3A. In case input of selecting the notification310is received, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may determine the attribute of a group to which the plurality of detected external electronic devices belong, and may determine whether a plurality of external electronic devices are grouped into a single group.

In operation630, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may determine whether a plurality of external electronic devices are grouped into a single group. The electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may obtain, from each of the plurality of external electronic devices, information indicating whether each of the plurality of external electronic devices is included in a predetermined group, and/or information indicating a group to which each of the plurality of external electronic devices belongs. Based on the obtained information as described above, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may determine whether a plurality of external electronic devices are grouped into a single group.

In operation640, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may display, based a determination result of operation630, an indicator indicating the plurality of external electronic devices in operation640. Referring toFIG.7A, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may group indicators indicating a plurality of external electronic devices included in a single predetermined group, and may display the same (e.g., a first group indicator710and a second group indicator720). The electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may receive input of selecting at least one group indicator (e.g., the first group indicator710), and may receive a group production request (e.g., receiving input of selecting a “Create” button), whereby the selected group may be invited as a whole, as illustrated inFIG.7B. In other words, the electronic device101may join the selected group.FIG.7Billustrates an embodiment that displays the fourth graphic element334indicating a newly produced group is displayed in the second screen330.

FIG.8is a flow diagram illustrating a function or an operation of producing a group so that a sub-electronic device operatively connected to an external electronic device is included according to an embodiment of the disclosure.FIGS.9A and9Bare diagrams illustrating the content illustrated inFIG.8from the perspective of the experience of a user.

Referring toFIG.8, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may detect a plurality of external electronic devices located around the electronic device101in operation810. The electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may detect at least one external electronic device located around the electronic device101by using various short-distance communication schemes (e.g., Bluetooth low energy (BLE) and/or ultra wide band (UWB) communication scheme).

In operation820, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may detect at least one sub-electronic device operatively connected to at least one external electronic device. The electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may receive, from the detected external electronic device, a sub-electronic device (e.g., a TV, an AI speaker) operatively connected to the external electronic device. The electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may receive information associated with a sub-electronic device connected to the external electronic device via short-distance communication and/or information associated with a sub-electronic device registered via a predetermined account (e.g., a Samsung® account).

The electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may receive a request for producing a group including at least one external electronic device and the electronic device101in operation830. In case at least one external electronic device is detected, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may display the notification310indicating that at least one external electronic device capable of being grouped is detected from around the electronic device101, as illustrated inFIG.3A. In case input of selecting the notification310is received, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may determine the attribute of a group to which the at least one detected external electronic device belongs.

In operation840, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may determine, based at least on a determination result of operation830, the attribute of the group to which the at least one external electronic device belongs. In case the number of times communication is performed between at least one external electronic device and the electronic device101is greater than or equal to a predetermined number of times, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may determine the type of a group to which the at least one external electronic device belongs as a third type of group (e.g., a sustainable group capable of sharing only public data) or a fourth type of group (e.g., a sustainable group capable of sharing public data and privacy data). In case the number of times communication is performed between at least one external electronic device and the electronic device101is less than the predetermined number of times, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may determine the type of a group to which the at least one external electronic device belongs as a first type of group (e.g., an instant group capable of sharing only public data) or a second type of group (e.g., an instant group capable of sharing public data and privacy data). Furthermore, the descriptions that have been provided with reference toFIGS.2B and2Cmay be equally applied to operation840.

In operation850, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may display, based on the determined attribute of a group, indicators indicating at least one external electronic device and at least one sub-electronic device according to the determined attribute of a group. Referring toFIG.9A, based on a determined attribute of a group, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may display an indicator (e.g., a first sub-indicator322a, a second sub-indicator322b) indicating a sub-electronic device subordinate to a detected external electronic device, together with an indicator (e.g., the second indicator322) indicating the detected external electronic device.FIG.9Aillustrates an embodiment in which an indicator (e.g., the second indicator322) indicating the detected external electronic device and an indicator (e.g., the first sub-indicator322aand the second sub-indicator322b) indicating a sub-electronic device subordinate to the detected external electronic device belong to a first type of group or a second type of group. In case the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure receives input of selecting at least one indicator (e.g., the second indicator322, the first sub-indicator322a, and the second sub-indicator322b) and receives a group production request (e.g., receiving input of selecting a “Create” button), the electronic device101may produce the selected external electronic device and the sub-electronic device as a single group.FIG.9Billustrates an embodiment that displays the fourth graphic element334indicating a newly produced group is displayed in the second screen330. According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the fourth graphic element334may include information (e.g., “with 2 devices”) indicating that at least one sub-electronic device is included as a device included in a group. According to an embodiment of the disclosure, group members may access and control a sub-electronic device allowed by a group member (the owner of the sub-electronic device). According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a sub-electronic device allowed by a group member may be configured as a public device, and a sub-electronic device that a group member allows only part of the group members to use may be configured as a private device.

FIG.10is a graphical diagram illustrating configurations of a first type of group, a second type of group, a third type of group, and a fourth type of group according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring toFIG.10, a first type of group, a second type of group, a third type of group, and a fourth type of group according to an embodiment of the disclosure may be configured to have different values for a “group activation” item, an “accessible app” item, an “accessible data” item, a “data expiration date” item, a “device access” item, and a “privacy text” item, respectively. The “group activation” item according to an embodiment of the disclosure may be an item indicating whether to provide, via the electronic device101ofFIG.1, a group service function (e.g., a function of accessing predetermined data stored in an electronic device or an external electronic device by an external electronic device or the electronic device101, or a function of sharing data stored in an electronic device or an external electronic device with an external electronic device or the electronic device101). According to an embodiment of the disclosure, in case the “group activation” item is designated as “Auto”, a group service function may or may not be provided via the electronic device101depending on the current situation of the electronic device101(e.g., the current location of the electronic device101, the current time). For example, in case the electronic device101is located in a predetermined place (e.g., an office), a group service function may be provided via the electronic device101. The “accessible app” item according to an embodiment of the disclosure may indicate the type of application that the electronic device101or an external electronic device is capable of accessing among applications installed in the external electronic device or the electronic device101. The “accessible data” item according to an embodiment of the disclosure may indicate the type of data that the electronic device101or an external electronic device is capable of accessing among data stored in the external electronic device or the electronic device101. The “data expiration date” item according to an embodiment of the disclosure may be a period of time during which data shared via a group service is maintained in a group (e.g., in a group chat room). The “device access” item according to an embodiment of the disclosure may be the right to access a sub-electronic device. The “privacy text” item of the disclosure may be the right to access (whether privacy text input in the group chat room is to be displayed) privacy text (e.g., a string including a predetermined keyword). According to an embodiment of the disclosure, various configurations illustrated inFIG.10may be applicable to all of the devices included in a group (e.g., the case in which an external electronic device accesses data stored in the electronic device101that produces a group and the case in which the electronic device101that produces a group access data stored in an external electronic device), or may be applicable only among some electronic devices (e.g., the case in which an external electronic device accesses data stored in the electronic device101that produces a group).

FIGS.11A to11Care diagrams illustrating a setting screen for managing a group produced according to an embodiment of the disclosure from the perspective of the experience of a user.

Referring toFIGS.11A to11C, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may display a second screen330. The electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may receive input of selecting any one graphic element (e.g., a sixth graphic element1110). The electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may display a setting screen1120as illustrated inFIG.11B. In the setting screen1120according to an embodiment of the disclosure, a first user interface to perform chatting among devices included in a group may be displayed. In the setting screen1120according to an embodiment of the disclosure, information associated with group configuration devices (e.g., a first configuration device1121a, a second configuration device1121b, a third configuration device1121c, and a fourth configuration device1121d), and various items for a detailed group setting (e.g., a first item1122afor setting group activation, a second item1122bfor changing the type of group, a third item1122cfor setting a data open range, a fourth item1122dfor setting a data storage cycle of data shared among group members, a fifth item1123afor setting the right to access data, a sixth item1123bfor setting the right to access an application, and/or a seventh item1124for setting whether to display privacy text. As illustrated inFIG.11C, in case a sub-electronic device is included as a group configuration device, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may display information (e.g., a first sub-configuration device1125aand a second sub-configuration device1125b).

FIGS.12A to12Hare diagrams illustrating, from the perspective of the experience of a user, sub-items displayed when items are selected in the setting screen1120according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring toFIG.12A, in case the first item1122ais selected by a user of the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure, sub-items (e.g., a first sub-item1201, a second sub-item1202, and a third sub-item1203) capable of selecting whether to automatically set a group activation function, whether to configure to always provide a group service function, or whether to interrupt provision of a group service function may be displayed. Referring toFIG.12B, in that the second item1122bis selected by a user of the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure, sub-items (e.g., a fourth sub-item1211and a fifth sub-item1212) capable of selecting whether to change the type of group to a sustainable group type (e.g., a third type of group or a fourth type of group) or whether to change the type of group to an instant group (e.g., a first type of group or a second type of group) may be displayed. Referring toFIG.12C, in case the third item1122cfor setting a data open range is selected by a user of the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure, a sixth sub-item1221for sharing only public data and a seventh sub-item1222for sharing public data and privacy data may be displayed. Referring toFIG.12D, in case the fourth item1122dfor setting a data storage cycle of data shared among group members is selected by a user of the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure, items (e.g., an eighth sub-item1231, a ninth sub-item1232, and/or a tenth sub-item1233) for selecting a period for sharing may be displayed. Referring toFIGS.12E and12F, in case the fifth item1123afor setting the right to access data is selected by a user of the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure, a fourth screen1210including items (e.g., an eleventh sub-item1241, a twelfth sub-item1242, a thirteenth sub-item1243, and/or a fourteenth sub-item1244) for setting type of accessible data may be displayed as illustrated inFIG.12F. Referring toFIG.12G, in case the sixth item1123bfor setting the right to access an application is selected by a user of the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure, items (e.g., a fifteenth sub-item1251, a sixteenth sub-item1252, a seventeenth sub-item1253, an eighteenth sub-item1254, a ninth sub-item1255, and/or a twentieth sub-item1256) for setting type of accessible application may be displayed as illustrated inFIG.12H.

FIG.13is a flow diagram illustrating a function or an operation of determining the attribute of a group according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring toFIG.13, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may detect an external electronic device located around the electronic device101in operation1310. The electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may detect the external electronic device located around the electronic device101by using various short-distance communication schemes (e.g., Bluetooth low energy (BLE) and/or ultra wide band (UWB) communication scheme). In the disclosure, the term, “detection” may refer to a function or an operation of setting up a wireless communication channel with at least one external electronic device, and receiving identification information (e.g., an MAC address, a phone number of an external electronic device, a unique identification number (e.g., IMEI) of an external electronic device, and/or a model number (e.g., SM-G980F) of an external electronic device). The electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may periodically perform operation1310at predetermined time intervals, or may perform in response to a request from a user of the electronic device101.

The electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may receive a request for producing a group including the external electronic device and the electronic device101in operation1320. In case the external electronic device is detected, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may display a notification310indicating that the external electronic device capable of being grouped is detected from around the electronic device101, as illustrated inFIG.3A. In case input of selecting the notification310is received, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may determine the attribute of a group to which the external electronic device belongs.

In operation1330, in response to reception of the request in operation1320, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may determine whether the number of times of phone number-based communication between the electronic device101and the external electronic device (e.g., the number of times of receiving/making a call (e.g., a voice call, video call), the number of times of receiving/sending a text message (SMS), and/or the number of times of receiving/sending an SNS message) is greater than or equal to a predetermined number of times. The electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may perform operation1330by determining whether the number of times communication for each of a plurality of types of communication (e.g., a phone call, a text message (SMS), an SNS message) is greater than or equal to a predetermined number of times, or by summing the number of times communication of the plurality of types of communication and determining whether the sum is greater than or equal to a predetermined number of times.

In operation1340, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may determine, based at least on a determination result of operation1330, the attribute of the group to which at least one external electronic device belongs. In case that the number of times communication is performed between at least one external electronic device and the electronic device101is greater than or equal to a predetermined number of times, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may determine the type of the group to which the external electronic device belongs as a third type of group (e.g., a sustainable group capable of sharing only public data) or a fourth type of group (e.g., a sustainable group capable of sharing public data and privacy data). In case the number of times communication is performed between the external electronic device and the electronic device101is less than the predetermined number of times, the electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may determine the type of a group to which the external electronic device belongs as a first type of group (e.g., an instant group capable of sharing only public data) or a second type of group (e.g., an instant group capable of sharing public data and privacy data).

The electronic device101according to an embodiment of the disclosure may display an indicator indicating at least one external electronic device according to the determined attribute in operation1350.