Apparatus and method for gamification of sensor data interpretation in smart home

An apparatus and method for correlating events in a smart home system as a pattern. The apparatus and method include collecting from smart home devices, state change events of the smart home system, determining whether a series of the collected state change events are a known pattern, requesting, when the series of the collected state change events is an unknown pattern, users of the smart home system to identify what caused the collected state change events, and judging, by the smart home users, a best reason among the identified causes of the collected state change events.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method interpretation of raw data produced by a Smart Home system. The Smart Home raw data is presented to users who define an event that occurs when the data is presented and in return receives a reward for their input. Through repetition of a data/definition sequence the Smart Home is able to provide meaningful interpretation of raw data.

BACKGROUND

Currently, Smart Home devices generate a large volume of data. A typical smart home comprises a wide variety of sensors, continuously sampling temperature, pressure, EM field, light, motion, air quality, sound, humidity, and the like. Each sensor is producing an infinite sequence of sampling data, which is transmitted to a central gateway.

The central gateway stores the raw data and the raw data may be retrieved by a user or administrator.

Accordingly, an apparatus and a method thereof that solicits input from users in a vicinity of the Smart Home when changes occur in the raw data produced by Smart Home Devices and rewarding the users for their input.

SUMMARY

Aspects of the present disclosure are to address at least the above-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a system and method to provide meaningful interpretation of raw data in a smart home system.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, a method correlating events in a smart home system as a pattern is provided. The method includes collecting from smart home devices state change events of the smart home system, determining whether a series of the collected state change events are a known pattern, requesting, when the series of the collected state change events is an unknown pattern, that users of the smart home system identify what caused the collected state change events, and judging, by the smart home users, a best reason among the identified causes of the collected state change events.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, a gateway apparatus of a smart home system is provided. The apparatus includes a gamification module configured to collect from smart home devices state change events of the smart home system, to determine whether a series of the collected state change events are a known pattern, to request, when the series of the collected state change events is an unknown pattern, users of the smart home system to identify what caused the collected state change events, and to judge, by the smart home users, a best reason among the identified causes of the collected state change events.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Detailed descriptions of various aspects of the present disclosure will be discussed below with reference to the attached drawings. The descriptions are set forth as examples only, and shall not limit the scope of the present disclosure.

Unless defined differently, all terms used in the present disclosure, including technical or scientific terms, have meanings that are understood generally by a person having ordinary skill in the art. Ordinary terms that may be defined in a dictionary should be understood to have the meaning consistent with their context, and unless clearly defined in the present disclosure, should not be interpreted to be excessively idealistic or formalistic.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, an electronic device may include communication functionality. For example, an electronic device may be a smart phone, a tablet Personal Computer (PC), a mobile phone, a video phone, an e-book reader, a desktop PC, a laptop PC, a netbook PC, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a Portable Multimedia Player (PMP), an MP3 player, a mobile medical device, a camera, a wearable device (e.g., a Head-Mounted Device (HMD), electronic clothes, electronic braces, an electronic necklace, an electronic appcessory, an electronic tattoo, or a smart watch), and/or the like.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, an electronic device may be a smart home appliance with communication functionality. A smart home appliance may be, for example, a television, a Digital Video Disk (DVD) player, an audio, a refrigerator, an air conditioner, a vacuum cleaner, an oven, a microwave oven, a washer, a dryer, an air purifier, a set-top box, a TV box (e.g., Samsung HomeSync™, Apple TV™, or Google TV™), a gaming console, an electronic dictionary, an electronic key, a camcorder, an electronic picture frame, and/or the like.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, an electronic device may be a medical device (e.g., Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) device, a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) device, Computed Tomography (CT) device, an imaging device, or an ultrasonic device), a navigation device, a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, an Event Data Recorder (EDR), a Flight Data Recorder (FDR), an automotive infotainment device, a naval electronic device (e.g., naval navigation device, gyroscope, or compass), an avionic electronic device, a security device, an industrial or consumer robot, and/or the like.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, an electronic device may be furniture, part of a building/structure, an electronic board, electronic signature receiving device, a projector, various measuring devices (e.g., water, electricity, gas or electro-magnetic wave measuring devices), and/or the like that include communication functionality.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, an electronic device may be any combination of the foregoing devices. In addition, it will be apparent to one having ordinary skill in the art that an electronic device according to various embodiments of the present disclosure is not limited to the foregoing devices.

FIG. 1illustrates a network environment including an electronic device according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIG. 1, a network environment100includes an electronic device101. The electronic device101may include a bus110, a processor120, a memory130, an Input/Output (I/O) interface140, a display150, a communication interface160, a gamification module170, and/or the like.

The bus110may be circuitry that connect the foregoing components and allow communication between the foregoing components. For example, the bus110may connect components of the electronic device101so as to allow control messages and/or other information to be communicated between the connected components.

The processor120may, for example, receive instructions from other components (e.g., the memory130, the I/O interface140, the display150, the communication interface160, the gamification module170, and/or the like), interpret the received instructions, and execute computation or data processing according to the interpreted instructions.

The memory130may, for example, store instructions and/or data that are received from, and/or generated by, other components (e.g., the memory130, the I/O interface140, the display150, the communication interface160, the gamificationn module170, and/or the like). For example, the memory130may include programming modules such as a kernel131, a middleware132, an Application Programming Interface (API)133, an application134, and/or the like. Each of the foregoing programming modules may include a combination of at least two of software, firmware, or hardware.

The kernel131may control or manage system resources (e.g., the bus110, the processor120, the memory130, and/or the like) that may be used in executing operations or functions implemented in other programming modules such as, for example, the middleware132, the API133, the application134, and/or the like. The kernel131may provide an interface for allowing or otherwise facilitating the middleware132, the API133, the application134, and/or the like, to access individual components of electronic device101.

The middleware132may be a medium through which the kernel131may communicate with the API133, the application134, and/or the like to send and receive data. The middleware132may control (e.g., scheduling, load balancing, and/or the like) work requests by one or more applications134. For example, the middleware132may control work requests by one or more applications134by assigning priorities for using system resources (e.g., the bus110, the processor120, the memory130, and/or the like) of electronic device101to the one or more applications134.

The API133may be an interface that may control functions that the application134may provide at the kernel131, the middleware132, and/or the like. For example, the API133may include at least an interface or a function (e.g., command) for file control, window control, video processing, character control, and/por the like.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the application134may include a Short Message Service (SMS) application, a Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) application, an email application, a calendar application, an alarm application, a health care application (e.g., an exercise amount application, a blood sugar level measuring application, and/or the like), an environmental information application (e.g., an application that may provide atmospheric pressure, humidity, temperature information, and/or the like), an instant messaging application, a call application, an internet browsing application, a gaming application, a media playback application, an image/video capture application, a file management application, and/or the like. In addition to or as an alternative to, the application134may be an application that is associated with information exchange between the electronic device101and an external electronic device (e.g., electronic device104). As an example, the application134that is associated with the information exchange may include a notification relay application that may provide the external electronic device with a certain type of information, a device management application that may manage the external electronic device, and/or the like.

As an example, the notification relay application may include a functionality that provides notification generated by other applications at electronic device101(e.g., the SMS/MMS application, the email application, the health care application, the environmental information application, the instant messaging application, the call application, the internet browsing application, the gaming application, the media playback application, the image/video capture application, the file management application, and/or the like) to an external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device104). In addition to or as an alternative to, the notification relay application may provide, for example, receive notification from an external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device104), and may provide the notification to a user.

As an example, the device management application may manage enabling or disabling of functions associated with least a portion of an external electronic device (e.g., the external electronic device itself, or one or more components of the external electronic device) in communication with electronic device101, controlling of brightness (or resolution) of a display of the external electronic device, an application operated at, or a service (e.g., a voice call service, a messaging service, and/or the like) provided by, the external electronic device, and/or the like.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, as an example, the application134may include one or more applications that are determined according to a property (e.g., type of electronic device, and/or the like) of the external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device104). For example, if the external electronic device is an mp3 player, the application134may include one or more applications related to music playback. As another example, if the external electronic device is a mobile medical device, the application134may be a health care-related application. According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the application134may include at least one of an application that is preloaded at the electronic device101, an application that is received from an external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device104, a server106, and/or the like), and/or the like.

The I/O interface140may, for example, receive instruction and/or data from a user. The I/O interface140may send the instruction and/or the data, via the bus110, to the processor120, the memory130, the communication interface160, the gamification module170, and/or the like. For example, the I/O interface140may provide data associated with user input received via a touch screen to the processor120. The I/O interface140may, for example, output instructions and/or data received via the bus110from the processor120, the memory130, the communication interface160, the gamification module170, and/or the like, via an I/O device (e.g., a speaker, a display, and/or the like). For example, the I/O interface140may output voice data (e.g., processed using the processor120) via a speaker.

The display150may display various types of information (e.g., multimedia, text data, and/or the like) to the user. As an example, the display150may display a Graphical User Interface (GUI) with which a user may interact with the electronic device101.

The communication interface160may provide communication between electronic device101and one or more external electronic devices (e.g., the electronic device104, the server106, and/or the like). For example, the communication interface160may communicate with the external electronic device by establishing a connection with a network162using wireless or wired communication. As an example, wireless communication with which the communication interface160may communicate may be at least one of, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Near Field Communication (NFC), Global Positioning System (GPS), cellular communication (e.g., Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE Advanced (LTE-A), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Wideband-CDMA (WDCMA), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Wireless Broadband (WiBro), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), and/or the like), Infrared Data Association (IrDA) technology, and/or the like. As an example, wired communication with which the communication interface160may communicate may be at least one of, for example, Universal Serial Bus (USB), High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), Recommended Standard 232 (RS-232), Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS), Ethernet, and/or the like.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the network162may be a telecommunications network. As an example, the telecommunications network may include at least one of a computer network, the Internet, the Internet of Things, a telephone network, and/or the like. According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, a protocol (e.g., a transport layer protocol, a data link layer protocol, a physical layer protocol, and/or the like) for communicating between electronic device101and an external electronic device may be supported by, for example, at least one of the application134, the API133, the middleware132, the kernel131, the communication interface160, and/or the like.

The gamification module170may, for example, process at least a part of information received from other components (e.g., the processor120, the memory130, the I/O interface140, the communication interface160, and/or the like), and provide various information, services, and/or the like to the user in various manners. For example, the gamification module170may control via the processor120or independently at least some of the functions of the electronic device101to communicate or connect to another electronic device (e.g., the electronic device104, the server106, and/or the like).FIG. 4will provide additional information regarding the gamification module170.

FIG. 2illustrates a simplified structure of a home network system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIG. 2, a home network system is configured to include home devices210having a control and communication function and a Home GateWay (HGW)220. The home devices210are located inside (or outside) a house, and include smart appliances212, security devices214, lighting devices216, energy devices218, and the like. For example, the smart appliances312correspond to a Television (TV), an air-conditioner, a refrigerator, a washing machine, a robot-cleaner, a humidifier, and the like. The security devices214correspond to a door-lock, a security camera, a Closed Circuit Television (CCTV), and a security sensor that senses a contact, a sound, a movement, and the like, the lighting devices216correspond to a Light Emitting Diode (LED), a lamp, and the like, and the energy devices318may correspond to a heater, a power meter, a power socket, an electrical outlet, a multiple-tap, and the like. In addition, the home devices210may include a Personal Computer (PC), an IP camera, an Internet phone, a wired/wireless phone, a mobile phone used in a home, a curtain or blind that may be electrically controlled, and the like.

The home devices210may be capable of performing communication with the home gateway220according to a wired or wireless communication scheme, and may be configured to receive a control command from the home gateway120, to operate based on the control command, and to transmit requested information and/or data to the home gateway220.

The home gateway220may be embodied as an independent apparatus, or an apparatus equipped with a home gateway function. For example, the home gateway120may be embodied as a television, a cellular phone, a tablet computer, a set-top box, a robot cleaner, or a personal computer. The home gateway220may be equipped with corresponding communication modules for performing communication with the home devices210based on a wired or wireless communication scheme, so as to register and store information associated with the home devices210, to manage and control operations, supportable functions, and states of the home devices210, and to collect and store required information from the home devices210. Particularly, the home gateway220may be connected with a data network such as the Internet, that is, an IP network230, and allows a connection by a communication terminal through the Internet230and transfers a control signal received from the communication terminal to a corresponding home device. Also, the home gateway220may communicate with the communication terminal using a wireless communication scheme such as WiFi (Wireless Fidelity), Zigbee, Bluetooth, an NFC (Near Field Communication), and z-wave.

The home network system configured as described above may provide a home entertainment service, such as an Internet TV (IPTV) through the Internet230, a Video on Demand (VoD) and the like, a home data communication service such as data sharing, Voice over IP (VoIP), a video phone, and the like, and a home automation service such as remote control of an electrical appliance, a remote meter reading, crime prevention, disaster prevention and the like. That is, the home network system may connect all types of home devices used inside and outside a house through a single network for a control.

Meanwhile, a user may connect with a home gateway included in the home network system from the outside of the house using a communication terminal such as a mobile terminal, or may remotely connect with each home device through the home gateway. The mobile terminal may be, for example, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) including a communication function, a Smart Phone, a feature phone, a tablet Personal Computer (PC), a notebook and the like, and may access a home network system directly or through a provider's network and the Internet.

FIG. 3illustrates a simplified configuration of a smart home system that is capable of connecting with a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIG. 3, the home devices310in the home network system connects with the home gateway320through a wired or wireless communication scheme. The home gateway320may connect with a wired network330such as the Internet. A registered mobile terminal350may connect with a wireless network340including a wireless access network and a provider core network, and may access the home gateway420through the wired network330. A wireless network340may be a 2nd Generation (2G) or 3G cellular communication system, 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), a 4G communication system, Long-Term Evolution (LTE), World Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), and the like. Also, the mobile terminal350may directly communicate with the home gateway420using a wireless communication scheme such as WiFi, Zigbee, Bluetooth, an NFC, and z-wave. The mobile terminal350may directly communicate with the home devices310via NFC, Bluetooth, and the like.

FIG. 4illustrates a home gateway of a smart home system that according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5Cillustrate a mobile device receiving information from a gamification module according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

The smart home gateway320receives information from the home devices310. That is, one of the home devices310, for example, a refrigerator in smart appliances212(SeeFIG. 2), detects an increase of temperature beyond a threshold amount and sends raw data to the home gateway320indicating the temperature increase and the data is stored in the storage409.

Shortly thereafter, another home device310, for example, a thermostat of energy devices218, detects a decrease of temperature beyond a threshold amount and sends raw data to the home gateway320indicating the temperature decrease in for example, a kitchen of the smart home.

Each of these events is detected by the gamification module411. The gamification module411has the correlation module413determine whether there is correlation between these two events. The correlation module413determines that there is no known correlation. The gamification module411in response sends a game question to a mobile terminal500to define what has occurred in the kitchen to cause the temperature within the refrigerator to increase and the temperature within the kitchen to decrease.

While the mobile terminal500is illustrated as a single mobile terminal, it will be understood that the mobile terminal may be a plurality of mobile terminals belonging to any individual with rights or access to an area where the smart home system is installed. In a typical situation, this would include all family members in a household where the smart home system is installed. However, if there is a housekeeper working in the home, he or she may be included in the group with rights or access to the smart home system via their mobile terminal500.

Additionally, an individual may have rights to a plurality of different smart home systems. Thus, when an individual has multiple homes or the individual's place of business has a smart home system, the individual's mobile terminal500may be registered with each smart home system.

Referring toFIG. 5A, the gamification module411sends a message to the mobile device500. The mobile device displays the message “Refrigerator temp increased 15” and “Kitchen temp decreased 3”, “Please enter reason?”501. The mobile device500may also displays an input field503for entering text with a response to the query. It will be understood that if this is not the first time such a series of invents has occurred or there are multiple reasons given, the input field may be a pull down menu defining the multiple options for input based upon past events.

Referring toFIG. 5B, the user of the mobile device500enters the reason “Refrigerator door open” in the input field503and hits the carriage return. The mobile device500transmits the reason back to the gateway.

Referring toFIG. 5C, the user of the mobile device500receives information on compensation505or judgment507. That is when each mobile device500registered with the smart home system receives a request to submit a reason the smart home events occurred, each user enters the reason they considered to be the best of the most likely reason the sequence of change states events of the smart home system occurred. In response to each user entering the best reason, each other user gets to judge the other user's reason. Based upon the collective judgment, one reason may be considered the beast reason. In response to this, a user may receive the judgment507, for example, three stars or be compensated with money, tokens, points or other compensation.

FIG. 6is a flowchart of a method of an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIG. 6, a gateway of a smart home system may collect from smart home devices state change events of a smart home system in operation601. That is, the smart home system ofFIG. 2collects information on each of the group of devices, the smart appliances212, the security devices214, the lighting devices216, the energy devices218, and the like. The state change events indicate when there is a change in the state of the device or the surrounding environment. The state change events are stored by the smart home gateway.

In operation603, the gateway of the smart home system may determine whether a series of the collected state change events are a known pattern. That is, the gateway determines whether there are events which have been correlated or identified in the past. If the collected state change events have been identified in the past, it may be necessary to determine that the smart home systems trusts the identification the collected state change events. The trust factor of the identification of the collected state change events may be determined by the number of users who have identified the collected state change events or the number of time collected state change events have been repeated and identified.

In operation605, when the series of the collected state change events is an unknown pattern, request users of the smart home system to identify what caused the collected state change events request. That is, the gateway transmits to a gamification application (hereinafter app) on the user's mobile device500a request to identify the collected state change events. The gamification app displays the information and request the user enter information identifying the collected state change events. Each of the mobile devices500transmits this information back to the gateway to the gamification module411.

In operation605, the gateway transmits the each user's identified collected state change events to the other user's of the smart home system and they each vote on the best identification of the collected state change events.

FIG. 7Ais a graph of the increased probability an event has been correctly characterized as an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIG. 7A, a graph701indicates a trustworthiness or trust factor of identified collected change state events. The graph indicates that as the number of sets of collected change state events increases, the trustworthiness of the identified collected change state events increases as wither the number of identifications increases or the number of users who have identified the collected change state events increases.

Thus, the identified collected change state events that have been repeatedly identified over a period of weeks705increases, the trustworthiness of the identification increases. Likewise, if every user of the smart home system makes the same identification of the collected change state events, the identified collected change state events may be considered trustworthy at point703. Such a determination of a threshold for when the identified collected change state events are considered trustworthy and therefore need not be repeated, is made by a system administrator. However, it will be understood that such a trustworthiness of this type only gives higher confidence of this particular dataset at that point in time. As such further repetition is required, since the sensor data may have noise, the more datasets to be identified to the pattern, the more robust the trustworthiness will be. Until the robustness reaches a threshold, then the system can confirm this is a known trustworthy pattern.

FIG. 7Bis an illustration of location information that changes a weight given when judging identified change stated events in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIG. 7B, a location710of a smart home system is defined. Point711is the location where smart home devices that collected change state events are located. Points713and715indicate users who are located within the home of the smart home system. Point719indicates a user of the smart home system who is not located within the home when the change state events are collected.

As the users at points713and715are located within the home, there judgment is given greater weight than the user at point719. Likewise, the user at point715is closer to the smart home system devices at point711and his or her judgment is considered more reliable than the user at point713. Thus, when the gamification module of the gateway judges which user to trust more, an increased weight is given to the user's proximity to the actual change state events.

FIG. 8illustrates a block diagram of hardware according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIG. 8, hardware801may be, for example, a part or all of the electronic device101. Referring toFIG. 8, the hardware801may include one or more Application Processors (AP)810, a communication module820, a Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) card824, a memory830, a sensor module840, an input module850, a display module860, an interface870, an audio module880, a camera module891, a power management module895, a battery896, an indicator897, a motor898, and/or the like.

The AP810may control one or more hardware or software components that are connected to AP810, perform processing or computation of data (including multimedia data), and/or the like. As an example, the AP810may be implemented as a System-on-Chip (SoC). The AP810may include a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) (not shown).

The communication module820(e.g., the communication interface160) may transmit and receive data in communications between the electronic device101and other electronic devices (e.g., the electronic device104, the server106, and/or the like). As an example, the communication module820may include one or more of a cellular module821, a Wi-Fi module823, a Bluetooth module825, a GPS module827, a NFC module828, a Radio Frequency (RF) module829, and/or the like.

The cellular module821may provide services such as, for example, a voice call, a video call, a Short Messaging Service (SMS), internet service, and/or the like, via a communication network (e.g., LTE, LTE-A, CDMA, WCDMA, UMTS, WiBro, GSM, and/or the like). As an example, the cellular module821may differentiate and authorize electronic devices within a communication network using a Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) card (e.g., the SIM card824). According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the cellular module821may perform at least a part of the functionalities of the AP810. For example, the cellular module821may perform at least a part of multimedia control functionality.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the communication interface820and/or the cellular module821may include a Communication Processor (CP). As an example, the cellular module821may be implemented as SoC.

AlthoughFIG. 8illustrates components such as the cellular module821(e.g., CP), the memory830, the power management module895as components that are separate from the AP810, according to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the AP810may include, or be integrated with, one or more of the foregoing components (e.g., the cellular module821).

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the AP810, the cellular module821(e.g., CP), and/or the like, may process instructions or data received from at least one of non-volatile memory or other components by loading in volatile memory. The AP810, the cellular module821, the communication interface820, and/or the like, may store at non-volatile memory at least one of data that is received from at least one of other components or data that is generated by at least one of the other components.

Each of the Wi-Fi module823, the Bluetooth module825, the GPS module827, the NFC module828, and/or the like may, for example, include one or more processors that may process data received or transmitted by the respective modules. AlthoughFIG. 8illustrates the cellular module821, the Wi-Fi module823, the Bluetooth module825, the GPS module827, and the NFC module828as separate blocks, according to various embodiments of the present disclosure, any combination (e.g., two or more) of the cellular module821, the Wi-Fi module823, the Bluetooth module825, the GPS module827, the NFC module828, and/or the like may be included in an Integrated Chip (IC) or an IC package. For example, at least some of the processors corresponding to the respective the cellular module821, the Wi-Fi module823, the Bluetooth module825, the GPS module827, the NFC module828, and/or the like, may be implemented as a single SoC. For example, a CP corresponding to the cellular module821and a Wi-Fi processor corresponding to Wi-Fi module823may be implemented as a single SoC.

The RF module829may, for example, transmit and receive RF signals. Although not shown, the RF module829may include a transceiver, a Power Amp Module (PAM), a frequency filter, a Low Noise Amplifier (LNA), and/or the like. The RF module834may include one or more components for transmitting and receiving Electro-Magnetic (EM) waves (e.g., in free space or the like) such as, for example, conductors or conductive wires. AlthoughFIG. 8illustrates that the cellular module821, the Wi-Fi module823, the Bluetooth module825, the GPS module827, and the NFC module828are sharing one RF module829, according to various embodiments of the present disclosure, at least one of the cellular module821, the Wi-Fi module823, the Bluetooth module825, the GPS module827, the NFC module828, and/or the like may transmit and receive RF signals via a separate RF module.

The SIM card824may be a card implementing a SIM, and may be configured to be inserted into a slot disposed at a specified location of the electronic device. The SIM card824may include a unique identifier (e.g., Integrated Circuit Card IDentifier (ICCID)) subscriber information (e.g., International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI)), and/or the like.

The memory830(e.g., memory130) may include an internal memory832, an external memory834, or a combination thereof.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the internal memory832may be, for example, at least one of volatile memory (e.g., Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) or Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM)), non-volatile memory (e.g., One Time Programmable Read Only Memory (OTPROM), Programmable Read Only Memory (PROM), Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory (EPROM), Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM), mask Read Only Memory (ROM), flash ROM, NAND flash memory, NOR flash memory), and/or the like.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the internal memory832may be a Solid State Drive (SSD). As an example, the external memory834may be a flash drive (e.g., Compact Flash (CF drive), Secure Digital (SD), micro Secure Digital (micro-SD), mini Secure Digital (mini-SD), extreme Digital (xD), Memory Stick, and/or the like). The external memory834may be operatively coupled to electronic device801via various interfaces. According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the electronic device801may include recording devices (or recording media) such as, for example, Hard Disk Drives (HDD), and/or the like.

The sensor module840may measure physical/environmental properties detect operational states associated with electronic device801, and/or the like, and convert the measured and/or detected information into signals such as, for example, electric signals or electromagnetic signals. As an example, the sensor module840may include at least one of a gesture sensor840A, a gyro sensor840B, an atmospheric pressure sensor840C, a magnetic sensor840D, an accelerometer840E, a grip sensor840F, a proximity sensor840G, an RGB sensor840H, a biometric sensor840I, a temperature/humidity sensor840J, a luminosity sensor840K, a Ultra Violet (UV) sensor840M, and/or the like. The sensor module840may detect the operation state of the electronic device and/or measure physical properties, and convert the detected or measured information into electrical signals. Additionally or alternatively, the sensor module840may also include, for example, an electrical-nose sensor (not shown), an electromyography (EMG) sensor (not shown), an electroencephalogram (EEG) sensor (not shown), an infrared (IR) sensor (not shown), an eye-scanning sensor (e.g., iris sensor) (not shown), a fingerprint sensor, and/or the like. The sensor module840may also include control circuitry for controlling one or more sensors included therein.

The input module850may include a touch panel852, a (digital) pen sensor854, a key856, an ultrasonic input device858, and/or the like.

As an example, the touch panel852may detect touch input using capacitive, resistive, infrared, ultrasonic methods, and/or the like. The touch panel852may also include a touch panel controller (not shown). As an example, a capacitive-type touch panel may detect proximity inputs (e.g. hovering input) in addition to, or as an alternative to, physical touch inputs. The touch panel852may also include a tactile layer. According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the touch panel852may provide haptic feedback to the user using the tactile layer.

As an example, the (digital) pen sensor854may be implemented using methods identical to or similar to receiving a touch input from a user, or using a separate detection sheet (e.g., a digitizer).

As an example, the key856may be a keypad, a touch key, and/or the like.

As an example, the ultrasonic input device858may be a device configured to identify data by detecting, using a microphone (e.g., microphone888), ultrasonic signals generated by a device capable of generating the ultrasonic signal. The ultrasonic input device858may detect data wirelessly.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the electronic device801may receive user input from an external device (e.g., a network, computer or server) connected to the electronic device801using the communication module820.

The display module860(e.g., display150) may include a panel862, a hologram device864, a projector866, and/or the like. As an example, the panel862may be, for example, a Liquid-Crystal Display (LCD), an Active-Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode (AM-OLED) display, and/or the like. As an example, the panel862may be configured to be flexible, transparent, and/or wearable. The panel862and the touch panel852may be implemented as a single module. The hologram device864may provide a three-dimensional image. For example, the hologram device864may utilize the interference of light waves to provide a three-dimensional image in empty space. The projector866may provide image by projecting light on a surface (e.g., a wall, a screen, and/or the like). As an example, the surface may be positioned internal or external to electronic device801. According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the display module860may also include a control circuitry for controlling the panel862, the hologram device864, the projector866, and/or the like.

The interface870may include, for example, one or more interfaces for a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI)872, a Universal Serial Bus (USB)874, a projector876, or a D-subminiature (D-sub)878, and/or the like. As an example, the interface870may be part of the communication interface820. Additionally or alternatively, the interface870may include, for example, one or more interfaces for Mobile High-definition Link (MHL), Secure Digital (SD)/MultiMedia Card (MMC), Infrared Data Association (IrDA), and/or the like.

The audio module880may encode/decode sound into electrical signal, and vice versa. According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, at least a portion of audio module880may be part of the I/O interface140. As an example, the audio module880may encode/decode voice information that is input into, or output from, the speaker882, the receiver884, the earphone886, the microphone888, and/or the like.

The camera module891may capture still images and/or video. According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the camera module891may include one or more image sensors (e.g., front sensor module, rear sensor module, and/or the like) (not shown), an Image Signal Processor (ISP) (not shown), or a flash (e.g., Light-Emitting Diode (flash LED), xenon lamp, and/or the like) (not shown).

The power management module895may manage electrical power of the electronic device801. Although not shown, the power management module895may include, for example, a Power Management Integrated Circuit (PMIC), a charger Integrated Circuit (charger IC), a battery gauge, a fuel gauge, and/or the like.

As an example, the PMIC may be disposed in an integrated circuit or an SoC semiconductor. The charging method for the electronic device801may include wired or wireless charging. The charger IC may charge a battery, may prevent excessive voltage or excessive current from a charger from entering the electronic device801, and/or the like. According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the charger IC may include at least one of a wired charger IC or a wireless charger IC. As an example, the wireless charger IC may be a magnetic resonance type, a magnetic induction type, an electromagnetic wave type, and/or the like. As an example, the wireless charger IC may include circuits such as a coil loop, a resonance circuit, a rectifier, and/or the like.

As an example, the battery gauge may measure a charge level, a voltage while charging, a temperature of battery896, and/or the like.

As an example, the battery896may supply power to the electronic device801. As an example, the battery896may be a rechargeable battery, a solar battery, and/or the like.

The indicator897may indicate one or more states (e.g., boot status, message status, charge status, and/or the like) of the electronic device801or a portion thereof (e.g., AP810). Motor898may convert an electrical signal into a mechanical vibration.

Although not shown, the electronic device801may include one or more devices for supporting mobile television (mobile TV) (e.g., a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)), and/or the like. The devices for supporting mobile TV may support processing of media data compliant with, for example, Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB), Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB), media flow, and/or the like.

It will be appreciated that various embodiments of the present disclosure according to the claims and description in the specification can be realized in the form of hardware, software or a combination of hardware and software.

Any such software may be stored in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium stores one or more programs (software modules), the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by one or more processors in an electronic device, cause the electronic device to perform a method of the present disclosure.

While the disclosure has been shown and described with reference to various embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. Various embodiments of the present disclosure are described as examples only and are noted intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure should be understood as to include any and all modifications that may be made without departing from the technical spirit of the present disclosure.