Abstract:
Provided is an external operation signal recognition system of a mobile communication terminal which includes an external operation signal generation apparatus separate from the mobile communication terminal for generating synch and operation signals; and an external operation signal recognition apparatus for receiving the synch signal, sensing the external operation signal through at least three operation signal sensing units, generating three dimensional (3D) coordinates corresponding to a position of the external operation signal generation apparatus using the received synch signal and the sensed external operation signal, and realizing the external operation signal using the generated 3D coordinates. Accordingly, a user can easily operate a 3D application without directly moving the mobile communication terminal.

Description:
PRIORITY  
       [0001]     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to an application entitled “External Operation Signal Recognition System of Mobile Communication Terminal” filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Nov. 2, 2005 and assigned Serial No. 2005-104633, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates generally to an external operation signal recognition system, and in particular, to an external operation signal recognition system of a mobile communication terminal.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     Currently, the development of application software technology has resulted in the expansion of the development of three dimensional (3D) applications realizing 3D games and virtual realities in mobile communication terminals.  
         [0006]     When a 3D application executes, for example, in a mobile communication terminal, a user usually performs an operation using a key input device such as a keypad or a touch panel. For example, the user moves a character in a game in a desired direction by using preset operation key(s) (e.g., top/bottom/left/right). In addition, the user controls the character in the game to perform a desired action by pressing a preset key. However, when the key input device is used, an operation signal for controlling a 3D character cannot be appropriately input. For example, when the user plays a racing game using a mobile communication terminal, the user can control a directional movement of a character using keys of the keypad. However, since a key of a desired direction is simply selected according to a conventional key input method, it is difficult for the user to easily control a character as desired, and thereby decreasing the user&#39;s desired interest in a game.  
         [0007]     Recently, a technique of running a 3D application by recognizing motion of a mobile communication terminal through the installation of an acceleration sensor for sensing spatial movement and a terrestrial magnetism sensor for sensing an orientation of the spatial movement in the mobile communication terminal has been developed and used.  
         [0008]     However, according to the above-described method, since 3D motion of a mobile communication terminal can be sensed only if a user moves the mobile communication terminal, it is inconvenient when the user runs a 3D application while watching a display status of the mobile communication terminal.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     An aspect of the present invention is to substantially solve at least the above described problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described herein below. Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention is to provide an external operation signal recognition system of a mobile communication terminal to recognize a 3D application operation using an external signal without moving the mobile communication terminal.  
         [0010]     According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an external operation signal recognition system of a mobile communication terminal, the system having an external operation signal generation apparatus separate form a mobile communication terminal for generating synch and operation signals; and an external operation signal recognition apparatus for receiving the synch signal, sensing the external operation signal through at least three operation signal sensing units, generating three dimensional (3D) coordinates corresponding to a position of the external operation signal generation apparatus using the received synch signal and the sensed external operation signal, and realizing the external operation signal using the generated 3D coordinates. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating an external operation signal recognition system of a mobile communication terminal according to the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating an arrangement of first to third operation signal sensing units and a synch signal receiver of the mobile communication terminal of  FIG. 1  according to the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate signal waveforms generated by an external operation signal generation apparatus of the mobile communication terminal of  FIG. 1  according to the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIGS. 4A  to  4 D illustrate signal waveforms sensed by an external operation signal recognition apparatus of the mobile communication terminal of  FIG. 1  according to the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  illustrates 3D coordinate information generated using a spherical coordinate system according to the present invention; and  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  illustrates coordinate information of a Cartesian coordinate system transformed from coordinate information of a spherical coordinate system according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0018]     Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described herein below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same or similar elements are denoted by the same reference numerals even though they are depicted in different drawings. In the following description, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail since they would obscure the invention in unnecessary detail.  
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating an external operation signal recognition system of a mobile communication terminal according to the present invention.  
         [0020]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the external operation signal recognition system of the mobile communication terminal includes an external operation signal generation apparatus  100  and an external operation signal recognition apparatus  200 .  
         [0021]     The external operation signal generation apparatus  100  is separately from the mobile communication terminal and includes an operation signal generator  110  and a synch signal generator  120 . The operation signal generator  110  and the synch signal generator  120  simultaneously generate signals. The operation signal generator  110  generates a preset operation signal, whereas the synch signal generator  120  generates a preset synch signal.  
         [0022]     Herein, a signal having a velocity of light, such as an infrared signal, is used as the synch signal, whereas a signal having a lower velocity than the synch signal, such as an ultrasonic wave signal, is used as the operation signal.  
         [0023]     The external operation signal recognition apparatus  200  can be included in the mobile communication terminal and includes a first operation signal sensing unit  210 , a second operation signal sensing unit  220 , a third operation signal sensing unit  230 , a synch signal receiver  240 , a coordinate information generator  250 , and an external operation signal recognition unit  260 .  
         [0024]     The first to third operation signal sensing units  210 ,  220 , and  230  together with the synch signal receiver  240  can be arranged within the mobile communication terminal.  FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the arrangement of the first to third operation signal sensing units  210 ,  220 , and  230  together with the synch signal receiver  240  of the mobile communication terminal according to the present invention. In  FIG. 2 , the first to third operation signal sensing units  210 ,  220 , and  230  and the synch signal receiver  240  are arranged at a front surface of the mobile communication terminal.  
         [0025]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the first to third operation signal sensing units  210 ,  220 , and  230  and the synch signal receiver  240  are arranged so that a 3D coordinate system (x, y, z) formed is with the synch signal receiver  240  at the center.  
         [0026]     In the present invention, the first and second operation signal sensing units  210  and  220 , respectively, are arranged on one axis separated by a distance R 0 , and the third operation signal sensing unit  230  is arranged on an axis perpendicular to the axis on which the first and second operation signal sensing units  210  and  220  are arranged. The synch signal receiver  240  is arranged in the center between the first and second operation signal sensing units  210  and  220 , respectively. The third operation signal sensing unit  230  can be arranged to be separated by the distance R 0  from the axis on which the first and second operation signal sensing units  210  and  220  are arranged.  
         [0027]     When the first to third operation signal sensing units  210 ,  220 , and  230  and the synch signal receiver  240  are arranged as described above, the 3D coordinate system (x, y, z) can be formed, where the synch signal receiver  240  is the origin, the axis formed by the first and second operation signal sensing units  210  and  220  is an X axis, the axis formed by the synch signal receiver  240  and the third operation signal sensing unit  230  is a Z axis, and an axis perpendicular to the X axis and the Z axis is a Y axis.  
         [0028]     The first to third operation signal sensing units  210 ,  220 , and  230 , arranged as described herein-above, sense the operation signal generated by the external operation signal generation apparatus  100 , and the synch signal receiver  240  receives the synch signal generated by the external operation signal generation apparatus  100 .  
         [0029]     A time difference occurs between a synch signal arrival time and an operation signal arrival time because the synch signal generated by the external operation signal generation apparatus  100  is transmitted as quickly as the velocity of light while the operation signal is transmitted at a lower velocity than the synch signal. Thus, time differences occur between a synch signal reception time of the synch signal receiver  240  and operation signal sensing times of the first to third operation signal sensing units  210 ,  220 , and  230 .  
         [0030]     In addition, since the first to third operation signal sensing units  210 ,  220 , and  230  are arranged at different locations, operation signal sensing time differences also occur between the first to third operation signal sensing units  210 ,  220 , and  230 .  
         [0031]     The time differences between the synch signal reception time of the synch signal receiver  240  and operation signal sensing times of the first to third operation signal sensing units  210 ,  220 , and  230  and the operation signal sensing time differences between the first to third operation signal sensing units  210 ,  220 , and  230  will be described herein below.  
         [0032]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate signal waveforms generated by the external operation signal generation apparatus  100  according to the present invention, and  FIGS. 4A  to  4 D illustrate signal waveforms sensed by the external operation signal recognition apparatus  200  according to the present invention.  
         [0033]     Referring to  FIGS. 3A and 3B ,  FIG. 3A  illustrates a waveform of the synch signal that is generated by the operation signal generator  110 , and  FIG. 3B  illustrates a waveform of the operation signal that is generated by the synch signal generator  120 . Since the synch signal of  FIG. 3A  is a signal having the same velocity of light, the synch signal is transmitted at a quicker rate.  
         [0034]     Since the operation signal of  FIG. 3B  is a signal having a lower velocity than the synch signal, the operation signal is transmitted at a slower rate. Thus, after the synch signal receiver  240  receives the synch signal of  FIG. 3A , each of the first to third operation signal sensing units  210 ,  220 , and  230  senses the operation signal of  FIG. 3B . Since the first to third operation signal sensing units  210 ,  220 , and  230  are arranged at different locations, each of the first to third operation signal sensing units  210 ,  220 , and  230  senses the operation signal at a different time depending on its location.  
         [0035]     Referring to  FIGS. 4A  to  4 D,  FIG. 4A  illustrates a waveform of the synch signal received by the synch signal receiver  240  of the external operation signal recognition apparatus  200 .  FIG. 4B  illustrates a waveform of the operation signal sensed by the first operation signal sensing unit  210 .  FIG. 4C  illustrates a waveform of the operation signal sensed by the second operation signal sensing unit  220 .  FIG. 4D  illustrates a waveform of the operation signal sensed by the third operation signal sensing unit  230 .  
         [0036]     The coordinate information generator  250  generates 3D coordinate information corresponding to a position of the external operation signal generation apparatus  100  using the time differences between the synch signal reception time of the synch signal receiver  240  and the operation signal sensing times of the first to third operation signal sensing units  210 ,  220 , and  230  and the operation signal sensing time differences between the first to third operation signal sensing units  210 ,  220 , and  230 .  
         [0037]     The coordinate information generator  250  generates 3D coordinate information in a spherical or cylindrical coordinate system using the spherical or cylindrical coordinate system and transforms the generated 3D coordinate information in the spherical or cylindrical coordinate system into a Cartesian coordinate system.  
         [0038]     Herein, the Cartesian coordinate system is a coordinate system, which is obtained by adding a Z axis to a XY planar coordinate system, in which a position is presented using coordinates (X, Y, Z). The cylindrical coordinate system is a coordinate system presented using a distance and an angle obtained by projecting a definition point onto an XY plane and a height from the XY plane to the definition point. The spherical coordinate system is a coordinate system presented using a distance from the origin to a position of a definition point, an angle between a line, which is formed by the origin and a point obtained by projecting the definition point on the XY plane, and the X axis, and an angle between a line, which is formed by the origin and the definition point, and the Z axis.  
         [0039]      FIG. 5  illustrates 3D coordinate information generated using the spherical coordinate system according to the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 5 , the coordinate information generator  250  calculates the position of the external operation signal generation apparatus  100  using the time differences between the synch signal reception time of the synch signal receiver  240  and the operation signal sensing times of the first to third operation signal sensing units  210 ,  220 , and  230  and the operation signal sensing time differences between the first to third operation signal sensing units  210 ,  220 , and  230 .  
         [0040]     The coordinate information generator  250  calculates a distance r from the origin O to the position of the external operation signal generation apparatus  100 , an angle θ between a line, which is formed by the origin θ and the position of the external operation signal generation apparatus  100 , and the Z axis, and an angle φ between a line, which is formed by the origin O and a point obtained by projecting the position of the external operation signal generation apparatus  100  on the XY plane, and the X axis.  
         [0041]     The coordinate information generator  250  generates 3D coordinate information P(r,θ,φ) in the spherical coordinate system using r, θ, and φ and transforms the generated 3D coordinate information P(r,θ,φ) in the spherical coordinate system to 3D coordinate information in the Cartesian coordinate system.  
         [0042]      FIG. 6  illustrates coordinate information in the Cartesian coordinate system transformed from coordinate information in the spherical coordinate system according to the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 6 , the coordinate information generator  250  transforms the 3D coordinate information P(r,θ,φ) in the spherical coordinate system to p(x,y,z) . Herein, x =r sin θ cos φ, y =r sin θ sin φ, and z =r cos θ.  
         [0043]     The transformed 3D coordinate information p(x,y,z) in the Cartesian coordinate system is input to the external operation signal recognition unit  260 .  
         [0044]     When the 3D coordinate information in the Cartesian coordinate system is input, the external operation signal recognition unit  260  recognizes an operation signal corresponding to the 3D coordinate information in the Cartesian coordinate system as an operation signal of the mobile communication terminal.  
         [0045]     That is, in the external operation signal recognition system according to the present invention, a motion of the external operation signal generation apparatus  100  is generated as 3D coordinates by receiving and sensing a synch signal and an operation signal generated by the external operation signal generation apparatus  100 , and the generated 3D coordinates is recognized as an operation signal of the mobile communication terminal.  
         [0046]     Using the external operation signal recognition system, an operation signal corresponding to a character input, drawing, or a musical instrument play can be recognized according to a motion of the external operation signal generation apparatus  100  by a user. In addition, using the external operation signal recognition system, different individual handwriting according to a motion of the external operation signal generation apparatus  100  by a user can be recognized and used for security and authentication information.  
         [0047]     As described herein-above, according to the present invention, a user can easily operate a 3D application without directly moving a mobile communication terminal. In addition, since the motion of the external operation signal generation apparatus is recognized as an operation signal of the mobile communication terminal, an external operation signal recognition method using the external operation signal generation apparatus is more user-friendly than a conventional operation signal recognition method using a keypad or a touch screen.  
         [0048]     Additionally, the user can perform a character input, drawing, or a musical instrument play by moving only the external operation signal generation apparatus, and an external operation signal recognition system can be used for mobile phone security and authentication by utilizing different individual handwriting.  
         [0049]     While the invention has been shown and described with reference to a certain preferred 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 invention as defined by the appended claims.