Patent Publication Number: US-2010130132-A1

Title: Short-range communication device and mobile terminal, and control system and method for the same

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority from and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2008-0118087, filed on Nov. 26, 2008, which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a short-range communication device and a mobile terminal wherein the short-range communication device is used to operate the mobile terminal for easy use thereof, and to a control system and method for the same. 
     2. Description of the Background 
     A mobile terminal is commonly used and may have various functions related to, for example, audio file playback through a MP3 player, image capture through a digital camera module, and mobile gaming or arcade gaming. 
     To generate input signals for control, a mobile terminal may employ a touch screen based-scheme to produce touch events or a keypad-based scheme to produce key inputs. These schemes may enable the user to readily control operation of the mobile terminal in various ways. However, these schemes require precise touch and click actions. For example, if a mobile terminal user has difficulty in precisely pressing a specific key of the keypad or in precisely touching a specific zone of the touch screen, the user may not be able to generate a desired input signal. This problem tends to become worse with miniaturization of mobile terminals. 
     Some mobile terminals may communicate with a headset or earpiece through short-range communication. For example, the mobile terminal may receive a user command from the headset or earpiece through infrared or Bluetooth® communication. A short-range communication device may be equipped with buttons for call, play, and power on and off, and may control the operation of the mobile terminal in response to the pressing of a particular button by the user. However, because such a short-range communication device is typically used while being worn over the ear, it may be not easy for the user to recognize the exact position of a desired button, making it difficult to wirelessly control or operate the mobile terminal. To control the operation of the mobile terminal, the user may have to take off the short-range communication device, press a button of the device, and put the device on again. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a mobile terminal and a control method for the same that enables a user to conveniently control the mobile terminal through a short-range communication device. 
     Additional features of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention disclose an apparatus including a mobile terminal and a communication device. The mobile terminal includes an input unit, a first communication unit, a storage unit, and a first control unit. The input unit is configured to generate an input signal. The first communication unit receives a motion signal from the communication device. The storage unit stores at least one application program configured to execute a first function in response to the input signal. The first control unit executes a second function according to the motion signal. 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention disclose a headset including a sensor unit, a control unit, a communication unit, a microphone, and a speaker. The sensor unit generates a sensing signal corresponding to a movement of the headset. The control unit analyzes the sensing signal and generates a motion signal corresponding to the sensing signal. The communication unit transmits the motion signal to a mobile terminal. The microphone receives an audio signal, and the speaker outputs an audio signal from the mobile terminal. 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention disclose a mobile terminal control system including a communication device and a mobile terminal. The communication device is configured to generate a motion signal corresponding to a movement of the communication device. The mobile terminal is configured to execute a first function, and to is execute a second function associated with the motion signal and the first function. 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention disclose a method including forming a communication channel between a mobile terminal and a communication device, and executing a first function of the mobile terminal. The method includes activating a sensor unit of the communication device, generating a motion signal corresponding to movement of the communication device, and executing a second function associated with the motion signal and the first function. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a mobile terminal and a short-range communication device according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates sensing of movement by an acceleration sensor according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates sensing of rotational motion by an acceleration sensor according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a flow chart illustrating a control method for a mobile terminal is according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS 
     The invention is described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the exemplary embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these exemplary embodiments are provided so that this disclosure is thorough, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, the size and relative sizes of layers and regions may be exaggerated for clarity. Like reference numerals in the drawings denote like elements. 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention may be described herein by the use of Bluetooth® communication as an example of short-range communication. However, any suitable communication mechanism may be used for short-range communications. Exemplary embodiments are not limited to Bluetooth® communications. 
     Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a mobile terminal  100  and a short-range communication device  200  according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the mobile terminal  100  may include a radio frequency unit  111 , a touch screen  113  including a display section and a touch section, a storage unit  114 , a control unit  115  including an operation controller  126 , a first short-range communication unit  117 , a Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB) module  119 , an audio processing unit  121 , an image processing unit  123 , and a camera module  125 . The short-range communication device  200  may include a second short-range communication unit  131 , a storage unit  133 , a control unit  135  including a motion recognizer  139 , a sensor unit  137 , a speaker  143 , and an input unit  141  including a microphone and buttons. Examples of a short-range communication device  200  include, for example, a headset or an earpiece. 
     A mobile terminal user may execute an application program related to a function selected by the user. When the mobile terminal  100  executes the application program, an operation of the mobile terminal  100  may be controlled according to the motion of the short-range communication device  200  sensed by the sensor unit  137 . 
     Hereinafter, a configuration of the short-range communication device  200  is described. 
     The sensor unit  137  may include an acceleration sensor, a proximity sensor, and/or a microphone to sense movement of the short-range communication device  200 . The sensor unit  137  may sense forces applied to the short-range communication device  200 , sounds, and may acquire proximity information. Sensed data may be sent to the control unit  135 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the acceleration sensor may detect movement of the short-range communication device  200  in multiple directions. For example, the acceleration sensor may detect movement towards the up, down, left, right, front, and rear directions. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the acceleration sensor may also detect rotational movement, for example, in a clockwise and/or counter clockwise direction relative to the x, y, and z axes. A proximity sensor may determine whether the user&#39;s body is within a sensing range. The sensor unit  137  may also, in general, include any sensor that can detect the movement of the short-range communication device  200 . 
     The control unit  135  may control the overall operation of the short-range is communication device  200 . The control unit  135  may include a motion recognizer  139  to receive a sensing signal from the sensor unit  137 , to determine a motion of the short-range communication device  200 , and to send the short-range communication device motion signal to the mobile terminal  100  through the second short-range communication unit  131 . For example, the motion recognizer  139  may analyze signals collected by the acceleration sensor, proximity sensor, and microphone of the sensor unit  137 , determine the motion of the short-range communication device  200  (e.g., single tap, double tap, triple tap, moving of the user&#39;s head downwards and upwards, turning of the user&#39;s head from side to side, upward tap, or downward tap), and output a corresponding motion signal. The control unit  135  may activate a motion sensing function after receiving a proximity signal from the proximity sensor. The control unit  135  may control the power supply so that only the proximity sensor or the pressure sensor of the sensor unit  137  is turned on first. After a proximity signal is received from the proximity sensor or pressure sensor, the control unit  135  may turn on (e.g., provide power to) the remaining sensors including the acceleration sensor. When a first signal from the proximity sensor or pressure sensor and a second signal from the acceleration sensor are received simultaneously, the control unit  135  may regard the motion of the short-range communication device  200  as valid. 
     The second short-range communication unit  131  may provide an interface for data communication with a communication device through various short-range communication schemes such as Bluetooth® or infrared communications. The second short-range communication unit  131  may send and/or receive data to and from the mobile terminal  100  using, for example, Bluetooth® communication. 
     Next, a configuration of the mobile terminal  100  is described. 
     The radio frequency unit  111  may send and receive voice signals for calls, and is data for data communication under the control of the control unit  115 . The radio frequency unit  111  may include a radio frequency transmitter for upconverting the frequency of a signal to be transmitted and for amplifying the signal to be transmitted. The radio frequency unit  111  may also include a radio frequency receiver for low-noise amplifying a received signal and downconverting the frequency of the received signal. The radio frequency unit  111  may establish a communication channel to another mobile terminal to, for example, send and/or receive a voice signal and video signal through the communication channel. An audio signal received by the radio frequency unit  111  can be transmitted to the second short-range communication unit  131  of the short-range communication device  200 , and an audio signal from the short-range communication device  200  can be transmitted through the radio frequency unit  111  to another mobile terminal. For example, a microphone in the short-range communication device  200  can receive an audio signal from a user and the received user audio signal may be transmitted to the mobile terminal  100  through the second short-range communication unit  131 . The mobile terminal  100  may further transmit the user audio signal to another mobile terminal. A speaker  143  in the short-range communication device  200  can output an audio signal received from the mobile terminal  200  through the radio frequency unit  111 . The radio frequency unit  111  may be activated and deactivated by the control unit  115  according to a signal from the short-range communication device  200 . That is, an incoming call can be answered according to a motion signal received from the short-range communication device  200 . 
     The audio processing unit  121  may include a speaker to reproduce audio data related to a call, and a microphone to collect audio data, such as a voice signal related to a call. The audio processing unit  121  may perform various audio control operations including activation and deactivation of the speaker and microphone based on a short-range communication device is motion signal sent from the short-range communication device  200 , as described in TABLE 1. 
     The touch screen  113  may include a display section for output and a touch section for input. The touch screen  113  may include on-screen keys and function keys to receive alphanumeric information from the user and to set various functions, and may assign coordinate values to the keys. When a key is touched, the touch screen  113  may send a corresponding touch event signal to the control unit  115 . The function keys may include a direction key, a side key, and a short cut key, which are mapped to specific functions. The touch screen  113  may generate key signals for user settings and for controlling the mobile terminal  100 , and may send the generated key signals to the control unit  115 . The touch screen  113  may display various key images for manipulation of the mobile terminal  100  on the touch section of the touch screen  113 , and may identify a touched key by mapping a touch on the touch section to a key image on the display section. The touch screen  113  may generate a touch event corresponding to a touch event signal for selecting one of files stored in the storage unit  114 , a drag signal for moving the selected file, or an editing signal for editing the selected file. The touch screen  113  may send the touch event to the control unit  115 . The touch screen  113  may send a coordinate value of a touched location to the control unit  115 , and the control unit  115  may identify an image corresponding to the coordinate value and may perform a specific function mapped to the identified image. Key signals may be generated though the touch screen  113  as described above, and may also be generated though a keypad. 
     The display section of the touch screen  113  may output a screen associated with an activated function. For example, the display section may display a boot screen, idle screen, menu screen, call screen, DMB screen, browser screen, and/or camera preview screen. The display section may include a panel of liquid crystal display (LCD) devices, a LCD controller, is and may be connected to a memory for storing video data. If the panel has a touch screen capability, the display section may also act as an input means. The display section may output a screen associated with a function activated according to a user request. For example, in response to activation of a file playback program, the display section may output a screen associated with the file playback program. The display section may output a screen associated with an application program selected by the user, and display an icon for activation of the short-range communication device  200 . For example, in response to activation of the short-range communication device  200 , the display section may output a corresponding icon or image. The display section may output text or image information regarding control of a file playback program according to a short-range communication device motion signal from the short-range communication device  200 . The display section may not display the text or image information in the sleep state, and may display the text or image information in the activation state. 
     The storage unit  114  may store application programs for the operation of the mobile terminal  100 , a User Interface (UI) application program for touch screen capabilities, and an operation list used for controlling an operation according to a short-range communication device motion signal from the short-range communication device  200 . The operation list may include information regarding mappings between operations and short-range communication device motion signals with respect to running application programs. The same short-range communication device motion signals may initiate different operations depending upon the current application. For example, generation of a short-range communication device motion signal indicating ‘tap’ in response to arrival of an incoming call may cause the incoming call to be answered. Generation of a short-range communication device motion signal indicating ‘tap’ during music playback may cause the playback to be paused or resumed. 
     The control unit  115  may control the power supply to the mobile terminal  100 , activation of the mobile terminal components, and signal exchanges between the components. The control unit  115  may include the operation controller  126  to perform various control operations related to functions being executed according to a short-range communication device motion signal from the short-range communication device  200 . The control unit  115  may refer to the operation list stored in the storage unit  114  for the control operations related to functions being executed. For example, when a short-range communication device motion signal is received from the short-range communication device  200  during execution of a function, the operation controller  126  may search the operation list stored in the storage unit  114  for the function being executed. If the function being executed is listed in the operation list, the control unit  115  may control the function being executed according to the short-range communication device motion signal. 
     The first short-range communication unit  117  provides an interface for data communication with another communication device through various short-range communication schemes such as, for example, Bluetooth® or infrared communication. The first short-range communication unit  117  may send and/or receive data to and from the short-range communication device  200  through Bluetooth® communication. 
     The remaining components not described above, such as the DMB module  119 , may operate conventionally, and may be controlled by the control unit  115 , in part, according to a short-range communication device motion signal from the short-range communication device  200 , on the basis of the operation list illustrated in Table 1. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Situation 
                 Headset motion 
                 Action 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                 Reception of call 
                 Tap or Moving the head downwards 
                 Answer call 
               
               
                   
                 and upwards 
               
               
                   
                 Double tap or Turning the head from 
                 Reject call 
               
               
                   
                 side to side 
               
               
                   
                 Triple tap 
                 Mute/Unmute 
               
               
                   
                 Upward tap 
                 Sound volume up 
               
               
                   
                 Downward tap 
                 Sound volume down 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Call progress 
                 Tap 
                 Reception of a call 
                 Answer call 
               
               
                   
                   
                 3 way call 
                 Call transfer 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Double tap 
                 Same as Tap 
               
               
                   
                 Triple tap 
                 Mute/Unmute 
               
               
                 Yes/no popup 
                 Moving the head downwards and 
                 Display popup 
               
               
                 display 
                 upwards 
               
               
                   
                 Side-to-side tap or Turning the head 
                 No display of popup 
               
               
                   
                 from side to side 
               
               
                 Music playing 
                 Tap 
                 Play/Pause 
               
               
                   
                 Double tap 
               
               
                   
                 Leftward tap or Turning the head 
                 Previous song 
               
               
                   
                 leftwards 
               
               
                   
                 Rightward tap or Turning the head 
                 Next song 
               
               
                   
                 rightwards 
               
               
                   
                 Upward tap or Moving the head 
                 Sound volume up 
               
               
                   
                 upwards 
               
               
                   
                 Downward tap or Moving the head 
                 Sound volume down 
               
               
                   
                 downwards 
               
               
                   
                 Triple Tap 
                 Mute/Unmute 
               
               
                 DMB viewing 
                 Tap 
                 Screen capture 
               
               
                   
                 Double tap 
                 Start/Stop recording 
               
               
                   
                 Leftward tap or Turning the head 
                 Previous channel 
               
               
                   
                 leftwards 
               
               
                   
                 Rightward tap or Turning the head 
                 Next channel 
               
               
                   
                 rightwards 
               
               
                   
                 Upward tap or Moving the head 
                 Sound volume up 
               
               
                   
                 upwards 
               
               
                   
                 Downward tap or Moving the head 
                 Sound volume down 
               
               
                   
                 downwards 
               
               
                   
                 Triple Tap 
                 Mute/Unmute 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Camera 
                 Tap 
                 Photography 
                 Store immediately after 
               
               
                 previewing 
                   
                   
                 photographing 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Moving image 
                 Store immediately after starting and 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 stopping recording 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Double Tap 
                 Mode switching (photography/ 
               
               
                   
                 moving image) 
               
               
                 Web browsing 
                 Tap 
                 Zoom in 
               
               
                   
                 Double Tap 
                 Full screen display 
               
               
                   
                 Leftward tap or Turning the 
                 Right-to-left panning in enlarged 
               
               
                   
                 head leftwards 
                 state 
               
               
                   
                 Rightward tap or Turning the 
                 Left-to-right panning in enlarged 
               
               
                   
                 head rightwards 
                 state 
               
               
                   
                 Upward tap or Moving the head 
                 Upward panning in enlarged state 
               
               
                   
                 upwards 
               
               
                   
                 Downward tap or Moving the 
                 Downward panning in enlarged 
               
               
                   
                 head downwards 
                 state 
               
               
                 Photograph 
                 Tap 
                 Zoom in 
               
               
                 viewing 
                 Double Tap 
                 Full screen display 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Before 
                 Leftward tap or Turning the 
                 Previous 
               
               
                   
                 enlargement 
                 head leftwards 
                 photograph 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Rightward tap or Turning the 
                 Next photograph 
               
               
                   
                   
                 head rightwards 
               
               
                   
                 Enlarged state 
                 Leftward tap or Turning the 
                 Right-to-left 
               
               
                   
                   
                 head leftwards 
                 panning in enlarged 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 state 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Rightward tap or Turning the 
                 Left-to-right 
               
               
                   
                   
                 head rightwards 
                 panning in enlarged 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 state 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Upward tap or Moving the head 
                 Upward panning in 
               
               
                   
                   
                 upwards 
                 enlarged state 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Downward tap or Moving the 
                 Downward panning 
               
               
                   
                   
                 head downwards 
                 in enlarged state 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Next, a method for operating the mobile terminal  100  is described. 
       FIG. 4  is a flow chart illustrating a method for operating a mobile terminal  100  according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the mobile terminal  100  may connect to the short-range communication device  200  ( 101 ). The connection may be established according to the employed specification or technology. For example, if the mobile terminal  100  and the short-range communication device  200  have a Bluetooth® short-range communication module, a short-range communication channel can be established between the mobile terminal  100  and the short-range communication device  200  through Bluetooth® communication. After a communication channel is established, the mobile terminal  100  and the short-range communication device  200  may perform an initialization procedure. 
     The mobile terminal  100  may execute a first function selected by a user key input through the touch screen  113  ( 103 ). The first function may be a function related to call processing, text or image display, DMB reception, camera photographing, photograph viewing, and/or web browsing, as noted in TABLE 1. 
     The mobile terminal  100  may collect information for executing the first function according to a short-range communication device motion signal received from the short-range communication device  200 . For example, the mobile terminal  100  may extract a portion of the operation list stored in the storage unit  114 . If the first function is a camera-related function, the mobile terminal  100  may activate the camera module and attempt to control the preview operation of the camera module according to the short-range communication device motion signal. The mobile terminal  100  may then extract a camera-related portion of the operation list, and may deliver the extracted information to the operation controller  126 . 
     The sensor unit  137  of the short-range communication device  200  may detect sounds, motion of the user wearing the short-range communication device  200 , proximity information, and any force applied to the short-range communication device  200  ( 105 ). To perform step  105 , the short-range communication device  200  may supply power to the sensor unit  137 . The short-range communication device  200  may supply power to the proximity or pressure sensor, first, and subsequently to the remaining sensors, including, for example, the acceleration sensor, after a proximity signal is generated from the proximity or pressure sensor. 
     When a sensing signal is received from the sensor unit  137 , the control unit  135  of the short-range communication device  200  may determine the motion of the short-range communication device  200  ( 107 ). For example, when the user picks up the short-range communication device  200  or touches the short-range communication device  200 , the proximity is or pressure sensor of the sensor unit  137  may send a corresponding proximity signal to the control unit  135 . The control unit  135  may supply power to the acceleration sensor, which may then be initialized. The acceleration sensor may sense the motion of the user wearing the short-range communication device  200  (e.g., moving the head downwards and upwards or turning the head from side to side), and may send a corresponding sensing signal to the control unit  135 . The motion recognizer  139  of the control unit  135  may determine the motion of the short-range communication device  200  based on the sensing signal from the acceleration sensor. When a tap sensor is included in the sensor unit  137 , the sensor unit  137  may sense a user tap on the short-range communication device  200  and may send a corresponding sensing signal to the control unit  135 , in which the motion recognizer  139  may determine the motion of the short-range communication device  200 . 
     The short-range communication device  200  may transmit a short-range communication device motion signal corresponding to the determined short-range communication device motion to the mobile terminal  100  ( 109 ). The control unit  135  of the short-range communication device  200  may generate a short-range communication device motion signal corresponding to the short-range communication device motion determined by the motion recognizer  139 , and may send the short-range communication device motion signal though the short-range communication channel to the mobile terminal  100 . The mobile terminal  100  may identify the control action on the basis of the stored operation list and the short-range communication device motion signal. 
     Upon reception of the short-range communication device motion signal from the short-range communication device  200 , the mobile terminal  100  may perform a second function by executing an action specified in the operation list and corresponding to the short-range is communication device motion signal ( 111 ). The first function may be a user function carried out by a running application program, and the second function may be a user function carried out by applying the short-range communication device motion signal to the first function. For example, the first function may be one of various functions listed in the menu (e.g., photographing, media file playback, phonebook editing, and time measurement), and the second function may be a function executed in response to a key input after the first function is activated (e.g., character input, image capture, and time counting). In addition, the first function may be a function that outputs one or more characters in response to a key input, and the second function may be a function that is executed on the basis of the output characters (e.g., making a call, information search, and memo or schedule writing). 
     As apparent from the above description, exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a control method for a mobile terminal wherein the mobile terminal is controlled through a short-range communication device having motion sensing capability. Hence, the user can conveniently control the operation of the mobile terminal through the short-range communication device. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.