Patent Publication Number: US-2015063339-A1

Title: Method and apparatus for configuring wireless communication using device names in electronic device

Description:
PRIORITY 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) to a Korean Patent Application filed on Sep. 3, 2013 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office and assigned Serial No. 10-2013-0105237, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for configuring wireless communication in an electronic device, and more particularly, relates to a method and apparatus that can configure wireless communication using device names. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Recent advances in various technologies have enabled popularization of electronic devices such as smartphones and Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs). Communication using electronic devices has also increased. An electronic device supports mobile communication based on CDMA, WCDMA or LTE and also support wireless local area communication such as Wi-Fi. In wireless local area communication, radio signals are used as transmission media so as to enable electronic devices in a short distance to exchange information. Examples of wireless local area communication include Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi Hotspot, Bluetooth, and Near Field Communication (NFC). 
     In establishment of a wireless local area communication link, it is possible to identify a counterpart device through displayed device names. However, it is difficult to identify a counterpart device through device names as device-specific names are used. 
     That is, in the course of establishing a connection with another electronic device using Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Hotspot and NFC, the electronic device is represented to other devices by its Service Set Identifier (SSID) or device identifier. In this case, the user may have difficulty in identifying a device to be linked and be inconvenienced by having to directly enter and change device names. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention has been made 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 invention is to provide a method and electronic device that can configure communication using user-provided device names in the electronic device. Specifically, the electronic device designates a device identifier to a device to be connected and establishes a communication link to the device using the device identifier. The device identifier may be a user name and/or a photograph. 
     In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a method for wireless communication in an electronic device is provided. The method includes configuring communication connection information by designating device names to be used for connection with communication devices; and providing a communication service by establishing a wireless communication link to a communication device using a designated device name and communicating with the communication device. Configuring the communication connection information includes displaying a wireless communication configuration screen; displaying, upon selection of a device name displayed on the wireless communication configuration screen, a list, including a default device name of the communication device and account names; and designating an account name selected from the displayed list as a device name. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an electronic device supporting wireless communication is provided. The electronic device includes a communication unit configured to establish a wireless communication link to a sender communication device or a receiver communication device through wireless local area communication; a display unit configured to display a registered account and data related to the registered account, upon activation of the wireless communication; and a control unit configured to designate a device name for the wireless local area communication by use of a preregistered account and data related to the account, and to control the display unit to display the designated device name, upon activation of wireless communication. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain embodiments of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an electronic device, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a flowchart of a procedure for designating device names, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 3A-3F  are screen representations illustrating device name designation, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart of a procedure for performing communication using designated device names, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart of a sender mode configuration procedure during activation of wireless communication, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 6A-6C  are screen representations illustrating sender mode configuration steps during activation of wireless communication, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart of a receiver mode configuration procedure during activation of wireless communication, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIGS. 8A and 8B  are screen representations illustrating receiver mode configuration steps during activation of wireless communication, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference symbols are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. Detailed descriptions of well-known functions and structures incorporated herein is omitted to avoid obscuring the subject matter of the present invention. 
     It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of various embodiments of the present invention is provided for illustration purposes only and not for the purpose of limiting the present invention, and various changes and modifications are possible on the basis of the following description. 
     In various embodiments of the present invention, the electronic device is one of a mobile terminal, mobile communication terminal, smartphone, tablet computer, hand-held personnel computer, Portable Multimedia Player (PMP), Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), and laptop computer. 
     In a feature of the present invention, the electronic device may designate a user supplied device identifier to an external electronic device to be linked as a device identifier, and establish a wireless communication link to the external electronic device using the designated device identifier. The electronic devices may be interconnected through Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Hotspot, and NFC. Device identifiers may be user names of accounts registered on the electronic device. In addition, a profile photograph is designated together with a device name, making the counterpart device readily identifiable during wireless communication between electronic devices. Hence, it is possible to provide a more realistic user experience during wireless communication establishment, by designating a familiar name and profile photograph as a device identifier. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an electronic device, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the electronic device includes a communication unit  110 , a storage unit  120 , a touchscreen  130 , and a control unit  140 . 
     The communication unit  110  performs communication for voice, video and data calls with an external entity through a network. The communication unit  110  may include a radio frequency (RF) transmitter, for upconverting the frequency of a signal to be transmitted and amplifying the signal, and an RF receiver, for low-noise amplifying a received signal and downconverting the frequency of the received signal. The communication unit  110  may further include a modulator and a demodulator. Modulation and demodulation may be performed according to various communication schemes including CDMA, WCDMA, LTE, Wi-Fi, WiBro, Bluetooth and NFC. The communication unit  110  may include a mobile communication module, an Internet communication module, and a local area (or short-range) communication module. 
     In particular, the communication unit  110  may include an LTE communication module and local area communication modules supporting Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Hotspot and NFC. 
     The storage unit  120  includes a program region to store programs of the electronic device, and a data region to store data generated during program execution. 
     In particular, the storage unit  120  includes a database to store a user account registered in the electronic device and data associated with the account. The user account may be an email account, Social Networking Service (SNS) account, or the like. The data associated with the account may include a profile photograph, day/month/year of birth, nickname, or the like. 
     The touchscreen  130  may be an integration of a display unit  131  and a touch panel  132 . The display unit  131  displays various screens in the course of operation of the electronic device under control of the control unit  140 . The display unit  131  may be realized using a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) or Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLEDs). The touch panel  132  may be a composite of a hand touch panel sensing a hand gesture and a pen touch panel sensing a pen gesture. The hand touch panel may be realized using capacitive, resistive, infrared, or surface acoustic wave technology. The pen touch panel may be realized using electromagnetic induction technology. 
     In particular, the display unit  131  displays an account list stored in the storage unit  120  under control of the control unit  140 . When an account is selected from the displayed account list through the touch panel  132 , the display unit  131  displays the selected account as a device name. When wireless communication is activated, the display unit  131  displays device names of connectable sender or receiver devices and account related data such as profile photographs. 
     The control unit  140  controls the overall operation of the electronic device, controls signal exchange between components of the electronic device, performs data processing, and controls the supply of power from a battery to the components. 
     In particular, the control unit  140  controls the display unit  131  to display an account list for device name designation. The account list is a list of accounts registered in the electronic device and is stored in the storage unit  120 . When an account is selected from the displayed account list through the touch panel  132 , the control unit  140  designates the selected account as a device name and controls the display unit  131  to display the device name. When data associated with the account is present, the control unit  140  controls the display unit  131  to display the data together with the device name. The control unit  140  controls wireless communication between sender and receiver devices. 
     If necessary, the electronic device may further include a Global Positioning System (GPS) module to receive location information, an audio processing unit, including a microphone and speaker, a camera module to capture a still or moving image of a target object, an input unit having physical keys, and the like. A description of these additional components is omitted. 
       FIG. 2  is a flowchart of a procedure for designating device names, according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIGS. 3A-3F  are screen representations illustrating device name designation, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2  and  FIGS. 3A-3F , at step  201 , the control unit  140  controls the display unit  131  to display a wireless communication configuration screen, according to a selection of a mode for device name designation (e.g. “environment settings”). Using the wireless communication configuration screen, a device name, profile photograph, and password may be designated to distinguish one electronic device from other electronic devices. When Wi-Fi Direct is used for wireless communication, the control unit  140  controls the display unit  131  to display a screen as shown in  FIG. 3A . The device name is used for identifying a device to be connected during wireless communication, and may be a unit name, SSID, or brand name. Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth, NearBy, NFC, or the like may be used to interconnect electronic devices. In the following description, a device name is designated when Wi-Fi Direct is used. 
     The user may have difficulty in identifying an electronic device using a default device name such as SSID or brand name. The present invention enables the user to utilize a frequently used ID (e.g. SNS account or Google account) as a device name. For a device name designation, the control unit  140  displays a frequently used name (account information) together with a default device name (SSID or brand name), and designates a name selected by the user as a device identifier. 
     Upon display of the wireless communication configuration screen, at step  203 , the control unit  140  determines whether an input for device name designation is detected on the wireless communication configuration screen. When an input for selecting a device name through the touch panel  132  (e.g. tap) is detected, the control unit  140  regards this as an input for device name designation. 
     For example, when a device name is tapped as indicated by reference numeral  301  in  FIG. 3B , the control unit  140  detects the tap as an input for device name designation. At step  205 , the control unit  140  extracts accounts stored in a database in the storage unit  120 . At step  207 , the control unit  140  displays a list of account names along with the default device name, as shown in  FIG. 3C . The account name may be a name of an email account or a SNS account registered in the electronic device. Data associated with the accounts may also be stored in the database. Data associated with an account may include a profile photograph, day/month/year of birth, nickname, or the like. 
     At step  209 , the control unit  140  selects an account name or the default device name from the displayed account list as indicated by reference numeral  303  in  FIG. 3C . At step  211 , the control unit  140  designates the selected name as a designated device name and displays the designated device name as indicated by reference numeral  305  in  FIG. 3D . 
     If no input for selection of the designated device name is detected, the control unit  140  returns to step  203  and waits for an input for selection of the designated device name. In addition to device name designation, supplementary information on the user may be added. In the following description, supplementary information on the user is assumed to be a profile photograph. 
     At step  213 , the control unit  140  determines whether an input for designating a profile photograph is detected. When an input for selecting a profile photograph through the touch panel  132  (e.g. tap) is detected, the control unit  140  regards this as an input for designating a profile photograph. For example, when the user taps a profile photograph on a device name designation screen as indicated by reference numeral  307  in  FIG. 3E , at step  215 , the control unit  140  extracts the profile photograph and designates the profile photograph as supplementary information for the device name as indicated by reference numeral  309  in  FIG. 3F . That is, when a profile photograph is stored in the storage unit  120  as part of account related data and the profile photograph is selected, the control unit  140  designates the profile photograph together with the device name. A photograph selected from a photo album stored in the electronic device may be designated as a profile photograph. A photograph taken by a camera may also be designated as a profile photograph. When a profile photograph is not selected, the control unit  140  designates the selected account as a device name. 
     Thereafter, at step  217 , the control unit  140  determines whether a password is input in a password input field through the touch panel  132  as indicated by  311  in  FIG. 3F . When a password is input, at step  219 , the control unit  140  designates the password as supplementary information. 
     The control unit  140  designates a device name (and supplementary information) through the procedure depicted in  FIG. 2 , and then is able to establish a communication link to a corresponding device using the designated device name. 
       FIG. 4  is a flowchart of a procedure for performing communication using designated device names, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , at step  401 , the control unit  140  checks whether wireless communication is activated. Wireless communication may indicate transmission to or reception from a communication device through wireless local area (or short-range) communication. Wireless communication may also indicate direct communication between communication devices using communication schemes including Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth, NearBy and NFC. If wireless communication is activated, the procedure proceeds to step  403  at which the control unit  140  checks whether sender mode is desired. If sender mode is desired, the procedure proceeds to step  405 . At step  405 , the control unit  140  configures the sender mode of the communication device. That is, the control unit  140  finds communication devices in the vicinity thereof and controls the display unit  131  to display the designated device names of the found communication devices. The designated device name may be an account name (and a profile photograph) designated by the user. When one of the displayed device names is selected, the control unit  140  sends the selected device name to the corresponding communication device to establish a communication link thereto. Step  405  of  FIG. 4  is described in more detail with reference to  FIG. 5  and  FIGS. 6A-6C . 
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart of a sender mode configuration procedure during activation of wireless communication, according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIGS. 6A-6C  are screen representations illustrating sender mode configuration operations during activation of wireless communication, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5  and  FIGS. 6A-6C , at step  501 , the control unit  140  controls the communication unit  110  to collect information regarding nearby communication devices that are activated for wireless communication. At step  503 , the control unit  140  controls the display unit  131  to display a list of nearby communication devices found as shown in  FIG. 6A . The list of communication devices may include not only designated device names but also profile photographs. When a profile photograph is not designated for a communication device in the list, the sender device may designate a profile photograph for easy identification of the user of the communication device. Although a profile photograph is designated for a communication device in the list, the user of the sender device may replace the profile photograph with a desired profile photograph for the communication device. 
     At step  505 , the control unit  140  checks whether a communication device to which a communication link is to be established is selected from the list. For example, when a communication device is selected as indicated by reference numeral  601  in  FIG. 6A , the procedure proceeds to step  507  at which the control unit  140  sends device information and a connection request message to the selected communication device. The device information may include a device name, profile photograph, network address, and the like. When a communication device is not selected, the procedure returns to step  503 . 
     After sending the connection request message, at step  509 , the control unit  140  controls the display unit  131  to display a connection waiting window. As indicated by reference numeral  603  in  FIG. 6B , the connection waiting window may contain a designated device name and profile photograph for the selected communication device. The displayed designated device name and profile photograph enable easy identification of the user of the selected communication device. 
     At step  511 , the control unit  140  checks whether a connection acceptance message is received from the selected communication device. When a connection acceptance message is received, the procedure proceeds to step  513  at which the control unit  140  confirms establishment of a wireless communication link to the selected communication device as shown in  FIG. 6C . When a connection acceptance message is not received, the procedure returns to step  509 . After establishment of a wireless communication link, at step  515 , the control unit  140  is able to communicate data with the connected communication device. Data such as a music file, video file, photograph file, memos, and contact information may be sent to the communication device. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 4 , at step  407 , the control unit  140  checks whether receiver mode is desired. That is, whether a connection request is received from a nearby communication device is checked. If a connection request is received, the procedure proceeds to step  409 . At step  409 , the control unit  140  configures the receiver mode of the communication device. That is, the control unit  140  displays a device name of the counterpart communication device which is requesting a connection. If the connection request is accepted, the control unit  140  establishes a wireless communication link to the counterpart communication device and provides a communication service. The device name may be an account name designated by the counterpart communication device, and may include a profile photograph. Hence, the user of the electronic device may view the account name (and profile photograph) on the display unit  131  and may readily identify the counterpart user. Step  409  of  FIG. 4  is described in more detail with reference to  FIG. 7  and  FIGS. 8A and 8B . 
       FIG. 7  is a flowchart of a receiver mode configuration procedure during activation of wireless communication, according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIGS. 8A and 8B  are screen representations illustrating receiver mode operations during activation of wireless communication, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7  and  FIGS. 8A and 8B , at step  701 , the control unit  140  controls the communication unit  110  to transmit device information to communication devices. The device information may include a device name, profile photograph, network address, and the like. At step  705 , the control unit  140  enters standby mode to receive a connection request message from a communication device in the vicinity. During standby mode, at step  707 , the control unit  140  checks whether device information and a connection request message are received from a sender communication device. If a connection request message is received from a sender communication device, at step  709 , the control unit  140  determines whether to accept the connection request. As indicated by reference numeral  801  in  FIG. 8A , the connection request message is displayed together with device information of the communication device having sent the connection request message. The device information may include a device name and profile photograph. Through the displayed device name and profile photograph, the user of the communication device having sent the connection request message may be readily identified. When a connection request message is not received, the procedure returns to step  705 . 
     Upon determining to accept the connection request, at step  711 , the control unit  140  confirms establishment of a wireless communication link to the sender communication device as shown in  FIG. 8B . After establishment of a wireless communication link, at step  713 , the control unit  140  is able to communicate data with the sender communication device. Data such as a music file, video file, photograph file, memos, and contact information may be received from the sender communication device. Upon determining not to accept the connection request, the control unit  140  may send a connection rejection message and may perform a requested operation. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 4 , when no wireless communication is performed with a nearby communication device, the control unit  140  may examine the state of wireless communication, release a wireless communication link, or deactivate wireless communication. 
     Hereinabove, embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Specific terms or words used in the description should be construed in accordance with the spirit of the present invention without limiting the subject matter thereof. It should be understood that many variations and modifications of the basic inventive concept described herein will still fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.