Patent Description:
A user may identify a location of a user terminal device carried by the user by using a location-based service. The location-based service may refer to a system for providing various services to users based on location information obtained via a mobile communication network or a global positioning system.

However, in a case of the location-based service with the global positioning system, it is difficult to use indoors. Accordingly, in the related art, a location determination technology for identifying a location of a user terminal device using a network system, such as a communication module included in the user terminal device or a wireless-fidelity (Wi-Fi) system installed in the surrounding environment has been developed and used.

Meanwhile, the user does not carry the user terminal device all the time and may act while placing the user terminal device at a specific location. When the user acts without carrying the user terminal device, a location of the user is different from a location of the user terminal device. In a case of using the location determination technology designed assuming the situation that the user carries the terminal device, there is a limit of output of user position estimation (or localization) information with deteriorated accuracy.

<CIT> describes a system and method for managing energy consumption in a multi-sensor user-carried device during indoor navigation. The device calculates a motion mode, a location mode, or an operational mode, each of which is used to modify sensor behavior, e.g., sampling rate, and/or CPU load, e.g., filtering and modeling complexity. The motion mode describes the manner in which the user is moving (standing still, walking, passive transport for example), the location mode describes a feature of the user's location (near level change or intersection for example), and the operational mode describes the manner in which the user is interacting with the device (holding and monitoring, holding and not monitoring, not holding for example).

<CIT> describes a non-contact type power transmission apparatus and method thereof, including a control unit configured to provide assigned location information to a device. The apparatus also includes a display unit configured to display location-based service data provided to the device based on the location information.

An aspect of the disclosure is to provide an electronic device which identifies whether a user carries the electronic device and determines a method for detecting a location of the user based on the identified result, and a method for controlling the same.

In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, an electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a communicator including circuitry, a first sensor configured to detect movement information of the electronic device, a memory including a first determination module configured to determine whether a user carries the electronic device and a second determination module configured to determine a detecting method for detecting a user location, and a processor configured to identify whether a user of the electronic device carries the electronic device based on the movement information of the electronic device obtained by the first sensor by using the first determination module, and determine a detecting method for detecting location information of the user according to whether the user carries the electronic device by using the second determination module, in which the processor is configured to, based on the user being identified to carry the electronic device, determine a first detecting method for obtaining the location information of the user using at least one of the movement information of the electronic device or feature information of a first signal received from an access point (AP) via the communicator, and based on the user being identified to not carry the electronic device, determine a second detecting method for obtaining the location information of the user using feature information of a second signal received from at least one external device via the communicator.

The processor may be further configured to: based on the movement information being not changed within threshold time, identify that the user does not carry the electronic device by using the first determination module, and based on the movement information being changed within the threshold time, identify that the user carries the electronic device by using the first determination module.

The electronic device may further comprise a second sensor configured to detect a biological signal of the user by coming into contact with the user of the electronic device, wherein the processor may be further configured to identify whether the user of the electronic device carries the electronic device based on whether the biological signal of the user is able to be detected via the second sensor, by using the first determination module.

The processor may be further configured to: based on the second detecting method being determined, control the communicator to transmit a signal requesting transmission of the second signal for obtaining the location information of the user to the at least one external device by using the second detecting method module and based on the feature information of the second signal being obtained by receiving the second signal from the at least one external device via the communicator, obtain the location information of the user by inputting the feature information of the second signal to a location detecting model.

The processor may be further configured to, based on the second detecting method being determined, control the communicator to transmit a request signal requesting to perform an operation of obtaining the location information of the user to the at least one external device, and wherein the at least one external device, which has received the request signal, is configured to obtain the location information of the user based on feature information of a third signal received from another external device.

The processor may be further configured to, based on the user being identified to be not present within a threshold distance from the electronic device based on the feature information of the second signal, control the communicator to transmit a request signal requesting to perform an operation of obtaining the location information of the user to the at least one external device, and wherein the at least one external device, which has received the request signal, may be configured to obtain the location information of the user based on the feature information of the third signal received from another external device.

The processor may be further configured to: identify whether a battery of the electronic device is being charged, determine the detecting method for detecting the location information of the user according to whether the battery of the electronic device is being charged by using the second determination module, based on the battery of the electronic device being identified as being charged, determine the second detecting method, and based on the battery of the electronic device being identified as not being charged, determine the first detecting method.

The processor may be further configured to: based on a battery of the electronic device being identified as being charged, identify a location of the electronic device by using the second signal received from the at least one external device, and identify whether the location of the electronic device is a location for obtaining the location information of the user via a location detecting model.

The processor may be further configured to: based on the location of the electronic device being identified as the location for obtaining the location information of the user via the location detecting model, obtain the location information of the user by the second detecting method, and based on the location of the electronic device being not identified as the location for obtaining the location information of the user via the location detecting model, obtain the location information of the user by using the first detecting method.

The processor may be further configured to: based on the user being identified to carry the electronic device after the location of the electronic device is identified as the location for obtaining the location information of the user via the location detecting model, obtain movement information of the electronic device via the first sensor based on the location of the electronic device, and train the location detecting model based on the movement information of the electronic device and feature information of a third signal received from the AP via the communicator.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a method for controlling an electronic device including a first sensor configured to detect movement information of the electronic device, a first determination module configured to determine whether a user carries the electronic device, and a second determination module configured to determine a detecting method for detecting a user location is provided. The method includes identifying whether a user of the electronic device carries the electronic device based on the movement information of the electronic device obtained by the first sensor by using the first determination module, and determining a detecting method for detecting location information of the user according to whether the user carries the electronic device by using the second determination module, in which the determining includes, based on the user being identified to carry the electronic device, determining a first detecting method for obtaining the location information of the user using at least one of the movement information of the electronic device or feature information of a first signal received from an AP, and based on the user being identified to not carry the electronic device, determining a second detecting method for obtaining the location information of the user using feature information of a second signal received from at least one external device.

The identifying may comprise: based on the movement information being not changed within threshold time, identifying that the user does not carry the electronic device by using the first determination module; and based on the movement information being changed within the threshold time, identifying that the user carries the electronic device by using the first determination module.

The identifying may comprise identifying whether the user of the electronic device carries the electronic device based on whether a biological signal of the user is able to be detected via a second sensor configured to detect the biological signal of the user, by using the first determination module.

The method may further comprise, based on the second detecting method being determined, transmitting a signal requesting transmission of the second signal for obtaining the location information of the user to the at least one external device by using the second detecting method module and based on the feature information of the second signal being obtained by receiving the second signal from the at least one external device, obtaining the location information of the user by inputting the feature information of the second signal to a location detecting model.

The method may further comprise, based on the second detecting method being determined, transmitting a request signal requesting to perform an operation of obtaining the location information of the user to the at least one external device, wherein the at least one external device which has received the request signal may be configured to obtain the location information of the user based on feature information of a third signal received from another external device.

The method may further comprise, based on the user being identified to be not present within a threshold distance from the electronic device based on the feature information of the second signal, transmitting a request signal requesting to perform an operation of obtaining the location information of the user to the at least one external device, wherein the at least one external device which has received the request signal may be configured to obtain the location information of the user based on the feature information of the third signal received from another external device.

The identifying may comprise: identifying whether a battery of the electronic device is being charged, determining the detecting method for detecting the location information of the user according to whether the battery of the electronic device is being charged by using the second determination module, based on the battery of the electronic device being identified as being charged, determining the second detecting method and based on the battery of the electronic device being identified as not being charged, determining the first detecting method.

The method may further comprise, based on a battery of the electronic device being identified as being charged, identifying a location of the electronic device by using the second signal received from the at least one external device and identifying whether the location of the electronic device is a location for obtaining the location information of the user via a location detecting model.

The identifying of whether the location of the electronic device is the location for obtaining the location information of the user via the location detecting model may comprise, based on the location of the electronic device being identified as the location for obtaining the location information of the user via the location detecting model, obtaining the location information of the user by the second detecting method and based on the location of the electronic device being not identified as the location for obtaining the location information of the user via the location detecting model, obtaining the location information of the user by using the first detecting method.

The method may further comprise, based on the user being identified to carry the electronic device after the location of the electronic device is identified as the location for obtaining the location information of the user via the location detecting model, obtaining movement information of the electronic device via the first sensor based on the location of the electronic device and training the location detecting model based on the movement information of the electronic device and feature information of a third signal received from the AP.

According to the various embodiments of the disclosure, the electronic device may detect the location of the user by the optimized method according to whether the user carries the electronic device. Therefore, the user may receive accurate location determination information indoors.

In addition, descriptions of well-known functions anc constructions may be omitted for clarity and conciseness.

Hereinafter, various embodiments of the disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

<FIG> is a block diagram for illustrating a configuration and an operation of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, an electronic device <NUM> may include a sensor <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, a communicator <NUM>, and a processor <NUM>.

The configuration illustrated in <FIG> is a diagram for implementing the embodiments of the disclosure and appropriate hardware and software configurations apparent to those skilled in the art may be additionally included in the electronic device <NUM>.

In describing the disclosure, the electronic device <NUM> may be implemented as a user terminal device, such as a smartphone, a tablet personal computer (PC), a laptop PC, a notebook computer, a medical device, and a wearable device, but is not limited thereto.

The sensor <NUM> may detect various state information of the electronic device <NUM> or state information of a user carrying (or wearing) the electronic device <NUM>. The sensor <NUM> may include a first sensor <NUM>-<NUM> for detecting movement information of the electronic device <NUM> and a second sensor <NUM>-<NUM> for detecting information regarding a user carrying or wearing the electronic device <NUM>.

The first sensor <NUM>-<NUM> may include at least one of a gyro sensor, an acceleration sensor, and a geomagnetism sensor. The gyro sensor may detect information regarding angular velocity of the electronic device <NUM>.

The information regarding the angular velocity obtained via the gyro sensor may be used to identify a degree of a tilt of the electronic device <NUM> or rotation of the electronic device <NUM>. The geomagnetism sensor is a sensor for detecting magnetism and information obtained via the geomagnetism sensor may be used to obtain information regarding an azimuth of the electronic device <NUM>.

The acceleration sensor may detect information regarding dynamic forces of the electronic device <NUM>, such as an acceleration, vibration, impact, and the like. The information regarding dynamic forces obtained via the acceleration sensor may be used to identify information of a force applied to the electronic device <NUM> or steps of a person carrying the electronic device <NUM>. Herein, the operation information may include information regarding whether the user is walking with the electronic device <NUM> and the number of times of steps.

The second sensor <NUM>-<NUM> may include a sensor for detecting a biological signal of the user (e.g., a blood pressure sensor, a blood glucose sensor, a heart rate sensor, and the like). The sensor for detecting the biological signal of the user may detect various biological signals, such as blood pressure, heart rate, and the like by coming into contact with or being spaced apart, within a preset distance, from a body of the user carrying or wearing the electronic device <NUM>.

For example, if the electronic device <NUM> is implemented as a wearable device, the second sensor <NUM>-<NUM> may detect various biological signals, such as blood pressure, blood rate, and the like of the user wearing the electronic device <NUM>. If the user takes off the electronic device <NUM>, the second sensor <NUM>-<NUM> may not come into contact with or may not be spaced apart, within a preset distance, from the body of the user. At that time, the second sensor <NUM>-<NUM> may not detect the biological signal of the user of the electronic device <NUM>.

In addition to the first sensor <NUM>-<NUM> and the second sensor <NUM>-<NUM>, the sensor <NUM> may further include a sensor for detecting location information (e.g., a global positioning system (GPS) sensor), a sensor for detecting environment information around the electronic device <NUM> (e.g., a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a pressure sensor, and the like), a sensor for detecting presence of the user (e.g., a camera, a UWB sensor, an IR sensor, a proximity sensor, an optical sensor, and the like), and the like.

The memory <NUM> may store an instruction or data related to at least another element of the electronic device <NUM>. The memory <NUM> may be accessed by the processor <NUM> and reading, recording, editing, deleting, or updating of the data by the processor <NUM> may be executed.

A term, memory, in the disclosure may include the memory <NUM>, a ROM (not illustrated) and RAM (not illustrated) in the processor <NUM>, or a memory card (not illustrated) (e.g., micro SD card or memory stick) mounted on the electronic device <NUM>. In addition, the memory <NUM> may store programs and data for configuring various screens to be displayed in a display area of a display.

The memory <NUM> may store an instruction set corresponding to at least one program executable by the processor <NUM>. The instruction may refer to one action statement executable directly by the processor <NUM> in a programming language and is a minimum unit of execution or an action of a program.

The memory <NUM> may store a first determination module for determining whether the user carries the electronic device <NUM> and a second determination module for determining a user location detecting method. The first determination module and the second determination module may be implemented as software modules and controlled by the processor <NUM>. However, this is merely an embodiment of the disclosure, and each determination module may be implemented as a separate hardware module controlled by the processor <NUM>.

A first determination module <NUM> may be a module for determining whether the user carries the electronic device <NUM> by using movement information of the electronic device <NUM> or a biological signal of the user of the electronic device <NUM>. The user carrying the electronic device <NUM> may imply that the user carries, wears, or uses the electronic device <NUM>.

A second determination module <NUM> may be a module for determining a detecting method for detecting a user location based on whether the user carries the electronic device <NUM> or whether the battery of the electronic device <NUM> is being charged.

The memory <NUM> may store a plurality of detecting method modules (e.g., a first detecting method module <NUM> and a second detecting method module <NUM>). When the method for detecting the user location is determined by the second determination module <NUM>, the detecting method module corresponding to the determined detecting method among the plurality of detecting method modules may perform operations to obtain location information of the user. The operations and functions of each detecting method module may be controlled by the processor <NUM>. The operation that the processor <NUM> controls each module to obtain the location information of the user will be described later.

Meanwhile, in describing the disclosure, the location information of the user may include, not only information regarding an area where the user is located, but also information related to whether the user is present within a threshold distance from the electronic device or an external device.

The memory <NUM> may store a plurality of location detecting models (e.g., a first location detecting model, a second location detecting model, and a third location detecting model).

The first location detecting model may be an artificial intelligence model trained using a fingerprint database as learning data. The first location detecting model may be trained to, when feature information of a first signal is input, identify a fingerprint matched with the feature information of the first signal from the fingerprint database, and output location information of the user corresponding to the identified fingerprint.

The first signal may refer to a Wi-Fi signal received via a Wi-Fi network. The feature information of the first signal may include at least one of channel state information (CSI), time of arrival (TOA), an angle of arrival (AOA), and a received signal strength (RSS) of the first signal.

The fingerprint may refer to data including the feature information of a signal (e.g., Wi-Fi signal) receivable from an access point (AC), when the electronic device <NUM> is located at a specific location. The feature information of the signal receivable by the electronic device <NUM> from the AP varies depending on the location, the fingerprint may be classified according to the location. The AP may refer to a device which enables wireless devices to connect to a wired network using Wi-Fi-related standard.

The fingerprint database may be a database in which a plurality of fingerprints classified for each location are stored and structured. The fingerprint database may also be expressed as radio map information.

The second location detecting model may be an artificial intelligence model trained to output current location information of the user based on a plurality of predefined locations of the electronic device based on feature information of a second signal. Herein, the second signal may refer to a Wi-Fi signal received via the Wi-Fi network and the type of the feature information of the second signal may be the same as the type of the feature information of the first signal. The predefined location of the electronic device may refer to a location learned by the second location detecting model.

The second location detecting model may be trained using the feature information of the second signal received from an external device at the predefined location of the electronic device <NUM> and the current location information of the user as the learning data.

As the location of the electronic device <NUM> changes, the feature information of the second signal receivable by the electronic device <NUM> from other external devices may change. The second location detecting model may be trained using the learning data described above at a plurality of predefined locations determined from the user.

The third location detecting model may be an artificial intelligence model trained to output location information of the electronic device based on feature information of a signal. The third location detecting model may be trained using feature information of a signal received from at least one external device and current location information of the electronic device matched with each feature information as the learning data.

The memory <NUM> may include a non-volatile memory holding stored information, even if the power supply is interrupted, and a volatile memory that needs continuous power supply to hold the stored information. Referring to <FIG>, the volatile memory may be implemented in a form included in the processor <NUM> as an element of the processor <NUM>, but this is merely an embodiment of the disclosure, and the volatile memory may be implemented as an element separated from the processor <NUM>.

The communicator <NUM> may include circuitry and communicate with the AP or an external device. The communicator <NUM> may include various wireless communication modules and the wireless communication module may include a Wi-Fi module <NUM>-<NUM>.

The Wi-Fi module <NUM>-<NUM> may receive a Wi-Fi signal from the AP or various external devices. The Wi-Fi module <NUM>-<NUM> may measure feature information of the Wi-Fi signal while receiving the Wi-Fi signal. For example, the Wi-Fi module <NUM>-<NUM> may obtain channel state information, time of arrival, an angle of arrival, phase information, signal strength, and the like of the received Wi-Fi signal.

In describing the disclosure, the external device may include at least one of a smartphone, a tablet PC, a desktop PC, a laptop PC, a netbook PC, a server, a PDA, a medical device, or a wearable device. In some embodiments of the disclosure, the external device may include at least one of, for example, a television, a refrigerator, an air conditioner, an air purifier, a set-top box, a media box (e.g., SAMSUNG HOMESYNCTM). However, there is no limitation to the above examples and the external device may be implemented as various types of devices.

The processor <NUM> may be electrically connected to the memory <NUM> to control general functions and operations of the electronic device <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may load the plurality of determination modules <NUM> and <NUM> and the detecting method modules <NUM> and <NUM> from the non-volatile memory to the volatile memory. The loading may refer to an operation of invoking data stored in the non-volatile memory to the volatile memory to store the data so that it is accessible by the processor <NUM>.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, when the power of the electronic device <NUM> is turned on, the processor <NUM> may load each determination module and detecting method module to the volatile memory. In another embodiment of the disclosure, when a command for activating a user location detecting function is input from the user, the processor <NUM> may load each determination module and the detecting method module to the volatile memory.

The processor <NUM> may identify whether the user carries the electronic device based on movement information of the electronic device <NUM> obtained via the first sensor <NUM>-<NUM> using the first determination module <NUM>.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, when the movement information (e.g., a tilt value, a rotation angle, or the like of the electronic device <NUM>) obtained via the first sensor <NUM>-<NUM> is changed within a first threshold time, the processor <NUM> may identify that the user carries the electronic device via the first determination module <NUM>.

In another embodiment of the disclosure, when the movement information is changed by a preset value or more within the first threshold time, the processor <NUM> may identify that the user carries the electronic device via the first determination module <NUM>. Herein, the preset value may be changed by the user.

For example, when the electronic device <NUM> rotates from a vertical direction (portrait direction) to a horizontal direction (landscape direction) by the user, the processor <NUM> may identify that the rotation angle of the electronic device <NUM> is changed via the first sensor <NUM>-<NUM>. The change of the rotation angle of the electronic device <NUM> may imply that the user carries and uses the electronic device <NUM>. Since the rotation angle of the electronic device <NUM> is changed within the first threshold time, the processor <NUM> may identify that the user carries the electronic device using the first determination module.

When the movement information obtained via the first sensor <NUM>-<NUM> is not changed within the first threshold time, the processor <NUM> may identify that the user does not carry the electronic device via the first determination module <NUM>. The first threshold time may be preset time but may be changed by the user.

The processor <NUM> may identify whether the user carries the electronic device <NUM> based on whether the biological signal of the user is able to be detected via the second sensor <NUM>-<NUM> by using the first determination module <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may obtain the biological signal of the user via the second sensor <NUM>-<NUM> coming into contact with or spaced apart, within a preset distance, from the user of the electronic device <NUM>.

If the biological signal of the user is not obtained within a second threshold time via the second sensor <NUM>-<NUM>, the processor <NUM> may identify that the user does not carry the electronic device <NUM> via the first determination module <NUM>. When the biological signal of the user is obtained within the second threshold time via the second sensor <NUM>-<NUM>, the processor <NUM> may identify that the user carries the electronic device <NUM> via the first determination module <NUM>.

When it is identified whether the user carries the electronic device via the first determination module <NUM>, the processor <NUM> may determine the detecting method for detecting the location information of the user based on the identified result by using the second determination module <NUM>.

When it is identified that the user carries the electronic device <NUM>, the processor <NUM> may determine a first detecting method (or device-carry detecting method) for obtaining the location information of the user by using at least one of the movement information of the electronic device and the feature information of the first signal received from the AP via the communicator <NUM>.

When the first detecting method is determined, the processor <NUM> may obtain the location information of the user using the first detecting method module <NUM> corresponding to the determined first detecting method among the plurality of detecting method modules.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the processor <NUM> may obtain the location information of the user by using dead reckoning based on the movement information of the electronic device <NUM> from the first detecting method via the first detecting method module <NUM>. The dead reckoning may be a method for estimating a current location of an electronic device based on a direction and a distance the electronic device is moved by the user from a reference location.

Specifically, the processor <NUM> may obtain operation information via the acceleration sensor and may obtain information regarding a direction of the electronic device is moved by the user via the gyro sensor or the geomagnetism sensor. The processor <NUM> may estimate a direction and a distance the electronic device is moved from the reference location by using the movement information of the electronic device <NUM> via the first detecting method module <NUM>. Herein, the reference location may be a fixed location where the electronic device is not moved by the user within preset time or a location set as the reference location by the user.

Accordingly, the processor <NUM> may obtain the current location information of the electronic device <NUM> moved from the reference location by using the first detecting method module <NUM>. Since it is identified that the user carries the electronic device <NUM>, the location information of the electronic device <NUM> may refer to location information of the user.

In another embodiment of the disclosure, the processor <NUM> may obtain the location information of the user using a fingerprint comparing method from the first detecting method via the first detecting method module <NUM>. The fingerprint comparing method is a method for identifying a fingerprint matched with the feature information of the signal received from the AP among fingerprints included in the fingerprint database stored in advance and estimating current location information of the electronic device using location information included in the identified fingerprint.

The processor <NUM> may obtain the location information of the user using the fingerprint comparing method based on the feature information of the first signal obtained via the communicator <NUM> using the first detecting method module <NUM>. Specifically, the processor <NUM> may identify the fingerprint matched with the feature information of the first signal by inputting the feature information of the first signal to the first location detecting model and obtain the location information of the user corresponding to the identified fingerprint via the first detecting method module <NUM>.

When it is identified that the user does not carry the electronic device <NUM>, the processor <NUM> may determine a second detecting method (or a device-free detecting method) for obtaining the location information of the user using the feature information of the second signal received from at least one external device via the second determination module <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may obtain the location information of the user by using the second detecting method module <NUM> corresponding to the determined second detecting method among the plurality of detecting method modules.

The processor <NUM> may control the communicator <NUM> to transmit a signal requesting transmission of the second signal for obtaining the location information of the user to the external device via the second detecting method module <NUM>. When the request signal is received, the external device may emit the second signal via various paths. The processor <NUM> may receive the entirety or a part of the second signal emitted from the external device via the communicator <NUM>.

Meanwhile, a part or the entirety of the second signal emitted from the external device may be reflected by or transmitted through the user to be transmitted to the electronic device <NUM>. Feature information of the second signal received by being reflected by or transmitted through the user may be different from the feature information of the signal transmitted to the electronic device <NUM> directly from the external device.

The processor <NUM> may receive a part or the entirety of the second signal emitted from the external device via the communicator <NUM> and obtain the feature information of a part or the entirety of the second signal. For example, the processor <NUM> may receive the entirety or a part of a Wi-Fi signal emitted from the external device and obtain CSI, RSS, AOA, or TOA of each of the entirety or a part of the received Wi-Fi signal. A part or the entirety of the Wi-Fi signal received via the communicator <NUM> may be a signal reflected by or transmitted through the user.

The processor <NUM> may obtain the location information of the user by inputting the feature information of the second signal to the second location detecting model via the second detecting method module <NUM>. The second location detecting model has been trained to output the location information of the user based on the predefined location that is learned. Accordingly, when the processor <NUM> inputs the feature information of the second signal to the second location detecting model, the location of the electronic device <NUM> may be a predefined location learned by the second location detecting model.

For example, when a CSI magnitude change amount of the Wi-Fi signal received from the external device via a first path and a second path is input to the second location detecting model, the processor <NUM> may obtain the location information of the user for measuring the location of the user based on the current location of the electronic device <NUM> via the second detecting method module <NUM>.

The processor <NUM> may identify whether the user is present within a threshold distance of the electronic device <NUM> based on the obtained location information of the user. The location information of the user may include information regarding whether the user is present within the threshold distance of the electronic device <NUM>.

When it is identified that the user is present within the threshold distance of the electronic device based on the obtained location information of the user, the processor <NUM> may perform a predefined operation corresponding to the location information of the user. For example, when it is identified that the user is present in an area set as a dangerous area based on the location information of the user, the processor <NUM> may output a message that the user is present in the area set as the dangerous area as a voice. However, this is merely an embodiment of the disclosure, and the predefined operation corresponding to the location information of the user may be variously set by the user.

When it is identified that the user is not present within the threshold distance of the electronic device <NUM>, the processor <NUM> may control the communicator <NUM> to transmit a request signal requesting to perform an operation of obtaining the location information of the user to at least one external device. In other words, when the user is not present within the threshold distance of the electronic device <NUM> or it is difficult to determine whether the user is present within the threshold distance thereof, the processor <NUM> may control the communicator <NUM> to transmit the request signal requesting to perform the operation of obtaining the location information of the user with another external device to at least one external device.

The at least one external device which has received the request signal may obtain the location information of the user by using the feature information of a third signal (e.g., Wi-Fi signal) received from the other external device. The at least one external device which has obtained the location information of the user may perform the predefined operation corresponding to the location information of the user.

Meanwhile, when it is identified that the user does not carry the electronic device <NUM>, the processor <NUM> may control the communicator <NUM> to transmit the request signal requesting to perform the operation of obtaining the location information of the user to at least one external device by using the second detecting method module <NUM>. In other words, the processor <NUM> may not only obtain the location information of the user based on the signal received from the external device, but may also control the communicator <NUM> to transmit the request signal for controlling to perform the operation of obtaining the location information of the user to the external device.

After a preset period of time after transmitting the request signal to at least one external device, the processor <NUM> may control the communicator <NUM> to emit a fourth signal to the vicinity of the at least one external device via various paths. The fourth signal may be a Wi-Fi signal which may be transmitted/received via a Wi-Fi network.

A part or the entirety of the fourth signal emitted via the communicator <NUM> may be reflected by or transmitted through the user to be transmitted to the at least one external device. For example, the communicator <NUM> may emit the Wi-Fi signal via a plurality of paths under the control of the processor <NUM> and a part or the entirety of the emitted Wi-Fi signal may be reflected by or transmitted through the user located in the vicinity of the electronic device <NUM> to be transmitted to the at least one external device.

The at least one external device may obtain the location information of the user based on the feature information of the entirety or a part of the received fourth signal. The at least one external device may perform the operation corresponding to the obtained location information of the user. For example, if the external device is implemented as a smart lamp, when it is identified that the user is present within a threshold distance from the external device based on the obtained location information of the user, the external device may turn on a power of the lamp to light up an area around the user.

Meanwhile, the processor <NUM> may determine a detecting method for detecting the location of the user based on whether the battery of the electronic device <NUM> is being charged. The processor <NUM> may identify whether the battery is being charged via a wired charging cable or a wireless charger. The processor <NUM> may determine the detecting method based on a charging state of the battery using the second determination module <NUM>.

When it is identified that the battery of the electronic device <NUM> is being charged, the processor <NUM> may determine the second detecting method by using the second determination module <NUM>. In general, the state of the battery of the electronic device <NUM> which is being charged may imply that the user does not carry the electronic device. Accordingly, when the battery of the electronic device <NUM> is not being charged, the processor <NUM> may determine the first detecting method using the second determination module <NUM> and obtain the location information of the user using the first detecting method module <NUM> corresponding to the determined first detecting method.

When it is identified that the battery of the electronic device is being charged, the processor <NUM> may determine the second detecting method using the second determination module <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may obtain the location information of the user using the second detecting method module <NUM> corresponding to the determined second detecting method.

In still another embodiment of the disclosure, when it is identified that the battery of the electronic device <NUM> is being charged, the processor <NUM> may obtain the location information of the electronic device using the feature information of the second signal received from at least one external device. The processor <NUM> may obtain the location information of the electronic device by inputting the feature information of the second signal received via the communicator <NUM> to the third location detecting model. For example, the processor <NUM> may obtain the location information of the electronic device <NUM> by inputting RSS information of the Wi-Fi signal received from the external device to the third location detecting model.

The processor <NUM> may identify whether the location of the electronic device <NUM> is a location where the location information of the user is able to be obtained using the second location detecting model based on the obtained location information of the electronic device <NUM>.

The location where the location information of the user is able to be obtained using the second location detecting model may refer to a predefined location learned by the second location detecting model to output the location information of the user matched with a feature of an input signal. The predefined location learned by the second location detecting model may be variously determined by the user. The second location detecting model trained in advance may output the location information of the user matched with the feature information of the input second signal based on the predefined location that is learned.

The processor <NUM> may identify whether the current location of the electronic device is a location learned by the second location detecting model based on the obtained location information of the electronic device <NUM>.

When it is identified that the location of the electronic device <NUM> is not the location learned by the second location detecting model, the processor <NUM> may determine the second detecting method among a plurality of detecting methods using the second determination module <NUM>. When it is identified that the location of the electronic device is the location learned by the second location detecting model, the processor <NUM> may determine the first detecting method among the plurality of detecting methods using the second determination module <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may obtain the location information of the user using the detecting method module corresponding to the determined detecting method.

In still another embodiment of the disclosure, the processor <NUM> may obtain first user location information using the first detecting method module <NUM> and obtain second user location information using the second detecting method module <NUM>. In other words, the processor <NUM> may obtain the first and second user location information using the first detecting method and the second detecting method, respectively.

The processor <NUM> may identify whether a difference between the first user location information and the second user location information exceeds a threshold value. When it is identified that the difference between the first user location information and the second user location information exceeds the threshold value, the processor <NUM> may identify whether the user carries the electronic device.

When the difference between the user location information obtained using the first detecting method and the second detecting method, respectively is large, the processor <NUM> may identify whether the user carries the electronic device <NUM> to identify accurate information among the first and second user location information. The process of identifying whether the user carries the electronic device <NUM> has been described above, and therefore the overlapped description will not be repeated.

When it is identified that the user carries the electronic device <NUM>, the processor <NUM> may determine the first user location information obtained using the first detecting method as final location information of the user. When the user carries the electronic device <NUM>, the user location information obtained using the first detecting method may be comparatively accurate.

When it is identified that the user carries the electronic device <NUM>, the processor <NUM> may determine the second user location information obtained using the second detecting method as the final location information of the user. When it is identified that the user does not carry the electronic device <NUM>, the user location information obtained using the second detecting method may be comparatively accurate.

When it is identified that the difference between the first user location information and the second user location information does not exceed the threshold value, the processor <NUM> may determine the first user location information as the final location information of the user. When the user does not carry the electronic device <NUM>, the difference between the first user location information and the second user location information may be highly likely to exceed the threshold value. Accordingly, when the difference between the first user location information and the second user location information is the threshold value or less, the processor <NUM> may identify that the user currently carries the electronic device and identify the first user location information as the final location information of the user.

The processor <NUM> may train the first location detecting model based on learning data obtained using dead reckoning from the first detecting method. Specifically, when it is identified that the battery of the electronic device <NUM> is being charged, the processor <NUM> may identify whether the location of the electronic device <NUM> is the location where the location information of the user is able to be obtained via the second location detecting model.

When it is identified that the location of the electronic device <NUM> is a location here the location information of the user is able to be obtained via the second location detecting model and it is identified that the user carries the electronic device <NUM> again which was being charged, the processor <NUM> may obtain movement information of the electronic device via the first sensor <NUM>-<NUM> based on the current location of the electronic device <NUM>. For example, the processor <NUM> may obtain operation information of the user carrying the electronic device <NUM> or a movement direction by using the first sensor <NUM>-<NUM>.

The processor <NUM> may identify a path that the user walked with the electronic device <NUM> based on the operation information of the user or movement direction. The processor <NUM> may match a specific location of the identified path with feature information of the Wi-Fi signal received from the AP. The processor <NUM> may generate a fingerprint for each specific location by using the feature information of the matched Wi-Fi signal for each specific location of the path. The processor <NUM> may add the generated fingerprint for each specific location to the fingerprint database. The processor <NUM> may train the first location detecting model using the updated fingerprint database as the learning data.

The function related to the artificial intelligence applied to an artificial neural network according to the disclosure is operated by the processor <NUM> and the memory <NUM>. One or a plurality of processors <NUM> may perform control to process input data according to a predefined action rule stored in the memory <NUM> or an artificial intelligence model. In addition, if the one or the plurality of processors are artificial intelligence dedicated processors, the artificial intelligence dedicated processor may be designed to have a hardware structure specialized in processing of a specific artificial intelligence model.

The predefined action rule or the artificial intelligence model is formed through training. The forming through training herein may refer, for example, to forming a predefined action rule or an artificial intelligence model set to perform a desired feature (or object) by training a basic artificial intelligence model using a plurality of pieces of learning data by a learning algorithm. Such training may be performed in a device demonstrating artificial intelligence according to the disclosure or performed by a separate server and/or system.

Examples of the learning algorithm include supervised learning, unsupervised learning, semi-supervised learning, or reinforcement learning, but is not limited to these examples.

The artificial intelligence model may include a plurality of artificial neural networks and the artificial neural network may include a plurality of layers. The plurality of neural network layers have a plurality of weight values, respectively, and execute neural network processing through a processing result of a previous layer and processing between the plurality of weights. The plurality of weights of the plurality of neural network layers may be optimized by the training result of the artificial intelligence model. For example, the plurality of weights may be updated to reduce or to minimize a loss value or a cost value obtained by the artificial intelligence model during the training process.

The artificial neural network may include convolutional neural network (CNN), deep neural network (DNN), recurrent neural network (RNN), restricted Boltzmann machine (RBM), deep belief network (DBN), bidirectional recurrent deep neural network (BRDNN), deep Q-network, and the like, but the artificial neural network of the disclosure is not limited to the above examples, unless otherwise noted.

<FIG> is a flowchart for illustrating a method for controlling an electronic device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM> may obtain movement information of the electronic device <NUM> in operation S210. The electronic device <NUM> may obtain the movement information of the electronic device <NUM> via a first sensor (e.g., a gyro sensor, an acceleration sensor, a geomagnetism sensor, and the like).

The electronic device <NUM> may identify whether the user carries the electronic device <NUM> using the first determination module in operation S220. The electronic device <NUM> may identify whether the user carries the electronic device <NUM> based on whether the movement information is changed within the threshold time.

For example, if the movement information is not changed within the threshold time, the electronic device <NUM> may identify that the user does not carry the electronic device <NUM> using the first determination module. If the movement information is changed within the threshold time, the electronic device <NUM> may identify that the user carries the electronic device <NUM> using the first determination module.

In another embodiment of the disclosure, the electronic device <NUM> may identify whether the user carries the electronic device <NUM> based on a biological signal of the user obtained via the second sensor <NUM>-<NUM>. The embodiment related thereto has been described above, and therefore the overlapped description will not be repeated.

The electronic device <NUM> may determine a detecting method for detecting the location information of the user according to whether the user carries the electronic device using the second determination module in operation S230.

For example, when it is identified that the user carries the electronic device <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may determine the first detecting method for obtaining the movement information of the electronic device <NUM> and the location information of the user using at least one of the feature information of the first signal received from the AP. The first detecting method has been described above, and therefore the overlapped description will not be repeated.

In still another embodiment of the disclosure, when it is identified that the user does not carry the electronic device <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may determine the second determination method for obtaining the location information of the user using the feature information of the second signal received from at least one external device.

The electronic device <NUM> may obtain the user location information based on the determined detecting method in operation S240. The electronic device <NUM> may obtain the location information of the user using the detecting method module corresponding to the determined detecting method.

The embodiment in which the electronic device <NUM> obtains the location information of the user based on the second detecting method will be described with reference to <FIG>. The embodiment in which, when the second determination method is determined, the electronic device <NUM> transmits a command for obtaining the location information of the user to the at least one external device will be described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>.

Meanwhile, in still another embodiment of the disclosure, the electronic device <NUM> may determine the detecting method based on whether the battery is being charged. The embodiment related thereto will be described with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> is a flow diagram illustrating operations between an electronic device and an external device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Specifically, <FIG> is a flowchart for illustrating a process in which the electronic device <NUM> obtains the location information of the user using the second detecting method according to an embodiment of the disclosure. In other words, <FIG> is a flowchart for illustrating an operation after the electronic device <NUM> determines the second detecting method in operation S230 of <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM> may determine the second detecting method among the plurality of detecting methods in operation S310. The electronic device <NUM> may transmit a signal for requesting transmission of the second signal for obtaining the location information of the user to a first external device <NUM> via the second detecting method module corresponding to the second detecting method in operation S320.

When the request signal is received, the first external device <NUM> may change a normal mode to a user location detecting mode in operation S330. The normal mode may refer to an operation mode in which operations corresponding to various commands input from the user may be performed. The user location detecting mode may refer to an operation mode for performing an operation of emitting various signals (e.g., Wi-Fi signal and the like) to a direction of another device so that the other device obtains the user location information or obtaining the location information of the user based on the feature information of the signal received from the other device.

While being operated in the user location detecting mode, the first external device <NUM> may emit the second signal to various paths to transmit a part or the entirety of the second signal to the electronic device <NUM> in operation S340. The second signal may be a Wi-Fi signal, but this is merely an embodiment and the second signal may include a Bluetooth signal and the like.

The electronic device <NUM> may receive a part or the entirety of the second signal emitted from the first external device <NUM> to obtain the feature information of the second signal in operation S350. The electronic device <NUM> may obtain the location information of the user by inputting the feature information of the second signal to the second location detecting model in operation S360. The location of the electronic device <NUM> may be one of a plurality of predefined locations learned by the second location detecting model.

For example, the electronic device <NUM> may obtain the location information of the user for estimating the location of the user based on the predefined location of the electronic device <NUM> by inputting the CSI magnitude change amount of the Wi-Fi signal received from the first external device <NUM> via the first path and the second path to the second location detecting model via the second detecting method module <NUM>.

The electronic device <NUM> may identify whether the user is present within the threshold distance of the electronic device <NUM> based on the obtained location information of the user in operation S370. When it is identified that the user is present within the threshold distance, the electronic device <NUM> may store the obtained location information of the user in operation S380.

The electronic device <NUM> may perform a predefined operation corresponding to the location information of the user. For example, when it is identified that the user is present in an area set as a dangerous area based on the location information of the user, the electronic device <NUM> may output a message that the user is present in the area set as the dangerous area as a voice. However, this is merely an embodiment of the disclosure, and the predefined operation corresponding to the location information of the user may be variously set by the user.

The operation performed by the electronic device <NUM> when it is identified that the user is not present within the threshold distance of the electronic device <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> is a flow diagram for illustrating operations between an electronic device and a plurality of external devices according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Specifically, <FIG> is a flowchart for illustrating the operation performed by the electronic device <NUM> when it is identified that the user is not present within the threshold distance according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

When it is identified that the user is not present within the threshold distance of the electronic device <NUM> based on the location information of the user, the electronic device <NUM> may transmit a request signal for requesting to perform the operation of obtaining the location information of the user to the at least one external device.

Referring to <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM> may transmit the request signal for requesting to perform the operation of obtaining the location information of the user to a second external device <NUM> in operation S410. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the second external device <NUM> may be the same or different from the first external device <NUM>.

When the request signal is received, the second external device <NUM> may transmit a signal for requesting a third external device <NUM> to transmit a third signal for obtaining the location information of the user to the third external device <NUM> in operation S420. When the signal for requesting to transmit the third signal is received, the third external device <NUM> may change the normal mode to the user location detecting mode in operation S430.

While being operated in the user location detecting mode, the third external device <NUM> may emit the third signal in various paths so that a part or the entirety of the third signal is transmitted to the second external device <NUM> in operation S440. The third signal may be a Wi-Fi signal but this is merely an embodiment of the disclosure, and the third signal may include a Bluetooth signal and the like.

The second external device <NUM> may receive a part or the entirety of the third signal emitted from the third external device <NUM> to obtain the feature information of the third signal in operation S450. The second external device <NUM> may obtain the location information of the user by inputting the feature information of the third signal to a fourth location detecting model in operation S460. The fourth location detecting model may be an artificial intelligence model for performing the same operation as the second location detecting model.

For example, the second external device <NUM> may obtain the location information of the user for estimating the location of the user based on a predefined location of the second external device <NUM> by inputting the CSI magnitude change amount of the Wi-Fi signal received from the third external device <NUM> via a third path and a fourth path to a fifth location detecting model.

<FIG> is a flow diagram for illustrating operations between an electronic device and an external device according to an embodiment.

Specifically, <FIG> is a flowchart for illustrating an operation in which the first external device <NUM> obtains the location information of the user by the electronic device <NUM> according to an embodiment of the disclosure. Referring to <FIG>, it is a flowchart for illustrating an operation after the electronic device <NUM> determines the second detecting method in S230 of <FIG>.

The electronic device <NUM> may determine the second detecting method among the plurality of detecting methods in operation S510. The electronic device <NUM> may transmit a request signal for requesting to perform the operation of obtaining the location information of the user to the first external device <NUM> by using the second detecting method module corresponding to the second detecting method in operation S520.

When the request signal for requesting to perform the operation of obtaining the location information of the user is received, the first external device <NUM> may change the normal mode to the user location detecting mode in operation S530.

After a preset period of time after transmitting the request signal, the electronic device <NUM> may emit a fourth signal in various paths so that a part or the entirety of the fourth signal is transmitted to the second external device <NUM> in operation S540. Herein, the fourth signal may be a Wi-Fi signal, but this is merely an embodiment and the fourth signal may include a Bluetooth signal and the like.

However, this is merely an embodiment of the disclosure, and when the normal mode is changed to the user location detecting mode, the first external device <NUM> may transmit a signal indicating that the operation mode has changed to the electronic device <NUM>. When the signal indicating that the operation mode has changed is received, the electronic device <NUM> may emit the fourth signal so that a part or the entirety of the fourth signal is transmitted to the second external device <NUM>.

The first external device <NUM> may receive a part or the entirety of the fourth signal emitted from the electronic device <NUM> to obtain the feature information of the fourth signal in operation S550. The second external device <NUM> may obtain the location information of the user by inputting the feature information of the third signal to the fourth location detecting model in operation S560. The fourth location detecting model may be an artificial intelligence model for performing the same operation as the second or third location detecting model.

For example, the first external device <NUM> may obtain the location information of the user for estimating the location of the user based on the predefined location of the first external device <NUM> by inputting the CSI magnitude change amount of the Wi-Fi signal received from a fourth external device <NUM> via a fifth path and a sixth path to the fifth location detecting model.

The first external device <NUM> may identify whether the user is present within the threshold distance of the first external device based on the location information of the user in operation S570. When it is identified that the user is present within the threshold distance of the first external device <NUM>, the first external device <NUM> may store the obtained location information of the user in operation S580.

The first external device <NUM> may perform the predefined operation corresponding to the location information of the user. For example, when the first external device <NUM> is implemented as a refrigerator and it is identified that the user is within a preset distance of the refrigerator based on the location information of the user, the first external device <NUM> may display a UI showing information regarding thins in the refrigerator. However, this is merely an embodiment of the disclosure, and the predefined operation corresponding to the location information of the user may be variously set by the user.

When it is identified that the user is not present within the threshold distance of the first external device <NUM>, the first external device <NUM> may transmit a signal for requesting the change to the user location detecting mode to the other external device in operation S590. In other words, when the location of the user is not detected, the first external device <NUM> may transmit a request signal for requesting to detect the location of the user to the other device. The other device which has received the request signal may perform the operation for obtaining the location information of the user by changing the mode to the user location detecting mode.

<FIG> is a flowchart for illustrating a process of determining a detecting method based on whether a battery of an electronic device is being charged according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Specifically, <FIG> is a flowchart for illustrating a process in which the electronic device <NUM> determines the detecting method based on whether the battery is being charged according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM> may identify whether the battery is being charged in operation S610. The electronic device <NUM> may identify whether the battery is currently being charged through a wired cable connected to a device supplying power or a wireless charging method.

The electronic device <NUM> may determine the user detecting method based on whether the battery is being charged in operation S620. The battery being charged may imply that the user is highly likely to not carry the electronic device. When it is identified that the battery of the electronic device <NUM> is being charged, the electronic device <NUM> may determine the second detecting method.

The battery not being charged may imply that the user is highly likely to carry and use the electronic device <NUM>. When it is identified that the battery of the electronic device <NUM> is not being charged, the electronic device <NUM> may determine the first detecting method.

The electronic device <NUM> may obtain the user location information using the detecting method module corresponding to the determined detecting method in operation S630. The process of obtaining the location information of the user using each detecting method module has been described above, and therefore the overlapped description will not be repeated.

<FIG> is a flowchart for illustrating a process for determining a detecting method based on whether a battery of an electronic device is being charged and a location of the electronic device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Specifically, <FIG> is a flowchart for illustrating a method for obtaining the user location information by the electronic device <NUM> based on whether the battery is being charged according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM> may identify whether the battery of the electronic device <NUM> is being charged in operation S710. When it is identified that the battery is being charged, the electronic device <NUM> may obtain current location information of the electronic device <NUM> using the feature information of the second signal received from the at least one external device in operation S720-Y.

The electronic device <NUM> may obtain the location information of the electronic device by inputting the feature information of the second signal received from the at least one external device to the third location detecting model. For example, the electronic device <NUM> may obtain the location information of the electronic device <NUM> by inputting the RSS information of the Wi-Fi signal received from the at least one external device to the third location detecting model.

The electronic device <NUM> may identify whether the current location of the electronic device <NUM> is a location for obtaining the user location information using the second location detecting model based on the location information of the electronic device <NUM> in operation S730.

The second location detecting model may be trained using the feature information of the second signal received from the external device at a plurality of predefined locations determined by the user and the location information of the user matched with the feature information of the second signal. The location for obtaining the user location information using the second location detecting model may refer to a predefined location learned by the second location detecting model.

When it is identified that the current location of the electronic device is a location for obtaining the user location information using the second location detecting model, the electronic device <NUM> may obtain the location information of the user by inputting the feature information of the second signal to the second location model in operation S740.

When it is not identified that the current location of the electronic device is a location for obtaining the user location information using the second location detecting model, the electronic device <NUM> may obtain the user location information based on the first detecting method in operation S720-N.

Meanwhile, when it is identified that the battery is not being charged, the electronic device <NUM> may obtain the user location information based on the first detecting method in operation S720-N.

<FIG> is a flowchart for illustrating a process in which an electronic device obtains final location information of a user according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM> may obtain the first user location information using the first detecting method and the second user location information using the second detecting method in operation S810.

The electronic device <NUM> may obtain the first user location information using the fingerprint comparing method or dead reckoning from the first detecting method. At the same time or regardless of the order, the electronic device <NUM> may obtain the location information of the user based on the feature information of the second signal received from the at least one external device.

The electronic device <NUM> may identify whether the difference between the first user location information and the second user location information exceeds the threshold value in operation S820. If the difference between the first user location information and the second user location information obtained using the first detecting method and the second detecting method, respectively is large, the electronic device <NUM> may identify whether the user currently carries the electronic device <NUM> to identify accurate information among the first and second user location information.

Accordingly, the electronic device <NUM> may obtain the movement information of the electronic device <NUM> in operation S830. The electronic device <NUM> may identify whether the user carries (have) the electronic device <NUM> based on the obtained movement information in operation S840. However, this is merely an embodiment of the disclosure, and the electronic device <NUM> may identify whether the user carries the electronic device <NUM> based on the biological signal of the user obtained via the second sensor.

When it is identified that the user carries the electronic device <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may determine the first user location information as the final location information of the user in operation S850. The first detecting method is a method for detecting the location of the user assuming that the user carries the electronic device <NUM>. Accordingly, when the user carries the electronic device <NUM>, the first user location information obtained using the first detecting method may be comparatively accurate.

When it is identified that the user does not carry the electronic device <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may determine the second user location information as the final location information of the user in operation S860. The second detecting method is a method for detecting the location of the user assuming that the user does not carry the electronic device <NUM>. Accordingly, when the user does not carry the electronic device <NUM>, the second user location information obtained using the second detecting method may be comparatively accurate.

Meanwhile, when it is identified that the difference between the first user location information and the second user location information does not exceed the threshold value, the electronic device <NUM> may determine the first user location information as the final location information of the user in operation S850.

When the user does not carry the electronic device <NUM>, the difference between the first user location information and the second user location information may be highly likely to exceed the threshold value. Accordingly, when the difference between the first user location information and the second user location information is threshold value or less, the electronic device <NUM> may identify that the user currently carries the electronic device and identify the first user location information as the final location information of the user.

<FIG> is a block diagram for specifically illustrating a configuration of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM> may include the sensor <NUM>, the memory <NUM>, the communicator <NUM>, the processor <NUM>, an input unit <NUM>, a display <NUM>, and a speaker <NUM>. The sensor <NUM>, the memory <NUM>, the communicator <NUM>, and the processor <NUM> have been described above with reference to <FIG>, and therefore the overlapped description will not be repeated.

The input unit <NUM> may receive a user input for controlling the electronic device <NUM>. More particularly, the input unit <NUM> may include a touch panel for receiving a user touch using user's fingers or a stylus pen, a button for receiving user manipulation, and the like. In addition, the input unit <NUM> may be implemented as other input devices (e.g., a keyboard, a mouse, a motion input unit, and the like). More particularly, the input unit <NUM> may receive a user command for changing the threshold value described above with reference to <FIG>.

In addition, the input unit <NUM> may receive a user command for setting an operation corresponding to the location information of the user. When the user command for setting the operation corresponding to the location information of the user is received via the input unit <NUM>, the processor <NUM> may store the operation corresponding to the location of the user in the memory <NUM> based on the received user command.

The display <NUM> may display various pieces of information according to the control of the processor <NUM>. The display <NUM> may be implemented as a touch screen with the touch panel or may be implemented as a flexible display and the like.

The display <NUM> may display a UI screen including the location information of the user under the control of the processor <NUM>. The UI screen may include information regarding a method for obtaining the location information of the user by the processor <NUM>. In addition, the UI screen may include information regarding an operation to be performed corresponding to the current location of the user and a UI for changing or adding the operation to be performed.

When the user is not present within the threshold distance of the electronic device <NUM>, the display <NUM> may display a message or an indicator indicating that the user is not present within the threshold distance of the electronic device <NUM> under the control of the processor <NUM>.

Meanwhile, it should be noted that the accompanying drawings in the disclosure are not for limiting the technologies disclosed in this disclosure to a specific embodiment of the disclosure. In relation to explanation of the drawings, similar reference numerals may be used for similar elements.

In this disclosure, the terms, such as "comprise", "may comprise", "consist of", or "may consist of" are used herein to designate a presence of corresponding features (e.g., constituent elements, such as number, function, operation, or part), and not to preclude a presence of additional features.

In this disclosure, expressions, such as "A or B", "at least one of A [and/or] B,", or "one or more of A [and/or] B," include all possible combinations of the listed items. For example, "A or B", "at least one of A and B,", or "at least one of A or B" includes any of (<NUM>) at least one A, (<NUM>) at least one B, or (<NUM>) at least one A and at least one B.

The expressions "first," "second" and the like used in the disclosure may denote various elements, regardless of order and/or importance, and may be used to distinguish one element from another, and does not limit the elements.

If it is described that a certain element (e.g., a first element) is "operatively or communicatively coupled with/to" or is "connected to" another element (e.g., a second element), it should be understood that the certain element may be connected to the other element directly or through still another element (e.g., a third element). On the other hand, if it is described that a certain element (e.g., the first element) is "directly coupled to" or "directly connected to" another element (e.g., the second element), it may be understood that there is no element (e.g., the third element) between the certain element and the another element.

In addition, the expression "configured to" used in the disclosure may be interchangeably used with other expressions, such as "designed to," "adapted to," "made to,'' depending on cases. Meanwhile, the expression "configured to" does not necessarily refer to a device being "specifically designed to" in terms of hardware. For example, the phrase "a unit or a processor configured (or set) to perform A, B, and C" may refer, for example, and without limitation, to a dedicated processor (e.g., an embedded processor) for performing the corresponding operations, a generic-purpose processor (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU) or an application processor), or the like, that can perform the corresponding operations by executing one or more software programs stored in a memory device.

An electronic device according to various embodiments of the disclosure may include at least one of, for example, a smartphone, a tablet PC, a desktop PC, a laptop PC, a netbook PC, a server, a PDA, a medical device, or a wearable device. In addition, in some embodiments of the disclosure, the external device may include at least one of, for example, a television, a refrigerator, an air conditioner, an air purifier, a set-top box, and a media box (e.g., SAMSUNG HOMESYNCTM, APPLE TVTM, or GOOGLE TVTM).

Various embodiments of the disclosure may be implemented as software including instructions stored in machine (e.g., computer)-readable storage media. The machine is a device which invokes instructions stored in the storage medium and is operated according to the invoked instructions, and may include a server cloud according to the embodiments described above. In a case where the instruction is executed by a processor, the processor may perform a function corresponding to the instruction directly or using other elements under the control of the processor. The instruction may include a code made by a compiler or a code executable by an interpreter. The machine-readable storage medium may be provided in a form of a non-transitory storage medium. Here, the "non-transitory storage medium" is tangible and may not include signals, and it does not distinguish that data is semi-permanently or temporarily stored in the storage medium. For example, the "non-transitory storage medium" may include a buffer temporarily storing data.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the methods according to various embodiments disclosed in this disclosure may be provided to be included in a computer program product. The computer program product may be exchanged between a seller and a purchaser as a commercially available product. The computer program product may be distributed in the form of a machine-readable storage medium (e.g., compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM)) or distributed online through an application store (e.g., PlayStoreTM). In a case of the on-line distribution, at least a part of the computer program product may be at least temporarily stored or temporarily generated in a storage medium, such as a memory of a server of a manufacturer, a server of an application store, or a relay server.

Each of the elements (e.g., a module or a program) according to various embodiments described above may include a single entity or a plurality of entities, and some sub-elements of the abovementioned sub-elements may be omitted or other sub-elements may be further included in various embodiments. Alternatively or additionally, some elements (e.g., modules or programs) may be integrated into one entity to perform the same or similar functions performed by each respective element prior to the integration. Operations performed by a module, a program, or other elements, in accordance with various embodiments of the disclosure, may be performed sequentially, in a parallel, repetitive, or heuristically manner, or at least some operations may be performed in a different order, omitted, or may add a different operation.

Claim 1:
An electronic device (<NUM>) comprising:
a communicator (<NUM>) comprising circuitry;
a first sensor (<NUM>-<NUM>) configured to detect movement information of the electronic device;
a memory (<NUM>) comprising:
a first determination module (<NUM>) configured to determine whether a user carries the electronic device (<NUM>), and
a second determination module (<NUM>) configured to determine a detecting method for detecting a user location; and
a processor (<NUM>) configured to:
identify whether a user of the electronic device carries the electronic device (<NUM>) based on the movement information of the electronic device (<NUM>) obtained by the first sensor (<NUM>-<NUM>) by using the first determination module (<NUM>),
determine a detecting method for detecting location information of the user according to whether the user carries the electronic device (<NUM>) by using the second determination module (<NUM>),
based on the user being identified to carry the electronic device (<NUM>), determine a first detecting method for obtaining the location information of the user using at least one of the movement information of the electronic device (<NUM>) or feature information of a first signal received from an access point (AP) via the communicator (<NUM>); and
based on the user being identified to not carry the electronic device (<NUM>), determine a second detecting method for obtaining the location information of the user using feature information of a second signal received from at least one external device (<NUM>) via the communicator (<NUM>).