KR100723015B1 - Device for performing specific function by using mobile and the mobile - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a mobile terminal for performing a specific function using a mobile terminal. According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a mobile terminal comprising: an interface unit coupled to an external interface provided at one side of a mobile terminal; A memory unit for storing data read from a storage module of the mobile terminal through an interface unit; And a docking station that performs a specific function using a mobile terminal including a function unit that reads out arbitrary data stored in the storage module and stores the read data in a memory unit and performs a function corresponding to the data stored in the memory unit . Accordingly, it is possible to provide an apparatus and a mobile terminal for performing specific functions such as a game, a movie reproduction, and a music reproduction using the mobile terminal.

Terminal, mobile phone, detachment, docking

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for performing a specific function using a mobile terminal,

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an entire system for performing a specific function using a mobile terminal according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG.

2 is a functional block diagram of a mobile terminal according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a functional block diagram of a docking station according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 and 5 illustrate a process of performing a specific function using a mobile terminal in a docking station according to preferred embodiments of the present invention.

6 and 7 are diagrams illustrating a docking station according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Description of the Related Art [0002]

100: mobile terminal

110: communication module

120: Storage module

130: External interface

140: Control module

200: Docking station

210:

220:

230:

240:

250: Function

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the use of a mobile terminal, and more particularly, to an apparatus and a mobile terminal for performing a specific function using a mobile terminal.

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, mobile terminals have been equipped with modules for various functions such as a camera module, an MP3 module, and a game phone, as well as a communication function according to various needs of users. As a result, the size of the mobile communication terminal is increased and the portable communication terminal becomes inconvenient to carry. There is also a problem in that the function of the mounted module is subject to various restrictions according to the size limitation of the mobile terminal. For example, when the game module is mounted on the mobile terminal, the display module of the small size of the mobile terminal does not provide as much interest to the user as using the dedicated game machine.

In addition, all the modules according to the functions that are not used frequently are often mounted, and there is also a problem of wasting costs for purchasing the mobile communication terminal from the user's point of view.

In addition, the modules according to each function to be installed are developed at a very high speed, and in order to use the upgraded functions, a new mobile terminal must be purchased.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a mobile terminal for performing specific functions such as a game, a movie reproduction, and a music reproduction using a mobile terminal.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device for each additional function that can be detached from a mobile terminal by reducing a manufacturing cost or the like of a mobile terminal by installing only a basic communication function and a storage space in the mobile terminal.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device for performing a specific function using a mobile terminal that is easy to apply a device according to a new function to a mobile terminal and a mobile terminal thereof.

Other objects of the present invention will become more apparent through the following preferred embodiments.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mobile terminal comprising: an interface unit coupled to an external interface provided at one side of a mobile terminal; A memory unit for storing data read from a storage module of the mobile terminal through the interface unit; And a function unit for reading out arbitrary data stored in the storage module and storing the data in the memory unit and performing a function corresponding to the data stored in the memory unit, A station is provided.

The mobile terminal may further include a communication unit for performing communication with a communication network using the communication module of the mobile terminal coupled through the interface unit under the control of the functional unit, It is possible to determine whether communication with the communication network is necessary and to control the communication unit.

The apparatus may further include a search unit for searching for arbitrary data stored in a storage module of the mobile terminal coupled through the interface unit. The search unit may search only data in a format executable by the functional unit.

The search unit may further include a display unit for displaying information on the searched data.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mobile terminal comprising: an interface unit coupled to an external interface provided at one side of a mobile terminal; A communication unit for communicating with a communication network using the communication module of the mobile terminal through the interface unit; A memory unit for storing data received from the communication network through the communication unit; And a function unit for controlling the communication unit and performing a function corresponding to the data received from the communication network and stored in the memory unit, the docking station performing a specific function using the mobile terminal.

According to the above aspects, the interface unit may be in the form of a pin or a jack.

In addition, the memory unit may store a function program corresponding to the function.

In addition, the function may be any one of video data reproduction, audio data reproduction, and game.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mobile terminal comprising: an external interface; Storage module; A communication module for communicating with a communication network; And a control module for controlling the communication module so that the docking station coupled through the external interface performs communication with the communication network, wherein the docking station uses any data stored in the storage module. Is provided.

Here, the docking station may perform at least one of image data reproduction, audio data reproduction, and game.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording medium on which a program readable by the docking station is recorded, the program being embodied so as to be executable in a docking station to perform a specific function using the mobile terminal Searching for data stored in a mobile terminal coupled via an interface; Determining whether the searched data is usable data corresponding to at least one preset function program; And executing the step of loading the retrieved data and executing the function program when it is determined that the data is usable data.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Hereinafter, an apparatus and a mobile terminal for performing a specific function using a mobile terminal according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same or corresponding components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description thereof will be omitted.

Hereinafter, an apparatus for performing a specific function using the mobile terminal according to the present invention will be referred to as a 'docking station'.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing an overall system for performing a specific function using a mobile terminal according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a functional block of a mobile terminal according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a functional block diagram of a docking station according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the overall system includes a mobile terminal 100 and a docking station 200.

The mobile terminal 100 may be a mobile phone such as a PCS, a PDA, or the like, and all terminals capable of performing wireless communication through a communication network such as a CDMA network, a WCDMA network, or the Internet may be similarly applied.

2, a mobile terminal 100 according to the present invention includes a communication module 110, a storage module 120, an external interface 130, and a control module 140.

The communication module 110 performs a function of transmitting and receiving data with a communication network. The data transmitted and received may include multimedia data such as a text message, an image, and a moving picture as well as voice data according to a telephone call.

The storage module 120 stores an operation program of the mobile terminal 100, communication related information (e.g., an electronic serial number (ESN), a telephone number Etc.). In particular, the storage module 120 according to the present invention can store various data (for example, a movie file, a music file, etc.) with a large storage space such as an HDD memory of a general desktop computer.

The external interface 130 is a means for coupling with an external docking station 200 (see FIG. 1). The mobile terminal 100 transmits and receives an electric signal to / from the docking station 200, can do. The external interface 130 may be coupled to a charger or the like to supply power to the battery. That is, the external interface 130 may be an interface formed at a lower portion of most of the mobile terminals 100, which are currently used, and may be formed separately at other positions.

The external interface 130 may be formed in a convex shape or a recessed shape than the other portions of the mobile terminal 100 and the mobile terminal 100 may be connected to the external interface 130 through the external interface 130, It can be fixed to one side.

The control module 140 may enable the mobile terminal 100 to perform wireless communication through a communication network and may be connected to the communication module 110 And the storage module 120 and the like.

Of course, the mobile terminal 100 may also include an antenna for transmitting and receiving signals to / from a communication network, a speaker / microphone for voice communication, a voice processing module for processing voice data input from a microphone or voice data received from a communication network, And a display module such as a liquid crystal display. However, since this is a general component of the mobile terminal 100, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the docking station 200 is a device that can be coupled to and disconnected from the mobile terminal 100, and can perform a specific function (e.g., playing a game, playing music, playing a movie, etc.).

The docking station 200 illustrated in FIG. 1 illustrates a structure for a game function, and may be formed in a structure suitable for other specific functions such as movie playback and music playback. .

The docking station 200 according to the present invention may be combined through the external interface 130 of the mobile terminal 100 to perform a unique function using the communication module 110 and the storage module 120 of the mobile terminal 100 . For example, when the docking station 200 includes a game module, the docking station 200 may read or load the game program stored in the storage module 120 of the combined mobile terminal 100, And the corresponding game program can be executed through the game module. In particular, when the game stored in the mobile terminal 100 is a game that is accessed by connecting to an arbitrary server or another terminal through a communication network, such as an online game, the docking station 200 transmits A game can be performed through a communication network using the communication module 110.

In another example, when the docking station 200 includes a music playback module, the docking station 200 can read or load music files stored in the combined mobile terminal 100 and play back the music files. Also, the docking station 200 may access the communication network through the communication module 110 of the associated mobile terminal 100 to download music files or the like to reproduce them.

3, the docking station 200 includes an interface unit 210, a communication unit 220, a search unit 230, a memory unit 240, and a functional unit 250. [ . Of course, it is needless to say that some components (e.g., the communication unit 220 and the search unit 230) of the docking station 200 do not necessarily have to be implemented in hardware, but may be implemented in a software program.

The interface unit 210 is a means for coupling to the external interface 130 provided at one side of the mobile terminal 100. The docking station 200 may be coupled to the mobile terminal 100 through the interface 210 to use the communication module 110 and the storage module 120 of the mobile terminal 100. The interface unit 210 may be implemented as a pin, a jack, or the like.

The communication unit 220 performs communication with the communication network using the communication module 110 of the mobile terminal 100 coupled through the interface unit 210. That is, the communication unit 220 may control the communication module 110 through the control module 140 of the mobile terminal 100 to perform wireless communication with the communication network. Accordingly, the docking station 200 can communicate with the communication network using the mobile terminal 100 through the communication unit 220. [

Accordingly, the communication unit 220 can communicate with the communication module of the mobile terminal 100 by using communication information for connection with the communication network (for example, a communication network connection request And the response, the URL of the server device to be accessed, etc.).

The search unit 230 searches for data stored in the storage unit of the mobile terminal 100 coupled through the interface unit 210. [ In particular, the search unit 230 may search all types of data stored in the mobile terminal 100, but may search only data corresponding to a specific function of the docking station 200. Thus, the docking station 200 may load some or all of the searched data.

The memory unit 240 stores arbitrary data read (read or loaded) from the storage module 120 of the mobile terminal 100 coupled through the interface unit 210. In addition, the memory unit 240 stores a function program corresponding to a specific function (e.g., a game, a movie reproduction, a music reproduction, and the like) of the docking station 200.

The function unit 250 executes the function program stored in the memory unit 240 and processes the loaded and stored data from the mobile terminal 100 coupled through the interface unit 210 according to the function program. For example, if the function program is an MP3 player and the data loaded and stored in the mobile terminal 120 is an MP3 file, the function unit 250 reproduces the MP3 file in an MP3 player and outputs the MP3 file through a built-in speaker or the like . In addition, the function unit 250 controls the communication unit 220 to access an arbitrary server device or the like of the communication network through the mobile terminal 100 to receive and play the audio file in real time. In addition, the function unit 250 determines whether communication with the communication network is necessary to perform the function, and controls the communication unit 220 while performing the specific function.

As another example, when the function unit 250 includes a game module and the data loaded from the mobile terminal 100 is a game program, the function unit 250 can execute the game program through the game module. When the game program is an online game, the function unit 250 performs wireless communication with the communication network using the communication module 110 of the mobile terminal 100, so that the user can access the docking station 200 according to the present invention, It is possible to perform an online game according to a corresponding game program through a communication network. That is, the functional unit 250 can transmit and receive data with the communication network by controlling the communication unit 220 when data communication with the communication network is required at the time of performing a function such as a game.

When the docking station 200 according to the present invention can perform a plurality of functions (for example, a movie playback function and a music playback function), the memory unit 240 stores function programs corresponding to the respective functions And the function unit 250 can recognize the type of the data so that the function program corresponding to the loaded data can be executed from the combined mobile terminal 100. [ For example, if the data loaded from the mobile terminal 100 is a video data format such as MOV or AVI, a function program for movie playback or an audio data format such as MP3 and WAV can be executed . Therefore, if the mobile terminal 100 is coupled to the docking station 200 without any additional input, a specific function of the docking station 200 can be automatically performed, thereby providing convenience to the user. Of course, it will be appreciated that a functional program selected by a user may be executed through an input unit (not shown) such as a button provided in the docking station 200. [

In addition, the docking station 200 according to the present invention may further include a display unit (not shown) such as a liquid crystal display, as shown in FIG. For example, when the docking station 200 can perform the movie playback function, the image corresponding to the movie can be output through the display unit.

In addition, the docking station 200 according to the present invention may further include an input unit (not shown) for inputting a URL of a server device to be connected using the mobile terminal 100. Also, the user can select some of the data retrieved from the mobile terminal 100 through the input unit, and have the docking station 200 execute the function program corresponding thereto. Button type and the like are constituent elements that are applied to most electronic apparatuses, and will be obvious to those skilled in the art, so that a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

4 and 5 illustrate a process of performing a specific function using a mobile terminal in a docking station according to preferred embodiments of the present invention.

Hereinafter, it will be assumed that the docking station 200 has a movie playback function.

Referring to FIG. 4, in operation 410, the docking station 200 searches for data stored in the storage module 120 of the combined mobile terminal 100, and displays the information retrieved in operation 420. Here, all the data stored in the storage module 120 of the mobile terminal 100 can be searched, but only the video data having the format of AVI, MOV or the like corresponding to the movie playback function can be searched. That is, the docking station 200 can search only data according to the functions provided.

Accordingly, in step 430, the user can select the data to be executed after confirming the searched information. In step 440, the docking station 200 reads the selected data from the mobile terminal 100 and executes the function program corresponding to the data read out in step 450. That is, the docking station 200 executes the movie playback program to play back the loaded image data.

Here, as described above, the docking station 200 may automatically load the data stored in the storage module 120 and execute the corresponding function program without selecting input from the user. That is, it can be determined whether the retrieved data can be executed in order, and the retrieved data can be executed by executing the function program immediately after the executable data is retrieved.

Referring to FIG. 5, the docking station 200 searches for data stored in the mobile terminal 100 when the mobile terminal 100 is coupled in step 510, It is determined whether or not it is data. That is, the docking station 200 determines whether the searched data is image data. If it is determined that the detected data is not image data, the process proceeds to step 510 to search for next data.

If it is determined in step 520 that the searched data is available image data, the docking station 200 reads the corresponding data in step 530, executes the function program for movie playback, and stores the read data in accordance with the function program .

Unlike the embodiment of performing the specific function using the mobile terminal 100 in the docking station 200 according to the above-described FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, And may perform a function corresponding to data received in real time from a communication network through the mobile terminal 100, as will be apparent from the foregoing description.

6 and 7 are diagrams illustrating a docking station according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates an image docking station 600 having an image playback function for reproducing image data stored in the mobile terminal 100 or received from a communication network through the mobile terminal 100. The image docking station 600 may have a large size display device suitable for movie playback.

An audio docking station 700 having an audio playback function for reproducing audio data stored in the mobile terminal 100 or received from a communication network through the mobile terminal 100 is shown in FIG. The audio docking station 700 may include a speaker having a plurality of channels suitable for audio reproduction and having a larger volume output.

The method of the present invention as described above can be implemented by a program and stored in a computer-readable recording medium (such as a CD-ROM, a RAM, a ROM, a floppy disk, a hard disk, or a magneto-optical disk).

It is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and many modifications may be made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the present invention.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an apparatus and a mobile terminal for performing specific functions such as a game, a movie reproduction, and a music reproduction using a mobile terminal.

In addition, it is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost and the like of the mobile terminal by installing only the basic communication function and the storage space in the mobile terminal, and it is also possible to provide a separate device for each additional function that can be detached from the mobile terminal.

The present invention also provides an apparatus for performing a specific function using a mobile terminal, which is detachable from the mobile terminal.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. And changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (12)

An interface unit coupled to an external interface provided at one side of the mobile terminal; A search unit for searching for arbitrary data stored in a storage module of the mobile terminal coupled through the interface unit; A memory unit for storing data read by the search unit and read from a storage module of the mobile terminal through the interface unit; And And a function unit for reading out arbitrary data stored in the storage module and storing the read data in the memory unit and performing a function corresponding to the data stored in the memory unit. The method according to claim 1, And a communication unit for performing communication with a communication network using the communication module of the mobile terminal coupled through the interface unit under the control of the functional unit, Wherein the function unit determines whether communication with the communication network is necessary to perform a function corresponding to the data, and controls the communication unit. delete Claim 4 has been abandoned due to the setting registration fee. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the searching unit searches only data of a format executable by the functional unit, and performs a specific function using the mobile terminal. The method according to claim 1, And a display unit for displaying information on the data searched by the search unit. The docking station performs a specific function using the mobile terminal. An interface unit coupled to an external interface provided at one side of the mobile terminal; A communication unit for communicating with a communication network using the communication module of the mobile terminal through the interface unit; A memory unit for storing data received from the communication network through the communication unit; And And a function unit for controlling the communication unit and performing a function corresponding to the data received from the communication network and stored in the memory unit. Claim 7 has been abandoned due to the setting registration fee. 7. The method according to claim 1 or 6, Wherein the interface unit is in the form of a pin or a jack. The docking station performs a specific function using the mobile terminal. Claim 8 has been abandoned due to the setting registration fee. 7. The method according to claim 1 or 6, And the memory unit stores a function program corresponding to the function. The docking station performs a specific function using the mobile terminal. Claim 9 has been abandoned due to the setting registration fee. 7. The method according to claim 1 or 6, Wherein the function is one of image data reproduction, audio data reproduction, and a game, the docking station performing a specific function using the mobile terminal. In the mobile terminal, External interface; Storage module; A communication module for communicating with a communication network; And And a control module for controlling the communication module such that a docking station coupled through the external interface communicates with the communication network using the communication module, Wherein the docking station searches for any data stored in the storage module and uses the searched data. Claim 11 has been abandoned due to the set registration fee. 11. The method of claim 10, Wherein the docking station performs at least one of image data reproduction, audio data reproduction, and game. A recording medium on which a program that can be read by the docking station is recorded, the program being tangibly embodied so as to be executable on a docking station to perform a specific function using the mobile terminal, Searching for data stored in a mobile terminal coupled through an interface; Determining whether the searched data is usable data corresponding to at least one preset function program; And And executing the function program by loading the retrieved data if it is determined that the data is usable data.

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