KR101917687B1 - Mobile terminal and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mobile terminal in cooperation with an external device and a control method thereof. One embodiment of the present invention relates to a mobile terminal interworking with an external device. The mobile terminal comprising: a memory for storing first menu information associated with the mobile terminal; A communication unit for receiving second menu information related to the external device from the external device; A controller for synchronizing the first menu information and the second menu information in response to the connection between the mobile terminal and the external device and generating synchronized menu information; And a display unit for displaying the synchronized menu information.

Description

[0001] MOBILE TERMINAL AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF [0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a mobile terminal, and more particularly, to a mobile terminal interfacing with an external device and a control method thereof.

A terminal can be divided into a mobile or portable terminal and a stationary terminal depending on whether the terminal is movable or not. The mobile terminal can be divided into a handheld terminal and a vehicle mount terminal according to whether the user can directly carry the mobile terminal.

As the functions of such terminals are diversified, they are implemented in the form of a multimedia player having complex functions such as photographing and photographing of movies, reproduction of music and video files, games, and broadcasting reception . Further, in order to support and enhance the function of the terminal, it may be considered to improve the structural and software parts of the terminal.

As an example of such an improvement, an N screen (N Screen) technique can be applied to a mobile terminal interworking with an external device. N screen refers to a technology or service capable of continuously enjoying a single multimedia content on a plurality of electronic devices (e.g., digital TV, tablet PC, smart phone, etc.).

An object of the present invention is to provide a user interface for easily controlling an external device connected to a mobile terminal using a mobile terminal.

One embodiment of the present invention relates to a mobile terminal interworking with an external device. The mobile terminal comprising: a memory for storing first menu information associated with the mobile terminal; A communication unit for receiving second menu information related to the external device from the external device; A controller for synchronizing the first menu information and the second menu information in response to the connection between the mobile terminal and the external device and generating synchronized menu information; And a display unit for displaying the synchronized menu information.

In one embodiment of the present invention, when the control command corresponding to the menu item of the synchronized menu information is detected, the controller selects either the external device or the mobile terminal according to priority information, May control the function corresponding to the control command among the functions related to the control command.

In an embodiment, when at least one of the first and second menu information is updated, the controller may resynchronize the first menu information and the second menu information.

In an embodiment, the control unit may control the display unit to display the first menu information, the second menu information, and the synchronized menu information on different screen images. Here, the second menu information may include an icon and additional information corresponding to the application of the external device. In addition, the control unit may control the display unit to display a screen image including the synchronized menu information in preference to other screen images.

In an embodiment, the control unit may select at least some of the plurality of menu items of the synchronized menu information based on at least one of synchronized location information, synchronized time information, favorite setting, and device connection information It is possible to control the display unit to display it.

In an exemplary embodiment, the controller may determine whether to display the synchronized menu information based on a user input when the mobile terminal and the external device are disconnected. When the mobile terminal is connected to another external device and the external device and the other external device have the same menu information, the controller may apply the synchronized menu information to the other external device .

One embodiment of the present invention relates to a control method of a mobile terminal in cooperation with an external device. Reading the first menu information associated with the mobile terminal from the memory; Receiving second menu information related to the external device from the external device; Synchronizing the first menu information and the second menu information in response to the connection between the mobile terminal and the external device, and generating synchronized menu information; And displaying the synchronized menu information.

In one embodiment, the control method further comprises: selecting any one of the external device and the mobile terminal according to the priority information when a control command corresponding to the menu item of the synchronized menu information is detected; And controlling a function corresponding to the control command among the functions associated with the selected one.

The control method may further include synchronizing the first menu information and the second menu information again when at least one of the first and second menu information is updated.

In one embodiment, in the displaying the synchronized menu information, the first menu information, the second menu information, and the synchronized menu information may be displayed on different screen images. At least one of the plurality of menu items of the synchronized menu information may include at least one of synchronized location information, synchronized time information, favorite setting information, and device connection information, As shown in FIG.

The control method may further include determining whether to display the synchronized menu information based on a user input when disconnecting the mobile terminal and the external device. When the mobile terminal is connected to another external device and the external device and the other external device determine that they have the same menu information, the control method may be such that the synchronized menu information is applied to the other external device The method comprising the steps of:

According to the present invention, when the mobile terminal and the external device are connected, by synchronizing the menu information of the mobile terminal with the menu information of the external device, the user can easily control the external device using the synchronized menu information displayed on the mobile terminal .

In addition, implementing N screen technology in a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention can improve user convenience in controlling a plurality of external devices connected to the mobile terminal.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a mobile terminal according to the present invention.
2A and 2B are perspective views showing an appearance of a mobile terminal according to the present invention.
3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a mobile terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a conceptual diagram showing an embodiment of a user interface of a mobile terminal for controlling an external device using synchronized menu information.
5 to 7 are conceptual diagrams illustrating a user interface of a mobile terminal for displaying synchronized menu information according to an embodiment of the present invention.
8 to 11 are conceptual diagrams showing a user interface of a mobile terminal related to synchronization of menu information according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily carry out the technical idea of the present invention. The present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. In order to clearly explain the present invention, parts not related to the description are omitted, and like parts are denoted by similar reference numerals throughout the specification.

The mobile terminal described herein may include a mobile phone, a smart phone, a laptop computer, a digital broadcasting terminal, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistants), a PMP (Portable Multimedia Player), a navigator, have. However, it should be understood that the configuration according to the embodiments described herein may be applied to a fixed terminal such as a digital TV, a desktop computer, and the like, unless it is applicable only to a mobile terminal. It will be easy to see.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a mobile terminal 100 according to the present invention. 1, a mobile terminal 100 includes a wireless communication unit 110, an A / V input unit 120, a user input unit 130, a sensing unit 140, an output unit 150, A controller 160, an interface unit 170, a controller 180, and a power supply unit 190. The components shown in Fig. 1 are not essential, so that a mobile terminal having more or fewer components can be implemented.

Hereinafter, the components 110 to 190 of the mobile terminal 100 will be described in order.

The wireless communication unit 110 may include one or more modules for enabling wireless communication between the mobile terminal 100 and the wireless communication system or between the mobile terminal 100 and the network in which the mobile terminal 100 is located. For example, the wireless communication unit 110 may include a broadcast receiving module 111, a mobile communication module 112, a wireless Internet module 113, a short distance communication module 114, and a location information module 115.

The broadcast receiving module 111 receives broadcast signals and broadcast related information from an external broadcast management server through a broadcast channel. Here, the broadcast-related information means information related to a broadcast channel, a broadcast program, or a broadcast service provider. The broadcast-related information can also be provided through a mobile communication network. In this case, the broadcast-related information may be received by the mobile communication module 112. The broadcast signal and the broadcast-related information received through the broadcast receiving module 111 may be stored in the memory 160.

The mobile communication module 112 transmits and receives radio signals to at least one of a base station, an external terminal, and a server on a mobile communication network. Such wireless signals may include various types of data depending on a voice call signal, a video call signal, a text message, or a multimedia message transmission / reception.

The wireless Internet module 113 is a module for wireless Internet access, and may be embedded in the mobile terminal 100 or externally. WLAN (Wi-Fi), Wibro (Wireless broadband), Wimax (World Interoperability for Microwave Access), HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) and the like can be used as wireless Internet technologies.

The short-range communication module 114 refers to a module for short-range communication. As a short range communication technology, Bluetooth, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), Infrared Data Association (IrDA), Ultra Wideband (UWB), ZigBee, and the like can be used.

The position information module 115 is a module for acquiring the position of the mobile terminal 100, and a representative example thereof is a Global Position System (GPS) module.

1, an A / V (Audio / Video) input unit 120 is for inputting an audio signal and a video signal, and may include a camera 121, a microphone 122, and the like. The camera 121 processes image frames such as still images and moving images obtained by the image sensor in the video communication mode or the photographing mode. The image frame processed by the camera 121 can be displayed on the display unit 151. [ The image frame may be stored in the memory 160 or transmitted to the outside through the wireless communication unit 110. [ More than two cameras 121 may be provided depending on the use environment.

The microphone 122 processes the sound signal input from the outside in the communication mode, the recording mode, the voice selection mode, and the like as electrical voice data. The voice data processed by the microphone 122 in the communication mode can be converted into a form that can be transmitted to the mobile communication base station through the mobile communication module 112 and output. The microphone 122 may be implemented with various noise reduction algorithms for eliminating noise generated when an external sound signal is input.

The user input unit 130 generates input data for controlling the operation of the mobile terminal 100 by a user. The user input unit 130 may include a key pad, a dome switch, a touch pad (static pressure and static electricity), a jog wheel, a jog switch, and the like.

The sensing unit 140 senses the current state of the mobile terminal 100 such as presence or absence of a user, the open / close state of the mobile terminal 100, position, orientation, acceleration, deceleration, And generates a sensing signal. For example, when the mobile terminal 100 is in the form of a slide phone, the sensing unit 140 may detect whether the slide phone is opened or closed. The sensing unit 140 may sense whether the power supply unit 190 is powered on, whether the interface unit 170 is connected to an external device, and the like.

The sensing unit 140 may include a proximity sensor 141. The sensing unit 140 may include a touch sensor (not shown) for sensing a touch operation with respect to the display unit 151.

The touch sensor may have the form of a touch film, a touch sheet, a touch pad, or the like. The touch sensor may be configured to convert a pressure applied to a specific portion of the display portion 151 or a change in capacitance generated at a specific portion of the display portion 151 into an electrical input signal. The touch sensor can be configured to detect not only the position and area to be touched but also the touch pressure.

When the touch sensor and the display unit 151 have a mutual layer structure, the display unit 151 can be used as an input device in addition to the output device. The display unit 151 may be referred to as a 'touch screen'.

If there is a touch input via the touch screen, corresponding signals are sent to a touch controller (not shown). The touch controller processes the signals transmitted from the touch sensor, and then transmits data corresponding to the processed signals to the controller 180. Thus, the control unit 180 can know which area of the display unit 151 is touched.

In the case where the touch screen is electrostatic, it can be configured to detect the proximity of the sensing object by a change of the electric field along the proximity of the sensing target. Such a touch screen may be classified as proximity sensor 141. [

The proximity sensor 141 refers to a sensor that detects the presence or absence of an object to be sensed without mechanical contact using an electromagnetic force or infrared rays. The proximity sensor 141 has a longer life than the contact type sensor and its utilization is also high. Examples of the proximity sensor 141 include a transmission type photoelectric sensor, a direct reflection type photoelectric sensor, a mirror reflection type photoelectric sensor, a high frequency oscillation type proximity sensor, a capacitive proximity sensor, a magnetic proximity sensor, and an infrared proximity sensor.

Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, a proximity action is referred to as " proximity touch " while an object to be sensed does not touch the touch screen, and an action of touching the sensing object on the touch screen is called & touch ".

The proximity sensor 141 detects the presence or absence of a proximity touch and a proximity touch pattern (for example, a proximity touch distance, a proximity touch direction, a proximity touch speed, a proximity touch time, a proximity touch position, The information corresponding to the presence / absence of proximity touch and the proximity touch pattern can be output to the touch screen.

The output unit 150 generates an output related to visual, auditory, tactile, and the like. The output unit 150 may include a display unit 151, an audio output module 152, an alarm unit 153, and a haptic module 154.

The display unit 151 displays (outputs) information processed by the mobile terminal 100. For example, when the mobile terminal 100 operates in the call mode, the display unit 151 displays a UI (User Interface) or a GUI (Graphic User Interface) related to the call. When the mobile terminal 100 operates in the video communication mode or the photographing mode, the display unit 151 displays the photographed image, the received image, the UI, the GUI, and the like.

The display unit 151 may be a liquid crystal display (LCD), a thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD), an organic light emitting diode (OLED), a flexible display display, a 3D display, and an e-ink display.

At least one display (or display element) included in the display unit 151 may be configured to be transparent or light transmissive so that the display can see the outside through it. This can be referred to as a transparent display. A typical example of such a transparent display is TOLED (Transparent OLED). The rear structure of the display unit 151 may also be of a light transmission type. With this structure, the user can see an object located behind the terminal body through the area occupied by the display unit 151 in the terminal body.

There may be two or more display units 151 according to the embodiment of the mobile terminal 100. [ For example, in the mobile terminal 100, a plurality of display portions may be spaced apart from each other or positioned integrally with one another, and may be located on different surfaces.

The audio output module 152 may output audio data received from the wireless communication unit 110 or stored in the memory 160 in a call signal reception mode, a call mode or a recording mode, a voice selection mode, a broadcast reception mode, The sound output module 152 also outputs sound signals related to functions (e.g., call signal reception sound, message reception sound, etc.) performed in the mobile terminal 100. [ The audio output module 152 may include a receiver, a speaker, a buzzer, and the like.

The alarm unit 153 outputs a signal for notifying the occurrence of an event of the mobile terminal 100. Examples of events generated in the mobile terminal 100 include call signal reception, message reception, key signal input, touch input, and the like. The alarm unit 153 may output a signal for informing occurrence of an event in a form other than a video signal or an audio signal, for example, vibration. The display unit 151 and the audio output module 152 may be classified as a part of the alarm unit 153 because the video signal or the audio signal can also be output through the display unit 151 or the audio output module 152. [

The haptic module 154 generates various tactile effects that the user can feel. A typical example of the haptic effect generated by the haptic module 154 is vibration. The intensity, pattern, and the like of the vibration generated by the hit module 154 are controllable. For example, different vibrations may be synthesized and output or sequentially output.

In addition to the vibration, the haptic module 154 may include a pin arrangement vertically moving with respect to the contact skin surface, a spraying force or a suction force of the air through the injection port or the suction port, a touch on the skin surface, contact with an electrode, Various effects can be generated such as the effect of heat generation and the effect of reproducing the cold sensation using the heat absorbing or heatable element.

The haptic module 154 can be configured to not only transmit the tactile effect through the direct contact but also to allow the user to feel the tactile effect through the muscular sense of the finger or arm. At least two haptic modules 154 may be provided according to the configuration of the mobile terminal 100.

The memory 160 may store a program for the operation of the controller 180 and temporarily store input and output data (e.g., a phone book, a message, a still image, a moving picture, etc.). The memory 160 may store data related to vibrations and sounds of various patterns that are output upon touch input on the touch screen.

The memory 160 may be a flash memory, a hard disk, a multimedia card micro type, a card type memory (e.g., SD or XD memory), a random access memory (RAM), static random access memory (SRAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM) And may include at least one storage medium. The mobile terminal 100 may operate in association with a web storage that performs storage functions of the memory 160 on the Internet.

The interface unit 170 serves as a path for communication with all external devices connected to the mobile terminal 100. The interface unit 170 receives data from an external device or supplies power to each component in the mobile terminal 100 or transmits data to the external device. For example, the interface unit 170 may include a wired / wireless headset port, an external charger port, a wired / wireless data port, a memory card port, a port for connecting a device having an identification module, Input / output ports, video I / O ports, earphone ports, and the like.

The identification module is a chip for storing various information for authenticating the usage right of the mobile terminal 100 and includes a user identification module (UIM), a subscriber identity module (SIM), a general user authentication module Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM)). A device equipped with an identification module (hereinafter referred to as "identification device") can be manufactured in a smart card format. Accordingly, the identification device can be connected to the terminal 100 through the port.

The interface unit 170 may be a path through which the power from the cradle is supplied to the mobile terminal 100 when the mobile terminal 100 is connected to an external cradle or various command signals input from the cradle by the user, (Not shown). The various command signals or power supplied from the cradle may also act as a signal for recognizing that the mobile terminal 100 is correctly mounted in the cradle.

The controller 180 controls the overall operation of the mobile terminal 100. For example, control and processing related to voice communication, data communication, video communication, and the like. The control unit 180 may include a multimedia module 181 for multimedia playback. The multimedia module 181 may be implemented in the control unit 180 or may be implemented separately from the control unit 180. [ The control unit 180 may perform pattern selection processing for selecting handwriting input and drawing input on the touch screen as characters and images, respectively.

The power supply unit 190 receives external power and internal power under the control of the controller 180 and supplies power necessary for operation of the respective components.

The various embodiments described herein may be implemented in a recording medium readable by a computer or similar device using software, hardware, or a combination thereof.

According to a hardware implementation, the embodiments described herein may be applied to various types of application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field programmable gate arrays Microprocessors, microprocessors, and other electronic units for performing other functions, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. In some cases, the embodiments described herein may be implemented by the controller 180 itself.

According to a software implementation, embodiments such as the procedures and functions described herein may be implemented with separate software modules. Each of the software modules may perform one or more of the functions and operations described herein. Software code may be implemented in a software application written in a suitable programming language. Such software codes may be stored in the memory 160 and executed by the control unit 180. [

Hereinafter, a method of processing user input to the mobile terminal 100 will be described.

The user input unit 130 is operated to receive a command for controlling the operation of the mobile terminal 100, and may include a plurality of operation units. The operating units may also be referred to as manipulating portions and may be employed in any manner as long as they are operated in a tactile manner by the user's tactile sense.

Various kinds of time information can be displayed on the display unit 151. [ Such visual information can be displayed in the form of letters, numbers, symbols, graphics, icons, and the like, and can be formed as a three-dimensional stereoscopic image. At least one of a character, a number, a symbol, a graphic, and an icon may be displayed in a predetermined arrangement for inputting time information, thereby being implemented as a keypad. Such a keypad may be referred to as a so-called " soft key ".

The display unit 151 may operate as an entire area or may be divided into a plurality of areas and operated. In the latter case, the plurality of areas can be configured to operate in association with one another. For example, an output window and an input window may be displayed on the upper and lower portions of the display unit 151, respectively. The output window and the input window are areas allocated for outputting or inputting information, respectively. In the input window, a soft key with a number for inputting a telephone number may be output. When the soft key is touched, the number corresponding to the touched soft key is displayed in the output window. When the operating unit is operated, a call connection to the telephone number displayed in the output window may be attempted, or the text displayed in the output window may be entered into the application.

The display unit 151 or the touch pad may be configured to detect touch scrolling. The user can move the cursor or the pointer positioned on the displayed object, for example, the icon, on the display unit 151 by scrolling the display unit 151 or the touch pad. Further, when the finger is moved on the display unit 151 or the touch pad, the path along which the finger moves may be visually displayed on the display unit 151. [ This will be useful for editing the image displayed on the display unit 151. [

One function of the mobile terminal 100 may be executed in response to a case where the display unit 151 and the touch pad are touched together within a predetermined time range. In the case of being touched together, there may be a case where the user clamps the main body of the mobile terminal 100 using the thumb and index finger. At this time, one function of the mobile terminal 100 to be executed may be activation or deactivation for the display unit 151 or the touch pad, for example.

2A and 2B are perspective views showing an appearance of a mobile terminal 100 according to the present invention. FIG. 2A shows a front side and one side of the mobile terminal 100, and FIG. 2B shows a rear side and the other side of the mobile terminal 100. FIG.

Referring to FIG. 2A, the mobile terminal 100 includes a bar-shaped terminal body. However, the mobile terminal 100 is not limited thereto, and may be realized in various forms such as a slide type, a folder type, a swing type, and a swivel type in which two or more bodies are movably coupled to each other.

The terminal body includes a case (a casing, a housing, a cover, and the like) that forms an appearance. In the embodiment, the case may be divided into a front case 101 and a rear case 102. A variety of electronic components are embedded in the space formed between the front case 101 and the rear case 102. At least one intermediate case may be additionally disposed between the front case 101 and the rear case 102. [

The cases may be formed by injection molding of a synthetic resin or may be formed to have a metal material such as stainless steel (STS), titanium (Ti) or the like.

The display unit 151, the sound output unit 152, the camera 121, the user input unit 130 (see FIG. 1), the microphone 122, the interface 170, can do.

The display unit 151 occupies a main portion of the front case 101. [ The sound output unit 152 and the camera 121 are positioned in an area adjacent to one end of the display unit 151 and the first operation unit 131 and the microphone 122 are positioned in an area adjacent to the other end. The second operation unit 132 and the interface 170 may be located on the side surfaces of the front case 101 and the rear case 102. [

The user input unit 130 is operated to receive a command for controlling the operation of the mobile terminal 100. [ The user input unit 130 may include a plurality of operation units 131 and 132.

The first or second operating units 131 and 132 can receive various commands. For example, the first operation unit 131 can receive commands such as start, end, scroll, and the like. The second operation unit 132 can receive commands such as adjusting the size of the sound output from the sound output unit 152, switching to the touch selection mode of the display unit 151, and the like.

Referring to FIG. 2B, a rear camera 121 'may be additionally mounted on the rear surface of the terminal body, that is, the rear case 102. The rear camera 121 'has a photographing direction opposite to that of the front camera 121 (see FIG. 2A), and may be configured to have pixels different from those of the front camera 121.

For example, the front camera 121 may be configured to have a low pixel, and the rear camera 121 'may be configured to have a high pixel. Accordingly, when the front camera 121 is used during a video call, when the user's face is photographed and the photographed image is transmitted to the other party in real time, the size of the transmitted data can be reduced. On the other hand, the rear camera 121 'can be used for the purpose of storing a high-quality image.

Meanwhile, the cameras 121 and 121 'may be installed in the terminal body so as to be rotated or popped up.

The flash 123 and the mirror 124 may be further positioned adjacent to the rear camera 121 '. The flash 123 emits light toward the subject when the user photographs the subject with the rear camera 121 '. The mirror 124 illuminates the user's face when the user photographs himself (self-photographing) using the rear camera 121 '.

A rear sound output unit 152 'may be additionally disposed on the rear surface of the terminal body. The rear sound output unit 152 'may perform a stereo function together with the front sound output unit 152 (see FIG. 2A), and may perform a speakerphone function during a call.

In addition to the antenna for communication, an antenna 116 for receiving broadcast signals may be additionally provided on the side surface of the terminal body. The antenna 116 constituting a part of the broadcast receiving module 111 (see FIG. 1) can be installed to be able to be drawn out from the terminal body.

A power supply unit 190 for supplying power to the mobile terminal 100 is mounted on the terminal body. The power supply unit 190 may be built in the main body of the terminal or may be detachable from the outside of the main body of the terminal.

The rear case 102 may further include a touch pad 135 for sensing a touch. The touch pad 135 may be of a light transmission type like the display unit 151 (see FIG. 2A). Further, a back display unit for outputting time information can be additionally mounted on the touch pad 135. [ At this time, information output from both sides of the front display unit 151 and the rear display unit can be controlled by the touch pad 135. [

The touch pad 135 operates in correlation with the display unit 151. [ The touch pad 135 may be positioned parallel to the rear of the display unit 151. The touch pad 135 may have a size equal to or smaller than that of the display unit 151.

Hereinafter, a user interface of the mobile terminal 100 for easily controlling an external device using the mobile terminal 100 linked to the external device will be described. In this specification, a digital TV is taken as an example of an external device, but the external device is not limited thereto and may include other electronic devices such as a mobile terminal, a refrigerator, a washing machine, a computer, and an audio output device.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling the mobile terminal 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, first step S110 of reading first menu information related to the mobile terminal 100 is performed. The first menu information includes menu items such as a sound control menu, a screen setting menu, a network setting menu, a call menu, a position information related menu, a time setting menu, a notification setting menu, a password setting menu, .

Next, step (S120) of receiving second menu information related to the external device from the external device is performed. The second menu information may include a menu item corresponding to at least some menu items of the first menu information.

For example, menu items included in both menu items related to both the mobile terminal 100 and external devices, i.e., the first and second menu information, may include a sound control menu, a screen setting menu, a time setting menu, have. A menu item related to the mobile terminal 100 but not related to an external device, that is, a menu item included in the first menu information but not included in the second menu information, may be a call menu. Menu items related to the external device but not related to the mobile terminal 100, that is, menu items included in the second menu information but not included in the first menu information, may be a channel setting menu, a viewing restriction setting menu, have.

If the mobile terminal 100 and the external device are interconnected by wire or wireless, step S130 of synchronizing the first menu information and the second menu information and generating the synchronized menu information is performed. The synchronized menu information may correspond to the union of the menu items of the first menu information and the menu items of the second menu information, or may correspond to the intersection. At least one of the mobile terminal 100 and the external device can be controlled using the menu item corresponding to intersection among the synchronized menu items.

Thereafter, step S 140 of displaying the synchronized menu information on the mobile terminal 100 is performed. The synchronized menu information can also be displayed on an external device.

As described above, according to the present invention, when the mobile terminal 100 is connected to the external device, the menu information of the mobile terminal 100 is synchronized with the menu information of the external device, The external device can be easily controlled using the synchronized menu information.

In addition, implementing N screen technology in a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention can improve user convenience in controlling a plurality of external devices connected to the mobile terminal.

4 is a conceptual diagram showing an embodiment of a user interface of the mobile terminal 100 for controlling the external device 200 using the synchronized menu information.

Referring to FIG. 4, a mobile terminal 100 and an external device 200 are illustrated. When the mobile terminal 100 and the external device 200 are connected to each other, the controller 180 (see FIG. 1) can synchronize the first menu information and the second menu information. For this synchronization, the control unit 180 can read the first menu information from the memory 160 (see FIG. 1), and can receive the second menu information from the external device 200.

When a control command is detected through the user input unit 130, the controller 180 selects one of the mobile terminal 100 and the external device 200 according to the priority information, The function corresponding to the control command can be controlled.

For example, when a control command corresponding to the sound control menu of the synchronized menu information is sensed through the user input unit 130, the controller 180 controls the size of the sound (sound volume) output from the external device 200 Can be controlled. This means that the external device 200 can be selected in preference to the mobile terminal 100 by using the menu item of the synchronized menu information.

The priority of the device controlled using the menu item of the synchronized menu information may be determined based on the state of the external device 200, the relative relation to the menu item, and the like. For example, when the external device 200 is in an inactive state, the mobile terminal 100 can be selected in preference to the external device 200 as an apparatus controlled using menu items of synchronized menu information.

When the function corresponding to the menu item of the synchronized menu information is controlled, the control unit 180 may control the display unit 151 to display the status information 302 of the function.

5 to 7 are conceptual diagrams illustrating a user interface of the mobile terminal 100 displaying synchronized menu information according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5, the controller 180 controls the display unit 151 to display the synchronized menu information 600 generated as the first menu information 400 and the second menu information 500 are synchronized with each other . The synchronized menu information 600 is a combination of both the menu items of the first menu information 400 and the menu items of the second menu information 500 so that both the mobile terminal 100 and the external device 200 Related menu items, menu items related to the mobile terminal 100 but not related to the external device 200, menu items related to the external device 200 but not related to the mobile terminal 100, and the like .

Although not shown, the menu items may be displayed by category. The menu items related to both the mobile terminal 100 and the external device 200 correspond to the first category and the menu items related to the mobile terminal 100 but not related to the external device 200 correspond to the second category Menu items related to the external device 200 but not related to the mobile terminal 100 may correspond to the third category.

The order in which the menu items of the synchronized menu information 600 are arranged on the screen of the display unit 151 can be determined based on the use history, the frequency of use, whether or not favorites are set, For example, relatively recent or frequently used menu items may be displayed in preference to other menu items. The menu items related to both the mobile terminal 100 and the external device 200 may be displayed prior to the menu items associated with any one of the mobile terminal 100 and the external device 200. [

The control unit 180 can control the display unit 151 to display an indicator 602 indicating which menu item is associated with which device, as shown in Fig.

Referring to FIG. 6, at least some of the menu items of the synchronized menu information 600 may be selected and displayed. For example, menu items related to both the mobile terminal 100 and the external device 200 are displayed, but menu items related to either the mobile terminal 100 or the external device 200 may not be displayed.

The menu items displayed on the screen can be selected on the basis of the time (synchronized time information), the position (synchronized position information), and the like at which the first menu information 400 and the second menu information 500 are synchronized . In addition, the menu items displayed on the screen can be selected based on whether favorites are set or not. The menu items displayed on the screen include connection information (device connection information) between the mobile terminal 100 and the external device 200, for example, a communication network (e.g., Bluetooth, WiFi, And the like.

Referring to FIG. 7, the display unit 151 may display the first screen image 700 in a state where the synchronization of the first menu information and the second menu information is not performed. In the first screen image 710, as an example of the first menu information, an icon for executing an application installed in the mobile terminal 100, a widget, and the like may be displayed.

When the synchronization of the first menu information and the second menu information is completed, the controller 180 displays the first menu information, the second menu information, and the synchronized menu information on different screen images 710 through 730, (151).

More specifically, the first menu information is displayed on the first screen image 710, the second menu information is displayed on the second screen image 720, and the synchronized menu information is displayed on the third screen image 730 .

As an example of the second menu information, an icon for executing applications installed in the external device 200, a widget, additional information 722 provided from an external device, and the like may be displayed on the second screen image 720 .

The additional information 722 will be described in more detail. Examples of the additional information provided by the digital TV include EPG (Electronic Program Guide) information as shown, and examples of the additional information provided by the refrigerator include a refrigerator And an item list information stored in the audio output apparatus. Examples of the additional information provided by the audio output apparatus may include reproduction information of audio contents. Further, the additional information 722 may be displayed on another screen image, although it is not shown.

As an example of the third menu information, an icon or the like for executing an application related to both the mobile terminal 100 and the external device 200 may be displayed on the third screen image 730. [

The control unit 180 can control the display unit 151 such that the second screen image 720 or the third screen image 730 is displayed prior to the other screen images as shown in the figure. In addition, the control unit 151 may perform a flip operation for a screen image in response to a touch input to the display unit 151, for example, a touch input by a flicking gesture.

8 to 11 are conceptual diagrams showing a user interface of the mobile terminal 100 related to synchronization of menu information according to an embodiment of the present invention.

8, when the connection between the mobile terminal 100 and the external device 200 is detected, the controller 180 displays a pop-up window 902 asking whether to synchronize the first menu information and the second menu information, The display unit 151 can be controlled. Thereafter, the control unit may determine whether to synchronize with the user input through the pop-up window 902. However, the synchronization method is not limited to this, and may be variously modified.

For example, the control unit 180 may automatically synchronize the first menu information and the second menu information in response to the connection between the mobile terminal 100 and the external device 200. [ Also, when at least one of the first and second menu information is updated, the controller 180 may resynchronize the first menu information and the second menu information.

9, when the mobile terminal 100 and the external device 200 are connected and the first menu information and the second menu information are synchronized, the controller 180 displays an indicator 904 indicating synchronization The control unit 151 can be controlled.

Referring to FIG. 10, a docking device 210 may be used for relaying connection between the mobile terminal 100 and the external device 200 for synchronization between the first menu information and the second menu information. The docking device 210 may be connected to the external device 100 in a wired or wireless manner. When it is detected that the mobile terminal 100 is docked to the docking device 210, the controller 180 may synchronize the first menu information and the second menu information.

11, when the disconnection between the mobile terminal 100 and the external device 200 is detected, the controller 180 transmits the menu information synchronized after the disconnection between the mobile terminal 100 and the external device 200 It is possible to control the display unit 151 to display a pop-up window 906 asking whether to display or not. Then, the control unit 180 can determine whether to display the synchronized menu information according to the user input through the pop-up window 906.

The control unit 180 may be configured such that the mobile terminal 100 is connected to another external device (not shown) after the mobile terminal 100 is disconnected from the external device 200, It is possible to apply the synchronized menu information to other external apparatuses. Accordingly, the synchronization of the menu information may be omitted when the mobile terminal 100 is connected to another external device.

According to the embodiment disclosed herein, the above-described method can be implemented by a code that can be read by a processor on a medium on which the program is recorded. Examples of the medium that can be read by the processor include ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, floppy disk, optical data storage, etc., and may be implemented in the form of a carrier wave (e.g., transmission over the Internet) .

In the mobile terminal disclosed in this specification, the configuration and method of the above-described embodiments are not limitedly applied, but all or some of the embodiments may be selectively combined so that various modifications can be made.

Claims (16)

1. A mobile terminal interworking with an external device, comprising:
A memory for storing first menu information associated with the mobile terminal;
A communication unit for receiving second menu information related to the external device from the external device;
A controller for synchronizing the first menu information and the second menu information in response to the connection between the mobile terminal and the external device and generating synchronized menu information; And
And a display unit for displaying the synchronized menu information,
Wherein,
And synchronizes the first menu information and the second menu information again when at least one of the first and second menu information is updated. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein,
When the control command corresponding to the menu item of the synchronized menu information is detected, selects either the external device or the mobile terminal according to the priority information, and selects one of the functions related to the selected one And controls the corresponding function. delete The method according to claim 1,
Wherein,
And controls the display unit to display the first menu information, the second menu information, and the synchronized menu information on different screen images. 5. The method of claim 4,
Wherein the second menu information includes an icon and additional information corresponding to an application of the external device. 5. The method of claim 4,
Wherein,
And controls the display unit to display a screen image including the synchronized menu information in preference to other screen images. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein,
And controlling the display unit to selectively display at least a part of the plurality of menu items of the synchronized menu information on the basis of at least one of synchronized position information, synchronized time information, favorite setting information, and device connection information . The method according to claim 1,
Wherein,
Wherein the mobile terminal determines whether to display the synchronized menu information based on a user input when disconnecting the mobile terminal and the external device. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein,
Wherein the mobile terminal applies the synchronized menu information to the other external device when it is determined that the mobile terminal is connected to another external device and that the external device and the other external device have the same menu information, . A method of controlling a mobile terminal in cooperation with an external device, comprising:
Reading from the memory first menu information associated with the mobile terminal;
Receiving second menu information related to the external device from the external device;
Synchronizing the first menu information and the second menu information in response to the connection between the mobile terminal and the external device, and generating synchronized menu information;
Displaying the synchronized menu information; And
And synchronizing the first menu information and the second menu information again when at least one of the first and second menu information is updated. 11. The method of claim 10,
Selecting any one of the external device and the mobile terminal according to the priority information when a control command corresponding to the menu item of the synchronized menu information is sensed; And
And controlling a function corresponding to the control command among functions related to the selected one. delete 11. The method of claim 10,
In the step of displaying the synchronized menu information,
Wherein the first menu information, the second menu information, and the synchronized menu information are displayed on different screen images. 11. The method of claim 10,
In the step of displaying the synchronized menu information,
Wherein at least a part of the plurality of menu items of the synchronized menu information is selectively displayed based on at least one of synchronized position information, synchronized time information, favorite setting information, and device connection information. Control method. 11. The method of claim 10,
Further comprising the step of determining whether to display the synchronized menu information based on a user input when disconnecting the mobile terminal and the external device. 11. The method of claim 10,
Further comprising the step of applying the synchronized menu information to the other external device when the mobile terminal is connected to another external device and the external device and the other external device determine that they have the same menu information, A method of controlling a terminal.

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