KR20150114826A - Mobile terminal and method for controlling the same - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed are a mobile terminal and a control method thereof. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the mobile terminal comprises: a display portion for outputting a touch area to input identification information related to an external device to be connected to a main body of the terminal; a wireless communications portion for performing low power wireless communications (BLE) to recognize the external device corresponding to the identification information based on the identification information inputted in the touch area; and a control portion for connecting the external device corresponding to the identification information to the main body through first wireless communications when the external device corresponding to the identification information exists within a preset range on the basis of the main body as a result of the BLE. The control portion controls a connection between the main body and the external device corresponding to the identification information to be maintained through the BLE when the main body enters into a sleep mode after the external device corresponding to the identification information is connected to the main body through the first wireless communications.

Description

[0001] MOBILE TERMINAL AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME [0002]

The present invention relates to a mobile terminal capable of wireless communication with at least one external device and a control method thereof.

A mobile terminal can be divided into a mobile terminal (mobile / portable terminal) and a stationary terminal according to whether the mobile terminal can be moved. Again, 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 the terminal are diversified, the terminal is implemented in the form of a multimedia device having a combination of functions such as photographing and photographing of a moving picture, reproduction of a music or video file, reception of a game and broadcasting, have. 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.

In order to support and enhance the functionality of such terminals, it may be considered to improve the structural and / or software parts of the terminal.

Further, thanks to such improvements, the terminal can perform wireless communication with other terminals or external devices existing in a short distance. For example, the terminal can perform Bluetooth communication by inquiring, pairing, and paging an external device in a short distance.

Specifically, the terminal broadcasts a search signal to generate a list of external devices capable of wireless communication with the terminal through an inquiry process, and when an external device receiving the search signal transmits a response signal, And permits wireless communication between the two devices through a pairing process of performing authentication using a PIN (Personal Identification Number) code or the like. Then, a paging process is performed to connect the communication based on the information about the external device obtained through the inquiry and the pairing process.

As described above, in order to connect a terminal and an external device in the related art, various processes have been required. In particular, there has been an inconvenience in that an authentication procedure for an external device has to be performed by inputting a PIN (Personal Identification Number) code for pairing .

Further, even after the terminal is connected to the external device, if the distance is increased, there is a problem that the signal is weakened or broken and the transmission / reception of data is interrupted or the paging process is repeated again.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a mobile terminal in which a user can intuitively perform an input related to a page with an external device to which a user wants to connect, and a control method thereof.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a mobile terminal capable of maintaining a connection state even when a distance between a mobile terminal and an external device is distant from a distance between the mobile terminal and a control method thereof.

To this end, a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a main body; A display unit for outputting a touch area for inputting identification information related to an external device to be connected to the main body; A wireless communication unit for performing low power wireless communication (BLE) for recognizing an external device corresponding to the identification information based on the identification information input in the touch area; If the external device corresponding to the identification information exists within a predetermined range based on the main body as a result of the low power wireless communication, the control unit connects the main body and the external device corresponding to the identification information through the first wireless communication . Here, the controller may be configured such that when the main body enters the sleep mode after the main body and the external device corresponding to the identification information are connected through the first wireless communication, And controls the connection between the devices to be maintained through the low power wireless communication (BLE).

In one embodiment, the first wireless communication is Bluetooth (BT) or Wi-Fi communication.

In one embodiment, the identification information is any one of a telephone number, an ID, and a predetermined shortening number corresponding to the external device previously stored in the main body.

In one embodiment, when the external apparatus corresponding to the identification information is present within a predetermined range based on the main body as a result of the low-power wireless communication, the control unit transmits the connection information related to the main body and the external apparatus to the identification And transmits a response signal corresponding to the connection information to the external device. When the response signal corresponding to the connection information is received from the external device, the external device is authenticated.

In one embodiment, the control unit controls the touch area to be output to the display unit again when a connection release signal is received from an external device connected through the first wireless communication.

In one embodiment, in response to input of identification information corresponding to another external device in the touch area, the control unit releases connection with an external device corresponding to previously input identification information, And controls the wireless communication unit to perform low-power wireless communication based on the information.

In one embodiment, when an event related to the transmission of data is generated in the sleep mode, the control unit changes a connection between the main body and an external device corresponding to the identification information from the low-power wireless communication to the first wireless communication So as to be controlled.

In one embodiment, the wireless communication unit performs low-power wireless communication (BLE) to receive corresponding connection information from a device within a distance range connectable with the main body, and the control unit transmits the connection information The time information associated with the plurality of devices corresponding to the touch information is output to an area distinguished from the touch area.

In one embodiment, the main body is connected through a first wireless communication with a first external device recognized through the low power wireless communication (BLE), and the first external device performs a second wireless communication with the second external device The control unit transmits to the first external device a control command for causing the second external device to execute an application corresponding to the screen information executed in the main body through the first wireless communication .

In one embodiment, the second external device is a device dedicated to low power wireless communication (BLE).

In one embodiment, the wireless communication unit monitors the distance between the connected main body and the external device through the low power wireless communication (BLE) while the first wireless communication is maintained, And automatically changes the first wireless communication to a second wireless communication capable of remote connection if the wireless communication device is out of a preset range based on the main body.

In one embodiment, the control unit controls at least one of a first image indicating a recognition state of an external device corresponding to the identification information recognized through the low power wireless communication (BLE) and a second image indicating the recognized external device To the display unit.

In one embodiment, the control unit determines whether to switch the tethering between the main body and the external device connected through the low power wireless communication (BLE) based on whether the external device is activated or not, and when switching the tethering , And controls switching of the tethering through the low power wireless communication (BLE).

In one embodiment, the control unit switches the Bluetooth tethering to Wi-Fi tethering through the low power wireless communication (BLE) when the screen of the external device is switched from the inactive state to the active state, And switching the Wi-Fi tethering to the Bluetooth tethering via the low power wireless communication (BLE) when the wireless terminal is switched from the active state to the inactive state.

Effects of the mobile terminal and the control method according to the present invention will be described as follows.

The embodiments of the present invention are advantageous in that the connection between the two devices can be easily and intuitively performed by directly inputting intuitive identification information related to an external device to which the user wants to connect and paying.

In addition, embodiments of the present invention can independently perform a low-power wireless communication even after a terminal and an external device are connected to continuously monitor a separation distance or data transmission between the devices, and accordingly, So that the connection can be maintained without interruption even if the user moves. In addition, since the low power wireless communication is performed independently after the terminal and the external device are connected, the power consumption is reduced in the sleep mode and the speed is further improved upon reconnection.

It should be understood, however, that the effects obtained by the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned effects, and other effects not mentioned may be clearly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs It will be possible.

1A is a block diagram illustrating a mobile terminal according to the present invention.
1B is a diagram illustrating a state where a mobile terminal related to the present invention wirelessly communicates with at least one external device.
2 is a view showing an example of a watch-type mobile terminal 300 related to the present invention.
3 is an exemplary flowchart illustrating a method of connecting a mobile terminal according to the present invention to at least one external device.
4 is a conceptual diagram for explaining the flow chart of Fig.
5 is a conceptual diagram for explaining a method of releasing an existing connection and connecting another external device according to the present invention.
6 is a conceptual diagram for explaining a method of switching a wireless communication method with an external device according to the sleep mode / active mode according to the present invention.
7 is a conceptual diagram for explaining a method of connecting a plurality of external devices using different communication methods by using a mobile terminal according to the present invention as a relay device.
FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram for explaining a method of switching tethering by monitoring whether data transmitted from an external device connected to a mobile terminal according to the present invention is transmitted.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like or similar elements are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals, and redundant description thereof will be omitted. The suffix "module" and " part "for the components used in the following description are given or mixed in consideration of ease of specification, and do not have their own meaning or role. In the following description of the embodiments of the present invention, a detailed description of related arts will be omitted when it is determined that the gist of the embodiments disclosed herein may be blurred. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. , ≪ / RTI > equivalents, and alternatives.

Terms including ordinals, such as first, second, etc., may be used to describe various elements, but the elements are not limited to these terms. The terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another.

It is to be understood that when an element is referred to as being "connected" or "connected" to another element, it may be directly connected or connected to the other element, . On the other hand, when an element is referred to as being "directly connected" or "directly connected" to another element, it should be understood that there are no other elements in between.

The singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

In the present application, the terms "comprises", "having", and the like are used to specify that a feature, a number, a step, an operation, an element, a component, But do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof.

The mobile terminal described in this specification includes a mobile phone, a smart phone, a laptop computer, a digital broadcasting terminal, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable multimedia player (PMP), a navigation device, a slate PC A tablet PC, an ultrabook, a wearable device such as a smartwatch, a smart glass, and a head mounted display (HMD). have.

However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the configuration according to the embodiments described herein may be applied to fixed terminals such as a digital TV, a desktop computer, a digital signage, and the like, will be.

The mobile terminal described in this specification includes a mobile phone, a smart phone, a laptop computer, a digital broadcasting terminal, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable multimedia player (PMP), a navigation device, a slate PC A tablet PC, an ultrabook, a wearable device such as a smartwatch, a smart glass, and a head mounted display (HMD). have.

However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the configuration according to the embodiments described herein may be applied to fixed terminals such as a digital TV, a desktop computer, a digital signage, and the like, will be.

Hereinafter, the various components of the mobile terminal 100 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 1A.

First, referring to the wireless communication unit 110, the broadcast receiving module 111 of the wireless communication unit 110 receives broadcast signals and / or broadcast-related information from an external broadcast management server through a broadcast channel. The broadcast channel may include a satellite channel and a terrestrial channel. Two or more broadcast receiving modules may be provided to the mobile terminal 100 for simultaneous broadcast reception or broadcast channel switching for at least two broadcast channels.

The mobile communication module 112 may be a mobile communication module or a mobile communication module such as a mobile communication module or a mobile communication module that uses technology standards or a communication method (e.g., Global System for Mobile communication (GSM), Code Division Multi Access (CDMA), Code Division Multi Access 2000 (Enhanced Voice-Data Optimized or Enhanced Voice-Data Only), Wideband CDMA (WCDMA), High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA), High Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA), Long Term Evolution And an external terminal, or a server on a mobile communication network established according to a long term evolution (AR), a long term evolution (AR), or the like.

The wireless signal may include various types of data depending on a voice call signal, a video call signal or a text / multimedia message transmission / reception.

The wireless Internet module 113 is a module for wireless Internet access, and may be built in or externally attached to the mobile terminal 100. The wireless Internet module 113 is configured to transmit and receive a wireless signal in a communication network according to wireless Internet technologies.

Wireless Internet technologies include, for example, wireless LAN (WLAN), wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi), wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) Direct, DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance), WiBro Interoperability for Microwave Access, High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA), High Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA), Long Term Evolution (LTE) and Long Term Evolution-Advanced (LTE-A) 113 transmit and receive data according to at least one wireless Internet technology, including Internet technologies not listed above.

The wireless Internet module 113 for performing a wireless Internet connection through the mobile communication network can be used for wireless Internet access by WiBro, HSDPA, HSUPA, GSM, CDMA, WCDMA, LTE or LTE- May be understood as a kind of the mobile communication module 112.

The short-range communication module 114 is for short-range communication, and includes Bluetooth ™, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), Infrared Data Association (IrDA), Ultra Wideband (UWB) (Near Field Communication), Wi-Fi (Wireless-Fidelity), Wi-Fi Direct, and Wireless USB (Wireless Universal Serial Bus) technology. The short-range communication module 114 is connected to the mobile terminal 100 and the wireless communication system through the wireless area networks, between the mobile terminal 100 and another mobile terminal 100, or between the mobile terminal 100 ) And the other mobile terminal 100 (or the external server). The short-range wireless communication network may be a short-range wireless personal area network.

Here, the other mobile terminal 100 may be a wearable device (e.g., a smartwatch, a smart glass, etc.) capable of interchanging data with the mobile terminal 100 according to the present invention (smart glass), HMD (head mounted display)). The short range communication module 114 may detect (or recognize) a wearable device capable of communicating with the mobile terminal 100 around the mobile terminal 100. [ If the detected wearable device is a device authenticated to communicate with the mobile terminal 100 according to the present invention, the control unit 180 may transmit at least a part of the data processed by the mobile terminal 100 to the short- 114 to the wearable device. Therefore, the user of the wearable device can use the data processed by the mobile terminal 100 through the wearable device. For example, according to this, when a telephone is received in the mobile terminal 100, the user performs a telephone conversation via the wearable device, or when a message is received in the mobile terminal 100, It is possible to check the message.

The position information module 115 is a module for obtaining the position (or current position) of the mobile terminal, and a representative example thereof is a Global Positioning System (GPS) module or a Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) module. For example, when the mobile terminal utilizes the GPS module, it can acquire the position of the mobile terminal by using a signal transmitted from the GPS satellite. As another example, when the mobile terminal utilizes the Wi-Fi module, it can acquire the position of the mobile terminal based on information of a wireless access point (AP) that transmits or receives the wireless signal with the Wi-Fi module. Optionally, the location information module 115 may perform any of the other functions of the wireless communication unit 110 to obtain data relating to the location of the mobile terminal, in addition or alternatively. The location information module 115 is a module used to obtain the location (or current location) of the mobile terminal, and is not limited to a module that directly calculates or obtains the location of the mobile terminal.

Next, the input unit 120 is for inputting image information (or signal), audio information (or signal), data, or information input from a user. For inputting image information, Or a plurality of cameras 121 may be provided. The camera 121 processes image frames such as still images or moving images obtained by the image sensor in the video communication mode or the photographing mode. The processed image frame may be displayed on the display unit 151 or stored in the memory 170. [ A plurality of cameras 121 provided in the mobile terminal 100 may be arranged to have a matrix structure and various angles or foci may be provided to the mobile terminal 100 through the camera 121 having the matrix structure A plurality of pieces of image information can be input. In addition, the plurality of cameras 121 may be arranged in a stereo structure to acquire a left image and a right image for realizing a stereoscopic image.

The microphone 122 processes the external acoustic signal into electrical voice data. The processed voice data can be utilized variously according to a function (or a running application program) being executed in the mobile terminal 100. Meanwhile, the microphone 122 may be implemented with various noise reduction algorithms for eliminating noise generated in receiving an external sound signal.

The user input unit 123 is for receiving information from a user and when the information is inputted through the user input unit 123, the control unit 180 can control the operation of the mobile terminal 100 to correspond to the input information . The user input unit 123 may include a mechanical input unit or a mechanical key such as a button located on a front or rear or side of the mobile terminal 100, a dome switch, a jog wheel, Jog switches, etc.) and touch-type input means. For example, the touch-type input means may comprise a virtual key, a soft key or a visual key displayed on the touch screen through software processing, And a touch key disposed on the touch panel. Meanwhile, the virtual key or the visual key can be displayed on a touch screen having various forms, for example, a graphic, a text, an icon, a video, As shown in FIG.

Meanwhile, the sensing unit 140 senses at least one of information in the mobile terminal, surrounding environment information surrounding the mobile terminal, and user information, and generates a corresponding sensing signal. The control unit 180 may control the driving or operation of the mobile terminal 100 or may perform data processing, function or operation related to the application program installed in the mobile terminal 100 based on the sensing signal. Representative sensors among various sensors that may be included in the sensing unit 140 will be described in more detail.

First, the proximity sensor 141 refers to a sensor that detects the presence of an object approaching a predetermined detection surface, or the presence of an object in the vicinity of the detection surface, without mechanical contact by using electromagnetic force or infrared rays. The proximity sensor 141 may be disposed in the inner area of the mobile terminal or in proximity to the touch screen, which is covered by the touch screen.

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. In the case where the touch screen is electrostatic, the proximity sensor 141 can be configured to detect the proximity of the object with a change of the electric field along the proximity of the object having conductivity. In this case, the touch screen (or touch sensor) itself may be classified as a proximity sensor.

On the other hand, for convenience of explanation, the act of recognizing that the object is located on the touch screen in proximity with no object touching the touch screen is referred to as "proximity touch & The act of actually touching an object on the screen is called a "contact touch. &Quot; The position at which the object is closely touched on the touch screen means a position where the object corresponds to the touch screen vertically when the object is touched. The proximity sensor 141 can detect a proximity touch and a proximity touch pattern (e.g., a proximity touch distance, a proximity touch direction, a proximity touch speed, a proximity touch time, a proximity touch position, have. Meanwhile, the control unit 180 processes data (or information) corresponding to the proximity touch operation and the proximity touch pattern sensed through the proximity sensor 141 as described above, and further provides visual information corresponding to the processed data It can be output on the touch screen. Furthermore, the control unit 180 can control the mobile terminal 100 such that different operations or data (or information) are processed according to whether the touch to the same point on the touch screen is a proximity touch or a touch touch .

The touch sensor senses a touch (or touch input) applied to the touch screen (or the display unit 151) by using at least one of various touch methods such as a resistance film type, a capacitive type, an infrared type, an ultrasonic type, do.

For example, the touch sensor may be configured to convert a change in a pressure applied to a specific portion of the touch screen or a capacitance generated in a specific portion to an electrical input signal. The touch sensor may be configured to detect a position, an area, a pressure at the time of touch, a capacitance at the time of touch, and the like where a touch object touching the touch screen is touched on the touch sensor. Here, the touch object may be a finger, a touch pen, a stylus pen, a pointer, or the like as an object to which a touch is applied to the touch sensor.

Thus, when there is a touch input to the touch sensor, the corresponding signal (s) is sent to the touch controller. The touch controller processes the signal (s) and transmits the corresponding data to the controller 180. Thus, the control unit 180 can know which area of the display unit 151 is touched or the like. Here, the touch controller may be a separate component from the control unit 180, and may be the control unit 180 itself.

On the other hand, the control unit 180 may perform different controls or perform the same control according to the type of the touch object touching the touch screen (or a touch key provided on the touch screen). Whether to perform different controls or to perform the same control according to the type of the touch object may be determined according to the current state of the mobile terminal 100 or an application program being executed.

On the other hand, the touch sensors and the proximity sensors discussed above can be used independently or in combination to provide a short touch (touch), a long touch, a multi touch, a drag touch ), Flick touch, pinch-in touch, pinch-out touch, swipe touch, hovering touch, and the like. Touch can be sensed.

The ultrasonic sensor can recognize the position information of the object to be sensed by using ultrasonic waves. Meanwhile, the controller 180 can calculate the position of the wave generating source through the information sensed by the optical sensor and the plurality of ultrasonic sensors. The position of the wave source can be calculated using the fact that the light is much faster than the ultrasonic wave, that is, the time when the light reaches the optical sensor is much faster than the time the ultrasonic wave reaches the ultrasonic sensor. More specifically, the position of the wave generating source can be calculated using the time difference with the time when the ultrasonic wave reaches the reference signal.

The camera 121 includes at least one of a camera sensor (for example, a CCD, a CMOS, etc.), a photo sensor (or an image sensor), and a laser sensor.

The camera 121 and the laser sensor may be combined with each other to sense a touch of the sensing object with respect to the three-dimensional stereoscopic image. The photosensor can be laminated to the display element, which is adapted to scan the movement of the object to be detected proximate to the touch screen. More specifically, the photosensor mounts photo diodes and TRs (Transistors) in a row / column and scans the contents loaded on the photosensor using an electrical signal that varies according to the amount of light applied to the photo diode. That is, the photo sensor performs coordinate calculation of the object to be sensed according to the amount of change of light, and position information of the object to be sensed can be obtained through the calculation.

The display unit 151 displays (outputs) information processed by the mobile terminal 100. For example, the display unit 151 may display execution screen information of an application program driven by the mobile terminal 100 or UI (User Interface) and GUI (Graphic User Interface) information according to the execution screen information .

In addition, the display unit 151 may be configured as a stereoscopic display unit for displaying a stereoscopic image. In the stereoscopic display unit, a three-dimensional display system such as a stereoscopic system (glasses system), an autostereoscopic system (no-glasses system), and a projection system (holographic system) can be applied.

The sound output unit 152 may output audio data received from the wireless communication unit 110 or stored in the memory 170 in a call signal reception mode, a call mode or a recording mode, a voice recognition mode, a broadcast reception mode, The sound output unit 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 unit 152 may include a receiver, a speaker, a buzzer, and the like.

The haptic module 153 generates various tactile effects that the user can feel. A typical example of the haptic effect generated by the haptic module 153 may be vibration. The intensity and pattern of the vibration generated in the haptic module 153 can be controlled by the user's selection or the setting of the control unit. For example, the haptic module 153 may synthesize and output different vibrations or sequentially output the vibrations.

In addition to vibration, the haptic module 153 may be configured to perform various functions such as a pin arrangement vertically moving with respect to the contact skin surface, a spraying force or suction force of the air through the injection port or the suction port, a touch on the skin surface, And various tactile effects such as an effect of reproducing a cold sensation using an endothermic or exothermic element can be generated.

The haptic module 153 can transmit the tactile effect through the direct contact, and the tactile effect can be felt by the user through the muscles of the finger or arm. The haptic module 153 may include two or more haptic modules 153 according to the configuration of the mobile terminal 100.

The light output unit 154 outputs a signal for notifying the occurrence of an event using the light of the light source of the mobile terminal 100. Examples of events that occur in the mobile terminal 100 may include message reception, call signal reception, missed call, alarm, schedule notification, email reception, information reception through an application, and the like.

The signal output from the light output unit 154 is implemented as the mobile terminal emits light of a single color or a plurality of colors to the front or rear surface. The signal output may be terminated by the mobile terminal detecting the event confirmation of the user.

The interface unit 160 serves as a path for communication with all external devices connected to the mobile terminal 100. The interface unit 160 receives data from an external device or supplies power to each component in the mobile terminal 100 or transmits data in the mobile terminal 100 to an external device. For example, a port for connecting a device equipped with a wired / wireless headset port, an external charger port, a wired / wireless data port, a memory card port, an audio I / O port, a video I / O port, an earphone port, and the like may be included in the interface unit 160.

The identification module is a chip for storing various information for authenticating the use right of the mobile terminal 100 and includes a user identification module (UIM), a subscriber identity module (SIM) A universal subscriber identity module (USIM), and the like. Devices with identification modules (hereinafter referred to as "identification devices") can be manufactured in a smart card format. Accordingly, the identification device can be connected to the terminal 100 through the interface unit 160. [

The interface unit 160 may be a path through which power from the cradle is supplied to the mobile terminal 100 when the mobile terminal 100 is connected to an external cradle, And various command signals may be transmitted to the mobile terminal 100. The various command signals or the power source input from the cradle may be operated as a signal for recognizing that the mobile terminal 100 is correctly mounted on the cradle.

The memory 170 may store a program for the operation of the controller 180 and temporarily store input / output data (e.g., a phone book, a message, a still image, a moving picture, etc.). The memory 170 may store data related to vibration and sound of various patterns outputted when a touch is input on the touch screen.

The memory 170 may be a flash memory type, a hard disk type, a solid state disk type, an SDD type (Silicon Disk Drive type), a multimedia card micro type ), Card type memory (e.g., SD or XD memory), random access memory (RAM), static random access memory (SRAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read memory, a programmable read-only memory (PROM), a magnetic memory, a magnetic disk, and / or an optical disk. The mobile terminal 100 may operate in association with a web storage that performs the storage function of the memory 170 on the Internet.

Meanwhile, as described above, the control unit 180 controls the operations related to the application program and the general operation of the mobile terminal 100. [ For example, when the state of the mobile terminal meets a set condition, the control unit 180 can execute or release a lock state for restricting input of a user's control command to applications.

In addition, the control unit 180 performs control and processing related to voice communication, data communication, video call, or the like, or performs pattern recognition processing to recognize handwriting input or drawing input performed on the touch screen as characters and images, respectively . Further, the controller 180 may control any one or a plurality of the above-described components in order to implement various embodiments described below on the mobile terminal 100 according to the present invention.

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 power supply unit 190 includes a battery, the battery may be an internal battery configured to be chargeable, and may be detachably coupled to the terminal body for charging or the like.

In addition, the power supply unit 190 may include a connection port, and the connection port may be configured as an example of an interface 160 through which an external charger for supplying power for charging the battery is electrically connected.

As another example, the power supply unit 190 may be configured to charge the battery in a wireless manner without using the connection port. In this case, the power supply unit 190 may use at least one of an inductive coupling method based on a magnetic induction phenomenon from an external wireless power transmission apparatus and a magnetic resonance coupling method based on an electromagnetic resonance phenomenon Power can be delivered.

In the following, various embodiments may be embodied in a recording medium readable by a computer or similar device using, for example, software, hardware, or a combination thereof.

FIG. 1B is a diagram illustrating a state in which the mobile terminal 100 performs wireless communication with at least one external device 200. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1B, the mobile terminal 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention may be a watch-type mobile terminal. In addition, the external device 300 may include a display unit and may include all electronic devices capable of transmitting and receiving various data. Also, the external device 300 may include all electronic devices capable of Bluetooth communication or Wi-Fi communication.

The external device 200 may be in the form of, for example, but not limited to, a TV, a smart phone, a navigation device, a tablet, or other devices including those described with reference to FIG. May be in the form of a mobile terminal.

In addition, the wireless communication unit 110 of the mobile terminal 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention may include a Bluetooth module, a Wi-Fi module, and a low power (BLE) communication module. Accordingly, the mobile terminal 100 can perform at least one of Bluetooth communication, Wi-Fi communication, and low-power wireless communication with the external device 200 recognized in the vicinity.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the mobile terminal 100 and the at least one external device 200 may be connected to each other via Bluetooth ™, Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi), Wi-Fi Direct, Bus), and the like can be used to perform short-range communication. When the mobile terminal 100 and the at least one external device 200 are connected (or connected) by performing such short-range communication, the mobile terminal 100 transmits data or a control command to the external device 200, It is possible to receive data transmitted from the device 200 and execute at least one corresponding function.

The control unit 180 of the mobile terminal 100 controls the wireless communication unit 110 to be paired with the external device 200 using a communication protocol different from the communication protocol used for recognizing the external device 200 . In addition, the controller 180 of the mobile terminal 100 may switch the communication protocol differently according to the amount and type of data transmitted / received to / from the external device 200.

For example, when the mobile terminal 100 exchanges voice or image data with the external device 200 or exchanges a small amount of data, the control unit 180 of the mobile terminal 100 transmits the external device 200, It is possible to control the wireless communication unit 110 to connect through the Bluetooth communication. In addition, when the mobile terminal 100 shares voice, pictures, moving pictures, or other large-capacity files with the external device 200 or selectively shares data, the control unit 180 of the mobile terminal 100 controls the external The wireless communication unit 110 can be controlled to connect with the device 200 through Wi-Fi communication.

Meanwhile, the mobile terminal 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention can be implemented in the form of a wearable device configured to be mountable on a body-specific part of a user. The wearable device is capable of mutually exchanging (or interlocking) data with another mobile terminal 100. [ Specifically, the short-range communication module 114 can detect (or recognize) the wearable device that can communicate with the periphery. If the detected wearable device is a device authenticated to communicate with the mobile terminal 100, the control unit 180 may transmit at least a part of the data processed by the mobile terminal 100 to the wearable device 100 through the short- Lt; / RTI > Accordingly, the user can use the data processed by the mobile terminal 100 through the wearable device. For example, when a telephone is received in the mobile terminal 100, it is possible to perform a telephone conversation via the wearable device or to confirm the received message via the wearable device when a message is received in the mobile terminal 100 .

In this regard, FIG. Watch  Type mobile terminal 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2, a watch-type mobile terminal 300 includes a main body 301 having a display portion 351 and a band 302 connected to the main body 301 and configured to be worn on the wrist Lt; / RTI > In general, the mobile terminal 300 may include features of the mobile terminal 100 of FIG. 1A or similar features.

The main body 301 includes a case that forms an appearance. As shown, the case may include a first case 301a and a second case 301b that provide an internal space for accommodating various electronic components. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and one case may be configured to provide the internal space, so that a mobile terminal 300 of a unibody may be realized.

The watch-type mobile terminal 300 is configured to allow wireless communication, and the main body 301 may be provided with an antenna for the wireless communication. On the other hand, the antenna can expand its performance by using a case. For example, a case comprising a conductive material may be configured to electrically connect with the antenna to extend the ground or radiating area.

A display unit 351 may be disposed on the front surface of the main body 301 to output information and a touch sensor may be provided on the display unit 351 to implement the touch screen. The window 351a of the display unit 351 may be mounted on the first case 301a to form a front surface of the terminal body together with the first case 301a.

The main body 301 may include an acoustic output unit 352, a camera 321, a microphone 322, a user input unit 323, and the like. When the display unit 351 is implemented as a touch screen, the display unit 351 may function as a user input unit 323, so that the main body 301 may not have a separate key.

The band 302 is worn on the wrist so as to surround the wrist and can be formed of a flexible material for easy wearing. As an example, the band 302 may be formed of leather, rubber, silicone, synthetic resin, or the like. In addition, the band 302 is detachably attached to the main body 301, and can be configured to be replaceable with various types of bands according to the user's preference.

On the other hand, the band 302 can be used to extend the performance of the antenna. For example, the band may include a ground extension (not shown) that is electrically connected to the antenna and extends the ground region.

The band 302 may be provided with a fastener 302a. The fastener 302a may be embodied by a buckle, a snap-fit hook structure, or a velcro (trademark), and may include a stretchable section or material . In this drawing, an example in which the fastener 302a is embodied as a buckle is shown.

At least the mobile terminal 300 outputs the touch area for inputting the identification information related to the external device to be connected to the screen, and when the predetermined identification information is input to the touch area, And performs low power wireless communication (BLE, Bluetooth low energy) for recognizing an external device. As a result of performing the low power wireless communication, when the external device corresponding to the input identification information is recognized and the recognized external device exists within a predetermined range based on the main body of the mobile terminal 300, the mobile terminal 300 recognizes And is automatically connected to an external device using Bluetooth (BT) or Wi-Fi communication.

That is, the mobile terminal 300 transmits the identification information of the input target device and the identification information of the mobile terminal 300 (e.g., the ID (UUID), the BD address information, The MAC address, the manager application URL address, etc.), the target device corresponding to the input identification information detects the connection, and performs connection to the mobile terminal 300 based on the received connection information do. Then, the mobile terminal 300 carries out automatic authentication based on the connection request and the status information received from the target device, i.e., the external device 200, thereby performing the pairing.

Here, the identification information associated with the external device to be connected is not a unique PIN number used for authentication for a paying party, but rather a number, a symbol, a character, or the like, which can distinguish an external device from other electronic devices in the vicinity, And combinations thereof. For example, the identification information may be a phone number corresponding to an external device stored in an address book or the like in the mobile terminal 300, a user ID, a predetermined shortcut number, or a number given through another user input. In addition, the identification information may have a different attribute or configuration depending on the type of the external device 200 to be connected.

That is, in the embodiment of the present invention, in order to pair the mobile terminal 300 and the specific external device 200, identification information to be input by the user is more intuitive and minimized, and a separate PIN code for authentication is required There is no.

In the embodiment of the present invention, since BLE communication is used for connection between the mobile terminal 300 and the specific external device 200, it is possible to maintain the stability and security, which are advantages of Bluetooth, About 1 to 5% of the power).

Hereinafter, a method of connecting the mobile terminal according to the present invention to at least one external device will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG.

First, although a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention described below is described as an example of a watch-type mobile terminal 300, the embodiment of the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the mobile terminal 300 may be a smart phone, a laptop computer, a digital broadcasting terminal, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable multimedia player (PMP), a navigation device, a slate PC ), A tablet PC, an ultrabook, other types of wearable devices, a smart glass, a head mounted display (HMD), and the like.

The watch-type mobile terminal 300 according to the embodiment of the present invention can enter the external device connection mode through user input. Here, the external device connection mode may be performed by an external device to be connected. For example, the user can activate the Bluetooth function in the mobile terminal 300 or the external device 200 to enter the external device connection mode.

When the external device connection mode is entered, time information corresponding to the external device connection mode is output to the display unit 351, for example, as shown in FIG. 4 (a). The time information may be output in the form of a pop-up message 401 indicating an external device connection mode, or may be output in the form of an icon indicating a wireless communication enabled state, on the front or one area of the display unit 351.

When entering the external device connection mode, the display unit 351 of the mobile terminal 300 according to the embodiment of the present invention is provided with a touch area for inputting identification information related to the external device 200 to be connected to the terminal main body (S310).

The touch area includes an imaginary keyboard area 410b and an output area 410a for outputting a number corresponding to a touch applied to a virtual keyboard area 410b, as shown in FIG. 4 (b) can do. Meanwhile, although not shown, the touch area may be implemented as an area in which identification information can be input through direct handwriting input by the user.

Here, the identification information is not a unique identification information such as a PIN code for pairing, but is a form that the user can easily memorize and intuitively input. That is, the identification information may be any one of a telephone number, an ID, and a preset short-cut number corresponding to the external device 200 previously stored in the main body of the terminal.

For example, when the external device 200 to be connected is an electronic device including a call function, a part of the telephone number corresponding to the external device 200 (for example, a four-digit number after the telephone number) It can be used as information. Also, if the external device 200 to be connected is an electronic device having no call function, a user ID linked with the external device 200 or a shortcut number pre-stored in the terminal main body may be used as the identification information.

When the identification information related to the external device to be connected to the touch area is inputted through the user input, the wireless communication unit 110 (see FIG. 1A) of the mobile terminal 300 displays the identification And performs low power wireless communication (BLE) for recognizing an external device corresponding to the information (S320).

Low power wireless communication (BLE) uses a low power Bluetooth standard that improves the relatively high power consumption part of conventional Bluetooth while maintaining stability and security which are advantages of Bluetooth. The BLE can be divided into a data channel and a broadcasting channel. In the embodiment of the present invention, connection information for connection with the external device 200 and data And transmits a radio signal for triggering at the time of transmission.

For example, referring to FIG. 4 (c), the watch-type mobile terminal 300 displays the identification information of the external device input through the display unit 351 in FIG. 4 (b) 200b, 200c, 200d) of the terminal main body, connection information (e.g., ID (UUID) in association with the main body, BD address information, MAC address, manager application URL address information, And recognize the external device corresponding to the input identification information, for example, the smartphone 200a.

As a result of the low power wireless communication, when it is determined that the external device 200 corresponding to the input identification information exists within a preset range based on the terminal main body, the mobile terminal 300 responds to the main body and the identification information The external device is automatically connected to the first wireless communication (S330).

Here, the first wireless communication refers to Bluetooth (BT) or Wi-Fi communication capable of transmitting and receiving data between the mobile terminal 300 and the external device 200. Whether the mobile terminal 300 and the external device 200 are connected by Bluetooth communication or Wi-Fi communication is determined by the mobile terminal 300 and the external device 300, which are measured through low- Can be determined based on the separation distance between the devices 200. [ This will be described in more detail below.

Also, in the embodiment of the present invention, even when the mobile terminal 300 and the external device 200 are connected for the first time, a separate authentication procedure such as input of a PIN code (or a BDADDR code) no need. That is, the identification information inputted through the mobile terminal 300 is means for recognizing the external device 200 to be connected and for authenticating the external device 200.

For example, in FIG. 4C, the smartphone 200a to be connected to the watch-type mobile terminal 300 receives the identification information of the received external device and the connection information for the mobile terminal 300, And can recognize the mobile terminal 300 requesting the connection. In addition, the watch-type mobile terminal 300 receives the connection request from the recognized external device 200 and the status information corresponding to the connection operation (e.g., the manager application URL address information received from the mobile terminal 300) It is possible to perform the automatic authentication for the external device 200 requesting the connection without inputting the PIN code or the like.

Accordingly, the mobile terminal 300 and the external device, that is, the smart phone 200a, are automatically connected to the Bluetooth (BT) or Wi-Fi communication as shown in (d) of FIG. At this time, at least one of the paired mobile terminal 300 and the smart phone 200a may be output an alarm indicating that the paired mobile terminal 300 is automatically connected, for example, a pop-up message 430 or an effect sound 420 indicating completion of authentication.

In the embodiment of the present invention, when the mobile terminal 300 and the external device 200 are connected for the first time, the external device 200 corresponding to the identification information is connected to the main body 300 through the low power wireless communication (BLE) To satisfy a pairing condition that should be present within a predetermined range based on the reference value.

For example, referring back to FIG. 4C, the mobile terminal 300 may recognize that the external devices 200a, 200b, 200c, and 200d existing in the range A where the low power wireless communication (BLE) However, the external device 200e existing outside the range (A) can not be recognized as low power wireless communication (BLE). Here, the range (A) may be defined as a radius of about 9 to 10 m, for example, based on the body.

Meanwhile, once the mobile terminal 300 and the external device 200 are connected, it is possible to maintain the connection even if the external device 200 moves out of the range A. This will be described in more detail below.

If the pairing condition is satisfied, the mobile terminal 300 performs an automatic authentication procedure. Specifically, the control unit 180 (see FIG. 1A) of the mobile terminal 300 transmits connection information (including identification information corresponding to an external device) related to the terminal main body and the external device to an external device Lt; / RTI > The controller 180 receives a response signal corresponding to the connection information from the external device 200 (that is, status information such as a connection request and installation and execution of an administrator application) and transmits the response signal to the external device 200 Can be performed.

Also, the control unit 180 displays a first image (e.g., a point image indicating recognition) corresponding to the identification information recognized by the low power wireless communication (BLE) on the display unit 351 Quot;). Also, the controller 180 may output a second image (e.g., a thumbnail image of the recognized external device) indicating the recognized external device to one area of the display unit 351. [

Meanwhile, in the embodiment of the present invention, the above-described low power wireless communication (BLE) is performed independently of inputting identification information corresponding to an external device to be connected and recognizing and connecting an external device corresponding to the identification information.

First, when the external device connection mode is executed according to a predetermined input to the mobile terminal 300 or the external device 200 to be connected to the terminal main body, the external device 200 is within a distance range in which wireless communication is possible through the low power wireless communication (BLE) And can receive the corresponding connection information from the electronic device.

Then, the control unit 180 of the mobile terminal 300 may output time information related to the plurality of electronic devices corresponding to the received connection information, in an area distinguished from the touch area. Here, the time information may be embodied in a list form (415 in (c) of FIG. 4) including a representative image representing each electronic device (for example, a thumbnail image representing each device) or identification information. Meanwhile, in the case of the watch-type mobile terminal 300, since the size of the display unit 351 is small and the amount of information that can be output is limited, when the user touches the preset touch gesture Touching input in one direction) is applied, the time information can be controlled so that the time information is outputted instead of the touch area.

The wireless communication unit 110 (see FIG. 1A) of the mobile terminal 300 may be connected to the external device 200 through the low power wireless communication (BLE) The distance between the connected main body and the external device can be continuously monitored.

BLE's distance measurement (RSSI) technology is stable and relatively accurate. Also, it is possible to calculate a range in which the communication speed becomes a state in which a specific communication protocol can not be communicated, by accumulating the communication speed for each distance of m measured by the distance measurement (RSSI) technique of BLE.

As a result of the monitoring, if the distance between the terminal body and the external device 200 is out of a predetermined range, the control unit 180 of the mobile terminal 300 transmits the first wireless communication to the second wireless communication It can be changed automatically. For example, if the distance between the terminal main body and the external device 200 is 9 to 10 m or more, wireless communication between the two devices can be automatically switched to Wi-Fi wireless communication in Bluetooth (BT) wireless communication. have.

Accordingly, even if the distance between the terminal body and the external device 200 is increased by the movement of the user, the connection between the terminal body and the external device 200 can be maintained without interruption. In addition, a phenomenon in which data can not be transmitted or received while Bluetooth (BT) communication is maintained can be solved by switching the appropriate communication protocol. Further, since the monitoring of such a distance is carried out independently through the low power wireless communication (BLE), unnecessary power consumption can be reduced.

Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, the monitoring function is performed through the low power wireless communication (BLE), and the cumulative information about the speed of the wireless communication protocol in use can be calculated for each distance between the connected terminal and the external device have. Accordingly, the mobile terminal 300 can update the optimal communication range and the non-communicable range for various communication protocols, and can switch to a proper communication protocol before the connection state is disconnected.

In this way, when the communication protocol conversion is required according to the monitoring function by the low power wireless communication (BLE), the mobile terminal 300 can output the alarm corresponding to the warning or the switching in the form of sound, vibration or message have.

Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, the monitoring function is performed through the low power wireless communication (BLE), and the cumulative information about the service in use can be further calculated by the distance between the connected main body and the external device. Accordingly, the mobile terminal 300 can grasp, in advance, the type of application mainly used for each distance, the transmission size of average data for each application, and the like. For example, when the battery voltage of the mobile terminal 300 is low, it is possible to preferentially process update and notification for an application mainly used for each distance. The accumulated information may be calculated differently for each type of the mobile terminal 300 and the external device.

As described above, by directly inputting intuitive identification information related to an external device to which a user wants to connect and paying it, connection between both devices can be easily and intuitively performed. Also, after the terminal and the external device are connected, the low-power wireless communication is performed independently to continuously monitor the separation distance between the two devices, and by switching the communication method appropriately according to the degree of separation, the connection can be maintained without interruption It does. Also, because of the use of low power wireless communications (BLE), this monitoring function can be performed with minimal power.

5 is a conceptual diagram for explaining a method of releasing an existing connection and connecting another external device according to the present invention.

The release of the connection may be performed in the external device 200 or in the mobile terminal 300. [ For example, when receiving a connection release request signal from the external device 200, the control unit 180 of the mobile terminal 300 inputs identification information related to the external device so that connection with other external devices can be performed To the display unit 351 again.

When the identification information corresponding to another external device is input to the touch area thus outputted, the controller 180 releases the connection to the external device corresponding to the previously input identification information, And controls the wireless communication unit 110 to perform low power wireless communication.

5, when a connection release request is input through the screen of the connected smart phone 200a (FIG. 5A), the wake-up type A touch area 502 for inputting identification information corresponding to another external device is output to the mobile terminal 300. [ Meanwhile, when new identification information, for example, an ID associated with the smart TV is input to the output touch area 502, the existing connection is released as shown in FIG. 5C, and the smart TV 200b ) Is performed.

Meanwhile, as described above, in the embodiment of the present invention, the mobile terminal 300 and the external device 200 perform the low power wireless communication (BLE) independently of the connection process. Accordingly, an embodiment in which the power consumption is further reduced while maintaining the existing connection state can be implemented as follows.

In this regard, FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram for explaining a method of switching a wireless communication method with an external device according to the sleep mode / active mode of the mobile terminal according to the present invention.

The connected mobile terminal 00 and the external device 200 can transmit signaling for starting data transmission through a low power wireless communication (BLE). That is, even if the mobile terminal 300 and the external device 200 are connected, at least one of the mobile terminal 300 and the external device 200 is in a sleep mode to prevent unnecessary power consumption Enter.

When the terminal body and the external device corresponding to the identification information enter the sleep mode after being connected through the first wireless communication (e.g., Bluetooth (BT) communication or Wi-Fi communication) The control unit 180 of the mobile terminal 300 can control the connection between the main body and the external device corresponding to the identification information to be maintained through the low power wireless communication. As described above, when the first wireless communication is turned off and the connection state is maintained through the low-power wireless communication, the standby current is minimized.

When it is detected that an event related to data transmission is generated during the sleep mode, the controller 180 changes the connection between the main body and the external device corresponding to the identification information from the low power wireless communication to the first wireless communication .

For example, as shown in FIG. 6 (a), in a state in which the connected watch-type mobile terminal 300 and the external device, for example, the smartphone 200a are in the sleep mode and connected by the BLE communication, The mobile terminal 300 and the smartphone 200a are connected to each other via the BT / Wi-FI communication to transmit and receive data, when the mobile terminal 300 receives a message as shown in (b) of FIG.

In this case, power dissipation is greatly reduced (eg, a power reduction of more than 2 mA), but there is no difference between users and BT / Wi-Fi connections.

Meanwhile, the mobile terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention can be connected to N peripheral devices using the low power wireless communication. That is, it is possible to access N peripheral devices using the wireless signal transmitted through the BLE communication as a trigger signal.

Also, the mobile terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention can be used as a relay device for connecting a plurality of external devices using different communication protocols. In this regard, FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram for explaining a method of connecting a plurality of external devices using different communication methods by using a mobile terminal according to the present invention as a relay device.

First, in a state where a mobile terminal body according to an embodiment of the present invention is connected to a first external device recognized through a low power wireless communication (BLE) through a first wireless communication, the first external device And can be connected to the second external device.

For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the mobile terminal may include a BT (Bluetooth) device having a BLE function, for example, a watch-type mobile terminal 300. Also, the first external device may be a desktop, a notebook PC, a tablet PC, or the like, which functions as a master device. Further, the second external device may be an electronic device which is a device for exclusive use in low power wireless communication (BLE) and can not perform BT communication. In addition, the second external device may function as a slave device, and may be provided in a plurality of (200b-N).

In such a case, the control unit 180 of the mobile terminal 300 may control, through the first wireless communication, a control for causing an application corresponding to screen information executed in the main body to be executed also in a second external device connected to the first external device Command to the first external device.

For example, in FIG. 7, a mobile terminal 300 connected through a low power wireless communication (BLE) and a smart phone 200a perform wireless communication through BT communication. The smart TV 200b, which can not perform BT communication with the mobile terminal 300, performs wireless communication through Wi-Fi communication. In this case, the smartphone 200a becomes a master device. When the user controls the smart TV 200b through the smartphone 200a, the input control command is actually transmitted through the BT communication to the mobile terminal 300, converts the control command received from the mobile terminal 300 into a Wi-Fi communication protocol standard, and transmits the control command to the smart TV 200b.

Meanwhile, although not shown, if the smart phone 200a as a master device has a Wi-Fi module, it is difficult for the mobile terminal 300 performing BT communication to receive a large amount of data , It is possible to directly transmit and receive data by pairing with the smart TV 200b through the Wi-Fi module.

FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram for explaining a method of switching tethering by monitoring whether data transmitted from an external device connected to a mobile terminal according to the present invention is transmitted.

The wireless communication unit 110 (see FIG. 1A) of the mobile terminal 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention can perform the low power wireless communication (BLE) even while the connection with the external device 200 is maintained through the first wireless communication It is possible to continuously monitor whether or not the screen is activated as well as the distance between the main body and the external device.

When the connected external device 200 has a tethering function, the control unit 180 of the mobile terminal 300 switches the tethering between the connected main unit and the external device based on whether or not the external device has activated the screen Can be determined.

Also, the controller 180 may control the switching of the tethering through the low power wireless communication (BLE) when the switching of the tethering is determined.

Specifically, the controller 180 automatically switches the Bluetooth tethering to the Wi-Fi tethering through the low power wireless communication (BLE) when the screen of the external device is switched from the inactive state to the active state. In addition, the controller 180 automatically switches the Wi-Fi tethering to the Bluetooth tethering through the low power wireless communication (BLE) when the screen of the external device is changed from the active state to the inactive state. As a result, power consumption can be minimized while maintaining tethering.

For example, when the watch-type mobile terminal 300 and the smartphone 200a connected to each other as shown in FIG. 8A are in the sleep mode, the Bluetooth tethering is switched through the BLE communication. When the user operates the screen of the mobile terminal 300 in this state and the screen of the mobile terminal 300 and the smartphone 200a is activated as shown in Figure 8B, It automatically switches to tethering.

As described above, by switching the communication mode of the tethering according to whether the screen is activated or not, power consumption can be further reduced when the screen is in the inactive state. When the screen is activated, the response to the application including the push- Thereby providing user convenience.

As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, intuitive identification information relating to an external device to which a user wants to connect is directly inputted and paid out, so that connection between the two devices is easy and intuitive. Also, after the terminal and the external device are connected to each other, the low power wireless communication is performed independently to continuously monitor the distance between the two devices and whether or not the data is transmitted, thereby switching the connection between the two devices to an appropriate communication method, This allows the connection to be maintained seamlessly. Also, since the low power wireless communication is performed independently after the terminal and the external device are connected, the power consumption is reduced in the sleep mode and the speed is improved in the reconnection.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof.

Furthermore, the present invention can be embodied as computer-readable codes on a medium on which a program is recorded. The computer readable medium includes all kinds of recording devices in which data that can be read by a computer system is stored. Examples of the computer-readable medium include ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, floppy disk, optical data storage, and the like, and also implemented in the form of a carrier wave (for example, transmission over the Internet) . In addition, the computer may include a control unit 180 of the terminal.

Accordingly, the above description should not be construed in a limiting sense in all respects and should be considered illustrative. The scope of the present invention should be determined by rational interpretation of the appended claims, and all changes within the scope of equivalents of the present invention are included in the scope of the present invention.

Claims (14)

main body;
A display unit for outputting a touch area for inputting identification information related to an external device to be connected to the main body;
A wireless communication unit for performing low power wireless communication (BLE) for recognizing an external device corresponding to the identification information based on the identification information input in the touch area; And
And a controller for connecting the main body and the external device corresponding to the identification information through the first wireless communication when the external device corresponding to the identification information exists within a predetermined range based on the main body as a result of the low power wireless communication ,
Wherein,
When the main body enters the sleep mode after the main body and the external device corresponding to the identification information are connected through the first wireless communication, the connection between the main body and the external device corresponding to the identification information is performed by the low power wireless communication ) Of the mobile terminal. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the first wireless communication is Bluetooth (BT) or Wi-Fi communication. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the identification information is any one of a telephone number, an ID, and a preset short-cut number corresponding to the previously stored external device of the main body. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein,
When the external device corresponding to the identification information exists within a predetermined range based on the main body as a result of the low power wireless communication,
And transmits the connection information related to the main body and the external device to an external device corresponding to the identification information and processes the authentication for the external device when a response signal corresponding to the connection information is received from the external device . The method according to claim 1,
Wherein,
Wherein the controller controls the touch area to be output to the display unit again when a connection release signal is received from an external device connected through the first wireless communication. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein,
In response to input of identification information corresponding to another external device in the touch area, disconnects the external device corresponding to the previously input identification information and performs low-power wireless communication based on the newly input identification information And controls the wireless communication unit to control the wireless communication unit. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein,
And controls the connection between the main body and an external device corresponding to the identification information to change from the low power wireless communication back to the first wireless communication when an event related to data transmission occurs in the sleep mode. . The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the wireless communication unit performs low power wireless communication (BLE) to receive corresponding connection information from devices existing within a distance range connectable with the main body,
Wherein the control unit controls to output time information related to a plurality of devices corresponding to the received connection information to an area distinguished from the touch area. The method according to claim 1,
When the main body is connected through a first wireless communication with a first external device recognized through the low power wireless communication (BLE), and when the first external device is connected through a second wireless communication with the second external device,
Wherein,
And transmits a control command to the first external device through the first wireless communication so that an application corresponding to screen information executed in the main body is also executed in the second external device. 10. The method of claim 9,
Wherein the second external device is a device dedicated to low power wireless communication (BLE). The method according to claim 1,
The wireless communication unit includes:
Monitors a separation distance between the connected main body and the external device through the low power wireless communication (BLE) while the first wireless communication is maintained,
Wherein the control unit automatically changes the first wireless communication to a second wireless communication capable of remote connection if the separation distance is out of a preset range based on the main body. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein,
And outputting at least one of a first image indicating a recognition state of the external device corresponding to the identification information recognized through the low power wireless communication (BLE) and a second image indicating the recognized external device to the display unit . The method according to claim 1,
Wherein,
Determines whether to switch tethering between a main body and an external device connected via the low power wireless communication (BLE) based on whether the external device is activated or not,
And controls switching of the tethering through the low power wireless communication (BLE) when the tethering is switched. 14. The method of claim 13,
Wherein,
Switching the bluetooth tethering to Wi-Fi tethering via the low power wireless communication (BLE) when the screen of the external device changes from inactive to active state,
And switches the Wi-Fi tethering to the Bluetooth tethering via the low power wireless communication (BLE) when the screen of the external device is switched from the active state to the inactive state.

Images