Method and apparatus for application management

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11157507-B2
Application number	US-201815978979-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 14, 2018
Priority date	May 21, 2013
Publication date	Oct 26, 2021
Grant date	Oct 26, 2021

Abstract

An apparatus and method for managing an application in a digital device are provided. The method includes receiving Appcessory identification information from an accessory device if the accessory device is connected to the digital device; searching, based on the Appcessory identification information, for at least one application having a function of controlling the accessory device from among at least one application installed in the digital device; and displaying application information associated with the at least one searched application according to a result of the search.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for managing an external device at an electronic device, the method comprising:
identifying, by at least one processor of the electronic device, that the external device is connected to the electronic device;
receiving, from the external device, a request of registration of an identifier of the external device, wherein the identifier includes device identification information of the external device;
searching, by at least one processor of the electronic device, for at least one application associated with the identifier of the external device;
determining, by the at least one processor based on communication with an application providing server, an update status of at least one application related to the identifier;
activating, by the at least one processor, a set of functions for controlling the external device;
receiving state information of the external device in response to the identifying of the external device being connected with electronic device;
displaying, by the at least one processor on a display of the electronic device, a first icon, a second icon and a third icon for downloading a second application; and
displaying, by the at least one processor in a connection guide window displayed on the display of the electronic device, information about a latest firmware version of the external device by acquiring information about the latest firmware version from an external server using the received state information on the display of the electronic device,
wherein the first icon corresponds to a first application having the set of functions for controlling the external device installed in the electronic device,
wherein the second icon corresponds to a second application having the set of functions for controlling the external device, the second application not being installed in the electronic device,
wherein the third icon for downloading the second application based on a user input for the third icon, and
wherein the first icon, the second icon and the third icon arc displayed in respective areas of an application information pop-up window that is displayed after selection on the connection guide window.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving application identification information from the external device in response to the identifying of the external device being connected with the electronic device;
searching, based on the application identification information, for the first application having the set of functions being used to control the external device from among applications installed in the electronic device; and
displaying application information associated with the first application.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the application identification information includes at least one of device identification information of the external device and company identification information of the external device.

4. The method of claim 2 ,
wherein the first application icon is represented in an activated status.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the first application icon is represented in a deactivated status before the external device is connected to the electronic device.

6. The method of claim 5 ,
wherein the state information of the external device includes a battery level of the external device and firmware version information of the external device.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
downloading the second application from the application providing server and installing the second application based on a request for downloading the second application being received.

8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
downloading, based on a request for updating the first applications being received, update information about the first application from the application providing server and updating the first application.

9. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
downloading, based on a request for downloading the latest firmware version being received, the latest firmware version from the external server; and
transmitting information about the downloaded latest firmware version to the external device.

10. The method of claim 2 , further comprises:
acquiring information about the second application from the application providing server.

11. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
acquiring information about whether the first application have been updated from an application providing server.

12. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
executing the first application;
detecting generation of an interrupt interfering with the execution of the first application; and
ignoring, if an all interrupt-disallowing mode has been set, the interrupt.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
determining, if a partial interrupt-allowing mode has been set, whether the first application is an interrupt-allowing application and whether the interrupt is an allowed interrupt;
processing, if the first application is the interrupt-allowing application and if the interrupt is an allowed interrupt, the interrupt; and
ignoring, if the first application is an interrupt-disallowing application or if the interrupt is a disallowed interrupt, the interrupt.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising outputting, if an alternative notification mode has been set, a notification of generation of the interrupt by a predetermined alternative method.

15. An electronic device for management of an external device, comprising:
a display;
a communication module; and
at least one processor configured to:
identify that the external device is connected connects to the electronic device;
receive, via the communication module from the external device, a request of registration of an identifier of the external device, wherein the identifier includes device identification information of the external device;
search, by at least one processor of the electronic device, for at least one application associated with the identifier of the external device;
determine, by the at least one processor based on communication with an application providing server, an update status of at least one application related to the identifier;
activate a set of functions for controlling the external device;
receive state information of the external device in response to the identifying of the external device being connected with the electronic device;
display, on the display, a first icon, a second icon and a third icon; and
display in a connection guide window provided on the display information about a latest firmware version of the external device by acquiring information about the latest firmware version through the communication module from an external server using the received state information on the display,

wherein the first icon corresponds to a first application having the set of functions for controlling the external device installed in the electronic device,
wherein the second icon corresponds to a second application having the set of functions for controlling the external device, the second application not being installed in the electronic device,
wherein the third icon is for downloading the second application based on a user input of the third icon, and
wherein the first icon, the second icon and the third icon are displayed in respective areas of an application information pop-up window that is displayed after selection on the connection guide window.

16. The electronic device of claim 15 ,
wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
acquire application identification in

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Lim Kyung-Soo

Classifications

• G06F16/248 Primary

  Presentation of query results · CPC title

• G06F9/453

  Help systems · CPC title

• G06F9/445

  Program loading or initiating (bootstrapping G06F9/4401; security arrangements for program loading or initiating G06F21/57) · CPC title

• G06F9/4411 Primary

  Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers · CPC title

• G06F13/10 Primary

  Program control for peripheral devices (G06F13/14 - G06F13/42 take precedence) · CPC title