Electronic apparatus and method for controlling function on basis of location and direction of object

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11877204-B2
Application number	US-201917279344-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 27, 2019
Priority date	Sep 28, 2018
Publication date	Jan 16, 2024
Grant date	Jan 16, 2024

Abstract

An electronic apparatus according to various embodiments comprises: a wireless communication circuit comprising a broadband communication module and a Bluetooth communication module; a processor; and a memory operationally connected to the wireless communication circuit, wherein the memory may store instructions for controlling the processor, when executed, to measure a distance from a mobile device on the basis of a first signal transmitted and received through the broadband communication module, determine a direction in which the mobile device is located according to whether a second signal transmitted and received through the Bluetooth communication module is measurable, and control execution of a function of the electronic apparatus according to the determined direction of the mobile device when the measured distance of the mobile device is located in an area set for the execution of the function.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An electronic device comprising:
a wireless communication circuit comprising a broadband communication module and a Bluetooth communication module;
a processor; and
a memory operably connected to the wireless communication circuit and the processor,
wherein the memory stores instructions which, when executed, cause the processor to:
measure a distance between a mobile device and the electronic device based on a first signal transmitted or received through the broadband communication module,
determine a direction in which the mobile device is located according to whether a second signal transmitted or received through the Bluetooth communication module is measurable, and
control execution of a function of the electronic device when a location of the mobile device is in a first direction and a condition that the measured distance is located in an area configured for execution of the function is satisfied, and

wherein the instructions are configured to cause the processor to, as an operation of measuring the distance between the mobile device and the electronic device,
identify a time difference between transmission and reception times of the first signal by comparing the transmission time, at which the electronic device transmits the first signal, and the reception time, at which the first signal is received from the mobile device,
measure the distance between the electronic device and the mobile device based on signal speeds and the time difference, and
track the location and a movement of the mobile device based on a change in difference values of the measured distance.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 ,
wherein the instructions are configured to cause the processor to determine that the mobile device is located in the first direction with reference to the electronic device when the second signal is measurable, and to determine that the mobile device is located in a second direction with reference to the electronic device when the second signal is not measurable, and
wherein the first direction and the second direction are directions opposite to each other with reference to an obstacle.

3. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the instructions are configured to cause the processor to execute the function when the mobile device is located in the first direction, and not to execute the function when the mobile device is located in the second direction.

4. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the instructions are configured to cause the processor to: in response to the mobile device being located in an area configured for execution of the function, determine whether the mobile device has valid authorization based on identification information of the mobile device, and execute the function when a condition that the mobile device has valid authorization is satisfied.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the broadband communication module includes an ultra-wide band communication module, and the Bluetooth communication module includes a Bluetooth low energy communication module.

6. The electronic device of claim 2 , further comprising a wireless communication module for performing wireless communication with another electronic device,
wherein the instructions are configured to cause the processor to transmit a command to execute the function or a command not to execute the function to another electronic device which is connected to the electronic device via wireless communication.

7. The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the instructions are configured to cause the processor to:
upon recognizing that the location of the mobile device is in the first direction, based on the second signal, execute a first function if it is determined that the distance of the mobile device measured based on the first signal moves into the configured area from an outside thereof, and
execute a second function if it is determined that the distance of the mobile device moves from inside the configured area to the outside thereof.

8. The electronic device of claim 2 ,
wherein the area for execution of the function is divided into a first area having a first radius around the electronic device and a second area having a second radius larger than the first radius, and
wherein the instructions are configured to cause the processor to:
in a case where the mobile device is located in a first direction based on the second signal, execute a first function when the mobile device is located in the first area based on the first signal, and execute a second function when the mobile device is located in a second area other than the first area; and
not to execute the first function and the second function when the mobile device is located in a second direction based on the second signal.

9. A method for controlling a function of an electronic device, the method comprising:
measuring a distance to a mobile device based on a first signal transmitted or received through a broadband communication module;
determining a direction in which the mobile device is located according to whether a second signal transmitted or received through a Bluetooth communication module is measurable;
in a case where a condition that the measured distance of the mobile device is located in an area configured for execution of a function is satisfied, executing a function associated with the mobile device when the mobile device is located in a first direction; and
in a case where a condition that the measured distance of the mobile device is located in the area configured for execution of the function is satisfied, controlling not to execute a function associated with the mobile device when the mobile device is located in a second direction,
wherein the measuring of the distance to the mobile device further comprises:
determining whether the mobile device moves to the area configured for execution of the function; and
determining whether the mobile device has valid authorization based on identification information of the mobile device, based on the movement of the mobile device to the configured area, and

wherein the executing of the function of the electronic device comprises executing of the function of the electronic device when a condition that the mobile device has valid authorization is satisfied.

10. The method of claim 9 ,
wherein the executing of the function associated with the mobile device further comprises transmitting a command to execute a function associated with the mobile device to another electronic device which is connected to the electronic device via wireless communication, and
wherein the controlling not to execute the function of the electronic device further comprises: not transmitting the command to execute the function associated with the mobile device to another electronic device which is connected to the electronic device via wireless communication; or transmitting a command not to execute the function associated with the mobile device thereto.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the executing of the function associated with the mobile device further comprises:
upon recognizing that the location of the mobile device is in the first direction, based on the second signal, executing a first function if it is determined that the distance of the mobile device measured based on the first signal moves into the configured area from an outside thereof; and
upon recognizing that the location of the mobile device is in the first direction, based on the second signal, executing a second function if it is determined that the distance of the mobile device moves from inside the configured area to the outside thereof.

12. The method of

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Ahn Jungho
• Son Yongjun
• Oh Saegee
• Yoo Jun
• Joo Jaeil

Classifications

• G01S13/0209

  Systems with very large relative bandwidth, i.e. larger than 10 %, e.g. baseband, pulse, carrier-free, ultrawideband · CPC title

• G01S5/04

  Position of source determined by a plurality of spaced direction-finders · CPC title

• H04W4/021 Primary

  Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences · CPC title

• H04W4/026 Primary

  using orientation information, e.g. compass · CPC title

• H04W4/029

  Location-based management or tracking services · CPC title