WO2019066178A1 - Electronic device and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electronic device, a control method thereof, and a computer control program product thereof. The electronic device comprises: a communication unit capable of communicating with a plurality of external devices; and a processor for receiving, from the plurality of external devices, distance information on a distance to each of the plurality of external devices and performing a control to pair with external devices located within a predetermined order of proximity from among the plurality of external devices on the basis of the received distance information. Accordingly, when the electronic device establishes a wireless connection with an external device, the electronic device can minimize a user's intervention, speed up the wireless connection, and enable the user to wirelessly connect to a desired external device.

Description

Electronic device and control method thereof

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus and a control method thereof, and more particularly, to an electronic apparatus and a control method thereof that establish a wireless connection with an external apparatus.

Recently, electronic devices are capable of wireless connection with other devices. There are various ways of wireless connection, and there are various connection methods such as Bluetooth, Wi-fi and ZigBee.

When an electronic device establishes a wireless connection with an external device of a plurality of external devices, the user selects an external device using various methods. When an external device is selected, an unfamiliar user may have difficulty in knowing the wireless connection method, or it may be inconvenient because it takes a long time.

There is an inconvenience that the time required for the wireless connection is long and inconvenient even when the electronic device automatically connects wirelessly without the user intervention or that the user makes a wireless connection with an external device that does not want the wireless connection.

According to the prior art, there is no way to solve the above problems. Therefore, there is a need for a wireless connection between an external device and an electronic device without a user intervention, or a method by which a desired external device and an electronic device can be wirelessly connected.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic device, a control method therefor, and a computer program product that minimize user intervention in a wireless connection.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an electronic device and a control method thereof for rapidly making a wireless connection.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an electronic device and a control method thereof that are connected to a desired external device.

The above object is achieved by an electronic device comprising: a communication unit capable of communicating with a plurality of external devices; A processor for receiving the distance information from the plurality of external devices to each external device and controlling the pairing with an external device having a predetermined distance within a predetermined distance from the plurality of external devices based on the received distance information, And the like. Accordingly, the user can perform the pairing between the electronic device and the external device closest to the electronic device without complicating the process.

The processor can control to adjust the transmission power of the communication unit such that the number of the plurality of external apparatuses to be searched becomes a predetermined target value. Thus, by controlling the transmission power, the power consumed by the electronic device can be reduced.

The processor may control to gradually increase the transmission power of the communication unit until an external apparatus having the predetermined target value number is searched after the first search of the external apparatus. Accordingly, the electronic device 300 can find the nearby external device more quickly. Also, by using this method, it is possible to minimize the consumption of the transmission power.

The distance information to each of the external devices may include information corresponding to a reception intensity at which the external device measured the transmission power of the communication unit.

The processor may receive the distance information to the external devices a predetermined number of times and control the representative value of the distance to be used. Accordingly, it is possible to calculate a more accurate distance rank by using the distance information with a small error.

The electronic device further includes a user input unit capable of receiving a user input, and the processor is configured to perform a pairing with the external device corresponding to the user input received after receiving the distance information to the external device Can be controlled. As a result, pairing can be performed more quickly.

The processor can control to receive distance information from the external device in the sleep state before reception of the user input. As a result, pairing can be performed more quickly.

The processor may control the distance information reception period to be variably controlled. As a result, consumed power consumption can be reduced.

When the difference between the distances of the two or more external devices is within a predetermined range, the processor may be configured to select one of a higher priority ranking, a recently paired ranking, a stronger signal strength, a first searched ranking, And perform the pairing with the external device using at least one of the excluded positions. Thus, the electronic device can pair with an external device that the user wants to pair with.

The processor can inform the user to move to an external device that wants to pair and then control to pair with the external device. Accordingly, even when the user does not have the nearest external device to be paired at the time of pairing, the control unit can control the user to notify the user through the output unit, so that the user can pair with an external device desired to be paired.

The processor can control the degree of reduction of the received distance during the movement of the electronic device to be paired with a relatively high external device. Accordingly, pairing can be performed not only after the movement but also on the move, and the pairing can be performed more quickly.

The above object is achieved by a method of controlling an electronic device according to the present invention, comprising the steps of: communicating with a plurality of external devices via a communication unit; Receiving distance information from a plurality of external devices to respective external devices; And controlling to perform pairing with an external device having a predetermined distance within a predetermined distance from the plurality of external devices based on the received distance information. Accordingly, the user can perform the pairing between the electronic device and the external device closest to the electronic device without complicating the process.

The method may further comprise adjusting the transmission power of the communication unit such that the number of the plurality of external apparatuses to be searched becomes a predetermined target value. Thus, by controlling the transmission power, the power consumed by the electronic device can be reduced.

The distance information to each of the external devices may further include information corresponding to a reception intensity at which the external device measured transmission power of the communication unit.

The method may further include using a representative value of the distance information by receiving the distance information to each external device a predetermined number of times. Accordingly, it is possible to calculate a more accurate distance rank by using the distance information with a small error.

As described above, according to the present invention, the user's intervention can be minimized when performing the wireless connection between the external device and the electronic device.

Further, according to the present invention, the wireless connection can be rapidly performed.

Further, according to the present invention, a desired external device can be connected.

1 shows a wireless connection between an electronic device and an external device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a process in which an electronic device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention makes a wireless connection with an external device using information on a distance.

3 shows a block diagram of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 shows a flow diagram illustrating the operation of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a range in which a wireless communication connection is possible according to a change in transmission power of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

7 shows an example of a data table generated by an electronic device using information received from an external device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates a UI or notification generated by an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 shows a flowchart of prioritization of an electronic device for an external device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 shows that the priority of an external device changes due to movement of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 11 shows a flow diagram in which an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention informs a user of movement to an external device that he wants to connect to.

Figure 12 shows the amount of distance reduction of an external device due to movement of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 shows a flowchart of prioritization of distance reduction amount according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals or signs refer to elements performing substantially the same function, and the sizes of the respective elements in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity and convenience of explanation. However, the technical spirit and essential structure and function of the present invention are not limited to the structure or function described in the following embodiments. In the following description, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail since they would obscure the invention in unnecessary detail.

In an embodiment of the present invention, terms including ordinal numbers such as first, second, etc. are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one constituent element from another, and the singular expressions, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, ≪ / RTI > It is also to be understood that in the practice of the invention, the terms " comprising, " " including, " " having ", and the like, Or < / RTI > Further, in the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, 'module' or 'sub-module' performs at least one function or operation, and may be implemented in hardware or software, or a combination of hardware and software, And may be implemented as at least one processor.

1 illustrates an electronic device 101a, 101b, 101c, 101d according to an embodiment of the present invention. The electronic devices 101a, 101b, 101c and 101d according to the embodiment of the present invention can be realized by, for example, a remote controller 101a, a headset 101b, a keyboard 101c, an electronic clock 101d and the like. The electronic devices 101a, 101b, 101c, and 101d according to an embodiment of the present invention are not limited thereto. Any electronic device (300 in FIG. 3) capable of wireless connection with an external device It is possible. The external device 310 wirelessly connected to the electronic devices 101a, 101b, 101c and 101d may be a TV, a mobile device, a computer or the like. However, the electronic device 101a, 101b, 101c, Quot;) is possible.

The wireless connection according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be Bluetooth, for example, but the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the method using Bluetooth. In a Bluetooth connection, there is a role of a host and a slave between two devices to be connected. The host can initiate the wireless connection process by searching for and selecting a slave device capable of Bluetooth connection. The slave device can also initiate the pairing process to discover and pair with the host device. In the present invention, the electronic devices 101a, 101b, 101c and 101d serve as a slave device and the external device 310 serves as a host device. However, the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this, and may be performed by changing roles between devices.

The user uses the electronic devices 101a, 101b, 101c and 101d and the external devices 310 connected to the electronic devices 101a, 101b, 101c and 101d as a pair. For example, there are an example of a remote controller 101a and a TV, a headset 101b, a mobile phone, a keyboard 101c and a computer, an electronic clock 101d, and a mobile phone. The user can use both the electronic devices 101a, 101b, 101c and 101d and the external device 310 and can operate the external device 310 using the electronic devices 101a, 101b, 101c and 101d in particular. In this case, the electronic devices 101a, 101b, 101c, and 101d are maintained closer to the user than the external device 310, and the electronic devices 101a, 101b, 101c, Can be considered.

Among the various external devices 310, the external device 310 wirelessly connected to the electronic devices 101a, 101b, 101c, and 101d operated by the user is connected to the electronic devices 101a, 101b, and 101c , ≪ / RTI > 101d. For example, when the user wants to wirelessly connect the remote controller 101a and the TV (external device 1), which are electronic devices 300, the TV (external device 1) is connected to the computer (external device 2) It is more likely to be closer to the remote controller 101a than the mobile phone (external device 3) or the like. That is, in order for the user to wirelessly connect the electronic devices 101a, 101b, 101c, and 101d to the external device 310, the electronic devices 101a, 101b, 101c, and 101d are brought close to the external device 310 It is common. The present invention can be applied to the electronic devices 101a, 101b, 101c, and 101d and the electronic devices 101a, 101b, 101c, and 101d when performing a wireless connection between the electronic devices 101a, And the closest external device 310 is targeted for wireless connection.

Accordingly, when performing a wireless connection, the electronic devices 101a, 101b, 101c, and 101d determine the distance to the plurality of external devices 310 and then make a connection with the closest external device 310. FIG. In FIG. 1, the external devices 310 are ranked in order from the electronic devices 101a, 101b, 101c, and 101d in order of number. That is, the external device 1 (monitor) is ranked first, the external device 2 (computer) is ranked second, and the external device 3 (mobile phone) is ranked third from the electronic devices 101a, 101b, 101c and 101d. Therefore, when the electronic devices 101a, 101b, 101c, and 101d make a wireless connection with the nearest external device 310, they will connect to the external device 1 (monitor) in the first place.

FIG. 2 illustrates a process of connecting electronic devices 101a, 101b, 101c, and 101d with an external device 310 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Although only the external device 1 and the external device 2 are shown in this embodiment, the electronic devices 101a, 101b, 101c, and 101d are applicable to a process of connecting to the plurality of external devices 310. [

In this embodiment, the electronic devices 101a, 101b, 101c, and 101d determine the distance to the external device 1, the external device 2, and the like. The mutual distance between the electronic devices 101a, 101b, 101c, 101d and the external device 1, etc., can be determined using various distance measurement methods. The electronic devices 101a, 101b, 101c, and 101d according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention can determine a distance in a process of performing a wireless connection with the external device 310. [ A more detailed description of the distance determination will be given later.

The electronic devices 101a, 101b, 101c and 101d can judge the order of the external devices 310 close to the electronic devices 101a, 101b, 101c and 101d based on the distances determined as described above. The electronic devices 101a, 101b, 101c, and 101d can perform pairing with the closest external device 310 based on the determined ranking. The pairing may be performed according to the input of the user, and the electronic device 101a, 101b, 101c, or 101d may automatically perform the pairing according to the occurrence of another event. According to the above method, the user can more easily select the external device 310 and the electronic devices 101a, 101b, 101c, 101d without having to select the external device 310 or to operate the electronic devices 101a, 101b, 101b, 101c, and 101d.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, electronic devices 101a, 101b, 101c, 101d may perform pairing with an external device 310 other than the closest external device 310, as the case may be. According to another embodiment, the electronic devices 101a, 101b, 101c, and 101d may perform pairing with the external device 310 selected using another criterion among the external devices 310 within a certain rank. The above-described method will be described later in detail with reference to FIGS. 8 to 13. FIG.

3 shows a block diagram of an electronic device 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention. An electronic device 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first control unit 301, a first communication unit 302, a user input unit 303, and an output unit 304. The electronic device 300 may include a storage unit (not shown) for storing various information under the control of the first control unit 301.

The configuration of the electronic device 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 3 is merely an example, and the electronic device 300 according to another embodiment of the present invention may have a configuration other than the configuration shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. That is, the electronic device 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention may be implemented by adding any configuration other than the configuration shown in FIG. 3, or by excluding any one of the configurations shown in FIG.

The first communication unit 302 communicates with the external device 310 through the second communication unit 312 under the control of the first control unit 301. [ The first communication unit 302 is implemented by any one of various communication methods. For example, an RF circuit for transmitting / receiving an RF (Radio Frequency) signal to perform wireless communication with the external device 310, or an RF circuit for transmitting / receiving an RF (Radio Frequency) The wireless communication method, the wireless communication method, the wireless communication method, the wireless communication method, the wireless communication method, the wireless communication method, the wireless communication method, the wireless communication method, and the wireless communication method.

The user input unit 303 receives a user's input. The user input unit 303 can use visual, auditory, and tactile senses, such as a camera, a microphone, and a touch panel. The input of the user includes visual input by the action of the user, input by voice, input by touch such as touch and button.

The output unit 304 informs the user of the information through the output using the sensation that the user can feel, such as the time, the auditory sense, the tactile sense, etc., under the control of the first control unit 301. For example, the output unit 304 may visually inform the user through the display, audibly inform the user through a speaker, or inform the user of the tactile sensation using the vibration device.

The first control unit 301 performs control for operating all components of the electronic device 300. The first control unit 301 includes a control program (or an instruction) for performing the control operation, a nonvolatile memory in which the control program is installed, a volatile memory in which at least a part of the installed control program is loaded, And at least one processor or a central processing unit (CPU) that executes the program. Such a control program can also be stored in electronic equipment other than the electronic device 300. [ The control program may include program (s) implemented in the form of at least one of a BIOS, a device driver, an operating system, firmware, a platform and an application program. In one embodiment, the application program may be pre-installed or stored in the electronic device 300 at the time of manufacture of the electronic device 300, or may receive data of the application program from the outside at a later time of use, (Not shown). The data of the application program may be downloaded to the electronic device 300 from an external server (not shown), for example, an application market. Such an external server is an example of the computer program product of the present invention, but is not limited thereto.

The second communication unit 312 of the external device 310 performs communication with the first communication unit 302. The second control unit 311 of the external device 310 controls the second communication unit 312 to operate corresponding to the electronic device 300. [

The second control unit 311 of the external device 310 transmits a signal to the second communication unit 312 so that the electronic device 300 searches for the external device 310 or transmits / . The first control unit 301 controls the external device 310 to search based on the signal received by the first communication unit 302. The external device 310 may further include components for other functions than the configuration shown in FIG.

Hereinafter, the operation of the first controller 301 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

4 is a flow chart showing the operation of the electronic device 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, the electronic device 300 is powered on (operation S401). After the power of the electronic device 300 is turned on, the first control unit 301 determines the distance to the external device 310 while performing the wireless connection. The wireless connection process proceeds in the order of a search process of the external device 310 and a pairing process with the external device 310.

The first control unit 301 controls the first communication unit 302 to search for a signal from the external device 310 whether the external device 310 is communicable (operation S402). Specifically, first, the first control unit 301 controls the first communication unit 302 to perform an Advertising operation of transmitting a signal at a power of a predetermined intensity (Tx power). The external device 310 receives a signal transmitted from the electronic device 300 and transmits a corresponding scan signal. The electronic device 300 may perform a pairing process between the electronic device 300 and the external device 310 by transmitting a response signal in response to the scan signal. The first controller 301 can obtain distance information (hereinafter referred to as 'distance information') from the scan signal received from the external device 310. The distance information included in the scan signal may be a value indicating the distance itself or other information indirectly indicating the distance. The strength of the signal of the electronic device 300 received by the external device 310 is called Received Signal Strength Indication (hereinafter referred to as 'RSSI'). For example, the scan signal may include information on the intensity (RSSI) received by the external device 310 from the signal transmitted from the electronic device 300, and may include information on the intensity The distance between the electronic device 300 and the external device 310 can be derived. A method of calculating the distance value D through the Tx power and the RSSI is as follows.

[Equation 1]

RSSI = (-20 * log D) + Tx power

(D: distance between the electronic device 300 and the external device 310)

&Quot; (2) "

D = 10 ^ [(Tx power - RSSI) / 20]

The transmit power (Tx power) of the electronic device 300 corresponds to the transmit power of the electronic device 300. Since the RSSI value may have a deviation depending on the communication environment of the electronic device 300, the first controller 301 may obtain the distance value D having a small error using the average RSSI value. Therefore, in order to obtain the distance value D with a small error, the electronic device 300 can calculate the distance value D by calculating a representative value among the accumulated RSSI values after communication with the external device 310 a plurality of times. Representative values are meaningful values such as mean value, median value, maximum value, and minimum value. However, since the method for obtaining the distance is not limited to using the information received from the external device 310 by the electronic device 300, the first control unit 301 can determine the distance information using another method. Accordingly, it is possible to calculate a more accurate distance rank by using the distance information with a small error.

Also, the first controller 301 may control the process of calculating the distance value D described above to be performed in the sleep state of the electronic device 300. Accordingly, the time required for the pairing process can be shortened. Alternatively, the first control unit 301 may control to receive the distance information according to a predetermined period. The predetermined period may be variably determined by the control of the first control unit 301 or by user input. As a result, pairing can be performed more quickly.

Thereafter, the first controller 301 determines whether the number of the searched external devices 310 is equal to or greater than the target lower limit value (operation S403). The first control unit 301 can confirm the number of the searched external devices 310 using the signal received through the first communication unit 302. [ The reason for setting the target value (the upper limit value or the lower limit value) is to search for an appropriate number of the external devices 310. If many external devices 310 are searched, the first control unit 301 may spend a lot of time and power in determining the distance information to the external device 310. Accordingly, an appropriate number of external devices 310 can be searched to reduce the time and power required for determining the distance information.

On the other hand, if an external device 310 that is smaller than a predetermined target value is searched, the external device 310 that the user wants to pair with may not be searched. In addition, in the case of an unstable communication environment due to an obstacle in the vicinity, the external device 310, which the user wants to pair with, may not be searched even though the electronic device 300 is closest to the electronic device 300. Since there may be an error in the distance information, a plurality of external devices 310 can be searched to increase the reliability. For this reason, the first control unit 301 controls the output power so that the searched external device 310 is within the range of the target value or the target value. The range of the target value or the target value is preferably about 3 to 5, but the embodiment of the present invention is not limited thereto. If the searched external device 310 is out of the range of the target value or the target value, the first control unit 301 informs the user that there is no external device 310 searched through the output unit 304, Or to inform the device 300 to move to another location.

The first control unit 301 determines whether the number of the searched external devices 310 is equal to or greater than the target lower limit value (operation S403). If the first controller 301 determines that the number of the searched external devices 310 is less than the target lower limit value (NO in operation S403), the first controller 301 controls the transmission power to be increased so as to search the external device 310 The range is widened (operation S411). The first control unit 301 may widen the searchable range, and there may be more external devices 310 to be searched. The first control unit 301 controls to increase the sending intensity and the sending power (operation S411), and then performs the operation S403 again. If the number of searched external devices 310 is equal to or larger than the target lower limit value (Yes in step S403), the first control unit 301 determines whether the searched external device 310 is equal to or smaller than the target upper limit value (step S404).

If the number of the searched external devices 310 is not less than the target upper limit value (NO in operation S404), the first control unit 301 controls the transmission power to be lowered to narrow the searchable range (operation S412). The process of controlling the first control unit 301 to lower the transmission power (operation S412) may be omitted depending on whether or not the operation S404 is omitted.

Thereafter, the first control unit 301 controls to perform the operation S403 again. If the number of searched external devices 310 is equal to or less than the target upper limit value (Yes in operation S404), the first control unit 301 accumulates and collects information of the peripheral external devices 310, (Operation S405). An error may exist in the distance information determined by the electronic device 300 and the first control unit 301 may also need to measure a change value of the distance information in a state in which the electronic device 300 is moving. Therefore, it is possible to control the first control unit 301 to collectively accumulate in order to increase the reliability of the distance information or to measure the change value of the distance information.

The first control unit 301 accumulates the distance information from the external device 310 and performs distance calculation (operation S405) while checking whether there is a user's pairing operation (operation S406). The user attempts to pair through user input is only one embodiment, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

If the first control unit 301 determines that there is no pairing attempt by the user (No in operation S406), the first control unit 301 controls to check whether the number of the external apparatuses 310 to be searched continuously is greater than or equal to the target lower limit value (Operation S403). If the first control unit 301 determines that there is a pairing attempt by the user (Yes in operation S406), the first control unit 301 determines the ranking of the external apparatus 310 that is closest to the electronic apparatus 300 (Operation S407). A detailed description of the process of determining the ranking of the external device 310 will be described later.

According to the determined rank, the first controller 301 completes the pairing with the highest ranking external device 310 (operation S408). The process (operation S406) of determining the ranking of the external device 310 (operation S407) in which the first controller 301 determines the pairing attempt of the user (operation S406) is an embodiment of the present invention But is not limited thereto. That is, the process of the first controller 301 determining the user's pairing attempt (operation S406) may exist before or after the operation of determining the ranking (operation S407). If the first control unit 301 determines that the user's paging attempt (operation S406) exists after the step of determining the ranking (operation S407), the pairing can be performed more quickly.

In addition, the process of determining the pairing attempt by the first control unit 301 (operation S406) may be omitted. If there is a process of determining a pairing attempt of a user after the first control unit 301 determines the ranking (operation S407) (operation S406), the time required for the pairing process felt by the user may be short.

In operation S403 and operation S404, the target value is set in the range, and the upper limit value and the lower limit value exist. However, this is only an embodiment of the present invention, and the target value may be set to a single value instead of the range. When the target value is a single value, the first control unit 301 increases the transmission power (operation S411) when the number of searched external devices 310 is less than the target value (No in operation S403) Is lower than the target value (No in operation S404), the transmission power is lowered (operation S412). That is, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the user can perform the pairing between the electronic device 300 and the external device 310 closest to the electronic device 300 without complicated processes.

FIG. 5 illustrates a process (operations S403, S404, S411, S412) and a method for an electronic device 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention to search for an appropriate number of external devices 310. FIG. A variable range in which the external apparatuses 501, 502, 503 can be searched is represented by circles 511, 512, 513 with the electronic apparatus 300 as a center. If the external device 310 is located within the circle, the first controller 301 determines that the external device 310 is searchable. For example, the searchable range corresponding to the predetermined transmission power of the electronic device 300 is the same as the circle of the code 511. In such a situation, if the first control unit 301 controls the transmission power to be lowered, the searchable range may be a relatively small circle 512 such as the code 512. [ If the first control unit 301 is controlled so as to increase the transmission power, the searchable range may be a relatively large circle 513 such as 513.

When the electronic device 300 displays the range that can be currently searched with a predetermined transmission power as a circle 511, the first control unit 301 searches for the two external devices 501 and 502 in the circle 511 . When the search target lower limit value of the electronic device 300 is set to three, since the number of the external devices 310 searched in the range 511 is two smaller than the target lower limit value (for example, three) The control section 301 controls the transmission power to be increased (operation S411). The first control unit 301 increases the transmission power so that the searchable range of the electronic device 300 is expanded to the adjusted range 513 in the existing range 511 (operation S411). Since the number of the external devices 501, 502, 503 that the electronic device 300 can search in the adjusted range 513 is three, the first control unit 301 controls to maintain the transmission power.

On the other hand, when the search target upper limit value of the electronic device 300 is set to one, since the number of the external devices 310 searched in the range 511 is two smaller than the target upper limit value (one) The control unit 301 controls the transmission power to be lowered (operation S412). When the first control unit 301 lowers the transmission power, the searchable range narrows to the adjusted range 512 in the existing range 511. [ Since the number of the external devices 501 that the electronic device 300 can search in the adjusted range 512 is one, the first control unit 301 controls to maintain the transmission power. That is, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the first control unit 301 adjusts the searchable range using the transmission power to adjust the number of the searched external devices 310, thereby collecting an appropriate amount of distance information . The amount of the distance information to be collected can be appropriately determined in consideration of the reliability due to the error of the distance information, the power consumption and the load required for the search. The numbers described above are only examples, and the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto. The first control unit 301 or the user may adjust the range of the target value or the target value through the user input unit 303 while the first control unit 301 controls the process described above. Accordingly, the electronic device 300 can control to adjust the sending power so as to reduce the power consumed.

6 illustrates a method for an electronic device 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention to search for an external device 601, 602, 603. The circles 611, 612, 613, and 614 indicate that the searchable range widened stepwise around the electronic device 300. The first control unit 301 controls the external device 310 to start the search from the minimum transmission power capable of searching for the external device 310. If the number of the detected external devices 310 reaches the set target value It is possible to control the transmission power to be increased stepwise. The target value can be set automatically by the first control unit 301 or can be set according to the user's input. Further, the target value may be a single value, a range, or an upper limit value or a lower limit value.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first control unit 301 can find the nearby external device 310 faster by increasing the transmission power step by step in the process of searching the external device 310. Also, by using this method, it is possible to minimize the consumption of the transmission power.

The first control unit 301 can control the plurality of external apparatuses 310 to be connected to the closest one of the plurality of external apparatuses 310 at a time using the maximum transmission power. In another embodiment, the first control unit 301 may control the process of searching for the external device 310 to be divided into a plurality of times.

FIG. 7 shows information and ranking of an external device 310 that an electronic device 300 searches according to an embodiment of the present invention. The information and the ranking may be stored in the electronic device 300 in the form of a database. The information and the ranking may be used by the user to select an external device 310 that he wants to pair with. The first control unit 301 can control the user to inform the user of the information and the rank in various ways through the output unit 304. The first control unit 301 can receive and store ID, signal strength, distance information, and the like of the external device 310 to be searched. Alternatively, after determining the distance information, the first control unit 301 determines a ranking of the distance from the electronic device 300 to the external device 310 according to the respective distances. The signal strength can be varied by the transmission power under the control of the first control unit 301. [

The first control unit 301 can perform guidance on whether or not the user is connected to the external device 310 when the user attempts to pair. FIG. 8 is one example of a notification that an electronic device 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention can announce. Reference numeral 801 denotes a notification of the user's judgment as to whether to connect to the external device 310 determined as the closest device. The notification can be informed to a user through a UI or pop-up window through a display, voice guidance through a speaker, a promised vibration signal using a vibration device, and the like.

Reference numeral 802 is a notification asking whether to pair with the device found by the second closest device. If the user selects 'NO' in the notification of the reference numeral 801, the notification 802 may control the first control unit 301 to notify the user of the subsequent notification through the output unit 304. The first control unit 301 may control the output unit 304 to notify the user of the notification of the reference numeral 802 when the user selects 'No' in the notification of the reference numeral 801. [

Reference numeral 803 denotes a notification when the electronic device 300 needs to be moved before the pairing process. There is no external device 310 to be searched around the electronic device 300 or the external device 310 to which the user wants to pair is far away or the external device 310 to which the user wants to pair is located farther away than the other external device 310 And the like. This situation will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 12. FIG. The first control unit 301 can notify the user of the notification 803 via the output unit 304. [ The notification method is the same as the method described with reference to FIG. 3, so that redundant description is omitted.

9 is a flow chart illustrating another example of the operation of the electronic device 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the electronic device 300 shown in Fig. 9, description of the same or similar components as those of the electronic device 300 described with reference to Figs. 2 to 8 will be omitted.

The first controller 301 accumulates the distance information of the peripheral external device 310 and calculates the distance (operation S903). The first control unit 301 determines whether the difference between the distances to the external device 310 is equal to or greater than a predetermined range (operation S904). The first control unit 301 can determine the ranking of the searched external device 310. The difference between the distances from the electronic device 300 to the external device 310 may be within a predetermined range so that the nearest external device 310 determined by the electronic device 300 is a user It may not be the external device 310 that wants to pair. Accordingly, when the distance from the electronic device 300 to the external device 310 is within the predetermined range (No in operation S904), the priority is determined again based on another criterion (operation S911).

There are a variety of other criteria. For example, the first control unit 301 may use the ranking of the external device 310 having a high pairing frequency in the priority determination (operation S912). Also, the first control unit 301 can use the ranking of the external apparatus 310 that has recently been paired with the priority determination (operation S913). Also, the first controller 301 can use the ranking of the external device 310 having a strong signal strength for the priority determination (operation S914). In addition, the first controller 301 may use the ranking of the searched external device 310 for the priority determination (operation S915). In addition, the first control unit 301 may use the ranking excluding the external apparatus 310 from which the pairing is excluded, in order of priority determination (operation S916).

The determination of the other priorities without using the distance value D (operation S911) includes the above-mentioned five criteria (operations S912 to S916). The first control unit 301 judges using at least one of the above-mentioned five criteria (operations S912 to S916).

When the first control unit 301 determines the priority based on another criterion (operation S911), the first control unit 301 determines whether there is a user's pairing operation (operation S905). If the distance from the electronic device 300 to the external device 310 is equal to or greater than the predetermined range (Yes in step S904), the first control unit 301 determines whether there is a pairing attempt by the user (step S905). If the first controller 301 determines that there is no user pairing (No in operation S905), the first controller 301 accumulates and collects information of the peripheral external device 310 and determines distance information (operation S903). That is, according to one embodiment of the present invention, when the electronic device 300 is paired using the distance value D, it is possible to solve the problem that the user can be connected to another external device 310 that the user does not desire. In addition, the electronic device 300 may be paired with an external device 310 that the user wants to pair with.

10 and 11 show another example of the operation of the electronic device 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The external device 310 to which the user wants to pair is hereinafter referred to as a 'target external device'. 10 shows a case where the target external device 1002 is not the external device 310 closest to the electronic device 300. [ Reference numeral 1001 denotes a first external device 1001 having the closest rank, a reference numeral 1002 denotes a second external device 1002 to be paired and a target external device that the user wants to pair with, And a third external device 1003 to be paired. When the user tries to pair in 'before movement', the first control unit 301 will control to pair with the first external device 1001 instead of the target external device 1002. A method by which a user can pair with a desired target external device 1002 is shown in the flowchart of FIG.

In the electronic device 300 shown in Fig. 11, description of the same or similar components as those of the electronic device 300 described with reference to Figs. 2 to 9 will be omitted. The first control unit 301 notifies the user through the output unit 304 of a notification such as reference numeral 803 in FIG. 8 (operation S1103). The first control unit 301 confirms whether the movement of the electronic device 300 is completed (operation S1104). If the movement of the electronic device 300 is not completed (No in operation S1104), the first control unit 301 controls to inform the user again. When the movement of the electronic device 300 is completed (Yes in operation S1104), the first control unit 301 performs cumulative information collection and distance calculation of the searched external device 310 (operation S1105). Whether or not the movement has been completed can be determined by checking the user input through the user input unit 303 of the first control unit or after the first control unit 301 changes the distance value D to the peripheral device 310 And determining that the electronic device 300 has moved.

10 shows that the target external device becomes the first external device 1022 by moving the electronic device 300 by the user. 10, the user moves the electronic device 300. As shown in FIG. As a result, since the target external device to which the user wants to pair becomes the closest first external device 1022, the target external device 1022 becomes the first to be paired according to the flowchart of FIG.

On the other hand, since the nearest external device 1001 of the 'before movement' is the second closest external device 1021 after 'moving', the external device 1021 is not ranked as a pairing target according to the flow of FIG. 4 . That is, according to an embodiment of the present invention, even if the target external device 310 is not nearest when a pairing attempt is made, the first control unit 301 controls the output unit 304 to notify the user And can be paired with the external device 1022. Although the variation of the distance value D by the movement of the electronic device 300 has been described in the embodiment of Fig. 11, the present invention is not limited to this. The first control unit 301 can control the priority determination using the reference as described above by using the change of the distance value D due to the movement of the external device 310 in addition to the electronic device 300. [

12 and 13 show another example of the operation of the electronic device 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The external device 310 to which a user wants to pair is hereinafter referred to as a 'target external device'. 12 shows a case where the target external device 1203 is not the external device 310 closest to the electronic device 300. [ 12, the external devices 1201 are ranked in the closest rank, the external device 1202 is in the second rank, the external device 1203 is in the third rank, and the target external device that the user wants to pair with is 3 Rank external device 1203. In this situation, when the user tries pairing, the first controller 301 controls the first external device 1201 to perform the pairing. 10 and 11, the target external device is not ranked as one, as shown in "during or after the movement" of FIG. 12, so that the electronic device 300 can communicate with the target external device 1223 ) Can not be paired. In the flowchart of Fig. 13, the first control unit 301 presents a criterion that can be paired with the target external apparatus 1203. [

In the electronic device 300 shown in Fig. 13, description of the same or similar components as those of the electronic device 300 described with reference to Figs. 2 to 11 will be omitted. The first control unit 301 determines whether the user has attempted pairing through the user input unit 303 (operation S1304). If the user has not attempted pairing (No in operation S1304), the first control unit 301 cumulatively controls information acquisition and distance calculation of the external device 310 (operation S1303). However, the operation S1303 may be omitted.

If the user attempts pairing (Yes in operation S1304), the first control unit 301 controls the output unit 304 to inform the user that the user should move (operation S1305). Then, the first control unit 301 can control to start the information accumulation collection and distance calculation of the peripheral external device 310 (operation S1306). The first control unit 301 may compare the result obtained in operation S1303 with the result obtained in operation S1306 or compare the results obtained by repeating several times in operation S1306. The first control unit 301 determines the order of reduction of the distance value D using the comparison result (operation S1307). 12, the distance from the electronic device 300 to the first external device 1221 is D1 ', the distance to the second external device 1222 is D2`, the third external device 1222 1223 is D3`. The distance is [D1 <D2 <D3] and [D1` <D2` <D3`]. Therefore, the user can not pair with the target external device 1223 even using the criteria of FIG. 4 or FIG. However, when the priority using the reduction amount of the distance value D shown in Fig. 13 is used, the result of priority is different.

The difference between the distance values D1, D2 and D3 in the 'before movement' and the distance values D1 ', D2' and D3 'between' after movement or after movement 'in FIG. 12, The amount of reduction (D3-D3`) of the external device denoted by reference numeral 1223 is the largest when the reduction amounts D1-D1`, D2-D2` and D3-D3` are examined. The degree of distance reduction is [D1-D1` <D2-D2` <D3-D3`]. Therefore, since the target external device 1223 is in the first rank in the criteria shown in FIG. 13, the first control unit 301 can control to pair with the target external device 1223. [ That is, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the first control unit 301 can control to pair with a desired target external device using the same criteria even when the user moves and moves. Pairing can also be done more quickly. Although the variation of the distance value D by the movement of the electronic device 300 has been described in the embodiment of FIG. 13, the present invention is not limited thereto. The first control unit 301 can control to use the above-described criteria by using a change in the distance value D due to the movement of the external device 310, instead of the electronic device 300. [

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments.

Claims (15)

In an electronic device, A communication unit capable of communicating with a plurality of external devices; And Receiving distance information from the plurality of external devices to each external device, And a processor for controlling to perform a pairing with an external apparatus whose rank of a close distance among the plurality of external apparatuses is within a predetermined range based on the received distance information. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the processor adjusts the transmission power of the communication unit such that the number of the plurality of external devices to be searched becomes a predetermined target value. 3. The method of claim 2, Wherein the processor gradually increases the transmission power of the communication unit until an external device of the predetermined number of target values is searched after the first detection of the external device. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the distance information to each of the external devices includes information corresponding to a reception intensity at which the external device measured transmission power of the communication unit. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the processor receives the distance information to each of the external devices a predetermined number of times and uses the representative value of the distance. The method according to claim 1, Further comprising a user input portion capable of receiving user input, Wherein the processor controls to perform pairing with the external device corresponding to the user input received after receiving the distance information to each external device. The method according to claim 6, Wherein the processor controls to receive distance information to each of the external devices in a sleep state before reception of the user input. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the processor controls the distance information reception period to be variably adjusted. The method according to claim 1, When the difference between the distances of the two or more external devices is within a predetermined range, the processor may be configured to select one of a higher priority ranking, a recently paired ranking, a stronger signal strength, a first searched ranking, And performs the pairing with the external device using at least one of the excluded positions. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the processor notifies the user that the user wants to pair with the external device and then controls the user to pair with the external device. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the processor controls the degree of reduction of the received distance during the movement of the electronic device to be paired with a relatively high external device. A method of controlling an electronic device, Communicating with a plurality of external devices through a communication unit; Receiving distance information from a plurality of external devices to respective external devices; And controlling to perform pairing with an external device whose rank of a short distance among the plurality of external devices is within a predetermined range based on the received distance information. 13. The method of claim 12, And adjusting the transmission power of the communication unit such that the number of the plurality of external apparatuses to be searched becomes a predetermined target value. 13. The method of claim 12, Wherein the distance information to each of the external devices further includes information corresponding to a reception intensity at which the external device measured transmission power of the communication unit. 13. The method of claim 12, Further comprising the step of receiving a predetermined number of times of distance information to each of the external devices and using a representative value of the distance information.

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