IP Library Granted Patent US 12,487,653
Granted Patent B2
US 12,487,653 · App. 18/159,986 · Granted Dec 2, 2025

Method for controlling electronic devices and electronic device thereof

Inventor: Jeongho Ahn (Suwon-si, KR)
Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
G06F1/3212
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,487,653
App. No.
18/159,986
Granted
Dec 2, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a memory, a battery, a speaker, a communication module, and at least one processor electrically connected to the memory, the battery, the speaker, and the communication module, wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive information indicating a wearing position from an external electronic device, and determine, based on the information indicating the wearing position of the external electronic device, whether to operate as a primary device among multiple electronic devices.

Claims (46)

1 . A method of an electronic device, the method comprising:

receiving information indicating a wearing position in which a first external electronic device is worn by a user from the first external electronic device;

based on the information indicating the wearing position in which the first external electronic device is worn by the user, determining that the electronic device plays a primary device role with respect to a second external electronic device, the second external electronic device being connected with the electronic device to perform a function with the electronic device;

establishing a communication link with the second external electronic device as the primary device role; and

transmitting data through the communication link,

wherein the electronic device is determined as playing the primary device role in a case that the electronic device is worn by the user at a same side as the first external electronic device with respect to the user.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining whether to change the primary device role based on battery level information of the electronic device and the second external electronic device.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein whether to change the primary device role is determined in a case that a difference in battery level is equal to or greater than a designated value, based on battery level information of the electronic device and the second external electronic device determined as a secondary device.

4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

receiving situation information from the first external electronic device, by the electronic device or the second external electronic device,

wherein whether to change the primary device role is determined by additionally considering the situation information.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the situation information comprises position information of the first external electronic device and information regarding whether the user is exercising or whether audio data is transmitted from the first external electronic device.

6 . The method of claim 5 ,

wherein, in a case that the position information of the first external electronic device indicates an outdoor position, a determination is made to change the primary device role in a case that the user is not exercising, and in a case that the audio data is not transmitted, and

wherein, in a case that the position information of the first external electronic device indicates an outdoor position, the electronic device maintains the primary device role in a case that the user is exercising, or in a case that the audio data is transmitted.

7 . The method of claim 5 ,

wherein in a case that the position information of the first external electronic device indicates an indoor position, a determination is made to change the primary device role in a case that the user is not exercising, or in a case that the audio data is not transmitted, and

wherein, in a case that the position information of the first external electronic device indicates an indoor position, a determination is made such that the electronic device maintains the primary device role in a case that the user is exercising, and in a case that the audio data is transmitted.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting, by the electronic device, a signal related to a primary device role change, in a case that the electronic device is determined as playing the primary device role while operating as a secondary device, through a communication link with the second external electronic device determined as operating as a secondary device.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the second external electronic device is configured to assign priority to data retransmission from the first external electronic device in connection with a communication link with the first external electronic device.

10 . An electronic device comprising:

memory;

a battery;

a speaker;

a communication module; and

at least one processor electrically connected to the memory, the battery, the speaker, and the communication module,

wherein the memory stores instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor individually or collectively, cause the electronic device to:

receive information indicating a wearing position in which a first external electronic device is worn by a user from the first external electronic device,

determine, based on the information indicating the wearing position of the first external electronic device, that the electronic device plays a primary device role with respect to a second external electronic device, the second external electronic device being connected with the electronic device to perform a function with the electronic device,

establish a communication link with the second external electronic device as the primary device role, and

transmit data through the communication link,

wherein the electronic device is determined as playing the primary device role in a case that the electronic device is worn by the user at a same side as the first external electronic device with respect to the user.

11 . The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the instructions further cause the electronic device to determine whether to change a primary device role, based on battery level information of the electronic device and second external electronic device, in a case that the electronic device is determined as the primary device.

12 . The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein, in a case that a determination is made to change the primary device role, the instructions further cause the electronic device to transmit a signal related to a primary device role change to the second external electronic device operating as a secondary device.

13 . The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the instructions further cause the electronic device to determine whether to change a primary device role in a case that a difference in battery level is equal to or greater than a designated value, based on battery level information of the battery and battery level information of the second external electronic device determined as a secondary device.

14 . The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the instructions further cause the electronic device to:

receive situation information from the first external electronic device, and

determine whether to change a primary device role by additionally considering the situation information.

15 . The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the situation information comprises position information of the first external electronic device and information regarding whether the user is exercising or whether audio data is transmitted from the first external electronic device.

16 . The electronic device of claim 15 ,

wherein, in a case that the position information of the first external electronic device indicates an outdoor position, the instructions further cause the electronic device to determine to change the primary device role in a case that the user is not exercising, and in a case that the audio data is not transmitted, and

wherein, in a case that the position information of the first external electronic device indicates an outdoor position, the instructions further cause the electronic device to determine to maintain the primary device role in a case that the user is exercising, or in a case that the audio data is transmitted.

17 . The electronic device of claim 15 ,

wherein in a case that the position information of the first external electronic device indicates an indoor position, the instructions further cause the electronic device to determine to change the primary device role in a case that the user is not exercising, or in a case that the audio data is not transmitted, and

wherein, in a case that the position information of the first external electronic device indicates an indoor position, the instructions further cause the electronic device to determine to maintain the primary device role in a case that the user is exercising, and in a case that the audio data is transmitted.

18 . The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein, in a case that the electronic device is determined as the primary device, based on information indicating a position in which the first external electronic device is worn, while the electronic device operates as a secondary device, the instructions further cause the electronic device to transmit a primary device role change request signal to the second external electronic device determined as a secondary device.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 26, 2023
From: AHN, JEONGHO
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 062499/0419 →
Priority Claims (2)
KR 10-2022-0011987 · Jan 27, 2022 · national
KR 10-2022-0059143 · May 13, 2022 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTKR2023000791 · Jan 17, 2023
Related Publication 20230236649A1 · Jul 27, 2023
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