# US 12,008,170 B2 · Electronic device for controlling at least one external device and operating method thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,008,170 B2 - Document ID: US12008170B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/837,441 - Filed: 2022-06-10 - Published: 2023-03-09 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2021-09-07 - Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Seungnyun Kim; Hyunjun Kim; Doosuk Kang; Bokun Choi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12008170B2 ## CPC - G06F 3/017: {Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures (interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883)} - G06F 3/0481: based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance - G02B 27/01: Head-up displays - G06F 1/163: {Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt} - G06F 1/1686: {the I/O peripheral being an integrated camera} - G06F 3/011: {Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality (blind teaching G09B21/00)} - G06F 3/012: {Head tracking input arrangements} - G06F 3/013: {Eye tracking input arrangements (G06F3/015 takes precedence)} - G06F 3/016: {Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user} - G06F 3/03547: {Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface} - G06F 3/04817: using icons (graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34) - G06F 3/0482: Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus - G06F 3/04842: Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements (G06F3/0482 takes precedence) - G06F 3/04883: for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text - G06F 3/14: Digital output to display device {; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units} - G06F 9/445: Program loading or initiating (bootstrapping G06F9/4401; security arrangements for program loading or initiating G06F21/57) - G06F 2200/1636: Sensing arrangement for detection of a tap gesture on the housing - G06F 2203/04806: Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation - H04R 1/1041: {Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements (switches in general H01H)} - H04R 1/406: {microphones} - H04R 5/033: Headphones for stereophonic communication {(details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10)} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K) ## Abstract Provided is an electronic device including at least one communication module comprising communication circuitry; and a processor, wherein the processor is configured to: establish a first communication connection with a first external device using the at least one communication module, receive a first signal from the first external device through the first communication connection, perform a first function of a first application corresponding to the first signal upon receiving the first signal from the first external device through the first communication connection, based on identifying that a second communication connection with a second external device using the at least one communication module is not established, and perform a second function of a second application related to the second external device corresponding to the first signal upon receiving the first signal from the first external device through the first communication connection, based on identifying that the second communication connection with the second external device using the at least one communication module is established. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronic device comprising: at least one communication module comprising communication circuitry; at least one processor; and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the electronic device to: establish a first communication connection, using the at least one communication module, with a first external device, receive a first signal from the first external device through the first communication connection, identify whether a second communication connection, using the at least one communication module, is established with a second external device, perform a first function of a first application corresponding to the first signal upon receiving the first signal from the first external device through the first communication connection, based on identifying that the second communication connection is not established, and perform a second function of a second application related to the second external device corresponding to the first signal upon receiving the first signal from the first external device through the first communication connection, based on identifying that the second communication connection is established. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the second application comprises an application for displaying a three-dimensional (3D) screen using a display module of the second external device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the electronic device to: perform the second function of the second application, based on identifying execution of the second application related to the second external device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the electronic device to: perform the second function of the second application, based on identifying a state in which the second external device is worn by a user. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the electronic device to: perform the second function of the second application, based on identifying a state in which the first external device is worn by the user. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the electronic device to: receive a second signal from the first external device through the first communication connection, and perform the first function of the first application upon receiving the second signal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the first external device includes a first sub device and a second sub device, wherein the first signal is a signal related to a first input of the first sub device, and wherein the second signal is a signal related to a second input of the second sub device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the electronic device to: identify a gesture input using a camera of the second external device, and perform the second function of the second application upon receiving a signal related to the second input of the second sub device, based on the gesture input being input using a body part corresponding to the first sub device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the electronic device to: perform the first function of the first application, in a state in which the second sub device is not worn by the user. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the electronic device to: display a first screen indicating that settings related to the first external device are modified on a display of the electronic device or a display of the second external device, based on identifying that the second communication connection with the second external device is established. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the electronic device to: display a second screen for modifying settings related to the first external device on a display of the electronic device or a display of the second external device, based on identifying that the second communication connection with the second external device is established. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the second screen for modifying the settings related to the first external device includes an object for selecting at least one sub device from among a plurality of sub devices of the first external device, and wherein the first signal comprises a signal related to an input of the at least one sub device selected from among the plurality of sub devices. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the electronic device to: change an arrangement of at least one object included in a screen displayed on a display of the second external device, based on determining that at least one sub device among a plurality of sub devices of the first external device is used for function control of the second application related to the second external device. ### Claim 14 A wearable electronic device comprising: at least one communication module comprising communication circuitry; at least one processor; and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the wearable electronic device to: establish a first communication connection, using the at least one communication module, with a first external device, identify a first input, identify whether a second communication connection, using the at least one communication module, is established with a second external device, control the at least one communication module to transmit a first signal related to the first input to the first external device through the first communication connection, based on identifying that the second communication connection is not established, and control the at least one communication module to transmit a second signal related to the first input to the second external device through the second communication connection, based on identifying that the second communication connection is established. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The wearable electronic device of claim 14, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the wearable electronic device to: control the at least one communication module to transmit the second signal, based on identifying execution of an application for displaying a three-dimensional (3D) screen in the second external device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The wearable electronic device of claim 14, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the wearable electronic device to: control the at least one communication module to transmit the second signal, based on identifying a state in which the second external device is worn by a user. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The wearable electronic device of claim 14, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the wearable electronic device to: control the at least one communication module to transmit the second signal, based on identifying a state in which the wearable electronic device is worn by a user. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The wearable electronic device of claim 14, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the wearable electronic device to: identify a second input, and control the at least one communication module to transmit a third signal related to the second input to the first external device through the first communication connection. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The wearable electronic device of claim 18, further comprising: a first sub device and a second sub device, wherein the first input comprises an input through the first sub device, and wherein the second input comprises an input through the second sub device. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The wearable electronic device of claim 14, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the wearable electronic device to: provide a first haptic feedback, based on transmitting the first signal to the first external device, and provide a second haptic feedback, based on transmitting the second signal to the second external device.