Mobile terminal and controlling method thereof

Abstract

A mobile terminal and controlling method thereof are disclosed, which facilitates a terminal to be used in further consideration of user's convenience. According to at least one of embodiments of the present invention, a strict authentication procedure for expense payment can be performed via a simple and convenient user interface between a mobile terminal and a terminal user. In particular, since at least one of a selection and authentication of a payment means of the mobile terminal can be performed via at least one of an aligned direction, a moving direction and a moving track of the mobile terminal, the user interface between the mobile terminal and the terminal user for the expense payment can be further simplified.

1 . A mobile terminal comprising:
 a wireless communication unit configured to perform short range communication with an external terminal;   a touchscreen configured to receive user inputs;   a sensing unit configured to sense at least a touch gesture or a motion gesture that is received via the touchscreen; and   a controller configured to control the wireless communication unit to initiate the short range communication with the external terminal when the mobile terminal is within a predetermined distance of the external terminal, and maintain the initiated short range communication when the at least touch gesture or motion gesture is sensed.   
     
     
         2 . The mobile terminal of  claim 1 , wherein the sensing unit is further configured to sense at least a direction of alignment of the mobile terminal, a direction of movement of the mobile terminal or a trace of a movement of the motion gesture. 
     
     
         3 . The mobile terminal of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the external terminal comprises an external payment terminal; and   the mobile terminal further comprises a memory configured to store a password set for a payment via the external payment terminal.   
     
     
         4 . The mobile terminal of  claim 3 , the controller is further configured to control the wireless communication unit to transmit the stored password to the external payment terminal when the at least touch gesture or motion gesture is sensed. 
     
     
         5 . The mobile terminal of  claim 4 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 control the touchscreen to display a list of financial institutions comprising at least one financial institution with an external payment terminal capable of receiving the payment;   detect selection of the at least one financial institution from the displayed list; and   control the wireless communication unit to transmit the stored password to the external payment terminal of the selected at least one financial institution.   
     
     
         6 . The mobile terminal of  claim 5 , wherein the stored password is different for each of the at least one financial institution in the displayed list. 
     
     
         7 . The mobile terminal of  claim 5 , wherein a different touch gesture or motion gesture is associated with each of the at least one financial institution in the displayed list. 
     
     
         8 . The mobile terminal of  claim 7 , wherein the controller is further configured to select a specific financial institution from the displayed list when the at least touch gesture or motion gesture corresponding to the specific financial institution is sensed. 
     
     
         9 . The mobile terminal of  claim 7 , wherein, upon sensing the at least touch gesture or motion gesture, the controller is further configured to simultaneously perform at least two of activation of an application performing the payment, selection of a specific financial institution corresponding to the sensed at least touch gesture or motion gesture, or transmission of the stored password corresponding to the selected at least one financial institution. 
     
     
         10 . The mobile terminal of  claim 4 , further comprising a hard key, wherein the controller is further configured to:
 detect selection of the hard key; and   control the wireless communication unit to transmit the stored password to the external payment terminal when the at least touch gesture or motion gesture is sensed within a prescribed time after the selection of the hard key.   
     
     
         11 . The mobile terminal of  claim 5 , wherein the controller is further configured to enter a home screen mode or select the at least one financial institution when the mobile terminal is placed in a locked mode. 
     
     
         12 . The mobile terminal of  claim 4 , wherein the controller is further configured to set a lump-sum payment or an installment payment as the payment based on a direction of alignment of the mobile terminal when the mobile terminal is within a predetermined distance of the external payment terminal. 
     
     
         13 . The mobile terminal of  claim 5 , wherein the controller is further configured to control the touchscreen to display a remaining payment limit amount for each of the at least one financial institution when the financial institution list is displayed. 
     
     
         14 . The mobile terminal of  claim 4 , wherein the controller is further configured to control the wireless communication unit to transmit the stored password to the external payment terminal when the at least touch gesture or motion gesture is sensed and the mobile terminal is within a predetermined distance of the external payment terminal. 
     
     
         15 . The mobile terminal of  claim 1 , further comprising a position location module configured to obtain at least a current location of the mobile terminal or a current time,
 wherein the sensing unit is further configured to sense an amount of ambient light received by the mobile terminal, and   wherein the controller is further configured to:   determine that the mobile terminal is within a predetermined distance of an external short range communication tag; and   automatically activate an application or automatically change a setting of the mobile terminal based on at least the obtained current location, the obtained current time or the sensed amount of ambient light.   
     
     
         16 . The mobile terminal of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the external short range communication tag is built into the external terminal; and   the controller is further configured to:   control the wireless communication unit to initiate a second short range communication with the external short range communication tag when the at least touch gesture or motion gesture is sensed during a first short range communication with the external terminal, and   control the wireless communication unit to cancel the first short range communication when the second short range communication does not connect with the external short range communication tag.   
     
     
         17 . A mobile terminal comprising:
 a wireless communication unit configured to perform short range communication with an external terminal;   a touchscreen configured to receive user inputs;   a position location module configured to obtain at least a current location of the mobile terminal or a current time;   a sensing unit configured to:   sense at least a touch gesture or a motion gesture that is received via the touchscreen,   sense an amount of ambient light received by the mobile terminal, and   sense a direction of alignment of the mobile terminal; and   a controller configured to:   at least automatically activate a different application of the mobile terminal, automatically change a setting of an application of the mobile terminal or automatically change a setting of the mobile terminal, the activation or change performed according to at least the sensed direction of alignment, the obtained current location, the obtained current time or the sensed amount of ambient light.   
     
     
         18 . The mobile terminal of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the external short range communication tag is built into the external terminal; and   the controller is further configured to:   control the wireless communication unit to initiate a second short range communication with the external short range communication tag when the at least touch gesture or motion gesture is sensed during a first short range communication with the external terminal, and   control the wireless communication unit to cancel the first short range communication when the second short range communication does not connect with the external short range communication tag.   
     
     
         19 . A method of controlling a mobile terminal, the method comprising:
 sensing at least a touch gesture or a motion gesture that is input via a touchscreen of the mobile terminal;   initiating short range communication with an external terminal via a wireless communication unit when the mobile terminal is within a predetermined distance of the external terminal; and   maintaining the initiated short range communication when the at least touch gesture or motion gesture is sensed.   
     
     
         20 . A method of controlling a mobile terminal, the method comprising:
 determining a terminal state based on at least a direction of alignment of the mobile terminal, a current location of the mobile terminal, a current time or an amount of ambient light received by the mobile terminal; and   at least automatically activating a different application of the mobile terminal, automatically changing a setting of a specific application of the mobile terminal, or automatically changing a setting of the mobile terminal, the activation or change performed according to the determined terminal state.