Mobile device and method for controlling sensor by the mobile device

Abstract

A method for controlling a sensor by a mobile device, the method comprising: executing an application performing a task; obtaining first sensor data using a first sensor to perform the task; receiving second sensor data obtained using a second sensor of at least one communicably connected external device; comparing the first sensor data with the second sensor data; and when the first sensor data is replaceable with the second sensor data, controlling an operation of the first sensor and the second sensor according to a battery state of the mobile device and the external device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for controlling a sensor by a mobile device, the method comprising:
 executing an application performing a task;   obtaining first sensor data using a first sensor to perform the task;   receiving second sensor data obtained using a second sensor of at least one communicably connected external device;   comparing the first sensor data with the second sensor data; and   when the first sensor data is replaceable with the second sensor data, controlling an operation of the first sensor and the second sensor according to a battery state of the mobile device and the external device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the controlling the operation of the first sensor and the second sensor includes disabling the first sensor and using the second sensor data of the second sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 periodically enabling the disabled first sensor to periodically compare the first sensor data with the second sensor data; and   periodically controlling driving of the first sensor and the second sensor according to a result of periodically comparing the first sensor data with the second sensor data.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 when receiving, from the external device, a first state change signal indicating occurrence of a state change affecting the second sensor data, enabling the first sensor to use the first sensor data.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 obtaining first task data using the first sensor data;   obtaining second task data using the second sensor data;   comparing the first task data with the second task data; and   when the first task data is replaceable with the second task data, controlling an operation of the first sensor and the second sensor according to the battery state of the mobile device and the external device.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 when the second sensor data is used to perform the task, compensating for at least one of a time difference, phase difference, frequency difference, and amplitude difference of the second sensor data.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the battery state includes information on at least one of a total battery capacity of each of the mobile device and the external device, a remaining battery capacity, a recharge pattern, a battery remaining capacity variation state, at least one factor affecting a battery, a recharge frequency, a recharge pattern, and a recharge circumstance. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the comparing a pattern of the first sensor data with a pattern of the second sensor data is performed referring to at least one of a time difference, a phase difference, a frequency difference, and an amplitude difference. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the controlling the operation of the first sensor and the second sensor includes disabling the second sensor and using the first sensor data of the first sensor. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein, when receiving a second state change signal indicating that obtaining the second sensor data in the external device is possible, the comparing the first sensor data with the second sensor data is performed by receiving the second sensor data. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing a user interface (UI) providing at least one of a target device indicator indicating the mobile device and the external device, a task indicator, a sensor data indicator, a task data indicator, and a sensor data indicator and task data window.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the first state change signal further includes at least one of GPS (Global Positioning System) information of the external device, signal strength information according to a short-range communication connection, and command input information on the external device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein, when a pattern of the first sensor data and a pattern of the second sensor data are similar as being within a predetermined threshold range within a predetermined time interval, the first sensor data is determined as replaceable with the second sensor data. 
     
     
         14 . A mobile device comprising:
 a communication unit configured to communicate with an external device;   a first sensor configured to sense a state and a state change in the mobile device or an external environment;   a memory unit configured to store digital data; and   a processing unit configured to controll the communication unit, the first sensor, and the memory unit and execute an application to perform a task,   wherein the mobile device:   obtains first sensor data using the first sensor to perform the task;   receives second sensor data obtained using a second sensor of at least one communicably connected external device;   compares the first sensor data with the second sensor data; and   when the first sensor data is replaceable with the second sensor data, controlls an operation of the first sensor and the second sensor according to a battery state of the mobile device and the external device.   
     
     
         15 . The mobile device of  claim 14 , wherein the mobile device disables the first sensor and uses the second sensor data of the second sensor. 
     
     
         16 . The mobile device of  claim 15 , wherein the mobile device:
 periodically enables the disabled first sensor to periodically compare the first sensor data with the second sensor data; and periodically controls driving of the first sensor and the second sensor according to a result of periodically comparing the first sensor data with the second sensor data.   
     
     
         17 . The mobile device of  claim 15 , wherein when receiving, from the external device, a state change signal indicating occurrence of a state change affecting the second sensor data, the mobile device enables the first sensor to use the first sensor data. 
     
     
         18 . The mobile device of  claim 14 , wherein the mobile device:
 obtains first task data using the first sensor data;   obtains second task data using the second sensor data;   compares the first task data with the second task data; and   when the first task data is replaceable with the second task data, controls an operation of the first sensor and the second sensor according to the battery state of the mobile device and the external device.   
     
     
         19 . A method for controlling a sensor by a mobile device, the method comprising:
 executing an application performing a task;   obtaining first sensor data using a first sensor and obtaining first task data based on the obtained first sensor data;   obtaining second task data based on second sensor data obtained using a second sensor of at least one communicably connected external device;   comparing the first task data with the second task data; and   when the first task data is replaceable with the second task data, controlling an operation of the first sensor and the second sensor according to a battery state of the mobile device and the external device.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the controlling the operation of the first sensor and the second sensor includes disabling the first sensor and using the second sensor data of the second sensor.