Mobile Terminal Placement Attitude Detection for Automatic Mode Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users of mobile terminals face challenges in managing noise levels in public places, as setting the 'vibrate' or 'silent' mode can be cumbersome and may result in missed events if the device is turned off, and existing solutions do not effectively switch modes based on the terminal's placement attitude.

Innovation Solution

A mobile terminal equipped with a placement attitude detector and controller that automatically switches operating modes based on the device's placement, using a sensor to measure acceleration and determine the attitude, allowing events to be processed in silent mode when the terminal is in a specific position and reverting to user-set modes when moved.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the user turns off the mobile terminal to avoid noise in public places, then noise disturbance is eliminated, but the user may fail to recognize events such as incoming calls or messages

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise disturbanceVSAvoidevent recognition

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The operating mode is dynamically switched between silent mode and user-set mode based on the placement attitude detected by the sensor. When the terminal is placed in a predefined position (e.g., pocket or bag), silent mode is activated to eliminate noise. When the terminal is moved to other positions, the system automatically transitions to user-set mode to ensure event notifications are delivered, thus resolving the contradiction between noise avoidance and event recognition

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically detects placement attitude using the sensor and switches operating modes without requiring user intervention. The terminal self-determines when to be quiet (in predefined positions) and when to notify users (in other positions), eliminating the need for manual mode switching while ensuring events are not missed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the user sets 'vibrate' or 'silent' mode manually, then noise control is achieved, but the operation becomes cumbersome and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise controlVSAvoidmode setting convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-defines placement attitudes that correspond to silent mode (such as pocket or bag positions). When the terminal is placed in these predefined positions, the system automatically activates silent mode in advance, eliminating the need for users to manually set modes before entering quiet environments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the user sets silent mode to avoid noise, then noise disturbance is reduced, but power consumption increases due to continuous monitoring

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise disturbanceVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuously monitoring placement attitude, the system periodically checks the sensor data at specific intervals or when placement attitude changes are detected. This periodic monitoring reduces power consumption while still enabling automatic mode switching between silent and user-set modes, resolving the contradiction between noise avoidance and energy efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables seamless event processing without noise disturbance in public places by automatically switching to silent mode when the terminal is in a predefined position, ensuring users receive notifications without missing events, while conserving power and maintaining user-set modes during changes in placement.

Implementation Method 1

using a sensor to measure acceleration and determine the attitude

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcceleration measurement: Accelerometer

Data Source

PatentEP3379813B1Mobile terminal and event processing method

Publication Date: 2019.10.30 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

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AI summary

Provided is a mobile terminal having a sensor detecting movement thereof and an event processing method. The mobile terminal includes: a placement attitude detector for monitoring, in response to detection of an event, movement of the mobile terminal for a preset time duration to identify a placement attitude of the mobile terminal; and a controller for processing the event in an operating mode corresponding to the identified placement attitude. As a result, the user can readily switch operating modes of the mobile terminal by changing placement attitudes thereof.