Mobile device with sensor hub and method for controlling the device

Abstract

A mobile device with a sensor hub and sensors and a method for controlling the mobile device are provided. The method includes receiving state information regarding the mobile device, setting a sensor sampling period based on the received state information, and receiving measured values from one or more sensors according to the set, sensor sampling period. The sensor hub receives the state information regarding the mobile device, sets a sensor sampling period based on the received state information, and receives measured values from one or more sensors according to the set sensor sampling periods. The mobile device controls the sensors via the sensor hub irrespective of the operations of the main processor. The sensor hub sets a sensor sampling period based on the received state values of a mobile device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for controlling a mobile device with a sensor hub and one or more sensors, via the sensor hub, the method comprising:
 receiving state information regarding the mobile device;   setting a sensor sampling period based on the received state information; and   receiving measured values from one or more sensors according to the set sensor sampling period.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reception of state information comprises:
 receiving the state information regarding the mobile device via one or more sensors.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reception of measured values comprises:
 operating the sensor hub in sleep mode for the sensor sampling period, and receiving the measured values from one or more sensors after the sensor sampling period has elapsed.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 re-setting the sensor sampling period based on the measured values.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transferring a wake-up signal to an Application Processor (AP) if one or more of the measured values are within a preset range.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 transferring information regarding the measured values to the AP.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the setting of the sensor sampling period comprises:
 setting sensor sampling periods according to sensors and information regarding states of the mobile device, respectively.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reception of the state information comprises:
 receiving the state information from an Application Processor (AP).   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 altering, if a certain period of time has elapsed after setting the sensor sampling period, the length of the sensor sampling period,   wherein the period of time is set based on the state information received from the AP.   
     
     
         10 . A mobile device comprising:
 one or more sensors for measuring state information of the mobile device; and   a sensor hub for controlling the one or more sensors,   wherein the sensor hub receives the state information regarding the mobile device, sets a sensor sampling period based on the received state information, and receives measured values from one or more sensors according to the set sensor sampling periods.   
     
     
         11 . The mobile device of  claim 10 , wherein the sensor hub receives the state information from the one or more sensors. 
     
     
         12 . The mobile device of  claim 10 , wherein the sensor hub operates the sensor hub in sleep mode for the sensor sampling period, and receives the measured values from the one or more sensors after the sensor sampling period has elapsed. 
     
     
         13 . The mobile device of  claim 10 , wherein the sensor hub re-sets the sensor sampling period, based on the measured values. 
     
     
         14 . The mobile device of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 an Application Processor (AP) for controlling the mobile device,   wherein the sensor hub transfers a wake-up signal to the Application Processor (AP) based on one or more of the measured values.   
     
     
         15 . The mobile device of  claim 14 , wherein the sensor hub transfers one or more of the measured values to the AP. 
     
     
         16 . The mobile device of  claim 10 , wherein the sensor hub sets sensor sampling periods according to sensors and information regarding states of the mobile device, respectively. 
     
     
         17 . The mobile device of  claim 10 , wherein the sensor hub receives the state information from an Application Processor (AP). 
     
     
         18 . The mobile device of  claim 10 , wherein the sensor hub alters, if a certain period of time has elapsed after setting the sensor sampling period, the length of the sensor sampling period, based on the state information received from the AP. 
     
     
         19 . The mobile device of  claim 10 , wherein the sensor comprises one or more of an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, a magneto sensor, a barometer sensor, a proximity luminance sensor, a motion sensor, a Red-Green-Blue (RGB) sensor, a temperature sensor, and an infrared sensor. 
     
     
         20 . A sensor hub for controlling one or more sensors, the sensor hub comprising:
 a transceiver for receiving measured values from one or more sensors; and   a controller for setting sensor sampling periods with respect to the sensors, based on the received measured values.   
     
     
         21 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed, cause at least one processor to perform the method of  claim 1 .