Fly - safe operating mode for smart phone

• US 20020090931A1
• Filed: 01/11/2001
• Published: 07/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Green, Donald R., Papineau, Scott
• Application Number:
  US09/760,507
• Publication Number:
  US 20020090931A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/66 with means for preventing unauthorised or fraudulent calling verifying user identity or authority in secret or secure digital communications H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor

Abstract

In an embodiment, a wireless phone having both communications and non-communications functions may be operated in a communications disabled operating mode appropriate for transmission restricted environments, such as an airplane in flight. Power may be supplied to a component in a communications module of the phone, for example, one or more local oscillators in a frequency converter. A processor in the phone may control a switch to cut off power to that component in response to a command input to the phone while maintaining control and the power supply to components supporting non-communications of the phone. A user may enter the command through a user interface including, for example, a display screen, a speaker, and input keys, buttons, and/or switches. The display screen may display an indicator such as a graphical icon or textual banner that indicates that the phone is operating in the communications disabled operating mode.

Claims

1. A method for utilizing a telephone in a communications disabled mode, comprising:

issuing a communications-disable command; and

disabling a communication function of the telephone and enabling a non-communication function of the telephone responsive to said communication-disabled command.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying an indicator on the telephone indicating that the telephone is in the communications disabled mode.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said disabling the communication function comprises disabling a frequency conversion function.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein disabling the communications function comprises cutting off power to a local oscillator in the telephone.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-communications function comprises a personal digital assistant function.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein issuing the communications-disable command comprises giving a voice command.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein issuing the communications-disable command comprises selecting a menu item.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the issuing the communications-disable command comprises depressing a dedicated key.

9. A telephone comprising:

a communications module comprising a plurality of communications components;

a non-communications module;

a power supply coupled to the non-communications module and coupled to a communications component through a switch;

an interface to input a command; and

a processor coupled to the communications module, the non-communications module, and the switch, said processor operative to control the switch to cut off power supplied to the communications component in response to the input command.

10. The telephone of claim 9, wherein the communications component comprises a frequency converter.

11. The telephone of claim 9, wherein the communications component comprises a local oscillator.

12. The telephone of claim 9, wherein the non-communications module comprises a personal digital assistant module.

13. The telephone of claim 9, further comprising a display screen coupled to the processor, wherein the processor is further operative to display an indicator on the display screen in response to the input command.

14. The telephone of claim 13, wherein the indicator comprises a textual banner indicating a communications disabled operating mode.

15. The telephone of claim 13, wherein the indicator comprises a graphical icon indicating a communications disabled operating mode.

16. The telephone of claim 9, wherein the interface comprises a speaker.

17. The telephone of claim 9, wherein the interface comprises a button or a switch.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the communications component comprises a frequency converter.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the communications component comprises a local oscillator.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the non-communications module comprises a personal digital assistant module.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the telephone further comprises a display screen coupled to the processor, and wherein the processor is further operative to display an indicator on the display screen in response to the input command.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the indicator comprises a textual banner indicating a communications disabled operating mode.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the indicator comprises a graphical icon indicating a communications disabled operating mode.

25. The system of claim 18, wherein the interface comprises a speaker.

26. The system of claim 18, wherein the interface comprises a button or a switch.

18. A communications system comprising:

a plurality of communications devices including a telephone, said telephone comprising;

a communications module comprising a plurality of communications components;

a non-communications module;

a power supply coupled to the non-communications module and coupled to a communications component through a switch;

an interface to input a command; and

a processor coupled to the communications module, the non-communications module, and the switch, said processor operative to control the switch to cut off power supplied to the communications component in response to the input command; and

a plurality of nodes for transmitting communications signals between communications devices and other nodes in the system.