Universal personal electronic device power-off or other operating mode change enforcement

• US 20030108003A1
• Filed: 10/18/2001
• Published: 06/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Dietz, Timothy Alan
• Application Number:
  US09/981,896
• Publication Number:
  US 20030108003A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/311
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/045 Call privacy arrangements, e.g. timely inhibiting the ring signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and computer implemented instructions for enforcing power-off or operating mode change in personal electronic devices. The present invention causes a personal electronic device to change to a required operating mode as indicated by a broadcasted signal in a venue that restricts access of personal electronic devices. Additionally, the personal electronic device can reset to a previous operating mode, i.e., the operating mode prior the enforced change upon receipt of an appropriate broadcast signal.

Claims

1. A method in a personal electronic device for causing the personal electronic device to change to a required operating mode from an original operating mode, the method comprising:

receiving a broadcasted signal;

saving the original operating mode of the personal electronic device; and

changing the original operating mode of the personal electronic device to the required operating mode as indicated by the broadcasted signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a programmable radio frequency receiver is located inside the personal electronic device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the broadcasted signal is a code containing the required operating modes of the personal electronic devices allowed in an area.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the personal electronic device is a cellular phone, pager, laptop computer, or personal digital assistant.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the operating mode change includes powering off the personal electronic device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the operating mode change includes altering the mode of the personal electronic device.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the broadcasted signal is a first broadcasted signal and further comprising:

changing the required operating mode back to the original operating mode in the personal device in response to receiving a second broadcasted signal.

8. A method in a personal electronic device for resetting the personal electronic device to its original operating mode after an enforced change, the method comprising:

receiving a broadcasted signal;

retrieving the original operating mode of the personal electronic device; and

restoring the original operating mode of the personal electronic device as indicated by the broadcasted signal.

9. A method in a data processing system for causing an original operating mode of a personal electronic device to change to a required operating mode, the method comprising:

sending the required operating mode to a transmission facility, wherein the transmission facility broadcasts a signal containing the required operating mode;

receiving an acknowledgment from the personal electronic device; and

storing information from the personal electronic device.

10. A personal electronic device comprising:

a bus system;

a communications unit connected to the bus system;

a memory connected to the bus system, wherein the memory includes as set of instructions; and

a processing unit connected to the bus system, wherein the processing unit executes the set of instructions to receive a broadcasted signal;

save the original operating mode of the personal electronic device; and

change the original operating mode of the personal electronic device to the required operating mode as indicated by the broadcasted signal.

11. A personal electronic device comprising:

a bus system;

a communications unit connected to the bus system;

a memory connected to the bus system, wherein the memory includes as set of instructions; and

a processing unit connected to the bus system, wherein the processing unit executes the set of instructions to receive a broadcasted signal;

retrieve the original operating mode of the personal electronic device; and

restore the original operating mode of the personal electronic device as indicated by the broadcasted signal.

12. A data processing system comprising:

a bus system;

a communications unit connected to the bus system;

a memory connected to the bus system, wherein the memory includes as set of instructions; and

a processing unit connected to the bus system, wherein the processing unit executes the set of instructions to send the required operating mode to a transmission facility, wherein the transmission facility broadcasts a signal containing the required operating mode;

receive an acknowledgment from the personal electronic device; and

store information from the personal electronic device.

13. A personal electronic device for causing the personal electronic device to change to a required operating mode from an original operating mode, the personal electronic device comprising:

receiving means for receiving a broadcasted signal;

saving means for saving the original operating mode of the personal electronic device; and

changing means for changing the original operating mode of the personal electronic device to the required operating mode as indicated by the broadcasted signal.

14. A personal electronic device for resetting the personal electronic device to its original operating mode after an enforced change, the personal electronic device comprising:

receiving means for receiving a broadcasted signal;

retrieving means for retrieving the original operating mode of the personal electronic device; and

restoring means for restoring the original operating mode of the personal electronic device as indicated by the broadcasted signal.

15. A data processing system for causing an original operating mode of a personal electronic device to change to a required operating mode, the data processing system comprising:

sending means for sending the required operating mode to a transmission facility, wherein the transmission facility broadcasts a signal containing the required operating mode;

receiving means for receiving an acknowledgment from the personal electronic device; and

storing means for storing information from the personal electronic device.

16. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for causing the personal electronic device to change to a required operating mode from an original operating mode, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions for receiving a broadcasted signal;

second instructions for saving the original operating mode of the personal electronic device; and

third instructions for changing the original operating mode of the personal electronic device to the required operating mode as indicated by the broadcasted signal.

17. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for resetting the personal electronic device to its original operating mode after an enforced change, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions for receiving a broadcasted signal;

second instructions for retrieving the original operating mode of the personal electronic device; and

third instructions for restoring the original operating mode of the personal electronic device as indicated by the broadcasted signal.

18. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for causing an original operating mode of a personal electronic device to change to a required operating mode, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions for sending the required operating mode to a transmission facility, wherein the transmission facility broadcasts a signal containing the required operating mode;

second instructions for receiving an acknowledgment from the personal electronic device; and

third instructions for storing information from the personal electronic device.