Apparatus and method for automatically switching communication/communication supression mode of wireless communication terminal

• US 20030139138A1
• Filed: 11/27/2002
• Published: 07/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chang-Heon Oh, Pantech Corporation (Ideahub, Inc.), Jea-Sung Rho, Sung-Joon Cho
• Original Assignee: Chang-Heon Oh, Hyundai Curitel ,inc, Jea-Sung Rho, Sung-Joon Cho
• Inventors: Oh, Chang-Heon, Cho, Sung-Joon, Rho, Jea-Sung
• Granted Patent: US 6,993,329 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/63.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/38 Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0274 by switching on or off the equipment or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

An apparatus and method for automatically switching communication/communication suppression mode of a wireless communication terminal is disclosed. The apparatus for automatically switching communication/communication suppression mode of the wireless communication terminal includes: a communication suppression control signal receipt unit for receiving a communication suppression control signal radiated from a control signal generation unit located in a communication suppression area; a communication suppression release control signal receipt unit for receiving a communication suppression release control signal radiated from a communication suppression release control signal generation unit located in an outside of the communication suppression area; and a switching unit for switching a transmission path of the wireless communication terminal off based on the communication suppression control signal and switching the transmission path of the wireless communication terminal on in order to return to the communication mode based on the communication suppression release control signal, so that the wireless communication terminal keeps its power on and radio frequency power is not radiated from the wireless communication terminal.

Claims

1. (Cancelled)

2. An apparatus for automatically switching a communication/communication suppression mode of a wireless communication terminal, comprising:

a communication a suppression control signal reception means for receiving a communication suppression control signal radiated from an external communication suppression control signal generation means that is set up inside an entrance of a communication restriction area, generates and radiates the communication suppression control signal which is a feeble radio signal;

a communication suppression release control signal reception means for receiving a communication suppression release control signal from an external communication suppression release control signal generation means that is set up outside an exit of the communication restriction area, generates and radiates the communication suppression release control signal which is a feeble radio signal;

a central processing means for receiving a communication suppression control signal from the communication suppression control signal reception means and notifying a base station of the wireless communication terminal being in the communication restriction area, and for controlling the wireless communication terminal to operate normally in response to the communication suppression release control signal from the communication suppression release control signal reception means; and

a transmit path on/off switching means for blocking a radio frequency (RF) signal radiated from an antenna of the terminal while keeping the wireless communication terminal power-on by receiving the communication suppression control signal from the central processing means and turning off the transmit path of the wireless communication terminal, and for switching it into a normal communication mode by receiving the communication suppression release control signal from the central processing means and turning on the transmit path of the wireless communication terminal.

3. (Amended) The apparatus as recited in claim 2, further including a receipt path on/off switching means for turning off the receipt path of the terminal in response to the communication suppression control signal from the communication suppression control signal reception means, in order to minimize power consumption of the wireless communication terminal, and for turning on the receipt path of the wireless communication terminal in response to the communication suppression release control signal from the communication suppression release control signal reception means in order to switch the wireless communication terminal into the normal communication mode.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, further including a receipt path on/off switching means for turning off the receipt path of the terminal in response to the communication suppression control signal from the central processing means, in order to minimize power consumption of the wireless communication terminal, and for turning on the receipt path of the wireless communication terminal in response to the communication suppression release control signal from the central processing means in order to switch the wireless communication terminal into the normal communication mode.

31. (New) The apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the base station notified of the wireless communication terminal being in the communication restriction area which is different from getting out of a service coverage zone, does not page the wireless communication terminal any more and informs a user trying to reach the wireless communication terminal that the wireless communication terminal is in the communication restriction area.

32. (New) The apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the transmit path on/off switching means controls the RF signal radiated from the wireless communication terminal by preventing an input signal from being inputted to a power amplifier on the transmit (Tx) path of the wireless communication terminal while switching the wireless communication terminal into the communication suppression mode.

33. (New) The apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein the receipt path on/off switching means prevents an input signal from being inputted to a low noise amplifier on the receipt (Rx) path of the wireless communication terminal.

5. An apparatus for automatically switching a communication/communication suppression mode of a wireless communication terminal, comprising:

a communication a suppression control signal reception means for receiving a communication suppression control signal radiated from an external communication suppression control signal generation means that is set up inside an entrance of a communication restriction area, generates and radiates the communication suppression control signal which is a feeble radio signal;

a central processing means for receiving a communication suppression control signal from the communication suppression control signal reception means and notifying a base station of the wireless communication terminal being in the communication restriction area, and if the communication suppression control signal is not received from the communication suppression control signal reception means for a predetermined time, for controlling the wireless communication terminal to operate normally by transmitting a transmit path ON control signal; and

a transmit path on/off switching means for blocking a radio frequency (RF) signal radiated from an antenna of the terminal while keeping the wireless communication terminal power-on by receiving the communication suppression control signal from the central processing means and turning off the transmit path of the wireless communication terminal, and for switching it into a normal communication mode by receiving the communication suppression release control signal from the central processing means and turning on the transmit path of the wireless communication terminal

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 5, further including:

a receipt path on/off switching means for turning off the receipt path of the terminal in response to the communication suppression control signal from the communication suppression control signal reception means, in order to minimize power consumption of the wireless communication terminal, and for turning on the receipt path of the wireless communication terminal in response to the receipt path ON control signal from the communication suppression release control signal reception means in order to switch the wireless communication terminal into the normal communication mode.

7. (Amended) The apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein the base station notified of the wireless communication terminal being in the communication restriction area which is different from getting out of a service coverage zone, does not page the wireless communication terminal any more and informs a user trying to reach the wireless communication terminal that the wireless communication terminal is in the communication restriction area.

8. (Amended) The apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein the transmit path on/off switching means controls the RF signal radiated from the wireless communication terminal by preventing an input signal from being inputted to a power amplifier on the transmit (Tx) path of the wireless communication terminal while switching the wireless communication terminal into the communication suppression mode.

9. (Amended) The apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein the receipt path on/off switching means prevents an input signal from being inputted to a low noise amplifier on the receipt (Rx) path of the wireless communication terminal.

10. (Amended) An apparatus for automatically switching a communication/communication suppression mode of a wireless communication terminal, comprising:

a communication suppression control signal generation means set up inside an entrance of a communication restriction area, for generating and radiating a communication suppression control signal used for turning off a transmit path of the wireless communication terminal in order to block a radio frequency (RF) signal radiated from an antenna of the terminal while keeping the wireless communication terminal power-on; and

a communication suppression release control signal generation means set up outside an exit of the communication restriction area, for generating and radiating a communication suppression release, control signal used for turning on the transmit path of the wireless communication terminal in order to switch the wireless communication terminal into a normal communication mode from the communication suppression mode and used for notifying a base station of the wireless communication terminal being in a communication restriction area.

12. (Amended) The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein the communication suppression control signal radiated from the communication suppression control signal generation means further performs a function of turning off the receipt path of the wireless communication terminal in order to minimize its power consumption, and the communication suppression release control signal radiated from the communication suppression release control signal generation means further performs a function of turning on the receipt path of the wireless communication terminal in order to switch it into the normal communication mode.

11. (Cancelled)

13. An apparatus for automatically switching the communication/communication suppression mode of a wireless communication terminal, comprising:

a communication suppression control signal generation means set up inside an entrance of a communication restriction area, for notifying a base station of the wireless communication terminal being in the communication restriction area, for generating and radiating a communication suppression control signal used for turning off a transmit path of the wireless communication terminal in order to block a radio frequency (RF) signal radiated from an antenna of the terminal while keeping the wireless communication terminal power-on, and for, if the communication suppression control signal is not received for a predetermined time, turning on the transmit path of the wireless communication terminal in order to switch it into a normal communication mode.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein the communication suppression control signal radiated from the communication suppression control signal generation means further performs a function of turning off a receipt path of the wireless communication terminal to minimize power consumption of the wireless communication terminal, and for switching it into the normal communication mode by, if the communication suppression control signal is not received for a predetermined time, turning on the receipt path of the wireless communication terminal.

15. (Cancelled)

16. (Cancelled)

17. A method for automatically switching the communication/communication suppression mode a wireless communication terminal, comprising the steps of:

a) at a central processing means, receiving a communication suppression control signal radiated from an external communication suppression control signal generation means that is set up inside an entrance of a communication restriction area, generates and radiates the communication suppression control signal which is a feeble radio signal, through a communication suppression/communication suppression release control signal reception means;

b) at the central processing means, notifying a base station of the wireless communication terminal being in the communication restriction area;

c) at the central processing means, turning off a transmit path of the wireless communication terminal in response to the communication suppression control signal in order to block a radio frequency (RF) signal radiated from an antenna of the wireless communication terminal while keeping the wireless communication terminal power-on;

d) at the central processing means, receiving a communication suppression release control signal from a communication suppression release control signal generation means that is set up outside an exit of the communication restriction area, generates and radiates the communication suppression release control signal which is a feeble radio signal, through a communication suppression/communication suppression release control signal reception means; and

e) at the central processing means, controlling a transmit path on/off switching means to turn on the transmit path of the wireless communication terminal in order to switch the wireless communication terminal into a normal communication mode.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, further including:

f) at the central processing means, controlling a transmit path on/off switching means to turn off a receipt path of the wireless communication terminal in response to the communication suppression control signal to minimize power consumption of the wireless communication terminal;

g) at the central processing means, controlling a transmit path on/off switching means to turn on the receipt path of the wireless communication terminal in response to the communication suppression release control signal to switch the wireless communication terminal into the normal communication mode.

19. (Amended) The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the base station recognizes the wireless communication terminal is in a communication restriction area which is distinguished from getting out of a service coverage zone, does not page the wireless communication terminal any more, and informing a caller trying to reach the wireless communication terminal that the wireless communication terminal is in a communication restriction area.

20. (Amended) A method for automatically switching the communication/communication suppression mode of a wireless communication terminal, comprising the steps of:

a) at a central processing means, checking whether a communication suppression control signal radiated from a communication suppression control signal generation means that is set up inside an entrance of a communication restriction area, generates and radiates the communication suppression control signal which is a feeble radio signal;

b) if the communication suppression control signal is received, determining whether the wireless communication terminal is in a communication suppression mode, if so, proceeding to the step a), if not, controlling the transmit path on/off switching means to turn off a transmit path of the wireless communication terminal in response to the communication suppression control signal in order to block a radio frequency (RF) signal radiated from an antenna of the wireless communication terminal while keeping the wireless communication terminal power-on;

[and]

c) if the communication suppression control signal is not received for a predetermined time, controlling the transmit path on/off switching means to turn on the transmit path of the terminal in order to switch the wireless communication terminal into normal communication mode; and

d) if the communication suppression control signal is received, notifying a base station of the wireless communication terminal being in the communication restriction area.

21. (Amended) The method as recited in claim 20, further including the steps of:

e) if the communication suppression control signal is received, controlling a receipt path on/off switching means to turn off a receipt path of the wireless communication terminal in order to minimize power consumption of the wireless communication terminal; and

f) if the communication suppression control signal is not received for the predetermined time, controlling the receipt path on/off switching means to turn on the receipt path of the wireless communication terminal in order to switch the wireless communication terminal into a normal communication mode.

23. (Amended) The method as recited in claim 21, wherein the base station recognizes the wireless communication terminal is in a communication restriction area which is distinguished from getting out of a service coverage zone, does not page the wireless communication terminal any more, and informing a caller trying to reach the wireless communication terminal that the wireless communication terminal is in a communication restriction area.

22. (Cancelled)

24. (Cancelled)

25. (Cancelled)

26. A computer readable recording medium for recording a program for executing a method for automatically switching the communication/communication suppression mode a wireless communication terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

a) at a central processing means, receiving a communication suppression control signal radiated from an external communication suppression control signal generation means that is set up inside an entrance of a communication restriction area, generates and radiates the communication suppression control signal which is a feeble radio signal, through a communication suppression/communication suppression release control signal reception means;

b) at the central processing means, notifying a base station of the wireless communication terminal being in the communication restriction area;

c) at the central processing means, turning off a transmit path of the wireless communication terminal in response to the communication suppression control signal in order to block a radio frequency (RF) signal radiated from an antenna of the wireless communication terminal while keeping the wireless communication terminal power-on;

d) at the central processing means, receiving a communication suppression release control signal from a communication suppression release control signal generation means that is set up outside an exit of the communication restriction area, generates and radiates the communication suppression release control signal which is a feeble radio signal, through a communication suppression/communication suppression release control signal reception means; and

e) at the central processing means, controlling a transmit path on/off switching means to turn on the transmit path of the wireless communication terminal in order to switch the wireless communication terminal into a normal communication mode.

27. The computer readable recording medium as recited in claim 26, further including:

f) at the central processing means, controlling a transmit path on/off switching means to turn off a receipt path of the wireless communication terminal in response to the communication suppression control signal to minimize power consumption of the wireless communication terminal;

g) at the central processing means, controlling a transmit path on/off switching means to turn on the receipt path of the wireless communication terminal in response to the communication suppression release control signal to switch the wireless communication terminal into the normal communication mode.

28. (Amended) A computer readable recording medium for recording a program for executing a method for automatically switching the communication/communication suppression mode of a wireless communication terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

a) at a central processing means, checking whether a communication suppression control signal radiated from a communication suppression control signal generation means that is set up inside an entrance of a communication restriction area, generates and radiates the communication suppression control signal which is a feeble radio signal;

b) if the communication suppression control signal is received, determining whether the wireless communication terminal is in a communication suppression mode, if so, proceeding to the step a), if not, controlling the transmit path on/off switching means to turn off a transmit path of the wireless communication terminal in response to the communication suppression control signal in order to block a radio frequency (RF) signal radiated from an antenna of the wireless communication terminal while keeping the wireless communication terminal power-on;

[and]

c) if the communication suppression control signal is not received for a predetermined time, controlling the transmit path on/off switching means to turn on the transmit path of the terminal in order to switch the wireless communication terminal into normal communication mode; and

d) if the communication suppression control signal is received, notifying a base station of the wireless communication terminal being in the communication restriction area.

29. (Amended) The computer readable recording medium as recited in claim 28, further including the steps of:

e) if the communication suppression control signal is received, controlling a receipt path on/off switching means to turn off a receipt path of the wireless communication terminal in order to minimize power consumption of the wireless communication terminal; and

f) if the communication suppression control signal is not received for the predetermined time, controlling the receipt path on/off switching means to turn on the receipt path of the wireless communication terminal in order to switch the wireless communication terminal into a normal communication mode.

30. (Cancelled)