Mobile communication terminal and method for implementing differentiated functions according to user classes

• US 20050054356A1
• Filed: 03/29/2004
• Published: 03/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Han, Jae-Byeong
• Application Number:
  US10/812,236
• Publication Number:
  US 20050054356A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/205 Transfer to or from user equipment or user record carrier

Abstract

A mobile communication terminal and a method for differentially implementing functions according to a class of a user. The method comprises steps of: setting conditions for selecting respective functions in order to differentially implement each function according to the class of the user; activating only menus for selecting a function or functions available to the user when the preset conditions are met; informing the user of any change in at least one function available to the user due to a change of the user'"'"'s class; and applying the change in at least one function available to the user to the mobile communication terminal. Since functions included in a mobile communication terminal are implemented restrictively or supplementary according to the class of a user, the present invention facilitates the management of users of mobile communication terminals based on their classes.

Claims

1. A method for differentially implementing functions of a mobile communication terminal according to a class of a user, comprising the steps of:

setting at least one condition for selecting at least one function in order to differentially implement the at least one function according to the class of the user;

activating a menu for selecting the at least one function available to the user when the at least one preset condition is met;

informing the user of a change in the at least one function available to the user after a change of the user'"'"'s class; and

applying the change in the at least one function available to the user to the mobile communication terminal.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of informing the user comprises receiving a text message indicating the change in the class of the user from a mobile service provider.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said text message includes a service code corresponding to the at least one function that changes due to the change in the class of the user.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of applying the change in the at least one function comprises activating a menu for selecting the at least one function that becomes available due to the change in the class of the user.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the step of applying the change in the at least one function comprises further comprises:

requesting the user to input a service code corresponding to the at least one function that becomes available due to the change in the class of the user; and

receiving the service code input by the user in response to the request.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of applying the change in the at least one function comprises deactivating of a menu for selecting the at least one function that becomes unavailable due to the change in the class of the user.

7. A mobile communication terminal for differentially implementing at least one function according to a class of a user, comprising:

a memory for storing at least one preset condition for selecting the at least one function in order to differentially implement the at least one function according to the class of the user; and

a control section for activating the at least one function available to the user when the at least one condition stored in the memory is met.

8. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 7, wherein said memory stores information including at least one of a function identification (ID) representing a unique number assigned to the at least one function, a function name, a function type showing the at least one condition for selecting the at least one function, and a service code corresponding to the at least one function.

9. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 7, wherein said control section detects a change in the class of the user and, if there is a change in the at least one function available to the user due to the change in the user'"'"'s class, informs the user of the change in the at least one function and applies the change to the mobile communication terminal.

10. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 9, wherein said control section receives a text message indicating the change in the class of the user from a mobile service provider and detects the change in the class of the user.

11. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 10, wherein said text message includes a service code corresponding to the at least one function.

12. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 9, wherein said control section activates a menu for selecting the at least one function that becomes available due to the change in the class of the user.

13. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 12, wherein said control section requests the user to input a service code corresponding to the at least one function that becomes available due to the change in the class of the user and receives the service code input by the user in response to the request.

14. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 9, wherein said control section deactivates a menu for selecting the at least one function that becomes unavailable due to the change in the class of the user.