Wireless communication terminal having screen information protection function and method thereof

• US 20050081054A1
• Filed: 10/07/2004
• Published: 04/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Pantech Co. Ltd. (Pantech Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Pantech Co. Ltd. (Pantech Incorporated)
• Inventors: Choo, Jung-Ho
• Application Number:
  US10/961,437
• Publication Number:
  US 20050081054A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/84 output devices, e.g. displays or monitors
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions

Abstract

Provided are a wireless communication terminal having a screen information protection function, a method thereof, and a computer-readable recording medium for recording a program that implements the method. The wireless communication terminal can perform protection on screen information based on a predetermined protection unit so as to make the screen information illegible to other people and thus protect the user'"'"'s privacy, when the user performs a particular operation with the wireless communication terminal. The wireless communication terminal having a screen information protection function includes an input means for receiving a screen information protection mode request signal and a screen information protection mode release signal; a control means for performing functions related to screen information protection based on a signal inputted through the input unit; and an output means for outputting information obtained by performing the screen information protection function on a screen.

Claims

1. A wireless communication terminal having a screen information protection function, comprising:

an input means for receiving a screen information protection mode request signal and a screen information protection mode release signal;

a control means for performing functions related to screen information protection based on one of the screen information protection mode request signal and the screen information protection mode release signal; and

an output means for outputting information obtained by performing the screen information protection function on a screen.

2. The wireless communication terminal as recited in claim 1, wherein the control means performs protection on screen information based on the screen information protection mode request signal which is inputted through the input means during a particular operation.

3. The wireless communication terminal as recited in claim 1, wherein the control means establishes/releases the screen information protection mode based on the signal inputted through the input means and, if the screen information protection mode is established, the control means performs protection on screen information based on a pre-established screen information protection unit.

4. The wireless communication terminal as recited in claim 3, wherein the control means establishes the screen information protection mode upon receipt of the screen information protection mode request signal, performs screen information protection based on the pre-established screen information protection unit during a particular operation, and releases the screen information protection mode upon receipt of the screen information protection mode release signal.

5. The wireless communication terminal as recited in claim 1, wherein the control means receives the screen information protection mode request signal in the middle of a particular operation and establishes the screen information protection mode, performs screen information protection based on the pre-established screen information protection unit, and releases the screen information protection mode when the particular operation is completed.

6. The wireless communication terminal as recited in claim 1, wherein the control means receives the screen information protection mode release signal inputted through the input means in the state of the screen information protection mode, displays the screen information without the screen information protection by releasing the screen information protection mode, and then resumes the screen information protection mode after a predetermined time passes.

7. The wireless communication terminal as recited in claim 1, wherein the control means shades the screen information to protect the screen information.

8. The wireless communication terminal as recited in claim 1, wherein the control means makes the color of the screen information the same as or similar to the color of a background of the screen to protect the screen information.

9. The wireless communication terminal as recited in claim 1, wherein the control means lowers brightness of the screen information to protect the screen information.

10. The wireless communication terminal as recited in claim 1, wherein the control means darkens brightness of the background in overall to protect the screen information.

11. The wireless communication terminal as recited in claim 1, wherein the protected screen information includes a short message which is being typed, a multimedia message which is being drawn up, a multimedia content which is being played, and a personal address/telephone book which is being searched, the multimedia message being a short message having a photo, video or music.

12. A method for protecting screen information in a wireless communication terminal, comprising the steps of:

a) establishing a screen information protection mode based on a screen information protection mode request signal;

b) performing screen information protection based on a pre-established screen information protection unit during a particular operation; and

c) releasing the screen information protection mode based on a screen information protection mode release signal.

13. A method for protecting screen information in a wireless communication terminal, comprising the steps of:

a) establishing a screen information protection mode based on a screen information protection mode request signal in the middle of a particular operation;

b) performing screen information protection on screen information based on a pre-established screen information protection unit; and

c) releasing the screen information protection mode when the particular operation is completed.

14. A computer-readable recording medium for recording a program that implements a screen information protecting method in a wireless communication terminal having a processor, the method comprising the steps of:

a) establishing a screen information protection mode based on a screen information protection mode request signal;

b) performing screen information protection on screen information based on a pre-established screen information protection unit during the particular operation; and

c) releasing the screen information protection mode based on a screen information protection mode release signal.

15. A computer-readable recording medium for recording a program that implements a screen information protecting method in a wireless communication terminal having a processor, the method comprising the steps of:

a) establishing a screen information protection mode based on a screen information protection mode request signal in the middle of a particular operation;

b) performing screen information protection on screen information based on a pre-established screen information protection unit; and

c) releasing the screen information protection mode when the particular operation is completed.