Hands-free reminder for a wireless communications terminal

• US 20050239479A1
• Filed: 04/22/2004
• Published: 10/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Bednasz, Kenneth M.
• Application Number:
  US10/829,637
• Publication Number:
  US 20050239479A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver

Abstract

A wireless communications device includes a transceiver to communicate with a wireless communications network and a controller, and alerts a user to whether the device is proximate a hands-free zone. A hands-free zone is a geographical area having predetermined boundaries where the user may not communicate without the use of a hands-free device. The current location of the wireless device may be determined using GPS, or by the wireless network. If the current location of the wireless device is within the hands-free zone, an indication is provided to alert the user of the wireless communications device. The indication may be, for example, a visual indication, an audible sound, or a text message. In addition, the controller may be configured to automatically enable a hands-free only mode of operation on the wireless device responsive if the device is proximate the hands-free zone.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal comprising:

a transceiver to transmit signals to and receive signals from a wireless communications network;

a controller operatively connected to the transceiver and configured to;

determine whether a mobile terminal is proximate a hands-free zone; and

indicate to the user whether the mobile terminal is proximate the hands-free zone based on a current location of the mobile terminal.

2. The mobile terminal of claim 1 further comprising a GPS receiver to provide the current location of the mobile terminal.

3. The mobile terminal of claim 1 wherein the wireless communications network provides the current location of the mobile terminal.

4. The mobile terminal of claim 1 wherein the wireless communications network provides coordinates defining the boundary of the hands-free zone.

5. The mobile terminal of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to compare the current location of the mobile terminal to a location indicative of the hands-free zone.

6. The mobile terminal of claim 5 further comprising memory to store the location indicative of the hands-free zone.

7. The mobile terminal of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to enable a hands-free only mode depending on the proximity of the mobile terminal to the hands-free zone.

8. The mobile terminal of claim 7 wherein the controller enables the hands-free only mode responsive to signals received from the wireless communications network.

9. The mobile terminal of claim 7 wherein the controller enables the hands-free only mode when the mobile terminal enters the hands-free zone.

10. The mobile terminal of claim 7 wherein the controller enables the hands-free only mode when a user of mobile terminal places or receives a call.

11. The mobile terminal of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to disable a hands-free only mode depending on the proximity of the mobile terminal to the hands-free zone.

12. The mobile terminal of claim 11 wherein the controller disables the hands-free only mode responsive to signals received from the wireless communications network.

13. The mobile terminal of claim 11 wherein the controller disables the hands-free only mode when the mobile terminal leaves the hands-free zone.

14. The mobile terminal of claim 1 further comprising a hands-free device.

15. The mobile terminal of claim 12 wherein the hands-free device comprises a hands-free headset.

16. A wireless communications system comprising:

a base station to communicate within a geographical area identified as being a hands-free zone;

a mobile site controller connected to the base station; and

a mobile terminal to communicate with the base station in a hands-free only mode depending on the proximity of the mobile terminal to the hands-free zone.

17. The system of claim 16 further comprising a location server connected to the base station to provide a current location of the mobile terminal.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the location server further provides a location of the hands-free zone to the mobile terminal.

19. The system of claim 16 wherein the mobile terminal comprises a GPS receiver to provide a current location of the mobile terminal.

20. The system of claim 16 wherein the mobile terminal comprises a controller configured to enable the hands-free only mode in the mobile terminal depending upon the proximity of the mobile terminal to the hands-free zone.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the controller compares the current location of the mobile terminal to a location indicative of the hands-free zone.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein the controller enables the hands-free only mode responsive to signals received from the base station.

23. The system of claim 20 wherein the controller enables the hands-free only mode when the mobile terminal enters the hands-free zone.

24. The system of claim 16 wherein the mobile terminal comprises a controller configured to disable the hands-free only mode in the mobile terminal depending upon the proximity of the mobile terminal to the hands-free zone.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the controller compares the current location of the mobile terminal to a location indicative of the hands-free zone.

26. The system of claim 24 wherein the controller disables the hands-free only mode responsive to signals received from the base station.

27. The system of claim 24 wherein the controller disables the hands-free only mode when the mobile terminal leaves the hands-free zone.

28. The system of claim 24 wherein the controller enables the hands-free only mode when the mobile terminal registers with the base station.

29. The system of claim 24 wherein the controller enables the hands-free only mode upon hand-off of the mobile terminal to the base station.

30. A method of controlling a mobile terminal operating in a wireless communications network comprising:

determining a current location of a mobile terminal; and

indicating to a user whether the mobile terminal is proximate a hands-free zone based on the current location of the mobile terminal and a location indicative of the hands-free zone.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the mobile terminal computes the current location responsive to location signals received over a GPS receiver.

32. The method of claim 30 further comprising the mobile terminal receiving the current location from a base station in the wireless communications network.

33. The method of claim 30 further comprising determining the proximity of the current location of the mobile terminal to the location indicative of the hands-free zone.

34. The method of claim 33 further comprising comparing the current location of the mobile terminal to the location indicative of the hands-free zone.

35. The method of claim 30 further comprising determining a distance of the mobile terminal from the location indicative of the hands-free zone, and indicating whether the mobile terminal is proximate the hands-free zone based on the distance.

36. The method of claim 30 further comprising determining a direction of travel of the mobile terminal, and indicating whether the mobile terminal is proximate the hands-free zone based on the direction of travel.

37. The method of claim 30 further comprising determining a velocity of the mobile terminal, and indicating whether the mobile terminal is proximate the hands-free zone based on the velocity.

38. The method of claim 30 wherein indicating the proximity of the mobile terminal to the hands-free zone comprises rendering an audible sound over a speaker of the mobile terminal.

39. The method of claim 30 wherein indicating the proximity of the mobile terminal to the hands-free zone comprises displaying a text message over a display of the mobile terminal.

40. The method of claim 30 wherein indicating the proximity of the mobile terminal to the hands-free zone comprises activating a visual indicator on the mobile terminal.

41. The method of claim 30 further comprising enabling a hands-free only mode when the mobile terminal enters the hands-free zone.

42. The method of claim 41 further comprising disabling the hands-free only mode when the mobile terminal leaves the hands-free zone.