Communication blackout feature

• US 20060009265A1
• Filed: 06/30/2004
• Published: 01/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Clapper, Edward O.
• Application Number:
  US10/882,928
• Publication Number:
  US 20060009265A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/565
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations

Abstract

A method and apparatus for a communication blackout feature. An embodiment of a method comprises receiving a blackout request for a communication device; enabling a blackout mode for the communication device; modifying a signal for incoming calls or messages while the blackout mode is enabled; and at the end of a time period, automatically deactivating the blackout mode.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a blackout request for a communication device;

enabling a blackout mode for the communication device;

modifying a signal for incoming calls or messages while the blackout mode is enabled; and

at the end of a time period, automatically deactivating the blackout mode.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal for incoming calls or messages is discontinued while the blackout mode is enabled.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a warning signal when the end of the blackout mode will occur within a certain amount of time.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a request for an extension of the blackout mode and extending the time period for the blackout mode in response to the request for extension.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a signal at the end of the blackout mode.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the blackout mode includes a first blackout period and a second blackout period, and further comprising automatically transitioning from the first blackout period to the second blackout period at a particular time.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising modifying the signal for incoming calls or messages in a first manner during the first blackout period and in a second manner during the second blackout period.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the request for the blackout period requests a recurring blackout period.

9. A processor comprising:

an execution unit; and

instructions for the execution unit to provide a communication blackout feature;

the communication blackout feature comprising;

beginning a blackout period for incoming communications,

during the blackout period, modifying a signal for an incoming communication, and

automatically ending the blackout period.

10. The processor of claim 9, wherein modifying the signal for the incoming communication comprising discontinuing the signal while the blackout period is active.

11. The processor of claim 9, wherein the processor is to be used in a communication device.

12. The processor of claim 11, wherein the communication device is a cellular telephone.

13. The processor of claim 9, wherein the blackout feature further comprises generating a signal for a warning when the end of the blackout period will occur within a certain time period.

14. The processor of claim 9, wherein the blackout feature further comprises extending the blackout period on request.

15. The processor of claim 9, wherein the blackout feature further comprises generating a signal to signify the end of the blackout period.

16. A communication device comprising:

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a processor, the processor to provide a blackout function, the blackout function to provide a blackout period that is automatically deactivated at the end of a time period;

a component to receive incoming communications for the communication device; and

a signaling component to provide a signal when a communication is received, the operation of the signaling component to be modified by the processor during the blackout period.

17. The communication device of claim 16, wherein the component to receive incoming communications comprises a transceiver.

18. The communication device of claim 16, wherein the communication device comprises a cellular telephone.

19. The communication device of claim 16, further comprising a menu function, the menu function including a request for a blackout period.

20. The communication device of claim 16, further comprising a calendar function, the calendar function including a request for a blackout period.

21. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon data representing sequences of instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving a blackout request for a communication device;

enabling a blackout mode for the communication device;

modifying a signal for incoming calls or messages while the blackout mode is enabled; and

at the end of a time period, automatically deactivating the blackout mode.

22. The medium of claim 21, wherein the signal for incoming calls or messages is discontinued while the blackout mode is enabled.

23. The medium of claim 21, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising generating a warning signal when the end of the blackout mode will occur within a certain amount of time.

24. The medium of claim 21, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising receiving a request for an extension of the blackout mode and extending the time period for the blackout mode in response to the request for extension.

25. The medium of claim 21, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising generating a signal at the end of the blackout mode.

26. The medium of claim 21, wherein the blackout mode includes a first blackout period and a second blackout period, and further comprising automatically transitioning from the first blackout period to the second blackout period at a particular time.

27. The medium of claim 26, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising modifying the signal for incoming calls or messages in a first manner during the first blackout period and in a second manner during the second blackout period.

28. The medium of claim 21, wherein the request for the blackout period requests a recurring blackout period.