Method and apparatus for automatically deactivating a keypad lock

• US 20060046694A1
• Filed: 10/27/2004
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Asia Optical Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Asia Optical Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Yu, Hsin-Pub
• Application Number:
  US10/973,430
• Publication Number:
  US 20060046694A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for automatically deactivating a keypad lock and a communication apparatus for performing the method, wherein when in locked mode, the communication apparatus does not react to any other keypad command but a predetermined unlocking signals and signals from numeric keys. It is not necessary that the user should have to input unlocking signals before dialing a phone number. The method comprises the steps of: 1) determining whether or not it receives a first numeric key signal from the keypad, 2) then waiting for a first waiting delay to determine whether it receives a plurality of numeric key signals, 3) and at last determining whether it receives a dialing signal in a second waiting delay, 4) if all answer of above is yes, the keypad lock being deactivated and a communication connection being setup.

Claims

1. A method for automatically deactivating a keypad lock of a communication apparatus which has a keypad, comprising the steps of:

1) the communication apparatus is in a locked mode;

2) determining whether or not it receives a first numeric key signal from the keypad, if not, the communication apparatus returns back to the step 1;

If so,

3) waiting for a first waiting delay to determine whether it receives a plurality of numeric key signals, if not, the communication apparatus returns back to the step 1, If so,

4) determining whether it receives a dialing signal in a second waiting delay, If not, the communication apparatus returns back to step, If so,

5) the keypad lock being deactivated and a communication connection being setup.

2. The method for automatically deactivating a keypad lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein in steps 2, 3, 4, when receiving different key signals occurs simultaneously, the communication apparatus returns back to the step 1.

3. The method for automatically deactivating a keypad lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein in steps 2, 3, 4, when receiving a same numeric signal occurs successively, the communication apparatus returns back to the step 1.

4. The method for automatically deactivating a keypad lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein when in the locked mode, the communication apparatus does not react to any other keypad command but a predetermined unlocking signals and signals from numeric keys.

5. The method for automatically deactivating a keypad lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein the numeric key is 0˜

9.

6. The method for automatically deactivating a keypad lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second waiting delays are five seconds.

7. The method for automatically deactivating a keypad lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein the number of the plurality of numeric key signals should be less than or equal to the amount of communication apparatus'"'"' phone number.

8. A communication apparatus which key pad lock can be automatically deactivated when dialing a phone number, comprises an input unit for inputting keypad signals, a display unit for displaying status of the communication apparatus and the signals inputted from keypad, a transceiver for communicating with a corresponding base station according to the signals inputted from keypad, and a processing unit;

the processing unit, the input unit, the display unit and transceiver being electrically connected with each other;

wherein when the communication apparatus is in a locked mode, the processing unit determines whether or not it receives a first numeric key signal from the keypad, then waits for a first waiting delay to determine whether it receives a plurality of numeric key signals, and at last determines whether it receives a dialing signal in a second waiting delay, if all of the above answer is yes, the keypad lock is deactivated and a communication connection is setup.

9. The communication apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein when in locked mode, the mobile phone does not react to any other keypad command but predetermined unlocking signals and signals from numeric keys.

10. The communication apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the locking/unlocking signals are predetermined by the processing unit of the mobile phone, which are a successive deactivating key signals.

11. The communication apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the numeric key is 0˜

9 and said number of the plurality of numeric key signals should be less than or equal to the amount of communication apparatus'"'"'s phone number.

12. The communication apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein when receiving different key signals occurs simultaneously, the communication apparatus remains in the locked mode.

13. The communication apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein when receiving a same numeric signal occurs successively, the communication apparatus remains in the locked mode.

14. The communication apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said first and second waiting delays are five seconds.

15. A keypad lock automatically deactivating apparatus, comprising:

a first determining device for determining whether or not it receives a first numeric key signal from the keypad when a communication apparatus is in a locked mode;

a second determining device for waiting for a first waiting delay to determine whether it receives a plurality of numeric key signals;

a third determining device for waiting for a second waiting delay to determine whether it receives a dialing signals;

a processing device for deactivating the keyboard lock and setup a communication connection if the output of three determining devices are all yes.

16. The keypad lock automatically deactivating apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the communication apparatus returns back to the locked mode if one of the output of three determining devices is no.

17. The keypad lock automatically deactivating apparatus as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a fourth determining device for determining whether it receives different key signals occurs simultaneously, if so, the communication apparatus returns back to the locked mode.

18. The keypad lock automatically deactivating apparatus as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a fifth determining device for determining whether it receives a same numeric signal occurs successively, if so the communication apparatus returns back to the locked mode.

19. The keypad lock automatically deactivating apparatus as claimed in claim 15, whereby when in locked mode, the mobile phone does not react to any other keypad command but predetermined unlocking signals and signals from numeric keys.

20. The keypad lock automatically deactivating apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein said first and second waiting delays are five seconds.

21. The keypad lock automatically deactivating apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the numeric key is 0˜

9 and the number of said plurality of numeric key signals should be less than or equal to the amount of communication apparatus'"'"' phone number.