Method for limiting a data storage function in a mobile communication terminal

• US 20060148452A1
• Filed: 12/23/2005
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Oh, Hyuk
• Application Number:
  US11/318,163
• Publication Number:
  US 20060148452A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/412.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

A method for limiting a data storage function in a mobile communication terminal. When entering an area (such as a secure area) where the data storage function is limited, the mobile communication terminal receives, from a base station located in a secure area, a message indicating that the mobile communication terminal is currently located in the secure area. The mobile communication terminal then analyzes the received message, determines whether it is currently located in the secure area, and sets and stores file system control information such that data generated when a supplementary function is performed cannot be stored. Even when a user who fails to determine that he or she is in the secure area uses the supplementary function of the terminal, the data is not actually stored, such that security can be maintained in a specific area.

Claims

1. A method for limiting a data storage function of a mobile communication terminal in a mobile communication system, comprising the steps of:

generating, by a base station, a message including information for controlling the data storage function of the mobile communication terminal when the mobile communication terminal enters an area, covered by the base station, where the data storage function is limited;

transmitting, by the base station, the message to mobile communication terminals located in the area; and

setting a data storage limiting mode in the mobile communication terminal.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein setting the data storage limiting mode comprises the steps of:

analyzing the message in the mobile communication terminal; and

setting the data storage limiting mode by setting a flag value for limiting the data storage function, if the message indicates that the terminal is currently located in the area where the data storage function is limited.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether a user request for use of a supplementary function whose use is limited exists, after setting the data storage limiting mode;

determining whether a request for storing data generated according to the use of the supplementary function exists;

analyzing the flag value if the data storage request exists; and

generating an empty file if the flag value is set.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the supplementary function is controlled when a request to store data is made while the mobile communication terminal is in the area where the data storage function is limited.

5. A method for limiting a data storage function of a mobile communication terminal, comprising the steps of:

receiving, from a base station, a message including information for controlling the data storage function of the mobile communication terminal when the mobile communication terminal enters an area where the data storage function is limited; and

analyzing the received message and setting a data storage limiting mode for preventing data from being stored by setting file system control information when the analyzed message indicates the mobile communication terminal is in an area where the data storage function is limited.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the file system control information includes a flag value indicating that the data storage function is limited.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether a user request for a supplementary function whose use is limited exists while the mobile communication terminal is in the data storage limiting mode;

determining whether a request for storing data generated according to the use of the supplementary function exists;

extracting the file system control information, if the request for storing data exists; and

performing a function for storing a file according to the extracted file system control information.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein when the flag value is set, the stored file is an empty file with a data size of 0.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein when the flag value is not set, a file including the generated data is stored.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein when the mobile terminal is located in an area where the data storage function is limited, the supplementary function is controlled when data is stored.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein when the mobile communication terminal includes a camera function, the supplementary function is a function capable of generating data when capturing a picture and storing the generated data.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the supplementary function is one of a plurality of functions which can download a large amount of data and store the downloaded data in the mobile communication terminal.

13. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

receiving, from another base station, a message including information for controlling the data storage function, when the mobile communication terminal exits the area where the data storage function is limited; and

analyzing the received message, and releasing the set data storage limiting mode, if the analyzed message includes information indicating an area where the data storage function is not limited.