Methods, devices, and computer program products for providing multiple operational modes in a mobile terminal

• US 20060211412A1
• Filed: 03/21/2005
• Published: 09/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Vance, Scott L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,546,130 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/673 the user being required to key in a code
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/37 Managing security policies for mobile devices or for controlling mobile applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/903 Password

Abstract

A method of operating a mobile terminal includes receiving mobile communications and transmitting mobile communications in a first mode of operation, and enabling at least one function that is not available in the first mode of operation while preventing transmission of mobile communications in a second mode of operation. The first mode of operation is activated responsive to receiving a valid authorization code in the second mode of operation. Related devices and computer program products are also discussed.

Claims

1. A method of operating a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

receiving mobile communications and transmitting mobile communications in a first mode of operation;

enabling at least one function that is not available in the first mode of operation and preventing transmission of mobile communications in a second mode of operation; and

activating the first mode of operation responsive to receiving a valid authorization code in the second mode of operation.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

activating the second mode of operation responsive to receiving a valid authorization code in the first mode of operation.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving mobile communications in the second mode of operation; and

prompting a user to enter the valid authorization code responsive to receiving a mobile communication in the second mode of operation.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein enabling at least one function comprises:

enabling a plurality of one-touch functions that are not available in the first mode of operation, a respective one of which is activated responsive to pressing a respective button on the mobile terminal in the second mode of operation,

wherein the first mode of operation comprises a communications mode, and wherein the second mode of operation comprises a child entertainment/education mode.

5. A method according to claim 4, further comprising:

altering functions of respective buttons of the mobile terminal in the child entertainment/education mode to enable the plurality of one-touch functions that are not available in the communications mode.

6. A method according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of one-touch functions comprises a music function, a display function, a voice-repeating function, an alphabet function, and/or a karaoke function that are not available in the communications mode.

7. A method according to claim 6, further comprising:

activating a different respective music function, display function, voice-repeating function, alphabet function, and/or karaoke function responsive to repeatedly pressing a respective button.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein receiving a valid authorization code comprises:

receiving the valid authorization code from a keypad and/or an input screen of the mobile terminal responsive to pressing a series of buttons on the keypad and/or responsive to selecting a plurality of menu items from a series of menus displayed on the input screen.

9. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

preventing alteration of functions, information, and/or settings for the mobile terminal in the second mode of operation.

10. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

pre-configuring the at least one function enabled in the second mode of operation using the first mode of operation.

20. A mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the mode-selection circuit is configured to enable user pre-configuration of the at least one function enabled in the second mode of operation in the first mode of operation.

11. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive mobile communications at the mobile terminal;

a transmitter configured to transmit mobile communications from the mobile terminal; and

a mode-selection circuit configured to provide a first mode of operation to receive and transmit mobile communications and a second mode of operation to enable at least one function not available in the first mode of operation and to prevent transmission of mobile communications,

wherein the mode-selection circuit is configured to activate the first mode of operation responsive to receipt of a valid authorization code in the second mode of operation.

12. A mobile terminal according to claim 11, wherein the mode-selection circuit is further configured to activate the second mode of operation responsive to receipt of a valid authorization code in the first mode of operation.

13. A mobile terminal according to claim 11, wherein the mode-selection circuit is configured to enable receipt of mobile communications in the second mode of operation, and wherein the mode-selection circuit is further configured to prompt a user to enter the authorization code responsive to receipt of a mobile communication in the second mode of operation.

14. A mobile terminal according to claim 11, wherein the first mode of operation comprises a communications mode, wherein the second mode of operation comprises a child entertainment/education mode, and wherein the mode-selection circuit is configured to enable a plurality of one-touch functions in the child entertainment/education mode that are not available in the communications mode of operation, a respective one of which is activated responsive to pressing a respective button on the mobile terminal.

15. A mobile terminal according to claim 14, wherein the mode-selection circuit is configured to alter functions of respective buttons of the mobile terminal in the child entertainment/education mode to enable the plurality of one-touch functions that are not available in the communications mode.

16. A mobile terminal according to claim 14, wherein the plurality of one-touch functions comprises a music function, a display function, a voice-repeating function, an alphabet function, and/or a karaoke function that are not available in the communications mode.

17. A mobile terminal according to claim 16, wherein the mode-selection circuit is further configured to activate a different respective music function, display function, voice-repeating function, alphabet function, and/or karaoke function responsive to repeatedly pressing a respective button.

18. A mobile terminal according to claim 11, further comprising:

a keypad including a plurality of buttons coupled to the mode-selection circuit; and

an input screen coupled to the mode selection circuit,

wherein the mode-selection circuit is configured to receive the authorization code from the keypad and/or the input screen of the mobile terminal responsive to a series of buttons pressed on the keypad and/or responsive to a plurality of menu items selected from a series of menus displayed on the input screen.

19. A mobile terminal according to claim 11, wherein the mode-selection circuit is further configured to prevent alteration of functions, information, and/or settings for the mobile terminal in the second mode of operation.

21. A computer program product for operating a mobile terminal, the computer program product comprising:

a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied in the medium, the computer readable program code comprising;

computer readable program code configured to enable transmission and receipt of mobile communications in a first mode of operation;

computer readable program code configured to enable at least one function that is not available in the first mode of operation and prevent transmission of mobile communications in a second mode of operation; and

computer readable program code configured to activate the first mode of operation responsive to receipt of a valid authorization code in the second mode of operation.

22. A computer program product according to claim 21, further comprising:

computer readable program code configured to activate the second mode of operation responsive to receipt of a valid authorization code in the first mode of operation.

23. A computer program product according to claim 21, further comprising:

computer readable program code configured to enable receipt of mobile communications in the second mode of operation; and

computer readable program code configured to prompt a user to enter the valid authorization code responsive to receipt of a mobile communication in the second mode of operation.

24. A computer program product according to claim 21, wherein the first mode of operation comprises a communications mode, wherein the second mode of operation comprises a child entertainment/education mode, and wherein computer readable program code configured to enable at least one function comprises:

computer readable program code configured to enable a plurality of one-touch functions that are not available in the communications mode, a respective one of which is activated responsive to pressing a respective button on the mobile terminal in the child entertainment/education mode.

25. A computer program product according to claim 24, further comprising:

computer readable program code configured to alter functions of respective buttons of the mobile terminal in the child entertainment/education mode to enable the plurality of one-touch functions that are not available in the communications mode.

26. A computer program product according to claim 24, wherein the plurality of one-touch functions comprises a music function, a display function, a voice-repeating function, an alphabet function, and/or a karaoke function that are not available in the communications mode.

27. A computer program product according to claim 26, further comprising:

computer readable program code configured to activate a different respective music function, display function, voice-repeating function, alphabet function, and/or karaoke function responsive to repeatedly pressing a respective button.

28. A computer program product according to claim 21, further comprising:

computer readable program code configured to receive the valid authorization code from a keypad and/or an input screen of the mobile terminal responsive to a series of button pressed on the keypad and/or responsive to a plurality of menu items selected from a series of menus displayed on the input screen.

29. A computer program product according to claim 21, further comprising:

computer readable program code configured to prevent alteration of functions, information, and/or settings for the mobile terminal in the second mode of operation.

30. A computer program product according to claim 21, further comprising:

computer readable program code configured to enable user pre-configuring of the at least one function enabled in the second mode of operation using the first mode of operation.