CONTROLLING THE COMMUNICATION MODE IN A MOBILE COMMUNICATION TERMINAL

• US 20070058580A1
• Filed: 09/13/2006
• Published: 03/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Chae, Hong-Chul
• Granted Patent: US 7,640,012 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0241 where no transmission is received, e.g. out of range of the transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0248 dependent on the time of the day, e.g. according to expected transmission activity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0258 controlling an operation mode according to history or models of usage information, e.g. activity schedule or time of day
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/028 switching on or off only a part of the equipment circuit blocks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A mobile communication terninal comprising an interface for allowing scheduling of a first time period; a timer for monitoring a beginning and an end for the first time period; and a controller for switching the mobile communication terminal to a first mode, at the beginning of the first time period, and for switching the mobile communication terminal to a second mode at the end of the first time period, wherein in the first mode, the mobile communication terminal cannot communicate over a mobile communication network.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a communication mode of a mobile communication terminal, the method comprising:

receiving a deactivation time for deactivating the communication mode of the mobile communication terminal;

receiving a reactivation time for reactivating the communication mode; and

deactivating the communication mode, in response to detecting the deactivation time,

wherein a user can use features of the mobile communication terminal that are unrelated to the communication mode, when the communication mode is deactivated.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

reactivating the communication mode, in response to detecting the reactivation time.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein when the communication mode is deactivated, the mobile communication terminal cannot communicate over a mobile communication network.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein reactivating the communication mode is delayed, where mobile communication service is unavailable.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the mobile communication terminal is configured to determine whether the mobile communication service is available by scanning a predetermined communication channel.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the predetermined communication channel is at least one of a pilot channel and a synchronization channel in a CDMA based mobile communication network.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein when the communication mode is deactivated, the mobile communication terminal cannot be used for voice communication.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein when the communication mode is deactivated, the mobile communication terminal cannot be used for data communication.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the reactivation time and the deactivation time can be updated.

10. A method of controlling a communication mode of a mobile communication terminal, the method comprising:

scheduling a first time period during which the mobile communication terminal switches to a first mode, wherein in the first mode the mobile communication terminal can partially communicate over a mobile communication network, and

wherein in the first mode, the non-communication related features of the mobile communication terminal remain available to a user.

11. The method of claim 11, wherein after the first time period expires the mobile communication terminal switches to a second mode from the first mode, wherein in the second mode the mobile communication terminal can communicate over the mobile communication network.

12. The method of claim 12, wherein after the first time period expires the mobile communication terminal remains in the first mode until the mobile communication terminal detects that mobile communication service is available.

13. A mobile communication terminal comprising:

an interface for allowing scheduling of a first time period;

a timer for monitoring a beginning and an end for the first time period; and

a controller for switching the mobile communication terminal to a first mode, at the beginning of the first time period, and for switching the mobile communication terminal to a second mode at the end of the first time period,

wherein in the first mode, the mobile communication terminal cannot communicate over a mobile communication network.

14. The mobile communication terminal of claim 13, wherein the controller comprises first and second controllers, wherein the first controller controls at least one of a receiver and a transmitter of the mobile communication terminal, such that at least one of the receiver and the transmitter is deactivated in the first mode.

15. The mobile communication terminal of claim 14, wherein the controller further comprises a third controller for determining whether the mobile communication terminal is in a service area, and for maintaining at least one of the receiver and the transmitter in deactivated state when the mobile communication terminal switches to the second state, if at the end of the first time period the mobile communication terminal is not in a service area.

16. The mobile communication terminal of claim 13, wherein in the second mode, the mobile communication terminal can communicate over a mobile communication network.

17. The mobile communication terminal of claim 13, wherein in the first mode, the non-communication related features of the mobile communication terminal are usable.

18. The mobile communication terminal of claim 13, wherein at the end of the first time period, the mobile communication terminal remains in the first mode until the mobile communication terminal detects that mobile communication service is available.

19. The mobile communication terminal of claim 18, wherein the mobile communication terminal is configured to determine whether the mobile communication service is available by scanning a predetermined communication channel.

20. The mobile communication terminal of claim 19, wherein the predetermined communication channel is at least one of a pilot channel and a synchronization channel in a CDMA based mobile communication network.

21. A system for controlling a communication mode of a mobile communication terminal, the system comprising:

a logic unit for receiving a deactivation time for deactivating the communication mode of the mobile communication terminal;

a logic unit for receiving a reactivation time for reactivating the communication mode; and

a logic unit for deactivating the communication mode, in response to detecting the deactivation time,

wherein a user can use features of the mobile communication terminal that are unrelated to the communication mode, when the communication mode is deactivated.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

a logic unit for reactivating the communication mode, in response to detecting the reactivation time.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein when the communication mode is deactivated, the mobile communication terminal cannot communicate over a mobile communication network.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the reactivation of the communication mode is delayed, where mobile communication service is unavailable.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the mobile communication terminal is configured to determine whether the mobile communication service is available by scanning a predetermined communication channel.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the predetermined communication channel is at least one of a pilot channel and a synchronization channel in a CDMA based mobile comnunication network.

27. The system of claim 21, wherein when the communication mode is deactivated, the mobile communication terminal cannot be used for voice communication.

28. The system of claim 21, wherein when the communication mode is deactivated, the mobile communication terminal cannot be used for data communication.

29. The system of claim 21, wherein at least one of the reactivation time and the deactivation time can be updated.

30. A system for controlling a communication mode of a mobile communication terminal, the system comprising:

means for scheduling a first time period during which the mobile communication terminal switches to a first mode,

wherein in the first mode the mobile communication terminal cannot communicate over a mobile communication network,

wherein in the first mode, the non-communication related features of the mobile communication terminal remain available to a user,

wherein after the first time period expires the mobile communication terminal switches to a second mode from the first mode, and

wherein in the second mode the mobile communication terminal can communicate over the mobile communication network.