Systems and Methods for Remotely Enabling and Disabling Non-Voice-Related Functions on Portable Communication Devices

• US 20080009296A1
• Filed: 07/10/2006
• Published: 01/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sam S. Han
• Original Assignee: Sam S. Han
• Inventors: Han, Sam S.
• Application Number:
  US11/456,439
• Publication Number:
  US 20080009296A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.4
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

Systems and methods for remotely enabling and disabling non-voice-related functions on portable communication devices are disclosed. Some embodiments include a portable communication device that is capable of notification functions, voice-related functions, and non-voice-related functions. The portable communication device comprises a receiver and a software switch. The receiver is configured to receive an externally-originating signal, and the software switch is configured to substantially disable a non-voice-related function of the portable communication device in response to the externally-originating signal.

Claims

1. In a conventional communication device capable of notification functions, voice-related functions, and non-voice-related functions, the conventional communication device having a software switch, a method wherein the improvement comprises the steps of:

receiving an externally-originating signal; and

disabling a non-voice-related function in response to receiving the externally-originating signal.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising the step of disabling the non-voice-related function without disabling the voice-related functions.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising the step of disabling the non-voice-related function without disabling the notification functions.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising the step of disabling a notification function related to the disabled non-voice-related function.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the non-voice-related function is a visual function.

6. A system comprising:

a portable communication device capable of voice-related functions, the portable communication device further being capable of notification functions, the portable communication device further being capable of non-voice-related functions;

a receiver operatively coupled to the portable communication device, the receiver being configured to receive an externally-originating signal; and

a software switch operatively coupled to the receiver, the software switch being configured to disable a non-voice-related function of the portable communication device in response to the externally-originating signal.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the software switch is further configured to disable the non-voice-related function without disabling the voice-related functions.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the software switch is further configured to disable the non-voice-related function without disabling the notification functions.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the software switch is further configured to disable a notification function related to the disabled non-voice-related function.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the software switch comprises means for disabling a notification function related to the disabled non-voice-related function.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the software switch is further configured to enable the disabled non-voice-related function in response to a different externally-originating signal.

12. The system of claim 6, wherein the software switch is further configured to enable the disabled non-voice-related function after a predetermined time interval.

13. A method comprising the steps of:

receiving an externally-originating signal at a portable communication device, the portable communication device permitting voice-related functions, the portable communication device further permitting non-voice-related functions, the portable communication device further permitting notification functions; and

disabling a non-voice-related function in response to receiving the externally-originating signal.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of:

enabling the non-voice-related function in response to receiving a different externally-originating signal.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of:

enabling, after a predetermined period of time period, the non-voice-related function in response to not receiving another externally-originating signal within the predetermined time period.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the disabling step further comprises the step of disabling the non-voice-related functions without disabling the voice-related functions.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the disabling step further comprises the step of disabling the non-voice-related functions without disabling the notification functions.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of disabling a notification function associated with the disabled non-voice-related function.