MOBILE TERMINAL AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF

• US 20120295672A1
• Filed: 01/09/2012
• Published: 11/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: KIM, Jonghwan
• Granted Patent: US 9,351,256 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/573
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2745 using static electronic memories, e.g. chips
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27467 Methods of retrieving data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0261 managing power supply demand, e.g. depending on battery level
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0264 by selectively disabling software applications
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mobile terminal and control method thereof capable of managing power consumption. The mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a battery unit configured to supply power to an electronic element mounted on a terminal body, a measurement unit configured to measure a battery remaining amount for the battery unit, and a controller configured to set a battery assigned amount for the battery unit to a designated contact address, and implement a limited mode according to a result of comparing the battery remaining amount with the battery to assigned amount, and limit a function based on information on the contact addresses other than the designated contact address when the limited mode is implemented.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a battery unit configured to supply power to at least one electronic element mounted on a terminal body;

a measurement unit configured to measure a battery remaining amount of the battery unit; and

a controller configured to set a battery assigned amount for the battery unit to a designated contact address, implement a limited mode according to a comparison of the battery remaining amount to the battery assigned amount, and limit at least one function based on information on contact addresses other than the designated contact address when the limited mode is implemented.

2. The mobile terminal of claim 1, further comprising:

a communication unit configured to transmit notification information on the limited mode when the limited mode is implemented, the notification information transmitted to at least a terminal corresponding to the designated contact address, a social network service (SNS) server, or a base station.

3. The mobile terminal of claim 2, wherein the notification information comprises at least battery status information, reply information, or location information.

4. The mobile terminal of claim 3, wherein the reply information comprises at least a phone number of a calling terminal providing the notification information, contact address information corresponding to a terminal adjacent the calling terminal, an address of the SNS server or authentication information for accessing the SNS server.

5. The mobile terminal of claim 2, wherein the communication unit is further configured to receive location information of a wireless charging region when the wireless charging region is discovered in the limited mode.

6. The mobile terminal of claim 5, further comprising:

a display unit configured to display the location information of the wireless charging region received in the limited mode;

a power receiver configured to detect the wireless charging region and receive wireless power from a wireless power transmission device corresponding to the wireless charging region; and

a charging unit configured to charge the battery unit using the wireless power.

7. The mobile terminal of claim 1, further comprising:

a display unit configured to display a menu window for implementing the as least one function based on information on the designated contact address when the limited mode is implemented.

8. The mobile terminal of claim 7, wherein the display unit is further configured to display notification information on the limited mode when the limited mode is implemented.

9. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to block communication with the contact addresses other than the designated contact address when the limited mode is implemented.

10. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to allow a remote control operation requested from a terminal corresponding to the designated contact address when the limited mode is implemented.

11. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the designated contact address comprises emergency contact addresses specified by each of one or more countries.

12. The mobile terminal of claim 1, further comprising:

a first user identity module configured to store first user information; and

a second user identity module configured to store second user information,

wherein the controller is further configured to set the battery assigned amount for the battery unit to contact addresses corresponding to the first and the second user information.

13. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to generate a pop-up window inquiring whether to implement the limited mode when the battery remaining amount is less than the battery assigned amount and an application is executed.

14. The mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to maintain the execution of the application and implement the limited mode when an execution command is received via the pop-up window and the application is based on the designated contact address.

15. The mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to terminate the execution of the application and implement the limited mode when an execution command is received via the pop-up window and the application is not based on the designated contact address.

16. The mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to maintain the execution of the application and block implementation of the limited mode when a rejection command is received via the pop-up window.

17. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a battery unit configured to supply power to at least one electronic element mounted on a terminal body;

a measurement unit configured to measure a battery remaining amount for the battery unit; and

a controller configured to set a first battery assigned amount for the battery unit to a first contact address, set a second battery assigned amount for the battery unit to a second contact address, implement a limited mode according to a result of a comparison of the battery remaining amount to a reference value, select at least the first or the second contact address based on the battery remaining amount when the limited mode is implemented, and limit at least one function based on information on contact addresses other than the selected contact address when the limited mode is implemented.

18. The mobile terminal of claim 17, wherein the reference value is a sum of the first battery assigned amount and the second battery assigned amount.

19. The mobile terminal of claim 18, wherein the controller is further configured to:

select the first and second contact address when the battery remaining amount is greater than the first battery assigned amount in the limited mode; and

select the first contact address when the battery remaining amount is less than or equal to the first battery assigned amount in the limited mode.

20. The mobile terminal of claim 18, wherein the controller is further configured to:

select the second contact address when the battery remaining amount is greater than the first battery assigned amount in the limited mode; and

select the first contact address when the battery remaining amount is less than or equal to the first battery assigned amount in the limited mode.

21. The mobile terminal of claim 17, wherein the reference value is determined as the first battery assigned amount when the first battery assigned amount is greater than the second battery assigned amount.

22. The mobile terminal of claim 21, wherein the controller is further configured to:

select the first and second contact address when the battery remaining amount is greater than the second battery assigned amount in the limited mode; and

select the first contact address when the battery remaining amount is less than or equal to the second battery assigned amount in the limited mode.

23. The mobile terminal of claim 21, wherein the controller is further configured to:

select the second contact address when the battery remaining amount is greater than the second battery assigned amount in the limited mode; and

select the first contact address when the battery remaining amount is less than or equal to the second battery assigned amount in the limited mode.

24. The mobile terminal of claim 17, wherein at least the first or second contact address is a contact address group containing information on a plurality of contact addresses.

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

measuring a battery remaining amount for a battery unit;

setting a battery assigned amount for the battery unit to a designated contact address;

comparing the battery remaining amount to the battery assigned amount;

implementing a limited mode according to a result of the comparison; and

limiting at least one function based on information on contact addresses other than the designated contact address when the limited mode is implemented.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising transmitting notification information on the limited mode to at least the designated contact address, a social network service (SNS) server, or a base station when the limited mode is implemented.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising displaying a menu window for implementing the at least one function based on information on the designated contact address when the limited mode is implemented.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein limiting the at least one function comprises blocking communication with the contact addresses other than the designated contact address.

29. The mobile terminal of claim 25, further comprising:

receiving location information of a wireless charging region that is discovered in the limited mode; and

displaying the location information of the wireless charging region.

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

measuring a battery remaining amount for a battery unit;

setting a first battery assigned amount for the battery unit to a first contact address and setting a second battery assigned amount for the battery unit to a second contact address;

comparing the battery remaining amount to a reference value;

implementing a limited mode according to a result of the comparison;

selecting at least one of the first and second contact address based on the battery remaining amount when the limited mode is implemented; and

limiting at least one function based on information on contact addresses other than the selected contact address when the limited mode is implemented.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the reference value is a sum of the first and second battery assigned amount.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein limiting the at least one function comprises:

selecting the first and the second contact address when the battery remaining amount is greater than the first battery assigned amount; and

selecting the first contact address when the battery remaining amount is less than or equal to the first battery assigned amount.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein limiting the at least one function comprises:

selecting the second contact address when the battery remaining amount is greater than the first battery assigned amount; and

selecting the first contact address when the battery remaining amount is less than or equal to the first battery assigned amount.

34. The method of claim 31, further comprising determining the reference value as the first battery assigned amount when the first battery assigned amount is greater than the second battery assigned amount.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein limiting the at least one function comprises:

selecting the first and the second contact address when the battery remaining amount is greater than the second battery assigned amount; and

selecting the first contact address when the battery remaining amount is less than or equal to the second battery assigned amount.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein limiting the at least one function comprises:

selecting the second contact address when the battery remaining amount is greater than the second battery assigned amount; and

selecting the first contact address when the battery remaining amount is less than or equal to the second battery assigned amount.