MOBILE TERMINAL WITH PROGRAMMABLE REDUCED FUNCTIONALITY
First Claim
1. A method for reducing functionality of a mobile terminal (500), the method comprising:
- monitoring a speed of a mobile terminal (502);
determining that the speed of the mobile terminal exceeds a predetermined threshold (504) and reducing the functionality of the mobile terminal until the speed falls below the predetermined threshold (506); and
determining that the speed of the mobile terminal does not exceed the predetermined threshold (504) and continuing to monitor the speed of the mobile terminal without reducing the functionality of the mobile terminal (508).
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Accused Products
Abstract
An application is provided that runs on a mobile terminal (MT) that reduces the functionality of the MT while the holder or user of the MT, such as a relatively inexperienced driver, is aboard a moving vehicle. According to a further aspect of the embodiments the application substantially prevents cellular phone use of the MT by school students while on school premises, or some other geographical limitation (such as in a religious institution, government building, among others). According to a further aspect of the embodiments the application substantially prevents illicit tracking of a cell phone owned or otherwise operated by a person, such as a covert operator or an anti-terrorist official, whose movements should not be illicitly monitored. According to further aspects of the embodiments the application substantially ensures that in the event a user enters an emergency number into the MT the user is then able to use the MT even if the MT was previously shut down or its functionality reduced in line with different aspects of the embodiments.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for reducing functionality of a mobile terminal (500), the method comprising:
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monitoring a speed of a mobile terminal (502); determining that the speed of the mobile terminal exceeds a predetermined threshold (504) and reducing the functionality of the mobile terminal until the speed falls below the predetermined threshold (506); and determining that the speed of the mobile terminal does not exceed the predetermined threshold (504) and continuing to monitor the speed of the mobile terminal without reducing the functionality of the mobile terminal (508). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for reducing functionality of a mobile terminal (600), the method comprising:
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determining a location of the mobile terminal (608); and reducing the functionality of the mobile terminal if the location of the mobile terminal matches that of a predetermined list of locations wherein usage of the mobile terminal is substantially prohibited. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A method for reducing functionality of a mobile terminal (700), the method comprising:
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monitoring a speed of a mobile terminal (702); determining that the mobile terminal is operated by a protected person (704); and continuing to monitor the speed of the mobile terminal and reducing a position determining functionality of the mobile terminal (706). - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A method for alleviating a reduction in functionality of a mobile terminal (800), the method comprising:
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reducing the functionality of the mobile terminal; checking one or more keystrokes entered by a user of the mobile terminal (802); determining that an emergency number has been dialed by comparing the entered keystrokes to a plurality of stored emergency numbers (804); and returning full functionality to the mobile terminal upon the determination that the entered keystrokes are that of a stored emergency number (806). - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A method for reducing functionality of a mobile terminal (900), the method comprising:
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monitoring a speed and location of a mobile terminal (902); determining that the speed of the mobile terminal indicates that the mobile terminal is aboard a moving vehicle (904); obtaining a list of regulations governing usage of the mobile terminal while aboard a moving vehicle (908) at the location of the moving vehicle; determining that the mobile terminal is in a location that prohibits usage of the mobile terminal while aboard the moving vehicle (910); and reducing the functionality of the mobile terminal (912). - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A reduced functionality charging apparatus (1300) for a mobile terminal (100) comprising:
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a cable and connector (1304) adapted to connect the charging apparatus to a direct current source for charging the mobile terminal; a case (1308) adapted to retain and hold within itself the mobile terminal and to provide interconnections to provide for charging of the mobile terminal; and a cover (1306) adapted to be controlled by a circuit (1316) to substantially cover and prevent access to the mobile terminal, and wherein the circuit is adapted to close the cover upon determining that the mobile terminal is at least one of (a) moving on board a vehicle, and (b) charging.
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20. The reduced functionality charging apparatus further comprising:
a connected adapted to plug directly into the direct current source without an intervening cable (1302) for charging the mobile terminal.
Specification