Intelligent cellular telephone function

• US 6,317,593 B1
• Filed: 08/12/1996
• Issued: 11/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Vossler, Stephen P.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEGREE, TRACY MICHELLE
• Application Number:
  US08/695,925
• Time in Patent Office: 1,919 Days
• Field of Search: 455/422, 455/425, 455/550, 455/552, 455/417, 455/409, 455/405, 455/556, 455/567, 455/418, 455/414, 455/574, 379/215, 379/211, 379/199
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/045 Call privacy arrangements, e.g. timely inhibiting the ring signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• 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: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A programmable cellular telephone activates selected functions based on a user modifiable schedule, The user stores schedule information in a schedule table for automatic function activation/deactivation. A controller controls all cellular telephone functions, and comprises a memory and a clock. The controller also comprises an automatic scheduler which activates and deactivates cellular telephone functions according to the entries in the schedule table. Cellular telephone functions are activated and deactivated either manually or when the automatic scheduler is enabled and the real time corresponds with the scheduled time in the schedule table. By using the scheduler, a user can select time periods when calls are receivable without having to remember to turn on the cellular phone, extending battery life and minimizing unwanted interruptions.

Claims

1. A programmable cellular telephone, comprising:

communication circuitry for sending and receiving telephonic signals; and

a controller for controlling the cellular telephone coupled to the communication circuitry, wherein the controller enables and disables at least one selected function of the communication circuitry in accordance with a schedule specifying an absolute time set by a user of the celluar telephone to enable or disable the at least one selected function, wherein the at least one selected function is contained in an activation schedule table having a plurality of functional codes that represent cellular telephone features.

2. The cellular telephone of claim 1, further comprising user interface circuitry coupled to the controller, and wherein the controller further enables and disables selected functions of the user interface circuitry.

3. The cellular telephone of claim 2, wherein the user interface further comprises an output interface, the output interface comprising a display of a status of the cellular telephone.

4. The cellular telephone of claim 3, wherein the schedule comprises a plurality of events ordered by time, and the output interface further comprises a display of an event which is next in chronological order in the plurality of events.

5. The cellular telephone of claim 1, wherein the controller enables and disables complete operation of the communication circuitry.

6. The cellular telephone of claim 1, wherein the controller further comprises a memory device coupled to the circuitry for storing the schedule.

7. The cellular telephone of claim 6, wherein the user interface circuitry comprises an input interface for modifying the schedule stored in the memory.

8. The cellular telephone of claim 1, wherein the user interface further comprises a user-activated switch coupled to the controller for enabling and disabling the schedule.

9. The cellular telephone of claim 1, wherein the controller further comprises a real-time clock, and wherein the real-time clock issues one or more interrupts according to the schedule.

10. The cellular telephone of claim 9, wherein the controller displays a message on the output interface in response to the one or more interrupts.

11. The cellular telephone of claim 9, wherein the controller sounds an audible alarm in response to the one or more interrupts.

12. The cellular telephone of claim 1, wherein the at least one selected function is selected from a group consisting of power switching between the communication circuitry and a power source, call timing, automatic shut off, automatic call answering, call forwarding, call waiting, and alarm functions.

13. The cellular telephone of claim 12, wherein multiple functions from the group are selected, and enabled and disabled by the controller.

14. A method of internally controlling cellular telephone functions, the cellular telephone comprising a power switch and a controller, the controller comprising a clock and a memory, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a clock signal representative of time;

providing an activation schedule table comprising a plurality of functional codes that represent cellular telephone functions to be enabled or disabled and an associated absolute time when each telephone function is to be enabled or disabled;

comparing the clock signal with the activation schedule table; and

enabling or disabling selected functions based on the comparison of the clock signal with the activation schedule table.

15. The method of controlling cellular telephone functions of claim 14, and further comprising the step of revising the schedule using a user interface.

16. The method of controlling cellular telephone functions of claim 14, wherein the step of enabling or disabling selected functions is deferred when the cellular telephone is actively sending or receiving telephonic signals.

17. The method of controlling cellular telephone functions of claim 14, wherein the step of enabling or disabling selected functions is enabled or disabled by a user-activated switch.

18. A programmable cellular telephone, comprising:

an activation schedule table having a plurality of functional codes that represent cellular telephone features,

a controller for controlling the cellular telephone enclosing the activation schedule table, wherein the controller enables and disables one or more of the plurality of functional codes in accordance with a schedule specifying an absolute time set by a user of the cellular telephone.

19. The programmable cellular telephone as in claim 18, wherein the activation schedule table has the functional codes for receiving a cellular telephone call.

20. The programmable cellular telephone as in claim 18, wherein the controller controls the cellular telephone availability for purposes of minimizing unwanted interruptions and extending battery life.

21. The programmable cellular telephone as in claim 18, wherein the controller controls the cellular telephone availability by disabling less than all of the cellular telephone'"'"'s functions at one time.

22. The programmable cellular telephone as in claim 18, wherein the controller controls the cellular telephone availability, wherein one function that remains enabled even though other functions are disabled is that of a call out function.