Method for setting timer of cellular phone

• US 6,522,893 B1
• Filed: 11/01/1999
• Issued: 02/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kang, Sang-ug, Han, Sung-hoo
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): CONTEE, JOY KIMBERLY
• Application Number:
  US09/431,170
• Time in Patent Office: 1,205 Days
• Field of Search: 455/566, 455/575, 455/550, 455/90, 455/424, 379/419
• US Class Current: 455/550.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6016 in the receiver circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones

Abstract

A method for setting the timer of a mobile telephone and a mobile telephone employing the method wherein a volume control button is used to control both a timer setting operation of the mobile telephone as well as the volume of the mobile telephone. When the volume control button is pressed on the mobile telephone, it is determined whether a predetermined amount of time has passed before the volume control button is then released. If the volume control button is held down for at least the predetermined amount of time, the mobile telephone enters a timer setting mode in which a time is entered for activating an alarm. If, on the other hand, the volume control button is pressed and released before the predetermined amount of time has passed, the mobile telephone enters a volume control mode in which the relative strength of the audible signals is controlled.

Claims

1. A method for setting an alarm of a cellular phone by which a user can set an alarm to be given at a determined time, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) checking whether a volume control button has been pressed;

(b) maintaining a stand-by state if it is not confirmed that the volume control button has been pressed in step (a) and then checking whether the volume control button has been released if it is confirmed that the volume control button has been pressed in step (a);

(c) controlling a volume of the cellular phone if it is confirmed that the volume control button has been released in step (b) and checking whether a first predetermined period of time has passed if it is confirmed that the volume control button has not been released in step (b);

(d) performing step (b) again if it is confirmed that the first predetermined period of time has not passed in step (c); and

(e) displaying an indication of a timer setting mode on a display and starting to set the timer if it is confirmed that the first predetermined period of time has passed in step (c).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (e) comprises the steps of:

(e-1) checking whether the volume control button is pressed;

(e-2) maintaining a stand-by state if it is confirmed that the volume control button has not been pressed in step (e-1) and checking whether the volume control button has been released if it is confirmed that the volume control button is pressed;

(e-3) setting a low speed timer if it is confirmed that the volume control button has been released in step (e-2);

(e-4) checking whether a second predetermined period of time has passed if it is confirmed that the volume control button has not been released in step (e-2);

(e-5) performing step (e-2) if it is confirmed that the second predetermined period of time has not passed in step (e-4);

(e-6) checking whether the volume control button has been released if it is confirmed that the second predetermined time has passed in step (e-4);

(e-7) setting a high speed timer if it is confirmed that the volume control button has not been released in step (e-6);

(e-8) checking whether a third predetermined period of time has passed if it is confirmed that the volume control button has been released in step (e-6);

(e-9) completing the setting of the timer if the third predetermined period of time has passed in step (e-8);

(e-10) checking whether the volume control button has been pressed if the third predetermined period of time has not passed in step (e-8); and

(e-11) performing step (e-8) if it is confirmed that the volume control button has not been released in step (e-10) and performing step (e-6) again if it is confirmed that the volume control button has been pressed in step (e-10).

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a key scan algorithm used in a microcomputer system including a keyboard is applied to check whether the volume control button has been pressed in step (a).

4. A computer readable recording medium in which a program code is stored for performing a method for setting an alarm of a cellular phone by which a user sets the alarm to sound at a desired time, wherein the program code performs the steps of:

(a) checking whether a volume control button has been pressed;

(b) maintaining a stand-by state if it is not confirmed that the volume control button has been pressed in step (a) and then checking whether the volume control button has been released if it is confirmed that the volume control button has been pressed in step (a);

(c) controlling a volume of the cellular phone if it is confirmed that the volume control button has been released in step (b) and checking whether a first predetermined period of time has passed if it is confirmed that the volume control button has not been released in step (b);

(d) performing step (b) again if it is confirmed that the first predetermined time has not passed in step (c); and

(e) displaying an indication of a timer setting mode on a displaying means and starting to set the timer if it is confirmed that the first predetermined period of time has passed in step (c).

5. A cellular phone comprising:

an alarm device that provides an alarm at a given alarm time provided by a user of the cellular phone;

an alarm timer that triggers said alarm device to provide an alarm upon expiration of said alarm time;

a volume control button for controlling a volume of said cellular phone and for controlling said alarm time provided by said user;

wherein said alarm time is input to said alarm timer by said user using said volume control button.

6. A cellular phone in accordance with claim 5 further comprising a control device wherein said control device continuously determines if said volume control button has been pressed and allows for a volume control operation to be performed if said volume control button has been pressed and released, and repeatedly checks if a first predetermined period of time has passed if said volume control button has been pressed but not released and displaying an indication of a timer setting mode on a display and allowing an alarm timer setting mode to begin if said first predetermined period of time has passed.