Method of maintaining or terminating data communication in a flip type mobile phone

• US 6,567,672 B1
• Filed: 09/24/1999
• Issued: 05/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Park, Sang-Whan, Kim, Hee-Bong
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Lester G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ward, Ronald J.
• Application Number:
  US09/405,332
• Time in Patent Office: 1,334 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 455/556, 455/557, 455/558, 455/569, 455/574, 455/343, 455/550, 455/575, 455/90
• US Class Current: 455/550.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0245 using open/close detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10

Abstract

A flip type or folder type mobile phone for wireless communication with a base station, which includes a movable part so as to define an open or closed position and an opening/closing sensor for generating an open or close signal according to the open or closed position, the opening/closing sensor being enabled or disabled by an enable or disable signal, whereby the mobile phone terminates a communication channel according to said open or close signal. A communication method is also disclosed and includes the steps of establishing a communication channel between the mobile phone and the base station; and generating a disable signal during data communication to disable the opening/closing sensor from generating the close signal thereby maintaining the communication channel.

Claims

1. In a mobile phone for wireless communication, said mobile phone including a movable part so as to define an open or closed position, and an opening/closing sensor for generating an open or close signal according to said open or closed position, said opening/closing sensor being enabled or disabled by an enable or disable signal, such that said mobile phone terminates a communication channel upon detection of said close signal, a communication method comprising the steps of:

determining if said communication comprises data communication; and

generating said disable signal during said data communication to disable said opening/closing sensor to prevent said sensor from generating said close signal, thereby maintaining said communication channel.

2. The communication method as defined in claim 1, including a further step of generating an alarm message when said data communication is completed.

3. The communication method as defined in claim 1, including a further step of terminating said communication channel when input of key data is not detected within a given time after completing said data communication.

4. The communication method of claim 1, further comprising the step of generating said enable signal during a voice communication, to enable said opening/closing sensor to generate said close signal, thereby terminating said communication channel depending on the open or close signal.

5. In a mobile phone for wireless communication, said mobile phone including a movable part so as to define an open or closed position, and an opening/closing sensor for generating an open or close signal according to said open or closed position, a communication method comprising the step of:

maintaining a communication channel during a data communication when said close signal is generated; and

terminating said communication channel when said close signal is generated during a voice communication.

6. The communication method as defined in claim 5, including a further step of terminating said communication channel when said open and close signals are repeatedly generated or when an end key data is inputted.

7. The communication method as defined in claim 5, including a further step of generating an alarm message when said data communication is completed.

8. The communication method as defined in claim 7, including a further step of terminating said communication channel when said open and close signals are repeatedly generated or an end key data is inputted after generating said alarm message.

9. A communication method as defined in claim 5, including a further step of terminating said communication channel when a positional change data corresponding to the position of the movable part of the mobile phone or a key data are not inputted within a given time after completion of said data communication.

10. A mobile phone comprising:

a movable part capable of being positioned so as for the mobile phone to be in an open or close position;

a sensor for generating an open or close signal according to the open or close position, whereby a communication channel is terminated depending upon the open or close signal; and

a controller for determining whether an established communication represents a data communication, the controller generating a disable signal during the data communication to disable the sensor from generating said close signal, thereby maintaining said communication channel.

11. The mobile phone of claim 10, wherein the controller generates an enable signal during a voice communication, thereby terminating the communication channel upon detection of the close signal.

12. The mobile phone of claim 10, wherein the controller further generates an alarm message upon completion of the data communication.

13. The mobile phone of claim 10, wherein the controller terminates the communication channel when a key data is not detected within a given time after completion of the data communication.

14. A flip type or folder type mobile phone comprising:

a movable part capable of being positioned so as for the mobile phone to be in an open or close position;

a sensor for generating an open or close signal according to the open or close position of the movable part of the mobile phone; and

a controller for determining whether an established communication represents a data communication and for maintaining a communication channel during the data communication regardless of the open or close position of said movable part;

wherein the controller terminates the communication channel during a voice communication upon detection of the close signal.

15. The mobile phone of claim 14, wherein the controller terminates the communication channel when the open or close signals are repeatedly generated or when an end key data is inputted.

16. The mobile phone of claim 14, wherein the controller generates an alarm message upon completion of the data communication.

17. The mobile phone of claim 14, wherein the controller terminates the communication channel when a key data or a positional change data corresponding to the position of the movable part of the mobile phone is not inputted within a given time after completion of the data communication.