Method of controlling a communication terminal having a plurality of functions, communication terminal apparatus, communication control system

• US 7,130,631 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2005
• Issued: 10/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Okazaki, Shinji, Matsuno, Koichi, Hino, Ichiro, Takagaki, Hirokazu, Hirota, Katsumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Ferguson, Keith
• Application Number:
  US11/093,784
• Publication Number:
  US 20050170822A1
• Time in Patent Office: 581 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412.1, 455/412.2, 455/414.1, 455/414.2, 455/414.3, 455/426.1, 455/426.2, 455/432.1, 455/432.3, 455/433, 455/435.1, 455/435.2, 455/435.3, 455/550.1, 455/403, 455/422.1, 455/556.1, 455/557, 455/569.1, 455/575.1, 455/575.2, 455/90.1, 455/90.3, 455/410, 455/411, 455/517, 455/563, 379/433.01, 379/428.01, 379/430
• US Class Current: 455/435.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/47 Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0148 Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0264 by selectively disabling software applications
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

When a radio communication is made between a predetermined base station and a communication terminal, the communication terminal is allowed to make a communication if a predetermined registration processing is made. If the above registration processing is not executed, then predetermined functions other than a communication function of the communication terminal are limited. Moreover, when a predetermined operation mode is set by an operation means, at least a transmission processing at a radio communication means is stopped and an execution of predetermined functions other than the radio communication processing is not restricted. Thus, when a communication terminal apparatus incorporates therein other functions than an audio reproducing function, operation of such function can be limited properly. Moreover, when other functions such as an audio reproducing function are incorporated into a communication terminal apparatus, operations of the functions thus incorporated can be limited properly and the communication functions can be stopped properly.

Claims

1. A communication system in which a predetermined base station and a communication terminal communicate with each other by a method utilizing radio waves, said method comprising the steps of:

permitting said communication terminal to communicate when a registration processing is executed;

limiting a predetermined function other than said communication at said communication terminal when said registration processing is not executed, wherein said registration processing is comprised of receiving and registering controlling data transmitted from said predetermined base station, and said registration processing further comprises registering data identifying said communication terminal on a communication management center connected to said predetermined base station, and

data for limiting said predetermined function at said communication terminal is transmitted when identification data transmitted from said communication terminal is identification data that is not registered on said communication management center; and

displaying a message to a user of the communication terminal that an audio function comprising said predetermined function is not available when said identification data is not registered.