Apparatus and method for performing power saving control of mobile terminal

• US 7,194,248 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2004
• Issued: 03/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Jong-Seok
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; CongVan
• Application Number:
  US10/951,210
• Publication Number:
  US 20050070339A1
• Time in Patent Office: 904 Days
• Field of Search: 455/343.1, 455/343.5, 455/343.6, 455/572, 455/574, 455/127.1, 455/127.5
• US Class Current: 455/343.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• 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

Disclosed is an apparatus and method for performing power saving control of a mobile terminal, which includes a battery capacity measurement unit, an input unit, a memory and a controller. Using the input unit, the user specifies a power saving mode type of the terminal and sets a power saving mode and power saving mode items corresponding to the specified power saving mode type. The memory stores information of the set power saving mode and the set power saving mode items in association with the specified power saving mode type. The controller performs power saving control corresponding to the set power saving mode items if battery capacity measured by the measurement unit is less than or equal to a preset battery capacity. The user can actively select how the terminal performs the power saving control, in their desired manners according to the remaining battery capacity.

Claims

1. An apparatus for performing a power saving control of a mobile terminal, comprising:

a battery capacity measurement unit for measuring battery capacity of a battery of the mobile terminal;

an input unit for specifying a power saving mode type of the mobile terminal, and setting a power saving mode and power saving mode items corresponding to the specified power saving mode type;

a memory for storing information of the set power saving mode and the set power saving mode items in association with the specified power saving mode type; and

a controller for performing power saving control corresponding to the set power saving mode items if the battery capacity measured by the battery capacity measurement unit is less than or equal to a battery capacity set in the power saving mode.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power saving mode items include alarm, incoming/outgoing calls, keypad LED, incoming/outgoing SMS messages, SMS notification method, LCD and backlight items.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the alarm item is used to set an alarm to be activated or deactivated during a power saving mode and to set a duration of the alarm if the alarm is activated.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the incoming/outgoing calls item is used to bar at least one of incoming and outgoing wireless signals during a power saving mode.

5. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the keypad LED item is used to set a keypad LED to be one of constantly off and turned on only when a key is pressed during a power saving mode.

6. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the incoming/outgoing SMS messages item is used to bar at least one of incoming and outgoing SMS messages during a power saving mode.

7. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the SMS notification method item is used to set a method for notifying a user of receipt of an SMS message during a power saving mode to one of vibrating and ringing.

8. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the LCD item is used to set an LCD to be turned on or off during a power saving mode.

9. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the backlight item is used to set a backlight to be turned on or off during a power saving mode.

10. A method for performing power saving control of a mobile terminal, comprising the steps of:

specifying a power saving mode type upon request of a user to specify the power saving mode type;

setting a power saving mode condition corresponding to the specified power saving mode type;

setting power saving mode items corresponding to the specified power saving mode type;

measuring battery capacity of a battery of the mobile terminal; and

performing power saving control corresponding to the set power saving mode items if the battery capacity measured by the battery capacity measurement unit is less than or equal to a battery set in the power saving mode.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the power saving mode items include alarm, incoming/outgoing calls, keypad LED, incoming/outgoing SMS messages, SMS notification method, LCD and backlight items.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the alarm item is used to set an alarm to be activated or deactivated during a power saving mode and to set a duration of the alarm if the alarm is activated.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the incoming/outgoing calls item is used to bar at least one incoming and outgoing wireless signals during a power saving mode.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the keypad LED item is used to set a keypad LED to be constantly off or turned on only when a key is pressed during a power saving mode.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the incoming/outgoing SMS messages item is used to bar at least one of incoming and outgoing SMS messages during a power saving mode.

16. The method according to claim 11, wherein the SMS notification method item is used to set a method for notifying a user of receipt of an SMS message during a power saving mode to one of vibrating and ringing.

17. The method according to claim 11, wherein the LCD item is used to set an LCD to be turned on or off during a power saving mode.

18. The method according to claim 11, wherein the backlight item is used to set a backlight to be turned on or off during a power saving mode.