Methods, devices, and computer program products for providing multiple operational modes in a mobile terminal

• US 7,546,130 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2005
• Issued: 06/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Vance, Scott L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chen; Junpeng
• Application Number:
  US11/084,898
• Publication Number:
  US 20060211412A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,541 Days
• Field of Search: 455/411, 455/415, 455/418, 455/567, 455/461, 455/550.1, 455/463, 455/563, 379/551, 379/93.3, 379/903, 379/93.03, 715/741, 715/733, 709/203, 434/350
• US Class Current: 455/463
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/673 the user being required to key in a code
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/37 Managing security policies for mobile devices or for controlling mobile applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/903 Password

Abstract

A method of operating a mobile terminal includes receiving mobile communications and transmitting mobile communications in a first mode of operation, and enabling at least one function that is not available in the first mode of operation while preventing transmission of mobile communications in a second mode of operation. The first mode of operation is activated responsive to receiving a valid authorization code in the second mode of operation. Related devices and computer program products are also discussed.

Claims

1. A method of operating a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

receiving mobile communications and transmitting mobile communications in a first mode of operation;

enabling at least one child entertainment/education function that is not available in the first mode of operation and preventing transmission of mobile communications in a second mode of operation;

receiving a mobile communication in the second mode of operation;

prompting a user to enter a valid authorization code responsive to receiving the mobile communication in the second mode of operation; and

activating the first mode of operation responsive to receiving the valid authorization code in the second mode of operation.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the valid authorization code comprises a first valid authorization code, and further comprising:

activating the second mode of operation responsive to receiving a second valid authorization code in the first mode of operation.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein enabling the at least one child entertainment/education function comprises:

enabling a plurality of one-touch functions that are not available in the first mode of operation, a respective one of which is activated responsive to pressing a respective button on the mobile terminal in the second mode of operation,

wherein the first mode of operation comprises a communications mode, and wherein the second mode of operation comprises a child entertainment/education mode.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising:

altering functions of respective buttons of the mobile terminal in the child entertainment/education mode to enable the plurality of one-touch functions that are not available in the communications mode.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of one-touch functions comprises a music function, a display function, a voice-repeating function, an alphabet function, and/or a karaoke function that are not available in the communications mode.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

activating a different respective music function, display function, voice-repeating function, alphabet function, and/or karaoke function responsive to repeatedly pressing a respective button.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein receiving the valid authorization code comprises:

receiving the valid authorization code from a keypad and/or an input screen of the mobile terminal responsive to pressing a series of buttons on the keypad and/or responsive to selecting a plurality of menu items from a series of menus displayed on the input screen.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

preventing alteration of information and/or settings for the mobile terminal in the second mode of operation.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

pre-configuring the at least one child entertainment/education function enabled in the second mode of operation using the first mode of operation.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein preventing transmission of mobile communications in the second mode of operation comprises disabling a transmitter of the mobile terminal in the second mode of operation.

11. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive mobile communications at the mobile terminal;

a transmitter configured to transmit mobile communications from the mobile terminal; and

a mode-selection circuit configured to provide a first mode of operation to receive and transmit mobile communications and a second mode of operation to enable at least one child entertainment/education function not available in the first mode of operation and to prevent transmission of mobile communications,

wherein the mode-selection circuit is configured to enable receipt of mobile communications in the second mode of operation, prompt a user to enter a valid authorization code responsive to receipt of a mobile communication in the second mode of operation, and activate the first mode of operation responsive to receipt of the valid authorization code in the second mode of operation.

12. The mobile terminal according to claim 11, wherein the valid authorization code comprises a first valid authorization code, and wherein the mode-selection circuit is further configured to activate the second mode of operation responsive to receipt of a second valid authorization code in the first mode of operation.

13. The mobile terminal according to claim 11, wherein the first mode of operation comprises a communications mode, wherein the second mode of operation comprises a child entertainment/education mode, and wherein the mode-selection circuit is configured to enable a plurality of one-touch functions in the child entertainment/education mode that are not available in the communications mode of operation, a respective one of which is activated responsive to pressing a respective button on the mobile terminal.

14. The mobile terminal according to claim 13, wherein the mode-selection circuit is configured to alter functions of respective buttons of the mobile terminal in the child entertainment/education mode to enable the plurality of one-touch functions that are not available in the communications mode.

15. The mobile terminal according to claim 13, wherein the plurality of one-touch functions comprises a music function, a display function, a voice-repeating function, an alphabet function, and/or a karaoke function that are not available in the communications mode.

16. The mobile terminal according to claim 15, wherein the mode-selection circuit is further configured to activate a different respective music function, display function, voice-repeating function, alphabet function, and/or karaoke function responsive to repeatedly pressing a respective button.

17. The mobile terminal according to claim 11, further comprising:

a keypad including a plurality of buttons coupled to the mode-selection circuit; and

an input screen coupled to the mode selection circuit,

wherein the mode-selection circuit is configured to receive the authorization code from the keypad and/or the input screen of the mobile terminal responsive to a series of buttons pressed on the keypad and/or responsive to a plurality of menu items selected from a series of menus displayed on the input screen.

18. The mobile terminal according to claim 11, wherein the mode-selection circuit is further configured to prevent alteration of information and/or settings for the mobile terminal in the second mode of operation.

19. The mobile terminal according to claim 11, wherein the mode-selection circuit is configured to enable user pre-configuration of the at least one child entertainment/education function enabled in the second mode of operation in the first mode of operation.

20. The device according to claim 11, wherein the mode-selection circuit is configured to disable the transmitter in the second mode of operation to prevent transmission of mobile communications.

21. A computer program product for operating a mobile terminal, the computer program product comprising:

a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied in the medium, the computer readable program code comprising;

computer readable program code configured to enable transmission and receipt of mobile communications in a first mode of operation;

computer readable program code configured to enable at least one child entertainment/education function that is not available in the first mode of operation and prevent transmission of mobile communications in a second mode of operation;

computer readable program code configured to enable receipt of mobile communications in the second mode of operation;

computer readable program code configured to prompt a user to enter a valid authorization code responsive to receipt of a mobile communication in the second mode of operation; and

computer readable program code configured to activate the first mode of operation responsive to receipt of the valid authorization code in the second mode of operation.

22. The computer program product according to claim 21, wherein the valid authorization code comprises a first valid authorization code, and further comprising:

computer readable program code configured to activate the second mode of operation responsive to receipt of a second valid authorization code in the first mode of operation.

23. The computer program product according to claim 21, wherein the first mode of operation comprises a communications mode, wherein the second mode of operation comprises a child entertainment/education mode, and wherein computer readable program code configured to enable the at least one child entertainment/education function comprises:

computer readable program code configured to enable a plurality of one-touch functions that are not available in the communications mode, a respective one of which is activated responsive to pressing a respective button on the mobile terminal in the child entertainment/education mode.

24. The computer program product according to claim 23, further comprising:

computer readable program code configured to alter functions of respective buttons of the mobile terminal in the child entertainment/education mode to enable the plurality of one-touch functions that are not available in the communications mode.

25. The computer program product according to claim 23, wherein the plurality of one-touch functions comprises a music function, a display function, a voice-repeating function, an alphabet function, and/or a karaoke function that are not available in the communications mode.

26. The computer program product according to claim 25, further comprising:

computer readable program code configured to activate a different respective music function, display function, voice-repeating function, alphabet function, and/or karaoke function responsive to repeatedly pressing a respective button.

27. The computer program product according to claim 21, further comprising:

computer readable program code configured to receive the valid authorization code from a keypad and/or an input screen of the mobile terminal responsive to a series of button pressed on the keypad and/or responsive to a plurality of menu items selected from a series of menus displayed on the input screen.

28. The computer program product according to claim 21, further comprising:

computer readable program code configured to prevent alteration of information and/or settings for the mobile terminal in the second mode of operation.

29. The computer program product according to claim 21, further comprising:

computer readable program code configured to enable user pre-configuring of the at least one child entertainment/education function enabled in the second mode of operation using the first mode of operation.

30. The computer program product according to claim 21, wherein the computer readable program code configured to prevent transmission of mobile communications in the second mode of operation comprises computer readable program code configured to disable a transmitter of the mobile terminal in the second mode of operation.