Method and apparatus for disabling the RF functionality of a multi-function wireless communication device while maintaining access to local functionality
DCFirst Claim
Patent Images
1. A system comprising;
- a communication device adapted to transmit and receive information over a radio frequency communication link;
wherein said communication device comprises;
a first power supply;
a computing unit, coupled to the first power supply;
a second power supply;
a radio communication unit coupled to the second power supply; and
a switch adapted to selectively couple the radio communication unit to the second power supply, to provide first and second modes of operation, wherein the first mode of operation enables the computing unit and the radio communication unit, and the second mode of operation disables the radio communication unit and enables the computing unit.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for disabling the communication functionality (i.e., disabling the transmission and/or reception of RF signals) of an integrated device, while still providing access to the local functionality of such device. A control and select function, such as a switch that is implemented by hardware or software or a combination thereof, is provided in an integrated device to allow the end user of the device to access the local data processing functionality of the device, even while the wireless communication functionality of such device is disabled.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A system comprising;
a communication device adapted to transmit and receive information over a radio frequency communication link;
wherein said communication device comprises;a first power supply; a computing unit, coupled to the first power supply; a second power supply; a radio communication unit coupled to the second power supply; and a switch adapted to selectively couple the radio communication unit to the second power supply, to provide first and second modes of operation, wherein the first mode of operation enables the computing unit and the radio communication unit, and the second mode of operation disables the radio communication unit and enables the computing unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method comprising:
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transmitting voice communications with a portable communication device over a radio frequency communication link; enabling a first mode of operation of said portable communication device in which both wireless communication functionality and local functionality of the communication device are enabled; enabling a second mode of operation of said portable communication device in which the communication functionality is disabled and the local functionality is enabled; transmitting a wireless notification signal from the portable communication device to an external device prior to enabling the second mode of operation, the notification signal notifying the external device that the portable communication device is going into the second mode of operation; and switching from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation of said portable communication device after transmitting the notification signal. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system comprising:
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a communication device adapted to transmit and receive information over a radio frequency communication link, said communication device providing wireless communication and local functionality wherein said communication device comprises; a first power supply means for enabling local functionality; a second power supply means for enabling communication functionality; and a selection means triggered in response to a signal from at least one of said one or more base stations for selecting between a first mode of operation, wherein both the local functionality and the communication functionality are enabled, and a second mode of operation, wherein the local functionality is provided and the second power supply means are disconnected to disable the communication functionality. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method comprising:
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transmitting voice communications with a portable communication device over a radio frequency communication link; using a first power supply to power computing circuitry in the portable communication device that provides user-operated computing functionality; using a second power supply to power radio communication circuitry in the portable communication device for transmitting and receiving signals; providing a subscriber with access to the user-operated computing functionality of said portable communication device and access to the transmitting and receiving of said signals through said radio frequency communication link; and subsequently disconnecting the second power supply from at least a portion of the radio communication circuitry disabling said access to transmitting said signals while maintaining said access to the user-operated computing functionality and the access to receiving said signals. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A system comprising:
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a communication device adapted to provide local processing and to transmit and receive information over a radio frequency communication link, wherein said communication device comprises; a power source; a computing unit coupled to the power source, said computing unit providing the local processing and comprising a processor, a memory, and a user interface; and a radio frequency (RF) unit selectively coupled to the power source through a switch to enable said wireless communication, the RF unit having a radio transceiver, a signal processing unit, and an antenna, wherein the switch is adapted to selectively enable the RF unit to provide, respectively, a wireless communication enabled mode having both the wireless communication and the local processing accessible, and a wireless communication disabled mode having the local processing accessible and the wireless communication inaccessible; and wherein the communication device is configured to send a notification signal to one or more base stations indicating that the communication device is switching to the wireless communication disabled mode. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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32. A method comprising:
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transmitting voice communications from a portable communication device over a radio frequency communication link, said portable communication device having interactive data processing functionality powered by a first power supply and a wireless signal communication functionality powered by a second power supply; simultaneously enabling access to the interactive data processing functionality and the wireless signal communication functionality; and in response to detecting an event, disconnecting the second power supply and disabling the wireless signal communication functionality while simultaneously maintaining the access to the interactive data processing functionality by use of a selection mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
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35. A method comprising:
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transmitting voice communications from a portable communication device over a radio frequency communication link, said portable communication device having a computing functionality powered by a first power supply and a wireless communication functionality powered by a second power supply; providing a first mode of said portable communication device having both the wireless communication functionality and the computing functionality operational; providing a second mode of said communication device having the computing functionality operational and disconnecting the second power supply making the wireless communication functionality non-operational; and automatically switching between the first mode and the second mode in response to a trigger signal received at the communication device. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification