System and method for controlling functions of mobile communication terminal in a restricted zone

• US 7,693,545 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2004
• Issued: 04/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Park, Chong-Yok
• Primary Examiner(s): Gesesse; Tilahun
• Application Number:
  US11/007,018
• Publication Number:
  US 20050181780A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,945 Days
• Field of Search: 455/1, 455/404.2, 455/456.4, 455/422.1, 455/414.1, 455/456.1, 455/456.3, 455/456.6, 455/457, 455/466, 455/418, 455/419, 455/420, 455/421, 455/404.1, 455/556, 455/411, 455/556.1, 455/553.1
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device

Abstract

Disclosed are a system and a method for controlling functions of a mobile communication terminal when in a predetermined zone. The system includes a function control apparatus for requesting a function list stored in the mobile communication terminal when detecting that the mobile communication terminal has entered a predetermined zone, indicating functions to be deactivated and generating a first function control list when the function list is received from the mobile communication terminal, and transmitting the first function control list to the mobile communication terminal; and the mobile communication terminal for transmitting the function list to the function control apparatus in response to the request for the function list received from the function control apparatus, and updating the stored function list in accordance with the first function control list when the first function control list is received from the function control apparatus.

Claims

1. A system for controlling functions of a mobile communication terminal, the system comprising:

a function control apparatus for requesting a function list including all functions capable of being performed by the mobile communication terminal, the function list being stored in the mobile communication terminal, when detecting that the mobile communication terminal has entered a predetermined zone, and generating a first function control list by indicating at least one function to be selectively deactivated among all the functions of the function list, when the function list is received from the mobile communication terminal staying in the predetermined zone, and transmitting the generated first function control list to the mobile communication terminal; and

the mobile communication terminal for transmitting the stored function list to the function control apparatus in response to the request for the function list received from the function control apparatus, and selectively deactivating the at least one function of the stored function list according to the transmitted first function control list.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mobile communication terminal performs a reset operation after selectively deactivating the at least one function.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the function control apparatus requests the function list stored in the mobile communication terminal when detecting that the mobile communication terminal has left the predetermined zone, and generates a second function control list by indicating that all functions are to be activated among the functions in the function list when the function list is received from the mobile communication terminal, and transmits the second function control list to the mobile communication terminal.

4. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the mobile communication terminal transmits the stored function list to the function control apparatus in response to the request for the function list received from the function control apparatus, and updates the stored function list according to the second function control list when the second function control list is received from the function control apparatus.

5. The system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the mobile communication terminal performs a reset operation after updating the stored function list, thereby activating all functions of the mobile communication terminal.

6. A method for controlling functions of a mobile communication terminal in a system, the system including a function control apparatus for storing information of functions of the mobile communication terminal to be deactivated, the method comprising:

requesting by the function control apparatus a function list including all functions capable of being performed by the mobile communication terminal, the function list being stored in the mobile communication terminal, when detecting that the mobile communication terminal has entered a predetermined zone;

transmitting the stored function list to the function control apparatus in response to the request for the stored function list received from the function control apparatus;

generating, by the function control apparatus, a first function control list by indicating at least one function to be selectively deactivated among all the functions of the received function list, when the function list is received from the mobile communication terminal;

transmitting the generated first function control list to the mobile communication terminal; and

selectively deactivating the at least one function of the stored function list of the mobile communication terminal according to the transmitted first function control list.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, further including performing a reset operation after selectively deactivating the at least one function.

8. The method as claimed in claim 6, further including:

requesting by the function control apparatus the function list stored in the mobile communication terminal when detecting that the mobile communication terminal has left the predetermined zone;

transmitting the stored function list to the function control apparatus in response to the request for the function list received from the function control apparatus;

generating, by the function control apparatus, a second function control list by indicating that all functions are to be activated among the functions in the function list when the function list is received from the mobile communication terminal;

transmitting the second function control list to the mobile communication terminal; and

updating the stored function list according to the second function control list when the second function control list is received from the function control apparatus.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, further including performing a reset operation after updating the stored function list, thereby activating all functions of the mobile communication terminal.