Mobile terminal and method for remote-controlling thereof

• US 8,160,568 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2008
• Issued: 04/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Jong-Hwan, Oh, Hyung-Hoon, Paik, Woo-Hyun
• Primary Examiner(s): Figueroa, Marisol
• Application Number:
  US12/339,724
• Publication Number:
  US 20090298469A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,215 Days
• Field of Search: 455418-420
• US Class Current: 455/420
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/082 using revocation of authorisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/126 Anti-theft arrangements, e.g. protection against subscriber identity module [SIM] cloning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/63 Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/65 Environment-dependent, e.g. using captured environmental data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information

Abstract

A mobile terminal may be remote controlled by setting a condition for the mobile terminal to enter a remote-control mode, receiving a call connection request, and entering the remote-control mode when the call connection request is received at the mobile terminal and the call connection request corresponds to the set condition. A function control signal may be received by the mobile terminal while the mobile terminal is in the entered remote-control mode, and a remote-control function may be performed that corresponds to the received function control signal.

Claims

1. A method for remote-controlling a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

setting a condition for the mobile terminal to enter a remote-control mode;

storing the set condition and a separate authentication key in a memory of the mobile terminal;

receiving a call connection request at the mobile terminal;

entering the remote-control mode of the mobile terminal when the call connection request is received at the mobile terminal and the call connection request corresponds to the set condition, wherein the condition for entering the remote-control mode of the mobile terminal includes at least one of a predetermined duration of the call connection request, a repetitive reception of a same sender'"'"'s number or reception of a predetermined sender'"'"'s number, the remote-control mode of the mobile terminal allowing a plurality of remote control functions for the mobile terminal;

after the mobile terminal enters the remote-control mode, the mobile terminal requests an authentication key;

after receiving the requested authentication key, determining that the received authentication key corresponds to the stored authentication key, wherein the received authentication key includes a touch pattern, information of a human body, voice, or visual operations;

receiving a function control signal while the mobile terminal is in the entered remote-control mode and after the received authentication key is determined to correspond to the stored authentication key; and

performing a remote-control function that corresponds to the received function control signal.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending, to a call-connected other terminal, an indication that the mobile terminal has entered the remote-control mode.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the function control signal is implemented as at least one of dual tone multi frequency (DTMF), packet data, a short message, or voice data.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the authentication key determines an access right of a person or terminal that provides the authentication key.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein when the received authentication key does not correspond with the stored authentication key, the method further comprises outputting an audio or video response to indicate no authentication, or disconnecting the connected call.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the remote-control function includes performing an alarm control function to inform that the call connection request was received at the mobile terminal.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein performing the alarm control function includes performing at least one of a function to provide a bell sound or a vibration from the mobile terminal, or a function to provide a flash from the mobile terminal.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the remote-control function includes performing a data management function to control data relating to the mobile terminal.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein performing the data management function includes performing at least one of a function to store data in the mobile terminal, a function to send data in the mobile terminal to another mobile terminal providing the call connection request, a function to delete data in the mobile terminal, a function to initialize the mobile terminal, or a function to set/release locking of the mobile terminal.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the remote-control function includes performing an informing function to inform that the mobile terminal is in a lost status.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the remote-control function includes performing a remote monitoring function to provide information about a location of the mobile terminal, or to provide information about a peripheral situation of the mobile terminal using a camera and/or a microphone of the mobile terminal.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein performing the remote monitoring function includes vibrating the mobile terminal.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein when the camera is activated, a capturing direction of the camera varies, or a flash of the mobile terminal is activated.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the remote-control function includes performing an inducement function to induce a person having the mobile terminal to return the mobile terminal, wherein the inducement function provides a display message or provides the mobile terminal in an open position.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the inducement function displays a request for a call connection to a specific phone number.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the mobile terminal discarding one or more user'"'"'s input when the call connection is requested.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the remote-control function includes performing a guiding function to inform a person providing the call connection request of a call connection to a predetermined phone number or a received phone number.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the guiding function informs a person providing the call connection request of the phone number, or forwards the person'"'"'s call connection request to another mobile terminal.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the call connection is established through at least one of a mobile communication network or an Internet Protocol (IP)-based wireless communication network.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the function control signal and performing the remote-control function are performed a plurality of times.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein each performed remote-control function is different from a previously performed remote control function.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing information relating to allowable remote-control functions to another mobile terminal, and wherein the received function control signal is received from the another mobile terminal based on a selected one of the allowable remote-control functions provided to the another mobile terminal.

23. A mobile terminal comprising:

a wireless communication unit for sending/receiving a wireless signal for a call connection;

a user input unit for receiving a command to set a condition to enter a remote-control mode;

a memory for storing the set condition to enter the remote-control mode and for storing an authentication key; and

a controller for the mobile terminal to enter the remote-control mode when a call connection request is received and the call connection request corresponds with the set condition stored in the memory, wherein the condition for the mobile terminal entering the remote-control mode includes at least one of a predetermined duration of the call connection request, a repetitive reception of a same sender'"'"'s number or reception of a predetermined sender'"'"'s number, the remote control mode of the mobile terminal allowing a remote control function for each of a plurality of elements of the mobile terminal, the controller to request an authentication key after the mobile terminal enters the remote-control mode, wherein after receiving the requested authentication key, the controller determines that the received authentication key corresponds to the stored authentication key, wherein the received authentication key includes a touch pattern, information of a human body, voice, or visual operations, and the controller to perform a remote-control function corresponding to a function control signal received while the mobile terminal is in the remote-control mode and after the controller determines that the received authentication key corresponds to the stored authentication key.

24. The mobile terminal of claim 23, further comprising an audio output module or a display for outputting at least one of audio information and video information for a call connection request to the mobile terminal in a different manner from information set by the remote-control function, or for outputting at least one of video information and/or audio information relating to a lost status of the mobile terminal.

25. The mobile terminal of claim 23, wherein the user input unit is electrically connected to the controller, and the user input unit receives data relating to the mobile terminal.

26. The mobile terminal of claim 23, further comprising a microphone or a camera for obtaining video information or audio information about a location of the mobile terminal when the mobile terminal is in the remote-control mode.

27. The mobile terminal of claim 23, further comprising a display for displaying visual information, wherein the display does not output visual information relating to a remote-control function being currently performed.

28. A method comprising:

setting a condition for a mobile terminal to enter a remote-control mode;

storing the set condition in a memory of the mobile terminal;

receiving a call connection request at the mobile terminal;

entering the remote-control mode of the mobile terminal when the call connection request is received at the mobile terminal and the call connection request corresponds to the set condition, wherein the condition for the mobile terminal to enter the remote-control mode includes a predetermined duration of the call connection request or a repetitive reception of a same sender'"'"'s number, the remote-control mode of the mobile terminal allowing a plurality of remote control functions;

after the mobile terminal enters the remote-control mode, the mobile terminal requests an authentication key;

after receiving the requested authentication key, determining that the received authentication key corresponds to the stored authentication key, wherein the received authentication key includes a touch pattern, information of a human body, voice, or visual operations;

receiving a function control signal when the mobile terminal is in the entered remote-control mode and after the received authentication key is determined to correspond to the stored authentication key; and

performing, at the mobile terminal, a remote-control function that corresponds to the received function control signal when the mobile terminal is in the entered remote-control mode.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein performing the remote-control function includes performing an informing function to inform that the mobile terminal is in a lost status.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein performing the remote-control function includes performing a remote monitoring function to provide information regarding a location of the mobile terminal.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein performing the remote-control function includes providing information about a peripheral situation of the mobile terminal using a camera and/or a microphone of the mobile terminal.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein performing the remote monitoring function includes vibrating the mobile terminal.

33. The method of claim 28, wherein performing the remote-control function includes performing a guiding function to inform a person providing the call connection request of a call connection to a predetermined phone number or a received phone number.