Mobile terminal, communication system and method of managing missing mode using same

• US 9,462,428 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2009
• Issued: 10/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Yu, Jihye, Lim, Sangyeon, Cho, Sungtae, Ahn, Seungkwon, Han, Seungsook
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gao, Jing
• Application Number:
  US12/610,015
• Publication Number:
  US 20100240403A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,531 Days
• Field of Search: 455/419, 455/466, 455/410, 455/414.2, 455/412.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections

Abstract

The present invention is related to a mobile terminal, a communication system, and a method for managing a missing mode using the same. The present invention describes a mobile terminal comprising a communication unit, memory configured to store information relating to being lost including a message notifying of being lost and a controller, if a first communication function is carried out through the communication unit with a second terminal as a receiver while a missing mode is activated through the communication unit by a remote control from a first terminal, configured to transfer the information relating to being lost to the second terminal; and a communication system including the mobile terminal and provides a method for managing a missing mode using the same.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal providing a function of managing a missing mode, the mobile terminal comprising:

a communication unit;

a memory configured to store information relating to being lost including a message indicating that the mobile terminal has been lost, a particular contact point, and a control code to designate the contact point as a receiver; and

a controller configured to;

receive an activation signal wirelessly from a first remote terminal through the communication unit,

activate a missing mode of the mobile terminal in response to the received activation signal,

perform a first communication function with a second remote terminal in response to a user input after the missing mode has been activated, wherein the first communication function corresponds to a call transmission, and the control code is transmitted to the second remote terminal immediately after the call transmission is attempted, and

if a communication channel is established between the mobile terminal and the second remote terminal according to the second remote terminal responding, control the control code to designate the contact point as a receiver of the first communication function, and the communication unit to transmit data related to the first communication function to a third remote terminal corresponding to the designated contact point, and control the control code to suspend transmission of the data to the second remote terminal and to transmit the message to the second remote terminal.

2. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to prevent the information relating to being lost from being visually and audibly output from the mobile terminal.

3. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the message is at least one of a text message, an audio message, and an image.

4. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the message and the contact point are only remotely editable by the first remote terminal while the mobile terminal is in the missing mode.

5. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the first communication function further includes a function of transmitting a message, the message including one of an instant message, an short message service (SMS) message, an multimedia messaging system (MMS) message, an e-mail, and a data communication including at least one of text, audio, a still image, and a moving image.

6. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to control the message to be output in or by the second remote terminal.

7. The mobile terminal of claim 6, wherein the control code specifies a particular field of data used to transmit the data to be replaced with the message.

8. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the first remote terminal comprises at least one of a mobile phone and a personal computer.

9. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to prevent access via an input unit of the mobile terminal to the information relating to being lost while the mobile terminal is in the missing mode.

10. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to:

control the memory to record a use history of the mobile terminal in a state the mobile terminal is in the missing mode in a form of a log file, and

control the communication unit to transmit the log file to an e-mail address corresponding to the particular contact point.

11. The mobile terminal of claim 10, wherein the log file is transmitted to the e-mail address each time a particular function of the mobile terminal is performed.

12. The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein the particular function includes a pay function.

13. A method for managing a missing mode of a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

wirelessly receiving an activation signal from a first remote terminal;

receiving an activation signal wirelessly from the first remote terminal through a communication unit;

storing information relating to being lost including a message including that the mobile terminal has been lost, a particular contact point, and a control code to designate the contact point as a receiver;

activating a missing mode of the mobile terminal in response to the received activation signal;

performing a first communication function with a second remote terminal in response to a user input after the missing mode has been activated, wherein the first communication function corresponds to a call transmission, and the control code is transmitted to the second remote terminal immediately after the call transmission is attempted;

if a communication channel is established between the mobile terminal and the second remote terminal according to the second remote terminal responding, controlling the control code to designate the contact point as a receiver of the first communication function, and the communication unit to transmit data related to the first communication function to a third remote terminal corresponding to the designated contact point; and

controlling the control code to suspend transmission of the data to the second remote terminal and to transmit the message to the second remote terminal.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the message is one of a text message, an audio message, and an image.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

editing the message and the contact point in response to an edit command received from the first remote terminal while the mobile terminal is in the missing mode.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the first communication function further includes a function of transmitting a message, the message including:

one of an instant message, an short message service (SMS) message, an multimedia messaging system (MMS) message, and an e-mail.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the information relating to being lost includes the control code specifying that the message is to be output in or by the second remote terminal.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the first remote terminal comprises at least one of a mobile phone and a personal computer.