Flight mode system for personal electronic device

• US 7,236,858 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2004
• Issued: 06/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Allen, Andrew, Carpenter, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): BEAULIEU, YONEL
• Application Number:
  US11/010,945
• Publication Number:
  US 20050267650A1
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: 701/3, 701/2, 701/120, 701/15, 701/200, 340/901, 340/945, 340/963, 340/971, 340/425.5
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 15/02 Reducing interference from electric apparatus by means located at or near the interfering apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2215/062 by inhibiting burst transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A personal communications device includes a processor, a plurality of subsystems connected to the processor for exchanging signals therewith, at least one of the subsystems being configurable between a flight mode and a non-flight mode, an input device connected to the processor for inputting a flight mode selection thereto, and a flight mode module operable on the processor for causing the processor to monitor for input of a predetermined flight mode selection through the input device and configure the at least one subsystem into flight mode upon the input of the flight mode selection.

Claims

1. A personal communications device, comprising:

a processor;

a plurality of subsystems connected to the processor for exchanging signals therewith, at least one of the subsystems being configurable between a flight mode and a non-flight mode;

an input device connected to the processor for inputting a flight mode selection thereto;

a flight mode module operable on the processor for causing the processor to monitor for input of a predetermined flight mode selection through the input device and configure the at least one subsystem into flight mode upon the input of the flight mode selection; and

a visual display device including a display screen responsive to the processor for displaying a visual indication including a graphical image when the at least one subsystem is in flight mode, wherein the graphical image includes an image of an aircraft.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein a graphical interface displayed on the display screen includes a status bar area in which the flight mode indication is displayed when the at least one subsystem is in flight mode, the graphical interface also including a plurality of user selectable pictorial icons including a flight mode icon, wherein selection of the flight mode icon by the user through the input device inputs the flight mode selection to the processor.

3. A personal communications device, comprising:

a processor;

a plurality of subsystems connected to the processor for exchanging signals therewith, at least one of the subsystems being configuretable between a flight mode and a non-flight mode;

an input device connected to the processor for inputting a flight mode selection thereto; and

a flight mode module operable on the processor for causing the processor to monitor for input of a predetermined flight mode selection through the input device and configures the at least one subsystem into flight mode upon the input of the flight mode selection, wherein the at least one subsystem includes a clock connected to the processor and having a higher speed and a lower speed, wherein in fight mode the clock is configured to run at the lower speed.

4. A personal communications device, comprising:

a processor;

a plurality of subsystems connected to the processor for exchanging signals therewith, at least one of the subsystems being configurable between a flight mode and a non-flight mode;

an input device connected to the processor for inputting a flight mode selection thereto;

a flight mode module operable on the processor for causing the processor to monitor for input of a predetermined flight mode selection through the input device and configure the at least one subsystem into flight mode upon the input of the flight mode selection; and

a keyboard and display screen connected to the processor, the flight mode module being configured to detect when a predetermined keyboard sequence associated with a flight mode status inquiry is entered, and upon detecting the predetermined keyboard sequence when the device is in flight mode display a confirmation message on the display screen that the device is in flight mode.

5. A personal communications device, comprising:

a processor;

a plurality of subsystems connected to the processor for exchanging signals therewith, at least one of the subsystems being configurable between a flight mode and a non-flight mode;

an input device connected to the processor for inputting a flight mode selection thereto; and

a flight mode module operable on the processor for causing the processor to monitor for input of a predetermined flight mode selection through the input device and configure the at least one subsystem into flight mode upon the input of the flight mode selection, wherein the input device includes a wireless communications subsystem for receiving wireless communications signals, wherein in flight mode the device is automatically shut down upon receiving the predetermined flight mode selection through the wireless communications subsystem.

6. A personal communications device, comprising:

a processor;

a plurality of subsystems connected to the processor for exchanging signals etherewith, at least one of the subsystems being configurable between a flight mode and a non-flight mode;

an input device connected to the processor for inputting a flight mode selection thereto; and

a flight mode module operable on the processor for causing the processor to monitor for input of a predetermined flight mode selection through the input device and configure the at least one subsystem into flight mode upon the input of the flight mode selection, wherein the input device includes a wireless communications subsystem for receiving wireless communications signals, wherein the flight mode module is operable on the processor for causing the processor to monitor for the predetermined flight mode selection input and a further predetermined flight mode selection input through the wireless communications subsystem, wherein upon receipt of the further predetermined flight mode selection the processor causes the device to shut down.

7. A personal communications device, comprising:

a processor;

a plurality of subsystems connected to the processor for exchanging signals therewith, at least one of the subsystems being configurable between a flight mode and a non-flight mode;

an input device connected to the processor for inputting a flight mode selection thereto; and

a flight mode module operable on the processor for causing the processor to monitor for input of a predetermined flight mode selection through the input device and configure the at least one subsystem into flight mode upon the input of the flight mode selection, wherein the input device includes an air pressure sensing input device for monitoring air pressure, the predetermined flight mode selection including a sensed air pressure characteristic indicative of aircraft takeoff.

8. The personal communications device of claim 7 wherein the processor is configured to turn the device off upon detecting the predetermined flight mode selection.

9. A personal communications device, comprising:

a processor;

a plurality of subsystems connected to the processor for exchanging signals therewith, at least one of the subsystems being configurable between a flight mode and a non-flight mode;

an input device connected to the processor for inputting a flight mode selection thereto;

a flight mode module operable on the processor for causing the processor to monitor for input of a predetermined flight mode selection through the input device and configure the at least one subsystem into flight mode upon the input of the flight mode selection; and

a speaker connected to the processor, the processor being configured to monitor for an input selecting an exit from flight mode and sound an audible alarm over the speaker subsequent to detecting the flight mode exit selection input.