Wireless handset having selective communication control and corresponding methods

• US 7,844,307 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2006
• Issued: 11/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NXP USA, Inc. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: SigmaTel Incorporated (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Inventors: Henson, Matthew Brady, Ragan, Thomas Glen
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng; George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brandt; Christopher M
• Application Number:
  US11/340,441
• Publication Number:
  US 20070173287A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,769 Days
• Field of Search: 455/574, 455/572, 455/573, 455/557, 455/522, 370/311
• US Class Current: 455/574
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3866 carried on the head
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/677 Preventing the dialling or sending of predetermined telephone numbers or selected types of telephone numbers, e.g. long distance numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0264 by selectively disabling software applications
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A wireless handset includes a long range wireless transceiver for selectively providing an inbound communication and an outbound communication through a wireless telephone network. A battery monitor module monitors a remaining power of a battery and produces a control signal when the remaining power compares unfavorably to a reserve power threshold. A processing module allows an outbound communication to an allowed recipient when the control signal is asserted, and prohibits an outbound communication to a disallowed recipient when the control signal is asserted.

Claims

1. A wireless handset comprising:

a long range wireless transceiver for selectively providing an inbound communication and an outbound communication through a wireless telephone network;

an audio playback module, operably coupled to the processing module, for selectively producing an audio output from a stored audio file;

wherein the long range wireless transceiver and audio playback module are powered from a single battery;

a battery monitor module for monitoring a remaining power of a battery and for asserting a control signal when the remaining power compares unfavorably to a reserve power threshold; and

a processing module, operably coupled to the long range wireless transceiver and the battery monitor module, for allowing an outbound communication from the range wireless transceiver while powered from single battery to an allowed recipient when the control signal is asserted, for prohibiting the production of an audio output from a stored audio file when the control signal is asserted, and for prohibiting an outbound communication to a disallowed recipient when the control signal is asserted, wherein the prohibiting an outbound communication to a disallowed recipient is overridden one time with entry of a one time password.

2. The wireless handset of claim 1 further comprising:

a memory module, operably coupled to the processing module, for storing a communication screening list that includes the allowed recipient.

3. The wireless handset of claim 2 wherein the communication screening list can be locked and is only accessible for modification by a secure access process.

4. The wireless handset of claim 2 wherein the communication screening list includes at least one user defined recipient.

5. The wireless handset of claim 2 wherein the communication screening list includes at least one service defined recipient.

6. The wireless handset of claim 1 wherein the wireless handset further comprises:

at least one functional module, operably coupled to the processing module, for providing at least one function, wherein the at least one function includes one of;

a user interactive game, and access to a peripheral device;

wherein the processing module is further operable to prohibit the at least one function when the control signal is asserted.

7. The wireless handset of claim 6 wherein the processing module is further operable to suspend the at least one function when the at least one function is in progress when the control signal is asserted.

8. The wireless handset of claim 7 wherein the processing module is further operable to produce a suspending function indicator, prior to suspending the at least one function.

9. The wireless handset of claim 1 wherein the processing module is further operable to end a call in progress when the control signal is asserted.

10. The wireless handset of claim 9 wherein the processing module is further operable to produce an audible suspending call indicator, prior to ending the call.

11. The wireless handset of claim 1 wherein the processing module is further operable to end the production of an audio output in progress when the control signal is present.

12. The wireless handset of claim 11 wherein the processing module is further operable to produce an audible suspending playback indicator, prior to ending the production of audio output.

13. The wireless handset of claim 2 further comprising a display device and wherein the communication screening list includes a plurality of allowed recipients and is presented on the display device in a navigational form for selection of the allowed recipient.

14. The wireless handset of claim 1 wherein the reserve power threshold is above the minimum amount required to power the device with the single battery while placing the outbound call communication.

15. The wireless handset of claim 1 wherein the processing module is further operable to prohibit the inbound communication when the control signal is asserted.

16. The wireless handset of claim 1 wherein the processing module is further operable to determine caller identification data corresponding to the inbound communication, for allowing an inbound call if the caller identification data corresponds to a screening list entry when the control signal is asserted, and for prohibiting the inbound call if the caller identification data does not correspond to a screening list entry, when the control signal is asserted.

17. The wireless handset of claim 1 further comprising:

an authentication module, operably coupled to the processing module, for overriding at least one of;

prohibiting an outbound communication, prohibiting the production of an audio output;

at least one prohibited function, and at least one suspended function, when user is authenticated by a secure access process.

18. A wireless handset comprising:

a long range wireless transceiver for selectively providing an inbound communication and an outbound communication through a wireless telephone network;

a battery monitor module for monitoring a remaining power of a battery and for asserting a control signal when the remaining power compares unfavorably to a reserve power threshold;

a processing module, operably coupled to the long range wireless transceiver and the battery monitor module, for allowing an outbound communication to an allowed recipient when the control signal is asserted, and for prohibiting an outbound communication to a disallowed recipient when the control signal is asserted, wherein the prohibiting an outbound communication to disallowed recipient is overridden one time with entry of a one time password; and

an authentication module, operably coupled to the processing module, for authenticating a user and once authenticated by a secure access process, allowing the user to modify at least one of a listing of allowed and a listing of disallowed recipients.

19. The wireless handset of claim 18 further comprising:

a memory module, operably coupled to the processing module, for storing a communication screening list that includes the allowed recipient.

20. The wireless handset of claim 19 wherein the communication screening list can be locked and is accessible for modification only by a user that has been authenticated by a secure access process.

21. The wireless handset of claim 19 wherein the communication screening list includes at least one user defined recipient.

22. The wireless handset of claim 19 wherein the communication screening list includes at least one service defined recipient.

23. The wireless handset of claim 18 wherein the wireless handset further comprises:

at least one functional module, operably coupled to the processing module, for providing at least one function, wherein the at least one function includes one of;

a user interactive game, playback of a stored audio file, capturing an image, Internet access, access to a broadband data network, and access to a peripheral device;

wherein the processing module is further operable to prohibit the at least one function when the control signal is asserted.

24. The wireless handset of claim 23 wherein the processing module is further operable to suspend the at least one function when the at least one function is in progress when the control signal is asserted.

25. wireless handset of claim 24 wherein the processing module is further operable to produce a suspending function indicator, prior to suspending the at least one function.

26. The wireless handset of claim 18 wherein the processing module is further operable to end a call in progress when the control signal is present.

27. The wireless handset of claim 26 wherein the processing module is further operable to produce an audible suspending call indicator, prior to ending the call.

28. The wireless handset of claim 19 further comprising a display and wherein the communication screening list includes a plurality of allowed recipients and is presented on the display device in a navigational from for selection of the allowed recipient.

29. The wireless handset of claim 18 wherein the reserve power threshold is above the minimum amount required to power the device while placing the outbound call communication.

30. The wireless handset of claim 18 wherein the processing module is further operable to prohibit the inbound communication when the control signal is asserted.

31. The wireless handset of claim 18 wherein the processing module is further operable to determine caller identification data corresponding to the inbound communication, for allowing an inbound call if the caller identification data corresponds to a screening list entry when the control signal is asserted, and for prohibiting the inbound call if the caller identification data does not correspond to a screening list entry, when the control signal is asserted.

32. The wireless handset of claim 18 further comprising:

the authentication module, operably coupled to the processing module, for overriding at least one of;

prohibiting an outbound communication, at least one prohibited function, and at least one suspended function, when user is authenticated.

33. A method comprising:

monitoring a remaining power of a wireless handset battery;

producing a control signal when the remaining power compares unfavorably to a reserve power threshold;

allowing an outbound communication from the wireless handset, powered from the wireless handset battery, to an allowed recipient when the remaining power compares unfavorably to a reserve power threshold; and

prohibiting an outbound communication to a disallowed recipient when the remaining power compares unfavorably to a reserve power threshold, wherein the prohibiting an outbound communication to a disallowed recipient when the remaining power compares unfavorably to a reserve power threshold is overridden one time with entry of a one time password.

34. The method of claim 33 further comprising:

storing a communication screening list that includes the allowed recipient.

35. The method of claim 34 further comprising:

locking the communication screening list and then allowing a change to the communication screening list only when a user has been authenticated.

36. The method of claim 34 wherein the communication screening list includes at least one user defined recipient.

37. The method of claim 34 wherein the communication screening list includes at least one service defined recipient.

38. The method of claim 33 further comprising:

prohibiting at least one function of the wireless handset when the control signal is asserted, wherein the at least one function includes one of;

a user interactive game, playback of a stored audio file, Internet access, access to a broadband data network, and access to a peripheral device.

39. The method of claim 38 further comprising:

suspending the at least one function when the at least one function is in progress when the remaining power compares unfavorably to a reserve power threshold.

40. The method of claim 39 further comprising:

producing a suspending function indicator, prior to suspending the at least one function.

41. The method of claim 33 further comprising:

ending a call of the wireless handset in progress when the remaining power unfavorably to a reserve power threshold.

42. The method of claim 33 further comprising:

producing an audible suspending call indicator, prior to ending the call.

43. The method of claim 33 wherein the reserve power threshold is above the minimum amount required to power the device from the wireless handset battery while placing the outbound communication.

44. The method of claim 33 further comprising:

prohibiting inbound communications when the remaining power compares unfavorably to a reserve power threshold.

45. The method of claim 33 further comprising:

determining caller identification data corresponding to an inbound communication,

allowing the inbound communication if the caller identification data corresponds to a screening list entry when the remaining power compares unfavorably to a reserve power threshold, and

prohibiting the inbound communication if the caller identification data does not correspond to a screening list entry, when the remaining power compares unfavorably to a reserve power threshold.

46. The method of claim 33 further comprising:

overriding at least one of;

prohibiting an outbound communication, at least one prohibited function, and at least one suspended function, when a user is authenticated.

47. A wireless handset comprising:

a long range wireless transceiver for a single battery source for selectively providing an inbound communication and an outbound communication through a wireless telephone network;

a battery monitor module for monitoring a remaining power of a battery source and for asserting a control signal when the remaining power compares unfavorably to a reserve power threshold; and

a processing module, operably coupled to the long range wireless transceiver and the battery monitor module, for allowing an outbound communication powered by the single battery source to an allowed recipient when the control signal is asserted, and for prohibiting at least one function of the wireless handset when the control signal is asserted, wherein the prohibiting at least one function of the wireless handset is overridden one time with entry of a user password; and

an authentication module for providing a user with secure access to a listing of potential recipients for the purposes of changing the listing of potential recipients.