Method and apparatus for disabling the RF functionality of a multi-function wireless communication device while maintaining access to local functionality

• US 8,175,642 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2011
• Issued: 05/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wireless Switch IP, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Durham Logistics LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Shah, Nitin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dao, Minh D
• Application Number:
  US13/209,813
• Publication Number:
  US 20110300860A1
• Time in Patent Office: 267 Days
• Field of Search: 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/557, 455/574, 455/343.1, 455/418, 455/419
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/028 switching on or off only a part of the equipment circuit blocks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method and apparatus for disabling the communication functionality (i.e., disabling the transmission and/or reception of RF signals) of an integrated device, while still providing access to the local functionality of such device. A control and select function, such as a switch that is implemented by hardware or software or a combination thereof, is provided in an integrated device to allow the end user of the device to access the local data processing functionality of the device, even while the wireless communication functionality of such device is disabled.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

transmitting voice communications by a portable communication device over a radio frequency communication link;

providing, by the portable communication device, a first mode of operation enabling wireless communication functionality and local functionality of the portable communication device;

providing, by the portable communication device, a second mode of operation disabling the wireless communication functionality and enabling the local functionality of the portable communication device;

transmitting, by the portable communication device over the radio frequency communication link, a wireless notification message to an external device in response to receiving an input from a user, the wireless notification message notifying the external device that the portable communication device is switching from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting, by the portable communication device over the radio frequency communication link, the wireless notification message causes the external device to allocate additional bandwidth to other communication devices or store incoming voicemails intended for the portable communication device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising disabling at least a portion of a radio communication functionality in the second mode of operation in response to switching from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the external device is at least one base station.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second mode of operation is a mode for use in an airplane.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising switching from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation in response to receiving a control signal from the external device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising switching from the second mode of operation to the first mode of operation in response to receiving a control signal from the external device.

8. A mobile computing device, comprising:

a communication unit configured to communicate with a cellular base station;

a touch screen display configured to display a soft key used to switch from a first mode to a second mode;

a processing device configured to;

utilize the communication unit to communicate with the cellular base station in the first mode;

utilize a mobile application with at least part of the communication unit disabled in the second mode; and

notify the cellular base station that the mobile computing device will operate in the second mode.

9. The mobile computing device of claim 8, wherein the processing device is further configured to notify the cellular base station in response to receiving a control signal from the cellular base station to switch to the second mode.

10. The mobile computing device of claim 9, wherein the processing device is further configured to receive the control signal from the cellular base station at a predetermined time or in a particular geographic location of the mobile computing device.

11. The mobile computing device of claim 8, wherein the mobile application comprises productivity software or a game.

12. The mobile computing device of claim 8, wherein the processing device is further configured to cause the cellular base station to allocate additional bandwidth to other mobile computing devices in response to notifying the cellular base station that the mobile computing device will operate in the second mode.

13. The mobile computing device of claim 8, wherein the processing device is further configured to cause the cellular base station to store incoming voicemails intended to be received by the mobile computing device.

14. The mobile computing device of claim 8, wherein the communication unit comprises a transceiver.

15. The mobile computing device of claim 8, wherein the second mode is a mode for use in an airplane.

16. The mobile computing device of claim 8, wherein the processing device is further configured to switch from the second mode to the first mode in response to receiving a control signal from the cellular base station.

17. A device, comprising:

circuitry configured to provide a first mode of operation enabling wireless communication functionality and enabling local functionality of the device;

circuitry configured to provide a second mode of operation disabling the wireless communication functionality and enabling the local functionality of the device;

circuitry configured to transmit a notification message to an external device over a radio frequency communication link in response to receiving an input from a user of the device; and

circuitry configured to switch the device from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation in response to transmitting the notification message;

wherein the notification message is configured to indicate that the device is switching into the second mode of operation.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the circuitry configured to transmit the notification message is further configured to cause the external device to allocate additional bandwidth to other communication devices or store incoming voicemails intended for the device.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein the circuitry configured to switch from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation is further configured to disable at least a portion of a radio communication functionality in the second mode of operation.

20. The device of claim 17, wherein the second mode comprises a mode for use in an airplane.

21. The device of claim 17, wherein the circuitry configured to transmit the notification message is further configured to operate in response to reception of a control signal from the external device to switch the device to the second mode of operation.

22. The device of claim 17, wherein the circuitry configured to switch from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation is further configured to switch the device from the second mode of operation to the first mode of operation in response to receiving a control signal from the external device.

23. A method, comprising:

communicating data from a mobile computing device to a cellular base station in a first mode;

operating a mobile application stored locally in a memory device of the mobile computing device and disabling, at least in part, communication of the data to the cellular base station in a second mode;

displaying, on a touch screen display, a soft key configured to indicate a switch from the first mode to the second mode;

in response to selection of the soft key;

switching the mobile computing device to the second mode; and

transmitting a notification to the cellular base station that the mobile computing device will operate in the second mode.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein transmitting the notification to the cellular base station occurs in response to receiving a control signal from the cellular base station to switch the mobile computing device to the second mode.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising receiving the control signal from the cellular base station at a predetermined time or in a particular geographic location of the mobile computing device.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein transmitting the notification to the cellular base station further comprises causing the cellular base station to store incoming voicemails.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the second mode is a mode for use in an airplane.

28. The method of claim 23, further comprising switching from the second mode to the first mode in response to receiving a control signal from the cellular base station.