System, method, and apparatus for automatic scheduled silencing of wireless transmitters

• US 8,731,538 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2009
• Issued: 05/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications Company (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cook, Charles, Cho, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Siddiqui, Kashif
• Application Number:
  US12/552,111
• Publication Number:
  US 20110053584A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,722 Days
• Field of Search: 375130-138, 455413-419, 455/456, 455/550.1, 455/569, 379/201
• US Class Current: 455/419
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2072 Schedules, e.g. personal calendars
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/02 Calling substations, e.g. by ringing selective calling H04Q

Abstract

A wireless telecommunication system that automatically enforces a quiet time mode of operation for a wireless handset comprises a cellular telecommunication network, and a wireless handset configured to transmit voice and data information to, and configured to receive voice and data information from the cellular telecommunication network. The wireless handset comprises a quiet time controller configured to disable the wireless handset from issuing the audible notification during scheduled quiet time periods.

Claims

1. A wireless telecommunication system adapted to implement a quiet time mode of operation, the system comprising:

a cellular telecommunication network;

a wireless handset configured to transmit voice and data information to, and configured to receive voice and data information from, the cellular telecommunication network, wherein the wireless handset is configurable to selectively issue an audible notification upon the occurrence of one or more of a plurality of events; and

a quiet time controller configured recognize a plurality of quiet time profiles, the plurality comprising an airplane quiet time profile and a night quiet time profile, to identify a quiet time condition and to disable the wireless handset from issuing the audible notification during a predetermined quiet time period, wherein disabling the wireless handset comprises powering down the wireless handset during the predetermined quiet time period, and wherein the quiet time controller is configured to power up the wireless handset, such that the wireless handset resumes standard operation, when the predetermined quiet time period has ended.

2. The wireless telecommunication system of claim 1 wherein the quiet time controller is further configured to enable the wireless handset to issue the audible notification during a predetermined non-quiet time period.

3. The wireless telecommunication system of claim 2 wherein the data information transmitted from the cellular telecommunication network to the wireless handset includes date and time information, and wherein the quiet time controller is further configured to disable the wireless handset based on the date and time information transmitted from the cellular telecommunication network to the wireless handset.

4. The wireless telecommunication system of claim 2 wherein the wireless handset further comprises a clock to monitor date and time information.

5. The wireless telecommunication system of claim 1 wherein the wireless handset further comprises a programmable calendar, coupled to the quiet time controller, where the programmable calendar is configurable to identify the predetermined quiet time period to the quiet time controller.

6. The wireless telecommunication system of claim 2 wherein the data information transmitted from the cellular telecommunication network to the wireless handset originate from a signal beacon.

7. A wireless telecommunication system that automatically enforces a quiet mode of operation, the system comprising:

a cellular telecommunication network;

a wireless handset configured to transmit voice and data information to, and configured to receive voice and data information from the cellular telecommunication network; and

a quiet time controller configured to recognize a plurality of quiet time profiles, the plurality comprising an airplane quiet time profile and a night quiet time profile, to identify a quiet time condition and to adjust the wireless handset to operate in a quiet mode during a predetermined quiet time period, wherein adjusting the wireless handset comprises powering down the wireless handset during the predetermined quiet time period, and wherein the quiet time controller is configured to power up the wireless handset, such that the wireless handset resumes standard operation, when the predetermined quiet time period has ended.

8. The wireless telecommunication system of claim 7 wherein the quiet time controller is further configured to allow a user to override the quiet mode of operation of the wireless handset.

9. The wireless telecommunication system of claim 7 wherein the wireless handset comprises a predefined user key sequence function by which the quiet mode of operation of the wireless handset is overridden.

10. A computer implemented method for automatically adjusting an operational mode of a wireless handset, the method comprising:

designating a quiet time period in a calendar operating in the wireless handset; and

defining an action for the wireless handset to automatically initiate at the beginning of the designated quiet time, wherein the defined action comprises powering down the wireless handset during the designated quiet time period, and wherein a quiet time controller is configured to recognize a plurality of quiet time profiles, the plurality comprising an airplane quiet time profile and a night quiet time profile, to identify a quiet time condition, and to power up the wireless handset, such that the wireless handset resumes standard operation, when the designated quiet time period has ended.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein defining an action for the wireless handset to automatically initiate at the beginning of the designated quiet time further comprises defining an action for the wireless handset to automatically initiate at the conclusion of the designated quiet time.