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

US 20070060212A1
Filed: 07/28/2006
Published: 03/15/2007
Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
Status: Active Grant

First Claim

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1-23. -23. (canceled)

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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.

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62 Claims

1-23. -23. (canceled)

24. A system comprising:
- communication device adapted to transmit and receive information over a radio frequency communication link; and
  
  one or more base stations adapted to transmit voice communications between said communication device and a public switched telephone network (PSTN), wherein said communication device comprises;
  
  a first power supply;
  
  a computing unit, coupled to the first power supply;
  
  a second power supply;
  
  a radio communication unit coupled to the second power supply; and
  
  a switch adapted to selectively couple the radio communication unit to the second power supply, to provide first and second modes of operation, wherein the first mode of operation enables the computing unit and the radio communication unit, and the second mode of operation disables the radio communication unit and enables the computing unit.
- View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
- - 25. The system of claim 24, wherein said one or more base stations are adapted to provide cellular communication between mobile devices and said PSTN.
  - 26. The system of claim 24, wherein the computing unit further comprises:
    - a data storage area to store information; and
      
      a processor, coupled to the data storage area, to retrieve the information.
  - 27. The system of claim 26, wherein the information includes random access information.
  - 28. The system of claim 24, wherein at least one of said one or more base stations comprise an adaptive array base station.

29. A method comprising:
- transmitting voice communications between a public switched telephone network (PSTN) and portable communication device over a radio frequency communication link;
  
  enabling a first mode of operation of said communication device in which both wireless communication functionality and local functionality of the communication device are enabled;
  
  enabling a second mode of operation of said communication device in which the communication functionality is disabled and the local functionality is enabled;
  
  transmitting a broadcast signal comprising information based, at least in part, on a particular geographic region to said communication link from a base station in said particular geographic region; and
  
  switching between the first and second modes of operation of said communication device in response to said broadcast signal.
- View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33)
- - 30. The method of claim 29, and further comprising enabling a third mode of operation in which neither the wireless communication functionality nor the local functionality of the portable communication device is enabled.
  - 31. The method of claim 29, wherein said switching between the first and second modes of operation further comprises:
    - in the first mode of operation, providing power to a computing unit and a radio communication unit of the communication device, wherein the computing unit provides the local functionality and the radio communication unit provides the communication functionality; and
      
      in the second mode of operation, providing power to the computing unit, and disabling power to the communication unit.
  - 32. The method of claim 29, wherein said switching between the first and second modes of operation comprises disabling at least a portion of a radio communication functionality in the second mode of operation.
  - 33. The method of claim 29, wherein said transmitting said voice communications comprises transmitting said voice communications between said PSTN and said communication device over one or more base stations.

34. A system comprising:
- communication device adapted to transmit and receive information over a radio frequency communication link, said communication device providing wireless communication and local functionality; and
  
  one or more base stations adapted to transmit voice communications between said communication device and a public switched telephone network (PSTN), wherein said communication device comprises;
  
  a first means for enabling local functionality;
  
  a second means for enabling communication functionality; and
  
  a selection means triggered in response to a signal from at least one of said one or more base stations for selecting between a first mode of operation, wherein both the local functionality and the communication functionality are enabled, and a second mode of operation, wherein the local functionality is provided and the communication functionality is disabled.
- View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37)
- - 35. The system of claim 34, wherein the selection means comprises means for switching between the first and second modes of operation.
  - 36. The system of claim 35, wherein the switching means is coupled to a power supply means, said switching means being adapted to disable the supply of power to at least a portion of the second means.
  - 37. The system of claim 34, wherein said communication device further comprises an indication means for indicating whether communication device is operating in the first or second mode of operation.

38. A method comprising:
- transmitting voice communications between a public switched telephone network (PSTN) and portable communication device over a radio frequency communication link;
  
  providing a subscriber with access to user-operated computing functionality of said portable communication device and access to transmitting signals to and receiving signals from one or more base stations through said radio frequency communication link; and
  
  subsequently disabling said access to transmitting said signals while maintaining said access to the user-operated computing functionality and the access to receiving signals.
- View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
- - 39. The method of claim 38, wherein said disabling the access to transmitting said signals comprises disabling at least a portion of a radio frequency (RF) unit of said portable communication device.
  - 40. The method of claim 39, wherein disabling said at least a portion of the RF unit comprises disabling the portion of the RF unit with a switch.
  - 41. The method of claim 39, wherein disabling said at least a portion of the RF unit comprises disabling a local oscillator of the RF unit.
  - 42. The method of claim 41, wherein said disabling the local oscillator of the RF unit comprises sending a software command to a local oscillator control circuit to cause the local oscillator to cease operation.
  - 43. The method of claim 41, wherein said disabling the local oscillator of the RF unit comprises triggering a hardware selection mechanism to cause the local oscillator to cease operation.
  - 44. The method of claim 38, wherein said disabling the access to said transmitting signals comprises disabling an operation of an antenna.
  - 45. The method of claim 44, wherein disabling the operation of the antenna further comprises disconnecting the antenna from a power supply.
  - 46. The method of claim 44, wherein said disabling the operation of the antenna further comprises increasing electromagnetic shielding of the antenna.
  - 47. The method of claim 46, wherein increasing the electromagnetic shielding of the antenna comprises surrounding the antenna with a metal coil.
  - 48. The method of claim 38, wherein said disabling said access to said transmitting signals comprises disabling the access to said transmitting in response to selection of a soft key on the communication device.
  - 49. The method of claim 38, wherein said disabling said access to said transmitting signals comprises disabling said access to said transmitting said signals in response to a toggling of a mechanical switch on the device.
  - 50. The method of claim 38, wherein said disabling said access to said transmitting said signals further comprises disabling said access to said transmitting in response to pressure on a button of said communication device.
  - 51. The method of claim 38, wherein said disabling said access to said transmitting said signals comprises disabling said access to said transmitting in response to receiving a disable command from an external entity.

52. A system comprising:
- a communication device adapted to provide local processing and to transmit and receive information over a radio frequency communication link; and
  
  one or more base stations adapted to transmit voice communications between said communication device and a public switched telephone network (PSTN), wherein said communication device comprises;
  
  a direct current power source;
  
  a computing unit coupled to the power source, said computing unit providing the local processing and comprising a processor, a memory, and a user interface; and
  
  a radio frequency (RF) unit selectively coupled to the power source through a switch to enable said wireless communication, the RF unit having a radio transceiver, a signal processing unit, and an antenna, wherein the switch is adapted to selectively disable the RF unit to provide, respectively, a wireless communication enabled mode having both the wireless communication and the local processing accessible, and a wireless communication disabled mode having the local processing accessible and the wireless communication inaccessible.
- View Dependent Claims (53, 54)
- - 53. The system of claim 52, when said RF unit comprises an antenna, and wherein the switch is operable to selectively increase/decrease the shielding of the antenna.
  - 54. The system of claim 52, wherein the switch is operable to selectively connect/disconnect the RF unit from the power source.

55. A method comprising:
- transmitting voice communications between a public switched telephone network (PSTN) and portable communication device over a radio frequency communication link, said portable communication device having interactive data processing functionality and a wireless signal communication functionality;
  
  simultaneously enabling access to the interactive data processing functionality and the wireless signal communication functionality; and
  
  in response to detecting an event, providing notification to disable the wireless signal communication functionality while simultaneously maintaining the access to the interactive data processing functionality by use of a selection mechanism.
- View Dependent Claims (56, 57)
- - 56. The method of claim 55, wherein disabling said wireless signal communication functionality comprises disabling a wireless signal reception functionality.
  - 57. The method of claim 55, wherein disabling said wireless signal communication functionality disabling a functionality to place calls to said PSTN.

58. A method comprising:
- transmitting voice communications between a public switched telephone network (PSTN) and portable communication device over a radio frequency communication link, said portable communication device having a computing functionality and a wireless communication functionality;
  
  providing a first mode of said portable communication device having both the wireless communication functionality and the computing functionality operational;
  
  providing a second mode of said communication device having the computing functionality operational and the wireless communication functionality non-operational; and
  
  automatically switching between the first mode and the second mode in response to a trigger signal received at the communication device.
- View Dependent Claims (59, 60, 61, 62)
- - 59. The method of claim 58, wherein the portable communication device comprises a cell phone with personal digital assistant functionality.
  - 60. The method of claim 58, wherein the portable communication device comprises a personal digital assistant (PDA) with a wireless communication unit.
  - 61. The method of claim 58, and further comprising generating said trigger signal in response to pressure on a button on the device.
  - 62. The method of claim 58, and further comprising transmitting said trigger signal from a base station.

Specification

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Current Assignee
Wireless Switch IP, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
Original Assignee
Durham Logistics LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
Inventors
Shah, Nitin

Granted Patent

US 7,647,070 B2
Time in Patent Office

Days
Field of Search
US Class Current

455/572
CPC Class Codes

H04W 4/12   Messaging; Mailboxes; Annou...

H04W 52/028   switching on or off only a ...

H04W 8/22   Processing or transfer of t...

Y02D 30/70   in wireless communication n...

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

First Claim

6 Assignments

0 Petitions

Accused Products

Abstract

110 Citations

62 Claims

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

First Claim

6 Assignments

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Subscription Required

0 Petitions

Subscription Required

Accused Products

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Abstract

110 Citations

62 Claims

Specification

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Solutions

Use Cases

Quick Links