US 5,862,472 AGranted

Circuit for indicating loss of portable telephone and control method thereof

AssigneeSamsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

InventorTae-Guen Park

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A circuit and method for a portable telephone prevents a finder from exploiting the interests of the owner if the telephone becomes lost. The method contemplates the steps of: generating an audible alarm and a first message requesting input of a predetermined password when one of a predetermined time period elapses and a number of outgoing calls exceeds a predetermined number after an alarm function is enabled; detecting whether the predetermined password is input, and stopping generation of the alarm and the first message when the predetermined password is input; generating a second message indicating how an owner of the portable telephone can be contacted and activating a loss mode of the portable telephone when the predetermined password is not input; and automatically dialing a telephone number corresponding to the owner when a predetermined key on the portable telephone is input after the loss mode is activated.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A portable telephone, comprising:

a key input unit having a plurality of keys, for providing inputs that enable performance of an alarm function;
a first memory having a first area for storing data indicating whether said alarm function is turned on, a second area for storing information identifying an owner of said portable telephone, a third area for storing a predetermined password, and a fourth area for storing a telephone number corresponding to the owner of said portable telephone;
a second memory for storing a program that enables performance of said alarm function;
a third memory for temporarily storing data generated during performance of said alarm function;
a tone generator for generating an audible tone during the performance of said alarm function;
a display unit for displaying a first message requesting input of said predetermined password via said key input unit and a second message identifying the owner of said portable telephone during the performance of said alarm function;
and
a controller for enabling said tone generator to generate said audible tone and enabling said display unit to display said first message when one of a predetermined time period elapses and a number of outgoing calls equals a predetermined number after said alarm function is turned on, detecting whether said predetermined password is input, controlling said tone generator to stop generation of said audible tone and controlling said display unit to stop display of said first message when said predetermined password is input, enabling said display unit to display said second message and activating a loss mode of said portable telephone when said predetermined password is not input, and automatically dialing said telephone number corresponding to the owner of said portable telephone when a predetermined key on said key input unit is depressed after said loss mode is activated.

5 more elements

A method for controlling operation of a portable telephone, comprising the steps of:

enabling an alarm function of said portable telephone in response to an input from a user;
performing a timing operation and a counting operation in response to enabling said alarm function;
monitoring said timing operation to determine whether a predetermined time period has elapsed since said alarm function has been enabled;
monitoring said counting operation to determine whether a number of outgoing calls placed from said portable telephone equals a predetermined number since said alarm function has been enabled;
generating an audible tone and a first message requesting input of a predetermined password when one of said predetermined time period has elapsed and said number of outgoing calls placed from said portable telephone equals said predetermined number since said alarm function has been enabled;
detecting whether said predetermined password is input, and stopping generation of said audible tone and said first message when said predetermined password is input;
generating a second message indicating how the user of said portable telephone can be contacted and activating a loss mode of said portable telephone when said predetermined password is not input;
and
automatically dialing a telephone number corresponding to the user when a predetermined key on said portable telephone is input after said loss mode is activated.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/681,446Filed 23 Jul 1996
Priority: KR 1995 2309129 Jul 1995
Granted: 19 Jan 1999
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

H04M 1/72448
User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones: with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific…
H04M 1/2725
With provision for storing only one subscriber number at a time, e.g. by keyboard or dial: using electronic memories
H04M 1/673
By electronic means: the user being required to key in a code
H04W 12/126
Detection or prevention of fraud: anti-theft arrangements, e.g. protection against subscriber identity module [SIM] cloning