System and method for power conservation in a wireless communication handset

A wireless communication handset having at least one processor and computer program code means executable thereon and configured to shutdown a display, display backlight and keypad backlight of the handset, said computer program code means comprising:

• first computer program code means for
• setting a first timer when the display is turned on and enabling said first timer to start a display time-out period,
• resetting said first timer if a keypad entry is made by a user, and
• disabling the display if a keypad entry is not made by the user before said first time-out period expires;
• second computer program code means for
• checking for daylight conditions when the display is turned on,
• enabling the display backlight only if daylight conditions are not present, and
• disabling said display backlight after a display backlight time-out period has expired;
• third computer program code means for
• checking for daylight conditions when the handset is accessed,
• enabling the keypad backlight for handset access only if daylight conditions are not present and
• disabling said keypad backlight after a keypad backlight time-out period has expired;
• and
• computer program code means for checking for daylight conditions comprises computer program code means for:
• checking a current time of day;
• and
• comparing said current time of day with a time window to determine whether said current time of day is inside or outside said time window;
• wherein said time window defines a window of time indicative of lighting conditions.

A wireless communication handset having at least one processor and computer program code means executable thereon and configured to shutdown a display, display backlight and keypad backlight of the handset, said computer program code means comprising:

• first computer program code means for
• setting a first timer when the display is turned on and enabling said first timer to start a display time-out period,
• resetting said first timer if a keypad entry is made by a user, and
• disabling the display if a keypad entry is not made by the user before said first time-out period expires;
• second computer program code means for
• checking for daylight conditions when the display is turned on,
• enabling the display backlight only if daylight conditions are not present, and
• disabling said display backlight after a display backlight time-out period has expired;
• third computer program code means for
• checking for daylight conditions when the handset is accessed,
• enabling the keypad backlight for handset access only if daylight conditions are not present, and
• disabling said keypad backlight after a keypad backlight time-out period has expired;
• and
• fourth computer program code means for disabling data entry from a first keystroke, where said first keystroke is made while the display is off.

A wireless communication handset having at least one processor and computer program code means executable thereon and configured to shutdown a display, display backlight and keypad backlight of the handset, said computer program code means comprising:

• first computer program code means for
• setting a first timer when the display is turned on and enabling said first timer to start a display time-out period,
• resetting said first timer if a keypad entry is made by a user, and
• disabling the display if a keypad entry is not made by the user before said first time-out period expires;
• second computer program code means for
• checking for daylight conditions when the display is turned on,
• enabling the display backlight only if daylight conditions are not present, and
• disabling said display backlight after a display backlight time-out period has expired;
• third computer program code means for
• checking for daylight conditions when the handset is accessed,
• enabling the keypad backlight for handset access only if daylight conditions are not present, and
• disabling said keypad backlight after a keypad backlight time-out period has expired;
• and
• fourth computer program code means for flashing an indicator at a predetermined time interval when the handset is turned on and the display is turned off to indicate to a user that handset power is on.

A wireless communication handset comprising:

• a processor;
• a display coupled to said processor;
• a keypad coupled to said processor;
• a transceiver coupled to said processor;
• a computer program product including a computer useable medium and having computer program logic recorded thereon for enabling the processor to shut off the display after a timeout period has expired, said computer program logic including
• computer program code logic for setting a display timer when the display is turned on and enabling said display timer to start a display time-out period,
• resetting said display timer if a keypad entry is made by a user, and
• disabling the display if a keypad entry is not made by the user before said display time-out period expires;
• and
• a backlight, and wherein said computer program product further comprises computer program logic for:
• checking for daylight conditions;
• disabling said backlight only if daylight conditions are present;
• and
• disabling said backlight after a backlight time-out period has expired;
• said computer program logic for checking for daylight conditions comprises computer program logic for:
• checking a current time of day;
• and
• comparing said current time of day with a time window to determine whether said current time of day is inside or outside said time window;
• wherein said time window defines a window of time indicative of lighting conditions.

A wireless communication handset comprising:

• a processor;
• a display coupled to said processor;
• a keypad coupled to said processor;
• a transceiver coupled to said processor;
• a computer program product including a computer useable medium and having computer program logic recorded thereon for enabling the processor to shut off the display after a timeout period has expired, said computer program logic including
• computer program code logic for setting a display timer when the display is turned on and enabling said display timer to start a display time-out period,
• resetting said display timer if a keypad entry is made by a user, and
• disabling the display if a keypad entry is not made by the user before said display time-out period expires;
• and
• said computer program logic further comprises computer program logic for:
• determining whether the user is using the handset to access voicemail;
• and
• setting a different length timer for one or more of said time-out periods for voicemail access.

A wireless communication handset comprising:

• a processor;
• a display coupled to said processor;
• a keypad coupled to said processor;
• a transceiver coupled to said processor;
• a computer program product including a computer useable medium and having computer program logic recorded thereon for enabling the processor to shut off the display after a timeout period has expired, said computer program logic including
• computer program code logic for setting a display timer when the display is turned on and enabling said display timer to start a display time-out period,
• resetting said display timer if a keypad entry is made by a user, and
• disabling the display if a keypad entry is not made by the user before said display time-out period expires;
• and
• said computer program logic further comprises a computer program logic for disabling data entry from a first keystroke, where said first keystroke is made while the display is off.

A wireless communication handset comprising:

• a processor;
• a display coupled to said processor;
• a keypad coupled to said processor;
• a transceiver coupled to said processor;
• a computer program product including a computer useable medium and having computer program logic recorded thereon for enabling the processor to shut off the display after a timeout period has expired, said computer program logic including
• computer program code logic for setting a display timer when the display is turned on and enabling said display timer to start a display time-out period,
• resetting said display timer if a keypad entry is made by a user, and disabling the display if a keypad entry is not made by the user before said display time-out period expires;
• and
• said computer program logic further comprises computer program logic for flashing an indicator at a predetermined time interval when the handset is turned on and the display is turned off to indicate to a user that handset power is on.

In a wireless communication handset, a method for conserving power, the method comprising:

• setting a display timer when a handset display is turned on and enabling said display timer to start a display time-out period;
• resetting said display timer if a keypad entry is made by a user;
• disabling the display if a keypad entry is not made by the user before said display time-out period expires;
• checking for daylight conditions;
• disabling a backlight if daylight conditions are present;
• disabling a backlight after a backlight time-out period has expired;
• and
• wherein said checking for daylight conditions comprises:
• checking a current time of day;
• and
• comparing said current time of day with a time window to determine whether said current time of day is inside or outside said time window;
• wherein said time window defines a window of time indicative of lighting conditions.

In a wireless communication handset, a method for conserving power, the method comprising:

• setting a display timer when a handset display is turned on and enabling said display timer to start a display time-out period;
• resetting said display timer if a keypad entry is made by a user;
• disabling the display if a keypad entry is not made by the user before said display time-out period expires;
• determining whether the user is using the handset to access voicemail;
• and
• setting a different length timer for one or more of said time-out periods for voicemail access.