Power control in sensitive environments for private wireless systems

A mobile station adapted for use in both public and private wireless systems, comprising:

• a transmitter for broadcasting radio signals to one of the wireless systems;
• a control operatively associated with the transmitter for controlling mobile station transmit power to normally transmit at a relatively high power level when the mobile station is communicating in the public wireless system and at a relatively low power level when the mobile station is communicating in the private wireless system, responsive to commands received from the wireless system in which the mobile station is communicating;
• and
• programmable limit means operatively associated with the control for selectively controlling the mobile station to operate in a normal mode or a safe mode, said normal mode limiting said transmitter to transmit at power levels responsive to power level commands received from the wireless system but not above a first maximum power level associated with said normal mode;
• said safe mode limiting said transmitter to transmit at power levels responsive to power level commands received from the wireless system, but not above a predetermined second maximum power level associated with said safe mode unless a power passcode is entered;
• and
• said control operative to enter said safe mode in response to entry of a mode passcode.

A method of controlling power level in a mobile station adapted for use in plural wireless systems, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a transmitter for broadcasting radio signals to one of the wireless systems;
• controlling the transmitter to normally transmit at a power level responsive to commands received from the one wireless system, the commands normally requiring the transmitter to transmit at a relatively high power level when the mobile station is communicating in public wireless systems and at a relatively low power level when the mobile station is communicating in private wireless systems;
• and
• selectively controlling the mobile station to operate in a normal mode or a safe mode, said normal mode limiting said transmitter to transmit at power levels responsive to power level commands received from the wireless system but not above a first maximum power level associated with said normal mode;
• said safe mode limiting said transmitter to transmit at power levels responsive to power level commands received from the wireless system, but not above a predetermined second maximum power level associated with said safe mode unless a power passcode is entered;
• and
• said control operative to enter said safe mode in response to entry of a mode passcode.