METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISABLING COMMUNICATIONS OF A SPECIFIED MODE TO A DEVICE CAPABLE OF MULTI-MODE COMMUNICATIONS

Abstract: A method and apparatus for disabling communications of a first mode to a device capable of multi-mode communications. A request to disable communications of a first mode is generated by the communication device, either manually or automatically, and transmitted to a mobile switching center. The mobile switching center modifies a data record, located at a home location register, corresponding to the requesting communication device. The modification disables communications of the specified mode to the communication device.

Description: METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISABLING COMMUNICATIONS OF A SPECIFIED MODE TO A DEVICE CAPABLE OF MULTI-MODE COMMUNICATIONS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION I. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to wireless communication devices and more particularly to disabling at least one mode of communications to a wireless communication device capable of multi-mode communications. II. Description of the Related Art Wireless communications have become commonplace throughout the world. Today's wireless communication devices comprise analog and digital telephones operating at cellular and PCS frequencies, satellite telephones, personal computers equipped with wireless modems, wireless vehicle communication systems, and so on. In the field of wireless telephones, first generation telephones rely on analog transmission protocols to transmit voice communications. More recently, wireless telephones using digital modulation techniques have become prevalent due to the additional benefits inherent with digital technology. For example, digital wireless telephones provide for better voice clarity, fewer dropped calls, and various service options not available on analog wireless telephones. Wireless connectivity to world-wide computer networks, such as the Internet, is becoming an increasingly desirable attribute for wireless communication devices. An increasing number of wireless applications for mobile telephony and other products using the Internet are becoming more and more common. A next generation of mobile telephones will be able to interact with the Internet with speeds approaching or exceeding speeds available on desktop computers today. Wireless connectivity to the Internet is just one example of data communications that are, or will soon be, available to wireless communication devices. Presently, data can be transmitted either synchronously or asynchronously. Synchronous data transmission implies that a transmitter and a receiver are synchronized in time with respect to each other, the data being transmitted at specific time intervals. Asynchronous data transmission, on the other hand, uses information transmitted with the data itself to align the receiver to be able to demodulate the received data. An example of synchronous data transmission is what is commonly referred to as "packet data" transmission and is used to transfer data between a computer and the Internet using various transmission protocols, such as TCP/IP. An example of asynchronous data transmission is a dedicated connection between a transmitter and a receiver, such as two computer modems transferring data between them. In packet data transmission applications, for example a computer connected to the Internet, data is generally sent in bursts, each burst of data usually lasting from a few seconds to minutes or longer. An example of a burst of data over the Internet occurs, for example, when a user accesses a web site. The information contained on the web site is sent to the requesting computer in data packets, which continue, more or less, until all of the requested information has been completely transmitted to the requesting computer. No data is transmitted again until another data request is received from the requesting computer. In wireless applications, data is also sent in bursts over the air, generally from a base station to a wireless communication device. However, if a lack of transmission activity is observed within a relatively short amount of time, the air interface providing a communication channel between the base station and the wireless communication device is "torn down" or de-activated. When a subsequent data request is issued by the wireless communication device, a new communication channel must be established. Periods during which a communication session is active, but the communication channel is inactive is, are called "dormant" periods. It is anticipated that in the near future, wireless telephones are expected to be able to provide multiple modes of communication to users. For example, a wireless telephone capable of both voice and data communications is expected shortly. One problem that may arise as a result of a wireless telephone having multi-mode capability is interruptions from other calls during dormant periods. As stated earlier, when a wireless communication device engages in data communications, dormant periods of undetermined duration may occur. In these cases, the communication channel assigned to the wireless communication may be revoked and re-assigned to another wireless communication device. During the time when no channel is assigned to the first communication device during a data communication, a second communication may be directed to the wireless communication device. The second communication may be, for example, a voice call. When the wireless communication device does not have a communication channel assigned to it, calls of any mode are able to be transmitted to the communication device. For example, a page message may be sent to a communication device indicating that a voice call is awaiting the user. The pending voice call is often an undesired interruption of the data call, or communication session. What is needed is an apparatus and method to prevent communications of a first mode from being directed to a communication device capable of multi- mode communications. The need for such an apparatus and method is especially useful in applications where a user does not wish to receive calls of the first mode while a communication of a second mode is in progress. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a method and apparatus for disabling at least one mode of communications to a device capable of multi-mode communications. In the exemplary embodiment, the wireless communication device comprises a wireless telephone capable of communicating in a voice mode and in a data mode. The apparatus of the present invention comprises a multi-mode wireless telephone and means located within the telephone to generate a disable request to a base station and /or a mobile switching center to disable communications of a first mode to the wireless communication device. In a first embodiment, a disable request to disable a first mode of communications to a multi-mode communication device is transmitted from the communication device to a base station prior to the communication device entering into communications of a second mode. After completion of communications of the second mode, communications of the first mode may be re-enabled either by generating a request to re-enable communications of the first mode by the communication device, or it may be done automatically by a mobile switching center upon completion of the second mode communication. In a second embodiment of the present invention, the disable request to disable a first communication mode is transmitted to a base station and /or a mobile switching center any time a user wishes to disable communications of the first mode to the wireless communication device. In this embodiment, a request to disable a first mode of communications to the multi-mode communication device is generated at the wireless communication device, and then the request is transmitted, generally through a base station, to a mobile switching center. The request instructs the mobile switching center to disable communications of the first mode to the wireless communication device. The method of the present invention comprises the steps of generating a disable request by a wireless communication device capable of multi-mode communications, to disable communications of a first mode to the wireless communication device, and then transmitting the request ultimately to a mobile switching center. The mobile switching center then disables communications of the first mode to the wireless communication device. The request may be generated manually or automatically prior to the start of a second mode of communications or the request may be generated manually at any time by the wireless communication device user. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The features, objects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which like reference characters identify correspondingly throughout and wherein: FIG. 1 is an illustration of a typical wireless communication system in which the present invention is used; FIG. 2 illustrates the functional components of a wireless communication device used in the wireless communication system of FIG. 1, shown in block diagram format; FIG. 3 illustrates a representation of a typical data record located within a home location register comprising the wireless communication of FIG. 1; and FIG. 4 illustrates the method of the present invention, shown as a flowchart diagram. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention is a method and apparatus for disabling at least one mode of communications to a device capable of multi-mode communications. In the exemplary embodiment, the apparatus of the present invention comprises a multi-mode wireless telephone and means located within the telephone to generate a disable request to a base station or a mobile switching center to disable communications of a first mode to the communication device. Although the teachings of the present invention are described with respect to a terrestrial-based, wireless communication system, and specifically to a wireless telephone capable of two modes of operation, it should be understood that the present invention is not so limited. For example, the present invention may be used in any wireless communication system and be used in devices such as a satellite communication devices or pagers, and any wireless communication device having at least two modes of operation. FIG. 1 is an illustration of a typical terrestrial-based, wireless communication system in which the present invention is used. It should be understood that the components shown in FIG. 1 are merely representative of one mode of wireless communication system and that other communication systems may use different components in order to achieve similar results. The present invention, therefore, is not intended to be limited to the system shown in FIG. 1. In the wireless communication system of FIG. 1, remote units, or wireless communication devices, are shown as wireless communication devices 100a, 100b, and lOOn, a single wireless communication device being assigned to each user in the system. The designations a, b, and n on the wireless communication device identifiers correspond respectively to a first user, a second user, and an nth user, representing "n" number of users in the communication system. Although only three wireless communication devices are shown in FIG. 1, it should be understood that a wireless communication system typically comprises many thousands of users. Referring again to FIG. 1, Mobile Switching Center (MSC) 120 typically includes interface and processing circuitry for providing system control to base stations 110a through llOn, representing one through "m" base stations comprising the wireless communication system. Base stations are well known in the art for transmitting and receiving communication signals to and from wireless communication devices. Each base station 110 provides a coverage area ranging up to several miles in radius from the base station location. As wireless communication devices travel within the coverage area of each base station, communication signals to be transferred to and from the wireless communication device are routed generally through the particular base station to which the wireless communication device is most closely located. MSC 120 provides circuitry for routing communications between wireless communication devices operating in various base station coverage areas, as well as between remote stations and land-line telephone users through a Public Switch Telephone Network (PSTN), shown in FIG. 1 as PSTN 130. MSC 120 may, alternatively, or in addition to, be connected to computer network 160 to provide communications between wireless communication devices in the communication system and various known computing devices connected to computer network 160, such as personal computers, mainframe computers, digital cameras, email systems, remotely controlled devices, and so on. MSC 120 typically comprises a telecommunications switch (not shown) and a Base Station Controller (BSC) (also not shown). The telecommunication switch provides a switching interface to PSTN 130 while the BSC provides the necessary hardware and software for communications to take place between base stations. MSC 120 typically provides other functions in the communication system as well, such as billing services and data services. MSC 120 may be coupled to the base stations by various means such as dedicated telephone lines, optical fiber links, or microwave communication links. When a call is initiated by a wireless communication device, a call origination message is transmitted to one or more base stations proximate to the wireless communication device initiating the call. The call origination message is routed to MSC 120, where it is processed and routed either to PSTN 130 or to one or more base stations proximate to a wireless communication device for which the call is intended. When a call is initiated from PSTN 130, an origination message is routed through MSC 120 where it is routed to one or more base stations proximate to the wireless communication device for which the call is intended. When voice communications are initiated by a wireless communication device 100, in other words, a typical telephone call, a traffic channel, otherwise known as an air interface, is assigned to the wireless communication device 100 by one or more base stations 110 that are proximate to it. The traffic channel remains assigned to wireless communication device 100 until completion of the communication, for example, one of the users engaged in the call "hangs up". During the time when the call is active, or connected, no other call can be accepted by wireless communication device 100 (unless, of course, a call waiting service option is available and has been activated). The air interface remains dedicated to wireless communication device 100 no matter how much or little voice activity is occurring between the two parties. If a second call is directed to wireless communication device 100 while it is engaged in a first voice call, a busy signal will be generated at MSC 120 and sent back to the device which requested the second call, or the second call is forwarded to another telephone number, for example, a telephone number corresponding to a voice mail system. In a CDMA communication system, Industry Standard IS- 53 specifies how such a process is implemented. When a wireless communication device engages in data communications, otherwise known as a data call, communication session, or data session, information generally does not flow continuously over the air interface. More commonly, data is transmitted in bursts of information, for example, when an electronic document is requested by a wireless modem connected to a laptop computer. It should be understood that data communications may comprise one or more calls. The air interface is used for only as long as it is needed to transmit the document. The period of time during which data is actively being transmitted over an air interface is called the "active" state, or "connected" state. The active state also includes a predefined period of time after a data burst has been transmitted over the air interface, sometimes referred to as "hang time", during which no data is being transmitted. If no data is transmitted over the air interface after the predefined period of time, for example 20 seconds after the last time any data was transmitted over the air interface, the active state expires, and a dormant state is entered. In the dormant state, the air interface originally assigned to a wireless communication device is revoked, generally by the mobile switching center through which the wireless communication device was communicating. However, data calls are often not completed upon entering the dormant state. In many cases, there is simply a long pause in between data transmissions between a wireless communication device and a host computer, for example. Upon expiration of the active state, the air interface assigned to the wireless communication device is re-allocated to another wireless communication device as needed to transmit voice or data communications. The re-allocation of under-utilized air interfaces is a technique used to improve the efficiency and maximize capacity of the communication system. During the dormant state, wireless communication device 100 or base station 110 is able to quickly re-establish another air interface when needed. This is because certain operational parameters of the data call are stored within communication device 100 and the base station 110 and /or MSC 120 to which communication device 100 was in contact with. For example, during a data call, a wireless communication device is assigned an IP address, typically by the base station that the communication device is communicating through. An IP address is a well-known 4-digit code for uniquely identifying a remote computer to a computer network, such as the Internet. An IP address, in the present example, is used to identify the wireless communication device to the device that it was in contact with prior to entering the dormant state, for example, a host computer. An air interface, or communication channel, can be quickly re-established to the wireless communication device if the original IP address assigned to the communication device is maintained during the dormant state. However, if a second communication is received by the wireless communication device while in the dormant state, such as a voice call, information pertaining to the data call, such as the IP address, may need to be re-established once the second communication has been accepted by the wireless communication device. During the active state, for example during periods when data is being transmitted to or from the wireless communication device or during the "hang time" period, the wireless communication device is generally not able to receive other calls. For example, if communication device 100 is in the active state, it may not be able to receive voice calls directed to it by MSC 120. Any voice calls intended for wireless communication device 100 while in the active state will either receive a busy signal from MSC 120, or they will be forwarded to a predetermined destination, for example, a voice mail system. Other ways of processing the voice call are addressed in industry standards pertaining to the particular communication system at hand, for example, IS-53 for a CDMA communication system. However, during the dormant state, wireless communication device 100 is susceptible of receiving other calls being transmitted to it, thereby interrupting the data call that is in progress. In the dormant state, MSC 120 is able to transmit other communications to wireless communication device 100 because no air interface is presently assigned to communication device 100. While in the dormant state, if the wireless communication device user acknowledges a second call from MSC 120, for instance, a voice call, the data call may be interrupted and any information intended for communication device 100 will be lost. The present invention solves this problem by generating a request at wireless communication device 100 to disable calls of a particular mode from being transmitted to wireless communication device 100. This is especially useful when wireless communication device 100 is engaged in a data call. FIG. 2 illustrates the functional components of a wireless communication device 100, shown in block diagram format. Wireless communication device 100 is capable of multi-mode communications, meaning that it can send and receive different modes of communications, such as voice communications or data communications. It should be understood that voice communications comprise any audio-mode communication including speech, music, or audible tones used for call processing, modems, and facsimile machines. Data communications comprise either packet data or asynchronous data communications. Packet data communications are generally used in applications requiring connectivity to Internet-based hosts. Asynchronous data communications are used in applications typically requiring connectivity to a PSTN modem to provide dial-up access for e-mail, or other data files. In addition to these modes, it is envisioned that wireless communication device is also capable of other modes of communications as well. A user of wireless communication device 100 initiates communications generally by using input device 200. Input device 200 comprises a keypad in the exemplary embodiment, however, input device 200 could be any device which accepts user commands, such as a voice response device which converts voice commands into electrical signals suitable for processing by controller 202. During voice communications, the user speaks into microphone 204, which transforms acoustic energy into electrical energy and sends the electrical signals to controller 202 for processing. Microphone 204 may be substituted for input device 200 in an application where a second audio input device is undesirable. In many instances, a voice encoder /decoder, generally known as a Codec, is used between microphone 204 and controller 202, or is incorporated within controller 202, to convert the electrical signals from microphone 204 into a format more suitable for transmission over a limited bandwidth air interface. Speaker 206 is used to convert received electrical signals into acoustic signals. Speaker 206 may comprise a speaker suitable for low volume acoustic outputs, typically for use in a traditional telephone application, or speaker 206 may comprise a loudspeaker, suitable for high volume acoustic outputs, typically for use in a push-to-talk radio-mode application. In another embodiment, speaker 206 may comprise a combination of the high volume and low volume acoustic speakers, commonly in use and readily available. Wireless communication device 100 further comprises display 208 for allowing a user to view operational characteristics of the wireless communication device. Such displays are common in many of today's wireless devices including telephones and remote data terminals. Data port 210 serves as an interface between controller 202 and external data communication devices. Data port 210 generally allows a variety of bidirectional communications to take place between wireless communication device 100 and the external device. Such external devices include laptop computers, facsimile machines, and remote data terminals, among others. When a user initiates voice or data communications, an identification code corresponding to a second communication device, generally a telephone number, is entered using input device 200. In the exemplary embodiment, input device 200 comprises keys corresponding to digits 0 through 9, as well as additional function keys, such as SEND, END, and so forth. Input device 200 may also comprise one or more keys used to classify an outgoing communication as being a data communication or a voice communication. For example, a user wishing to initiate a data communication might press a key designated for data communications, then dial a telephone number corresponding to a data device that the user wishes to communicate with. In one embodiment, all calls from wireless communication device 100 are assumed to be voice calls, unless classified as some other mode of communication, as described by one of the methods above. Controller 202 serves as the main computational unit of wireless communication device 100. Although controller 202 is shown as a single element in FIG. 2, it should be understood that controller 202 may comprise one or more individual components such as one or more Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) or a microprocessor from Intel Incorporated of Santa Clara, California in combination with memory devices, bus controllers, and other support devices well known to those skilled in the art. Among other functions, controller 202 is responsible for receiving instructions from a user via input device 200. For example, controller 202 may receive a signal, corresponding to a telephone number, from input device 200 along with a signal to initiate communications with a second communication device located remotely from the first communication device. In addition to the telephone number and the initiation signal, controller 202 may also receive a signal from input device 200 indicating which mode, or mode, of communications are to be initiated. In the exemplary embodiment, wireless communication device 100 is able to communicate in at least two modes, or modes, of communication, data communication mode and voice communication mode. Data communication mode is used when it is desirous to send or receive information generally suitable for digital computational devices, such as laptop computers. Data is generally transmitted in discreet segments called packets. Each data packet generally contains overhead information used for a variety of purposes. For example, many data packets contain a data field used to store an error detection code. The error detection code is used to check a received data packet to ensure that it was received intact; that is, the data was not corrupted during the transmission process. Voice communication mode is used when it is desirous to transmit acoustic information, including human speech, facsimile tones, music, or other audible forms of communication. Normally, during the dormant state, other modes of calls can be received by wireless communication device 100. For example, a voice call could be directed at wireless communication device 100 by a base station 110 in communication with wireless communication device 100. In such a situation, wireless communication device 100 would indicate that a call was being received to the wireless communication device user, generally by producing an audible alert, such as a typical ring produced by many telephones in use today. The audible alert is generated in response to a paging message sent by a base station 110, generally over a paging channel, that a call is waiting to be answered. The message will generally indicate an appropriate communication channel, orthogonal code, time slot, or frequency for wireless communication device 100 to use in order to receive the call. Should the user choose to accept the call, the data call will be disrupted. A resumption of the data call can now occur only upon a more time consuming process than if a re-connection were to happen from the dormant state. For example, in order to re-establish a data call, communication device 100 and base station 110 must first determine which data was lost when the alternative call was accepted, then transfer the missing data. The present invention disables calls of at least one mode to wireless communication device 100 by generating a disable request and transmitting the disable request to a corresponding base station 110 and /or MSC 120 through which wireless communication device 100 is communicating. Referring to FIG. 2 again, a user of wireless communication device 100 may initiate the request by using input device 200. The user may enter the disable request at any time, typically just prior to initiating communications of a different mode. For example, just prior to initiating a data call, a user may generate a disable request to disable voice calls to his or her wireless communication device 100 so that the data call will be uninterrupted. Or the disable request may be generated and transmitted automatically prior to the initiation of communications of a particular mode. The disable request comprises a predefined code, such as a feature request code commonly used in telephony applications today. Such a feature code may comprise an asterisk (*), followed by a two digit numeric code. The predefined code may alternatively be generated by a single, predefined key, if input device 200 is a keypad, or a predefined audio code, if input device 200 is responsive to audio commands. The disable request may also contain information describing how long the particular mode of communications are to be disabled. For example, a default condition can be defined wherein communications of a first mode are disabled only until the conclusion of a communication of a second mode. Or the default condition may be defined wherein communications of a first mode are disabled until a re-enable request is transmitted by wireless communication device 100. The disable request is provided to controller 202, where it is processed to conform with the communications protocol of the wireless system, for example, in CDMA format, TDMA format, or other formats well known to those skilled in the art. The processed disable request contains information identifying which mode is to be disabled, for example, voice communications. Identification information, such as a mobile identification number (MIN) and /or an electronic serial number (ESN) is also inserted into the processed disable request. The processed disable request is then provided to RF transceiver 212, where it is upconverted to a high frequency, then provided to antenna 214 for wireless transmission to one or more nearby base stations 110. Referring back to FIG. 1, the processed request is received by one or more base stations generally in close proximity to the wireless communication device which transmitted the request. The request is processed by base station 110a, for example, where it is downconverted and demodulated to produce the original request, using techniques well known in the art. The request is then forwarded to MSC 120, which receives the request and then disables communications of the specified mode to the particular wireless communication device 110 which transmitted the request, as explained below. The processed disable request arrives at MSC 120, whereupon MSC 120 updates a data record corresponding to the particular wireless communication device 100 which transmitted the disable request. The data record generally resides at home location register (HLR) 140, although it could alternatively reside at MSC 120, or at some other remote location from MSC 120. FIG. 3 illustrates a representation of a typical data record located within HLR 140. As shown in FIG. 3, a typical data record identifies each wireless communication device 100 which has registered with the particular MSC 120 that HLR 140 supports. Registration is a well-known process in which wireless communication devices contact MSC 120 so that calls may be efficiently routed to wireless communication devices 100 operating within the coverage area of one or more base stations associated with MSC 120. When a wireless communication device registers with MSC 120, a data record is created at HLR 140 where it remains until MSC 120 directs HLR 140 to delete the record, for example, if a wireless communication device registers with a different wireless system other than the one supported by MSC 120. When a wireless communication device 100 registers with MSC 120, the wireless communication device 100 identifies itself by transmitting a registration message, comprising at least an electronic serial number (ESN) and a mobile identification number (MIN) uniquely assigned to wireless communication device 100. Other information is typically transmitted by a registering wireless communication device 100 as well, such as a present location of wireless communication device 100, a user name associated with wireless communication device 100, an "enabled features" indication, as well as other information not shown in FIG. 3. When the disable request is received by MSC 120, a signal is sent to HLR 140 from MSC 120 instructing HLR 140 to modify the data record corresponding to the requesting wireless communication device. If wireless communication device 100 has not previously registered with MSC 120, a new data record is created at this time. The enabled features column of the data record is modified to prevent calls of a particular mode, in this case voice calls, from being transmitted to the associated wireless communication device 100. This result can be achieved in a number of different ways. Voice calls will be disabled to wireless communication device 100 if a call forwarding feature is enabled. This feature automatically forwards calls under certain conditions. For example, one mode of call forwarding is called "call forwarding unconditional". Under this feature, all calls directed to the particular wireless communication device will be automatically forwarded to another phone number, no matter if the particular wireless communication device is engaged in communications or not. In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, this is the primary mechanism in which calls are disabled to wireless communication device 100. Another way in which calls are disabled to a wireless communication device 100 is to activate a "busy signal unconditional" feature, which sends a "busy" signal to the call originator, no matter if the particular wireless communication device 100 is actively engaged in communications or not. When a user of wireless communication device 100 desires to enable communications of the mode which was disabled in an earlier request, a re- enable request is generated by the user at wireless communication device 100 to cancel the earlier request. Generally, the re-enable request can be generated any time wireless communication device 100 is not engaged in an active call. The re-enable request is generally invoked by using input device 200, similar to how the disable request was generated, as explained above. A feature request code may be used as the re-enable request, generally by a user entering an asterisk (*), followed by a two digit code. The feature request code is then provided to controller 202, where it is processed and transmitted in a manner similar to the disable request, described above. Alternatively, the re-enable request may be generated automatically after termination of any call. The re-enable request is ultimately received by MSC 120, which then instructs HLR 140 to modify a data record associated with wireless communication device 100 to effectuate the re- enable request. Generally, this is done by disabling the "call forwarding unconditional" feature in the "enabled features" column, or by disabling the "busy signal unconditional" feature. The re-enable request may alternatively be generated automatically after the conclusion of a particular mode of communication. Controller 202 generates the re-enable request upon determining that a data call has terminated. In another embodiment, MSC 120 automatically modifies HLR 140 after the conclusion of a particular mode of communication, as is well known in the art. FIG. 4 illustrates the method of the present invention, shown as a flowchart diagram. In step 400 a user of a multi-mode wireless communication device 100 desires to disable communications of a first mode to wireless communication device 100. In the exemplary embodiment, the first mode is defined as voice communications and a second mode is defined as data communications. Often, a user will desire to prevent the first mode of communications from being transmitted to communication device 100 if the user will be engaged in communications of the second mode. In step 402, a disable request to disable communications of a first mode is generated by the user using input device 200. Typically one or more keys of a keypad comprising input device 200 are depressed in order to generate the request. For example, one key could be designated as a key to disable voice communications to the communication device. Another key could be designated to disable data communications. In another embodiment, the request to prevent communications of a first mode could be generated automatically by controller 202 upon a user initiating communications of a second mode. For example, if a user initiates a data call, the request to disable voice communications could be generated by controller 202 automatically prior to, or contemporaneously with, the initiation of the data call. In yet another embodiment, a disable request could be generated automatically by controller 202 upon initiation of communications of a second mode from a second communication device. For example, prior to wireless communication device 100 receiving a page message of an incoming data call, an option could be set using input device 200 on wireless communication device 100 to automatically disable voice communications upon acceptance of the data communication. Or, rather than be conditioned on the acceptance of a data communication, the disable request could be generated automatically upon receipt of a page message indicating the availability of an incoming data communication. In step 404, the disable request to disable communications of a first mode, including identification of the mode to be disabled and identification information of the particular wireless communication device generating the disable request, is transmitted by wireless communication device 100 to one or more base stations 110, using techniques well known in the art. In step 406, the disable request is received by one or more base stations 110 in communication with the wireless communication device 100 transmitting the disable request. The disable request is then generally forwarded to MSC 120 in communication with the one or more base stations 110 comprising the wireless communication system. In step 406, a database associated with MSC 120 which received the disable request is updated to disable further communications of the first mode to wireless communication device 100. The database is generally located at HLR 140 in communication with MSC 120. As explained above, wireless communication devices register with MSC 120 at certain intervals in order for MSC 120 to more efficiently control communications in the system. A data record is created at HLR 140 indicating the presence of registering wireless communication devices. Each data record contains at least a field of enabled features that each registered communication device is authorized to use. In the exemplary embodiment, a call forwarding unconditional feature is activated for a communication device requesting that voice communications be disabled. The enablement of the call forwarding unconditional feature automatically forwards all calls of a particular mode to a designated alternate phone number, typically to a voice mailbox system. In another embodiment, when a call is placed to a wireless communication device having voice communications disabled by the present invention, a "busy" signal is sent back to the originating device which placed the call. Communications of a first mode will remain disabled for as long the "call forwarding unconditional" feature or the "busy signal unconditional" feature remains enabled. Communications of the disabled mode may be re-enabled in either one of two ways. Wireless communication device 100 may generate a re- enable request, either manually, by a wireless communication device user using input device 200, or automatically by controller 202 detecting a predefined event, such as the conclusion of communications of a second mode. The re- enable request may alternatively originate with MSC 120 upon MSC 120 detecting a predefined event, such as the conclusion of communications of a second mode. The previous description of the preferred embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. The various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without the use of the inventive faculty. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein. We claim:

Claims: CLAIMS 1. An apparatus for disabling at least one mode of communications to a device capable of multi-mode communications, comprising: said device capable of multi-mode communications; and means for generating a request by said device to prevent communications of a first mode from being transmitted to said device. 2. Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said request comprises a message to prevent communications of a first mode from being transmitted to said device while said device is engaged in a communications of a second mode. 3. Method for disabling at least one mode of communications to a device capable of multi-mode communications, comprising the steps of: generating a request by said multi-mode communication device to prevent communications of a first mode from being transmitted to said device; transmitting said request to a mobile switching center; and preventing communications of said first mode from being transmitted to said device. 4. The method of claim 3 wherein said request comprises a message to prevent communications of a first mode from being transmitted to said device while said device is engaged in a communications of a second mode.

Inventors: TOMCIK JAMES, VASSILOVSKI DAN, TOMCIK, JAMES, VASSILOVSKI, DAN
Applicants: QUALCOMM INC, QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
Application year: 2000
Main classification: H04Q7
IPC codes: H04M1, H04W8, H04W76