Patent Publication Number: US-7710289-B2

Title: Portable communication apparatus with an anti-theft mode and implementing method thereof

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a communication apparatus with an anti-theft mode and an implementing method of the communication apparatus with an anti-theft mode. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     As portable communication apparatus become smaller and lighter, it becomes more susceptible to being misplaced and/or stolen. 
     When a portable communication apparatus is stolen and used maliciously, the extra charges incurred are typically charged to the owner of the communication apparatus. Accordingly, when the communication apparatus is stolen, it is desirable that malicious usage of the communication apparatus are prevented. 
     There is an electronic lock that facilitates the locking of communication apparatus to prevent malicious usage. Before the communication apparatus can be used, a lock code must be manually inputted so as to unlock the communication apparatus. However, locking and unlocking the communication apparatus is very troublesome. For this reason, many communication apparatus users do not bother locking them. Therefore, if the communication is stolen, the malicious use of the communication apparatus cannot be prevented. 
     Therefore, what is still needed is a communication apparatus with an anti-theft mode and when the communication apparatus in the anti-theft mode, to prevent malicious use of communication apparatus. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A communication apparatus with an anti-theft mode is provided. A preferred embodiment of the apparatus includes an input unit and a CPU. The input unit is for generating an operational signal in response to an operational input. The CPU is for receiving an anti-theft mode signal and setting the communication apparatus in an anti-theft mode, and disabling communication functions of the communication apparatus when the operational signal received from the input unit is a communication operational signal and the communication apparatus is in the anti-theft mode. 
     An implementing method for a communication apparatus with an anti-theft mode is provided. The implementing method includes the step of: receiving an anti-theft mode signal; setting the communication apparatus in an anti-theft mode; receiving an operational signal; and disable communication functions of the communication apparatus when the operational signal is a communication operational signal. 
     Other advantages and novel features will be drawn from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the attached drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exemplary hardware infrastructure diagram of a portable communication apparatus with an anti-theft mode in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a flow chart of an implementing method of the portable electronic apparatus with an anti-theft mode; 
         FIG. 3  is a flow chart of procedure A of  FIG. 2  when an operational signal is a voice communication signal; 
         FIG. 4  is a flow chart of procedure B of  FIG. 2  when an operation signal is a message communication signal; and 
         FIG. 5  is a flow chart of procedure C of  FIG. 2  when an operation signal is a general operation signal. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a portable communication apparatus (hereinafter, “the apparatus”) has a general mode and an anti-theft mode. The general mode and the anti-theft mode can be switched by user&#39;s operation. In the general mode, all functions of the apparatus are in a normal state. In the anti-theft mode, voice and message communication functions of the apparatus are in an anti-theft state, while the other functions are still in the normal state. A detailed implementing method of the preferred embodiment is described herein. 
       FIG. 1  is an exemplary hardware infrastructure diagram of the apparatus in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus  1  includes an input unit  101 , a first wireless communication unit  102 , a first antenna  103 , a CPU  104 , a power source  105 , a power control unit  106 , a voice signal receiving unit  107 , a second wireless communication unit  108 , a second antenna  109 , a data storage  110 , and a temporary data storage  111 . 
     The apparatus  1  further defines a state value that indicates a current mode of the apparatus. For example, when the state value is “0”, it indicates the current mode of the apparatus  1  is the general mode, when the state value is “1”, it indicates the current mode of the apparatus  1  is the anti-theft mode. 
     The antenna  103  is provided for receiving an anti-theft mode signal transmitted from a wireless signal transmitting apparatus  2 . The anti-theft mode signal is generated by the wireless signal transmitting apparatus  2  for response to a lock operation input of the user. When the anti-theft mode signal is received, the antenna  103  transmits the anti-theft mode signal to the CPU  104  through the first wireless communication unit  102 . When the CPU  104  receives the anti-theft mode signal, the CPU  104  changes the state value from “0” to “1” and changes the mode of the apparatus  1  from the general mode to the anti-theft mode. In the anti-theft mode, the CPU  104  disables the voice and message communication functions. The CPU  104  signals the power control unit  106  to discontinue supplying power from the power source  105  to the voice receiving unit  107 , suspends receiving voice signal from the voice signal receiving unit  107 , or suspends sending the voice signals received from the voice receiving unit  107  to the general communication apparatus  4  to disable the voice communication function. To disable the message communication functions, the CPU  104  does not send the text file edited by users and stored in the temporary data storage  111 . Furthermore, the anti-theft mode signal can also be generated and sent to the  104  by the input unit  101  after the lock operation input. 
     Once receiving an unlock signal, the CPU  104  changes the state value from “1” to “0”, and switches the current mode from the anti-theft mode to the general mode. That is, the CPU  104  enables the voice and message communication functions to revert to the activate state. 
     In addition, while in the anti-theft mode, when a voice communication instruction is received from the input unit  101 , the CPU  104  sends a network connection instruction to establish a connection between the apparatus  1  and the general communication apparatus  4 . Subsequently, the CPU  104  obtains a prerecorded voice file from the data storage  110  and transmits the prerecorded voice file to the second wireless communication unit  108 , the second wireless communication unit  108  then sends the prerecorded voice file to the general communication apparatus  4  through the second antenna  109  and a communication network  3 . The content of the prerecorded voice file can be “device has been stolen” or other content that alerts people that the user of the apparatus  1  is not the original owner of the apparatus  1 . 
     When receiving a message communication instruction from the input unit  101 , the CPU  104  obtains a prerecord message file from the data storage  110  instead of a message file stored in the temporary data storage  111 . The prerecord message is then transmitted to the second wireless communication unit  108 . The second wireless communication unit  108  sends the prerecord message to the portable communication apparatus  3  through the second antenna  109  and the communication network  4 . The content of the prerecord message file can be “device has been stolen” or other content that alerts people that the holder of the apparatus  1  is not the original owner of the apparatus  1 . 
       FIG. 2  is a flow chart of an implementing method of the portable electronic apparatus with an anti-theft mode. 
     In step S 201 , the CPU  104  receives the anti-theft mode signal which transmitted from the wireless signal sending apparatus  2  or the input unit  101 . 
     In step S 202 , the CPU  104  sets the apparatus  1  in the anti-theft mode according to the anti-theft mode signal. 
     In step S 203 , the CPU  104  receives the operational signal from the input unit  101 . 
     In step S 204 , the CPU  104  determines the operational signal. If the operational signal is the voice operational signal, the procedure goes to procedure A. If the operation signal is the message operational signal, the procedure goes to procedure B. If the operation signal is the general operation signal, the procedure goes to procedure C. 
       FIG. 3  is a flow chart of the procedure A when the operation signal is the voice communication signal. 
     In step S 301 , the CPU  104  sends the network connection instruction to establish a connection between the apparatus  1  and the general communication apparatus  4 . 
     In step S 302 , the CPU  104  disables the voice communication function of the apparatus  1 . 
     In step S 303 , the CPU  104  obtains the prerecorded voice file from the data storage  110  and then sends the prerecorded voice file to the general communication apparatus  4 . 
       FIG. 4  is a flow chart of the procedure B when the operation signal is the message communication signal. 
     In step S 401 , the CPU  104  disables the message communication function. 
     In step S 402 , the CPU  104  obtains a prerecorded message file from the data storage  110 . 
     In step S 403 , the CPU  104  sends the prerecorded message file to general communication apparatus  4 . 
       FIG. 5  is a flow chart of the procedure C when the operation signal is the general operation signal. 
     In step S 501 , the CPU  104  implements the general instruction. 
     Although the present invention has been specifically described on the basis of a preferred embodiment, the invention is not to be construed as being limited thereto. Various changes or modifications may be made to the embodiment without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as recited in the claims and equivalents thereof.