Method and apparatus for activating features in a mobile communication system

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for activating different features in a mobile communication system, by implementing at least one hot key and a plurality of features; when one or more of said at least one hot key is triggered, a special feature corresponding to the triggered hot key would be selectively activated according to the current time, hence the mobile communication systems is able to use same hot key(s) to activate different features under different time settings. The invention also relates to an apparatus for activating different features in a mobile communication system.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features, objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which like references characters identify correspondingly throughout, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a representative diagram showing a first preferred embodiment of a mobile communication system in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a hot key list in the first preferred embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating the procedure of the first preferred embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a hot key setup interface in the first preferred embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating the procedure of programming a hot key in the first preferred embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating the procedure of a second preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for activating features in a mobile communication system, said method comprising the steps of: implementing at least one hot key and a plurality of features;triggering one or more of said at least one hot key; andactivating one of said features corresponding to the triggered hot key according to the current time.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said mobile communication system comprises a control unit, a storage unit, and a timing unit; said storage unit comprises at least one hot key list and said plurality of features, each of said at least one hot key corresponds to a key code; each of said key code corresponds to a hot key list; each of said hot key list comprises a time field and a feature field, said time field comprises a time period, said feature field comprises a program path to a feature; when a hot key is triggered, said control unit performs the steps of:receiving a key code corresponding to said hot key;retrieving a hot key list corresponding to said key code;retrieving current time from said timing unit;comparing said current time with said time period and determining whether said current time falls within said time period;if said current time falls within said time period, determining whether the feature field corresponding to said time period comprises a program path; andif the feature field corresponding to said time period comprises a program path, executing the feature corresponding said path.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said storage unit further comprises a hot key setup interface, said interface comprises a hot key setup menu, a feature setup menu, and a time period setup menu, when said interface is completely defined, said control unit performs the steps of:according to a hot key chosen from said hot key setup menu, retrieving a hot key list corresponding to said hot key;according to a feature chosen from said feature setup menu, saving the path to said feature in said feature field; andediting a time period in said time period setup menu, and saving said time period in a time field corresponding to said feature field.

4. An apparatus for activating features in a mobile communication system, said apparatus comprising: at least one hot key; anda plurality of features;wherein when one or more of said at least one hot key is triggered, one of said features corresponding to the triggered hot key is activated according to the current time.