Mobile communication terminal capable of digital broadcast data reception and alarm method using the same

Abstract

A mobile communication terminal capable of digital broadcast data reception is disclosed. The mobile communication terminal includes a key input unit for inputting alarm setting information to set a digital broadcast data according to user selections, an alarm information memory for storing the alarm setting information, a controller for measuring the strength of an electric field for reception of desired digital broadcast data at a predetermined time prior to an alarm time of the alarm setting information, and for setting, if the electric field is below a threshold level, an operation mode to a default alarm mode at the alarm time, and receiving, if the electric field is not below the threshold level, the digital broadcast data and setting the operation mode to a broadcast alarm mode at the alarm time, and an alarm output unit for outputting an alarm corresponding to the set alarm mode.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a mobile communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are data structures for maintaining alarm setting information used in the mobile communication terminal of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of producing an alarm of digital broadcast data according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a step of FIG. 3 to output the alarm of digital broadcast data;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a step of FIG. 4 to output the alarm of digital broadcast data at a given volume level; and

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of producing an alarm of digital broadcast data according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A mobile communication terminal capable of digital broadcast data reception, comprising: a key input unit for inputting alarm setting information to set a digital broadcast data alarm according to user selections;an alarm information memory for storing the alarm setting information;a controller for measuring the strength of an electric field for reception of desired digital broadcast data at a predetermined time prior to an alarm time of the alarm setting information, and for setting, if the electric field is below a threshold level, an operation mode to a default alarm mode at the alarm time, and receiving, if the electric field is not below a threshold level, the digital broadcast data and setting the operation mode to a broadcast alarm mode at the alarm time; andan alarm output unit for outputting an alarm corresponding to the set alarm mode.

2. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the alarm setting information includes at least one of an alarm time, digital broadcast channel, automatic alarm termination time, broadcast data reception start time, initial volume level, volume increment, and volume increment interval.

3. The mobile communication terminal of claim 2, wherein the alarm output unit outputs, in the broadcast alarm mode, an audio signal contained in the received digital broadcast data at the initial volume level, and then outputs the audio signal at volume levels changed by adding the volume increment to the current volume level at each volume increment interval.

4. The mobile communication terminal of claim 2, wherein the controller automatically terminates the alarm of digital broadcast data in the broadcast alarm mode at the automatic alarm termination time.

5. A mobile communication terminal capable of digital broadcast data reception, comprising: a key input unit for inputting alarm setting information to set a digital broadcast data alarm according to user selections;an alarm information memory for storing the alarm setting information;a controller for receiving desired digital broadcast data at a predetermined time prior to an alarm time of the alarm setting information and setting an operation mode to a default alarm mode at the alarm time, and for switching, if an alarm switch signal is input by a user in the default alarm mode, the operation mode from the default alarm mode to a broadcast alarm mode; andan alarm output unit for outputting an alarm corresponding to the set alarm mode.

6. The mobile communication terminal of claim 5, wherein the alarm setting information includes at least one of an alarm time, default alarm, digital broadcast channel, automatic alarm termination time, broadcast data reception start time, initial volume level, volume increment, and volume increment interval.

7. The mobile communication terminal of claim 6, wherein the controller measures the strength of an electric field for reception of the digital broadcast data at a predetermined time prior to the alarm time, and maintains, if the electric field is below a threshold level, the default alarm mode even if an alarm switch signal is input by the user.

8. The mobile communication terminal of claim 6, wherein the alarm output unit outputs, in the broadcast alarm mode, an audio signal contained in the received digital broadcast data at the initial volume level, and then outputs the audio signal at volume levels changed by adding the volume increment to the current volume level at each volume increment interval.

9. The mobile communication terminal of claim 6, wherein the controller automatically terminates the alarm of digital broadcast data in the broadcast alarm mode at the automatic alarm termination time.

10. An alarm method for a mobile communication terminal capable of digital broadcast data reception, comprising the steps of: a) inputting alarm setting information to set digital broadcast data alarm according to user selections;b) storing the alarm setting information;c) measuring the strength of an electric field for reception of desired digital broadcast data at a predetermined time prior to an alarm time of the alarm setting information;d) setting, if the electric field is below a threshold level, an operation mode to a default alarm mode at the alarm time, and receiving, if the electric field is not below the threshold level, the digital broadcast data and setting the operation mode to a broadcast alarm mode at the alarm time; ande) outputting an alarm corresponding to the set alarm mode.

11. The alarm method of claim 10, wherein the alarm setting information includes at least one of an alarm time, digital broadcast channel, automatic alarm termination time, broadcast data reception start time, initial volume level, volume increment, and volume increment interval.

12. The alarm method of claim 11, wherein step e) includes: outputting, in the broadcast alarm mode, an audio signal contained in the received digital broadcast data at the initial volume level;adding the volume increment to the current volume level at each volume increment interval to change the volume level; andoutputting the audio signal at the changed volume level.

13. The alarm method of claim 11, wherein at step e) the digital broadcast data alarm in the broadcast alarm mode is automatically terminated on the basis of the automatic alarm termination time.

14. An alarm method for a mobile communication terminal capable of digital broadcast data reception, comprising the steps of: a) inputting alarm setting information to set a digital broadcast data alarm according to user selections;b) storing the alarm setting information;c) receiving desired digital broadcast data at a predetermined time prior to an alarm time of the alarm setting information, and setting an operation mode to a default alarm mode at the alarm time;d) outputting a default alarm according to the default alarm mode;e) determining whether an alarm switch signal is input by a user in the default alarm mode;f) switching, if an alarm switch signal is input by the user, the operation mode from the default alarm mode to a broadcast alarm mode; andg) outputting an alarm of digital broadcast data according to the broadcast alarm mode.

15. The alarm method of claim 14, wherein the alarm setting information includes at least one of an alarm time, default alarm, digital broadcast channel, automatic alarm termination time, broadcast data reception start time, initial volume level, volume increment, and volume increment interval.

16. The alarm method of claim 15, wherein at step c) the strength of an electric field for reception of the digital broadcast data is measured at a predetermined time prior to the alarm time, and if the electric field is below a threshold level, the default alarm mode is maintained even if an alarm switch signal is input by the user.

17. The alarm method of claim 15, wherein step g) includes: outputting, in the broadcast alarm mode, an audio signal contained in the received digital broadcast data at the initial volume level;adding the volume increment to the current volume level at each volume increment interval to change the volume level; andoutputting the audio signal at the changed volume level.

18. The alarm method of claim 15, wherein at step g) the digital broadcast data alarm in the broadcast alarm mode is automatically terminated at the automatic alarm termination time.