KR100903547B1 - Mobile communication terminal and restrict method of using thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mobile communication terminal and a method for limiting use thereof, and more particularly, to a mobile communication terminal and a method for limiting use thereof, which can be used in a limited manner according to information identified through identification of a user.

To this end, the present invention provides a use request process in which a use request is input to a mobile communication terminal, an identification process of identifying a current user who inputs the use request, and a group selection process of selecting a group to which the user belongs according to the identification result. And an operation process of operating the mobile communication terminal according to the setting information corresponding to the selected group. According to this, the use of the mobile communication terminal is limited depending on the user, so that even if the mobile communication terminal is exposed or manipulated by others, personal information can be prevented from being easily exposed.

Mobile Phone, Camera, Facial Recognition, User Identification, User Group

Description

Mobile communication terminal and restrict method of using

1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a mobile communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a flowchart schematically illustrating a process of setting group information according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a flowchart schematically illustrating a group setting process according to an embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a flowchart schematically illustrating a usage restriction process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a flowchart schematically illustrating a user identification process of FIG. 4 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

6A is a diagram schematically illustrating the structure of a phonebook database according to an embodiment of the present invention.

6B is a diagram schematically showing the structure of a group information database according to an embodiment of the present invention.

7A and 7G schematically show screens of a mobile communication terminal according to the present embodiment.

The present invention relates to a terminal and a method of limiting its use. More particularly, the present invention relates to a mobile communication terminal and a method of limiting use thereof, which can be used in a limited manner according to information identified through an identification process.

In general, a mobile communication terminal is a personal mobile communication service terminal (Personal Mobile Communication Services Terminal), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a smart phone, a next-generation mobile communication terminal (International Mobile Telecommunication 2000: IMT-2000). And, such as a wireless LAN terminal refers to a terminal that can use a variety of functions using a wireless communication and various application programs while being carried by an individual.

These mobile communication terminals are not only compact and lightweight due to steady development, but also have become a complex communication terminal by combining various functions such as mp3, digital camera and navigation, and are already becoming a necessity of modern man.

As mobile communication terminals become more common, there are frequent occurrences of borrowing a mobile communication terminal of another person to use a call or various functions described above. However, in this situation, the conventional mobile communication terminal has a disadvantage in that personal information is easily exposed. For this reason, conventionally, when information (eg, content) that is not desired to be disclosed to others is stored in the mobile communication terminal, the information or the mobile communication terminal itself is locked (rock) so that not everyone can use it. This is not limited to information, but the same applies in terms of calls and menu display functions.

This conventional method is equally applicable to everyone who operates a mobile communication terminal. Therefore, the actual owner has to inconvenience after using the lock every time.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art as described above, and to provide a mobile communication terminal and a method of limiting its use capable of selectively providing and operating functions and information of the mobile communication terminal according to a user. It's there.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of limiting use of a mobile communication terminal, the use request process of inputting a use request to a mobile communication terminal, an identification process of identifying a current user who inputs the use request, and the identification. And a group selecting process for selecting a group to which the user belongs according to a result, and an operating process for operating the mobile communication terminal according to setting information corresponding to the selected group.

In addition, the mobile communication terminal according to the present invention includes a user identification unit for identifying a current user who inputs a use request based on a phonebook database, and among the one or more preset groups, the user according to the identification result of the user identification unit. And a group selector which selects the group to which the group belongs, and a limited operation unit which operates the mobile communication terminal according to setting information corresponding to the selected group.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Prior to the description of the present invention, the terms or words used in the specification and claims described below should not be construed as being limited to the ordinary or dictionary meanings, and the inventors should consider their own invention in the best way. For the purpose of explanation, it should be interpreted as meaning and concept corresponding to the technical idea of the present invention on the basis of the principle that it can be appropriately defined as the concept of term. Therefore, the embodiments described in the present specification and the configuration shown in the drawings are only the most preferred embodiments of the present invention, and do not represent all of the technical idea of the present invention, and various equivalents may be substituted for them at the time of the present application. It should be understood that there may be water and variations.

In the present invention, a mobile communication terminal is described as an example of a terminal on which a usage restriction method is performed, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention is a terminal capable of receiving a broadcast, preferably a mobile phone, a digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) receiver, a digital video broadcasting-handheld (DVB-H) receiver, a wired / wireless telephone. , Notebook, personal computer, 3G terminal, for example, IMT-2000 terminal, Wide Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) terminal, Universal Mobile Telecommunication Service (UMTS) terminal, Global System For Mobile Communication It will be apparent that all information communication and multimedia devices such as) / General Packet Radio System (GPRS) terminals and the like can be applied.

In addition, the embodiment according to the present invention uses a face recognition scheme for identifying the user by using the face image to identify the user. However, in addition to the above, various methods may be used as long as the user can be identified, such as fingerprint recognition, iris recognition, voice recognition, palmprint recognition, vein recognition, and signature recognition.

Hereinafter, in describing the embodiments, descriptions of technical contents which are well known in the technical field to which the present invention belongs and are not directly related to the present invention will be omitted. In addition, detailed description of components having substantially the same configuration and function will be omitted.

For the same reason, some components in the accompanying drawings are exaggerated, omitted, or schematically illustrated, and the size of each component does not entirely reflect the actual size.

1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a mobile communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the mobile communication terminal 100 according to the present invention includes a camera module 110, a wireless communication unit 130, an audio processing unit 140, a key input unit 160, a display unit 150, and a storage unit 170. ), And the controller 190.

The camera module 110 acquires a preview image for capturing an image. That is, when the user identification process according to the present embodiment is performed, an image of the current user is obtained, and a face image is extracted therefrom. To this end, the camera module 110 photographs an image photographed through a lens, and converts a photographed optical signal into an electrical signal (not shown), and converts an analog image signal photographed from the camera sensor into digital data. And a signal processor (not shown). Here, the camera sensor may be a charge coupled device (CCD) sensor, and the signal processor may be implemented as a digital signal processor (DSP), but is not limited thereto.

In addition, although not shown, the camera module 110 according to the present embodiment includes an image processor. The image processor converts the image data processed by the frame of the image signal output from the camera module 110 in accordance with the display characteristics and size of the display unit 150 to output. The image processor compresses the image data and transmits the image data to the controller 190. To this end, the image processing unit includes an image codec and performs a function of compressing image data displayed on the display unit 150 in a set manner or restoring the compressed image data to original image data. In this case, various codecs such as JPEG, Wavelet, mpeg2, mpeg4, H.263, and H.264 may be used as the image codec.

The wireless communication unit 130 performs a function of transmitting and receiving corresponding data for wireless communication of the mobile communication terminal 100. The wireless communication unit 130 may include an RF transmitter for upconverting and amplifying a frequency of a transmitted signal, and an RF receiver for low noise amplifying and downconverting a received signal. In addition, the wireless communication unit 130 may receive data through a wireless channel, output the data to the controller 190, and transmit data output from the controller 190 through a wireless channel.

The audio processor 140 includes a coder (Coder / Decoder). The codec may include a data codec for processing packet data and the like and an audio codec for processing an audio signal such as voice. Therefore, the audio processor 140 converts the digital audio data received by the controller 190 through the wireless communication unit 130 into an analog audio signal through an audio codec and outputs the speaker to the speaker, and the analog audio signal input from the microphone. Is converted into digital audio data through an audio codec and provided to the controller 190.

The display unit 150 visually provides a menu of the mobile communication terminal 100, user data input by the user, function setting information, and various information to the user. The display unit 150 may be formed of a liquid crystal display (LCD). In this case, the display unit 150 may include a control device for controlling the liquid crystal display, a video memory capable of storing image data, an element of the liquid crystal display, and the like. Meanwhile, when the LCD is implemented by using a touch screen method, the screen of the display unit 150 may be operated as an input unit.

The key input unit 160 receives a user's operation signal for controlling the mobile communication terminal 100 and transmits it to the controller 190. To this end, the key input unit 160 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a control key (not shown) for operation control and a plurality of numeric keys (not shown) for inputting letters and numbers.

The storage unit 170 stores an application program required for operating a function according to an embodiment of the present invention, content to be downloaded, and user data generated by the user. The storage unit 170 may include a program area and a data area.

The program area may be an application required for an operating system (OS) for booting the mobile communication terminal 100, other options of the mobile communication terminal 100, for example, a music play function, an image or video play function, and the like. Save the program. When activating each function according to a user request, each function is provided through corresponding application programs under the control of the controller 190. In addition, the storage unit 170 may temporarily store user data (music file, still image, video) generated during the execution of an application program according to a function of playing a predetermined application, for example, music or video. May contain a (buffer).

The data area is an area in which user data according to the use of the mobile communication terminal 100 is stored. For example, a music file and a video file may be stored.

In addition, a phone book database (hereinafter referred to as a phone book) 172 and a group information database (hereinafter referred to as group information DB) 174 are stored in the data area of the storage unit 170 according to the present embodiment.

6A is a diagram schematically illustrating the structure of a phonebook database according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6A, the phone book 172 according to the present embodiment may include information (eg, name) of all communication event subjects input by the user directly or through another path (eg, call reception, file download through the Internet, etc.). , Phone number, email address, etc.). In addition, the group to which the communication event subject (hereinafter referred to) and the image of the subject are stored are stored together. The group is set by the user through a group setting process to be described later. In addition, the image of the subject may be an image taken through the camera module 110 of the user, or an image obtained through the Internet. In the present embodiment, the image of the subject's face is used as the image of the subject.

6B is a diagram schematically illustrating a structure of a group information database according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to this, the group information DB 174 stores setting information set by a user through a group information setting process to be described later. . The group information DB 174 according to the present embodiment includes a group name field, a restriction function field, a restriction menu field, and a restriction content field, as shown in Fig. 6B.

The group name field is a field for storing a name of a group set by a user through a group information setting process to be described later.

The restriction function field stores information related to the function to be restricted. For example, if the call function information is stored in the restricted function field, the target person belonging to the group cannot use the call function.

The restriction menu field stores information related to the menu to be restricted. Here, the menu generally refers to all items (including sub-items) displayed by selecting the 'menu' of the mobile communication terminal 100. For example, if the 'environmental settings' item is stored in the restriction menu field, the target person belonging to the group cannot enter the 'environmental settings' menu.

The restricted content field stores information related to content to be restricted. Here, the content generally includes all contents stored and executed in the mobile communication terminal 100. Specifically, it refers to content that can be played back through the content player, and includes both audio content such as MP3 and WMA and video content including AVI, WMV, and ASF. For example, if a file name of '123.avi' is stored in the restricted content field, the target person belonging to the group cannot play (or execute) the content.

Hereinafter, for convenience of description, all information stored in the restriction function field, the restriction menu field, and the restriction content field will be collectively referred to as setting information.

The controller 190 controls the overall operation of the mobile communication terminal 100 and the signal flow between the internal blocks of the mobile communication terminal 100. That is, the controller 190 includes a camera module 110, a wireless communication unit 130, an audio processor 140, a display unit 150, a key input unit 160, and a storage unit 170. Control the flow of signals between components.

The controller 190 performs each function of the mobile communication terminal 100 according to an input signal input from the key input unit 160, and displays information such as a current state and a user menu according to the performance of the function through the display unit 150. Display.

In addition, the controller 190 according to an embodiment of the present invention identifies who the user of the mobile communication terminal 100 is, and thus restricts the use of functions and menus. To this end, the controller 190 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a user identification unit 192, a group selecting unit 194, and a limited operation unit 196.

The user identification unit 192 identifies a current user who inputs a use request based on the phone book 172. In this embodiment, a method of identifying a current user using face recognition is used. Accordingly, the user identification unit 192 identifies a user by comparing an image (hereinafter, a face image) photographed and transmitted from the camera module 110 with images stored in the phone book 172.

The group selector 194 selects a group to which the current user belongs, based on a result identified by the user identifier 192, among the groups preset by the user.

The limited operation unit 196 operates the mobile communication terminal 100 limitedly based on the setting information applied to the group selected by the group selecting unit 194. That is, the mobile communication terminal 100 is operated only through functions, menus, and contents that do not restrict the use of the selected group setting information.

Next, a method of limiting use of a mobile communication terminal according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the following embodiments. The configuration of the above-described mobile communication terminal 100 will also be clearer from the following description of the usage restriction method. 7A and 7G schematically illustrate screens of a mobile communication terminal according to the present embodiment, and will be described with reference to the following embodiments.

A method for limiting use of a mobile communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a group information setting process, a group setting process, and a use restriction process.

The group information setting process is a process in which a user sets at least one group and sets usage restriction information (setting information) for the set group.

2 is a flowchart schematically illustrating a process of setting group information according to an embodiment of the present invention.

1 and 2, the group information setting process according to an embodiment of the present invention is performed from step S101 in which power is supplied to the mobile communication terminal 100 and enters an idle state according to a normal operation. do.

When the user requests the group information setting through the key input unit 160, the controller 190 recognizes this according to a signal transmitted from the key input unit 160 in step S102. In this case, the controller 190 displays a list of all groups that are preset in the display unit 150 as shown in FIG. 7A. 7A shows an example in which four groups of family, friends, other, and unset are preset.

When the group list is displayed, the user selects one group among the displayed groups (S104) or inputs a group addition request (S110). In this case, when there is no predetermined group in step S103, the controller 190 may skip step S104 and directly enter the step S110.

When entering the process S110, when the user inputs a group addition request, the controller 190 enters the process S111, and performs a series of processes for adding a new group.

Here, the step S111 may include setting a group name and setting setting information (function, menu, and content restriction information) corresponding to the input group name.

That is, the controller 190 receives a group name (eg, a family) from the user in step S111 and stores it in the group name field of the group information DB 174. Then, the user receives a function for restricting the use of the group (eg, a family), a menu, and information about the content files, and stores the information in the corresponding fields of the group information DB 174.

After completing the process of adding a new group, the controller 190 checks whether a setting completion request is input from the user in step S112. When the request for completing the setting is received, the controller 190 ends the group information setting process. However, if the user wants to add another new group or edit or delete the created group, the controller 190 enters the process S103 at the user's request and displays the group list again.

Meanwhile, if at least one group is displayed as a list in step S103, the user selects one group to be edited or deleted in step S104. The user then enters an edit request or a delete request for the selected group.

When the user inputs an edit request in step S105, the controller 190 recognizes this and performs step S106 to display setting information about the group selected in step S104. First, the controller 190 extracts and displays corresponding setting information (that is, function, menu, and content usage restriction information) stored in the group information DB 174 of the storage unit 170.

For example, when a user selects a 'family' group in step S104 and an edit request is received in step S106, the controller 190 displays a screen for editing setting information on the 'family' group as shown in FIG. 7B. do. In the case of FIG. 7B, each item (function restriction, menu restriction, content restriction) included in the setting information is displayed. When the user selects one item (for example, a function restriction item), the controller 190 displays the screen shown in FIG. 7C.

Next, the user performs a process S107 of editing and storing setting information about the selected group. The user sets whether or not to limit each function through the screen shown in FIG. 7C. FIG. 7C illustrates a case where the MMS transmission function and the Internet access function are set to be restricted. Therefore, in this case, all subjects belonging to the 'family' group cannot use the MMS transmission function and the Internet access function through the corresponding mobile communication terminal 100.

When the modification of the setting information is completed by the user, the controller 190 completes a series of editing processes by storing the modified setting information in the group information DB 174.

On the other hand, if the user inputs a deletion request (S108), the controller 190 recognizes this and performs the process S109 of deleting all information on the selected group. That is, the controller 190 deletes the record of the group stored in the group information DB 174 of the storage unit 170.

Through this process, the controller 190 having completed the process of editing and deleting the selected group enters the process S112 described above, and then repeatedly performs the process of adding, editing, and deleting the selected group at the user's request. do.

When all of the group information setting process is performed according to the above process, a group setting process of classifying the communication event subjects stored in the phone book 172 of the mobile communication terminal 100 into the set group is performed.

3 is a flowchart schematically illustrating a group setting process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

1 and 3, in a group setting process according to an embodiment of the present invention, first, power is supplied to the mobile communication terminal 100, and a standby state in which the display unit 150 displays a standby screen according to a normal operation. (S201) to enter the (idle state) is performed.

When the user requests a group setting through the key input unit 160, the controller 190 recognizes this according to a signal transmitted from the key input unit 160 in step S202. The controller 190 displays the names of all the subjects stored in the phone book 172 as a list, as shown in FIG. 7D.

When the user selects one subject name, that is, one record (for example, 'hong gil dong') in the state in which the names of the subjects are displayed as a list as shown in FIG. 7D (S204), the controller 190 enters the process S205 and FIG. 7E. Displays a group selection screen as shown below.

Here, the group selection screen is a screen for selecting a group to include the selected target person. Therefore, all the groups set through the above-described group information setting process are displayed.

When the group selection screen is displayed, in step S206, the user selects one group (eg, 'family') to include the selected subject (eg, 'Hong Gil Dong') on the displayed group selection screen.

When the group is selected, the controller 190 connects the corresponding record of the phone book 172, that is, the record of the target person selected in step S204 (eg, 'Hong Gil-dong') and the selected group (eg, 'family') in step S206. Perform the process. Accordingly, in the phone book 172, as shown in FIG. 6A, the group field of the 'Hong Gil Dong' record is set to 'family'. In the present embodiment, the selected group name is stored in the record of the selected subject, and the method of connecting the record with the group is used. However, it is not limited thereto.

Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 6A, the group field is set to 'not set' in the 'Hwang Jin Yi' record. This means that the user has not performed the group setup process for the 'Hwang Jinyi' record. As described above, in the present exemplary embodiment, the subjects whose group is 'unset' and the subjects having no corresponding image are classified into the 'unset' group of FIG. 6B. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various methods may be used, such as automatic classification according to the information of the target person stored in the phone book 172.

In step S207, the controller 190, which has completed the group setting process for the selected record, enters the process S208 and checks whether there is a setting completion request. If the user wants to continue the group setting process with respect to other records, the controller 190 proceeds to step S203 at the user's request and displays the list of the subjects again. Then, steps S203 to S208 are repeatedly performed, and a corresponding group is set for each selected record.

On the other hand, if a setting completion request is input from the user in step S208, the controller 190 completes the group setting process and enters the standby state.

When a group of each communication event subject is set through the group setting process as described above, a use restriction process for limiting the use of the mobile communication terminal 100 is performed according to the current user.

4 is a flowchart schematically illustrating a usage restriction process according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart schematically illustrating a user identification process of FIG. 4 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

1, 4 to 6B, in the use restriction process according to the embodiment of the present invention, power is first applied to the mobile communication terminal 100, and the display unit 150 displays the standby screen according to normal operation. In step S10, the process enters an idle state.

Subsequently, when a key input is received from the user in step S11, the controller 190 checks the state of the current mobile communication terminal 100 in step S12. The present invention undergoes a process of identifying a user when the user uses the mobile communication terminal 100. Here, performing a process of identifying a user every time according to all input signals input to the mobile communication terminal 100 may cause inconvenience in use. Thus, the embodiment of the present invention uses a method of identifying a user only when a key input is input while the mobile communication terminal 100 is locked or held. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and when a folder (or slide) is opened and an input signal is input from the standby type folder (or slide type) mobile communication terminal 100, a process of identifying a user may be performed. In addition, when a user accesses a locked file or menu, it may be applied to various cases such as performing a process of identifying the user.

If the current mobile communication terminal 100 is not in the locked state or the held state in step S12, the controller 190 operates the mobile communication terminal 100 according to a conventional setting. However, in step S12, if the current mobile communication terminal 100 is locked or held, the user identification unit 192 enters the process S13 and performs a user identification process.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the user identification process is first performed by the user identification unit 192 by displaying a message on the display unit 150. The message according to the present embodiment is a message for notifying the current mobile communication user that the user identification process is in progress. An example of this identification message is shown in FIG. 7F. Referring to this, the user identification unit 192 identifies a user. Please see the camera 'is displayed on the display unit 150. On the other hand, in addition to the display unit 150, such a guide message may be output as a voice through the audio processor 140.

Simultaneously with displaying the identification message, the user identification unit 192 enters the process S132 and drives the camera module 110.

When the camera module 110 is driven, a preview image is input through the camera module 110, and the input preview image is displayed on the display unit 150. At this time, since the camera module 110 should photograph the face of the current user, the lens of the camera module 110 should be positioned to face the user of the current mobile communication terminal 100. Therefore, when the face image is not input through the preview image, the user identifier 192 may display a message to the user such that the face of the user is displayed as the preview image.

Subsequently, an operation S133 of acquiring a face image is performed. The user identification unit 192 transmits a photographing signal to the camera module 110 after waiting for a predetermined time (a time when the user can position his or her face to face the lens of the camera module 110). Accordingly, the user identification unit 192 extracts an image frame at the time when a photographing signal is input from the preview image currently input as a face image of the current user and stores the image frame in the storage unit 170. On the other hand, in this embodiment, although the photographing signal is transmitted from the user identification unit 192, it is also possible for the user to input directly. That is, the current user may position his face to face the lens of the camera module 110 and then input a photographing signal through a key input.

When the facial image is stored, the user identification unit 192 performs an operation S134 of identifying the user using the stored facial image. The user identification unit 192 performs a face identification process for comparing images of each subject based on the face image stored in the process S133 and the phone book 172. The subjects having the same face as the face image are extracted from the subjects of the phone book 172. Here, since a method and a function of comparing faces using an image and searching for the same face are already known techniques, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

When the target person of the same image as the facial image is extracted through the above process, the user identifier 192 recognizes the extracted target person as a user (hereinafter, Hong Gil-dong) currently using the mobile communication terminal 100. In addition, after notifying the group selecting unit 194 that Hong-Gil-Dong is currently using the mobile communication terminal 100, the user identification process is completed.

When the user identification process is completed, in step S14, the group selector 194 selects a group to which the current user recognized by the user identifier 192, that is, Hong Gil-dong, belongs to the current mobile communication terminal 100. In operation S15, the group selecting unit 194 refers to the group information DB 174 and extracts setting information of the corresponding group. Referring to FIG. 6A, the group of Hong Gil-dong is set to 'family'. Therefore, in this case, the group selecting unit 194 selects the current use group as the 'family' group, and extracts setting information corresponding to the 'family' group for the current user from the group information DB 174 (see FIG. 6B). ).

Subsequently, in step S16, the limited operation unit 196 limitedly operates the functions, menus, and contents of the mobile communication terminal 100 according to the setting information extracted in step S15. For example, the group information DB 174 illustrated in FIG. 6B is described below.

Hong Gil-dong belongs to the 'family' group can use the call function and text messaging (SMS) function, but the multimedia message (MMS) transmission function and the Internet access function is limited to use. In addition, in the case of menus, menus related to diaries and diaries are restricted. Accordingly, when Hong Gil-dong, a user of the current mobile communication terminal 100, attempts to input a key to use the Internet access function in the current mobile communication terminal 100, the limited operation unit 196 may use the function as shown in FIG. 7G. It displays a message stating that there is no, and restricts use of the function.

As another example, referring to FIG. 6A, when the user of the current mobile communication terminal 100 is a chapter report, the group to which the chapter report belongs is a friend. In addition, referring to FIG. 6B, the 'friends' group also restricts the use of the message lock function and cannot use the '123.avi' content. Therefore, Jang Bo, the current user, can use the call or camera shooting function, but cannot use the functions such as locking a message or playing '123.avi' content.

In the present embodiment, a case where four groups of family, friends, other, and unset are set is described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited thereto and may be set in various groups according to user needs. For example, the family group can be subdivided into child groups and parent groups, and the friend group can be variously set up, such as a college friend group and a neighborhood friend group.

As described above, the usage restriction method of the mobile communication terminal according to the present invention identifies a group to which the corresponding target belongs through a process of identifying a current user. Then, the mobile communication terminal is operated to use only functions, menus, and contents allowed by the corresponding group.

Therefore, even if the mobile communication terminal is exposed to others and used, it is possible to prevent personal information from being easily exposed. In addition, it is possible to minimize the burden that others (eg, children) can use the service that is charged unnecessarily.

Method for limiting the use of the mobile communication terminal according to the present invention and the mobile communication terminal using the same is not limited to the embodiment, and various modifications are possible by those skilled in the art within the technical idea of the present invention.

For example, in the present embodiment, a case of restricting the use of functions, menus, and contents has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the present invention may be variously applied to all parts input and output through the mobile communication terminal, such as limiting key input according to a user.

In addition, the present embodiment describes an example of limiting the use of the mobile communication terminal. However, any electronic device capable of identifying a user and including setting information about a group can be widely applied.

As described above, the mobile communication terminal and the method for limiting its use according to the present invention identify a group to which the corresponding object belongs by identifying a current user. Then, the mobile communication terminal is operated to use only functions, menus, and contents allowed by the corresponding group.

Therefore, even if the mobile communication terminal is exposed to others and used, it is possible to prevent personal information from being easily exposed. In addition, it is possible to minimize the burden that others (eg, children) can use the service that is charged unnecessarily.

Claims (19)

A usage request process in which a usage request is input to a mobile communication terminal; An identification process of identifying a current user who has entered the usage request; A group selection process of selecting a group to which the user belongs according to the identification result, and And a process of providing and operating a function, a menu, and a content of the mobile communication terminal in accordance with the setting information corresponding to the selected group. The identification process identifies the user by using the face image of the user input through the camera module, The identification process may include displaying a message indicating that user identification is in progress; Driving the camera module; Extracting the face image from an image input through the camera module, and And extracting a corresponding record using the face image and the phone book database. The method of claim 1, wherein prior to the request for use, And a grouping process of grouping all records registered in the phonebook database stored in the mobile communication terminal into at least one group. The method of claim 2, wherein the grouping process, A list display process of displaying the records registered in the phonebook database according to a group setting request; A record selection process of selecting one record from the displayed records, and And a group selection process of selecting one group to which the selected record belongs. The method of claim 3, wherein the group, A method of restricting use of a mobile terminal, comprising a family group, a friend group, and an unset group. The method of claim 2, wherein the use request process comprises: And a lock release request signal is received by the mobile communication terminal in a locked state. The method of claim 2, wherein the use request process comprises: And a hold release request signal is received by the mobile communication terminal in a hold state. The method of claim 2, wherein the use request process comprises: Method for limiting use of a mobile communication terminal, characterized in that the input signal is received by the mobile communication terminal in the idle state. The method of claim 7, wherein the input signal, Method for limiting the use of the mobile communication terminal, characterized in that the signal is input by the operation of any one of key operation, sliding, or folder open. delete delete delete The method of claim 2, And using the group information setting step of setting the setting information corresponding to each of the groups. The method of claim 12, wherein the setting information, And restriction function related information, restriction menu related information, and restriction content related information. The method of claim 12, wherein the setting of the group information comprises: The method of claim 1, further comprising adding and deleting the group. A user identification unit for identifying a current user who inputs a usage request based on a phone book database; A group selecting unit which selects the group to which the user belongs, according to an identification result of the user identification unit among one or more preset groups; A limited operation unit which provides and operates the functions, menus, and contents of the mobile communication terminal in accordance with the setting information corresponding to the selected group; It includes a camera module for photographing facial images, And the user identification unit identifies the user by using a face image captured in real time by the camera module. The method of claim 15, The mobile communication terminal further comprises a storage unit for storing the phonebook database and the setting information. delete delete The method of claim 15, And the setting information includes restriction function related information, restriction menu related information, and restriction content related information.

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