SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REMOTE-CONTROLLING CAMERA FUNCTION THROUGH THE RADIO WAVE ; IN- ASYNCHROUS MOBILE COMMUNICATION TERMINAL
Technical Field
The present invention relates to a system and a method for remote-controlling a camera function of a mobile communication terminal by using radio wave, and more particularly to a system and a method for remote-controlling a camera function of an asynchronous mobile communication terminal, which automatically remote-control the camera operation in an asynchronous communication method used for the mobile communication terminal without exerting influence on basic communication functions when a user is positioned at a specific area in which usage of a camera is prohibited while carrying the mobile communication terminal equipped with a small camera.
Background Art
In general, as techniques associated with, cellular phones have been developed and cellular phones have been equipped with various functions, a mobile communication terminal such as a cellular phone may include a small camera or may be coupled with a small camera so as to photograph a subject and store the photographed subject as an image. In
addition, a technique for transmitting a photographed image through a communication network has become widely used.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a mobile terminal 100 having a camera function. As shown in FIG. 1, the mobile terminal 110 has a small camera 120 mounted on a certain part of the mobile terminal 110 suitable for photographing a user or a subject. Herein, .the small camera 120 is not integrally formed with the mobile terminal 110, but detachably coupled to the mobile terminal 110 in such a manner that the small camera 120 can be used by coupling the small camera 120 to the mobile terminal 110.
A user selects a camera function from among a plurality of menus of the mobile terminal 110, fixes a - subject to be photographed, and photographs the subject by using the small camera 120 mounted on the mobile terminal 110. The mobile terminal 110 stores images photographed through the small camera 120 as data. Thereafter, a user can transmit photographed and stored image data to other users through a mobile communication network wirelessly.
Due to such a camera function, the mobile communication terminal can transfer a still image or a moving image, or can be used for a video telephony, so that a user can usefully utilize the mobile communication terminal. However, if a user uses the mobile communication terminal in an area where photographing is prohibited, it is hard to distinguish whether the user is using the mobile
communication terminal for a communication function or the • user is taking a picture. For example, if the mobile terminal 110 having the small camera 120 is operated in a research institute in which a special technique has been actively developed, it is impossible to distinguish whether a user is photographing documents about the special technique or a user is operating the mobile, terminal 110 in order to use other services. In this state, secret information can be leaked through the mobile terminal 110. If the camera is installed on the cellular phone, the user may easily take a picture without being noticed by other people, so a problem occurs in that a user having the mobile communication terminal equipped with a camera may abuse the camera in public places such as a theater, a library, a church, a music hall, an art gallery, a bathhouse, or a research institute. Accordingly, it is necessary to restrict a camera function of a mobile communication terminal in specific places such as areas where photographing is prohibited. ,
Disclosure of the Invention
Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a system and a method for remote-controlling a camera function of • an asynchronous mobile communication terminal, which automatically remote-
control the camera operation function in an asynchronous communication method used for the mobile communication terminal without exerting an influence on basic communication functions when a user is positioned at a specific area in which usage of a camera is prohibited while carrying the mobile communication terminal having a small camera. According to an aspect 'of the present invention, there is provided a system for remote-controlling a camera function of an asynchronous mobile communication terminal, the system comprising: a mobile communication terminal equipped with a small camera for photographing a subject, capable of disabling a camera function if a specific control signal for controlling a camera function is received through an asynchronous wireless communication; and a radio wave transmitter using a first frequency band identical to a second frequency band used by the mobile communication terminal and wirelessly transmitting the specific control signal for controlling the camera function to the mobile communication terminal, after generating the specific control signal for controlling the camera function in an asynchronous communication method used by the mobile communication terminal.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for automatically remote- controlling a camera function of an asynchronous mobile communication terminal by way of radio wave, the method comprising the steps of: a) allowing a radio wave
transmitter to generate a predetermined scrambling code for controlling a camera function through a mobile communication network; b) allowing the radio wave transmitter to create 'a transmission signal including the predetermined scrambling code for controlling the camera function so as to wirelessly transmit the transmission signal; c) allowing a mobile communication terminal to receive the transmission signal wirelessly; d) allowing the mobile communication terminal to detect the predetermined scrambling code for controlling the camera function from the transmission signal; e) operating an auxiliary unit controlling timer of the mobile communication terminal after the predetermined scrambling code for controlling the camera function is detected; and f) allowing the mobile communication terminal to disable an operation of a small camera.
Brief Description of the Drawings
The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a 'perspective view showing an appearance of a mobile terminal having a camera function; FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a structure of a system for remote-controlling a camera function of an asynchronous mobile communication terminal according to one
embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing an internal structure of a mobile communication terminal;
FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing an internal structure of a radio wave transmitter;
FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a procedure of transmitting a specific control signal having a predetermined scrambling code from a radio wave transmitter; and FIG. β is a flow chart representing a method of automatically remote-controlling a camera function of an asynchronous mobile communication terminal according to the present invention.
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention.
In the following description of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention rather unclear.
A mobile communication terminal according to the present invention includes a PDA terminal, a terminal having a Bluetopth module, a terminal having a wireless LAN as well as general mobile terminals such as a portable terminal. The present invention will be described in relation to an
asynchronous mobile terminal using a code division multiple access (CDMA) mode.
FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a structure of a system 200 for remote-controlling a camera function of an asynchronous mobile communication terminal according to one embodiment of the present invention.
The system 2.00 for remote-controlling a camera function according to the present invention includes a mobile terminal 210, a UMTS terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN) 220, a mobile switching center (MSC) 230, a visitor location register (VLR) 232, a home location register (HLR) 234, a serving GPRS support node (SGSN) 240, a gateway GPRS support register (GGSN) 250, a packet data network (PDN) 260, and a radio wave transmitter 270.
The mobile terminal 210 is used for multimedia services and a telephone conversation through a circuit switched network (CSN) and a packet switched network (PSN) . Also, the mobile terminal 210 carries out packet data and voice communication through an asynchronous CDMA network. Herein, the mobile terminal 210 according to one embodiment of the present invention is a WCDMA 'connection terminal.
The mobile terminal 210 according to the present invention is equipped with a small camera for photographing a subject, and makes data communication such as a telephone conversation with another mobile terminal through a mobile communication network. In particular, the mobile terminal
210 has a function of stopping camera functions. That is, a
specific control signal has predetermined scrambling code values, when the mobile terminal 210 receives the specific control signal for controlling a camera function from the radio wave transmitter 270. The UTRAN 220 includes existing radio transceiver subsystem (RTS) 222 and a radio network controller (RNC) 224, The RTS 222 acts as an end-point function of a wireless- connection with the mobile terminal 2.10 based on a wireless access standard of 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) , Also, the RTS 222 transmits or receives voices, images, and data traffic through WCDMA. In addition, the RTS 222 transmits or receives information to or from the mobile terminal 210 through a transceiver antenna. In general, a sub-system accommodated in the RTS 222 includes a base station interconnection subsystem (BIS), a base band subsystem (BBS) , and a radio frequency (RF) subsystem.
The RNC 224 performs a wired/wireless channel management, protocol matching of mobile terminals 210, protocol matching of base stations, a soft handoff process, a core network protocol process, a fault management, and a system loading function.
The MSC 230 has a soft switching structure for processing calls at a high speed besides a basic function for a voice communication. Herein, the • soft switching is upgraded from a circuit switch of a conventional exchange to a software switch, so that it is possible to process voice, data, and image signals through a high-speed packet switch.
The VLR 232 registers or manages position information of the mobile terminal 210 entering into an area controlled by the MSC 230 and reports a recently obtained position information of the mobile terminal 210 to the HLR 234 of the mobile terminal 210. Also, the VLR 232 receives duplication of profile information of the mobile terminal 210 from the HLR 234 and manages the duplication so as to use the • duplication for position control, call processing, external operation processing of the mobile terminal 210. Herein, the profile information of the mobile terminal 210 includes a mobile identification number (MIN) , an electrical serial number (ESN) , and registered service information of the mobile terminal 210. For the purpose of explanation, FIG. 2 shows that the VLR 232 is installed on the exterior of the MSC 230. However, the VLR 232 is generally included in the MSC 230.
The HLR 234 receives position information of the mobile information 210 from the VLR 232 so as to perform registration recognition, registration deletion, and position tracking. Also, the HLR 234 takes profile information of the mobile terminal 210 from an HLR where the mobile terminal 210 is initially registered by using position information of the mobile terminal 210 delivered from the VLR 232. In addition, the HLR 234 checks a connection state of the mobile terminal 210, which is position-registered in the HLR 234, so as to check whether the mobile terminal 210 is in idle mode or active mode. If
the mobile terminal 210 is in the active mode, the HLR 234 continuously checks whether the mobile terminal 210 is connected with a circuit network or a packet network.
The SGSN 240 has a hardware structure performing switch and routing connections based on ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) in order to provide packet data services and provides an operating system (Os) for processing a variety of data services. Herein, the OS carries out GPRS mobility management, GPRS session management, GPRS authentication and accounting, and so forth.
The GGSN 250 is a serving node of a packet network based on IP (internet protocol) providing high-speed packet data services for wireless data services. Also, the GGSN 250 provides mobility of packet data services and processes protocols in relation to various data. Also, the GGSN 250 is connected to a packet data network (PDN) 260. In addition, the GGSN 250 provides address assignment function, domain address change function, and accounting information and maintenance function. The radio wave transmitter 270 wirelessly transmits a specific control signal to the mobile terminal 210 from the UTRAN 220 through a frequency band identical to that of an asynchronous forward channel for transferring wireless signals to the mobile terminal 210, so that all asynchronous mobile terminals receive specific control signals. Herein, the radio wave transmitter 270 allows first and second synchronous channels of forward channels from the UTRAN 220
to have predetermined scrambling code information in order to control a mobile terminal employing an asynchronous mode, thereby transferring channels including the predetermined scrambling code information to the mobile terminal through a wireless interface.
The radio wave transmitter 270 may wirelessly transfer a specific control signal to a mobile communication terminal through another frequency band without using a frequency band of a mobile communication network. Herein, the mobile communication terminal must employ a frequency band identical to the frequency band used by the radio wave transmitter 270.
The radio wave transmitter 270 is installed at entrances of areas where photographing is prohibited such as theaters, libraries, churches, music halls, art galleries, public baths, research institutes, and so on. Therefore, when a user having a mobile communication terminal equipped with a camera enters into the above-described places, the radio wave transmitter 270 automatically transmits a specific control signal to the mobile communication terminal so as to stop operations of the camera of the mobile communication terminal.
In FIG. 2, the mobile terminal 210 and the radio wave transmitter 270 make communication with each other on the basis of an asynchronous communication system.
A synchronous system can search cells within a short period of time by discriminating codes between cells using
offsets of PN (pseudo random number) codes. However, the synchronous system has a disadvantage of requiring an external timing source called "GPS (Global Positioning System) " . In contrast, in the asynchronous system, various base stations, such as indoor small cells and so on, can be installed without using the GPS. Also, such an asynchronous system can be flexibly adjusted even if the asynchronous system moves from an outdoor macro cell to an indoor pico cell.
In FIG. 2, an asynchronous mobile communication system performing code division employs scrambling codes in order to distinguish among base stations. A UMTS standard of W- CDMA, which is a European standard, divides scrambling codes into several scrambling code groups having a predetermined length so as to create multiple scrambling codes. Herein, a UMTS mobile communication system not only distinguishes base stations from each other by using the scrambling codes, but also distinguishes users through a channel separation using orthogonal codes for several scrambling code groups as a method of increasing data capacities.
That is, in a next generation mobile communication system, base stations or cells are distinguished by multiplying user bits by single scrambling codes. Also, users are distinguished by multiplying the user bits by channelization codes. Therefore, the next generation mobile communication system assigns scrambling codes different from
scrambling codes used by adjacent base stations to a specific ' base station, so that base stations may be distinguished.
The next generation mobile communication system additionally employs multiple scrambling codes in order to cope with shortage of channelization codes due to increasing number of- users. Thus, a base station modulates user signals by using several scrambling codes so as to transfer the user signals. From among the multiple scrambling codes, a code used for a channel for transferring base station information such as a common pilot channel and a common control channel of the base station is referred to as "primary scrambling code". Also, remaining codes except for the primary scrambling code are referred to as "secondary scrambling codes". Herein, if a base station employs M auxiliary scrambling codes, N*(M+1) scrambling codes are required.
FIG. 3 '"Is. a schematic view showing an internal structure of the mobile communication terminal equipped with the mobile terminal 210.
The mobile terminal 210 according to one embodiment of the present invention as the mobile communication terminal includes an antenna 302, a receiving/transmitting part 304, a modulation/demodulation part 306, a digital signal processing part 308, a voice processing part 310, a speaker 312, a microphone 314, a key pad 316, a key input processing part 318, a central processing unit 320, a liquid crystal
processing part 322, a display part 324, an auxiliary unit processing part 326, a camera 328, a data storage part 330, a specific signal receiving part 340, and a specific code detecting part 350. The receiving/transmitting part 304 receives or transmits radio signals through the antenna 302, and the modulation/demodulation part 306 demodulates and amplifies received RF signals or modulates and amplifies signals to be transmitted as RF signals. Also, the modulation/demodulation 306 converts received analog signals into digital signals or transmitted digital signals into analog signals. The digital signal processing part 308 performs a function of coding or decoding voice signals, performs an equalizing function in order to remove multiple path noises, and performs a function of handling sound effect' data.
The voice processing part 310 converts digital voice data into voice signals or converts voice signals into digital data. The speaker 312 outputs voice signals -as audible sounds, and the microphone 314 inputs users' voices as voice signals.
The key pad part 316 includes a plurality of key buttons used for inputting selected menus or numerics for a telephone conversation, and the key input processing part 318 inputs data corresponding to keys inputted from the key pad part 316.
The central processing unit 320 processes operations
of a telephone conversation over a mobile communication network and stops operations of the . camera 328 by controlling the auxiliary unit processing part 326 if a specific control signal is received through a pilot channel. Herein, the specific control ■ signal includes a scrambling code -for controlling camera functions. If the scrambling code for controlling the camera functions is included in the received pilot channel, the central processing unit 320 deactivates the auxiliary unit processing part 326. The central processing unit 320 includes a mode-state memory (not shown) therein in order to control activation or deactivation of the auxiliary unit processing part 326. Herein, the mode-state memory usually has a state "1" for representing an activation mode of the auxiliary unit processing part 326. If the auxiliary unit processing part 326 is deactivated, the memory-state changes a state "1" into a state "0" for representing a deactivation mode of the auxiliary unit processing part 326.
The liquid crystal processing part 322 converts digital data, which are used for displaying an operational status of a unit on a liquid crystal screen, into liquid crystal display data.
The auxiliary unit processing part 326 processes functions of units additionally connected to or added to the mobile terminal 210. That is, the auxiliary unit processing part 326 performs data input/ output functions for auxiliary units having a digital camera function, a camcorder function,
an audio function, or so forth.
The camera 328 includes a small lens and may be installed on or connected to the mobile terminal 210. Also, the camera 328 inputs images obtained by photographing subjects as data.
The data storage part 330 temporarily stores data received wirelessly, image data inputted from the camera 328, and control data of the central processing unit 320.
The specific signal receiving part 340 is used when the mobile terminal 210 receives a specific control signal from the radio wave transmitter 270 through another frequency band without using a frequency band of a mobile communication network. Herein, a frequency band of the radio wave transmitter 270 transmitting the specific control signal is identical to a frequency band used by the specific signal receiving part 340 of the mobile terminal 210.
The specific code detecting part 350 detects a scrambling code for controlling camera functions from among signals received by the mobile terminal 210. The description of detecting a scrambling code for controlling camera functions will be described with reference to FIG. 5 in detail.
FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing an internal structure of the radio wave transmitter 270 in view of functions of the radio wave transmitter 270.
The radio wave transmitter 270 shown in FIG. 4 includes a receiving part 402, a modulation/demodulation
part 404, a control part 406, an output power setting part 408, a transmitting part 410, a synchronous channel signal generating part 412, a data memory 414, an input/output processing part 416, and an input/output unit 418. The receiving part 402 receives signals of a frequency band used for a mobile communication network. If the mobile terminal 210 uses a specific frequency band by means of the specific signal receiving part' 340, the receiving part 402 receives signals of the specific frequency band. Preferably, it is possible for the receiving part 402 to receive not only frequency band signals of all mobile communication systems transmitted from the UTRAN 220 but also frequency band signals assigned to all mobile communica'tion service vendors . Also, the receiving part 402 converts signals received from the UTRAN 220 through an antenna into baseband signals.
The modulation/demodulation part 404 converts the baseband signals delivered from the receiving part 402 into digital data so as to deliver the converted digital data to the control part 406. Also, the modulation/demodulation part 404 converts data for transmitting wirelessly into transmission signals.
When the control part 406 receives predetermined signals from the modulation/demodulation part "404 as data of a baseband, the control part 406 performs internal calculation operations so as to calculate a predetermined scrambling code. Also, the control part 406 generates
synchronous channel signals having the predetermined scrambling code based on the predetermined scrambling code so as to transmit the synchronous channel signals to the mobile terminal 210. The control part 406 has a memory therein. The memory accommodated in the control part 406 stores information such as a value of a predetermined scrambling code for controlling camera functions, values of scrambling codes used in corresponding frequency bands, used frequency bands of a present base station where the mobile terminal 210 is currently positioned and adjacent base stations around the present base station, and levels of receiving signals. The information is obtained by using control signals transferred from the URTRAN 220 of a cell or a sector where the radio wave transmitter 270 is currently positioned.
It is preferred that the predetermined scrambling code for controlling the camera functions is specially used for
.controlling camera functions without being used in, the base station and the adjacent base stations, but it is not limited to this function.
The predetermined scrambling code is not a duplication of a scrambling code received to the control part 406 from • the adjacent base station and is different from a scrambling code value detected from received signals and control information of .the URTRAN 220 controlling an area where the radio wave transmitter 270 is currently positioned. The predetermined scrambling code can be calculated in order to
avoid overlapping with scrambling code values of all synchronous channels received at a current position of the mobile terminal 210.
An output power setting part 408 is used when manually adjusting power intensity of a pilot signal for controlling camera functions radiated through the antenna in the outside of the radio wave transmitter 270. Accordingly, a user can simply adjust the range of radiation of the synchronous channel signals. The transmitting part 410 converts pilot signals of a base band delivered from the synchronous channel signal generating part 412 into communication frequency band signals in such a manner that the pilot signals of the base band can be propagated through the antenna. The synchronous channel signal generating part 412 creates synchronous channel signals having predetermined scrambling codes for controlling camera functions under the periodical signal generation control of the control part 406, so as. to deliver the synchronous channel signals to the transmitting part 410.
The synchronous channel signals having predetermined scrambling codes for controlling camera functions delivered to the transmitting part 410 are radiated in the air through the antenna after the synchronous channel signals are formed as RF signals according to a frequency band of a mobile • communication system in the transmitting part 410.
The data memory 414 temporarily stores data. Also,
the data memory 414 has a predetermined storage sector including protocols for a WCDMA mobile telephone. Accordingly, the control part 406 controls the receiving part 402, the modulation/demodulation part 404, and the transmitting part 410 according to WCDMA protocols stored in the data memory 414 so as to obtain a scrambling code through a synchronous channel. Thereafter, the control part 406 obtains system information through a forward control channel by using a corresponding scrambling code. The input/output unit 418 includes a data input unit such as the key pad and a unit for displaying operation states. The input/output processing part 416 receives data corresponding to key inputs from the input/output unit 418 or converts output data into output signals. The radio wave transmitter 2-70 according to the present invention is positioned at a cell area controlled by the URTRAN 220 and receives forward channel signals from the URTRAN 220.
In WCDMA method, channels are divided into forward channels and reverse channels according to an inherent function of each channel. The forward channels include a common pilot channel, a synchronous channel, a forward control channel, and a traffic channel. The reverse channels include an 'access channel and a traffic channel. The channels are controlled by a unit called "channel element (CE)". The channel element performs modulation/demodulation of signals and
multiplexing/demultiplexing of signals according to a predetermined code.
The URTRAN 220 allows slots of a signal frame to be transmitted through the pilot channel to have common codes (CCs) , binary codes corresponding to hopping codes, scrambling codes for controlling camera functions.
Thereafter, the URTRAN 220 wirelessly transmits the signal through a forward channel.
Subsequently, an operation of a system for re ote- controlling a camera function of an asynchronous mobile communication terminal with reference to FIGs . 5 and β will be described in detail.
FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a procedure of transmitting a specific control signal for a camera function control from the radio wave transmitter 270 in a method of remote-controlling the camera function of the asynchronous mobile communication terminal according to the present invention.
First, when the radio wave transmitter 270 is powered on, the control part 406 disables an operation of an output amplifier (not shown) included in the transmitting part 410.
If the output amplifier has been disabled, the control part
406 enables the receiving part 402 in order to receive signals of the forward channel transferred from a base station, thereby setting the receiving part 402 as a receive mode (S510) .
In the receive mode, the control part 406 acquires
timing information for obtaining a system from a first synchronous channel and information in relation to a scrambling code from a second synchronous channel, which are administered by a specific mobile communication service vendor, according to WCDMA protocols. Thus, the control part 406 can receive a forward control message through a forward link scrambling code of a base station (S520) .
The control part 406 obtains frequency bands used for the present base station and the adjacent base stations and a forward scrambling code used for a corresponding frequency band from the forward control channel so as to store the frequency bands and the forward scrambling code in the internal memory of the control part 406 (S530) .
Herein, the control part 406 updates previously-stored scrambling code values and channel numbers if scrambling code values are changed or new frequency bands are added so as to automatically modify the previously-stored scrambling code values and the channel numbers
Subsequently, the control part 406 creates a predetermined scrambling code, which is used for controlling camera functions and not used in a base station managing an area where the radio wave transmitter 270 is positioned and adjacent base stations around the base station, through a specific code creating part 610 on the basis of frequency bands used for the present base station and the adjacent base stations, scrambling code values of forward channels used for a corresponding frequency band, a common code, a
base station peculiar code, and so on stored in the internal memory (S540) .
If the predetermined scrambling code for controlling camera functions has been created, the control part 406 stops operations of the receiving part 402, activates operations of the transmitting part 410, and is switched into a transmission mode (S550) .
Then,' the control part 406 activates a control signal transmission timer (not shown) (S560)-. Herein, the control signal transmission timer counts time in order to transmit synchronous channel signals having the predetermined scrambling code by a predetermined time interval. For example, the control signal transmission timer can be established in such a manner that the synchronous channel signals having the predetermined scrambling code are transmitted by a time interval of 10ms.
If a predetermined time, i.e., 10ms (S570), counted by the control signal transmission timer lapses, the control part 406 generates a synchronous channel signal having the predetermined scrambling code for controlling the camera functions through the synchronous channel signal generating part 412 so as to wirelessly transmit the synchronous channel signal through the transmitting part 410 (S580) .
FIG. 6 is a flow chart representing a method of automatically remote-controlling the camera functions of the asynchronous mobile communication terminal according to the present invention.
Radio signals transmitted from the radio wave transmitter 270 are received to the antenna 302 of the mobile terminal 210. The received signals are inputted to the transmitting/receiving part 304 through the antenna 302, demodulated by the modulation/demodulation part 306/ and converted into digital data by the digital signal processing part 308. In addition, the received signals inputted to the transmitting/receiving part 304 are applied to the specific code detecting part 350 together with the modulation/demodulation part 306. Herein, the received signals include the predetermined scrambling code for controlling the camera functions. The specific code detecting part 350 detects the predetermined scrambling code from the received signals applied to the transmitting/receiving part 304 (S610) .
The central processing unit 320 sets an internal mode state memory as "1" and activates the auxiliary unit processing part 328 in such a manner that a user can ordinarily use the camera 328. The specific code detecting part 350 delivers a scrambling code calculated through the procedure described with reference to FIG. 5 to the central processing part 320 (S620) .
The central processing unit 320 confirms the predetermined scrambling code through information of the synchronous channel signals delivered from the specific code detecting part 350.
The central processing part 320 operates an auxiliary unit control timer for an operation of an auxiliary unit (S640) if the specific control signal delivered from the specific code detecting part 350 exists. The auxiliary unit control timer is used for maintaining an operational state of the auxiliary unit processing part 326 while the auxiliary control timer is counting time when the central processing unit 320 activates or deactivates the auxiliary unit processing part 326. Also, the central processing unit 320 operates the auxiliary unit "control timer and stops an operation of the auxiliary unit processing part 326 so as to deactivate the auxiliary unit processing part 326 (S650) . That is, the central processing unit 320 changes "1" of the internal mode-state memory into "0".
The counting time established in the auxiliary unit control timer may be one hour, above one hour, or below one hour. Also, 'the auxiliary unit control timer re-operates whenever the specific control signal is received from the radio wave transmitter 270.
The central processing unit 320 determines whether . or not time counted by the auxiliary unit control timer exceeds the establishment and counting time. If one hour established by the auxiliary unit control timer lapses (S660), the central processing unit 320 changes "0" of the internal mode-state memory into "1" and activates an operation of the auxiliary unit processing part 326 (S670) .
Meanwhile, in order to activate the auxiliary unit processing part 326 through a key input of a user, the key pad 316 includes specific key buttons for activating camera
' operations, or the key input can be specified as a predetermined value (e.g., "#77").
According to the present invention, it is possible to automatically remote-control • camera functions in an asynchronous mode used for the mobile communication terminal without exerting an influence on ■ asic communication functions when a user reaches a specific area in which photographing is prohibited while carrying an asynchronous mobile communication terminal equipped with a small camera. In this state, although the user resets the mobile terminal 210 by turning on the mobile terminal 210 after turning off the mobile terminal 210, a camera function continuously maintains a stopped-state because a specific control signal is constantly transmitted from the radio wave transmitter 270.
When making communication by using an additional frequency band, ' it is necessary to install an additional receiving unit for a control frequency band. A service coverage of the radio wave transmitter 270 can be adjusted by controlling output power. A mobile communication terminal, which has received a control signal, enables a camera, operation control timer. The mobile communication terminal receiving the control signal by a predetermined period resumes operation of the camera operation control
timer, thereby maintaining an enable state of a camera operation prohibiting function for a predetermined time. If the user leaves the specific area in which photographing is prohibited, the mobile communication terminal disables the camera operation prohibiting function, thereby enabling camera operations.
Also, the mobile communication terminal according to the present invention can employ a variety of wireless communication techniques such as a mobile communication, a wireless LAN, Bluetooth, and so on or the combination of more than two techniques. In these cases, since additional unit controlling information can be differently sent according to wireless interfaces due to several causes, it is necessary to inter-work the wireless interfaces. That is, an enable state or a disable state of the camera operation prohibiting function can be differently represented according to interfaces of an additional unit. Accordingly, the additional unit controlling information according to the interfaces of the additional unit can be used through an OR operation.
While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment and the drawings, but, on the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and variations within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
Industrial Applicability
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent illegal usage of a camera function mounted on a mobile communication terminal from collecting secret information.
Also, according to the present invention, when controlling the camera function of the mobile communication terminal in an area where photographing is prohibited, the camera function can be constantly controlled in spite of a reset operation of the mobile communication terminal.