Method of remotely changing operating characteristics of a communications device

1. A method of remotely changing operating characteristics of a communications device selected for signaling an incoming message or call to a user; comprising:

a device to be called, receiving control data;

changing a group of operating characteristics of the device to be called to a group of operating characteristics for signaling an incoming message or call to a user, including a plurality of operating characteristics which can be chanced simultaneously, in accordance with the received control data; and

signaling an incoming message or call in accordance with the group of operating characteristics set up previously.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the control data is received via a signaling channel as a message including at least a header and a data portion.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the control data comprises an indication of which application can interpret the included command information.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the control data comprises identification data indicating that the calling party is authorized to remotely change operating characteristics of the device to be called.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the operating characteristics of the device to be called includes remote switching enable/disable data comprising positioning data and/or time data indicating locations and/or time periods where and/or when remote changing of a profile or a group of operating characteristics has to be allowed or not, and changing the group of operating characteristics of the device to be called according to the control data is performed only if remote switching is enabled with regard to position and/or time.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the active group of operating characteristics is changed to a standard group of operating characteristics.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the active group of operating characteristics is changed to a group specified in the received control data if available otherwise to a default group.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the control data includes loudness setting data; and the loudness value of a ringing tone is set to desired value.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the active group of operating characteristics is changed back automatically after completing the call or after signaling an incoming call or message to that group of operating characteristics that was active prior to the change of operating characteristics remotely initiated.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the active group of operating characteristics is changed back to said group of operating characteristics that was active prior to the change of operating characteristics remotely initiated upon receiving reset data by the device to be called.

11. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising

switching off the device to be called in accordance with switch off data included in the received control data after checking whether or not switching off has to be allowed by means of checking a password.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the control data is received via an air interface from a calling device.

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein an acknowledging message is sent back from the device called to the calling device.

14. A memory stored with program code for execution by a processor for remotely changing operating characteristics of a communications device selected for signaling an incoming message or call to a user, by carrying out the actions of claim 1 .

15. A memory stored with program code for execution by a processor for remotely changing operating characteristics of a communications device selected for signaling an incoming message or call to a user, by carrying out the actions of claim 13 .

16. A communications device enabled for remotely changing operating characteristics of the communications device selected for signaling an incoming message or call to a user, comprising:

radio frequency portion for receiving control data via an air interface;

communicating devices adjustable in accordance with operating characteristics; and

a central processing unit operable with a profile switching application, which is adapted to read the control data to change a group of operating characteristics of the communications device to a group of operating characteristics for signaling an incoming message or call to a user, including a plurality of operating characteristics which can be chanced simultaneously, in accordance with the received control data; and to signal an incoming message or call in accordance with the group of operating characteristics set up in accordance with the received control data.

17. The communications device according to claim 16 , wherein

the central processing unit is operable with said profile switching application and adapted to read the control data to switch off the communications device in accordance with switch off data included in the received control data after checking whether or not switching off has to be allowed by means of checking a password.

18. The communications device enabled for remotely changing operating characteristics of the communications device selected for signaling an incoming message or call to a user, comprising:

means for receiving control data via an air interface;

means for communicating that are adjustable in accordance with operating characteristics; and

means, operable with a profile switching application, for reading the control data to change a group of operating characteristics of the communications device to a group of operating characteristics for signaling an incoming message or call to a user, including a plurality of operating characteristics which can be changed simultaneously, in accordance with the received control data; and

means for signaling an incoming message or call in accordance with the group of operating characteristics set up in accordance with the received control data.