Method and Apparatus for Controlling Device Operating Mode

1 . A method, comprising:

detecting an operating mode change command received by a mobile communications device in a message from a wireless access device, and

changing an operating mode of the mobile communications device in response to the operating mode change command, the operating mode change affecting user interface output of the mobile communications device.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a silent mode or profile is entered on the basis of the operating mode change command.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the operating mode change command is in an identifier element of the message.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the identifier element is a service set identifier element indicating identity of a service set.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the operating mode change command is received in a broadcast message.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the message is at least one of a beacon, a measurement pilot, a probe response message, and an association establishment related message from a wireless local area network access point.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the operating mode change command comprises a character string indicating a target operating mode, and

the mobile communications device switches to an operating mode associated with the character string in the operating mode change command.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the operating mode comprises one or more of audio settings, vibration alert settings, and display settings.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

checking connectivity status for the wireless access device, and

in response to detecting no connectivity to the wireless access device, automatically changing to an operating mode applied before receiving the operating mode command.

10 . A method, comprising:

setting a target operating mode for mobile communication devices within a coverage area of a wireless access device,

generating an operating mode change command for instructing operating mode change to the set target operating mode, the mode change affecting user interface output of a recipient mobile communications device, and

transmitting the operating mode change command to at least one mobile communications device in the coverage area of the wireless access device.

11 . An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:

detect an operating mode change command received in a message from a wireless access device, and

control change of an operating mode in response to the operating mode change command, the operating mode change affecting user interface output.

12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the apparatus is configured to enter a silent mode or profile on the basis of the operating mode change command.

13 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the operating mode change command is in an identifier element of the message.

14 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the identifier element is a service set identifier element indicating identity of a service set.

15 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the apparatus is configured to receive the operating mode change command in a broadcast message.

16 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the message is at least one of a beacon, a measurement pilot, a probe response message, and an association establishment related message from a wireless local area network access point.

17 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the operating mode change command comprises a character string indicating a target operating mode, and the apparatus is configured to switch to an operating mode associated with the character string in the operating mode change command.

18 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the operating mode comprises one or more of audio settings, vibration alert settings, and display settings.

19 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the apparatus is configured to check connectivity status for the wireless access device, and

in response to detecting no connectivity to the wireless access device, the apparatus is configured to automatically change to an operating mode applied before receiving the operating mode command.

20 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the apparatus is at least one of a chipset for a mobile communications device and a mobile communications terminal device comprising a transceiver for communicating according to an IEEE 802.11 standard.

21 . An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:

set a target operating mode for mobile communication devices within a coverage area of a wireless access device,

generate an operating mode change command for instructing operating mode change to the set target operating mode, the mode change affecting user interface output of a recipient mobile communications device, and

send the operating mode change command to at least one mobile communications device in the coverage area of the wireless access device.

22 . An apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein the apparatus is a wireless local area network access point serving as the wireless access device.