Apparatus and method for controlling functions of a mobile phone using near field communication (NFC) technology

1. A mobile terminal comprising:

a baseband chip configured to process commands and control a plurality of functions of the mobile terminal; and

an NFC module comprising an NFC chip and RF antenna, the NFC chip being connected to the baseband chip and the RF antenna,

wherein the NFC module is configured to operate in a plurality of modes comprising a reader mode and a tag (or card emulation) mode, wherein, in its reader mode, the NFC module is configured to read data from a counterpart NFC device, wherein, in its tag mode, the NFC module is configured to make data available for the counterpart NFC device to read,

wherein upon tagging the counterpart NFC device programmed with a command, the NFC module is configured to read the command and compulsory release instructions from the counterpart NFC device and to cause the command to be forwarded to the baseband chip,

wherein upon receipt of the command, the baseband chip is configured to enable or disable one or more of the plurality of functions of the mobile device based on the command,

wherein the compulsory release instructions comprise information for a user of the mobile terminal to use in disabling the one or more functions, if enabled based on the command, or enabling the one or more functions, if disabled based on the command.

2. The mobile terminal of claim 1 , further comprising a USIM card connected to the baseband chip and the NFC module, wherein the NFC module is configured to forward the command to the baseband chip via the USIM to enable at least one function of the USIM, wherein the at least one function of the USIM comprises causes the mobile terminal to be authenticated.

3. The mobile terminal of claim 1 , further comprising a USIM card connected to the baseband chip and the NFC module, wherein the NFC module is configured to forward the command directly to the baseband chip.

4. The mobile terminal of claim 1 , further comprising a USIM card connected to the baseband chip and the NFC module, wherein the NFC module is configured to forward the command to the USIM card, and the USIM card is configured to forward the command to the baseband chip.

5. The mobile terminal of claim 4 , wherein the USIM card is configured to forward the command from the counterpart NFC device to the baseband chip after authenticating the mobile terminal.

6. The mobile terminal of claim 4 , wherein the USIM card is configured to forward the command from the counterpart NFC device to the baseband chip only when the mobile terminal is authenticated.

7. The mobile terminal of claim 6 , wherein the data from the counterpart NFC device is configured to be routed to the USIM card according to a Single Wired Protocol (SWP).

8. The mobile terminal of claim 6 , wherein the USIM card comprises a memory that stores an electronic serial number (ESN) of the mobile terminal for use in authentication of the electronic mobile device.

9. The mobile terminal of claim 8 , wherein the mobile terminal is configured to use the ESN stored in the memory of the USIM card for authentication even if another ESN of the mobile terminal is stored within the mobile terminal.

10. Previously Presented) The mobile terminal of claim 8 , wherein baseband chip contains another ESN of the mobile terminal, wherein for authentication only the ESN stored in the memory of the USIM is used for authentication.

11. The mobile terminal of claim 1 , wherein the RF antenna, which further comprises a read antennae and a tag antennae that are stacked together, wherein, in its reader mode, the read antennae is activated while the tag antennae is not.

12. The mobile terminal of claim 1 , wherein the counterpart NFC device is configured to perform a tag mode and a reader/writer mode,

wherein, in its reader/writer mode, the counterpart NFC device is configured to read data from or write data in the NFC module,

wherein, in its tag mode, the counterpart NFC device is configure to provide data for the NFC module to read,

wherein the counterpart NFC device is further configured to send an RF command for authenticating the mobile terminal.

13. The mobile terminal of claim 1 , wherein the command is to activate or deactivate at least one of a silent-ringtone, a manner mode, a camera-function restriction mode, and a communication zone grouping mode.

14. The mobile terminal of claim 1 , wherein the data from the counterpart NFC device further comprises a release time of the one or more functions that are enabled or disabled based on the command.

15. The mobile terminal of claim 14 , wherein the compulsory release instructions are for a user of the mobile terminal to use in disabling the one or more functions, if enabled based on the command, or in enabling the one or more functions, if disabled based on the command, prior to the release time.

16. A system comprising:

the mobile terminal of claim 2 ; and

the counterpart NFC device installed at an entrance or exit of a facility, wherein the counterpart NFC device is configured for setting the mode-control command, for sending the data comprising the mode-control command, and for sending an RF command for authenticating the mobile terminal.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the counterpart NFC device is configured to perform a tag mode and a reader/writer mode,

Wherein, in its reader/writer mode, the counterpart NFC device is configured to read data from or write data in the NFC module,

wherein, in its tag mode, the counterpart NFC device is configured to make data available for the NFC module of the mobile terminal to read.

18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the USIM card is configured to forward the data from the counterpart NFC device to the baseband chip only when the mobile terminal is authenticated.

19. A method of controlling operation of a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

providing the mobile terminal of claim 1 ;

establishing, at the NFC module, an NFC channel with a counterpart NFC device when the mobile terminal tags the counterpart NFC device;

receiving, at the NFC module, a command from the counterpart NFC device; and

forwarding the command to the baseband chip such that the baseband chip enables or disables one or more of the plurality of functions of the mobile device based on the command.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the mode-control command is to activate or deactivate at least one of a silent-ringtone, a manner mode, a camera-function restriction mode, and a communication zone grouping mode.