GB2311911A - Telephone with wired and wireless communication capabilities - Google Patents

Abstract

A telephone comprises a connection 110 to a wired telephone system (eg PSTN) and an antenna 120 for connection to a local wireless loop (eg cordless or cellular system). The telephone includes a keypad 156 via which the user may select whether to use the wired or wireless system for a call. Detection of an alert signal on line 110 causes the telephone to automatically connect to the wired system whilst a signal at the antenna instigates a wireless connection. If a call arrives on one system during a call on the other system, the user can choose whether to answer it. Alternatively, a group call may be made wherein the telephone connects the user to both a wired and wireless caller. For outgoing calls, system selection may be made according to stored, user preferences. The telephone may include an extension device connection 170 for connection to faxes, computers etc.

Description

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MULTIPLE OPTION LOCAL LOOP ACCESS Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to telephones and telephone systems, and more particularly to various methods of accessing multiple local loop technologies to make and receive telephone calls.

Background of the Invention Land line telephone devices are restricted to making and receiving only telephone calls through a wired local loop. Emerging access technologies, however, now provide various wireless local loop access systems for making and receiving telephone calls. These new wireless technologies include cellular telephone service and personal communication service. In order for a land line telephone device to make or receive a call from a wireless unit, however, the land line telephone must first access a wired local loop that then provides a connection to the wireless system; the land line telephone device, when connected to a wired local loop, cannot directly access a local loop of the wireless system.

With the increasing deregulation of local and long distance telephone communication services, cellular telephone system providers are able to offer long distance and other telephone services that were previously unavailable through the wireless systems. Presently, however, a land line telephone must first access a wired local loop before connecting with a cellular telephone system provider. If wireless long distance access is desired, both wired local loop access and wireless long distance access are needed, which increases the costs of using a cellular system for long distance telephone calls. It would be simpler and less expensive to allow a user to directly access a wireless local loop and continue to use the wireless system for long distance access while maintaining the user's ability to access the wired local loop when making wired long distance telephone calls. Thus, a need exists for an apparatus and method to replace conventional land line telephone devices and allow users to select between multiple local loop access systems, such as a wired local loop access system and a wireless local loop access system, for making and receiving telephone calls.

Brief Description of the Drawings FIG. 1 shows a telephone according to a preferred embodiment.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic of a telephone according to a preferred embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows a flow chart of a call reception according to a preferred embodiment.

FIG. 4 shows a flow chart of a call placement according to a preferred embodiment.

Detailed Description of the Invention A single telephone according to the invention supports selective operation either through a wired local loop or a wireless local loop. For example, the telephone could directly access a cell in a cellular system to place or receive calls through a wireless system as well as directly access a land line to place or receive telephone calls through a wired local loop. As additional technology access systems are implemented, the telephone may support more than two methods of technology access. For example, the telephone may be expanded to support various wireless local loop access systems including cellular systems, mobile satellite systems (MSS), and Personal Communications Service (PCS) as well as a traditional land line system. A multiple option local loop access telephone apparatus and method according to the invention could replace current land line telephones and offer the choice of a wired or wireless carrier on a call-bycall, day of week, or other basis.

FIG. 1 shows a telephone according to a preferred embodiment. The telephone 100 includes a wired local loop access connection 110, such as an RJ11 connection to an analog public switched telephone network (PSTN), a connection to a digital PSTN, or a connection to a fiber optic cable. The telephone 100 also includes a wireless local loop access connection 120 to a wireless system, such as a cellular telephone system. As additional wireless technologies such as MSS and PCS are implemented, additional wireless local loop access connections may be added to the telephone either by adding antennas or modifying an existing wireless local loop access connection antenna. The telephone 100 may also be modified to support paging features through a wireless local loop access connection. Likewise, additional wired access connections may be added as additional wired local loop configurations are installed.

The telephone 100 preferably also includes a connection to a power supply line 160 and user interface equipment including an audio handset 132, hands-free communication equipment such as a speaker 134 and a microphone 136, a display 138, a standard twelve-key alphanumeric keypad 153, and a special function keypad 156. The special function keypad 156 can include keys for switching between wired and wireless local loop access systems, keys for connecting the wired and wireless systems to each other in a three-way call or conference call configuration, or keys for dropping a call connection to either the wired or wireless local loop access systems. Alternatively, the functions of special function keys can be implemented by pressing a predetermined key sequence (e.g., *3WC for three-way calling or '*DWL for dropping a call connection to the wireless local loop access system).

In a preferred embodiment, the telephone 100 has an extension device connection 170 to augment the user interface and provide connectivity to extension devices 180 such as a telephone extension 182, a personal computer having a modem 184, a facsimile machine 186, or other electronic devices. The extension device connection 170 can be a RJ11 connection, which is currently compatible with various electronic devices.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic of a telephone according to a preferred embodiment. Preferably, telephone base 200 is a stationary device, rather than a portable telephone. To ensure that the telephone base remains within a certain geographic area, a wireless local loop cell is programmed to accept calls from only certain telephone bases. If a telephone base is transported away from its local cell's range, it will not be able to access a wireless local loop. Of course, the telephone base can be modified to act as a portable telephone if desired.

The telephone base 200 includes an interface circuit 290 for routing information and establishing connections between a wired local loop access system, a wireless local loop access system, and the user. Wired local loop access connection 210 electrically connects a wired local loop access system to a user interface circuit 255 through telephone company interface 215, computer processor section 296, and audio/power interface 240. The wired local loop access system connects the user to a PSTN that can be either an analog network or a digital network such as an Integrated Digital Services Network (ISDN). The telephone company interface 215 provides telephone line transient protection, presents appropriate DC and AC impedances to a local telephone company depending upon the state of the call (e.g., on hook and off hook impedances), detects high-voltage ring signals, and connects and disconnects telephone calls using microprocessor-controlled relays or switches.

The interface circuit 290 sends and receives control signals and audio signals through connection 223 to transceiver 220 which provides wireless local loop access to a wireless network. Preferably, the connection 223 is a universal connection to a standardized transceiver architecture.

Thus, the transceiver 220 may be exchanged as needed so that the telephone base 200 is compatible with any wireless protocol, such as Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS), Narrowband AMPS (NAMPS), Total Access Cellular System (TACS), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), or other wireless system standards, merely by replacing the transceiver board. Automatic turn-on circuit 226 insures that the transceiver 220 is "on" even if electrical transients cause the transceiver circuit to turn off.

The telephone base 200 obtains power through power supply connection 260. Preferably, an external transformer is connected to the power supply connection 260 to reduce manufacturing costs. Alternatively, an internal transformer may be supplied at a higher cost but with greater convenience to a user. A power regulator 263 electrically connected to the transformer through power supply connection 260 supplies operating power to transceiver 220. The power regulator 263 is preferably connected to a battery 266 to supply back-up power to the telephone base 200 in case of power failure. The battery should supply enough back-up power so that a user can make emergency telephone calls during a period of extended power failure and also supply back-up power so that a telephone call is not disconnected by a momentary power outage. The transceiver 220 contains a regulator that supplies power to components of the interface circuit 290 and user interface circuit 255.

The user interface circuit 255 has a display driver 238 for controlling a display, a keypress decoder 250 for decoding alphanumeric and special functions keypresses by a user, and a data bus interface 257 to establish a three-wire bus connection with computer processor section 296 of interface circuit 290. Additionally, the user interface circuit 255 may include a speaker driver 234 and a microphone driver 236 to implement hands-free communication. In a preferred embodiment, the user interface circuit 255 emulates a cellular handset interface.

Extension interface 275 enables extension devices to interact with the wired and wireless local loops. Extension interface 275 decodes dualtone multi-frequency signals or pulses received through extension device connection 270. The extension interface 275, in conjunction with microprocessor 297, generates dial tones, produces high-voltage ring signals, and provides appropriate AC and DC impedances along with the voltages necessary to make extension devices work properly.

Audio/power interface 240 provides analog or digital audio signals and power to and from the wired local loop access system, the wireless local loop access system, and user interface equipment. Audio signals not only include speech signals, but they may also include data signals from a modem, facsimile machine, or other type of extension device. Audio signals and control signals received and decoded by the transceiver 220 are transmitted through transceiver connection 223 to computer processor section 296 and audio/power interface 240. The computer processor section routes audio signals to audio/power interface 240. The audio/power interface includes a power regulator and filter to further regulate the power received from the transceiver connection 223. The audio signals are then sent to user interface circuit 255, audio handset connection 232, and/or extension interface 275 and extension device connection 270, depending on what components of the user interface are activated.

Audio signals received from user interface circuit 255, extension device connection 270, or audio handset connection 232 is sent to audio/power interface 240, and computer processor section 296 coordinates the routing of audio signals to transceiver connection 223, telephone company interface 215, or both depending on whether the wired or wireless system is selected.

Interface circuit 290 acts as a system selector that allows the user to choose between wired or wireless local loop access. The computer processor section 296 has a microprocessor 297 running software, an electronic memory 298 such as an erasable electronic programmable readonly memory (EEPROM) for storing local loop access preferences and corresponding parameters, and a three-wire bus connection to the user interface circuit 255 for sending and receiving control signals. The electronic memory 298 stores default local loop access preferences based on parameters such as whether a dialed telephone number is a local or long distance number, day of week and time of day information, whether a data transmission device such as a modem or facsimile machine is initiating a telephone call, or any other parameters that a user chooses to store.

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 illustrate functions that interface circuit 290 performs during the course of a call reception and a call placement. FIG. 3 shows a flow chart of a call reception according to a preferred embodiment.

A telephone call can be received either through a wired local loop or directly from a wireless local loop. After the first step 30, the start of a call reception, an alert signal is received as shown in step 31. An alert signal, such as a high-voltage ring signal from a local telephone company through a wired local loop or an incoming call message from a wireless local loop, is passed to a microprocessor in an interface circuit.

The type of alert signal received indicates whether the alert signal is coming through a wired system as shown in step 32. If the microprocessor detects a high-voltage ring signal at an input to the telephone company interface circuit, the alert signal is coming through a wired system, and the interface circuit connects user interface equipment, which includes extension devices as well as an audio handset, hands-free equipment, and telephone keypad, to the wired local loop of a local telephone company as shown in step 33. If, however, the microprocessor receives an incoming call message, the alert signal is from a wireless local loop, and the interface circuit connects the user interface equipment to the wireless local loop.

When a user activates user interface equipment (e.g., picks up the handset, selects hands-free operation, or picks up an extension device) the call is established.

Because a telephone according to the preferred invention accesses both wired and wireless local loop systems, the telephone can process both a wired telephone call and a wireless telephone call simultaneously. If a second call on a wireless system is received when a user is connected to a land line signal, the user can choose to answer it. Similarly, a user can make a second call on a wireless system after establishing a first call on a wired system. If a second call on the wireless system is not desired after considering step 34, the current wired telephone call is processed until termination by the parties simply as a conventional wired system telephone call. If, however, a second call on a wireless system is desired after reaching step 34, a user presses a special function key on the telephone to answer or place a second, wireless call as shown in step 36.

Note that FIG. 4 details the placement of a call according to a preferred embodiment. A special function key to answer or place a second call may be a "TAP" key, a quick depression of an off-hook button, or a predetermined key sequence. If the user desires a three-way call or a conference call after reaching step 37, the user depresses another special function key (or predetermined key sequence) to connect the second call and the first call in a three-way or conference configuration as shown in step 38. Otherwise, the depression of a special function key may switch the user between the wired system telephone call and the wireless system telephone call as shown in step 39. Many other special functions, such as intercom calling, hold, or call transfer, can be created and implemented using special function keys or various predetermined key sequences.

Returning to step 32, if the alert signal is not coming through a wired system, the user interface equipment is connected to the wireless system as shown in step 321. If a second call on the wired system is desired after reaching step 322, the user depresses a special function button (or predetermined key sequence) to switch to the wired system. Once the user is connected to the wired system, the user can initiate a wired system telephone call or receive a wired system telephone call through the land line local loop. Again, a special function button may implement three-way or conference calling or allow the user to switch between the wired and wireless systems as shown in steps 3S39. If no second call is desired, the wireless telephone call is processed until terminated by the parties as shown in step 323.

FIG. 4 shows a flow chart of a call placement according to a preferred embodiment. After the start step 40, a user initiates a telephone call by activating user interface equipment through picking up an audio handset, selecting hands-free communication, or picking up an extension device as contemplated in step 41. The user will then hear a dial tone generated by a telephone company switch as transmitted through a telephone company interface circuit or generated locally by an extension interface circuit. A microprocessor in a computer processor section controls whether the telephone company or the extension interface circuit is the source of the dial tone.

An electronic memory in the computer processor section stores a default preference for either a wired local loop connection or a wireless local loop connection depending on various parameters. If the default preference will be used after considering step 42, the user simply dials the desired telephone number as shown in step 43. The computer processor section stores and analyzes this dialed telephone number. If a local telephone number was dialed as determined in step 44, an interface board connects the user interface equipment to the preferred local telephone system and transmits the dialed telephone number to the default local loop associated with the preferred local telephone system as shown in step 45. If a local telephone number was not dialed as determined in step 44, the interface board connects the user interface equipment to a preferred long distance provider and transmits the long distance number to the default local loop associated with the preferred long distance provider as shown in step 46. In this particular embodiment, default preferences are chosen depending on the parameter of whether a call is placed to a long distance or local telephone number.

A cellular system may be the preferred long distance access technology if a cellular provider is offering long distance telephone service at a price that is lower than the cost of long distance service provided by a wired telephone system. Conventional technology would require that a land line telephone access a wired local loop before reaching the cellular system. This use of the wired local loop increases the cost of the long distance telephone call, which is ultimately provided by the cellular system. Bypassing the telephone company wired local loop when accessing a cellular provider for long distance service reduces the price of long distance services by eliminating the cost of using the wired local loop.

Aside from assigning local loop access preferences based on local or long distance dialed telephone numbers, the default system may assign local loop access preferences based on individual telephone numbers, type of extension device, time of day, day of week, or other parameters stored in the memory. For example, a user may prefer wired local loop access for all data transfer calls, such as calls to or from a modem or facsimile machine, despite the fact that wired local loop access may be more expensive than wireless local loop access, in order to obtain a high bit-transfer rate and a low error rate. If such a preference was stored in the memory, the microprocessor would query whether a data-transfer extension device was being used. The microprocessor would then select wired local loop access if a modem or facsimile machine was being used, but it would select wireless local loop access when a voice extension such as a handset or telephone extension was being used.

If the user desires to bypass the default parameters after reaching step 42, the user enters a key sequence to select manually the system to be used as shown in step 421. The key sequence may be a special function key or an alphanumeric code or a combination of both. Next, the user dials a telephone number as shown in step 422, which is stored by a computer processor section. If step 423 determines a wired system is selected, the user interface equipment is connected by the interface board to the wired system and the dialed telephone number is transmitted to the wired local loop as shown in step 424. If step 423 determines that a wireless system has been selected, the user interface equipment is connected to the selected wireless system and the stored telephone number is transmitted to the wireless local loop as shown in step 425. Note that once a first call is established on one system, a second call on the other system can be received or placed according to steps 34-39 and 322-323 shown in FIG. 3.

Thus, a telephone apparatus and method can access both wired and wireless local loop systems. While specific components and functions of the apparatus and method for multiple option local loop access are described above, fewer or additional functions could be employed by one skilled in the art within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

The invention should be limited only by the appended claims.

We claim:

Claims (10)

1. CLAIMS 1. A telephone for accessing both wired and wireless communication systems having a telephone company interface for access to a wired local loop comprising: a transceiver for access to a wireless local loop; a user interface for receiving a user input; and an interface circuit for electrically connecting the user interface to the telephone company interface, the transceiver, or both the telephone company interface and the transceiver in response to a selection of the telephone company interface, the transceiver, or both the telephone company interface and the transceiver made after initiating a telephone call.
2. 2. A telephone for accessing both wired and wireless communication systems having a wired access connection to a wired local loop comprising: a wireless access connection to a wireless local loop; a user interface for receiving a user input; and an interface circuit connected to the wired access connection, the wireless access connection, and the user interface for electrically connecting the user interface to one or more access connections in response to an access connection selection received after the initiation of a telephone call.
3. 3. A telephone according to claim 2 characterized in that the wireless access connection is operational only within a limited geographic area.
4. 4. A telephone according to claim 3 characterized in that the limited geographic area corresponds to a range of a single cell in the wireless local loop.
5. 5. A telephone according to claim 2 characterized in that the access connection selection is manually determined by a user.
6. 6. A telephone according to claim 2 characterized in that the access connection selection is automatically determined by the interface circuit.
7. 7. A telephone according to claim 6 characterized in that the interface circuit includes: a microprocessor; and an electronic erasable programmable read-only memory for storing a default access connection selection and a corresponding parameter.
8. 8. A telephone according to claim 7 characterized in that the microprocessor retrieves the default access connection selection from the electronic erasable programmable read-only memory when the corresponding parameter is matched.
9. 9. A telephone according to claim 8 characterized in that the corresponding parameter is a local telephone exchange.
10. 10. A telephone according to claim 8 characterized in that the corresponding parameter is a day of the week.