Cordless phone system capable of supporting a broadcast over broadcast mode

• US 20020068561A1
• Filed: 12/05/2000
• Published: 06/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens Information and Communication Products LLC (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Siemens, Gerhard
• Granted Patent: US 6,738,620 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/462
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/16 WPBX [Wireless Private Branch Exchange]

Abstract

A cordless digital telephone system which allows broadcast over broadcast is provided. Time division multiple access (TDMA) cordless phone systems provide a base unit which is able to provide connections for a plurality of mobile units, such as handsets. With time division, the mobile units are synchronized to different time slots. A broadcast mode is provided that causes the mobile units to be placed in a receive only mode and to synchronize to the same time slot where a broadcast message is sent. In this way, a cordless telephone base unit in a broadcast mode receives a radio or streaming audio signal. A call controller unit included in or coupled to the base station then sends the received radio or streaming audio signal to at least one mobile unit in communication with the base station. In those cases where a mobile unit is receiving the broadcast and a conventional phone call is received at the base station, then a determination is made whether or not to send the conventional call to the mobile unit is made. In those cases where the conventional call is to be forwarded, then the base station is set to standard mode and the conventional call is forwarded to the mobile unit whereas any other mobile unit in communication with the base station still receive the broadcast.

Claims

1. A broadcast over broadcast method suitable for a cordless telephone system having a base station operable in a broadcast mode and a standard mode communicatively coupled to a mobile unit, comprising:

setting the base station in the broadcast mode;

broadcasting a signal to the mobile unit

determining if an incoming message is to be forwarded to the mobile unit;

setting the base station to a standard mode when it is determined that the incoming message is to be forwarded to the mobile unit,

receiving the incoming message at the mobile unit; and

setting the base station to broadcast mode when the incoming message has been terminated.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the mobile unit is one of a plurality of mobile units each of which is in communication with the base station.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

broadcasting the incoming message from the base station during a single time slot of a time division;

receiving the incoming message at the plurality of mobile units; and

converting the incoming message into sound by the plurality of mobile units.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

placing the plurality of mobile units in a receiving mode.

5. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein the placing the plurality of mobile units in a receiving mode comprises synchronizing the plurality of mobile units to the single time slot.

6. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein setting the base station to the broadcast mode comprises designating the single time slot.

7. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein at least one of the plurality of mobile units is a hands free unit, wherein converting the audio message into sound by the hands free unit is automatic, and wherein the placing of the plurality of mobile units in a receiving mode places the plurality of mobile units in a receive only mode.

8. A method as recited in claim 7, further comprising:

originating broadcast origination signal at an additional mobile unit;

transmitting a broadcast origination signal from the additional mobile unit to the base station; and

transmitting the audio message from the additional mobile unit to the base station.

9. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein placing the plurality of mobile units in a receive only mode, comprises turning on only speakers of the plurality of mobile units without turning on microphones of the plurality of mobile units.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein setting the base station to the standard mode comprises synchronizing those plurality of mobile units not desiring receive the broadcast to another time slot that is different than the single time slot.

11. A cordless telephone system, comprising:

a base station operable in a broadcast mode and a standard mode;

a mobile unit in communication with the base station, wherein when the base station is broadcasting a signal to the mobile in the broadcast mode unit such that when it is determined that an incoming message is to be forwarded to the mobile unit, the base station is set to the standard mode until such a time as the incoming message is terminated.

12. A system as recited in claim 11, wherein the mobile unit is one of a plurality of mobile units.

13. A system as recited in claim 12, wherein the incoming message is broadcast from the base station during a single time slot of a time division which is received at the plurality of mobile units which are each in a receiving mode.

15. A system as recited in claim 14, wherein the base station is set to the broadcast mode by designating the single time slot.

16. A system as recited in claim 12, wherein the base station is set to the standard mode by synchronizing those of the plurality of mobile units not desiring to receive the broadcast to another time slot that is different than the single time slot.

14. A system as recited in 13, wherein the plurality of mobile units in the receiving mode comprises synchronizing the plurality of mobile units to the single time slot.