Concurrent wireless/landline interface apparatus and method

• US 20020146977A1
• Filed: 01/23/2001
• Published: 10/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1994
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telular Corporation (Ametek Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Telular Corporation (Ametek Incorporated)
• Inventors: Heitschel, Carl T., Anter, Nuri G., Beneditz, Neil, Kinder, Jay, Schornack, Louis W.
• Granted Patent: US 6,775,522 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/3.05
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/715 using two or more extensions per line cordless telephones H04M1/725
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1091 Fixed mobile conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/428 Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4283 Call holding circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/14 WLL [Wireless Local Loop]; RLL [Radio Local Loop]

Abstract

An apparatus for interfacing at least one landline telephone service, at least one wireless cellular-type telephone service, at least one cellular-type wireless telephone and at least one standard telephonic type communication device through standard building interior telephone cable.

Claims

1. In a telephonic communication system having at least one communication device for interconnection with a telephone network via at least two communication media, the improvement comprising:

means for coupling the at least one communication device with the at least two communication media; and

means for individually determining the availability of each of the at least two communication media;

means responsive to the determining means connected to the coupling means for automatically interconnecting the at least one communication device with the telephone network via the available one of the communication media.

2. The telephonic communication system of claim 1 in which the at least one communication device is capable of direct connection with a telephone network via only one of the two communication media.

3. The telephonic communication system of claim 1 in which one of the communication media is a landline telephone service.

4. The telephonic communication system of claim 1 in which the other of the communication media is a wireless telephone service.

5. The telephonic communication system of claim 3 in which the at least on communication device is capable of direct connection with a telephone network via only the landline telephone service.

6. The telephonic communication system of claim 1 including at least two communication devices and in which the coupling means concurrently interconnects one of the communication devices with one of the communication media and the other of the communication devices with the other of the communication media.

7. In a communication system having first and second communication paths and at least one telephonic type communication device, the system being coupled to at least two communication networks for providing a first and second means of communication, said first means of communication coupled to the first communication path, and the communication system having at least one means for coupling the at least one telephonic communication type device to said first communication path, the improvement being:

means between said at least one telephonic type communication device and said coupling means for connecting said telephonic type communication device to said second communication path; and

switching means coupled to said second communication path and to said first and second means of communication for selectively coupling said second communication path to one of said first and second means of communication.

8. A communication switching system as described in claim 7 wherein said first communication system is a wireline telephone line and said second communication system is a wireless means of communication.

9. A communication switching system as described in claim 7 wherein said second communication system is a cellular means of communication.

10. In a communication system having a communication path and at least one telephonic type communication device, the communication system being coupled to a communication network for providing a means of communication, and the communication system having at least one telephonic communication type device coupled to said communication path, the improvement being:

testing means coupled to said communication path for testing the presence of any signal thereon; and

interface means coupled to said communication path and said testing means and being responsive to said testing means for coupling said communication path to said communication network.

11. A communication system comprising:

a cellular type interface coupled between a cellular-type transceiver and a six position telephone jack coupling means with at least four positions having individual conductors coupled thereto;

a telephonic type device coupled to at least two of said individual conductors; and

means coupled between said telephonic type device and said six position telephone jack coupling means for inverting the position of at least two of said individual conductors to the position of two of the other individual conductors.