Method and apparatus for using wireless network enabled devices over existing wired telephone networks

• US 20030054767A1
• Filed: 08/14/2002
• Published: 03/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sarnoff Corporation (SRI International, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sarnoff Corporation (SRI International, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mandhyan, Indur B., Turski, Zygmond
• Application Number:
  US10/218,470
• Publication Number:
  US 20030054767A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72502 with one base station connected to a single line
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/727 Identification code transfer arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/733 with a plurality of base stations connected to a plurality of lines for selection in cordless PBX H04W84/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1091 Fixed mobile conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42272 whereby the subscriber registers to the terminals for personalised service provision
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/16 WPBX [Wireless Private Branch Exchange]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/22 with access to wired networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements

Abstract

A method and apparatus for expanding a mobile wireless telephony with minimal changes or modifications to an existing and installed wire-line telephony infrastructure that comprises a wireless base station that periodically transmits a wireless signal to initiate and maintain a wireless network. The wireless base station couples a wired signal to a wired telephone network. At least one RF enabled device is responsive to the wireless signal from the wireless base station to form the wireless network and provide the wired signal for coupling to the wired telephone network.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a wireless base station periodically transmitting a wireless signal to initiate and maintain a wireless network and coupling a wired signal to a wired telephone network; and

at least one RF enabled device responsive to said wireless signal from said wireless base station to form said wireless network and providing said wired signal for coupling to the wired telephone network.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said wireless base station communicates to at least one other wireless base station through a private branch exchange.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said at least one RF enabled devices is coupled to at least one handset.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said at least one RF enabled devices is coupled to at least one identification tag circuit.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said wireless base station and said RF enabled device are BLUETOOTH compliant.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said wireless network utilizes the BLUETOOTH telephone profile or the BLUETOOTH logical link and adaptation profile layer.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least RF enabled device sends an identifying signal to said base station in response to said wireless signal.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least one RF enabled device receives another wireless signal from another base station and determines which of said wireless signal from said base station or said another wireless signal from said another base station has a greater signal strength, wherein said RF enabled device becomes part of a network associated with said base station having said greater signal strength.

9. A method comprising:

transmitting a wireless signal, periodically, from a wireless base station to at least one RF enabled device to establish a network comprising said base station and said at least one RF enabled device;

communicating a wired signal between said base station and said at least one RF enabled device; and

communicating said wired signal between said wireless base station and a wired network.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein said wired network is a telephone network.

11. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

utilizing the BLUETOOTH standard to transmit between said base station and said at least one RF enabled device.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

utilizing the BLUETOOTH telephony profile or the BLUETOOTH logical link and adaptation profile layer.

13. The method according to claim 9, wherein said transmission through said wired telephone network comprises:

transmitting said wired signal through a private branch exchange to said base station; and

transmitting said response from said base station to said private branch exchange.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein said at least one RF enabled device is coupled to at least one handset.

15. The method according to claim 10, wherein said at least one RF enabled device is coupled to at least one identification tag circuit.

16. A method comprising:

transmitting a wireless signal, periodically, from a wireless base station to at least one RF enabled device;

sending a device identifier signal from said at least one RF enabled device to said base station to establish a network comprising said wireless base station and said at least one RF enabled device; and

transmitting a wired signal to a remote location informing said remote location of said network.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein said wired signal is transmitted to another wireless base station.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein said wired signal is transmitted to a private branch exchange.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein said at least one RF enabled device is coupled to an ID tag processor forming an ID tag application and said ID tag application is enabled to receive a wireless signal from another wireless base station and determine which of said wireless signal from said base station or said another wireless signal from said another base station has a greater signal strength, wherein said RF enabled device becomes part of a network associated with said base station having said greater signal strength.

20. The method according to claim 16 wherein said at least one RF enabled device is coupled to a headset and further comprises:

receiving another wireless signal, to said handset, from another wireless base station; and

determining which of said wireless signal from said base station or said another wireless signal from said another base station has a greater signal strength, wherein said RF enabled device becomes part of a network associated with said base station having said greater signal strength.