Local wireless network system for cellular telephones
First Claim
1. A wireless network system for supporting at least one wireless instrument, the wireless network system comprising:
- a local network;
a first cradle that holds a first wireless instrument and that communicates with the first wireless instrument over a first local wireless channel when the first wireless instrument functions in a local mode state; and
a controller that connects to the first cradle through the local network in order to communicate with the first wireless instrument when the first wireless instrument is engaged with the first cradle and that communicates with a base station over a first radio channel, wherein the base station provides wireless service for the first wireless instrument.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is a wireless network system, which comprises at least one wireless instrument (e.g. a cellular telephone) in combination with at least one cradle (e.g. a telephone cradle), said cradle comprising a wireless local area network (WLAN) interface. The WLAN interface, which interfaces to a WLAN, allows the cradle to communicate with a controller. In turn, the controller communicates with a base station of a wireless communications network. In a variation of the exemplary embodiment, a wired local area network (LAN) can be utilized rather than the WLAN. Alternatively, the present invention supports point-to-point communication configurations between each wireless cellular telephone and the controller. Typically, the base station is owned and operated by wireless service provider. The wireless service provider directly supports service for the wireless cellular telephone when the telephone is not operating in conjunction with the wireless network system.
30 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A wireless network system for supporting at least one wireless instrument, the wireless network system comprising:
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a local network;
a first cradle that holds a first wireless instrument and that communicates with the first wireless instrument over a first local wireless channel when the first wireless instrument functions in a local mode state; and
a controller that connects to the first cradle through the local network in order to communicate with the first wireless instrument when the first wireless instrument is engaged with the first cradle and that communicates with a base station over a first radio channel, wherein the base station provides wireless service for the first wireless instrument. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for networking a plurality of wireless instruments through a local network in order to support wireless service for the plurality of wireless instruments, the wireless service being supported by a base station, the method comprising:
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(a) registering a first wireless instrument of the plurality of wireless instruments at a controller of the local network;
(b) receiving an indicator of an incoming call for one of the plurality of wireless instruments;
(c) in response to receiving an indicator of the incoming call, initiating ringing at the first wireless instrument;
(d) if the first wireless instrument goes off hook before the other wireless instruments of the plurality of wireless instruments, completing the incoming call to the first wireless instrument. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A wireless instrument that interacts with a wireless network system in order to support wireless services with a base station, the wireless instrument comprising:
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a radio channel module that communicates with the base station over a radio channel in order to support the wireless services when the wireless instrument is functioning in a normal mode state;
a local wireless module that communicates with the wireless network system through a local network over a local wireless channel in order to support the wireless services when the wireless instrument is functioning in a local mode state; and
a processor that determines to activate the local wireless module when functioning in the local mode state, the processor configured to perform the steps of;
(a) registering with the wireless network system;
(b) receiving an instruction to initiate ringing in response to a delivery attempt of an incoming call;
(c) completing the incoming call with the wireless network system through the local wireless module; and
(d) if the wireless instrument enters into the normal mode state, de-registering with the wireless network system. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. A wireless network controller for supporting at least one wireless instrument, the wireless network controller comprising:
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a radio module that communicates with a base station over a radio channel;
a wireless network module that communicates with a wireless instrument, wherein the wireless instrument is one of the at least one wireless instrument; and
a processor that interfaces with the radio module and the wireless network module, the processor configured to perform the steps of;
(a) registering the wireless instrument through the local network module;
(b) receiving an indicator of an incoming call for the wireless instrument;
(c) in response to step (a) and step (b), sending an instruction to initiate ringing for a delivery attempt of the incoming call;
(d) completing the incoming call with the wireless terminal through the local network module; and
(e) in response to determining that the wireless instrument is not functioning in a local mode state, de-registering the wireless instrument.
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Specification