Enhanced mobility wireless local loop phone

• US 20040116149A1
• Filed: 09/10/2003
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Axesstel, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Axesstel, Inc.
• Inventors: Hagopian, Craig M., Yukie, Satoru, Kwon, Mike, Kim, Duk San
• Granted Patent: US 7,117,007 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/550.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/14 WLL [Wireless Local Loop]; RLL [Radio Local Loop]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/021 adapted for Wireless Local Loop operation

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for implementing a wireless local loop phone that operates connected to or disconnected from a terminal unit. In one implementation, a phone system includes: a terminal unit comprising: a power source, a handset connection; a handset comprising: an antenna, a modem connected to said antenna, a terminal unit connection, a handset user interface; wherein said modem provides an air interface using said antenna, said air interface provides a wireless local loop, when said handset is connected to said terminal unit through said handset connection and said terminal unit connection, said handset receives power from said power source.

Claims

1. A phone system, comprising:

a terminal unit comprising;

a power source,

a handset connection;

a handset comprising;

an antenna,

a modem connected to said antenna,

a terminal unit connection,

a handset user interface;

wherein said modem provides an air interface using said antenna,

said air interface provides a wireless local loop,

when said handset is connected to said terminal unit through said handset connection and said terminal unit connection, said handset receives power from said power source.

2. The phone system of claim 1, further comprising:

a power connection cable connected to said handset connection and to said terminal unit connection;

wherein said handset receives power from said power source through said power connection cable.

3. The phone system of claim 1, wherein:

said handset further comprises;

a battery, and

when said handset is not connected to said terminal unit through said handset connection and said terminal unit connection, said handset uses said battery for power.

4. The phone system of claim 3, wherein:

said battery receives power for recharging from said power source.

5. The phone system of claim 1, wherein:

said air interface provides a cellular phone air interface.

6. The phone system of claim 1, wherein:

said air interface provides a PCS air interface.

7. The phone system of claim 1, wherein:

said handset further comprises;

a handset command interface for processing commands received through said handset user interface.

8. The phone system of claim 7, wherein:

said handset command interface processes commands received from said terminal unit.

9. The phone system of claim 1, wherein:

said terminal unit further comprises;

a peripheral connection for connecting a peripheral device to said terminal unit.

10. The phone system of claim 9, wherein:

said peripheral connection is an RJ-11 connection.

11. The phone system of claim 9, wherein:

said peripheral connection supports connecting a fax machine to said terminal unit.

12. The phone system of claim 9, wherein:

when said handset is connected to said terminal unit through said handset connection and said terminal unit connection, said handset receives data from said peripheral connection.

13. The phone system of claim 9, wherein:

when said handset is connected to said terminal unit through said handset connection and said terminal unit connection, said handset sends data to said peripheral connection.

14. The phone system of claim 1, wherein:

said terminal unit further comprises;

a terminal command interface for processing commands received from said handset.

15. The phone system of claim 1, wherein:

said terminal unit further comprises;

a terminal user interface.

16. The phone system of claim 15, wherein:

said terminal unit further comprises;

a terminal command interface for processing commands received through said terminal user interface.

17. The phone system of claim 16, wherein:

said terminal command interface processes commands received from said handset.

18. A method of operating a wireless local loop phone, comprising:

connecting a wireless local loop handset to a terminal unit;

providing power from said terminal unit to said handset;

operating said handset using said power from said terminal unit;

disconnecting said handset from said terminal unit; and

operating said handset using power in a battery within said handset;

wherein operating said handset includes sending and receiving signals through a wireless local loop air interface.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein:

said air interface provides a cellular phone air interface.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein:

said air interface provides a PCS air interface.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

recharging said battery while said handset is connected to said terminal unit.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

receiving data from a peripheral device connected to said terminal unit; and

providing said data to said handset.

23. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

sending data from said handset to a peripheral device connected to said terminal unit.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein:

operating said handset includes sending and receiving data through a peripheral connection in said terminal unit.

25. A system for operating a wireless local loop phone, comprising:

means for connecting a wireless local loop handset to a terminal unit;

means for providing power from said terminal unit to said handset;

means for operating said handset using said power from said terminal unit;

means for disconnecting said handset from said terminal unit; and

means for operating said handset using power in a battery within said handset;

wherein operating said handset includes sending and receiving signals through a wireless local loop air interface.

26. A wireless phone handset, comprising:

an antenna;

a modem connected to said antenna;

a terminal unit connection;

a handset user interface;

a multi-format power interface compatible with a power connector and a battery;

wherein said modem provides an air interface using said antenna,

said air interface provides a wireless connection to a wireless network.

27. The wireless phone handset of claim 26, wherein:

said air interface provides a cellular phone air interface.

28. The wireless phone handset of claim 26, wherein:

said air interface provides a PCS air interface.

29. A method of upgrading a wireless local loop phone, comprising:

disconnecting a power connection cable from a multi-format power connection of a wireless local loop phone;

connecting a battery to said multi-format power connection;

wherein said phone receives power only through said multi-format power connection.