Interface for subscriber-based wireless phones to wireline infrastructure

• US 20050049004A1
• Filed: 09/21/2004
• Published: 03/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
• Inventors: Bultman, Michael J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,454,230 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/08 between user and terminal device

Abstract

A wireless communications interface couples wireless service to conventional wireline phone appliances. In one embodiment, the wireless communications interface is connected to the phone appliances through existing phone jacks. This allows a user to place and receive calls over a wireless network using the existing wireline infrastructure in a building. By using the invention, users can consolidate their portable and fixed phone service with one of the multiple wireless service providers and bypass the wireline service provider entirely, if so desired. In a second embodiment, the wireless communications interface is directly connected to the phone appliances, bypassing the installed wireline infrastructure. In a third embodiment, both wireline and wireless service are operative, and the wireless communications interface may include logic arbitration to route multiple calls to multiple phone appliances.

Claims

1. A system for providing wireless communications service to a wireline phone appliance, the system comprising:

a wireless device for communicating communications traffic over a wireless network;

a phone appliance; and

a wireless communications interface that carries said communication traffic between said wireless device and said phone appliance.

2-54. -54. (Canceled)