Apparatus and method for selectively connecting mobile communication terminal to telephone network

• US 20060084467A1
• Filed: 10/07/2005
• Published: 04/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Hun-Soo
• Granted Patent: US 7,801,557 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/550.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/26 Devices for calling a subscriber H04M1/66 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• 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 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A mobile communication terminal includes an input unit having a plurality of number keys and a plurality of call keys; a controller for instructing a call connection to a wired communication network or to a mobile communication network with reference to a ‘telephone network connection method’ arbitrarily set by a user when a phone number of a receiving side and a specific call key are inputted through the input unit; a mobile communication network connection unit for attempting a connection to the mobile communication network according to an instruction from the controller; and a wired communication network connection unit for attempting a connection to the wired communication network according to an instruction from the controller. The mobile communication terminal is implemented to be connected with the wired communication network through the AP installed in a building (or in a room), for which a subscriber can arbitrary set the telephone network connection method, simplifying the procedure for selectively connecting to the mobile communication network (the CDMA network) and the PSTN. Thus, the subscriber can easily and conveniently operate the mobile communication terminal.

Claims

1. A mobile communication terminal comprising:

an input unit having a plurality of number keys and a plurality of call keys;

a controller for instructing a call connection to a wired communication network or to a mobile communication network with reference to a telephone network connection method set by a user when a phone number of a receiving side and a specific call key are inputted through the input unit;

a mobile communication network connection unit for attempting a connection to the mobile communication network according to an instruction from the controller; and

a wired communication network connection unit for attempting a connection to the wired communication network according to an instruction from the controller.

2. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller sets the telephone network connection as one of mobile communication network and a combination of wired communication network and mobile communication network.

3. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein when the inputted call key requests a connection to the mobile communication network and the telephone network connection method is set as mobile communication network, the controller attempts a connection to the mobile communication network, and if the connection to the mobile communication network is failed, the controller stops attempting the connection to the telephone network.

4. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein when the inputted call key requests a connection to the mobile communication network and the telephone network connection method is set as the combination, the controller first attempts a connection to the wired communication network, and when the connection to the wired communication network is failed, the controller attempts a connection to the mobile communication network.

5. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein when the inputted call key requests a connection to the wired communication network, the controller attempts a connection to the wired communication network regardless of a set value of the telephone network connection method, and when the connection to the wired communication network is failed, the controller stops attempting the connection to the telephone network.

6. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the plurality of call keys comprise:

a first call key for requesting a connection to the mobile communication network; and

a second call key for requesting a connection to the wired communication network.

7. The mobile communication terminal of claim 6, wherein the first call key is SEND key.

8. The mobile communication terminal of claim 6, wherein the second call key is a combination of a SEND key and a specific key for a wired communication.

9. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein when a phone number shortened key and a specific call key are inputted through the input unit, the controller instructs a connection to the wired communication network or a connection to the mobile communication network with reference to the telephone network connection method.

10. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller receives the phone number from a phone book.

11. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the wired communication network connection unit attempts a call connection to the wired communication network by being wirelessly connected with an access point.

12. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the wired communication network connection unit is wirelessly connected with the access point by using Bluetooth technology.

13. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the mobile communication network is a code division multiple access network.

14. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the wired communication network is a public switched telephone network.

15. A method for selectively connecting to a telephone network by a mobile terminal, comprising:

receiving a phone number of a receiving side and a call key;

checking the received call key and attempting a connection to a wired communication network or to a mobile communication network with reference to a telephone network connection method set by a user; and

performing call setup with the receiving side when the attempted connection is successfully made.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the telephone network connection is set as one of mobile communication network and a combination of wired communication network and mobile communication network.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein when the inputted call key requests a connection to the mobile communication network and the telephone network connection method is set as mobile communication network, the mobile communication terminal attempts a connection to the mobile communication network, and if the connection to the mobile communication network is failed, the mobile communication terminal stops attempting the connection to the telephone network.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein when the inputted call key requests a connection to the mobile communication network and the telephone network connection method is set as the combination, the mobile communication terminal first attempts a connection to the wired communication network, and when the connection to the wired communication network is failed, the mobile communication terminal attempts a connection to the mobile communication network.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein when the inputted call key requests a connection to the wired communication network, the mobile communication terminal attempts a connection to the wired communication network regardless of a set value of the telephone network connection method, and when the connection to the wired communication network is failed, the mobile communication terminal stops attempting the connection to the telephone network.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the call keys comprise:

a first call key for requesting a connection to the mobile communication network; and

a second call key for requesting a connection to the wired communication network.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the first call key is ‘

SEND’

key.

22. The mobile communication terminal of claim 20, wherein the second call key is a combination of a SEND key and a specific key for a wired communication.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein the mobile communication terminal receives the phone number of the receiving side from a phone book.

24. The method of claim 15, wherein the mobile communication network is a code division multiple access network.

25. The mobile communication terminal of claim 15, wherein the wired communication network is a public switched telephone network.

26. A mobile communication terminal comprising:

an input unit;

a first connector to establish a connection with a mobile communication network;

a second connector to establish a connection with a wired communication network; and

a processor cooperating with the input unit, the first connector, and the second connector to perform selective connection with the mobile communication network or with the wired communication network based upon specific user inputs received through the input unit.

27. The terminal of claim 26, wherein the selective connection is initially attempted with the mobile communication network as a default.

28. The terminal of claim 26, wherein the selective connection is initially attempted with the wired communication network as a default.