Cellular docking station

• US 20060160571A1
• Filed: 12/30/2005
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BellSouth Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: BellSouth Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Roach, Peter O. Jr., DePani, Sebastiano
• Granted Patent: US 7,363,034 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/107 wherein the security policies are location-dependent, e.g. entities privileges depend on current location or allowing specific operations only from locally connected terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/66 with means for preventing unauthorised or fraudulent calling verifying user identity or authority in secret or secure digital communications H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/715 using two or more extensions per line cordless telephones H04M1/725
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/63 Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/14 WLL [Wireless Local Loop]; RLL [Radio Local Loop]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/021 adapted for Wireless Local Loop operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A system for communicating with the user of a cellular telephone via the cellular mobile radio (CMR) system and the public switched telephone network (PSTN). A communications interface appends the telephone exchange number of an outgoing communication to include an identifier unique to the communications interface. The outgoing communication is transmitted by the cellular telephone to the CMR system, which recognizes and verifies the outgoing communication originating with the communications interface. Accordingly, the origination of the outgoing communication from a communications interface is documented prior to forwarding the outgoing communication to its intended recipient via the PSTN. Communications incoming to a communications interface are authenticated as such, and a record as the this is created, prior to forwarding the incoming communication to the cellular telephone.

Claims

1. An apparatus configured to facilitate communication for at least one telephone with a first communications network via at least one radiotelephone, the apparatus comprising:

a radiotelephone connector configured to wirelessly facilitate communication with the radiotelephone;

a telephone connector configured to facilitate communication with the telephone; and

a communications interface controller configured to determine whether the radiotelephone is communicatively coupled to the apparatus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an authentication unit configured to facilitate authentication of the apparatus.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the radiotelephone connector is configured to physically couple to the radiotelephone.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the telephone connector is configured to facilitate an RJ-11 type connection with the telephone.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communications interface controller is configured to determine that a call initiated through the at least one telephone connector is distinct from a call initiated by the radiotelephone.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the indication from the communication interface controller includes appending an identifier to a telephone number to which the outgoing communication is directed.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the telephone is a conventional telephone.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the radiotelephone is a handheld cellular radiotelephone.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to communicate with a plurality of radiotelephones.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to facilitate communication between the telephone and a second communications network via the first communications network.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the second communications network is a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first communications network is a Cellular Mobile Radiotelephone (CMR) system.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communications interface controller is further configured to facilitate an authentication procedure with the first communications network.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to facilitate communication including at least one of the following:

a voice signal and a data signal.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a telephone support unit configured to arbitrate priority among outgoing communications.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the radiotelephone connector is configured to provide a docking interface for the radiotelephone.

17. An apparatus configured to facilitate communication for at least one telephone with a radiotelephone network via at least one radiotelephone, the apparatus comprising:

a radiotelephone connector configured to facilitate wireless communication with the at least one radiotelephone;

a telephone connector configured to facilitate communication with the at least one telephone; and

a communications interface controller coupled to the radiotelephone connector.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a telephone support unit configured to arbitrate priority among outgoing communications originating from the at least one telephone.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the telephone connector is configured to facilitate an RJ-11 type connection with the telephone.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the communications interface controller is configured to determine that a call initiated through the at least one telephone connector is distinct from a call initiated by the radiotelephone.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the indication from the communication interface controller includes appending an identifier to a telephone number to which the outgoing communication is directed.

22. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the communications interface controller is further configured to facilitate an authentication procedure with a communications network.

23. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the apparatus is configured to facilitate communication including at least one of the following:

a voice signal and a data signal.

24. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the radiotelephone connector is configured to provide a docking interface for the radiotelephone.

25. An apparatus configured to facilitate communication for at least one telephone with a communications network via at least one radiotelephone, the apparatus comprising:

a radiotelephone connector configured to wirelessly facilitate communication with the radiotelephone;

a telephone connector configured to facilitate communication with the at least one telephone; and

a communications interface controller configured to determine that a call initiated through the at least one telephone connector is distinct from a call initiated by the radiotelephone.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the indication from the communication interface controller includes appending an identifier to a telephone number to which the outgoing communication is directed.