Home cellular system

• US 20060293038A1
• Filed: 06/23/2005
• Published: 12/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Walter, Edward, Diroo, Yolius, Wollmershauser, Steven M.
• Application Number:
  US11/159,756
• Publication Number:
  US 20060293038A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/14 WLL [Wireless Local Loop]; RLL [Radio Local Loop]

Abstract

The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for receiving a plurality of cellular telephone signals over an RF communication system. The present invention receives at least one signal at a cellular frequency, identifies a user associated with the cellular signal, converts the signal to an RF signal, and sends the converted RF signal to the RF communication system. The call is received at wireless RF handset. A removable Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) of a cell phone docked and integrated with the present invention to route the cellular call to RF receiver. Multiple RF communication lines are managed. Various methods of notifying the intended recipient are disclosed, such as textual display and distinctive ring tones.

Claims

1. A method for receiving a plurality of cellular telephone signals over a radio frequency (RF) communication system, comprising:

receiving one of the plurality of cellular telephone signals;

identifying a user associated with the received cellular telephone signal;

converting the received cellular signal to an RF signal; and

sending the converted RF signal to the RF communication system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the user further comprises referencing a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) of the user.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the SIM is transferable from a cellular transceiver device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the converted RF signal further comprises identifying an RF handset from a plurality of RF handsets in the RF communication system and sending the RF signal to the identified handset.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein sending the converted RF signal further comprises rolling over an RF signal to RF handsets available for receiving a call.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein sending the converted RF signal further comprises notifying the user of the presence of the converted RF signal.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein notifying the user further comprises providing a distinctive audio signal as a ring tone on the RF handsets available for receiving the call.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein notifying the user further comprises providing a call waiting signal on the identified handset.

9. An apparatus for receiving a plurality of cellular telephone signals over a radio frequency (RF) communication system, comprising:

a first antenna attuned to a cellular frequency range for receiving one of the plurality of cellular telephone signals;

a processor for identifying a user associated with the received cellular telephone signal;

a converter for converting the received cellular signal to an RF signal; and

a second antenna attuned to a radio frequency range for sending the converted RF signal to the RF communication system.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising one or more slots for docking a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM), the SIM usable in identifying the user.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the SIM is transferable from a cellular transceiver device.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein sending the converted RF signal further comprises identifying an RF handset from a plurality of RF handsets in the RF communication system and sending the RF signal to the identified handset.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein sending the converted RF signal further comprises rolling over an RF signal to RF handsets available for receiving a call.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein sending the converted RF signal further comprises notifying the user of the presence of the converted RF signal.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein notifying the user further comprises providing a distinctive audio signal as a ring tone (based on the SIM receiving the call) on the RF handsets available for receiving the call.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein notifying the user further comprises providing a call waiting signal on the identified handset.

17. A computer readable medium containing instructions that when executed by a computer perform a method for receiving a plurality of cellular telephone signals over a radio frequency (RF) communication system, comprising:

receiving one of the plurality of cellular telephone signals;

identifying a user associated with the received cellular telephone signal;

converting the received cellular signal to an RF signal; and

sending the converted RF signal to the RF communication system.

18. The medium of claim 17, wherein in the method identifying the user further comprises referencing a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) of the user.

19. The medium of claim 18, wherein in the method the SIM is transferable from a cellular transceiver device.

20. The medium of claim 17, wherein in the method sending the converted RF signal further comprises identifying an RF handset from a plurality of RF handsets in the RF communication system and sending the RF signal to the identified handset.

21. The medium of claim 17, wherein in the method sending the converted RF signal further comprises rolling over an RF signal to RF handsets available for receiving a call.

22. The medium of claim 21, wherein in the method sending the converted RF signal further comprises notifying the user of the presence of the converted RF signal.

23. The medium of claim 22, wherein in the method notifying the user further comprises providing a distinctive audio signal as a ring tone on the RF handsets available for receiving the call.

24. The medium of claim 22, wherein in the method notifying the user further comprises providing a call waiting signal on the identified handset.