Intercom/wireless door bell for multi-handset telephone system

• US 20070042804A1
• Filed: 05/09/2006
• Published: 02/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VTech Telecommunications Limited (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: VTech Telecommunications Limited (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Tischler, Ralph, Ryley, Gordon, Grewal, Jagjit, Wong, Allan, Kropp, Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 7,738,917 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/556.100
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1966 Wireless systems, other than telephone systems, used to communicate with a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19684 Portable terminal, e.g. mobile phone, used for viewing video remotely
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0291 Door telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6033 for providing handsfree use or a loudspeaker mode in telephone sets arrangements for preventing acoustic echo H04M9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72502 with one base station connected to a single line
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72513 On hold, intercom or transfer communication modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/025 Door telephones adapted for television H04N7/186
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/085 using a television receiver, e.g. viewdata system
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/186 Video door telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/20 Adaptations for transmission via a GHz frequency band, e.g. via satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A multi handset telephone system with a wireless telecom/doorbell module. The telecom/doorbell module has similar electronics as a cordless handset that includes audio and RF link with a base unit. A speakerphone functionality of a wireless telecom/doorbell audio processor is used to provide an intercom audio conversation. The wireless intercom/doorbell module is battery powered that is either charged by an AC adapter or by an existing doorbell wiring. The wireless intercom/doorbell module also work in parallel with the existing bell wiring. When a page key is pressed, the module pages the telephone system and shorts the doorbell wiring to make an existing bell ring. The doorbell module is coupled with a camera.

Claims

1. A cordless telephone system, comprising:

a base unit;

at least one cordless telephone handset that wirelessly communicates with the base unit, wherein the base unit and the at least one cordless telephone handset include speakerphones and displays; and

a doorbell module located within a range of receivable wireless communications of the base unit and the at least one cordless telephone handset, the doorbell module comprising a page button, wherein when the page button is pressed the doorbell module transmits an RF message to activate an alert sound from the speakerphones.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the doorbell module works in parallel with a doorbell wiring.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the doorbell module further comprises:

a number of keys providing choices for a user to select one or more of the base unit and the at least one cordless telephone handset to be paged.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the doorbell module further comprises:

a text display providing choices for a user to select one or more of the base unit and the at least one cordless telephone handset to be paged.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the doorbell module is coupled with a charger for providing power to the doorbell module, wherein the charger is configured to receive power from an external AC/DC adapter.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the doorbell module is coupled with a charger for providing power to the doorbell module, and wherein the charger is configured to receive power from an existing doorbell wiring that is connected in parallel with the doorbell module.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the doorbell module is coupled with a camera unit that is operable to wirelessly send images to one or more of the base unit and the at least one cordless handset.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein audio information associated with the RF message is transmitted on a first frequency and video information associated with image is transmitted on a second frequency.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first frequency is one of 2.4 and 5.8 GHz and the second frequency is 900 MHz.

10. A cordless telephone system, comprising:

a first transceiver on a doorbell module for transmitting and receiving RF messages with a base unit of the cordless telephone system;

a paging button on the doorbell module, when pressed, initiating the first transceiver to transmit the RF messages to the base unit; and

a camera unit, coupled to the doorbell module, for capturing an image when the paging button is pressed, and for transmitting the image to the base unit using a second transceiver on the camera unit.

11. The cordless telephone system of claim 10, wherein the wireless telephone system comprises at least one wireless handset, wherein the at least one wireless handset comprises a speakerphone and a display.

12. The cordless telephone system of claim 11, further comprising

a number of keys coupled to the doorbell module, for providing choices for a user to select one or more of the base unit and the at least one cordless telephone handset to be paged.

13. The cordless telephone system of claim 11, further comprises:

a text display providing choices for a user to select one or more of the base unit and the at least one cordless telephone handset to be paged.

14. The cordless telephone system of claim 10, wherein one or more of the base unit and the at least one wireless handset includes a display for displaying the image.

15. The cordless telephone system of claim 10, wherein audio information associated with the RF message is transmitted on a first frequency and video information associated with the image is transmitted on a second frequency.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first frequency is one of 2.4 and 5.8 GHz and the second frequency is 900 MHz.

17. A method of a doorbell intercom communication with a wireless telephone system, the doorbell intercom comprising a camera, the wireless telephone system comprising a base unit and at least one wireless handset, each of the base unit and the at least one wireless handset comprising speakerphones and displays, the method comprising:

initiating a paging selection to establish a voice link between the doorbell intercom system and the wireless telephone system;

alerting one or more of the base unit and the at least one wireless handset through the speakerphone by transmitting an RF message from the doorbell intercom system to the wireless telephone system; and

capturing an image and transmitting the image to be displayed on the displays.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising selecting paging one or more of the base unit and the at least one handset of the wireless telephone system.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the RF message and the image are transmitted using different frequencies.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein when the wireless telephone system is already in use for a telephone conversation, transmitting a different alerting tone to be heard over the telephone conversation.