Apparatus for interfacing a wireless local network and a wired voice telecommunications system
First Claim
1. A data communications network including a plurality of stationary access points and a plurality of remote mobile units, the mobile units being capable of wirelessly communicating with at least two of the access points when located within a predetermined range therefrom and being normally associated with and in communications with a single one of such access points, a mobile unit having a single network address that is selectable from a set of network addresses and is utilized by the mobile unit only while such mobile unit is active, comprising:
- a processor located at one of said access points for detecting a message sent by a first mobile unit and determining from the message whether it is to be routed to another mobile unit or to another communication station; and
a gateway connected to said access points and functioning to provide a two-way voice channel of communications between the first mobile unit and said another communication station.
11 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for interfacing a wireless local area network with a wide area, cellular or public switched telephone network including the function of a wireless LAN base station or access point, and a gateway. The interface may contain one or more different types of gateways, including a PSTN voice gateway, an analog modem gateway, and others. The apparatus may also include a well designed to receive the handset or mobile computer device to recharge the battery as well as to automatically transfer data when the phone or device is secured in the well.
12 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A data communications network including a plurality of stationary access points and a plurality of remote mobile units, the mobile units being capable of wirelessly communicating with at least two of the access points when located within a predetermined range therefrom and being normally associated with and in communications with a single one of such access points, a mobile unit having a single network address that is selectable from a set of network addresses and is utilized by the mobile unit only while such mobile unit is active, comprising:
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a processor located at one of said access points for detecting a message sent by a first mobile unit and determining from the message whether it is to be routed to another mobile unit or to another communication station; and
a gateway connected to said access points and functioning to provide a two-way voice channel of communications between the first mobile unit and said another communication station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A telecommunications network comprising a wireless local area network including a plurality of stationary access points connected in a wired network and a plurality of mobile units, each mobile unit being capable of communicating with an access point at a predetermined range therefrom in the form of data packets including a destination network address and a circuit switched network;
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a mobile unit for providing voice communications on the subnetwork for a user, including a microphone, a speaker, a keypad, a display and an RF transceiver for frequency-hopping spread spectrum communications; and
a combined gateway access point including an RF transceiver for communicating with mobile units at a range therefrom, and a processor for converting the network addressed packetized voice or data signal from the mobile unit to an analog signal for transmission over the circuit-switched network, and for transmitting such voice or data signal to the selected destination station on the telecommunications network.
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9. A wireless desk telephone capable of communicating with a stationary base station located on a wired communications network comprising
a portable housing including a keypad; -
a handset including a microphone and a speaker;
a cable connecting said housing and said handset;
a codec in said housing for converting audio signals from said microphone into packetized digital signals;
a keypad processor in said housing for processing data entered on said keypad by the user into a destination network address to be used with said packetized digital signals;
a protocol stack processor in said housing for assembling a frame including said network address and said digital signals to be transferred over a radio communication link; and
a radio transceiver for communicating frames including said packetized digital signals to and from a stationary base station.
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10. A telecommunications base station and mobile unit for use in a wireless local area network comprising in combination:
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a battery operated mobile unit for acquiring and storing data;
a base station including;
(a) cradle adapted to receive and secure the mobile unit when not in use, (b) a radio transceiver for transmitting and receiving signals from mobile units;
(c) a processor for downloading data received from the mobile unit when it is placed in the cradle;
(d) an interface between the base station and the public switched telephone network for transferring downloaded data to a selected destination; and
(e) a battery re-charger for recharging the battery of the mobile unit handset when it is placed in the cradle.
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11. A method for handling an outgoing call in a network from a handset in a wireless communications local area network, comprising the steps of;
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detecting when the user activates the mobile handset to make an outgoing call;
receiving in the mobile handset the identification of the destination of the outgoing call from the user;
transmitting a ring signal to a network station corresponding to said destination, said ring signal designed to alert the recipient that a call is attempting to connect; and
transmitting an acknowledgment signal to the mobile handset, said acknowledgement signal designed to alert the user that the call made by the user is attempting to connect. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of handling an incoming call in a wireless local area network including mobile IP phones comprising the steps of:
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receiving an incoming ring message which includes the IP address of a calling mobile IP phone;
displaying the IP address of the calling phone on a display on the called mobile IP phone;
determining whether the destination user of the called mobile IP phone accepts or declines the incoming call;
returning a call declined message to the calling mobile IP phone if the destination user declines the incoming call; and
opening an H.323 session between the calling mobile IP phone and the called mobile IP phone if the destination user accepts the incoming call.
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26. A method of operating a data communications network including a plurality of sets of stationary access points and a gateway connected to the access points, and a plurality of remote mobile units, the mobile units being capable of wirelessly communicating with at least two of the access points when located within a predetermined range therefrom and being normally associated with and in communications with a single one of such access points, each mobile unit having a single network address that is selectable from a set of network addresses and is utilized by the mobile unit only while such mobile unit is active, comprising the steps of:
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(a) storing a set of IP addresses available for use by users in a server computer on the network;
(b) providing identification information of the user to said first mobile unit;
(c) validating the user privileges in said first mobile unit;
(d) assigning an IP address from the set of IP addresses available for use by said first mobile unit; and
(e) transmitting the assigned IP address associated with the user and with said first mobile unit to the telephony gateway. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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28. A method of operating a data communications network including a plurality of sets of stationary access points and a gateway connected to the access points, and a plurality or remote mobile units, the mobile units being capable of wirelessly communicating with at least two of the access points when located within a predetermined range therefrom and being normally associated with and in communications with a single one of such access points, each mobile unit having a single network address that is selectable from a set of network addresses and is utilized by the mobile unit only while such mobile unit is active, comprising the steps of:
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(a) storing a set of network addresses available for use by users in a server computer on the network;
(b) transmitting a network address request to the server computer from a first mobile unit;
(c) assigning a network address from the set of network addresses available to said first mobile unit;
(d) providing identification information of the user from said first mobile unit to an authentication server;
(e) validating the user privileges by the authentication server and communicating such validation to said first mobile unit; and
(f) transmitting the network address associated with the user'"'"'s mobile unit to the telephony gateway. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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Specification