CORDLESS PHONE MESH NETWORK

• US 20100210289A1
• Filed: 02/19/2009
• Published: 08/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Embarq Holdings Company LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sweeney, Jeffrey, Rooks, Kelsyn D.S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,238,945 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/463
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72502 with one base station connected to a single line
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72516 with means for out-of-range alerting
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

A system and method for providing a cordless telephone mesh network may include monitoring, by a cordless telephone base unit, a cordless communications parameter of a cordless communications signal being received from a cordless telephone handset during a telephone call. A determination that the cordless communications parameter crossed a predetermined threshold level may be made. In response to determining that the cordless communications parameter crossed the predetermined threshold value, at least one other cordless telephone handset may be caused to switch into a repeater mode so as to receive and communicate the cordless communications signal between the cordless telephone handset and the base unit.

Claims

1. A cordless telephone mesh network, comprising:

a base unit; and

a plurality of cordless telephone handsets configured to operate in telephone and repeater modes, said base unit configured to monitor a cordless communications parameter of a wireless communications signal between said base unit and a cordless telephone handset while in use during a telephone call, and, in response to determining that the cordless communication parameter crosses a predetermined threshold value, cause at least one of said cordless telephone handsets not currently being used to switch into a repeater mode so as to receive and communicate the cordless communications signal between said cordless telephone handset and said base unit.

2. The cordless telephone mesh network according to claim 1, wherein the cordless communications parameter is a power level.

3. The cordless telephone mesh network according to claim 1, further comprising a charger unit for each of said cordless telephone handsets not positioned at said base unit.

4. The cordless telephone mesh network according to claim 1, wherein said base unit is further configured to:

in response to determining that the cordless communications signal crosses the predetermined threshold value, monitor a cordless communications parameter of each cordless communications signal being received from each respective cordless telephone handset;

select a cordless communications signal having the best cordless communications parameter; and

switch from communicating with the cordless communication signal to communicating with the selected cordless communications signal.

5. The cordless telephone mesh network according to claim 4, wherein said base unit is further configured to utilize hysteresis to avoid switching from the selected cordless communications signal prior to the cordless communications parameter crossing the predetermined threshold value.

6. The cordless telephone mesh network according to claim 1, wherein said cordless telephone handsets are further configured to:

monitor for a repeater mode command signal from said base unit; and

in response to receiving the repeater mode command signal, repeating the selected cordless communication signal.

7. The cordless telephone mesh network according to claim 6, wherein said base unit is further configured to communicate the repeater mode command signal using a higher signal strength than the maximum signal strength of the cordless communications signal.

8. The cordless telephone mesh network according to claim 1, wherein each of said cordless handsets are configured to communicate using one of multiple cordless frequencies.

9. A method for providing a cordless telephone mesh network, said method comprising:

monitoring, by a cordless telephone base unit, a cordless communications parameter of a cordless communications signal being received from a cordless telephone handset during a telephone call;

determining that the cordless communications parameter crossed a predetermined threshold level; and

a response determining that the cordless communications parameter crossed the predetermined threshold value, causing at least one other cordless telephone handset to switch into a repeater mode so as to receive and communicate the cordless communications signal between the cordless telephone handset and the base unit.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein monitoring the cordless communications parameter includes monitoring signal quality.

11. The method according to claim 9, further comprising providing a charging unit with each other cordless handset for charging the other cordless handsets remotely from the base unit.

12. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

monitoring a cordless communications parameter of each cordless communication signal being received from each cordless communications handset in response to determining that the cordless communications signal crosses the predetermined threshold value;

selecting a cordless communications signal having the best cordless communications parameter; and

switching from communicating with the cordless communications signal to communicating with the selected cordless communications signal.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising utilizing hysteresis to avoid switching from the selected cordless communications signal prior to the cordless communications parameter crossing the predetermined threshold value.

14. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

monitoring for a repeater mode command signal; and

in response to receiving the repeater mode command signal, repeating the selected cordless communications signal.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising communicating the repeater mode command signal using a higher signal strength than the maximum signal strength of the cordless communications signal.

16. The method according to claim 9, further comprising communicating the cordless communications signal using one of multiple cordless frequencies.

17. A cordless telephone mesh network, comprising:

a base unit;

a first cordless telephone handset configured to communicate cordless communications signals with and be charged by said base unit;

a second cordless telephone handset; and

a charger unit configured to charge said second cordless telephone handset, said second cordless telephone handset being configured to repeat the cordless communications signal received from said first cordless telephone handset to said base unit.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein said second cordless telephone handset is configured to be in an active repeater mode while being charged by said charger unit.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein said second cordless telephone handset is configured to be in a passive repeater mode while not being charged by said charger unit or in use.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein said base unit is configured to:

monitor a cordless communications parameter from the first cordless telephone handset while in use by a user; and

in response to determining that the cordless communications parameter crosses a predetermined threshold value, switch receiving the cordless communication signal from the first cordless telephone handset being used by the user to the repeated cordless communications signal from the second cordless telephone handset repeating the cordless communications signal.