Computer-controlled cordless telephone
First Claim
1. A cordless telephone comprising:
- a base unit for connection to a telephone line, the base unit including a first transmitter and a first receiver for respectively transmitting signals to and receiving signals from a handset unit associated with the base unit;
a handset unit with a second transmitter and a second receiver for respectively transmitting the signals to the first receiver and receiving the signals from the first transmitter in the base unit;
control means for deactivating the second transmitter and reducing the on-time state of the second receiver while the handset unit is located remote from the base unit and in a standby state wherein no user initiated communications exists between the base unit and the handset unit; and
coding means for storing in the base unit and the handset unit of the cordless telephone and for providing a common security code for establishing communications between the base unit and the handset unit, the coding means being transmitted as signals between the base unit and the handset unit in response to the presence of user initiated communications while the handset unit is located remote from the base unit, the handset unit being unresponsive to user initiated communication attempts by the base unit unaccompanied by the coding means and remaining in the reduced on-time state, and the base unit being unresponsive to user initiated communication attempts from the handset unit accompanied by the coding means.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A computer-controlled cordless telephone system having a base unit and a dset unit provides for increased functionality in communications between the base unit and the handset unit, and also provides a controlled power-up/power-down mode of operation for the handset unit. Increased functionality is achieved by employing a message format for control signals transmitted between the base unit and the handset unit in the form of frequency shift keyed (FSK) signals which include a data field. This data field may be in the form of either opcode data or digit data, thereby allowing for many different commands or functions. Power to a computer, a receiver and certain other selected circuitry in the handset unit is controlled to minimize power consumption when the handset unit is in an out-of-cradle-and-standby state. Power to other nonessential circuitry in the handset unit is turned completely off during this state. The handset unit automatically turns on to a full operating mode from the alternating power-up/power-down mode in response to events such as (1) a user depressing a key no the keypad of the handset unit for either initiating a telephone calls or paging the base unit, and (2) the base unit detecting an incoming ringing signal on the telephone lines.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A cordless telephone comprising:
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a base unit for connection to a telephone line, the base unit including a first transmitter and a first receiver for respectively transmitting signals to and receiving signals from a handset unit associated with the base unit; a handset unit with a second transmitter and a second receiver for respectively transmitting the signals to the first receiver and receiving the signals from the first transmitter in the base unit; control means for deactivating the second transmitter and reducing the on-time state of the second receiver while the handset unit is located remote from the base unit and in a standby state wherein no user initiated communications exists between the base unit and the handset unit; and coding means for storing in the base unit and the handset unit of the cordless telephone and for providing a common security code for establishing communications between the base unit and the handset unit, the coding means being transmitted as signals between the base unit and the handset unit in response to the presence of user initiated communications while the handset unit is located remote from the base unit, the handset unit being unresponsive to user initiated communication attempts by the base unit unaccompanied by the coding means and remaining in the reduced on-time state, and the base unit being unresponsive to user initiated communication attempts from the handset unit accompanied by the coding means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A cordless telephone comprising:
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a base unit for connection to a telephone line, the base unit including a first transmitter and a first receiver for respectively transmitting signals to and receiving signals from a handset unit associated with the base unit; a handset unit with a second transmitter and a second receiver for respectively transmitting the signals to the first receiver and receiving the signals from the first transmitter in the base unit; control means for deactivating the second transmitter and reducing the on-time state of the second receiver while the handset unit is located remote from the base unit and in a standby state wherein no user initiated communications exists between the base unit and the handset unit; and coding means for storing in the base unit of the cordless telephone for providing a common security code for establishing communications between the base unit and the handset unit, the coding means being transmitted as signals from the base unit to the handset unit in response to user initiated communications while the handset unit is located remote from the base unit, the handset unit being unresponsive to user initiated communication attempts by the base unit unaccompanied by the coding means and remaining in the reduced on-time state. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of communicating over a cordless telephone having a base unit for connection to a telephone line, the base unit including a first transmitter and a first receiver for respectively transmitting signals to and receiving signals from a handset unit associated with the base unit, and the handset unit including a second transmitter and a second receiver for respectively transmitting the signals to the first receiver and receiving the signals from the first transmitter in the base unit, the method comprising the steps of:
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deactivating the second transmitter and reducing the on-time state of the second receiver while the handset unit is located remote from the base unit and in a standby state wherein no user initiated communications exists between the base unit and the handset unit; and storing a predetermined signal code in the base unit and the handset unit of the cordless telephone for transmission between the base unit and the handset unit in response to user initiated communications while the handset unit is located remote from the base unit, the signal code including a common security code for establishing communications between the base unit and the handset unit, the handset unit being unresponsive to user initiated communication attempts by the base unit unaccompanied by the signal code and remaining in the reduced on-time state, and the base unit being unresponsive to user initiated communication attempts from the handset unit unaccompanied by the signal code. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method of communicating over a cordless telephone having a base unit for connection to a telephone line, the base unit including a first transmitter and a first receiver for respectively transmitting signals to and receiving signals from a handset unit associated with the base unit, and the handset unit including a second transmitter and a second receiver for respectively transmitting the signals to the first receiver and receiving the signals from the first transmitter in the base unit, the method comprising the steps of:
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deactivating the second transmitter and reducing the on-time state of the second receiver while the handset unit is located remote from the base unit and in a standby state wherein no user initiated communications exists between the base unit and the handset unit; and storing a predetermined signal code in the base unit of the cordless telephone for transmission to the handset unit in response to user initiated communications, the signal code including a common security code for establishing communications between the base unit and the handset unit, the handset unit being unresponsive to user initiated communication attempts by the base unit unaccompanied by the signal code and remaining in the reduced on-time state. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification