System for interfacing a standard telephone set with a radio transceiver

• US 4,775,997 A
• Filed: 04/08/1987
• Issued: 10/04/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telular Corporation (Ametek Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Metrofone Incorporated
• Inventors: Shafer, James E., West, William L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US07/035,898
• Time in Patent Office: 545 Days
• Field of Search: 379/200, 379/59
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/14 WLL [Wireless Local Loop]; RLL [Radio Local Loop]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/021 adapted for Wireless Local Loop operation

Abstract

An interface system for interfacing a standard telephone set with a radio transceiver as part of a telephone network is provided. The radio transceiver may be a conventional cellular-type transceiver or other transceiver having typical control inputs and outputs similar to that provided by cellular transceivers. The interface system converts tone-dial or pulse-dial inputs from the telephone into a serial data stream for storage in the transceiver. The interface system automatically determines when the last numeral or digit is dialed and provides a send signal to the transceiver when such determination is made. The system responds to incoming call signals, such as alert signals, from the transceiver and rings the telephone accordingly. The system similates ring and dial-tone type signals under conditions typical of standard telephone set usage.

Claims

1. A method of interfacing a telephone communications-type device which is capable of providing a touch-tone/rotary dial-type telephone signal with a radio transceiver used in a telephone communication system wherein the transceiver is capable of radio communication with a remote radio transmitter-receiver system that is part of a telephone network, said method comprising:

coupling a transceiver to a telephone communications-type device which is capable of providing touch-tone/rotary dial-type telephone signals in order to allow for at least one-way communication between the transceiver and the telephone communications-type device;

said step of coupling comprising converting each dialed number of the telephone communications-type device into digital data;

said step of coupling further comprising automatically determining at least the last-dialed number of the telephone number dialed on the telephone communications-type device; and

sending each digitally-converted number formed by said step of converting to the transceiver for subsequent transmittal.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of coupling comprises providing two-way communication between the transceiver and the telephone communications-type device.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of sending comprises storing the digital data in the transceiver memory.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of coupling further comprises transmitting each digitally-converted number formed by said step of converting, said step of transmitting being carried out in response to said step of automatically determining, whereby, upon the dialing of the last or only number on the telephone communications-type device, the transceiver is actuated to transmit the digital data.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said step of automatically determining comprises automatically determining the dialing of a single number representative of a telephone number to be called, and automatically discriminating between a single number that is not a useable number to be called, so that, when the number zero is dialed, said step of transmitting may be carried out, and, for at least one other single-digit telephone number, said step of transmitting is not carried out.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of automatically determining comprises automatically differentiating between the dialing of a single-digit telephone number and a multi-digit telephone number.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said step of automatically differentiating further comprises automatically differentiating between dialing a local telephone number and dialing a long-distance telephone number.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein step of automatically differentiating further comprises discriminating between dialing a long-distance telephone number and dialing an overseas telephone number.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein said step of automatically differentiating further comprises discriminating between dialing a three-digit telephone number and dialing a seven-digit telephone number.

10. A method of interfacing a telephone communications-type device which is capable of providing touch-tone/rotary dial-type telephone signals with a radio transceiver used in a telephone communication system, wherein the transceiver is capable of radio communication with a remote radio transmitter-receiver system that is part of a telephone network, wherein the method comprises:

coupling a telephone communications-type device to a coupling means for providing a two-way communication link with the telephone communications-type device;

coupling to a transceiver a coupling means for providing a two-way communication link with the radio transceiver;

providing a telephone number digital conversion means for receiving a group of touch-tone or rotary-dialed telephone numbers from the telephone coupling means, said step of providing comprising converting the group of telephone numbers into digital data, and providing the digital data to the transceiver coupling means;

determining the last digit of the group of telephone numbers provided at the transceiver coupling means;

providing a send signal to the transceiver;

detecting an incoming call signal provided at the transceiver coupling means;

detecting an off-hook signal provided at the telephone coupling means;

providing a two-way audio signal path between the telephone coupling means and the transceiver coupling means; and

providing audio frequency ring-tone and dial-tone signals thereto.

11. A method of coupling a telephone communications-type device which is capable of providing touch-tone/rotary dial-type telephone signals with a cellular-type radio transceiver, comprising:

(a) converting a group of telephone numbers to digital data and providing the digital data to a transceiver;

(b) automatically determining the last digit dialed in a telephone number;

(c) sending a predetermined send code signal to the transceiver in response to said step (b);

(d) detecting an incoming call from the transceiver; and

(e) generating a ring frequency for providing periodic audio ring-tone frequency signals to said telephone communications-type device.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising detecting a hang-up condition from the telephone communications-type device, and sending a predetermined end code signal to the tansceiver in response to detection of the hang-up signal.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein said step (a) comprises sending a predetermined coded signal to the transceiver upon the completion of each numeral of the group of numerals.

14. A method for coupling a telephone communications-type device which is capable of providing a touch-tone/rotary dial-type telephone signal with a radio transceiver used in a telephone communication system wherein the transceiver is capable of radio communication with a telephone network, wherein the method comprises:

converting a group of telephone numbers to digital data and providing the digital data to a transceiver;

providing a send signal to the transceiver for enabling the transceiver to transmit the digital data;

automatically determining when the send signal is to be provided to the transceiver; and

detecting an incoming call from the transceiver.