System for interfacing a standard telephone set with a radio transceiver

• US 4,922,517 A
• Filed: 09/15/1988
• Issued: 05/01/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telular Corporation (Ametek Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Metrofone Incorporated
• Inventors: West, William L. Jr., Shafer, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lev, Robert
• Application Number:
  US07/245,138
• Time in Patent Office: 593 Days
• Field of Search: 379/58, 379/63, 379/57, 455/34
• US Class Current: 455/426.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/14 WLL [Wireless Local Loop]; RLL [Radio Local Loop]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

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 simulates ring and dial-tone type signals under conditions typical of standard telephone set usage.

Claims

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

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

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

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

determination-means coupled with the telephone number digital conversion means for automatically determining the last digit of the group of telephone digits provided at the transceiver coupling means; and

send signal means coupled with said determination means for providing a send signal to the cellular transceiver in response to said determination means'"'"' determination that the last digit of the telephone number has been input.

2. A cellular-type radio/telephone communication system having at least one remote radio station transmitter-receiver linked with a master cellular-type switching center which is in turn linked with a local telephone central switching office, wherein the remote radio station transmitter-receiver provides a wireless communication link with a base station transceiver, the improvement comprising:

a telephone communications-type device for providing standard Touch-Tone/pulse dialing signals;

a cellular-type radio transceiver mounted at a fixed site;

interfacing means for interfacing said telephone device to said cellular transceiver, said interfacing means comprising power supply means for supplying DC voltage to said cellular transceiver;

telephone number digital conversion means for converting touch-tone/pulse-dialed signals from said telephone device to digital data for at least temporary storage in said cellular transceiver;

means coupled to said telephone number digital conversion means for automatically determining the last digit dialed of a telephone number from said telephone device; and

sending means coupled to said means for automatically determining the last digit for enabling said transceiver to transmit the digital data in response to said determination means'"'"' determination that the last digit of the telephone number has been input.