Radio telephone having a cordless or cellular only mode and a cordless/cellular mode

• US 5,309,502 A
• Filed: 07/31/1991
• Issued: 05/03/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Hirai, Yuji
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): OEHLING, GEORGE J
• Application Number:
  US07/738,414
• Time in Patent Office: 1,007 Days
• Field of Search: 379/58, 379/59, 379/61
• US Class Current: 455/426.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/733 with a plurality of base stations connected to a plurality of lines for selection in cordless PBX H04W84/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A radio telephone includes a cordless telephone fixed set and a mobile set. The cordless telephone fixed set is connected to a telephone line. The mobile set includes a first transmitter and a first receiver for radio communication with the cordless telephone fixed set. In addition, the mobile set includes a second transmitter and a second receiver for radio communication with an external base station. The mobile set includes a device for instructing a communication start, a device for detecting an answer signal outputted from the cordless telephone fixed set, a device for enabling the first transmitter to transmit a talking start signal when the instructing device instructs the communication start, and a device for, in cases where the first transmitter transmits the talking start signal but the detecting device fails to detect the answer signal, enabling the second transmitter to transmit a talking start signal.

Claims

1. A radio telephone comprising:

a cordless telephone fixed set connected to a telephone line; and

a mobile set including a first transmitter and a first receiver for radio communication with the cordless telephone fixed set, the mobile set including a second transmitter and a second receiver for cellular radio communications with an external cellular base station;

wherein the mobile set comprises;

selection means for selecting one of a portable cellular only mode, a cordless only mode, and an auto mode for initiating a telephone communication;

means for instructing a communications start;

means for detecting an answer signal outputted from the cordless telephone fixed set;

means for, in cases where the selection means selects the portable cellular only mode, activating the second transmitter and the second receiver to enable cellular radio communications with the external cellular base station when the instructing means instructs the communications start;

means for, in cases where the selection means selects the cordless only mode, activating the first transmitter and the first receiver to execute radio communications with the cordless telephone fixed set when the instructing means instructs the communications start;

means for, in cases where the selection means selects the auto mode, enabling the first transmitter to transmit a talking start signal when the instructing means instructs the communications start; and

means for, in cases where the first transmitter transmits the talking start signal but the detecting means fails to detect the answer signal, enabling the second transmitter to transmit a talking start signal.

2. A combined cellular and cordless telephone device operable in (i) a cordless mode of operation for placing and receiving telephone calls through a telephone network by establishing radio communications with a dedicated local low power cordless base station and (ii) a cellular mode of operation for placing and receiving telephone calls through said telephone network by establishing radio communications with a remote cellular communications site, said telephone device comprising:

a selector for selectively operating said telephone device in an operating mode selected from;

(i) a cordless only mode, (ii) a cellular only mode, and (iii) an automatic mode of operation;

call initiation means for supplying a communications start signal;

cordless availability detector means for detecting an answer signal from the cordless base station and, in response supplying a cordless detection signal indicating presence and absence of the answer signal; and

control means responsive to said operating mode, said cordless detection signal and said communications start signal for;

(i) initiating establishment of communications with the cordless base station in response to said communications start signal when said telephone device is in said cordless only mode of operation,

(ii) initiating establishment of communications with the cellular communications site in response to said communications start signal when said telephone device is in said cellular only mode of operation, and

(iii) when said telephone device is in said automatic mode,

(a) initiating establishment of communications with the cordless base station in response to said communications start signal and subsequently, in response to an indication by said cordless detection signal of absence of the answer signal,

(b) automatically initiating establishment of communications with the cellular communications site.

3. The telephone device according to claim 2 including a cellular telephone radio transmitter and receiver for establishing radio communications with the cellular communications site and cordless radio telephone transmitter and receiver for establishing radio communications with the cordless base station.

4. A combined cellular and cordless telephone device for selectively establishing radio communications with a (i) dedicated, single user, local cordless base station and (ii) a remote cellular communications site, said telephone device comprising:

cordless radio transmitter and receiver means responsive to a first control signal for initiating radio communications with the dedicated, single user, cordless base station;

cellular radio transmitter and receiver means responsive to a second control signal for initiating radio communications with the remote cellular communications site;

a selector for selectively operating said telephone device in an operating mode selected from;

(i) a cordless only mode, (ii) a cellular only mode, and (iii) an automatic mode of operation;

call initiation means for supplying a communications start signal;

cordless availability detector means for detecting an answer signal from the cordless base station and, in response supplying a cordless detection signal indicating presence and absence of the answer signal; and

control means responsive to said operating mode, said cordless detection signal and said communications start signal for;

(i) supplying said first control signal for initiating establishment of radio communications with the cordless base station in response to said communications start signal when said telephone device is in said cordless only mode of operation,

(ii) supplying said second control signal for initiating establishment of radio communications with the cellular communications site in response to said communications start signal when said telephone device is in said cellular only mode of operation, and

(iii) when said telephone device is in said automatic mode, supplying said first control signal for initiating establishment of radio communications with the cordless base station in response to said communications start signal and, subsequently, in response to an indication by said cordless detection signal of absence of the answer signal, supplying said second control signal for automatically initiating establishment of communications with the cellular communications site.