Telecommunication apparatus for receiving, storing and forwarding a plurality of electrical signals to a wireless network, in response to a control signal therefrom

• US 5,627,878 A
• Filed: 05/18/1995
• Issued: 05/06/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rocket Software Incorporated
• Original Assignee: TCSI Corp. (Rocket Software Incorporated)
• Inventors: Miller, Daniel H., Strauch, Roger
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chernoff, Michael B.
• Application Number:
  US08/444,828
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 379/58, 379/59, 379/60, 379/61, 379/63, 379/96, 379/97, 379/98, 379/93, 379/88, 379/67, 455/33.1
• US Class Current: 455/413
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

In the present telecommunication system, a wired network receives a plurality of electrical signals, such as voice signals and transmits them. A first communication device is connected to the wired network. The first communication device includes means for receiving the plurality of electrical signals, a first storage means for storing the plurality of electrical signals, a first playback means for retrieving a portion of the stored plurality of electrical signals, and a first control means for controlling the first playback means to transmit the retrieved portion of electrical signals. The portion of the stored plurality of electrical signals which are retrieved are then placed onto a wireless network which is in communication with a plurality of portable units. Each of the portable units has capability of communicating with the wireless network for receiving the electrical signals therefrom. Finally, the first communication unit causes the stored plurality of electrical signals stored on the first communication unit to be transmitted to a different one of the plurality of portable units.

Claims

1. A telecommunication system for receiving and forwarding a plurality of electrical signals, said system comprising:

a wired communication network for receiving the plurality of electrical signals and for transmitting the plurality of electrical signals;

a first communication means, connected to said wired network for receiving the plurality of electrical signals, storing the plurality of electrical signals, and retrieving a portion thereof for transmission;

a wireless communication network in communication with said first communication means to receive the portion of electrical signals therefrom and for transmitting the portion of electrical signals and having means for generating a control signal indicative of said wireless network having transmission capacity;

a plurality of second communication means;

each of said second communication means including means for communicating with said wireless network to receive one of the electrical signals; and

wherein said first communication means including means for receiving the control signal from the wireless network;

means for receiving the plurality of electrical signals transmitted on said wired network;

a first storage means for storing a received plurality of electrical signals;

a first playback means for retrieving a portion of the stored plurality of electrical signals; and

a first control means for controlling said first playback means to transmit the retrieved portion of electrical signals to said wireless network, in response to said control signal indicative of said wireless network having the capacity to receive the portion of stored electrical signals.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of electrical signals is an analog signal.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of electrical signals is a digital signal.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein each of the portion of the stored plurality electrical signals is a digital signal.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein said first communication means further comprising means for compressing said plurality of digital signals.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said first communication means further comprising:

means for encoding each of said plurality of electrical signals from said first storage means to produce an encoded electrical signal and for transmitting the plurality of encoded electrical signals to said wireless network, with each encoded electrical signal transmitted to a different one of said plurality of second communication means; and

wherein each of said pluarity of second communication means further comprising means for decoding the received one electrical signal.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said means for communicating of each of said plurality of second communication means further comprising:

a plurality of antenna means for receiving one of the plurality of electrical signals from said wireless network.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of second communication means further comprising:

means for automatically transmitting DTMF signals to said first communication means in response to receipt of the one electrical signal.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of second communication means further comprising:

user activatable means for transmitting DTMF signals to said first communication means in response to a electrical signal retrieved from said second storage means.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of second communication means further comprising:

speaker means for generating a voice message; and

means for activating said speaker means as microphone means for transmitting a voice message.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of second communication means has a terminal identifier and further comprising:

power means for supplying power to said means for communicating with said wireless network;

switch means for causing power to be supplied from said power means to said communicating means in one mode, and for causing power not to be supplied in another mode; and

timing means, responsive to said terminal identifier, to activate periodically said switch means in said one mode.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein each of said plurality of second communication means further comprising:

means, responsive to the receipt of said electrical signal from said wireless network, to maintain said switch means in said one mode.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein one of the electrical signals received by said second communication means is a voice signal.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein one of the electrical signals received by said second communication means is an audio signal.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein one of the electrical signals received by said second communication means is a fax signal.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein one of the electrical signals received by said second communication means is a video signal.

17. A telecommunication system for receiving and forwarding a plurality of electrical signal, said system comprising:

a wired communication network for receiving the plurality of electrical signals and for transmitting the plurality of electrical signals;

a first communication means, connected to said wired communication network for receiving the plurality of electrical signals, storing the plurality of electrical signals, and retrieving a portion thereof for transmission;

a second wireless communication network in communication with said first communication means to receive the portion of electrical signals therefrom and for transmitting the portion of electrical signals;

a plurality of second communication means;

each of said second communication means including means for communication with said wireless network to receive one of the electrical signals; and

wherein said first communication means including means for receiving the plurality of electrical signals transmitted on said wired network;

a first storage means for storing a received plurality of electrical signals;

a first playback means for retrieving a portion of the stored plurality of electrical signals; and

a first control means for controlling said first playback means to transmit the retrieved portion of electrical signals to said wireless network, periodically and substantially evenly over a period of time.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein each of said plurality of electrical signals is an analog signal.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein each of said plurality of electrical signals is a digital signal.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein each of the portion of the stored plurality electrical signals is a digital signal.

21. The system of claim 19 wherein said first communication means further comprising means for compressing said plurality of digital signals.

22. The system of claim 17 wherein said first communication means further comprising:

means for encoding each of said plurality of electrical signals from said first storage means to produce an encoded electrical signal and for transmitting the plurality of encoded electrical signals to said wireless network, with each encoded electrical signal transmitted to a different one of said plurality of second communication means; and

wherein each of said plurality of second communication means further comprising means for decoding the received one electrical signal.

23. The system of claim 17 wherein said means for communicating of each of said plurality of second communication means further comprising:

a plurality of antenna means for receiving one of the plurality of electrical signals from said wireless network.

24. The system of claim 17 wherein each of said plurality of second communication means further comprising:

means for automatically transmitting DTMF signals to said first communication means in response to receipt of the one electrical signal.

25. The system of claim 17 wherein each of said plurality of second communication means further comprising:

user activatable means for transmitting DTMF signals to said first communication means in response to a electrical signal retrieved from said second storage means.

26. The system of claim 17 wherein each of said plurality of second communication means further comprising:

speaker means for generating a voice message; and

means for activating said speaker means as microphone means for transmitting a voice message.

27. The system of claim 17 wherein each of said plurality of second communication means has a terminal identifier and further comprising:

power means for supplying power to said means for communicating with said wireless network;

switch means for causing power to be supplied from said power means to said communicating means in one mode, and for causing power not to be supplied in another mode; and

timing means, responsive to said terminal identifier, to activate periodically said switch means in said one mode.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein each of said plurality of second communication means further comprising:

means, responsive to the receipt of said electrical signal from said wireless network, to maintain said switch means in said one mode.