Concurrent wireless/landline interface apparatus

• US 5,715,296 A
• Filed: 01/05/1995
• Issued: 02/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telular Corporation (Ametek Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Telular Corporation (Ametek Incorporated)
• Inventors: Heitschel, Carl T., Anter, Nuri G., Beneditz, Neil, Kinder, Jay, Schornack, Louis W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): RICHARDSON, SCO
• Application Number:
  US08/369,539
• Time in Patent Office: 1,125 Days
• Field of Search: 379/58, 379/59, 379/61, 379/63, 379/210, 379/211, 379/212, 379/177, 379/185, 379/182, 379/184, 379/167, 379/171, 379/168, 455/33.1
• US Class Current: 455/403
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/715 using two or more extensions per line cordless telephones H04M1/725
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 9/02 involving a common line for all parties

Abstract

An apparatus for interfacing at least one land-line telephone service, at least one wireless cellular-type telephone service, at least one cellular-type wireless telephone and at least one standard telephonic type communication device through standard building interior telephone cable.

Claims

1. A telephone communications system for use at a fixed location, comprising:

a first, land-line communication-link;

a second, radio communication-link;

at least one telephone, or telephone-like, instrument operatively associated with said first and second communication-links;

means for alternately coupling said at least one telephone, or telephone-like, instrument to said first and second communication-links, whereby said at least one telephone, or telephone-like, instrument may be used over either of said communication-links;

said means for alternately coupling comprising a telephone-jack device having a first pair of tip-and-ring terminals operatively connected to said first, land-line communication-link, and a second pair of tip-and-ring terminals operatively connected to said second, radio communication-link, and switching means for switching the connection of said at least one telephone, or telephone-like, instrument between said communication-links.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one telephone instrument is connected to said second pair of tip-and-ring terminals;

said switching means alternatively connecting said second pair of tip-and-ring terminals to said first pair of tip-and-ring terminals for connecting said at least one telephone instrument to said land-line communication-link, and alternatively connecting said second pair of tip-and-ring terminals to said second, radio communication-link.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said second, radio communication-link is the cellular radio network.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said second, radio communication-link comprises a radio transceiver operatively coupled with second, radio communication-link, and interface means for interfacing said at least one telephone instrument to said radio transceiver;

said interface means being operatively connected between said at least one telephone instrument and said transceiver.

5. The system according to claim 1, further comprising incoming-call detection means for detecting an incoming call on the respective one said communication-link that has been disconnected from said at least one telephone instrument by said means for alternately coupling;

signal means for generating a signal to said at least one telephone instrument indicating that said means for detecting an incoming call has detected an incoming call; and

actuating means for causing said means for alternately coupling to switch connection of said at least one telephone instrument from the other of said communication-link to said one communication-link in response to said means for detecting having detected an incoming call.

6. The system according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of telephone-jack devices at said local site, each of at least some of said telephone-jack device comprising a first pair of tip-and-ring terminals operatively connected to said first, land-line communication-link, and a second pair of tip-and-ring terminals operatively coupled to said second, radio communication-link;

said switching means switching the connection between said communication-links for all of said plurality of telephone-jack devices, so that each of said plurality of telephone-jack devices may be alternately connected to said first, land-line communication-link, and alternately connected said to said second, radio communication-link.

7. The system according to claim 1, comprising a computer and associated memory means for said computer;

and said memory means comprising actuating means for actuating said means for alternately coupling for switching the connection of said at least one telephone instrument.

8. The system according to claim 7, further comprising enabling means for enabling said actuating means actuating said switching means to switch connection;

said enabling means comprising a manually-actuable enabler.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein said manually-actuable enabler comprises a predetermined pattern of dialed digits input into said telephone instrument.