Cordless telephone arranged for operating with multiple portable units in a frequency hopping system
First Claim
1. In a cordless telephone, a base unit connectable to a telephone line and a plurality of handset units for communicating with the base unit over any one of a plurality of communication channels, the base unit comprising:
- means for transmitting a broadcast signal for simultaneous receipt by each one of the plurality of handset units, said broadcast signal being transmitted sequentially over each one of a first set of channels within the plurality of communication channels until a response signal is received from one of the plurality of handset units;
means for monitoring each one of a second set of channels within the plurality of communication channels for said response signal, each channel in the second set of channels being respectively assigned to one of the plurality of handset units; and
means for establishing communications with a first responding handset unit, said first responding handset unit providing said response signal over its assigned channel in said second set of channels.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A cordless telephone arranged for operation in a frequency hopping system includes an arrangement which achieves optimum utilization of multiple cordless telephone portable units by permitting these units to access a common base unit and also access each other. The portable units are configured for subsequent operation with the base unit and each other during a registration process by having the base unit select from a plurality of communication channels available in the frequency hopping system a different starting channel for each one of the portable units. The portable units are thereby advantageously selectably addressable by the base unit and by each other. Any one of the registered portable units, for example, is capable of selectively paging and communicating with any other one of the registered portable units over selected ones of the plurality of communication channels. Once a base unit establishes a communication link with a portable unit, or a portable unit establishes a communication link with another portable unit, using set-up channels designated for such purpose, both units move away from these channels. Another two units, two unoccupied or free portable units, for example, may then advantageously also use these set-up channels for establishing another communication link.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. In a cordless telephone, a base unit connectable to a telephone line and a plurality of handset units for communicating with the base unit over any one of a plurality of communication channels, the base unit comprising:
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means for transmitting a broadcast signal for simultaneous receipt by each one of the plurality of handset units, said broadcast signal being transmitted sequentially over each one of a first set of channels within the plurality of communication channels until a response signal is received from one of the plurality of handset units; means for monitoring each one of a second set of channels within the plurality of communication channels for said response signal, each channel in the second set of channels being respectively assigned to one of the plurality of handset units; and means for establishing communications with a first responding handset unit, said first responding handset unit providing said response signal over its assigned channel in said second set of channels. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. In a cordless telephone, a plurality of handset units for communicating with a base unit over any one of a plurality of communication channels, at least one first handset unit within the plurality of handset units comprising:
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means for transmitting a broadcast signal for simultaneous receipt by each one of other of the plurality of handset units, said broadcast signal being transmitted sequentially over each one of a first set of channels within the plurality of communication channels until a response signal is received from one of said other of the plurality of handset units; means for monitoring each one of a second set of channels within the plurality of communication channels for said response signal, each channel in the second set of channels being respectively assigned to one of the plurality of handset units; and means for establishing communications with a second handset unit within the plurality of handset units, said second handset unit providing said response signal over its assigned channel in said second set of channels. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A cordless telephone including a plurality of handset units for communicating with a base unit over any one of a plurality of communication channels, the cordless telephone comprising:
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means in a first handset unit for transmitting a broadcast signal for simultaneous receipt by each one of other of the plurality of handset units, said broadcast signal being transmitted sequentially over each one of a first set of channels within the plurality of communication channels until a response signal is received from one of said other of the plurality of handset units; means in a second handset unit for receiving said broadcast signal from said first handset unit and for transmitting said response signal to said first handset unit, said response signal being transmitted over a communication channel in a second set of channels within the plurality of communication channels and said communication channel being assigned to said second handset unit; and means in said first handset unit for establishing direct communications with said second handset unit over said second set of channels upon receipt of said response signal. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. In a cordless telephone, a plurality of handset units for communicating with a base unit over any one of a plurality of communication channels, at least one handset unit within the plurality of handset units comprising:
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means for transmitting a broadcast signal for simultaneous receipt by each one of other of the plurality of handset units, said broadcast signal being transmitted sequentially over each one of a first set of channels within the plurality of communication channels until a response signal is received from a selected one of said other of the plurality of handset units; means for monitoring a specific channel within the plurality of communication channels for said response signal, said specific channel being assigned to said selected one of other of the plurality of handset units; and means for establishing communications with said selected one of other of the plurality of handset units over a second set of channels within the plurality of communication channels upon receiving said response signal from said selected handset unit over said specific channel.
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26. A method of communicating in a cordless telephone including a base unit connectable to a telephone line and a plurality of handset units, the base unit communicating with the plurality of handset units over any one of a plurality of communication channels, the method comprising the steps of:
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transmitting in the base unit a broadcast signal for simultaneous receipt by each one of the plurality of handset units, said broadcast signal being transmitted sequentially over each one of a first set of channels within the plurality of communication channels until a response signal is received from one of the plurality of handset units; monitoring in the base unit each one of a second set of channels within the plurality of communication channels for said response signal, each channel in the second set of channels being respectively assigned to one of the plurality of handset units; and establishing communications between said base unit and a first responding handset unit, said first responding handset unit providing said response signal over its assigned channel in said second set of channels. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method of communicating in a cordless telephone including a plurality of handset units for communicating with a base unit, the plurality of handset units communicating with the base unit over any one of a plurality of communication channels, the method comprising the steps of:
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transmitting in a first handset unit a broadcast signal for simultaneous receipt by each one of other of the plurality of handset units, said broadcast signal being transmitted sequentially over each one of a first set of channels within the plurality of communication channels until a response signal is received from one of said other of the plurality of handset units; monitoring in said first handset unit each one of a second set of channels within the plurality of communication channels for said response signal, each channel in the second set of channels being respectively assigned to one of the plurality of handset units; and establishing communications between said first handset unit and a second handset unit providing said response signal over its assigned channel in said second set of channels. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36)
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37. A method of communicating in a cordless telephone including a plurality of handset units for communicating with a base unit, the plurality of handset units communicating with the base unit over any one of a plurality of communication channels, the method comprising the steps of:
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transmitting in a first handset unit a broadcast signal for simultaneous receipt by each one of other of the plurality of handset units, said broadcast signal being transmitted sequentially over each one of a first set of channels within the plurality of communication channels until a response signal is received from a specific one of said other of the plurality of handset units; receiving in a second handset unit said broadcast signal from said first handset unit and for transmitting said response signal to said first handset unit, said response signal being transmitted over a communication channel in a second set of channels within the plurality of communication channels and said communication channel being assigned to said second handset unit; and establishing direct communications in said first handset unit with said second handset unit over said set of channels upon receipt of said response signal. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40)
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41. A method of communicating in a cordless telephone including a plurality of handset units for communicating with a base unit, the plurality of handset units communicating with the base unit over any one of a plurality of communication channels, the method comprising the steps of:
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transmitting in at least one first handset unit within the plurality of handset units a broadcast signal for simultaneous receipt by each one of other of the plurality of handset units, said broadcast signal being transmitted sequentially over each one of a first set of channels within the plurality of communication channels until a response signal is received from a selected one of said other of the plurality of handset units; monitoring in said first handset unit a specific channel in a second set of channels within the plurality of communication channels for said response signal, said specific channel being assigned to said selected one of other of the plurality of handset units; and establishing communications between said first handset unit and said selected one of other of the plurality of handset units over said second set of channels upon receiving said response signal from said selected handset unit over said specific channel.
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Specification