Concurrent wireless/landline interface apparatus with testing means

• US 5,812,637 A
• Filed: 09/14/1995
• Issued: 09/22/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/1995
• 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:
  US08/528,067
• Time in Patent Office: 1,104 Days
• Field of Search: 379/59, 379/58, 379/63, 379/40, 379/210, 379/211, 455/33.1
• US Class Current: 455/426.1
• 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. An interface for alternately coupling at least one land-type telephone or telephone-like instrument to a first land-line connected to a telephone central office of a land-line telephone system at a premises, and to a second land-line that is not directly connected to the telephone central office of a land-line telephone system at the same premises, comprising:

switching means for alternately connecting at least one land-type telephone or telephone-like instrument to one of a first land-line and a second land-line;

said switching means connecting at least one land-type telephone or telephone-like instrument to a first land-line when at least one of an incoming call and an outgoing call is to be established over the land-line telephone system;

radio-coupling means for coupling at least one land-type telephone or telephone-like instrument to a radio transceiver so that the at least one land-type telephone or telephone-like instrument may communicate using a radio system;

said radio-coupling means being connected to a second land-line, said switching means connecting the at least one land-type telephone or telephone-like instrument to the second land-line when at least one of an incoming call and an outgoing call is to be established over the land-line telephone system; and

testing means for testing the first and second land-lines to ensure that the first land-line is actively and directly connected to a telephone central office of a land-line telephone system, and that the second land-line is not directly connected to the telephone central office of a land-line telephone system.

2. The interface for alternately coupling at least one land-type telephone or telephone-like instrument according to claim 1, wherein said testing means further comprises means for detecting the presence of at least one land-type telephone or telephone-like instrument connected to the second land-line at said premises.

3. The interface for alternately coupling at least one land-type telephone or telephone-like instrument according to claim 1, further comprising ring-voltage detecting means for monitoring the presence of ring-voltage on the first land-line indicating the presence of an incoming call on the first land-line from a telephone central office of a land-line telephone system.

4. In a multiple-line system having a first land-line connected to a telephone central office of a land-line telephone system, and a second land-line that is not directly connected to the telephone central office of a land-line telephone system at the same premises, the improvement comprising:

interface means for alternately coupling at least one land-type telephone or telephone-like instrument one of said first or second land-lines, said interface means comprising;

switching means for alternately connecting at least one land-type telephone or telephone-like instrument to one of said first land-line and said second land-line;

said switching means connecting at least one land-type telephone or telephone-like instrument to the first land-line when at least one of an incoming call and an outgoing call is to be established over the land-line telephone system;

radio-coupling means for coupling at least one land-type telephone or telephone-like instrument to a radio transceiver so that at least one land-type telephone or telephone-like instrument may communicate using a radio system;

said radio-coupling means being connected to said second land-line, said switching means connecting at least one land-type telephone or telephone-like instrument to the second land-line when the land-type telephone or telephone-like instrument is to communicate using the radio system; and

testing means for testing the first and second land-lines to ensure that said first land-line is actively and directly connected to a telephone central office of a land-line telephone system, and that said second land-line is not directly connected to the telephone central office of a land-line telephone system.

5. The interface for alternately coupling at least one land-type telephone or telephone-like instrument according to claim 4, wherein said testing means further comprises means for detecting the presence of at least one land-type telephone or telephone-like instrument connected to said second land-line at the premises.

6. The interface for alternately coupling at least one land-type telephone or telephone-like instrument according to claim 4, wherein said testing means further comprises ring-voltage detecting means for monitoring the presence of ring-voltage on the first land-line indicating the presence of an incoming call on the first land-line from a telephone central office of a land-line telephone system.

7. The interface for alternately coupling at least one land-type telephone or telephone-like instrument according to claim 4, further comprising at least one land-type telephone or telephone-like instrument for alternate connection to said first and second land-lines by said switching means.

8. The interface for alternately coupling at least one land-type telephone or telephone-like instrument according to claim 5, further comprising at least one land-type telephone or telephone-like instrument for alternate connection to said first and second land-lines by said switching means.

9. An interface for alternately coupling at least one land-type telephone or telephone-like instrument to a first land-line connected between an RJ11-type jack and a telephone central office of a land-line telephone system at a premises, and to a second land-line capable of being connected to said telephone central office independently of said first land-line, said second-land-line not being directly connected to said telephone central office of a land-line telephone system at the same premises, comprising:

switching means operatively coupled to said RJ11-type jack for alternately connecting said at least one land-type telephone or telephone-like instrument to one of said first land-line and said second land-line;

said switching means connecting said at least one land-type telephone or telephone-like instrument to said first land-line when at least one of an incoming call and an outgoing call is to be established over the land-line telephone system;

radio-coupling means for coupling said at least one land-type telephone or telephone-like instrument to a radio transceiver so that said at least one land-type telephone or telephone-like instrument may communicate using a radio system;

said radio-coupling means being connected to said second land-line, said switching means connecting said at least one land-type telephone or telephone-like instrument to said second land-line when at least one of an incoming call and an outgoing call is to be established over the land-line telephone system; and

testing means for testing said first and second land-lines to ensure that said first land-line is actively and directly connected to said telephone central office of a land-line telephone system, and that said second land-line is not directly connected to said telephone central office of a land-line telephone system.