Host radio telephone to directly access a handset NAM through a connecter without requiring the handset controller to be employed

• US 5,839,051 A
• Filed: 11/03/1997
• Issued: 11/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Technophone Corporation (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Technophone Corporation (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Grimmett, Alan Charles, Wilkins, Roger, Martensson, N E, O'Neill, Simon Philip
• Primary Examiner(s): CUMMING, WILLIAM D
• Application Number:
  US08/963,658
• Time in Patent Office: 379 Days
• Field of Search: 455/550, 455/11.1
• US Class Current: 455/551
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/205 Transfer to or from user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/18 between terminal devices

Abstract

A cellular radio telephone system comprises a mobile cellular telephone (1) adapted to have a hand portable telephone (2) containing a number assignment module, i.e. a NAM (7), removably connected thereto. The mobile telephone (1) has a microprocessor (4) which can access the information stored in the NAM (7) of the hand portable telephone (2) either directly or via a memory 16 whereby the mobile automatically assumes the telephone number of the hand portable telephone when the two telephones are connected together. Hence a subscriber need only have a single billing account for both telephones. Also, the same mobile telephone may be used as a host at different times by any number of subscribers having their own hand portable telephones. Each subscriber will be able to receive his own calls and the charges for using the system can be levied to the appropriate subscriber'"'"'s account.

Claims

1. A telephone handset that is only capable of providing telephonic communication when connected to a host radio telephone, said telephone handset comprising:

connector means for removably connecting said telephone handset to a host radio telephone, for enabling a user of said telephone handset to communicate on a radio system only while said telephone handset is connected to said host radio telephone, wherein said radio system includes at least one fixed site and a plurality of radio telephones; and

a telephone handset number assignment module for storing an identification number identifying the telephone handset for communication with a fixed site, both for outgoing and incoming calls occurring only while said telephone handset is connected to said host radio telephone, said telephone handset number assignment module being accessed only while said telephone handset is connected to said host radio telephone such that said telephone handset is otherwise incapable of independently communicating with the fixed site;

wherein said connector means connects said host radio telephone to said telephone handset number assignment module of said telephone handset for enabling said host radio telephone to directly access said identification number from the telephone handset number assignment module through said connector means, without requiring that a controller be employed in said telephone handset for enabling said host radio telephone to access said identification number.

2. The telephone handset as recited in claim 1, wherein said connector means provides for transfer of said identification number from the telephone handset number assignment module by the host radio telephone when said telephone handset number assignment module and said host radio telephone are connected via said connector means.

3. A telephone handset, said telephone handset residing in one of only an active state and a passive state, wherein while residing in said active state, said telephone handset is connected to an external host radio telephone which renders the telephone handset capable of communicating with at least one fixed communication site through said host radiotelephone, and while residing in said passive state, said telephone handset is disconnected from said host radio telephone and is incapable of independently communicating with any communication site, said telephone handset comprising a connector for removably connecting said telephone handset to said host radio telephone for causing said telephone handset to reside in one of said active or passive states;

a telephone handset number assignment module, said telephone handset number assignment module storing an identification number identifying the telephone handset for communication with the at least one fixed communication site during both incoming and outgoing calls occurring while said telephone handset resides in said active state;

wherein said connector connects said host radio telephone to said telephone handset number assignment module of said telephone handset for enabling said host radio telephone to directly access said identification number from the telephone handset number assignment module through said connector, without requiring that a controller be employed in said telephone handset for enabling said host radio telephone to access said identification number, and wherein said connector also provides for transfer of said identification number from the telephone handset number assignment module to said host radio telephone while said telephone handset number assignment module and said host radio telephone are connected through said connector.

4. A portable telephone handset for use in a communications network, the communications network including a host radio transceiver and at least one fixed site, said host radio transceiver including at least one RF transceiver component that includes an antenna, said at least one RF transceiver component for coupling said host radio transceiver to said at least one fixed site through said antenna and a wireless interface, said portable telephone handset comprising:

a connector for removably connecting said portable telephone handset to said host radio transceiver for enabling said portable telephone handset to communicate with said at least one fixed site through said at least one RF transceiver component only while said portable telephone handset is connected to said host radio transceiver, said portable telephone handset otherwise being incapable of independently communicating with the at least one fixed site; and

a number assignment module, said number assignment module storing an identification number identifying the portable telephone handset for communication with said at least one fixed site through said at least one RF transceiver component during both incoming and outgoing calls occurring while said portable telephone handset is connected to said host radio transceiver;

wherein said connector connects said host radio transceiver to said number assignment module for enabling said host radio transceiver to directly access said identification number from said number assignment module of said portable telephone handset through said connector, without requiring that a controller be employed in said portable telephone handset for enabling said host radio transceiver to access said identification number.

5. A portable telephone handset as recited in claim 4, wherein said portable telephone handset does not have an integral antenna, and wherein while said portable telephone handset is connected to said host radio transceiver said portable telephone handset is coupled through said connector to said antenna of said at least one RF transceiver component of said host radio transceiver.