Up converted home base station

• US 5,930,728 A
• Filed: 08/29/1996
• Issued: 07/27/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Optis Cellular Technology LLC (Brevet Capital)
• Original Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Evanyk, Walter R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAUNG, NAY AUNG
• Application Number:
  US08/697,742
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: 455/403, 455/422, 455/426, 455/450, 455/462, 455/464, 455/550, 455/552, 455/553, 455/566, 455/567, 455/575, 455/11.1, 455/561, 455/562
• US Class Current: 455/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/085 Access point devices with remote components

Abstract

A communication system for wireless dual purpose phones operable at 1900 megahertz in the PCS system includes a plurality of transceivers wherein at least three communication links are formed. A first communication link is formed between the dual purpose phone and a base station of a cellular network. A second communication link is formed between the dual purpose phone and an antenna placed within an elevated location such as an attic. The antenna is placed in an elevated location to facilitate 1900 megahertz communications with the dual purpose phone throughout the business or home. The third communication link is between a transceiver proximately located and coupled to the elevated antenna and at a transceiver at an accessible location for the user. The use of multiple transceivers to place the antenna in an elevated location avoids a need to use a large, inflexible and aesthetically unappealing coaxial cable between the base unit and the elevated antenna.

Claims

1. A communication system for wireless communications, comprising:

a dual purpose phone for communicating over a first and a second communication link, the dual purpose phone comprising;

a processing unit for controlling the operation of the dual purpose phone;

a first store coupled to the processing unit, the first store for storing a transceiver ID;

a second store coupled to the processing unit, the second store for storing a signal quality value for comparing against a calculated signal value for a received signal;

transceiver means for receiving and sending transmission signals from and to the processing unit, said transceiver means also for communicating over the first communication link and over the second communication link; and

a sensory device coupled to the processing unit, the sensory device for producing a sensation capable of human perception to indicate to the user of the dual purpose phone whether the call is being connected, at least in part, by a cellular network;

a base station coupled to a wireless communication network, the base station for communicating with said dual purpose phone over the first communication link;

a base unit coupled to the public switched telephone network ("PSTN"), the base unit for communicating with said dual purpose phone over the second communication link, said base unit including a first portion for transmitting and receiving communication signals over the second communication link and over a wireline public switched telephone network ("PSTN"), the base unit also including a second portion for receiving the dual purpose phone and for charging at least one battery within the dual purpose phone, the first portion further comprising;

a first transceiver unit for receiving and transmitting communication signals to and from the transceiver of the dual purpose phone over the second communication link, the first transceiver also for receiving and transmitting communication signals over a third communication link; and

a second transceiver unit for receiving and transmitting communication signals with the first transceiver over the third communication link, the second transceiver also forming an electronic interface between a processing unit coupled to the PSTN and the second communication link.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensory device is a speaker, the speaker for producing a specified sound.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensory device is a light source coupled to the processing unit, the light source for producing light.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensory device is a motorized vibrator for causing the dual purpose phone to vibrate.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensory device is a display for displaying one of a character or a symbol.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the second communication link is a wireless link.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the second communication link is a wireline.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the second communication link is a coaxial cable.

9. A base unit for a cordless phone, the base unit comprising:

a first portion, comprising;

means to couple a power source to the cordless phone battery; and

a port to receive the cordless phone wherein the means to couple the power source provide a charge to a battery internal to cordless phone; and

a second portion comprising;

a first transceiver for communicating over a first communication link with the cordless phone at a first frequency and for communicating over a second communication link at a second frequency; and

a second transceiver for communicating over the second communication link with the first transceiver at the second frequency, the second transceiver also for communicating with a standard telephone through a public switched telephone network ("PSTN").

10. A communications system for wireless communications, comprising:

a dual purpose phone comprising a first transceiver for communicating to a base station coupled to a cellular network over a first communication link;

a base unit coupled to a public switched telephone network ("PSTN") comprising a first and second transceiver, the first transceiver of the base unit for communicating with the dual purpose phone at a first radio frequency over a second communication link, the second transceiver of the base unit coupled to a processing unit, the second transceiver of the base unit for communication with the first transceiver of the base unit over a third communication link; and

the base unit further comprising a plurality of sensory signal producing devices coupled to the processing unit, said sensory signal producing devices comprising a speaker, a light source, and a display.

11. The communications system as in claim 10 wherein the dual purpose phone comprises:

a processing unit; and

a first store coupled to the processing unit of the dual purpose phone, the first store for storing a transceiver ID; and

a second store coupled to the processing unit of the dual purpose phone, the second store for storing a signal quality value for comparing against a calculated signal value for a received signal.

12. The communications system as in claim 10 wherein the third communication link is a wireless link.

13. The communications system as in claim 10, wherein the base unit further comprises a means to couple a power source to the dual purpose phone battery and a port to receive the dual purpose phone, wherein the means to couple the power source provides a charge to a battery internal to the dual purpose phone.