Desktop docking station for use with a wireless telephone handset

• US 6,073,031 A
• Filed: 12/24/1997
• Issued: 06/06/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Corporation
• Inventors: Lee, Michael C. G., Cowan, Neal T., Crone, Jonathan, Pugh, Edward L., Bradley, Robert E., Helstab, Edmond J., Fairless, Jeffrey L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Nguyen
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, DUC M
• Application Number:
  US08/997,984
• Time in Patent Office: 895 Days
• Field of Search: 455/74.1, 455/556, 455/557, 455/575, 455/90, 455/572, 455/561, 455/569, 455/573, 455/418, 455/419, 455/420, 455/351, 379/56.3
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3877 Arrangements for enabling portable transceivers to be used in a fixed position, e.g. cradles or boosters
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72502 with one base station connected to a single line
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/737 Characterised by transmission of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves, e.g. infrared waves

Abstract

A telephone base unit for use with a mobile telephone handset comprises means for interfacing the handset with the base unit for enabling user definable data entry key settings of the handset to be downloaded and emulated at the base unit such that when interfaced with the base unit, the mobile telephone handset operates to enable the use of the base unit as a wireless desktop interface. The interface means is comprised of means for transferring user definable data entry key settings of the handset to the base unit, means for storing the user definable data entry key settings of the handset at said base unit and controller means to enable a user to use the user definable data entry key settings with the user interface of the base unit to receive incoming and make outgoing calls from the base unit via the mobile telephone handset.

Claims

1. A telephone base unit for use with a mobile telephone handset, said telephone base unit having a user interface with data entry keys, said base unit comprising:

means for interfacing said handset with said base unit for enabling user definable data entry key settings of said handset to be downloaded and emulated at said base unit such that when interfaced with said base unit, said mobile telephone handset operates to enable the use of said base unit as a wireless desktop interface,

wherein said means for interfacing said handset with said base unit comprises;

means for transferring said user definable data entry key settings of said handset to said base unit;

means for storing said user definable data entry key settings of said handset at said base unit; and

controller means to enable a user to use said user definable data entry key settings with said user interface of said base unit to receive incoming and make outgoing calls from said base unit via said mobile telephone handset.

2. A telephone base unit as described in claim 1, wherein said means for interfacing further comprises means for detecting the presence of said handset at said base unit.

3. A telephone base unit as described in claim 2, wherein said means for detecting the presence of said handset at said base unit comprises one of an infrared, radio frequency, current or voltage detector.

4. A telephone base unit as described in claim 1, wherein said means for transferring comprises an infrared signal emitter and receiver at said handset and said base unit.

5. A telephone base unit as described in claim 1, wherein said means for transferring comprises a radio frequency transmitter and receiver at said handset and said base unit.

6. A telephone base unit as described in claim 1, wherein said means for transferring comprises a serial interface.

7. A telephone base unit as described in claim 1, wherein said user interface comprises a display with temporarilly definable response and data entry keys.

8. A telephone base unit as described in claim 1, wherein said user definable data entry key settings of said mobile handset are emulated at user data entry keys of said user interface.

9. A telephone base unit for use with a mobile telephone handset operating on a predetermined wireless protocol, wherein said mobile telephone handset operates to enable the use of said base unit as a wireless desktop interface when said mobile telephone handset interfaces with said base unit, comprising:

means for detecting the presence of a handset at said base unit; and

means for interfacing said handset with said base unit such that user definable data entry key settings of said handset can be emulated at data entry keys of said base unit,

wherein said means for interfacing said handset with said base unit comprises;

means for transferring said user definable data entry key settings of said handset to said base unit;

means for storing said user definable data entry key settings of said handset at said base unit; and

controller means to enable a user to use said user definable data entry key settings at data entry keys of said base unit to receive incoming and make outgoing calls from said base unit via said mobile telephone handset and said predetermined wireless protocol.

10. A telephone base unit as described in claim 9, wherein said means for transferring said user definable data entry key settings comprises an infrared signal emitter and receiver at said handset and said base unit.

11. A telephone base unit as described in claim 9, wherein said means for transferring comprises a radio frequency transmitter and receiver at said handset and said base unit.

12. A telephone base unit as described in claim 9, wherein said means for transferring comprises a serial interface.

13. A telephone base unit as described in claim 9, wherein said means for detecting the presence of said handset at said base unit comprises one of an infrared, radio frequency, current or voltage detector.

14. A telephone apparatus comprising a base unit and a mobile telephone handset wherein said mobile telephone handset operates to enable the use of said base unit as a wireless desktop interface when said mobile telephone handset interfaces with said base unit and said base unit comprises:

means for detecting the presence of a handset at said base unit; and

means for interfacing said handset at said base unit such that user definable data entry key settings of said handset can be emulated at data entry keys of said base unit,

wherein said means for interfacing said handset with said base unit comprises;

means for transferring said user definable data entry key settings of said handset to said base unit;

means for storing said user definable data entry key settings of said handset at said base unit; and

controller means to enable a user to use said user definable data entry key settings at data entry keys of said base unit to receive incoming and make outgoing calls from said base unit.

15. A telephone apparatus as described in claim 14, wherein said means for transferring comprises an infrared signal emitter and receiver at said handset and said base unit.

16. A telephone apparatus as described in claim 14, wherein said means for transferring comprises a radio frequency transmitter and receiver at said handset and said base unit.

17. A telephone apparatus as described in claim 14, wherein said means for transferring comprises a serial interface.

18. A telephone apparatus as described in claim 14, wherein said means for detecting the presence of said handset at said base unit comprises one of an infrared, radio frequency, current or voltage detector.

19. A method of interfacing a telephone base unit with a mobile telephone handset operating on a predetermined wireless protocol wherein said mobile telephone handset operates to enable the use of said base unit as a wireless desktop interface when said mobile telephone handset interfaces with said base unit, the method comprising:

detecting the presence of a handset at said base unit;

transferring user definable data entry key settings of said handset to said base unit;

storing said user definable data entry key settings of said handset at said base unit;

controlling said user definable data entry key settings and data entry keys of said base unit to receive incoming and make outgoing calls from said base unit via said mobile telephone handset and said predetermined wireless protocol.

20. A method as described in claim 19, wherein said user definable data entry key settings are transferred using an infrared link.

21. A method as described in claim 19, wherein said user definable data entry key settings are transferred using a radio frequency link.

22. A method as described in claim 19, wherein said user definable data entry key settings are transferred using a serial interface.