Intercommunication method between portable units in TDMA cordless telephone system

• US 6,205,338 B1
• Filed: 08/14/1998
• Issued: 03/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Ju-Nyun
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GELIN, JEAN ALLAND
• Application Number:
  US09/134,011
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 455/421, 455/422, 455/426, 455/433, 455/434, 455/435, 455/436, 455/440, 455/444, 455/456, 455/457, 455/462, 455/465, 455/518, 455/519, 455/513, 455/423, 455/11.1, 455/450, 370/282, 370/347
• US Class Current: 455/462
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72505 Radio link set-up procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72513 On hold, intercom or transfer communication modes

Abstract

An intercommunication method between portable units in a TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) cordless telephone system. In an embodiment of the present invention, it is determined whether a portable unit is positioned in the propagation area of a base unit upon an intercom request from the portable unit. A time reversal is then performed when the portable unit is out of the propagation area of the base unit. Time slots are designated for intercommunication between the portable unit and a portable unit to be called and an intercom call signal is transmitted in the designated time slots. When a called party responds to the intercom call signal, a speech mode is performed. Upon termination of the intercom call, the reversed time is reversed again to recover the original state. In another embodiment, it is determined whether a portable unit is positioned in the propagation area of a base unit upon an intercom request from the portable unit. Time slots are designated for intercommunication between the portable unit and a portable unit to be called when the portable unit is out of the propagation area of the base unit, and an intercom call signal is transmitted in the designated time slots. When a called party responds to the intercom call signal, the speech mode is performed.

Claims

1. An intercommunication method between portable units in a TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) cordless telephone system, comprising the steps of:

determining whether a portable unit is positioned in a propagation area of a base unit upon an intercom request from the portable unit;

performing a time reversal when the portable unit is out of the propagation area of the base unit, and designating time slots for an intercommunication between the portable unit and a portable unit to be called; and

transmitting an intercom call signal and performing a speech mode in the designated time slots.

2. The intercommunication method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

reading a portable unit registration table stored in a memory;

displaying all other portable units except for a calling portable unit stored in the read portable unit registration table on a display; and

transmitting an intercom call signal to a selected portable unit upon reception of a signal representing selection of the portable unit.

3. The intercommunication method of claim 2, further comprising the step of recovering transmission and reception times by reversing previously reversed time slots when a call termination signal is received during a speech mode.

4. The intercommunication method of claim 1, further comprising the step of recovering transmission and reception times by reversing previously reversed time slots when a call termination signal is received during a speech mode.

5. The intercommunication method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

determing whether an identification (ID) of the intercom call signal is identical to the ID of the portable unit; and

performing the speech mode, when the ID of the intercom call signal is identical to the ID of the portable unit.

6. An intercommunication method between portable units in a TDMA cordless telephone system, comprising the steps of:

determining whether a portable unit is positioned in a propagation area of a base unit upon an intercom request from the portable unit;

designating time slots for an intercommunication between the portable unit and a portable unit to be called when the portable unit is out of the propagation area of the base unit; and

transmitting an intercom call signal and performing a speech mode in the designated time slots.

7. The intercommunication method of claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

reading a portable unit registration table stored in a memory;

displaying all other portable units except for a calling portable unit stored in the read portable unit registration table on a display; and

transmitting an intercom call signal to a selected portable unit upon reception of a signal representing selection of the portable unit.

8. An apparatus for performing intercommunication between portable units in a TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) cordless telephone system comprising:

means for determining whether a portable unit is positioned within a propagation area of a base unit;

means for performing a time reversal of time slots when the portable unit is out of the propagation area of the base unit;

means for designating the reversed time slots for intercommunication between the portable unit and a portable unit being called; and

means for transmitting an intercom call signal and performing a speech mode in the designated time slots.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:

means for reading a portable unit registration table stored in a memory;

means for displaying all other portable units except for a calling portable unit stored in the read portable unit registration table on a display; and

means for transmitting an intercom call signal to a selected portable unit upon reception of a signal representing selection of the portable unit.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:

means for determing whether an identification (ID) of the intercom call signal is identical to the ID of the portable unit; and

means for performing the speech mode, when the ID of the intercom call signal is identical to the ID of the portable unit.