Generic handset programming and configuration

• US 6,212,396 B1
• Filed: 03/27/1997
• Issued: 04/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Brown, Paul Richard, Bleile, Leonard George
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Lee
• Application Number:
  US08/826,225
• Time in Patent Office: 1,468 Days
• Field of Search: 455/462, 455/463, 455/464, 455/465, 455/517, 455/426, 455/450, 455/451, 455/452, 455/453, 455/455, 455/516, 455/509, 455/512, 455/513, 455/514, 455/62
• US Class Current: 455/464
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72511 Searching for available channels

Abstract

A method and apparatus for controlling communications between a base and a handset capable of communicating with each other on at least one communication channel within a channel set. The method involves transmitting a new channel message including a preferred channel identifier from the base to the handset, on different channels of the channel set until an acknowledgement signal is received from the handset. In response to the acknowledgement signal, the preferred channel identifier is stored in a base working channel transmit buffer. Further communications between the base and the handset are conducted on a communications channel identified by the preferred channel identifier.

Claims

1. A base apparatus in a cordless telephone for communicating with a handset of said cordless telephone on at least one communications channel within a channel set, the base apparatus comprising:

a) a receiver for receiving signals from said handset;

b) a transmitter for transmitting signals from said base to said handset;

c) a base working channel transmit buffer for storing a transmit channel indicator defining a channel on which said transmitter transmits said signal;

d) a base processor in communication with said receiver, said transmitter and said base working channel transmit buffer, said base processor being programmed to;

i) produce a first new channel message including a preferred channel identifier;

ii) direct said transmitter to transmit said first new channel message in said signals transmitted from said base to said handset, on a channel defined by the contents of said base working channel transmit buffer;

iii) successively load said base working channel transmit buffer with channel indicators corresponding to different channels within said channel set such that said first new channel message is successively transmitted on different channels;

iv) receive an acknowledgement signal from said receiver when an acknowledgement signal is received from said handset; and

v) in response to said acknowledgement signal from said receiver, maintain in said base working channel transmit buffer a channel indicator associated with a last channel on which said message was transmitted immediately before said acknowledgment signal was received such that further communications between said base and said handset are conducted on said last channel.

2. A base apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said base apparatus has a connector for supplying a charge current to said handset and wherein said base apparatus further includes a current sensor for measuring said charge current and for providing to said base processor a current detect signal which is rendered active when said charge current exceeds a pre-defined value.

3. A base apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said base processor is programmed to perform the step of successively loading said base working channel transmit buffer when said current detect signal is active.

4. A base apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising non-volatile memory for storing said preferred channel identifier.

5. A base apparatus as claimed in claim 4 further comprising a power-up detection circuit for detecting and indicating to said base processor a power-up condition of said base.

6. A base apparatus as claimed in claim 5 further comprising a base working channel receive buffer and wherein said base processor is programmed to copy said preferred channel identifier from said non-volatile memory to said base working channel transmit buffer and said base working channel receive buffer in response to said power-up condition.

7. A base apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said base processor is programmed to transmit to said handset a prompt message including a prompt code associated with a prompt to be displayed on said handset for viewing by the user.

8. A base apparatus as claimed in claim 7 further comprising non-volatile memory for storing said prompt code.

9. A base apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said base processor is programmed to:

a) direct said transmitter to transmit a wakeup message to said handset on a communications channel identified by said preferred channel identifier, prior to transmitting said first new channel message; and

b) wait for a wakeup message acknowledgement signal from said handset and in response to said wakeup message acknowledgement signal, to maintain in said base working channel transmit buffer said transmit channel indicator identifying the channel on which said wakeup message was transmitted to said handset.

10. A base apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said receiver is operable to measure noise on each channel of said channel set and provide to said base processor an indication of measured noise on each channel.

11. A base apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said base processor is programmed to receive said indication of measured noise on each channel and to identify the channel having the least measured noise.

12. A base apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said base processor is programmed to direct said transmitter to transmit a second new channel message from said base to said handset, said second new channel message including a second new channel identifier identifying said channel with the least measured noise, such that further communications between said base and said handset are conducted on said channel with the least measured noise.

13. A method of controlling communications between a base and a handset capable of communicating with each other on at least one communications channel within a channel set, the method comprising:

a) in response to at least one of a power up signal and channel noise measurement, transmitting from said base to said handset, a first new channel message including a preferred channel identifier, on different channels of said channel set until an acknowledgement signal is received from said handset;

b) in response to said acknowledgement signal, storing in a base working channel transmit buffer, said preferred channel identifier; and

c) conducting further communications between said base and said handset on a communications channel identified by said preferred channel identifier.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13 further comprising determining whether or not said handset is connected to said base and performing the steps of claim 13 when said handset is connected to said base.

15. A method as claimed in claim 14 further comprising measuring electric current flow from said base to said handset and when said current flow exceeds a pre-defined value, rendering active a signal indicating said handset is connected to said base.

16. A method as claimed in claim 13 further comprising storing said preferred channel identifier in non-volatile memory in said base.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16 further comprising detecting a power-up condition of said base and copying said preferred channel identifier from said non-volatile memory to a base working channel transmit buffer and a base working channel receive buffer.

18. A method as claimed in claim 17 further comprising transmitting to said handset a prompt message including a prompt code associated with a prompt to be displayed on said handset for viewing by the user.

19. A method as claimed in claim 18 further comprising receiving said prompt message at said handset and displaying said prompt associated with said prompt code for viewing by said user.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19 further comprising storing said prompt code in non-volatile memory in said handset.

21. A method as claimed in claim 19 further comprising storing said prompt code in non-volatile memory in said base.

22. A method as claimed in claim 18 further comprising:

a) transmitting from said base, a wakeup message on a communications channel identified by said preferred channel identifier;

b) waiting for a wakeup message acknowledgement signal from said handset; and

c) in response to said wakeup message acknowledgement signal, omitting the step of transmitting from said base to said handset said first new channel message including a preferred channel identifier, on different channels of said channel set.

23. A method as claimed in claim 13 further comprising receiving at said handset said first new channel message on at least one of said communications channels within said channel set.

24. A method as claimed in claim 23 further comprising when said first new channel message is successfully received at said handset, configuring said handset to use said channel identified by said preferred channel identifier for communications between said handset and said base.

25. A method as claimed in claim 24 further comprising storing said preferred channel identifier in non-volatile memory in said handset.

26. A method as claimed in claim 25 further comprising storing said first new channel message in a receive buffer.

27. A method as claimed in claim 26 further comprising copying said preferred channel identifier from said receive buffer to a handset working channel transmit buffer and to a handset working channel receive buffer and transmitting and receiving all messages from said base on a channel specified by the contents of said handset working channel transmit buffer and said handset working channel receive buffer respectively.

28. A method as claimed in claim 25 further comprising transmitting said acknowledgement signal on said communications channel identified by said preferred channel identifier when said first new channel message is successfully received by said handset.

29. A method as claimed in claim 18 wherein said receiver is operable to receive a security ID code in said first new channel message.

30. A method as claimed in claim 29 further comprising holding a working channel security ID value in a working channel security buffer.

31. A method as claimed in claim 30 further comprising storing said working channel security ID value in non-volatile memory.

32. A method as claimed in claim 30 further comprising replacing the contents of said working channel security ID buffer with said security ID code in said first new channel message when said security ID code in said message is equal to said default value.

33. A method as claimed in claim 32 further comprising sensing whether or not said handset is in said cradle.

34. A method as claimed in claim 33 wherein the handset processor is programmed to replace the contents of said working channel security ID buffer when said handset is in said cradle.

35. A method as claimed in claim 34 further comprising receiving a charging current from said base at charging terminals of said handset and sensing voltage across said charging terminals.

36. A method as claimed in claim 35 further comprising providing to said processor a signal indicating signal strength of the signal received from the base.

37. A method as claimed in claim 36 further comprising replacing the contents of said working channel security ID buffer when said signal strength is greater than a pre-defined value.

38. A method as claimed in claim 29 further comprising comparing said security ID code with a default value and the contents of said working channel security ID buffer and if said security ID code is not equal to said default value or said contents of said working channel security ID buffer, disabling the transmission of said acknowledgement signal to said base.