Cellular telephone with simultaneous radio and cellular communications

• US 6,351,653 B1
• Filed: 06/15/2000
• Issued: 02/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kurby, Christopher Neil, Alberth, William P. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): WOLDETATIOS, YEMANE
• Application Number:
  US09/594,987
• Time in Patent Office: 621 Days
• Field of Search: 455/66, 455/90, 455/553, 455/556, 455/575, 455/422, 455/425, 455/426, 455/463, 455/15, 455/552, 455/563, 455/344, 455/88, 455/11.1
• US Class Current: 455/552.1
• 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 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72513 On hold, intercom or transfer communication modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A cellular telephone (110) forms part of a wireless communication system (100) and has simultaneous communication of radio and cellular signals. The wireless communication system (100) has a base station (115) and one or more radios (120). The cellular telephone (110) has control circuitry (205), a cellular transceiver (215), a radio transceiver (210), a microphone (220), and a speaker (225). The simultaneous communication of radio and cellular signals permits a radio user to participate in a cellular phone call and permits a cellular telephone user to participate in the radio communication. Simultaneous communication is communication of cellular and radio signals at the same time and at substantially the same time.

Claims

1. A cellular telephone comprising:

control circuitry;

a cellular transceiver connected to the control circuitry, wherein the cellular transceiver transmits and receives a cellular signal; and

a radio transceiver operatively connected to the control circuitry, wherein the radio transceiver transmits and receives a radio signal;

wherein the cellular transceiver and the radio transceiver operate simultaneously.

2. A cellular telephone according to claim 1, wherein the control circuitry initiates the cellular signal in response to the radio signal.

3. A cellular telephone according to claim 1, wherein the control circuitry initiates the radio signal in response to the cellular signal.

4. A cellular telephone according to claim 1, further comprising:

a microphone operatively connected to the control circuitry, wherein the microphone provides a voice signal to the control circuitry, and

wherein the control circuitry converts the voice signal into a cellular signal for transmission by the cellular transceiver, converts the voice signal into a radio signal for transmission by the radio transceiver, and delivers the cellular and radio signals to the cellular and radio transceivers for simultaneous transmission.

5. A cellular telephone according to claim 1, further comprising:

a speaker operatively connected to the control circuitry, wherein the speaker receives a combined audio signal from the control circuitry, wherein

the control circuitry converts the cellular signal into a cellular audio signal, converts the radio signal into a radio audio signal, and combines the cellular audio signal and the radio audio signal into the combined audio signal.

6. A cellular telephone according to claim 1, wherein the control circuitry receives the cellular signal from the cellular transceiver, converts the cellular signal into the radio signal, and provides the radio signal to the radio transceiver.

7. A cellular telephone according to claim 6, further comprising:

a speaker operatively connected to the control circuitry, wherein

the control circuit converts the cellular signal into an audio signal and provides the audio signal to the speaker.

8. A cellular telephone according to claim 1, wherein the control circuitry receives the radio signal from the radio transceiver, converts the radio signal into the cellular signal, and provides the cellular signal to the cellular transceiver.

9. A cellular telephone according to claim 8, further comprising:

a speaker operatively connected to the control circuitry, wherein

the control circuit converts the radio signal into an audio signal and provides the audio signal to the speaker.

10. A cellular telephone according to claim 1, further comprising radio retention means for maintaining the transmission of the radio signal from the radio transceiver.

11. A cellular telephone according to claim 10, wherein the control circuitry receives the cellular signal from the cellular transceiver and converts the cellular signal into the radio signal.

12. A cellular telephone according to claim 10, further comprising a microphone operatively connected to the control circuitry, wherein the microphone provides a voice signal to the control circuitry, and wherein the control circuitry converts the voice signal into the radio signal.

13. A cellular telephone according to claim 10, further comprising:

a microphone operatively connected to the control circuitry, wherein the microphone provides voice signal to the control circuitry, wherein

the control circuitry converts the voice signal into a microphone radio signal,

the control circuitry receives the cellular signal from the cellular transceiver and converts the cellular signal into a cellular radio signal, and

the control circuitry combines the microphone radio signal and the cellular radio signal to form the radio signal.

14. A cellular telephone according to claim 10, wherein the radio retention means is activated by a push button.

15. A cellular telephone according to claim 10, wherein the radio retention means is activated by a voice detection system.

16. A cellular telephone according to claim 1, further comprising radio disablement means for stopping the transmission of the radio signal from the radio transceiver.

17. A cellular telephone according to claim 16, wherein the radio disablement means is activated by a push button.

18. A cellular telephone according to claim 16, wherein the radio disablement means is activated by a voice detection system.

19. A cellular telephone according to claim 1, further comprising a pager connected to the control circuitry, wherein the pager transmits and receives a page signal.

20. A cellular telephone according to claim 1, wherein the radio transceiver transmits and receives a page signal.

21. A cellular telephone according to claim 20, wherein the control circuitry provides a first alarm and a second alarm, the first alarm when the cellular transceiver receives the cellular signal, the second alarm when the radio transceiver receives a page signal.

22. A cellular telephone according to claim 20, wherein the page signal is transmitted when the cellular signal is received.

23. A cellular telephone according to claim 1, further comprising a speaker connected to the control circuitry, the speaker having a first audio volume setting and a second audio setting, the first audio setting for cellular audio created by the cellular signal, the speaker having a second audio volume setting for radio audio created by the radio signal.

24. A cellular telephone according to claim 1, further comprising a microphone connected to the control circuitry, the microphone having a first audio volume setting and a second setting, the first audio volume setting for audio transmitted via the cellular transceiver, the second audio volume setting for audio transmitted via the radio transceiver.

25. A cellular telephone according to claim 1, further comprising a radio unit operatively connected to the cellular telephone, wherein the radio unit contains the radio transceiver.

26. A cellular telephone according to claim 25, wherein the radio unit is integrated into the cellular telephone.

27. A cellular telephone according to claim 25, further comprising a cable for external connection of the radio unit to the cellular telephone.

28. A cellular telephone according to claim 25, further comprising a wireless communications link for connecting the radio unit to the cellular telephone.

29. A cellular telephone according to claim 1, wherein the radio transceiver is integrated into the cellular telephone.

30. A cellular telephone according to claim 1, further comprising a cable for external connection of the radio transceiver to the cellular telephone.

31. A cellular telephone according to claim 1, further comprising a wireless communications link for connecting the radio transceiver to the cellular telephone.

32. A cellular telephone according to claim 1, wherein the radio transceiver has a transmitting range no greater than one half mile.

33. A cellular telephone according to claim 1, wherein the radio transceiver has a maximum transmitting power of ½

watt.

34. A cellular telephone according to claim 1, wherein the radio transceiver transmits and receives within the UHF 460 MHz band.

35. A cellular telephone having simultaneous communication of cellular and radio signals, the cellular telephone comprising:

control circuitry;

a cellular transceiver operatively connected to the control circuitry, wherein the cellular transceiver transmits a cellular uplink signal and receives a cellular downlink signal;

a radio transceiver operatively connected to the control circuitry, wherein the radio transceiver transmits a radio uplink signal and receives a radio downlink signal;

a microphone operatively connected to the control circuitry, wherein

the microphone provides a voice signal to the control circuitry,

the control circuitry delivers the voice signal to the cellular transceiver when communication with a base station is established, the control circuitry converting the voice signal into the cellular uplink signal for transmission by the cellular transceiver to the base station, and

the control circuitry delivers the voice signal to the radio transceiver when communication with a radio is established, the control circuitry converting the voice signal into the radio uplink signal for transmission by the radio transceiver to the radio; and

a speaker operatively connected to the control circuitry, wherein

the speaker receives an audio signal from the control circuitry, and

when communication is established only with the base station, the control circuitry converts the cellular downlink signal into the audio signal,

when communication is established only with the radio, the control circuitry converts the radio downlink signal into the audio signal,

when communication is established with the base station and the radio, the control circuitry

converts the radio downlink signal into a radio audio signal,

converts the cellular downlink signal into a cellular audio signal, and

combines the cellular audio signal and the radio audio signal into the audio signal.

36. A cellular telephone according to claim 35, the cellular telephone further comprising radio retention means for maintaining the transmission of the radio uplink signal from the radio transceiver.

37. A cellular telephone according to claim 35, the cellular telephone further comprising radio disablement means for stopping the transmission of the radio uplink signal from the radio transceiver.

38. A cellular telephone according to claim 37, the cellular telephone further comprising radio retention means for maintaining the transmission of the radio uplink signal from the radio transceiver.

39. A cellular telephone according to claim 35,

wherein the radio transceiver has a maximum transmitting power of ½ watt, and

wherein the radio transceiver transmits and receives within the UHF 460 MHz band.

40. A cellular telephone according to claim 35, wherein the control circuitry receives the cellular downlink signal from the cellular transceiver, converts the cellular downlink signal into the radio uplink signal, and provides the radio uplink signal to the radio transceiver.

41. A cellular telephone according to claim 35, wherein the control circuitry receives the radio downlink signal from the radio transceiver, converts the radio downlink signal into the cellular uplink signal, and provides the cellular uplink signal to the cellular transceiver.

42. A cellular telephone according to claim 35, wherein the control circuitry converts the voice signal into a microphone radio signal, converts the cellular downlink signal into a cellular radio signal, and combines the microphone radio signal and the cellular radio signal to form the radio uplink signal.

43. A cellular telephone according to claim 35, where the radio transceiver transmits and receives a page signal.

44. A cellular telephone according to claim 35, wherein the speaker has a first volume setting and a second volume setting, the first volume setting for the second audio signal created by the cellular downlink signal, the second volume setting for the second audio signal created by the radio downlink signal.

45. A cellular telephone according to claim 35, wherein the radio transceiver is integrated into the cellular telephone.

46. A cellular telephone according to claim 35, further comprising a cable for external connection of the radio transceiver to the cellular telephone.

47. A cellular telephone according to claim 35, further comprising a wireless communications link for connecting the radio transceiver to the cellular telephone.

48. A method for the simultaneous communication of cellular and radio signals in a cellular telephone, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a cellular downlink signal;

(b) transmitting a cellular uplink signal;

(c) receiving a radio downlink signal or transmitting a radio uplink signal at the same time as steps (a) or (b).

49. A method according to claim 48, wherein the cellular telephone has radio retention means for maintaining the radio transmission from the cellular telephone, wherein step (c) comprises the substeps of:

(c1) if the radio retention means is activated,

combining the cellular uplink and cellular downlink signals into a combined cellular signal,

transmitting the combined cellular signal as the radio uplink signal, and

maintaining the transmission of the radio uplink signal until the radio retention means is deactivated; and

(c2) if the radio retention means is not activated, combining the radio downlink and the cellular downlink signals into a combined audio signal.

50. A method according to claim 48, wherein the cellular telephone has radio retention means for maintaining the radio transmission from the cellular telephone, wherein the radio retention means is activated and deactivated by voice detection, wherein step (c) comprises the substeps of:

(c1) if voice communication is detected on both the cellular uplink and cellular downlink signals,

combining the cellular uplink and cellular downlink signals into a combined cellular signal, and

transmitting the combined cellular signal as the radio uplink signal;

(c2) if voice communication is detected only on the cellular downlink signal, transmitting the cellular downlink signal as an radio uplink signal; and

(c3) if voice communication is detected only on the cellular uplink signal, transmitting the cellular uplink signal as the radio uplink signal.

51. A method according to claim 48, wherein the cellular telephone has radio disablement means for stopping the radio transmission from the cellular telephone, wherein the step (c) comprises the substeps of:

(c1) if the radio disablement means is activated,

stopping transmission of the radio uplink signal,

transmitting the radio downlink signal as the cellular uplink signal, and

converting the radio downlink signal into an audio signal; and

(c2) if the radio disablement means is not activated,

combining the cellular uplink and cellular downlink signals into a combined cellular signal, and

transmitting the combined cellular signal as the radio uplink signal.

52. A method for simultaneous cellular and radio communication in a cellular telephone, wherein the cellular telephone transmits and receives a page signal, wherein the cellular telephone has a first alarm and a second alarm, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting the page signal;

(b) if the cellular telephone is transmitting or receiving the cellular signal, sounding the first alarm; and

(c) if the cellular telephone is not transmitting or receiving the cellular signal, sounding the second alarm.

53. A method for simultaneous cellular and radio communication in a cellular telephone, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a data command from a radio;

(b) originating the cellular uplink signal based on the data command;

(c) receiving a cellular downlink signal;

(d) maintaining the transmission of the radio uplink signal when voice is detected on the cellular downlink signal; and

(e) transmitting a radio downlink signal as the cellular uplink signal when no voice is detected on the cellular downlink signal.

54. A method for simultaneous cellular and radio communication in a cellular telephone, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a cellular downlink signal;

(b) transmitting a pager signal to at least one radio;

(c) receiving an accept signal from the at least one radio;

(d) transmitting the cellular downlink signal as a radio uplink signal to the at least one radio; and

(e) transmitting a radio downlink signal as a cellular uplink signal when no voice is detected on the cellular downlink signal.

55. A wireless communication system having simultaneous cellular and radio communication, the wireless communication system comprising:

a base station having a first cellular transceiver for transmitting and receiving a cellular signal;

at least one radio having a first radio transceiver for transmitting and receiving a radio signal;

a cellular telephone having a second cellular transceiver and a second radio transceiver, the second cellular transceiver for transmitting and receiving the cellular signal, the second radio transceiver for transmitting and receiving the radio signal, wherein the second cellular transceiver and the second radio transceiver operate simultaneously.

56. A wireless communication system according to claim 55, wherein the cellular telephone has radio retention means for maintaining the transmission of the radio signal.

57. A wireless communication system according to claim 55, wherein the cellular telephone has radio disablement means for stopping the transmission of the radio signal.

58. A wireless communication system according to claim 55, wherein

the first and second radio transceivers each have a maximum transmitting power of ½ watt, and

the first and second radio transceivers each transmit and receive within the UHF 460 MHz band.