Portable cellular telephone with automatically transmitted origination message and method therefor

• US 6,654,619 B1
• Filed: 06/02/1999
• Issued: 11/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GTE Wireless Service Corporation (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: GTE Wireless Service Corporation (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Zicker, Robert G., Dion, John K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gesesse, Tilahun
• Application Number:
  US09/324,818
• Time in Patent Office: 1,637 Days
• Field of Search: 455/564, 455/565, 455/550, 455/551, 455/552, 455/414, 379/355, 379/40, 379/45, 379/51, 379/69
• US Class Current: 455/564
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27 Devices whereby a plurality of signals may be stored simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2745 using static electronic memories, e.g. chips
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27463 Predictive input, predictive dialling by comparing the dialled sequence with the content of a telephone directory
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27485 Appending a prefix to or inserting a pause into a dialling sequence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/00 Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42178 by downloading data to substation equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/16 for PBS [Private Base Station] arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/28 Number portability ; Network address portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/14 WLL [Wireless Local Loop]; RLL [Radio Local Loop]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/021 adapted for Wireless Local Loop operation

Abstract

A radiotelephone (10) simulates the call origination process performed by land-line telephones. Dial tone is generated (78) in response to an off-hook condition and removed when a first digit (54) is dialed. A timer process (84, 110) and a number analysis process (100) simultaneously evaluate dialed digits to detect the completion of dialing. The number analysis process (100) identifies seven, ten, and eleven digit, and indeterminate length phone number formats (64, 66, 52, 68). The ten digit format is recognized in response to remotely programmed (42) connected NPA codes. For most calls, the number analysis process (100) instantly detects a phone number'"'"'s final digit (62). In a few cases the timer process (84, 110) detects the final digit through the absence of dialing activity for a predetermined duration. When the final digit (62) is detected, an origination message is transmitted to a cellular network.

Claims

1. A method of operating a portable cellular telephone to originate a call upon automatic recognition of phone number completion, wherein the portable cellular telephone includes a case, a dial tone generator within said case, and a keypad mounted to said case, and wherein said method comprises the steps of:

generating an audible dial tone with the dial tone generator in response to an off-hook condition;

identifying, within the portable cellular telephone, the entry of earlier and later dialed digits via the keypad,

said earlier digit being a first digit of said phone number, and said earlier digit being dialed prior to said later digit and after initiation of said generating step, said identifying step further identifying the entry of a second dialed digit;

determining, at the portable cellular telephone in response to a numeric value of said earlier digit, whether said later digit is a final digit of a phone number, said determining step verifying that said second digit is neither a zero nor a one when said first digit was a zero or a one; and

automatically transmitting an origination message from the portable cellular telephone when said later digit is said final digit of said phone number, said origination message conveying said phone number to a telecommunication network.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 additionally comprising the step of:

detecting manipulation of a key of the keypad which signals an off-hook condition; and

wherein said generating step comprises generating, in response to detection of said off-hook condition, an audio tone at said portable radio telephone, said audio tone having a tonal quality approximating precision dial tone.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2 additionally comprising the step of attenuating said audio tone when said first digit is entered.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3 additionally comprising the steps of:

detecting manipulation of a key which signals an instruction to delete one or more dialed digits; and

generating said audio tone in response to said detecting step when said first digit is deleted.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said identifying step identifies the entry of each digit of said phone number, including said first, second, and later digits, and said method additionally comprises the steps of:

initiating, when said second digit is a one or a zero and said first digit is a one or a zero, a wait period in response to the entry of at least one of said digits; and

automatically transmitting said origination message when said wait period expires.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said identifying step identifies the entry of each digit of said phone number, including said earlier and later digits, and said method additionally comprises the steps of:

initiating a wait period in response to the entry of at least one of said digits; and

performing said transmitting step when said wait period expires.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein said initiating step is configured so that entry of each digit following said first digit of said phone number reinitiates said wait period.