Concurrent wireless/landline interface apparatus and method

• US 6,785,517 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2001
• Issued: 08/31/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telular Corporation (Ametek Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Telular Corporation (Ametek Incorporated)
• Inventors: Heitschel, Carl T., Anter, Nuri G., Beneditz, Neil, Kinder, Jay, Schornack, Louis W.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, CONGVAN
• Application Number:
  US09/727,738
• Publication Number:
  US 20010041533A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,288 Days
• Field of Search: 455/426, 455/428, 455/422, 455/552, 455/561, 455/3.05, 455/426.1, 455/403, 455/553.1, 455/74.1, 455/554.1, 455/552.1, 455/424, 379/58, 379/59, 379/61, 379/63, 379/93
• US Class Current: 455/74.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/715 using two or more extensions per line cordless telephones H04M1/725
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1091 Fixed mobile conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/428 Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4283 Call holding circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/14 WLL [Wireless Local Loop]; RLL [Radio Local Loop]

Abstract

An apparatus for interfacing at least one landline telephone service, at least one wireless cellular-type telephone service, at least one cellular-type wireless telephone and at least one standard telephonic type communication device through standard building interior telephone cable.

Claims

1. In a radio interface apparatus for coupling at least one land-line or land-line-type telephone instrument to a radio transceiver in order to allow said at least one land-line or land-line-type telephone instrument to make at least one of an incoming call and an outgoing call over a radio system, and connecting means connecting said at least one land-line or land-line-type telephone instrument to said radio interface apparatus, wherein the improvement comprises:

said connecting means comprising land-line telephone wiring of a land-line telephone network;

said land-line telephone wiring of a land-line telephone network being located at a premises, and comprising a tip line and a ring line, and at least two pairs of tip-and-ring terminals connected to said tip and ring lines, said radio interface apparatus being connected to one said pair of tip and ring terminals, and said at least one land-line or land-line-type telephone instrument being connected to another said pair of tip and ring terminal.

2. The improvement according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of land-line or land-line-type telephone instruments, each said telephone instrument being coupled to said radio interface by means of said land-line telephone wiring of a land-line telephone network, each said land-line or land-line-type telephone instrument being connected to a said pair of tip and ring terminals.

3. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein each said pair of tip and ring terminals comprises an RJ-11 jack of said land-line telephone wiring by which said at least one telephone instrument is connected to said telephone wiring, and, therefore, to said radio interface.

4. The improvement according to claim 2, wherein each said pair of tip and ring terminals comprises an RJ-11 jack of said land-line telephone wiring by which said plurality of telephone instruments are connected to said telephone wiring, and, therefore, to said radio interface.

5. The improvement according to claim 4, wherein said radio interface apparatus is connected to one of said plurality of RJ-11 jacks, whereby said radio interface apparatus is connected to said telephone wiring, and, therefore, to said plurality of telephone instruments.

6. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein said premises telephone wiring comprises a first separate telephone land-line capable of connection to the central office of said land-line telephone network, and a second separate telephone land-line capable of connection to the central office of said land-line telephone network;

said at least one telephone instrument and said radio interface apparatus being connected to one of said first and second separate telephone land-lines.

7. The improvement according to claim 6, wherein said one separate telephone land-line, to which are connected said at least one telephone instrument and said radio interface apparatus, is free and not connected to said central office of said land-line telephone network.

8. An apparatus for coupling a radio interface apparatus to at least one land-line or land-line-type telephone instrument to a radio transceiver in order to allow said at least one land-line or land-line-type telephone instrument to make at least one of an incoming call and an outgoing call over a radio telephone system, comprising:

a radio transceiver capable of being connected to a radio telephone system for at least making or receiving a radio telephone call;

a radio interface means for connection to said radio transceiver;

at least one land-line or land-line-type telephone instrument means connected to said radio interface means for allowing said at least one telephone instrument means to make calls over a radio system via said radio transceiver; and

connection means for connecting said at least one land-line or land-line-type telephone instrument to said radio interface apparatus, said connection means comprising land-line telephone wiring of a land-line telephone network;

said land-line telephone wiring of a land-line telephone network being located at a premises, and comprising a tip line and a ring line, and at least two pairs of tip-and-ring terminals connected to said tip and ring lines, said radio interface apparatus being connected to one said pair of tip and ring terminals, and said at least one land-line or land-line-type telephone instrument being connected to another said pair of tip and ring terminals.

9. The improvement according to claim 8, comprising a plurality of land-line or land-line-type telephone instruments, each said telephone instrument being coupled to said radio interface by means of said land-line telephone wiring of a land-line telephone network, each said land-line or land-line-type telephone instrument being connected to a said pair of tip and ring terminals.

10. The improvement according to claim 8, wherein each said pair of tip and ring terminals comprises an RJ-11 jack of said land-line telephone wiring by which said at least one telephone instrument is connected to said telephone wiring, and, therefore, to said radio interface.

11. The improvement according to claim 9, wherein each said pair of tip and ring terminals comprises an RJ-11 jack of said land-line telephone wiring by which said plurality of telephone instruments are connected to said telephone wiring, and, therefore, to said radio interface.

12. The improvement according to claim 11, wherein said radio interface apparatus is connected to one of said plurality of RJ-11 jacks, whereby said radio interface apparatus is connected to said telephone wiring, and, therefore, to said plurality of telephone instruments.

13. The improvement according to claim 8, wherein said premises telephone wiring comprises a first separate telephone land-line capable of connection to the central office of said land-line telephone network, and a second separate telephone land-line capable of connection to the central office of said land-line telephone network;

said at least one telephone instrument and said radio interface apparatus being connected to one of said first and second separate telephone land-lines.

14. The improvement according to claim 13, wherein said one separate telephone land-line, to which are connected said at least one telephone instrument and said radio interface apparatus, is free and not connected to said central office of said land-line telephone network.