Wireless local loop communication system using SLIC module

• US 6,788,953 B1
• Filed: 06/05/2000
• Issued: 09/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Uniden America Corporation (Cornwall Capital Management LP)
• Original Assignee: Uniden America Corporation (Cornwall Capital Management LP)
• Inventors: Hu, Zhiping, Cheah, Jonathon Y. C.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, THUAN T
• Application Number:
  US09/586,911
• Time in Patent Office: 1,555 Days
• Field of Search: 455/550.1, 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 455/554.2, 455/555, 455/414.1, 455/13.4, 455/127.1, 379/26.01, 379/26.02, 379/27.01, 379/29.01, 379/29.03, 379/29.04, 379/32.05, 379/158, 379/202.01, 379/399.01, 379/412, 379/422
• US Class Current: 455/550.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/745 Protection devices or circuits for voltages surges on the line
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/14 WLL [Wireless Local Loop]; RLL [Radio Local Loop]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/021 adapted for Wireless Local Loop operation

Abstract

A telephone communication system having a cordless telephone operating in conjunction with a cellular transceiver. A subscriber line interface circuit (SLIC) is controlled by a microprocessor in the cellular transcriber. The SLIC can be controlled to provide standard telephone service to other telephone sets, and includes circuits for testing for foreign voltages on the telephone lines prior to providing SLIC service. Standard RJ-11 jacks are utilized for coupling the telephone sets to the communication system to provide standard telephone service by way of the cellular network.

Claims

1. A communication system, comprising:

a cellular transceiver for providing wireless communications with a cellular base station;

a cordless telephone and associated cordless telephone base station;

a programmed processor complex for coupling communications and communication signals between said cordless telephone base station and said cellular transceiver so that said cordless telephone can communicate via said cellular base station;

a jack and plug arrangement for connecting a POTS telephone by way of a telephone line to said communication system;

a sensor for sensing foreign voltages on said telephone line;

said processor complex programmed for responding to said sensor for preventing communication by said POTS telephone via said cellular base station if a foreign voltage is detected on said telephone line;

a circuit for controlling communications between said POTS telephone and the telephone line;

said cordless telephone adapted for receiving inputs from a user thereof to control by way of said processor complex whether said POTS telephone can or cannot communicate information via said telephone line; and

said communication system operative to allow communications by the cordless telephone and the POTS telephone at the same time with said cellular base station.

2. The communication system of claim 1, further including a switch arrangement for coupling said telephone line to said communication system, said switch arrangement controlled by said processor complex.

3. The communication system of claim 2, wherein said switch arrangement open circuits the telephone line to said POTS telephone during a non-active state of said POTS telephone so that said POTS telephone is disconnected from all communication services.

4. The communication system of claim 2, wherein said telephone line comprises a first telephone line, and further including a second telephone line associated with a second POTS telephone line, and said switch arrangement is operative to couple either said first telephone line or said second telephone line to said communication system, but not both at the same time.

5. The communication system of claim 4, wherein said switch arrangement is effective to open circuit both said first and second telephone lines when said first and second POTS telephones are inactive.

6. The communication system of claim 1, further including a subscriber line interface integrated circuit connected between said telephone line and said communication system.

7. The communication system of claim 6, further including a bus connecting said integrated circuit to said processor.

8. The communication system of claim 7, further including an audio bus connecting said integrated circuit to said processor.

9. The communication system of claim 8, wherein said audio bus includes a transmit audio bus and a receive audio bus.

10. The communication system of claim 1, wherein said sensor comprises a diode bridge connected across said telephone line, a light emitting diode coupled to said diode bridge, and a light responsive transistor for providing said signaling.

11. The communication system of claim 1, wherein said switch is operative to couple one of a pair of telephone lines to said wireless telephone system, and said switch being operative to provide an open circuit between said telephone lines and said wireless telephone system.

12. The communication system of claim 1, further including an RJ-11 jack for coupling said telephone to said wireless telephone system.

13. The communication system of claim 12, wherein said RJ-11 jack is wall mounted.

14. The communication system of claim 1, further including a first audio summing circuit for summing audio signals from the cordless telephone with audio signals from said POTS telephone, said first audio summing circuit providing a composite audio signal for transmitting by said cellular transceiver to said cellular base station.

15. The communication system of claim 14, further including a second audio summing circuit for summing audio signals from said cellular transceiver with audio signals from said POTS telephone, said second audio summing circuit providing a composite audio signal for transfer to said cordless telephone.

16. The communication system of claim 1, wherein a cordless handset of said cordless telephone includes a menu-driven visual display, and further including a menu selectable function for placing the POTS telephone in communications with the communication system.

17. The communication system of claim 1, further including a switch for switchably connecting said POTS telephone to said telephone line, said switch controlled by said cordless telephone via said processor complex.

18. The communication system of claim 1, wherein said processor complex programmed to respond to signals input to said cordless telephone for allowing conferencing between said cordless telephone and the POTS telephone.

19. A communication system, comprising:

said communication system housed within a housing adapted for mounting to a wall or setting on a desk;

a subscriber telephone line extending from said housing and for connection to a first telephone set, said subscriber telephone line not actively connected to a central office switching system;

a subscriber line interface integrated circuit in said housing providing telephone service to said subscriber telephone line;

a programmed microprocessor in said housing for controlling said subscriber line interface integrated circuit;

a line switch in said housing connected in said subscriber telephone line for connecting and disconnecting said subscriber telephone line to said subscriber line interface integrated circuit, said line switch controlled by said microprocessor;

a voltage sensor in said housing coupled to said subscriber telephone line for sensing a voltage thereon, said voltage sensor providing a voltage indication to said microprocessor;

said microprocessor being responsive to said voltage indication to control said line switch;

a second telephone coupled to said communication system, said second telephone set adapted for receiving a user input for coupling control signals to said microprocessor to control said line switch to thereby connect or disconnect said second telephone set to said subscriber telephone line.

20. The communication system of claim 19, further including a second subscriber telephone line for connection to a second telephone set, and said line switch is operative to couple said integrated circuit to one of the subscriber telephone lines at one time, and operative to disconnect both subscriber telephone lines from said integrated circuit.

21. The communication system of claim 20, further including an RJ-11 jack coupling both said subscriber telephone lines to said line switch.

22. The communication system of claim 19, wherein said second telephone set comprises a cordless telephone.

23. The communication system of claim 19, further including circuits for conferencing the audio signals input to the respective first and second telephone sets when said first telephone set is connected to said subscriber telephone line by said line switch.

24. A method of providing telephone service with a communication system, comprising the steps of:

providing said communication system housed in a desk mounted unit;

providing telephone service by a subscriber line interface integrated circuit to a telephone set by way of a telephone line;

providing wireless telephone service to a cordless telephone; and

prior to providing telephone service to said telephone line, testing the telephone line for a foreign voltage, and if there is no foreign voltage on the telephone line, coupling information between said telephone set on said telephone line via said subscriber line integrated circuit, and said cordless telephone, thereby conferencing said telephone set and said cordless telephone together.

25. The method of claim 24, further including providing POTS telephone service to a telephone set connected to said telephone line.

26. The method of claim 24, further including disconnecting the telephone line from said integrated circuit if a foreign voltage is found on said telephone line as a result of said testing.

27. The method of claim 24, further including providing telephone service to said cordless telephone and not to the telephone line if said cordless telephone goes to an off-hook condition before said telephone set connected to the telephone line goes off hook.

28. The method of claim 27, further including disregarding dialed digits of said telephone set while said cordless telephone remains off hook.

29. The method of claim 24, further including switchably connecting the telephone set to said subscriber line under control of signals input into said cordless telephone set.