Apparatus for wirelessly-coupling a Bluetooth-wireless cellular mobile handset to a docking station for connecting a standard telephone set to the cellular network

• US 7,069,006 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2004
• Issued: 06/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telular Corporation (Ametek Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Telular Corporation (Ametek Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hickey, Jeffrey M., Wonak, Daniel C.
• Primary Examiner(s): D AGOSTA, STEPHEN M
• Application Number:
  US10/892,971
• Publication Number:
  US 20040264430A1
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 455/462, 455/463, 455/426.2, 455/74, 455/74.1, 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 455/556.1, 455/66.1, 455/151.2, 455/41.2, 455/41.3
• US Class Current: 455/426.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/021 adapted for Wireless Local Loop operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/18 Service support devices; Network management devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/18 between terminal devices

Abstract

A Bluetooth-wireless docking station for use with a Bluetooth-enabled cellular mobile handset, which docking station allows mobility to the cellular mobile handset rather than having to be fixed stationarily in the docking station, which docking station couples standard POTS telephone sets, or POTS-like telephone units, connected to in-premises wiring, to the cellular, or cellular like, network. The cellular mobile handset may be used to make or receive calls remote from the docking station, while the docking station communicates with the Bluetooth-enabled cellular mobile handset via a Bluetooth-wireless transceiver using Bluetooth-wireless air-interface protocol. A subscriber-line interface circuit, controlled by a microprocessor, couples the standard POTS telephone sets to the cellular mobile handset'"'"'s transceiver whereby the phones may make or receive calls via the cellular, or cellular like, network, which subscriber line interface also provides loop current, ring signaling, dial tone, loop current detect, flash detection, DTMF conversion, and other central office functions to the telephone sets. As long as the cellular mobile handset is within range of the Bluetooth-wireless transceiver of the docking station, the telephones are connected to the cellular network, as long as the cellular mobile handset is not engaged in a call of its own. The same docking station is capable of accommodating and being paired with any of a wireless-enabled TDMA-based, GSM-based, CDMA-based, or AMPS-based standard transceiver.

Claims

1. In an apparatus for coupling at least one telephone device to a radio network, which apparatus comprises first coupling means for coupling the at least one telephone device to a transceiver of a radio mobile handset connected to the radio network, said first coupling means comprising interface means providing at least some central-office functions to the at least one telephone device, the improvement comprising:

a radio mobile handset connected to a radio network for communication therewith, and having a wireless-enabled transceiver;

second coupling means between said interface means and said wireless-enabled transceiver of said radio mobile handset for providing bidirectional communication therebetween;

said second coupling means comprising wireless-connectivity transceiver means for communicating with said wireless-enabled transceiver of said radio mobile handset, and comprising first pairing means for generating signals via said wireless-connectivity transceiver means to said wireless-enabled transceiver of said radio mobile handset for pairing said wireless-enabled transceiver and wireless-connectivity transceiver means, whereby said mobile handset is allowed mobility of movement relative to said first coupling means;

said first pairing means disabling said radio mobile handset from using said wireless-enabled transceiver thereof whereby said radio mobile handset is dedicated to use by said first coupling means;

said second coupling means further comprising second means for generating call control signals for establishing call control over said mobile handset via said wireless-enabled transceiver for establishing incoming and outgoing calls for the at least one telephone device via the radio network to which said mobile handset is operatively coupled;

said second coupling means further comprising third means for sending digits input into the at least one telephone device so that an outgoing call over the radio network may be made thereby.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said wireless-connectivity transceiver means comprises a Bluetooth-wireless connectivity transceiver means, and said wireless-enabled transceiver of said radio mobile handset comprises Bluetooth-wireless-connectivity coupling means.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second coupling means comprises:

a microprocessor;

memory means for said microprocessor;

software means stored in said memory means for controlling said microprocessor;

said microprocessor controlling said wireless-connectivity transceiver means and said interface means for coupling the at least one telephone device to the mobile handset for bidirectional communication therebetween for connecting the at least one telephone device to a radio network for at least one of receiving an incoming call and for making an outgoing call via the radio network;

said wireless-connectivity transceiver means for communicating with a remote wirelessly-enabled transceiver of a mobile handset connected a radio network comprising a wireless-connectivity transceiver capable of being paired with any of a wireless-enabled TDMA-based, GSM-based, CDMA-based, and AMPS-based standard transceiver.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said interface means comprises ring generating means for generating a ring signal to said at least one telephone device when said coupling means indicates the presence of an incoming call via said radio network.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second coupling means comprises:

a microprocessor;

memory means for said microprocessor;

software means stored in said memory means for controlling said microprocessor;

said microprocessor controlling said wireless-connectivity transceiver means and said interface means for coupling the at least one telephone device to the mobile handset for bidirectional communication therebetween for connecting the at least one telephone device to a radio network for at least one of receiving an incoming call and for making an outgoing call via the radio network.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second means of said second coupling means comprises termination means transmitted to said wireless-enabled transceiver of said radio mobile handset for terminating call over the radio network.