Digit transmission over wireless communication link

• US 7,079,500 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2003
• Issued: 07/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Menon, Narayan P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ajit
• Application Number:
  US10/338,973
• Publication Number:
  US 20030137952A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,287 Days
• Field of Search: 370351-356, 370/310, 370/464, 370/465, 370/466, 370/467, 370/328, 370/338, 370/349, 370/329, 370/337, 370/341, 370/347, 455/422, 455/554, 455/555, 379/93.31, 379/93.32, 379/93.15, 379/353
• US Class Current: 370/310
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/00 Wireless channel access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/11 Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/12 Setup of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/14 WLL [Wireless Local Loop]; RLL [Radio Local Loop]

Abstract

A communication system having a wireless trunk for connecting multiple phone lines over wireless communication links to a cellular network comprises a central telephone switch, such as a private branch exchange or key system, connected through one or more trunk lines to a wireless access communication unit. The wireless access communication unit preferably comprises a separate subscriber interface for each trunk line from the central telephone switch. The wireless access communication unit collects data from each of the subscriber interfaces, formats the data into a format compatible with an over-the-air protocol, and transmits the information over one or mole wireless channels to a cellular base station. The wireless access communication unit thereby connects calls received from the central telephone switch'"'"'s trunk lines over a wireless trunk to a network. A controller within the wireless access communication unit interfaces the subscriber interfaces with a radio transceiver, and assists in the conversion of data from a format suitable for wireless transmission. To initiate a call, the wireless access communication unit transmits digits to the base station, which performs digit analysis and sets up the call. During an active call, the wireless access communication unit transmits digits (e.g., DTMF tones) to the network using DTAP start and stop messages. The DTMF tones can be regenerated at the network.

Claims

1. A method of communication comprising:

generating a repetitive time frame at a base station;

generating a plurality of time slots in the repetitive time frame;

assigning one of the plurality of time slots on demand to a wireless communication unit for communication with the base station;

establishing a call between the wireless communication unit and the base station;

transmitting and receiving call information between a non-wireless unit and the base station using the wireless communication unit as an intermediary;

during the call, receiving dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) tones at the wireless communication unit from the non-wireless unit;

for each of the DTMF tones, formatting a plurality of direct transfer application part (DTAP) messages indicating the start and the end of the DTMF tone;

for each of the DTMF tones, transmitting the plurality of DTAP messages from the wireless communication unit to the base station;

conveying the DTAP messages from the base station to a remote location; and

translating the DTAP messages back into DTMF tone signals at the remote location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-wireless unit comprises a local area telephone switch, the method further comprising receiving the DTMF tones at the local area telephone switch from a user who is connected to the local area telephone switch.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-wireless unit comprises a telephone.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of DTAP messages comprise at least one DTAP Start-DTMF message and at least one DTAP Stop-DTMF message.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending DTAP acknowledgement messages from the base station to the wireless communication unit in response to acknowledgement of reception of the DTAP messages at the remote location.

6. A wireless communication unit comprising:

a subscriber port;

a subscriber interface connected to the subscriber port, the subscriber port comprising a tone detector and a timer;

a radio transceiver; and

a controller connected to the radio, the controller to cause a wireless connection be established between the radio transceiver and a base station in response to a call request from a non-wireless unit connected to the subscriber interface, wherein;

a repetitive time frame is generated at a base station and a plurality of time slots are generated in the repetitive time frame, with one of the plurality of time slots being assigned to the wireless communication unit for communication with the base station;

call information is transmitted between a non-wireless unit and the base station using the wireless communication unit as an intermediary;

dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMIF) tones are received at the wireless communication unit from the non-wireless unit;

for each of the DTMF tones, the wireless communication unit formats a plurality of direct transfer application part (DTAP) messages to indicate the start and the end of the DTMF tone;

the wireless communication unit transmits the plurality of DTAP messages to the base station and the plurality of DTAP messages are conveyed from the base station to a remote location; and

the DTAP messages are translated back into DTMF tone signals at the remote location.

7. The wireless communication unit of claim 6, wherein the non-wireless unit comprises a local area telephone switch, and wherein the DTMLF tones are received at the local area telephone switch from a user who is connected to the local area telephone switch.

8. The wireless communication unit of claim 6, wherein the non-wireless unit comprises a telephone.

9. The wireless communication unit of claim 6, wherein the plurality of DTAP messages comprise at least one DTAP Start-DTMIF message and at least one DTAP Stop-DTMF message.

10. The wireless communication unit of claim 6, further wherein DTAP acknowledgement messages are sent from the base station to the wireless communication unit in response to acknowledgement of reception of the DTAP messages at the remote location.

11. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon data representing sequences of instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

generating a repetitive time frame at a base station;

generating a plurality of time slots in the repetitive time frame;

assigning one of the plurality of time slots on demand to a wireless

communication unit for communication with the base station;

establishing a call between the wireless communication unit and the base station;

transmitting and receiving call information between a non-wireless unit and the base station using the wireless communication unit as an intermediary;

during the call, receiving dual-tone multi-frequency (DIMIF) tones at the wireless communication unit from the non-wireless unit;

for each of the DTMF tones, formatting a plurality of direct transfer application part (DTAP) messages indicating the start and the end of the DTMF tone;

for each of the DTMF tones, transmitting the plurality of DTAP messages from the wireless communication unit to the base station;

conveying the DTAP messages from the base station to a remote location; and

translating the DTAP messages back into DTMF tone signals at the remote location.

12. The medium of claim 11, wherein the non-wireless unit comprises a local area telephone switch, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising receiving the DTMF tones at the local area telephone switch from a user who is connected to the local area telephone switch.

13. The medium of claim 11, wherein the non-wireless unit comprises a telephone.

14. The medium of claim 11, wherein the plurality of DTAP messages comprise at least one DTAP Start-DTMF message and at least one DTAP Stop-DTMF message.

15. The medium of claim 11, further comprising sending DTAP acknowledgement messages from the base station to the wireless communication unit in response to acknowledgement of reception of the DTAP messages at the remote location.