Wireless communications device docking system and method

• US 7,110,789 B1
• Filed: 03/07/2002
• Issued: 09/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Wireless Corporation (Kyocera Corporation)
• Inventors: Werner, David, Golden, Matthew Charles, Kirby, Miles, Lejman, Andrew Glen, Curtiss, Troy
• Primary Examiner(s): MEHRPOUR, NAGHMEH
• Application Number:
  US10/093,089
• Time in Patent Office: 1,657 Days
• Field of Search: 455/556, 455/575.1, 455 902- 903, 455/569.2, 455/563, 455/557, 455/550.1, 455/416, 455/74.1, 4555758-5759, 455/556.1, 379/435, 379/446, 379/455, 379/454, 379/428.02, 379/355.01, 379/356, 379/357, 379/358, 379/142.04, 379/142.15, 379/142.17
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2478 Telephone terminals specially adapted for non-voice services, e.g. email, internet access centralized arrangements where telephones services are combined H04M7/0024; for recording text messages H04M3/5322; for accessing Internet H04M3/4938
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6033 for providing handsfree use or a loudspeaker mode in telephone sets arrangements for preventing acoustic echo H04M9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60

Abstract

A system and a method for docking a wireless communications device are provided. The system includes a docking station on which a wireless communications device is docked. A display on the docked wireless communications device provides the display for the docking system.

Claims

1. A system for communicating with a wireless communications network, the system comprising:

a cellular phone for sending signals to and receiving signals from the wireless communications network;

a docking station for communicating with the wireless communications network through the cellular phone only when the cellular phone is engaged in the docking station, the docking station comprising;

a controller for controlling operation of the docking station;

a docking port comprising;

a recess for accepting the cellular phone such that a display of the cellular phone remains visible for operating the docking station, and

a connector connected to the controller, the connector for engaging the cellular phone;

inside surfaces that are adapted to cover at least a keypad of the cellular phone;

a telephone handset situated on a front surface of the docking station, the telephone handset utilized in substitution of a speaker and a microphone of the engaged cellular phone; and

a telephone keypad situated on the front surface, the telephone keypad used in substitution for the keypad of the engaged cellular phone.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the controller provides a landline-type dial tone to the telephone handset when the telephone handset is lifted from the docking station and when the cellular phone is engaged in the docking port.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein a phone call is initiated to a wireless communications network by lifting the telephone handset from the docking station and entering a phone number by only depressing numbers represented on the telephone keypad, and wherein the initiated of the phone call does not require depressing a send button on the cellular phone.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the docking station is adapted to recharge the cellular phone when the cellular phone is engaged with the docking station.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the docking station further comprises function buttons controlled by the controller, the functions buttons comprising at least one of a hold button, a transfer button, a speakerphone button, a speed dial button, a conference call button, a redial button, an internet button, a voice mail button, and an e-mail button.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the docking station provides modes of operation comprising at least one of call origination, answering, termination, volume control, voice mail, automatic redial, transfer, drop, conference, mute and data/fax.

7. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a computer system connected to the docking station through a data port.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the computer system is in two-way communication with the wireless communications network via the cellular phone.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the computer system accesses an Internet service of the wireless communications network.

10. The system according to claim 8, wherein the computer system receives and sends faxes via the wireless communications network.

11. The system according to claim 7, wherein the computer system programs the wireless communications device when the wireless communications device is engaged in the docking port.

12. A method for communicating with a wireless communications network, the method comprising the steps of:

engaging a wireless communications device into a docking station, the wireless communications device comprising a display, the docking station comprising a handset, a keypad and a controller;

establishing communication between the engaged wireless communications device and the controller of the docking station;

utilizing at least one of the handset and the keypad in conjunction with the controller to establish a communications link between the wireless communications network and the docking station via the wireless communications device;

recharging the wireless communications device via the docking station while the wireless communications system is engaged in the docking station;

establishing a two-way communications link between the wireless communications device and a computer system via data ports of the docking station;

disabling the handset and the keypad of the docking station while the wireless communications device and the computer system are established in the two-way communications link; and

using the wireless communications device as a wireless modem for the computer system to communicate with the wireless communications network.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

utilizing the display of the wireless communications device to view information relating to the communications link, wherein the communications link is one of an incoming call from the wireless communications network to the wireless communications device and an outgoing call to the wireless communications network.

14. The method according to claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

picking up the handset from the docking station to initiate a call;

generating a landline-type dial tone via the docking station;

entering digits of a telephone number on the keypad;

the controller determining a valid telephone number by recognizing a form of the telephone number; and

the controller instructing the wireless communications device to initiate a call to the wireless communication network without requiring the depressing of a send button on the wireless communication device.

15. The method according to claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

picking up the handset from the docking station;

depressing a voice mail function button on the docking station;

automatically sending a voice mail telephone number to the wireless communications network via the wireless communications device as controlled by the controller of the docking station; and

entering a voice mail system of the wireless communications network corresponding with the wireless communications device.

16. The method according to claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

picking up the handset from the docking station;

navigating through menus on the display of the wireless communications device by depressing navigation keys of the docking station;

selecting a voice mail menu option displayed on the display by depressing a select key of the docking station;

automatically sending a voice mail telephone number to the wireless communications network via the wireless communications device as controlled by the controller of the docking station; and

entering a voice mail system of the wireless communications network corresponding with the wireless communications device.

17. The method according to claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

linking to the Internet via the wireless communications device;

displaying web pages of the Internet on a monitor of the computer system; and

navigating through the Internet via an input device of the computer system.

18. The method according to claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

depressing navigation keys on the docking station to view menu options on the display of the wireless communications device;

depressing a selection key on the docking station to select an Internet menu option displayed on the display of the wireless communications device;

automatically establishing a two-way wireless communications link between the docking station and an Internet service provided by the wireless communications network via the wireless communications device;

displaying web pages of the Internet service on the display of the wireless communications device; and

navigating through the Internet via the navigation keys and the keypad of the docking station.

19. The method according to claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

depressing an Internet access function button on the docking station;

automatically establishing a two-way wireless communications link between the docking station and an Internet service provided by the wireless communications network via the wireless communications device;

displaying web pages of the Internet service on the display of the wireless communications device; and

navigating through the Internet via the navigation keys and the keypad of the docking station.