Cellular docking station

• US 7,149,514 B1
• Filed: 10/24/2001
• Issued: 12/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: BellSouth Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Roach, Peter O. Jr., DePani, Sebastiano
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ewart, James D.
• Application Number:
  US09/999,806
• Time in Patent Office: 1,875 Days
• Field of Search: 455/74.1, 455/414.1, 455/415, 455/418, 455/426.2, 455/426.1, 455462-464, 455/554.1, 455/554.2, 455/555, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/557, 455/465, 455/556, 455575- 1, 455/575.7, 455 901- 903, 455/347
• US Class Current: 455/426.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/107 wherein the security policies are location-dependent, e.g. entities privileges depend on current location or allowing specific operations only from locally connected terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/66 with means for preventing unauthorised or fraudulent calling verifying user identity or authority in secret or secure digital communications H04L9/32
• 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: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/63 Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A system for communicating with the user of a cellular telephone via the cellular mobile radio (CMR) system and the public switched telephone network (PSTN). A communications interface appends the telephone exchange number of an outgoing communication to include an identifier unique to the communications interface. The outgoing communication is transmitted by the cellular telephone to the CMR system, which recognizes and verifies the outgoing communication as originating with the communications interface. Accordingly, the origination of the outgoing communication from a communications interface is documented prior to forwarding the outgoing communication to its intended recipient via the PSTN. Communications incoming to a communications interface are authenticated as such, and a record as to this is created, prior to forwarding the incoming communication to the cellular telephone.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing telephonic services to a plurality of telephone handsets, wherein the apparatus is in communication with a radiotelephone, which communicates with a public switched telephone network via a cellular mobile radiotelephone system, the apparatus comprising:

a mobile telephone interface unit;

a radiotelephone connector connected to the mobile telephone interface unit;

a telephone support unit connected to a plurality of telephone handset connectors, the telephone support unit being capable of arbitrating a priority among multiple outgoing communications from a plurality of telephone handsets connected to the plurality of telephone handset connectors; and

a communication interface controller, wherein the communication interface controller is in communication with the mobile telephone interface unit and the telephone support unit, the communications interface controller being configured to append an identifier to a telephone number to which the outgoing communication is directed to, wherein the identifier is unique to the cellular docking station.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising an authentication unit for providing authentication of the apparatus.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication interface controller is capable of detecting absence of the radiotelephone within a coverage area and providing an indication about the absence.

4. A method for providing telephonic services to a plurality of telephone handsets connected to a cellular docking station, wherein the cellular docking station connects to a public switched telephone network via a radiotelephone, the radiotelephone being in communication with a cellular mobile radiotelephone system, the method comprising:

receiving an outgoing communication from the plurality of telephone handsets;

arbitrating which outgoing communication has priority;

determining whether the radiotelephone is in communication with the cellular docking station; and

if the radiotelephone is in communication with the cellular docking station, appending an identifier to a telephone number to which the outgoing communication is directed to, wherein the identifier is unique to the cellular docking station, and forwarding the outgoing communication with the priority to a mobile switching center via the radiotelephone.

5. A method according to claim 4 further comprising providing an indication if the radiotelephone is not in communication with the cellular docking station.

6. A method according to claim 4 further comprising providing an unsuccessful completion notification to subsequent outgoing communications while the cellular docking station is handling the outgoing communication with the priority.

7. A method according to claim 4 further comprising

appending an identifier to a destination telephone number;

and

sending the destination telephone number and the identifier to the mobile switching center.

8. An apparatus for providing communication services to at least one telephone via a cellular mobile radiotelephone system, the apparatus comprising:

a radiotelephone connector configured to provide an interface for a cellular mobile radiotelephone;

at least one telephone connector; and

a communication interface controller coupled to the radio telephone connector and the least one telephone connector, the communication interface controller configured to provide a communication indication that a call initiated through the at least one telephone connector is distinct from a call initiated by the radiotelephone.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the communication interface controller is configured to provide information related to a caller responsive to an outgoing call being placed.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wheein the apparatus is configured to accommodate transfer of at least one of the following:

audio signals and data signals.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one telephone connectors is configured to accommodate an RJ-11 type connection with the at least one telephone.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a telephone support unit coupled to the communication interface controller, the telephone support unit configured to arbitrate priority among multiple outgoing communications.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the communication indication from the communication interface controller includes an identifier appended to a telephone number to which the outgoing communication is directed.