System and method for interfacing plain old telephone system (POTS) devices with cellular networks
First Claim
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1. A system for interfacing plain old telephone system (POTS) devices with cellular networks, comprising:
- an interface configured to convert a POTS compatible signal to a cellular network compatible signal, wherein the interface is further configured to convert a cellular network compatible signal to a POTS compatible signal, wherein the interface comprises a docking station configured to interface with a cellular telephone, wherein the docking station comprises a tuned antenna configured to couple with the cellular telephone, wherein the tuned antenna is further configured to improve transmission and reception by the cellular telephone; and
a POTS connector configured to couple a POTS device to the interface;
wherein the interface includes an audio relay configured to receive an audio-control signal and transmit an analog-audio signal between the POTS device and the cellular telephone in response to the received audio-control signal; and
wherein when the system detects an analog-audio signal that is indicative of a called-party telephone ringing prior to a called party picking up the called party telephone, the cellular telephone and the POTS device are connected through at least one of the cellular networks prior to the called party picking up the called party telephone.
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Abstract
A system and method for interfacing plain old telephone system (PATS) devices with a cellular network is presented. In a broad sense, the system includes an interface that bridges the POTS devices with the cellular network. The interface is configured to convert POTS compatible signals into cellular network compatible signals, and vice versa.
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Citations
52 Claims
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1. A system for interfacing plain old telephone system (POTS) devices with cellular networks, comprising:
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an interface configured to convert a POTS compatible signal to a cellular network compatible signal, wherein the interface is further configured to convert a cellular network compatible signal to a POTS compatible signal, wherein the interface comprises a docking station configured to interface with a cellular telephone, wherein the docking station comprises a tuned antenna configured to couple with the cellular telephone, wherein the tuned antenna is further configured to improve transmission and reception by the cellular telephone; and a POTS connector configured to couple a POTS device to the interface; wherein the interface includes an audio relay configured to receive an audio-control signal and transmit an analog-audio signal between the POTS device and the cellular telephone in response to the received audio-control signal; and wherein when the system detects an analog-audio signal that is indicative of a called-party telephone ringing prior to a called party picking up the called party telephone, the cellular telephone and the POTS device are connected through at least one of the cellular networks prior to the called party picking up the called party telephone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for interfacing a plain old telephone system (POTS) device with a cellular network, comprising the steps of:
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providing a tuned antenna configured to improve transmission and reception of signals by a cellular telephone; receiving a cellular network compatible signal using the tuned antenna; converting the cellular network compatible signal from the cellular telephone to a POTS compatible signal at an interface; receiving an audio-control signal and transmitting an analog-audio signal between the POTS device and the cellular telephone in response to the received audio-control signal; detecting an analog-audio signal that is indicative of a called-party telephone ringing prior to a called party picking up the called party telephone; and in response to detecting the analog-audio signal that is indicative of a called-party telephone ringing, connecting the cellular telephone and the POTS device through the cellular network to the called party telephone prior to the called party picking up the called party telephone. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. A computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium having control logic stored therein for causing a computer to interface a plain old telephone system (POTS) device with a cellular network, the control logic comprising computer-readable program code for causing the computer to:
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convert a POTS compatible signal from the POTS device to a cellular network compatible signal at an interface; transmit the converted POTS compatible signal using a tuned antenna, receive a cellular network compatible signal using the tuned antenna; convert the cellular network compatible signal from a cellular telephone to a POTS compatible signal at the interface; receive an audio-control signal and transmitting an analog-audio signal between the POTS device and the cellular telephone in response to the received audio-control signal; detect an analog-audio signal that is indicative of a called-party telephone being busy prior to a called party picking up a called party telephone; and in response to detecting the analog-audio signal that is indicative of a called-party telephone being busy, connect the cellular telephone or the POTS device through the cellular network to the called party telephone prior to the called party picking up the called party telephone. - View Dependent Claims (52)
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Specification