Methods and apparatus for multi-mode telephone
First Claim
1. A telephone comprising:
- a telephone line jack for receiving a telephone line;
a battery;
a microphone;
a speaker;
a battery powered telephone module coupled to said microphone and said speaker for performing cell phone call operations during a cell phone mode of operation;
a landline telephone module coupled to said microphone and said speaker, said telephone being powered during a landline powered mode of operation solely from a telephone line to which said landline telephone module is coupled; and
a mode selection module for selecting as a function of a signal indicating whether a telephone line is inserted into said telephone line jack, between at least a telephone line powered mode of operation and a battery powered mode of operation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multi-mode telephone, e.g., an enhanced cell phone, includes a battery powered telephone module and a POTS telephone module. The phone includes a telephone jack for coupling the phone to a landline. When connected through the landline, the phone includes a mode of operation in which the phone can be operated without any external AC power source and without using internal battery power, the power used being supplied via the POTS landline. The multi-mode phone may function as a lifeline in times of emergency, e.g., during power failures when cell phone calls cannot be completed. Other modes of operation include an enhanced landline mode using the phone'"'"'s battery power to provide enhanced features such as, e.g., caller ID. If battery power is depleted in the enhanced landline mode, the phone reverts to a standard POTS phone, e.g., during an in progress call, requiring no battery power for continued operation.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A telephone comprising:
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a telephone line jack for receiving a telephone line; a battery; a microphone; a speaker; a battery powered telephone module coupled to said microphone and said speaker for performing cell phone call operations during a cell phone mode of operation; a landline telephone module coupled to said microphone and said speaker, said telephone being powered during a landline powered mode of operation solely from a telephone line to which said landline telephone module is coupled; and a mode selection module for selecting as a function of a signal indicating whether a telephone line is inserted into said telephone line jack, between at least a telephone line powered mode of operation and a battery powered mode of operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of operating a telephone capable of supporting a plurality of different modes of telephone operation including a landline powered mode of operation in which said telephone is powered solely by said landline and at least one battery powered mode of operation in which at least some telephone operations are powered by battery power and said telephone is capable of receiving and sending signals over a cellular communications link, the method comprising:
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receiving battery status information; generating a signal indicating if a telephone line is connected to said telephone; and selecting between at least said landline powered mode of operation and said battery powered mode of operation as a function of said received battery status information and whether said generated signal indicates that a landline telephone line is connected to said telephone. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A method of operating a telephone capable of supporting a plurality of different modes of telephone operation including a landline powered mode of operation in which said telephone is powered by said landline and at least one battery powered mode of operation in which at least some telephone operations are powered by battery power and said telephone is capable of receiving and sending signals over a cellular communications link, the method comprising:
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generating a signal indicating if a telephone line is connected to said telephone; and selecting between at least said landline powered mode of operation and said battery powered mode of operation as a function of whether said generated signal indicates that a telephone line is connected to said telephone, including receiving battery status information; and
selecting said mode of operation as a function of said received battery status information and said signal indicating whether a landline is connected to said telephone, said method further comprising;operating said telephone to transition from a battery powered mode of operation involving communication over said landline to said landline powered mode of operation during an ongoing telephone call in response to received battery status information indicating a change in battery status. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A method of controlling a telephone to operate in different modes of operation, the method comprising:
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operating said telephone in a solely landline powered mode of operation during a first period of time when said telephone is coupled to a landline; operating said telephone in a battery powered cell phone mode of operation during a second period of time during which said telephone is not coupled to said landline; and operating said telephone to switch between a battery powered mode of landline operation and said solely landline powered mode of operation in response to a detected decrease in battery power. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification