Interface for subscriber-based wireless phones to wireline infrastructure

• US 7,454,230 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2004
• Issued: 11/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
• Inventors: Bultman, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): SHARMA, SUJATHA R
• Application Number:
  US10/944,907
• Publication Number:
  US 20050049004A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,519 Days
• Field of Search: 455/445, 455/462, 455/465, 4555521-5541, 455/555, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/557
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/08 between user and terminal device

Abstract

A wireless communications interface couples wireless service to conventional wireline phone appliances. In one embodiment, the wireless communications interface is connected to the phone appliances through existing phone jacks. This allows a user to place and receive calls over a wireless network using the existing wireline infrastructure in a building. By using the invention, users can consolidate their portable and fixed phone service with one of the multiple wireless service providers and bypass the wireline service provider entirely, if so desired. In a second embodiment, the wireless communications interface is directly connected to the phone appliances, bypassing the installed wireline infrastructure. In a third embodiment, both wireline and wireless service are operative, and the wireless communications interface may include logic arbitration to route multiple calls to multiple phone appliances.

Claims

1. A wireless communication apparatus for coupling a mobile wireless device to a wireline phone appliance, the wireless communication apparatus comprising:

a wireless interface capable of coupling to the mobile wireless device;

a phone appliance interface capable of coupling to a phone appliance;

a protocol converter, coupled between said wireless interface and said phone appliance interface, wherein said protocol converter converts a dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMIF) signal from said phone appliance interface into at least one of a transmit signal that is compatible with said wireless interface and a receive signal that is compatible with said wireless interface, wherein said transmit and receive are signals compatible with a mobile wireless communications system; and

an audio hybrid equivalent circuit coupled between said wireless interface and said phone appliance interface and configured to convert a tip and ring signal from said phone appliance interface into separate transmit and receive signals that are compatible with said wireless interface.

2. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a DTMF detection circuit coupled to said protocol converter.

3. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a wireless device battery charger coupled to said wireless interface.

4. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a busy tone generator coupled to said phone appliance interface.

5. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an on-hook detector coupled to said phone appliance interface.

6. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a dial tone generator coupled to said phone appliance interface.

7. A method of using a wireless communication interface, comprising:

detecting a dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) signal and a tip and ring signal from a phone appliance;

converting said DTMF signal and said tip and ring signal to transmit and receive signals that are compatible with a mobile wireless device, said transmit and receive signals configured for a mobile wireless communications system corresponding to said mobile wireless device; and

sending said transmit and receive signals to said mobile wireless device.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising detecting an off-hook status of said mobile wireless device.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising providing a busy signal to said phone appliance when said mobile wireless device is off-hook.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising providing a dial tone to said phone appliance.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising determining if a call has been accepted by a mobile wireless service.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising determining if a call has been completed.

13. The method of claim 7, further comprising charging a mobile wireless device battery.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein said communicating further comprises shifting a voltage level of said transmit signal with a comparator and a pull-up resistor to adapt said transmit signal to a voltage level compatible with said mobile wireless device.

15. A method of using a wireless communication interface, comprising:

receiving a transmit signal and a receive signal from a wireless device;

shifting a voltage level of said receive signal with a comparator and a pull-up resistor to adapt said transmit signal to a voltage level compatible with a phone appliance;

converting said transmit signal and said receive signal to a tip and ring signal wherein said tip and ring signal is compatible with said phone appliance; and

sending said tip and ring signal to said phone appliance.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising determining if said tip and ring signal is to be communicated to said phone appliance or a second phone appliance.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising determining if said phone appliance is available.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising ringing said phone appliance.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising determining if a call has been completed.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising terminating a wireless call.

21. The method of claim 15, further comprising charging a wireless device battery.

22. A wireless communication apparatus for coupling a mobile wireless device to a wireline phone appliance, the wireless communication apparatus comprising:

a wireless interface capable of coupling to a mobile wireless device and having a level shifter, wherein said level shifter includes;

a comparator output coupled to a wireless interface output connector; and

a pull-up resistor coupled between said wireless interface output connector and a voltage source compatible with that of said mobile wireless device;

a phone appliance interface capable of coupling to a phone appliance; and

a protocol converter, coupled between said wireless interface and said phone appliance interface, wherein said protocol converter converts a dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) signal from said phone appliance interface into at least one of a transmit signal that is compatible with said wireless interface and a receive signal that is compatible with said wireless interface, wherein said transmit and receive are signals compatible with a mobile wireless communications system.