Apparatus and method for selectively connecting mobile communication terminal to telephone network

• US 7,801,557 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2005
• Issued: 09/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Hun-Soo
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid; Lester
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lai; Daniel
• Application Number:
  US11/245,927
• Publication Number:
  US 20060084467A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,810 Days
• Field of Search: 455/552.1, 455/62, 455/404.1, 455/553.1, 455/426.1
• US Class Current: 455/552.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/26 Devices for calling a subscriber H04M1/66 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72502 with one base station connected to a single line
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A mobile communication terminal includes an input unit having a plurality of number keys and a plurality of call keys; a controller for instructing a call connection to a wired communication network or to a mobile communication network with reference to a ‘telephone network connection method’ arbitrarily set by a user when a phone number of a receiving side and a specific call key are inputted through the input unit; a mobile communication network connection unit for attempting a connection to the mobile communication network according to an instruction from the controller; and a wired communication network connection unit for attempting a connection to the wired communication network according to an instruction from the controller. The mobile communication terminal is implemented to be connected with the wired communication network through the AP installed in a building (or in a room), for which a subscriber can arbitrary set the telephone network connection method, simplifying the procedure for selectively connecting to the mobile communication network (the CDMA network) and the PSTN. Thus, the subscriber can easily and conveniently operate the mobile communication terminal.

Claims

1. A mobile communication terminal comprising:

an input unit comprising a first call key associated with a mobile communication network and a second call key associated with a wired communication network;

a controller for initiating a connection to the wired communication network or the mobile communication network according to the first call key or the second call key selected via a user input, and presetting a telephone network connection as one of the mobile communication network, the wired communication network, or a combination mobile and wired communication network;

a mobile communication network connection unit for attempting a connection to the mobile communication network in response to an instruction from the controller; and

a wired communication network connection unit for attempting a connection to the wired communication network in response to an instruction from the controller,

wherein the mobile communication network connection unit does not require a mobile communication terminal to be present in a base station in order to connect to the mobile communication network,

wherein selecting the second call key controls the controller to initiate a connection to the wired communication network regardless of a preset value of the telephone network connection, such that a failed initiation of the connection to the wired communication terminal will terminate successive attempts to initiate the connection to the wired communication network,

wherein presetting the telephone network connection to the mobile communication network and selecting the first call key controls the controller to initiate a connection to the mobile communication network, such that a failed initiation of the connection to the mobile communication terminal will terminate successive attempts to initiate the connection to the mobile communication network,

wherein presetting the telephone network connection to the combination mobile and wired communication network and selecting the first call key controls the controller to initiate a connection to the mobile communication network, such that a failed initiation of the connection to the mobile communication terminal will terminate successive attempts to initiate the connection via either the mobile communication network or the wired communication network.

2. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein presetting the telephone network connection to the combination mobile and wired communication network and selecting the second call key controls the controller to initiate a connection to the wired communication network, such that a failed initiation of the connection to the wired communication controls the controller to initiate a connection to the mobile communication network.

3. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the first call key is a SEND key.

4. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the second call key is a combination of a SEND key and a specific key for a wired communication.

5. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller initiates a connection to the wired communication network or a connection to the mobile communication network with reference to the preset telephone network connection if a phone number shortened key and a specific call key are input via the input unit.

6. The mobile communication terminal of claim 5, wherein the controller receives the phone number from a phone book.

7. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the wired communication network connection unit attempts a call connection to the wired communication network by wirelessly connecting with the base station.

8. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the wired communication network connection unit is wirelessly connected with the base station by using BLUETOOTH®

technology.

9. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the mobile communication network is a code division multiple access network.

10. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the wired communication network is a public switched telephone network.

11. A method for selectively connecting a mobile terminal to a telephone network, the method comprising:

presetting a telephone network connection as one of a mobile communication network, a wired communication network, or a combination wired and mobile communication network;

receiving a phone number of a receiving side;

selecting a first call key associated with the mobile communication network or a second call key associated with the wired communication network;

initiating a connection to the wired communication network or the mobile communication network according to the preset telephone network connection and the selected first call key or second call key; and

performing a call setup with the receiving side when the connection is successful,

wherein the connection with the mobile communication network does not require a mobile handset to be present in a base station,

wherein presetting the telephone network connection to the combination wired and mobile communication network and selecting the first call key initiates a connection to the mobile communication network, such that a failed initiation of the connection to the mobile communication terminal will terminate successive attempts to initiate the connection via either the mobile communication network or the wired communication network,

wherein the connection to the mobile communication network is initiated if the first call key is selected and the preset telephone network connection is the mobile communication network and the controller does not perform successive initiations to connect to the mobile communication network if the initiation for the connection to the mobile communication network failed, and

wherein regardless of the preset value of the telephone network connection, the connection to the wired communication network is initiated if the second call key is selected, and the controller does not perform successive initiations to connect to the wired communication network if the initiation for the connection to the wired communication network failed.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein presetting the telephone network connection method to the combination wired and mobile communication network and selecting the second call key initiates a connection to the wired communication network, such that a failed initiation of the connection to the mobile communication terminal will initiate a connection via the mobile communication network.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the first call key is a SEND key.

14. The mobile communication terminal of claim 11, wherein the second call key is a combination of a SEND key and a specific key for a wired communication.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the phone number of the receiving side is received from a phone book.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the mobile communication network is a code division multiple access network.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the wired communication network is a public switched telephone network.