Method and system for wireless bridging

• US 7,907,917 B1
• Filed: 08/31/2007
• Issued: 03/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Dronamraju, Srirama Krishna, Dahdouh, Khalil
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Duc
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rego; Dominic E
• Application Number:
  US11/848,835
• Time in Patent Office: 1,292 Days
• Field of Search: 455/416, 455/424, 455/426.1, 455/555, 455/460, 455/74, 455/74.1, 455/550.1, 455/554.1, 455/554.2, 455/462, 455/404.1, 455/552.1, 379/428.02, 370/260, 370/261, 370/262
• US Class Current: 455/74.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72502 with one base station connected to a single line
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/16 WPBX [Wireless Private Branch Exchange]

Abstract

A wireless communication link is established between a mobile station and a landline station, independently of the landline and wireless telecommunications networks. The mobile station, while engaged in a call via a wireless telecommunications network, may wirelessly transmit a bridging signal to a transceiver, in order to include the landline station in the call independently of the landline telecommunications network. While the landline station is engaged in a call via the landline telecommunications network, the transceiver may wirelessly transmit a bridging signal to the mobile station, in order to include the mobile station in the call independently of the wireless telecommunications network.

Claims

1. A method of facilitating wireless communication between a mobile station and a landline station, said mobile station being able to send and receive calls via a wireless telecommunications network, said landline station being able to send and receive calls via a landline telecommunications network, said method comprising:

while said mobile station is engaged in a call via said wireless telecommunications network, said mobile station receiving a first predetermined instruction from a user of said mobile station;

in response to said first predetermined instruction, establishing a wireless communication link between said landline station and said mobile station, via a transceiver having a landline connection to said landline telecommunications network, independently of said landline telecommunications network and said wireless telecommunications network;

after said wireless communication link is established, said mobile station receiving a second predetermined instruction from said user; and

in response to said second predetermined instruction, joining said landline station as a third party to said call, wherein said call is carried by said wireless telecommunications network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing a wireless communication link comprises:

said mobile station transmitting a wireless bridging signal.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein establishing a wireless communication link further comprises:

said transceiver receiving said wireless bridging signal; and

in response to said wireless bridging signal, said transceiver alerting said landline station independently of said landline telecommunications network.