System and method for cordless handset registration

• US 8,331,931 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2006
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VTech Telecommunications Limited (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: VTech Telecommunications Limited (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Janssen, Holger, Whitesell, Stephen R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rideout, William F
• Application Number:
  US11/605,338
• Publication Number:
  US 20070123256A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,204 Days
• Field of Search: 455/435.1, 455/426.1, 455/418, 455/419, 455/462
• US Class Current: 455/435.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72505 Radio link set-up procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/727 Identification code transfer arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/265 for initial activation of new user

Abstract

A method and system for registering wireless devices with a base unit that is configured to communicate wirelessly with multiple wireless devices. In one example, the wireless devices are cordless handsets of cordless telephone systems. When placed in a charging cradle, an unregistered handset displays a message indicating that the handset should be registered. A user provides local input to the base unit to activate a registration sequence. A three-way handshake is initiated at the base station, wherein a sequence of three wireless messages are passed between the base and unregistered handset. The handset displays a message indicating successful registration.

Claims

1. A method for registering an unregistered wireless telephone handset with a wireless telephone base unit configured to communicate with a plurality of wireless telephone handsets, comprising:

detecting a current source by the unregistered wireless telephone handset; and

presenting a registration required indication with the unregistered wireless telephone handset in response to the detected current source, the registration required indication comprising one or more messages presented on a display of the unregistered wireless telephone handset, the one or more messages instructing a user to perform a specified operation at the base station that initiates a registration process of the wireless telephone base unit;

monitoring for receipt of a registration signal at the unregistered wireless telephone handset from the wireless telephone base unit;

sending an acknowledgment message containing an ID from the wireless telephone handset over an air interface if the registration signal is received; and

receiving a registration authorization signal in response to the acknowledgment message.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the current source comprises one of detecting charge from a charging cradle and detecting current from a battery source in the unregistered wireless telephone handset.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

setting a first timer in the unregistered wireless telephone handset;

determining whether the first timer has expired; and

maintaining an unregistered state at the unregistered wireless telephone handset if the first timer has expired without receipt of the registration signal.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

setting a second timer in the unregistered wireless telephone handset if a registration signal is received;

monitoring for the registration authorization signal;

determining whether the second timer has expired; and

maintaining an unregistered state at the unregistered wireless telephone handset if the second timer has expired without receipt of the registration authorization signal containing the ID.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the registration required indication comprises a device indicator associated with an available registration slot of the wireless telephone base unit, wherein the acknowledgment message includes an ID of the unregistered wireless telephone handset, and wherein the registration authorization signal comprises a security code.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the registration required indication provides instructions to a user of the unregistered wireless telephone handset for initiation of the registration signal at a base unit of the wireless communications system.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the initiation of registration signal comprises one of selecting from a menu provided in the wireless telephone base unit and depressing a button provided in the wireless telephone base unit.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating a memory in the unregistered wireless telephone handset with a security code and device number; and

displaying the device number and an indication of successful registration.

9. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

maintaining an unregistered state if the registration signal is not received;

detecting disengagement from the current source;

detecting reengagement with the current source;

re-starting the first timer; and

monitoring for receipt of the registration signal at the unregistered wireless telephone handset from the wireless telephone base unit.

10. A method for registering a wireless device with a wireless communications system, comprising:

receiving a registration request through a user interface at a base unit;

checking whether a registration slot is available in the wireless communications system;

broadcasting a registration signal from an air interface of the base unit if a registration slot is available, the registration signal comprising a device indicator associated with an available registration slot of the communication system;

receiving, over the air interface at the base unit, an acknowledgment signal containing an identifier for an unregistered wireless device in response to the broadcast of the registration signal; and

sending, in response to the acknowledgment signal, a registration authorization signal over the air interface, the registration authorization signal comprising the identifier for the unregistered wireless device.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

starting a base timer;

monitoring for the acknowledgment signal;

determining whether the base timer has expired; and

resuming a normal operation state if the base timer has expired without receipt of the acknowledgement signal.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

indicating unsuccessful registration if the base timer has expired without receipt of the acknowledgment signal; and

indicating successful registration if the acknowledgment signal is received before the base timer expires.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

updating internal wireless device registration data after the sending the registration authorization; and

displaying an indication of successful registration.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the registration authorization signal further comprises a security code.

15. A system for registering a wireless device with a wireless communications system, comprising:

a base unit;

a processor in the wireless device configured to check a registration condition of the wireless device with respect to the wireless communications system, to generate a signal indicating an unregistered status of the wireless device, to cause the wireless device to present a registration required indication instructing a user to perform a specified operation at the base unit that initiates a registration process of the base unit, and to generate an acknowledgment signal identifying the wireless device in response to receipt of a registration signal; and

a memory in the wireless device configured to store a security code and wireless device unit indicator;

wherein the base unit comprises a user interface configured to receive locally the specified operation by a user, and a plurality of wireless device registration slots, wherein the base unit is configured to determine availability of one or more registrations slots for wireless device registration, to prevent a broadcast of the registration signal to wireless devices located within a broadcast area if no wireless device registration slot is available, to identify the acknowledgement signal as coming from the unregistered wireless device, and to send an authorization signal in response to the acknowledgment signal, wherein the wireless device is configured to set a first timer when generating a registration request signal, the acknowledgment comprises a temporary ID provided by an ID generator, and the wireless device is configured to set a second timer when the acknowledgment is sent,

wherein the wireless device is configured to suspend a registration process if the first timer expires before receipt of the registration signal, and configured to suspend the registration process if the second timer expires before receipt of the authorization signal.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the wireless communications system comprises a cordless telephone system.

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising a charging cradle, wherein the wireless device is configured to detect the registration condition in response to one of being placed in the charging cradle and being powered on.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the base unit comprises a wireless device registration database comprising wireless device ID information associated with each registration slot that is allocated to a registered wireless device, and a wireless device nickname associated with each registration slot.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the wireless communications system comprises a TDMA system and the wireless device comprises a cordless telephone.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the TDMA system includes a first plurality of communications slots, the first plurality of communications slots being less than or equal in number to the plurality of registration slots.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the user interface of the base unit comprises one or more of a button, a display, and a user-selectable menu.