Wireless communications interface

• US 8,676,259 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2012
• Issued: 03/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
• Inventors: Bultman, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, John J
• Application Number:
  US13/482,674
• Publication Number:
  US 20120237004A1
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• Field of Search: 455/557, 455/554.2, 455/41.2, 455/465, 455/552.1, 455/445, 455/462, 455/555, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/554.1, 455/558, 455/559, 455/41.1
• 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, comprising:

a wireless interface configured to be coupled to a wireless device;

an appliance interface configured to be coupled to an appliance device

a protocol converter, coupled between the wireless interface and the appliance interface and configured to convert a signal from the appliance interface into a signal that is compatible with the wireless interface; and

a controller configured to receive an indication to establish communication between a wireless device and an appliance device, establish a communication connection between the wireless device and the appliance device, and terminate the connection upon determining that the communication is complete.

2. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the protocol converter is configured to convert a dual-tone multi-frequency signal so that it is compatible with the wireless interface.

3. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a dual-tone multi-frequency detection circuit coupled to the protocol converter.

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

5. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a busy tone generator coupled to the appliance interface.

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

7. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a dial tone generator coupled to the appliance interface.

8. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an audio hybrid equivalent circuit coupled between the wireless interface and the appliance interface and configured to convert a tip and ring signal from the appliance interface into the transmit and receive signals that are compatible with the wireless interface.

9. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the protocol converter comprises:

a buffer amplifier coupled to both the wireless interface and a pull-up resistor configured to shift a voltage level of the transmit signal.

10. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second appliance interface configured to be coupled to a second appliance device.