System and method for a multimode handset for transferring telephone calls between mobile and cordless modes

• US 8,831,583 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2012
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ray, Amar N., Chakravarthy, Cadathur V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miah, Liton
• Application Number:
  US13/460,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20120214481A1
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 455/74, 455/74.1, 455/127.4, 455/414.1, 455/417, 455/420, 455/445, 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 455/560, 455/567, 370/352, 379/211.01, 379/211.02, 379/211.03, 379/212.01
• US Class Current: 455/417
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/04 Reselecting a cell layer in multi-layered cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air 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 multimode handset and method that includes a first communications path adapted to communicate using a mobile telephone communications protocol, a second communications path adapted to communicate using a local cordless communications protocol, and a processing unit in communication with the first communications path and the second communications paths and configured to switch between the first communications path and the second communications path during a telephone call.

Claims

1. A multimode handset, comprising:

a first communications path configured to communicate using a mobile telephone communications protocol;

a second communications path configured to communicate using a local cordless communications protocol; and

a processing unit in communication with the first communications path using a mobile telephone communications protocol and the second communications paths using a local cordless communications protocol, wherein the processing unit is configured to determine a signal quality for the first communications path using a mobile telephone communications protocol and the second communications path using a local cordless communications protocol, and wherein the processing unit is configured to switch between the first communications path using a mobile telephone communications protocol and the second communications path using a local cordless communications protocol during a telephone call in response to the signal quality of the first communications path using a mobile telephone communications protocol or the second communications path using a local cordless communications protocol dropping below a signal quality threshold, wherein prior to switching the telephone call to the first communications path using the mobile telephone communications protocol, determining whether a second mobile handset that uses a same mobile telephone number as the multimode handset is in use, and responsive to a determination that the second mobile handset that uses the same mobile telephone number as the multimode handset is in use, not switching the telephone call on the multimode handset from the second communications path using the local cordless communications protocol to the first communications path using the mobile telephone communications protocol until the second mobile handset goes on-hook.

2. The multimode handset according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit is configured to automatically switch between the first and second communications paths in response to the signal quality threshold.

3. The multimode handset according to claim 1, wherein the mobile telephone communications protocol is a CDMA protocol.

4. The multimode handset according to claim 1, wherein the local cordless communications protocol is an analog protocol utilized for cordless telephones.

5. The multimode handset according to claim 1, wherein the local cordless communication protocol is an IP protocol.

6. The multimode handset according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit is configured to measure signal strength of a signal being communicated using the local cordless communications protocol and, in response to determining that the signal crossed a signal strength threshold or the signal quality threshold, is further configured to communicate a call transfer signal to an application server to switch the telephone call communications from the first communications path to the second communications path.

7. The multimode handset according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit is configured to measure signal strength of a signal being communicated using the local cordless communications protocol and, in response to determining that the signal crossed a signal strength threshold or the signal quality threshold, is further configured to communicate a call transfer signal to an application server to switch the telephone call communications from the second communications path to the first communications path.

8. The multimode handset according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit determines whether the first communications path or the second communications path has a higher signal strength and associated signal quality for accepting incoming communications.

9. The multimode handset according to claim 8, wherein the processing unit communicates with an application server to perform switches between the first communications path and the second communications path.

10. The multimode handset according to claim 9, wherein the application server determines the on-hook and off-hook status of the first communications path and the second communications path for determining whether the incoming communications are receivable through the first communications path or the second communications path.

11. The multimode handset according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit generates

indicators for notifying a user when the multimode handset switches between the first communications path and the second communications path.

12. A method of communicating using a multimode handset, the method comprising:

communicating over a first communications path using a mobile telephone communications protocol;

communicating over a second communications path using a local cordless telephone communications protocol;

determining a signal quality for the first communications path using a mobile telephone communications protocol and the second communications path using a local cordless telephone communications protocol; and

automatically switching between the first communications path and the second communications path during a telephone call in response to the signal quality of the first communications path or the second communications path dropping below a signal quality threshold, wherein prior to switching the telephone call to the first communications path using the mobile telephone communications protocol, determining whether a second mobile handset that uses a same mobile telephone number as the multimode handset is in use, and responsive to a determination that the second mobile handset that uses the same mobile telephone number as the multimode handset is in use, not switching the telephone call on the multimode handset from the second communications path using the local cordless communications protocol to the first communications path using the mobile telephone communications protocol until the second mobile handset goes on-hook.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein communicating over the first communications path is performed using a CDMA protocol.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein communicating over the second communications path is performed using an analog protocol.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein communicating over the second communications path is performed using an IP protocol.

16. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:

measuring signal strength of a signal being communicated using the local cordless telephone communications protocol; and

in response to determining that the signal is above a signal strength threshold, communicating a call transfer signal to an applications server to switch the telephone call from the first to the second communications path.

17. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:

measuring signal strength of a signal being communicated using the local cordless telephone communications protocol; and

in response to determining that the signal is below a signal strength threshold, communicating a call transfer signal to an applications server to switch the telephone call from the second communications path to the first communications path.

18. The method according to claim 12, further comprising generating an indicator of switching between the first and second communications paths that is communicated to a user.

19. The method according to claim 12, further comprising displaying an indicator representative of operating using the mobile telephone communications protocol or the cordless telephone communications protocol.

20. A multimode handset comprising:

a processor for executing a set of instructions; and

a memory for storing the set of instructions, wherein the set of instructions are executed to;

determine whether a first communications path using a mobile telephone communications protocol or a second communications path using a local cordless communications protocol has a higher signal strength and associated signal quality for communications;

automatically switch between the first communications path and the second communications path during communications in response to the higher signal strength and the associated signal quality of the first communications path or the second communications path, wherein prior to switching the communications to the first communications path using the mobile telephone communications protocol, determining whether a second mobile handset that uses a same mobile telephone number as the multimode handset is in use, and responsive to a determination that the second mobile handset that uses the same mobile telephone number as the multimode handset is in use, not switching the communications on the multimode handset from the second communications path using the local cordless communications protocol to the first communications path using the mobile telephone communications protocol until the second mobile handset goes on-hook.