Wireless communications interface

• US 9,232,038 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2014
• Issued: 01/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
• Inventors: Bultman, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, John J
• Application Number:
  US14/198,727
• Publication Number:
  US 20140187146A1
• Time in Patent Office: 670 Days
• Field of Search: 455/557, 455/41.2, 455/555, 455/554.2, 455/552.1, 455/556.2, 455/41.1, 455/567, 455/569.1, 455/3.01, 455/434, 455/550.1, 455/67.11
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 provides 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 method of communication, comprising:

receiving an indication to establish communication between a wireless device and an appliance device;

establishing a communication connection between the wireless device and the appliance device;

converting communication traffic from the appliance device into a protocol compatible with the wireless device;

determining that the communication is complete; and

terminating the connection between the wireless device and the appliance device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving an indication comprises detecting an incoming call to the wireless device.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising selecting the appliance device from a plurality of appliance devices.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising ordering the plurality of appliance devices according to a hierarchy.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the appliance device is selected based on the hierarchy.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising determining that the appliance device is unavailable and selecting a second of the plurality of appliance devices.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving an indication comprises detecting the initiation of a call by the appliance device.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising selecting the wireless device from a plurality of wireless devices.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising ordering the plurality of wireless devices according to a hierarchy.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising determining that the appliance device is unavailable and selecting a second of the plurality of appliance devices.

11. A communication system, comprising:

a wireless interface coupled to a wireless device;

an appliance interface coupled to an appliance device; and

a controller configured to route communication between the wireless interface and the appliance interface by;

receiving an indication to establish communication between the wireless device and the appliance device;

establishing a communication connection between the wireless device and the appliance device;

converting communication traffic from the appliance device into a protocol compatible with the wireless device;

determining that the communication is complete; and

terminating the connection between the wireless device and the appliance device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein receiving an indication comprises detecting an incoming call to the wireless device.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the controller is further configured to select the appliance device from a plurality of appliance devices.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to order the plurality of appliance devices according to a hierarchy.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the controller is further configured to select the appliance device based on the hierarchy.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to determine that the appliance device is unavailable and to select a second appliance device from the plurality of appliance devices.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein receiving an indication comprises detecting the initiation of a call by the appliance device.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the controller is further configured to select the wireless device from a plurality of wireless devices.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the controller is further configured to order the one plurality devices according to a hierarchy and to select the wireless device based on the hierarchy.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the controller is further configured to determine that the wireless device is unavailable and to select a second of the one or more wireless devices.