Apparatus for providing a gateway between a wired telephone and a wireless telephone network

• US 20060135152A1
• Filed: 02/15/2006
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kirkpatrick, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 7,359,702 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/426.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• 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

Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products provide for creating a gateway between a wired telephone and a wireless telephone network. The gateway device is connected to a wired home telephone network having one or more wired telephones, a wired telephone network, such as the PSTN, and a wireless telephone network. The apparatus may operate in a first mode that allows the wired telephone network to be utilized as a primary telephone network for the wired home telephone network and the wireless telephone network to be utilized as a backup in case of failure of the wired telephone network. Alternatively, the apparatus may operate in a second mode that allows the wireless telephone network to be utilized as a primary telephone network for the wired home telephone network and the wired telephone network to be utilized as a backup in case of failure of the wireless telephone network.

Claims

1. A computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium having control logic stored therein for causing a computer to provide a gateway between a wired telephone and a wireless telephone network, the control logic comprising computer-readable program code for causing the computer to:

detect an incoming wireless telephone call over said wireless telephone network;

provide a ring signal to said wired telephone in response to detecting said incoming call;

determine whether said wired telephone has been placed in an off-hook-state in response to said ring signal; and

in response to determining that said wired telephone has been placed in an off-hook state, convert said incoming wireless telephone call to a format compatible with said wired telephone and convert signals received at said wired telephone to a format compatible with said wireless telephone network, thereby permitting said incoming telephone call to be received and conducted on said wired telephone.

2. A method for providing a gateway between one or more wired telephones and a wireless telephone network, comprising:

determining whether a connection between said one or more wired telephones and a wired telephone network is operative;

in response to determining that said connection between said one or more wired telephones and said wired network is inoperative,

delivering an electrical current to said one or more wired telephones compatible with POTS service,

detecting an incoming telephone call at a wireless radio,

providing a ring signal to said one or more wired telephones in response to detecting said incoming telephone call and,

in response to determining that a one of said one or more wired telephones has been placed in an off-hook state, establishing a communications channel between said one or more wired telephones and said wireless telephone network, thereby permitting said incoming telephone call to be received on said one of said wired telephones placed in an off-hook state.