Cordless phone mesh network

• US 8,238,945 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2009
• Issued: 08/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rooks, Kelsyn D. S., Sweeney, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Corsaro, Nick
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, MAHENDRA R
• Application Number:
  US12/389,157
• Publication Number:
  US 20100210289A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,265 Days
• Field of Search: 455/463, 455/462, 455/464, 455/465, 455/459, 455/411, 455/552.1, 455/74.1, 370/280, 370/332, 370/337, 370/350, 370/347, 380/257, 380/41, 380/243, 713/153
• US Class Current: 455/463
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72502 with one base station connected to a single line
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72516 with means for out-of-range alerting
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

A system and method for providing a cordless telephone mesh network may include monitoring, by a cordless telephone base unit, a cordless communications parameter of a cordless communications signal being received from a cordless telephone handset during a telephone call. A determination that the cordless communications parameter crossed a predetermined threshold level may be made. In response to determining that the cordless communications parameter crossed the predetermined threshold value, at least one other cordless telephone handset may be caused to switch into a repeater mode so as to receive and communicate the cordless communications signal between the cordless telephone handset and the base unit.

Claims

1. A cordless telephone mesh network, comprising:

a base unit; and

a plurality of cordless telephone handsets configured to operate in telephone and repeater modes;

wherein the base unit is configured to;

monitor one or more cordless communications parameters of a first cordless communications signal between the base unit and a first cordless telephone handset while in use during a telephone call; and

in response to determining that the one or more cordless communication parameters crosses predetermined threshold values, monitor signal strengths of communication signals between the base unit and each of the plurality of cordless telephone handsets;

identify a second cordless telephone handset associated with a highest signal strength;

cause at least the second cordless telephone handset to switch into the repeater mode so as to receive and communicate the first cordless communications signal between the first cordless telephone handset and the base unit; and

switch from communicating with the first cordless telephone handset to communicating with the second cordless telephone handset; and

wherein the cordless telephone handsets are further configured to;

monitor for a repeater mode command signal from the base unit; and

in response to receiving the repeater mode command signal, repeat the first cordless communication signal.

2. The cordless telephone mesh network according to claim 1, wherein the first wireless communications signal communicated between the base unit and the cordless telephone handset is enabled to be repeated a plurality of times through two or more of the plurality of cordless telephone handsets.

3. The cordless telephone mesh network according to claim 1, further comprising a charger unit for each of the cordless telephone handsets not positioned at the base unit.

4. The cordless telephone mesh network according to claim 1, wherein the base unit is further configured to utilize hysteresis to avoid switching from communicating with the first cordless handset to communicating with the second cordless handset prior to the cordless communications parameters crossing the predetermined threshold values.

5. The cordless telephone mesh network according to claim 1, wherein the base unit is further configured to communicate the repeater mode command signal using a higher signal strength than the maximum signal strength of the first cordless communications signal.

6. The cordless telephone mesh network according to claim 1, wherein each of the cordless handsets are configured to communicate using one of multiple cordless frequencies.

7. A method for providing a cordless telephone mesh network, the method comprising:

monitoring, by a cordless telephone base unit, one or more cordless communications parameters of a first cordless communications signal being received from a first cordless telephone handset during a telephone call;

determining that the one or more cordless communications parameters crossed one or more predetermined threshold values; and

in response determining that the one or more cordless communications parameters crossed predetermined threshold values, monitoring signal strengths of communication signals between the base unit and each of a plurality of cordless telephone handsets;

identifying a second cordless telephone handset associated with a highest signal strength;

causing, by the base unit, at least the second cordless telephone handset to switch into a repeater mode so as to receive and communicate the cordless communications signal between the cordless telephone handset and the base unit;

switching, by the base unit from communicating with the first cordless telephone handset to communicating with the second cordless telephone handset;

monitoring, by the second cordless telephone handset for a repeater mode command signal from the base unit;

in response to receiving the repeater mode command signal, repeating, by the second cordless telephone handset, the first cordless communications signal.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the cordless communications parameters indicate signal quality.

9. The method according to claim 7, further comprising providing a charging unit with each other cordless handset for charging the other cordless handsets remotely from the base unit.

10. The method according to claim 7, further comprising utilizing hysteresis to avoid switching from communicating with the first cordless handset to communicating with the second cordless handset prior to the cordless communications parameters crossing the predetermined threshold values.

11. The method according to claim 7, further comprising communicating the repeater mode command signal using a higher signal strength than the maximum signal strength of the first cordless communications signal.

12. The method according to claim 7, further comprising communicating the first cordless communications signal using one of multiple cordless frequencies.

13. A cordless telephone mesh network, comprising:

a base unit;

a first cordless telephone handset configured to communicate cordless communications signals with and be charged by the base unit;

a second cordless telephone handset; and

a charger unit configured to charge the second cordless telephone handset;

wherein the base unit is configured to;

monitor one or more cordless communications parameters of a first cordless communications signal between the base unit and a first cordless telephone handset while in use during a telephone call; and

in response to determining that the one or more cordless communication parameters crosses predetermined threshold values, monitor signal strengths of communication signals between the base unit and each of a plurality of cordless telephone handsets;

identify the second cordless telephone handset as having a highest signal strength;

cause at least the second cordless telephone handset to switch into a repeater mode so as to receive and communicate the first cordless communications signal between the first cordless telephone handset and the base unit; and

switch from communicating with the first cordless telephone handset to communicating with the second cordless telephone handset; and

wherein the second cordless telephone handset is configured to;

monitor for a repeater mode command signal from the base unit; and

in response to receiving the repeater mode command signal, repeat the first cordless communication signal.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the second cordless telephone handset is configured to be in an active repeater mode while being charged by the charger unit, and wherein the second cordless telephone handset is configured to be in a passive repeater mode while not being charged by the charger unit or in use.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the cordless communications signals between the first cordless telephone handset and the base unit is enabled to be repeated a plurality of times by two or more of the plurality of telephone handsets including at least the second cordless telephone handset.