Patent ID: 6128504
Filing Date: 2000-10-03
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
A method of communicating for a cordless telephone frequency hopping system, the system including a base unit for operating with a plurality of handset units over a plurality of communication channels arranged in a frequency hopping sequence, the method comprising the steps of:generating in the base unit a status request for each of the plurality of handset units, each status request including one of a plurality of identification codes, wherein respective ones of the plurality of identification codes are unique to respective ones of the plurality of handset units;broadcasting each of the plurality of status requests to the plurality of handset units over or more frequency hopping channels selected from among any of the plurality of communication channels in the frequency hopping sequence, so that each of the plurality of handset units receives a status request containing its respective identification code;generating in each handset unit, in response to receiving the status request with the respective identification code for the respective handset unit, a service request acknowledge signal for transmitting to the base unit;broadcasting by each handset unit its respective service request acknowledge signal so that the base unit can ascertain the status of each handset unit; andgenerating in one of said handset units in response to user-initiated input a communication link acquisition request, and transmitting said link acquisition request over at least one channel selected from among a plurality of frequency hopping channels comprising a unique set of setup channels assigned to said one handset unit, said unique set of setup channels being different from other sets of setup channels respectively assigned to others of said plurality of handset units in the system.