Auto sensing home base station for mobile telephone with remote answering capabilities

The present invention discloses in one embodiment a mobile telephone capable of communicating with a home base station through radio signals. The mobile telephone registers with a home base station before beginning to communicate with the home base station. The home base station is capable of sensing the presence of the mobile telephone in its coverage area and subsequently establishing contact with the mobile telephone, if the mobile telephone is registered with the home base station. The home base station can support a plurality of telephone devices, including corded and cordless telephone devices, and provides call placement and answering services to these telephone devices if there is a registered mobile telephone within its coverage area.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure relates in general to telephonic communications and more particularly relates to wireless communications via a home base station.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Mobile and satellite telephones have gained popularity in recent years in all walks of life. Mobile telephones are not only popular with executives in busy metropolitan areas, but are also popular in sparsely populated areas where the cost, per user, of laying down the infrastructure for traditional wireline telephones is high. Also, people who move their residence from one geographic location to another are beginning to use their mobile telephone number as their residence telephone number to avoid having to notify people of telephone number changes. Significantly lower mobile telephone prices in recent years has also prompted many telecommunication users to use a mobile telephone as their primary residential telephone in lieu of the traditional wireline telephone.

Typical mobile telephone (MT) systems are characterized by dividing a radio coverage area into several smaller coverage areas or “cells” using lower power transmitters and coverage-restricted receivers. As shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,906,166 and 4,268,722, which are incorporated by reference herein, the limited coverage area enables the radio channels used in one cell to be reused in another cell. As a mobile telephone in one cell moves across the boundary of the cell and into an adjacent cell, control circuitry associated with the cells detects that the signal strength of the mobile telephone in the just-entered cell is stronger, and communications with the mobile telephone are “handed off” to the just-entered cell. Thus, a system can supply two-way communications for an array of cells, thereby supplying communications for a much wider area than conventional two-way radios.

The terms, mobile telephone, cellular telephone, and radiotelephone are used interchangeably in this application, and they encompass communication devices that use radio signals for communication. The radio signals may be in the spectrum traditionally known as cellular band or PCS (personal communication system) band. The radio signals also may be in any other spectrum assigned for mobile communications. Besides land-based systems, a satellite based communications system also has gained popularity. In the satellite based system, satellite receives signal from satellite telephone network and beams call to satellite telephone. Relatively new, but as prices of these satellite telephones come down, many telecommunication users will begin to use the satellite telephone as their primary residential telephone.

Generally, mobile telephones provide an individual with flexibility, but create an unforeseen problem when used as the primary residential telephone. Traditionally in a residential setting, there are many telephone extensions throughout a user's house. When an incoming call arrives, it rings all the telephone devices connected to the line, and the user can answer the call from any extension.

However, when the mobile telephone is the primary and only telephone in the house, the user must carry the mobile telephone all the time to answer it promptly or run to the mobile telephone every time it rings. Another problem with using a mobile telephone as the primary telephone in any location is that only one person can listen to the conversation. Normally, if there is more than one telephone device connected to a telephone line, there can be one person per telephone device listening and talking to a caller on the other end of the telephone connection. A mobile telephone provides only one device for listening and talking to the other caller. Clearly, it is inconvenient not to allow more than one person to listen to a telephone conversation, and it is even more undesirable to run through the house searching for the mobile telephone every time an incoming call arrives.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention allows individuals who do not have direct access to a PSTN to communicate and receive communication at their homes, offices, or other locations in a convenient manner through use of their mobile telephones. More particularly, a preferred embodiment of the present invention employs a home base station (HBS) that is capable of sensing the presence of mobile telephones and communicating with mobile telephones. The home base station is in communication with a plurality of telephone devices, such as conventional corded telephone devices or cordless telephone devices or devices specially designed for use with the home base station. The methodology of the present invention defines communications between a mobile telephone and a home base station. Additionally, the present invention allows a telephone device to communicate through a mobile telephone.

The HBS has a mobile telephone interface unit (MTIU) connected to a transceiver, a controller, a mobile telephone registration unit (RRU), a local telephone interface unit (LTIU), which is connected to a corded telephone interface unit (CTIU) and a cordless telephone interface unit (CLTIU). According to the present invention, a mobile telephone is equipped with a HBS interface unit and capable of receiving and transmitting radio signals to and from the HBS. The home base station uses radio signals of a frequency different from the frequency used by the systems. The communications between the HBS and the mobile telephone utilize a communication protocol, and, in a preferred embodiment, the communications between the HBS and a mobile telephone utilizes the Bluetooth protocol.

A user first registers his mobile telephone with a HBS. Subsequently, the HBS is capable of sensing the presence of the registered mobile telephone. The RRU registers the mobile telephone by storing its information in a memory. When the HBS detects the signals of a mobile telephone, it compares the signals with the information stored by the RRU, and if they match, the HBS starts to communicate with the mobile telephone.

After sensing that a registered mobile telephone is within its coverage area, the HBS communicates with the mobile telephone and sends its information to the mobile telephone. The HBS also enables dial tones to the telephone devices, which are associated with it.

If the user picks up a telephone device located in his bedroom, he will get a dial tone and can then dial a destination number. The HBS receives the dialed telephone number and requests that the mobile telephone make a connection to the dialed number. The mobile telephone makes a request for a telephonic connection to the dialed number as if the dialed number was entered from its own keypad. After the connection is made, the user can talk on his telephone device as if the connection was made through the telephone device.

When the mobile telephone receives an incoming call, the mobile telephone will pass the information to the HBS, and the HBS will send the ringing tone to all telephone devices connected to the HBS. The user can answer the call from any telephone device connected to the HBS including the mobile telephone.

If the user takes the mobile telephone and leaves the HBS' coverage area, the HBS will sense that the radio signals from the mobile telephone are fading, and subsequently the HBS will cease to provide dial tones to the telephone devices connected to it.

The HBS is also capable of providing privacy to the user using the mobile telephone or a telephone device to place or to receive a call. The user may activate the privacy feature by sending a message from the mobile telephone or the telephone device to the HBS, and the HBS will block other telephone devices from listening into the call.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention(s) that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components; some steps of a process may not need to be the exact sequence as shown. Therefore, specific structural, functional details, and process steps disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings, in which like numerals represent like components throughout several views,FIG. 1illustrates employment of a system according to the present invention in a telecommunication environment100. A home base station (HBS)104according to the present invention is generally employed in a user's home or office102. The HBS104may support one or multiple telephone devices, either corded telephone devices108or cordless telephone devices106or a combination of corded and cordless telephone devices. The HBS104communicates with a wireless telephone network through a mobile telephone110.

In this application a telephone device106,108may be a traditional telephone device, either corded or cordless, used with a landline telephone network or the PSTN118or may be a device specially designed to operate with the HBS104. The telephone device106,108may or may not have all the features commonly seen on a traditional telephone device.

According to the present invention, the mobile telephone110is capable of communicating with the HBS104through radio signals. In one preferred embodiment, the communication between the HBS104and the mobile telephone110follows a standard wireless protocol such as the Bluetooth protocol. Other communications protocols may also be employed.

In the diagram shown inFIG. 1, a user (not shown) can use a telephone device106to place a call to a mobile telephone110′. The call is routed through the HBS104, the mobile telephone110, an antenna112of a wireless network, and a base station114to reach a mobile switching center (MSC)116, where the call is processed. After analyzing the dialed number, the MSC116routes the call through another base station114′ and another antenna112′ to reach the called mobile telephone110′.

The user can also receive a call initiated by a party using a wireline telephone108′ connected to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)118. The call is switched through the PSTN118and the wireless network to reach the mobile telephone110and finally answered by the user on the telephone device108connected to the HBS104.

FIG. 2depicts the architecture of one embodiment of a home base station104. Generally, a HBS104has the following functional components: a controller208, a mobile telephone registration unit (RRU)214, a mobile telephone interface unit (MTIU)204, a transceiver202, a local telephone interface unit (LTIU)206, a corded telephone interface unit (CTIU)210, a cordless telephone interface unit (CLTIU)212, and a privacy unit216. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that functional components other than those listed above may provide similar or equivalent functions.

The HBS104communicates with both mobile telephones110and telephone devices106,108. The HBS104communicates with one or more mobile telephones110through the MTIU204and the transceiver202. The transceiver202is capable of modulating and demodulating radio signals, besides transmitting and receiving the same radio signals. The MTIU204is responsible for communicating with the mobile telephones110, and the communication between the HBS104and the mobile telephones110can follow the Bluetooth standard or other radio communication standards.

The HBS104communicates with telephone devices, corded108or cordless106, through the LTIU206. The interface to a corded telephone device108is through the CTIU210, and the interface to a cordless telephone device106is through the CLITU212. The LTIU206is capable of detecting when a telephone device106,108is off hook and providing a dial tone to the telephone device106,108. If the telephone device106,108is a cordless telephone device106, the actual tone is provided by the cordless handset under instruction from the HBS104.

The RRU214is responsible for registering mobile telephones110. In a preferred embodiment, the HBS104may register more than one mobile telephone110. The HBS may also include a registration button (not shown), which allows a user to register the mobile telephone110with the HBS104upon pressing the registration button. The registration button may also be displayed on a user interface screen on the HBS104. The RRU214stores the telephone number and the corresponding electronic identification number (EIN) of each mobile telephone110. These numbers are received from the mobile telephone110during the registration procedure and used during the connection procedure. The RRU214also provides the telephone number to the LTIU206, so it can be displayed by a corded telephone device108or a cordless telephone device106, when a call is received. The telephone number identifies which mobile telephone110received the incoming call when the HBS104supports multiple mobile telephones110.

The controller208oversees all the operations performed by the HBS104. The controller208works with the MTIU204to detect the presence of a mobile telephone110and with the RRU214to register a mobile telephone110. The controller208also controls the telephone devices106,108through LTIU206.

The privacy unit216enables the HBS104to provide privacy to a telephone device106,108or a mobile telephone110that the user is using to communicate with a remote party. If the user desires privacy while placing or responding to a telephone call, the user can instruct the telephone device106,108or the mobile telephone110to send a privacy request to the HBS104. When a privacy request is received, the privacy unit216determines its originating device, i.e., whether the request is from a mobile telephone110or a telephone device106,108. If the privacy request is from the mobile telephone110, the privacy unit216will disable the audio communication to the telephone devices106,108, and a third party, who picks up a telephone device106,108, will not be able to listen to the communication. If the privacy request is from a telephone device106,108, the privacy unit216will disable the audio communication to other telephone devices106,108and instruct the mobile telephone110to disable its audio input and output devices by sending a privacy request to the mobile telephone110. The mobile telephone110in this situation acts only as a transmitting device to the HBS104.

The privacy request may be communicated from a telephone device106,108or a mobile telephone110to the HBS104by pressing a special privacy button, if one is available, or a special sequence of existing buttons. The special sequence of buttons is interpreted by the HBS104as a special instruction to itself, instead of a command to be transmitted to a remote party. Those skilled in the art will appreciate other ways to communicate the privacy request.

In an alternative embodiment, the HBS104can provide the functionality of an intercom system. The HBS104can support one telephone device106,108connected to the HBS104calling another telephone device106,108connected to the same HBS104. The LTIU206sequentially numbers the actual telephone connections supported by the CTIU210and the CLTIU212besides assigning a number to the mobile telephone110. For example, if the HBS104has four connections for a corded telephone device108and one connection for a cordless telephone device106, the LTRJ206could assign 0 to the mobile telephone110, 1 to the cordless telephone device106, and 2-5 to the corded telephone devices108. A user on the corded telephone1084may dial “*1” to ring the bell of the cordless telephone106, and, if a party answers at the cordless telephone106, they will be connected through the HBS104.

In yet another embodiment, the HBS104may be equipped with a user interface screen, when different messages can be displayed and inputs taken from the user. The interface screen may be a touch screen, where the user may input commands or settings to the HBS104. The interface screen would be connected to a user interface unit (not shown inFIG. 2), which is connected to the controller208.

FIG. 3illustrates the architecture of a mobile telephone110according to one embodiment of the present invention. In addition to all the normal capabilities of a mobile telephone, the mobile telephone110according to the present invention also has the capability to communicate through different radio signals to the HBS104. The communications with the HBS104is through frequencies different than those allocated for cellular systems and personal communications systems (PCS). One example of such frequencies is the industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) spectrum, which is in the range of 2.4 GHz. The communications protocol may be proprietary or may follow an industry standard, such as the Bluetooth protocol.

A mobile telephone110typically has a controller314, a transceiver302, a display unit304, an audio input unit306, an audio output unit308, a keypad unit310, a HBS interface unit312, and a storage unit316. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that functional components other than those listed above may provide similar or equivalent functions.

The mobile telephone110performs its ordinary functions of communicating with a wireless network through the controller314, the transceiver302, the display unit304, the audio input unit306, the audio output unit308, the keypad unit310, and the storage unit316. The audio output unit308can support an earpiece speaker, which allows the user a hands free conversation while driving an automobile, and a speaker. The transceiver302is responsible for communicating with the wireless network, while the display unit304controls the display of an output screen, which typically is a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen. The keypad unit310is responsible for receiving inputs from the mobile telephone's keypad.

The mobile telephone110communicates with the HBS104through the HBS interface unit312. The HBS interface unit312employs other components in its communications with the HBS104as necessary. The HBS interface unit312emits a radio signal indicating the presence of the mobile telephone110to the HBS104and receives a communication request from the HBS104. The HBS interface unit312also handles the registration procedure between the mobile telephone110and the HBS104and stores the HBS104identification information in the storage unit316. The mobile telephone110establishes communications with a HBS104only if the HBS'104identification matches the one stored in the storage unit316.

In an alternative embodiment, a mobile telephone110can register with more than one HBS104and a HBS104can also register more than one mobile telephone110.

Generally, the mobile telephone110operates in the registration mode and the communication mode, and the mobile telephone110may switch between these two modes. While operating in the registration mode, the mobile telephone110can register itself with a HBS104and receive registration information from the HBS104. While in the communication mode, the mobile telephone110can receive and place a call to and from a wireless telephone network, and the call can be initiated by either the mobile telephone110or a telephone device106,108connected to the HBS104.

Similarly, the HBS104also operates in the registration mode and the communication mode. When in the registration mode, the HBS104can register a mobile telephone110and send its information to the mobile telephone110. When in the communication mode, the HBS104can receive and place a call to and from a wireless telephone network, and the call can be initiated by either the mobile telephone110or a to telephone device connected to the HBS104.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the mobile telephone110and the HBS104may operate in other modes, such as maintenance mode, set up mode, etc.

FIGS. 4-5describe the operation of the registration mode for the mobile telephone110and the HBS104.

FIGS. 6-12describe different operations in the communication mode for the mobile telephone110and the HBS104.

FIG. 4depicts a registration process400for the HBS104. The HBS104can enter the registration mode in different ways. For example, the HBS104may activate the registration process in response to the user pressing a registration button or in response to other commands. Once the HBS104enters the registration mode, it checks whether a mobile telephone110is within its coverage area, block402. The HBS104detects the presence of a mobile telephone110by detecting radio signals emitted by the mobile telephone110. If a mobile telephone110is within its coverage area, the HBS104receives the mobile telephone's registration information, block404, which is embedded in the radio signals, and stores it, block406. The HBS104then sends its information, which may include its identification information, to the mobile telephone110, block408.

FIG. 5depicts a registration process500for a mobile telephone110. The mobile telephone110enters the registration mode when the registration feature is activated by a user. After the user activates the registration feature, for example, by pressing the feature activation button on the mobile telephone110, the mobile telephone110sends out a signal with its registration information, block502, which has the mobile telephone's identification information. After sending out its registration information, the mobile telephone110waits to receive the HBS information. The HBS information may include the identification number for the HBS104and/or other identification information. After the HBS information is received, block504, the mobile telephone110stores the HBS information in its storage unit316.

A mobile telephone110can be registered with a HBS104and subsequently can move away from the HBS' coverage area. The removal will not erase the registration information and the mobile telephone110can reestablish the connection, without the need for registration, with the HBS104once it returns to the HBS' coverage area. The mobile telephone can de-register itself with a HBS104by deleting the stored HBS information from the storage unit316. The HBS104can similarly de-register itself by removing the mobile telephone identification information from its RRU214. Those skilled in the art will appreciate other ways to implement the registration and de-registration procedures between a mobile telephone110and a HBS104.

After the mobile telephone110is removed from the coverage area of the HBS104, the mobile telephone110enters a search mode and transmits a radio signal with its identification information, and the HBS104enters a detect mode and analyzes radio signals for mobile telephone identification. The HBS104exits the detect mode when it finds a mobile telephone identification for a registered mobile telephone110, and the mobile telephone110exits from the search mode when it receives a request to establish communications.

In an alternative embodiment, where the HBS104supports more than one mobile telephone110, the HBS104continues in detect mode until all mobile telephones110have been registered.

After the mobile telephone110and the HBS104are identified with each other, they exit from the registration mode and proceed to establish communications in the communication mode.

In an alternative embodiment, a mobile telephone110can register with multiple HBS'104and, conversely, a HBS104can also communicate with multiple mobile telephones110.

FIG. 6depicts a detection process600for a HBS104to establish connections with a mobile telephone110. This process600starts when no mobile telephone110is in the HBS coverage area or the HBS104is manually activated. The HBS104checks whether a mobile telephone110is within its coverage area, block602, by constantly receiving and analyzing radio signals, and if there is no mobile telephone110in its coverage area, the HBS104repeats the process of capturing and analyzing radio signals.

If a mobile telephone110is within the coverage area, the HBS104proceeds to receive the mobile telephone's identification information, which is preferably embedded in the radio signals emitted by the mobile telephone, block604. The mobile telephone110constantly emits radio signals either indicating its presence or maintaining contact with the HBS104. The extracted mobile telephone identification information is compared with the mobile telephone information stored by the RRU214, block606, and, if they do not match, the mobile telephone110is not registered with the HBS104and the HBS104goes back to the step of capturing and analyzing radio signals.

If the mobile telephone identification from the radio signals matches the mobile telephone information from RRU214, the mobile telephone110is registered with the HBS104, and the HBS104proceeds to establish communications with the mobile telephone110, block608. After establishing communications with the mobile telephone110, the HBS104enables dial tones to the telephone devices106,108, and the telephone devices106,108are ready to place or to receive a call like a traditional wireline or landline telephone. The HBS104can also plug into a premises with existing wireline connections for corded and cordless phones with dial tone.

FIG. 7depicts a search mode process700for a mobile telephone110. While the mobile telephone110is sending out its identification information, it is also checking for attempts to establish communications, block702. If the mobile telephone110detects a request to establish communications, the mobile telephone110retrieves the identity of the HBS104making the request, block704and checks whether the HBS104is a registered HBS, block706. If the HBS104is not a registered HBS, i.e., the identification retrieved does not match the HBS identification information stored in the storage unit316, then the mobile telephone110drops the request and returns to monitoring requests, block702. If the HBS104is a registered HBS, the mobile telephone110establishes communications with the HBS104.

FIG. 8illustrates a HBS process800for receiving an incoming call. An incoming call is first received by the mobile telephone110, which sends a message to the HBS104indicating there is an incoming call. The HBS104receives the incoming call indication, block802, and checks if any telephone device106,108is available, block803. A telephone device106,108may not be available for answering an incoming call for two reasons: it is already on a call with a remote party, or it is on a call with another telephone device106,108in the intercom mode. A telephone device106,108may be on a call with a remote party, if the HBS104supports more than one mobile telephone110.

If there is no telephone device106,108available for answering the incoming call, the HBS104starts to monitor whether the call has been answered, block808.

If there is one or more telephone devices106,108available for answering the incoming call, the HBS104rings the telephone devices106,108, block804. These telephone devices106,108will ring at the same time the mobile telephone110is ringing.

The HBS104will also send the mobile telephone's identification to the telephone devices106,108, block806. For an embodiment that supports multiple mobile telephones110, the mobile telephone's identification displayed on the telephone devices106,108tells a user from which mobile telephone110the incoming call is coming. The display of mobile telephone identification is in addition to caller identification normally displayed by the telephone devices106,108if the user subscribes to a caller identification service.

In an alternative embodiment, the identification of the mobile telephone110carrying the incoming call may be through a distinctive ringing tone. In this embodiment, each mobile telephone110is associated with a distinctive ringing tone. The HBS104monitors whether the call has been answered, block808. If the call is answered, the HBS104checks whether the call is answered by the mobile telephone110, block810. A call is answered by the mobile telephone110, if the HBS104receives a message from the mobile telephone110indicating the call has been answered. If the call is not answered by the mobile telephone110but rather by a telephone device106,108, the HBS104sends an “answered” message to the mobile telephone110, block812, and stops the telephone device bells from ringing, block814. After the call is answered, the HBS104establishes an audio connection between the HBS104and the mobile telephone110and monitors the communication, block816.

While the user is communicating using the telephone device106,108, the HBS104constantly determines whether the communication with the mobile telephone110is fading, i.e., whether the strength of the radio signal from the mobile telephone110is decreasing, block818. If the signal fades beyond a threshold level, the HBS104terminates the call, block820because the mobile telephone110has moved out of the HBS104coverage area. When the HBS104can no longer send and receive messages to and from the mobile telephone110, it means the HBS104can no longer receive audio messages from the mobile telephone110. Therefore, the HBS104terminates the call.

The HBS104also monitors whether the call has ended, block822. If the call has not ended nor has the communications faded, the HBS104continues to monitor these two conditions. If the call has ended, the HBS104sends a “hang-up” message to the mobile telephone110, block824.

Back to block810, if the call is answered by the mobile telephone110because an “answered” message is received from the mobile telephone110, the HBS104stops the telephone device bells from ringing, block830. After the call is answered, the HBS104establishes an audio connection between the HBS104and the mobile telephone110and monitors the communication, block832.

In an alternative embodiment, if the call is answered by the mobile telephone110, the HBS104can disable communication with the telephone devices106,108to provide privacy for the mobile telephone user. In yet another embodiment, the telephone devices106,108may be enabled to communicate with the mobile telephone through the HBS104.

The HBS104constantly determines whether the communication with the mobile telephone110is fading, block834. If the signal fades beyond a threshold level, the HBS104stops monitoring the communication, block836. The signal fading beyond a threshold level means that the mobile telephone110is moving out of the HBS104coverage area. Since the call was answered by the mobile telephone110and the mobile telephone110is moving out of the HBS104coverage area, there is no need for the HBS104to continue monitoring the communication. The HBS104just returns to its search mode.

The HBS104also monitors whether the call has ended, block838. If the call has not ended nor has the communications faded, the HBS104continues to monitor these two conditions. If the call has ended because a “hang-up” message is received from the mobile telephone110, the HBS104stops monitoring the communication, block836.

FIG. 9depicts a mobile telephone process900for receiving an incoming call. When the mobile telephone110receives a call, block902, it sends an “incoming call” message to the HBS104, block904. The mobile telephone110continuously checks whether the call has been answered, block906. When the call is answered, the mobile telephone110checks whether the call is answered by the mobile telephone110, block908.

If the call is not answered by the mobile telephone110, i.e., it is answered by a telephone device106,108connected to the HBS104, the HBS104sends an “answered” message to the mobile telephone110. Upon receipt of the “answered” message, the mobile telephone110answers the call, block910, establishes an audio connection to the HBS104, and monitors the call, block912. The mobile telephone110can also participate in the call. The call monitoring essentially entails checking whether the radio signal from the HBS104is fading, block914, and whether the call has ended, block916. If the radio signal from the HBS104is fading because the mobile telephone110is physically moved away from the HBS104, the mobile telephone110terminates the call, block918. If the radio signal from the HBS104is fading when the call is answered by a telephone device106,108connected to the HBS104, it means that the mobile telephone110is being removed from the HBS' coverage area. The mobile telephone110terminates the call in this situation to restore the mobile telephone110to its original state as an independent and detached communication device.

If the call has ended, i.e., the mobile telephone110receives a “hang-up” message from the HBS104, then the mobile telephone110terminates the call, block918.

Now back to block908, if the call is answered by the mobile telephone110, the mobile telephone110sends an “answered” message to the HBS104indicating the call has been answered, block920. The mobile telephone110also establishes an audio connection with the HBS104and monitors the call, block921. The audio connection to the HBS104is established so that another user may pick up a telephone device106,108connected to the HBS104and participate in the conversation.

If the mobile telephone110detects that communication with the HBS104is fading, i.e., the radio signal strength from the HBS104is weakening, the mobile telephone110continues to monitor whether the user at the mobile telephone110has ended the call, block928. If the user hangs up, the mobile telephone110terminates the call, block918.

If the communications between the mobile telephone110and the HBS104is not fading and the mobile telephone110detects the call has ended, block924, the mobile telephone110sends a “hang-up” message to the HBS104indicating the call is terminated, block926. The mobile telephone110also terminates the call, block918.

FIG. 10illustrates a HBS process1000for placing an outgoing telephone call. The process starts when the HBS104detects a user picking up a telephone device106,108connected to the HBS104, block1002, and stops the dial tone for a wired telephone after the first digit is entered, block1004. The HBS104receives the telephone number (the dialed digits), block1006, and analyzes the telephone number, block1008. The HBS104analyzes the telephone number entered by the user in order to determine whether the user has finished entering the telephone number. The HBS104is equipped with circuitry that can determine whether a user has finished dialing a telephone number.

In an alternative embodiment, the HBS104need not analyze the telephone number entered, if the telephone devices106,108connected to the HBS104are equipped with a “send” button. A user can press the “send” button after entering a destination telephone number, and the “send” button indicates to the HBS104that the user has finished entering the telephone number.

After a user finishes entering the destination telephone number, the HBS104sends the destination telephone number to the mobile telephone110, block1010, which in turn sends the telephone number out to the wireless telephone network, as is well known to those skilled in the art. The HBS104proceeds to establish an audio connection between the mobile telephone110and the HBS104monitors the call, block1012.

The HBS104checks whether the communications with the mobile telephone110is fading, block1014, and whether the call has ended, block1016. If the radio signal from the mobile telephone110is fading, the HBS104proceeds to terminate the call, block1020. If the communication is not fading, but the call has ended, the HBS104sends a “hang-up” message to the mobile telephone110, block1018.

In another embodiment, the HBS104can select between two or more available mobile telephones110to establish communication. Selection criteria may include strongest radio signal strength, history for remaining within the HBS104coverage area (mobility history), history of the quality of connections to the HBS104, user preference, and the like. If a mobile telephone110has a history of leaving frequently the HBS104coverage area, the HBS104may not want to select this mobile telephone110when there is another mobile telephone110available. If a mobile telephone110has a history of providing lower quality of connection to the HBS104, this mobile telephone110may not be a good candidate when the HBS104is selecting a mobile telephone110for carrying out an outgoing communication. The HBS104may select automatically one mobile telephone110for communication with the wireless telecommunications network according to an internal logic according to a predefined criteria. The HBS104may also allow the user to determine which mobile telephone110to use by providing a mobile telephone selector, which may be an interface screen displayed on the HBS' user interface screen. The HBS104may also provide the selection through a plurality of buttons on the HBS104, wherein each button is associated with one mobile telephone110.

FIG. 11illustrates a mobile telephone process1100for placing an outgoing call. An outgoing call starts when a telephone number is entered on the mobile telephone110or received from the HBS104. The mobile telephone110checks whether the telephone number is received from the HBS104, block1102. If the telephone number is received from the mobile telephone110, the mobile telephone110sends the telephone number to the wireless network and requests a connection to the destination telephone, block1114. The connection is handled through a Mobile Switching Center (MSC). The mobile telephone110also establishes an audio connection to the HBS104so that the telephone devices106,108can be enabled and monitors the call, block1116. The mobile telephone110checks whether the radio signal from the HBS104is fading, block1118, and whether the call has ended, block1120. If the mobile telephone110detects the radio signal from the HBS104is fading, it then continues to check whether the call has ended, block1122. After the call has ended, i.e., the user hangs up the mobile telephone110, the mobile telephone110terminates the call, block1112. If the radio signal is not fading but the user has ended the call, the mobile telephone110proceeds to terminate the call, block1112.

Back to block1102, if the telephone number is from the HBS104, the mobile telephone110sends the telephone number to the wireless network and requests a connection to the destination telephone, block1104. The mobile telephone110also establishes an audio connection to the HBS104and monitors the call, block1106. The mobile telephone110checks whether the radio signal from the HBS104is fading, block1108, and whether the call has ended, block1110.

If the communication between the mobile telephone110and the HBS104is fading, then the mobile telephone110terminates the call, block1112. If the communications are not fading, but the call ends because a “hang-up” is received from the HBS104, then the mobile telephone110terminates the call, block1112.

FIG. 12illustrates a HBS104process1200for handling privacy requests. The HBS104can provide privacy to a user who is in communication with a remote party, and the HBS104can prevent a third party from listening to the communication by picking up a telephone device106,108connected to the HBS104.

A user may request privacy while a communication is established with a remote party. The user may make a privacy request by pressing a special privacy request button on a mobile telephone110or a telephone device106,108. The user may also request privacy by pressing a special sequence of buttons currently available on the mobile telephone110and the telephone devices106,108. For example, the user may press “**” to request for privacy. If the user is using the mobile telephone110, then the mobile telephone's110controller314will understand that “**” is a privacy request to be sent to the HBS104. If the user is using a telephone device106,108, “**” is received and interpreted by the HBS104.

The process1200starts after a privacy request message is received from the mobile telephone110or a special sequence of digits are received from a telephone device106,108, block1202. The HBS104checks whether the privacy request is from the mobile telephone110, block1204, and if so, the HBS104will block or disable audio connections to all telephone devices106,108connected to it, block1206, for the duration of the call.

If the privacy request is from a telephone device106,108, the HBS104determines which telephone device106,108made the privacy request, block1208. After determining the telephone device106,108that made the privacy request, the HBS104blocks or disables the audio connections to other telephone devices106,108connected to the HBS104for the duration of the call, block1210. The HBS104also sends a privacy request message to the mobile telephone110, block1212, and the mobile telephone110will disable its audio input and output units for the duration of the call. The mobile telephone110continues to act as a communication medium for the HBS104while its speaker and microphone are disabled.

In operation, the HBS104provides expanded services to a user of a mobile telephone110. The following is a description of one use scenarios for the HBS104used in a home environment and connected to corded as well as cordless telephone devices106,108. While the user is away from home with his mobile telephone110, the HBS104does not provide dial tones to the telephone devices106,108at home, if the user's mobile telephone110is the only mobile telephone110registered with the HBS104or the telephone devices106,108are not connected to a local wireline telephone service provider.

Before using the HBS104, the user needs to register his mobile telephone110with the HBS104. In one embodiment, the registration procedure is activated by making the HBS104and the mobile telephone110enter the registration mode. While in the registration mode, the mobile telephone110sends its identification information with a predefined radio signal, at the same time monitoring for the HBS identification information. The HBS104searches for the predefined radio signal and extracts it from the mobile telephone's identification information. After storing the mobile telephone's identification information, the HBS104sends its own identification to the mobile telephone110. The mobile telephone110receives the HBS'104identification and stores it. The HBS104and the mobile telephone110will provide an indication when they are done with the registration procedure. The identification information stored during the registration procedure is not erased when the mobile telephone is removed from the HBS'104coverage area.

When the user arrives home with his mobile telephone110, the HBS104senses/detects the presence of the mobile telephone110within its coverage area and sends a request to establish the connection with the mobile telephone110. The mobile telephone110receives the request and checks the HBS' identification against the stored information. If the HBS' identification matches the stored information, the mobile telephone110accepts the request and the communication between the mobile telephone110and the HBS104is then established. Subsequently, if needed, the HBS104starts to provide the dial tones to the telephone devices106,108connected to it.

If the user leaves his mobile telephone110inside his car in the garage and there is an incoming call to his mobile telephone110, the mobile telephone110sends an “incoming call” message to the HBS104. The “incoming call” message alerts the HBS104about the incoming call, and the HBS104checks which mobile telephone110has received the call. The HBS104also proceeds to check whether there is any telephone device106,108available for answering the incoming call. If there are two telephone devices106,108connected to the HBS104and they are communicating with each other in the intercom mode, then there is no telephone device106,108available for answering the call. Although there is no telephone device106,108available for answering the incoming call, the incoming call can still be answered by the mobile telephone.

If there are unused telephone devices106,108, the HBS104sends the mobile telephone's identification information to these telephone devices106,108and also rings these telephone devices106,108. The identification of the mobile telephone110is important, because the HBS104may have two mobile telephones110registered: one for the husband and one for the wife. If the call is from the wife's mobile telephone110, the husband may not want to answer it. Different ringing tones can be used to distinguish the mobile telephone110receiving the call.

After the user picks up any telephone device106,108inside the home to answer the call, the HBS104stops the telephone device106,108bells from ringing and sends an “answered” message to the mobile telephone110. After receiving the “answered” message, the mobile telephone110establishes an audio path to the HBS104and answers the call.

While the user is on the call, the user may request privacy as to prevent another person from listening to his conversation from another telephone device106,108located in a different room. The user can press, for example, “*#” to send the privacy request to the HBS104. Upon receiving the privacy request, the HBS104determines which telephone device106,108originated the privacy request and disables the audio connections to other telephone devices106,108. The HBS104also sends a privacy request to the mobile telephone110. When the mobile telephone110receives the privacy request, the mobile telephone110disables its speaker and microphone, so that no one can use the mobile telephone110to listen to the conversation.

The disabling of other telephone devices106,108and the disabling of the speaker and the microphone of the mobile telephone110are limited to the current call, and after the call has ended the communication to all the telephone devices106,108are restored and the mobile telephone is restored as well.

After the user hangs up the telephone device106,108at the end of call, the HBS104sends a “hang up” message to the mobile telephone110, and the mobile telephone110then proceeds to terminate the call.

In an alternative embodiment, the HBS104can include one or more docking stations to dock one or more mobile telephones110. A docking station is equipped with a battery charger and provides physical connection between the mobile telephones110and the HBS' MTIU204. The docking station may be a physically integrated to the HBS104or separated from the HBS104but connected through cables. When a mobile telephone110is docked at the docking station, the mobile telephone110may communicate with the HBS104through wired connections instead of wireless transmissions. While the mobile telephone110is docked at the docking station, the docking station recharges the mobile telephone's battery through its battery charger.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate other features normally offered in a telephone system, such as call waiting, call forwarding, voice mail, three way conference, caller identification, repeat dialing, call return, etc., can easily be incorporated in different embodiments of the present invention without diverting from the spirit and the scope of the present invention.

The foregoing description of preferred embodiments of the invention has been presented only for the purpose of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching.

The foregoing embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and their practical applications and to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention and various embodiments, including various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.