Abstract:
The present invention provides for the addition of multiple telephone handsets and/or similar peripherals wirelessly connected to the transmitter base of a cordless telephone system. A cordless telephone transmitter and at least one wireless receiver peripheral providing cordless telephone access to an existing telephone network is presented. The present invention provides for the addition of multiple telephone handsets and/or similar peripherals wirelessly connected to the transmitter base of a cordless telephone system.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This United States non-provisional patent application is based upon and claims the filing date of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/887,087, filed 29 Jan. 2007. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    None. 
       REFERENCE TO A MICRO-FICHE APPENDIX 
       [0003]    None. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
       [0004]    The detailed specification set forth below relates to wireless telephone systems, and in particular to a transmitter base and at least one receiver unit to provide wireless telephone communication within a standard wall plugged environment without adding central switch boxes or external replacement wiring. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    A cordless telephone transmitter and at least one wireless receiver peripheral providing cordless telephone access to an existing telephone network is presented. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, addition of multiple telephone handsets and/or similar peripherals wirelessly connected to the transmitter base of a cordless telephone system is described. 
         [0006]    A primary transmitter base implements a wireless communication protocol capable of supporting simultaneous communications via a plurality of discreet communication channels. The system further supports a plurality of separate cordless handset links to traditional telephones by correspondingly connected receiver units, one per telephone handset, capable of communicating with the transmitter base via discreet communication links between each receiver unit and the transmitter unit using a separate one of the plurality of communication channels provided by the transmitter unit between the transmitter unit and each receiver unit. 
         [0007]    Both transmitter and receiver units provide self-contained microprocessors which enhance baseband audio processing between units, control signal sequencing, and discreet identity of telephone handsets. Further both units also contain internal antenna and radio frequency transceivers within the control hierarchy of each unit&#39;s respective processor. 
         [0008]    It is, therefore, an object to provide a cordless telephone system with wireless expansion capability for multiple peripheral telephone handset units. 
         [0009]    It is another object to simplify the process by which a cordless telephone system can be retrofitted into an existing telephone environment comprising a wall jack to a land line and at least one telephone. 
         [0010]    It is yet another object to provide a cordless telephone system with wireless expansion capability without the necessity of additional wiring or technical support. 
         [0011]    It is still yet another object to provide an improved cordless telephone system with wireless expansion capability which is affordable and easily manufactured. 
         [0012]    A further object to provide a cordless telephone system with wireless expansion capability which is self-registering between transmitter and receiver components. 
         [0013]    Yet another object is to provide a cordless telephone system with wireless expansion capability that has components housed within self-contained units easily adapted to land line jacks or existing telephones. 
         [0014]    Still yet another object is to define a system and method for cordless telephones with wireless expansion capability. 
         [0015]    Other features, advantages, and objects will become apparent with reference to the following description and accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating particular functional elements or processes for the transmitter unit  100  depicting an embodiment of the method and system of wireless transmitter and receiver units for a standard telephone communication system. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating particular functional elements or processes for the receiver unit  200  depicting an embodiment of the method and system of wireless transmitter and receiver units for a standard telephone communication system. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a circuitry schematic for the receiver unit  200  depicting an embodiment of the method and system of wireless transmitter and receiver units for a standard telephone communication system. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a circuitry schematic for the transmitter unit  100  depicting an embodiment of the method and system of wireless transmitter and receiver units for a standard telephone communication system. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is an architectural top view of the transmitter unit  100  elements arranged within the circuit board of the transmitter to support an embodiment of the method and system of wireless transmitter and receiver units for a standard telephone communication system. 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is an architectural bottom view of the transmitter unit  100  elements arranged within the circuit board of the transmitter to support an embodiment of the method and system of wireless transmitter and receiver units for a standard telephone communication system. 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is an architectural top view of the receiver unit  200  elements arranged within the circuit board of the receiver to support an embodiment of the method and system of wireless transmitter and receiver units for a standard telephone communication system. 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is an architectural bottom view of the receiver unit  200  elements arranged within the circuit board of the receiver to support an embodiment of the method and system of wireless transmitter and receiver units for a standard telephone communication system. 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the front side of the cover of the housing supporting both transmitter and receiver units depicting an embodiment of the method and system of wireless transmitter and receiver units for a standard telephone communication system. 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the inside of the cover of the housing supporting both transmitter and receiver units depicting an embodiment of the method and system of wireless transmitter and receiver units for a standard telephone communication system. 
           [0026]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the outside surface of the back cover of the housing supporting the transmitter unit depicting an embodiment of the method and system of wireless transmitter and receiver units for a standard telephone communication system. 
           [0027]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the outside surface of the back cover of the housing supporting each receiver unit depicting an embodiment of the method and system of wireless transmitter and receiver units for a standard telephone communication system. 
           [0028]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the inside surface of the back cover of the housing supporting the transmitter unit depicting an embodiment of the method and system of wireless transmitter and receiver units for a standard telephone communication system. 
           [0029]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the inside surface of the back cover of the housing supporting each receiver unit depicting an embodiment of the method and system of wireless transmitter and receiver units for a standard telephone communication system. 
           [0030]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the inside surface of the power supply cover for both of the housings supporting transmitter and receiver units depicting an embodiment of the method and system of wireless transmitter and receiver units for a standard telephone communication system. 
           [0031]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the outside surface of the power supply cover for both of the housings supporting transmitter and receiver units depicting an embodiment of the method and system of wireless transmitter and receiver units for a standard telephone communication system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0032]    While wireless transmitter and receiver units for a standard telephone communication system are susceptible to embodiment in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and will be described in detail herein several specific embodiments, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principle of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to embodiments illustrated. 
         [0033]    With reference to the drawings, the method and system of a preferred mode provides a user with a primary wireless transmission base unit  100  including a connection to a single, plain old telephone service (“POTS”) telephone line jack  700 . The base transmitter unit  100  communicates with at least one receiver unit  200  via a wireless communication link. 
         [0034]    The system is further provided with the capability of adding expansion peripherals to increase the functionality of the system. The peripherals are connected to the transmission base unit  100  via further channels provided by the wireless communication protocol of the transmission base unit  100  with which additional receiver units  200  to separate telephone handsets are implemented. Thus, interface to expansion peripherals is accomplished primarily using electronic hardware which is already existent in the transmission base unit  100  and each receiver unit  200 . Further connectors and interconnection components need not be included in the base unit  100 , saving costs and reducing physical size of the base unit  100 . 
         [0035]    Integration of a cellular telephone interface to a cordless telephone system via wireless link not only provides convenient and cost-effective expandability, but also provides flexibility in the physical placement of the wireless telephone receiver units  200 . This can be particularly important in as much as the quality of cellular coverage may vary substantially between various locations inside the user&#39;s residence or office. The optimum location for cellular telephone coverage may not be near telephone jack, which is typically required for placement of a primary base unit. By integrating the cellular cradle with a cordless telephone cordless telephone system via wireless link, the user is provided with the ability to position the cellular base transmission unit  100  in a location  1 ) which provides optimum reception quality, and  2 ) which is independent from the location of primary cordless receiver units  100  and conventional telephone jacks  700 . 
         [0036]    As depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the transmission unit  100  receives input from a single POTS telephone line a single POTS telephone line jack  700 . The signal is divided between the ringer detection  128  and speech  126 . The ringer is routed to the processor  110  and then to the radio frequency transceiver unit  124  via transmitter power control  114 . Speech is compressed  118  to audio input to a radio frequency unit  124  and transmitted wirelessly out to the receiver unit  200  via the internally housed antenna  160 . 
         [0037]    Receiver unit  200  input communication is received by the transmission base internally housed antenna  160  and radio frequency transceiver unit  124 , and is amplified  122  and/or compared  120  before the processing unit  110  sends it out through the single POTS telephone line jack  700 . A reference clock signal of 40 MHZ is connected to the phase lock loop (“PLL”) input from the processor  110  and radio frequency transceiver unit  124 , which generates a 200 MHZ clock for the system. Receiver unit  200  status and control is monitored through the transmission unit  100  processor  110  by discrete signal received by the internally housed antenna  160  and the carrier detector  112  and receiver power control  116 . 
         [0038]    As depicted in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the receiver unit  200  receives input from the transmission unit via the internally housed antenna  260  to a radio frequency transceiver unit  224 . The signal is divided between an expander  222  and/or data comparator  220  and into the processor  210  and an amplifier  226  with a feedback bridge  262  to the user&#39;s earpiece receiver of the telephone handset via the RJ11 telephone jack  720 . User speech input is compressed  218  to audio input to the radio frequency transceiver unit  224  and transmitted wirelessly out to the transmitter unit  100  via the internally housed antenna  260 . Transmitter unit  100  status is monitored through the receiver unit  200  processor  210  by discrete signal received by the internally housed antenna  260  and the carrier detector  212 , transmitter power control  214 , and receiver power control  216 . 
         [0039]    The transmitter base unit  100  and each receiver unit  200  are powered by 5 volts DC from an internal rechargeable power supply  152  and  252 , respectively, with an AC adapter  150  and  250 , respectively, built into the units. 
         [0040]    A reference clock signal of 40 MHZ is connected to the PLL input from the transmitter and receiver unit processor  110  and  210 , respectively, and transmitter and receiver unit radio frequency transceiver unit  124  and  224 , respectively, which generates a 200 MHZ clock for the transmitter unit  100  and receiver unit  200  systems. Clock frequency is controlled by the system controllers, with input clocks for each system controller block separated into two categories. One category is the peripheral blocks which is asynchronous with processor or AMBA® bus. It is, therefore, generated by a clock generator which divides PLL output with values of system controller  110  and  210  clock control registers. The second category is for blocks synchronous with the system bus. Its clock frequency is also changeable by system controller  110  and  210 . 
         [0041]    There are four operation modes in each system controller  110  and  210 , namely 1) sleep, 2) doze, 3) slow, and 4) normal. In sleep mode, clocks to the processor and system bus are disabled, and the system controller clock is driven from a slow speed oscillator at approximately 32 KHz. When an interrupt is activated through the VIC, the system moves into the doze mode wherein all blocks of the system controller clock operate with low frequency oscillator at approximately 32 MHZ. In slow mode, both the system clocks and the system controller clocks are driven from the output of the crystal oscillator at 40 MHz. 
         [0042]    The transmitter unit  100  and each receiver unit  200  have light emitting diode (“LED”) indicators and audible signal annunciators. 
         [0043]    Each receiver unit  200  is registered to the transmitter unit  100  through initial operational sequencing by a page key input for the transmitter and each separate receiver and verified by the system via LED and audible annunciator feedback. 
         [0044]    Each unit is contained within lightweight and durable housings,  FIGS. 9-16 , which provide means for the transmitter unit  100  to be installed vertically into a wall mounted, single POTS telephone line jack  700 , and means for each receiver unit  200  to be located next to the telephone handset to which it corresponds. 
         [0045]    The method for installation and use of the preferred embodiment is as follows:
       Provide a transmitter unit  100  and at least one receiver unit  200  according to the specification described above;   Install the rechargeable battery packs  152  and  252  into each respective unit;   Charge each unites battery packs for a  15  hour period using AC adapters;   Press and hold the page key in the receiver unit.  200  until the receiver unit in-use LED indicator light is on;   Press and hold the page key in the transmitter unit  100  until the transmitter unit in-use LED indicator light is on an a search is underway;   When both receiver and transmitter unit LED lights are off and an audible beep sound is detected, registration between transmitter and receiver has been established;   Repeat the registration process for each receiver unit until all receiver units are registered with the transmitter unit;   Connect the transmitter unit to a telephone line jack;   Connect each receiver unit to a separate corded telephone;   For outgoing telephone communication, pick up a telephone and notice the receiver and transmitter units LED lights are on indicating the automatic connection between the units and a dial tone is detected, the call is placed using the telephone input, and telephone communication commences using the wireless system;   Incoming telephone communication is indicated by a ring on the receiver and receiver and transmitter unit LED lights are on indicating the automatic connection between units and the telephone is picked up to receive the communication and respond thereto using the wireless system; and   Connect the transmitter unit  100  and each receiver unit  200  to AC with AC adapters to recharge the battery packs when unit LED lights blink.