Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7089034?dq=6948823
Timestamp: 2017-10-17 17:37:09
Document Index: 518454238

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 68', 'art 68', 'art 68', 'art 68', 'art 68', 'art 68', 'art 68', 'art 68', 'art 68', 'art 68', 'art 68', 'art 68', 'art 68']

Patent US7089034 - Concurrent wireless/landline interface - Google Patents
An apparatus for interfacing at least one landline telephone service, at least one wireless cellular-type telephone service, at least one cellular-type wireless telephone and at least one standard telephonic type communication device through standard building interior telephone cable....http://www.google.com/patents/US7089034?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7089034 - Concurrent wireless/landline interface
Publication number US7089034 B1
Application number US 09/325,087
Also published as US6775522, US6785517, US7248869, US20010041533, US20020146977, US20040152461
Publication number 09325087, 325087, US 7089034 B1, US 7089034B1, US-B1-7089034, US7089034 B1, US7089034B1
Patent Citations (12), Referenced by (8), Classifications (16), Legal Events (9)
Concurrent wireless/landline interface
US 7089034 B1
1. In a cellular or cellular-like interface apparatus for coupling a landline telephone instrument to a cellular or cellular-like radio transceiver associated with a cellular or cellular-like radio network, said cellular or cellular-like interface apparatus comprising cellular or cellular-like interface means comprising computer means for coupling a landline telephone instrument to the cellular or cellular-like radio transceiver associated, the improvement comprising:
Initial installation testing means for testing the presence of line voltages on a landline telephone communication path capable of being connected to a public switched telephone network, said initial testing means comprising operational-line voltage detecting means for detecting operational line voltage on the landline communication path indicating the landline communication path operative connection to a public switched telephone network, whereby if no such voltage is detected, said testing means indicates that said interface means may be coupled to the landline communication path;
said testing means further comprising indicating means for indicating the lack of detection of said operational line voltage detecting means, whereby upon lack of such voltage being detected, said indicating means indicates that said interface means may be operatively installed with said landline telephone communication path, in order to prevent damage to said cellular or cellular-like apparatus.
2. The interface apparatus for coupling a landline telephone instrument to a cellular or cellular-like radio transceiver associated with a cellular or cellular-like radio network, according to claim 1, in combination with a landline telephone communication path capable of being connected to a public switched telephone network; said operational-line voltage detecting means comprising an operational line-voltage sensing circuit placed across the tip and ring terminals of said landline telephone communication path.
3. A cellular or cellular-like interface apparatus for coupling a landline telephone instrument to a cellular or cellular-like radio transceiver associated with a cellular or cellular-like radio network, said cellular or cellular-like interface apparatus comprising cellular or cellular-like interface means comprising computer means for coupling a landline telephone instrument to the cellular of cellular-like radio transceiver associated, in combination with a landline telephone communication path disconnected from a public switched telephone network;
said cellular or cellular-like interface apparatus comprising:
initial installation using means for testing for the lack of presence of line voltages on said landline telephone communication path;
said initial, installation testing means comprising operational-line voltage detecting means for detecting operational line voltage on said landline communication path indicating the landline communication path's operative connection to a public switched telephone network; and
sensing means operatively coupled to said operational-line voltage detecting means for sensing the lack of detection of said operational line voltage on said landline communication path by said operational-line voltage detecting means;
said testing means further comprising indicating means for indicating the lack of detection of said operational-line voltage detecting means, whereby upon lack of such voltage being detected, as sensed by said sensing means, said testing means indicates that said interface means may be operatively installed with said landline communication path, in order to prevent damage to said cellular or cellular-like interface apparatus.
4. In a cellular or cellular-like interface apparatus for coupling a landline telephone instrument to a cellular or cellular-like radio transceiver associated with a cellular or cellular-like radio network, said cellular or cellular-like interface apparatus comprising cellular or cellular-like interface means comprising means for coupling a landline telephone instrument to the cellular or cellular-like radio transceiver associated, the improvement comprising:
initial installation testing means for testing for the lack of presence of line voltages on said landline telephone communication path;
said testing means further comprising indicating means for indicating the lack of detection of said operational-line voltage detecting means, whereby upon lack of such voltage being detected, as sensed by said sensing means, said testing means indicates that said interface means may be operatively installed with said landline communication path, in order to prevent damage to said cellular of cellular-like interface apparatus.
The present application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/309,845, filed on Sep. 20, 1994, and now U.S. Pat. No. 5,946,616.
The present invention relates to a system which integrates a standard telephonic type communication device, a cellular-type wireless service, a cellular interface system such as described in U. S. Pat. No. 4,658,096, issued Apr. 14, 1987 to West et al., existing telephone wiring installed within a building, and a telephone company wireline service. In particular, the standard telephonic type communication device, when connected to the invention, is capable of selectively both receiving and initiating calls over the cellular type wireless service as well as also both receiving and initiating calls over the telephone company wireline service.
In addition, with the known cellular interface a consumer often made a mistake in the installation of this type of product by not reading the manual and incorrectly plugging the cellular interface directly into the telco service line. This was in violation of Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Part 68 rules and invited possible damage to the cellular interface and to the telco equipment. Known cellular interfaces were difficult to be installed by individuals possessing no technical knowledge of electricity or of the telephone system. Each building is different as to whether it has telco line 1 wiring installed, telco line 2 wiring installed, wiring shorts between wires on telco line 1 or line 2, an active Telco line 1, or an active Telco line 2. Because of all these variables, there was difficulty for the consumer to effectively and consistently be able to properly install a known cellular interface in a dwelling without a large number of consumer problems, and perhaps significant numbers of damaged cellular interface devices. Prior art interfaces lacked adaptive intelligence and system diagnostics to sense the unique environment into which it was installed and properly react to it. Although prior art cellular interfaces allowed a standard telephonic type communication device to be connected to cellular service, prior art interfaces disadvantgeously did not allow a standard telephonic type communication device to be selectively switched between wireline and cellular service. Prior art interfaces had no provision for connection to a wireline telephone company service.
Referring now to FIG. 3, the installation of the invention starts by directly plugging the invention 152 into an available, typically wall mounted, six position telephone jack 127 via leads 128A-128D. The power supply is connected to the system, and the power plug of the power supply is plugged into an available power outlet. All pre-installed single line telephone devices are unplugged from the wall telephone jacks, a line inversion adapter 130 with leads 103A, 130B, is inserted into the telephone jack 127, and each single telco line telephone device 108 is plugged into the line inversion adapter 130 or conversely, one or more telephone devices can also be left as pre-installed, via leads 128A, 128B, as shown in FIG. 3. Single line standard telephonic type communication devices are designed to be plugged into the “line 1” position of six position telephone jacks. The line inversion adapter causes the device to be connected to “line 2” of the telephone jack. A telephone device 108 which is dedicated to the telco line does not use the inversion adapter 130 at the wall telephone jack 127.
The Off Hook event as described in Table 1 is detected by monitoring loop current on either the telco line or the cellular line depending on which is switched in. (The cellular line is normally switched in.) This is done by software stored in Read Only Memory (ROM) internal to a microprocessor detecting an active low signal on the Telco LC (U3 port P3.0, FIG. 6A) when on a telco line, or Cel LC (U3 port P3.5) when on a cellular line. The software does not recognize an off hook event unless loop current had been absent (on hook) for more than 700 msec and then loop current became present for at least 500 msec. The software switches the invention from the cellular line to the telco line through hardware (U3 port P.1 FIG. 6A), where cellular line is active high, and telco line is active low.
The prior-art system shown in FIG. 4 interfaces a cellular telephone 212 to a telephonic device 108 and it allows the telephonic device 108 to access communications via the cellular transceiver 212. The system connects to a cellular transceiver 212 via a cellular transceiver interface 204. The cellular telephone interface 204 is the actual physical connection which interfaces the cellular telephone 212 to the invention, and also connects to a telephonic device 108 via 208 the telco line interface. All the necessary information and power to the cellular telephone is received and/or supplied through the cellular telephone interface 204.
Once power is applied to the invention, communication is established between the cellular transceiver 212 and the CPU interface 201. It uses a microprocessor, preferably an Intel 8051 type, to perform all its operations such as initializing the cellular transceiver 212, setting all of the control signals (I/O s) to their initial states for a ringer circuit 203, and a receive and transmit circuit 206. The software is written in 8051 assembly language. All functions of the unit is controlled by CPU interface 201. The CPU interface 201 communicates with the cellular transceiver 212 via 204 and controls the necessary hardware on board. This initialing is started by the Watchdog Timer & Reset circuit 200 which is the circuit that jump starts the operation of all the intelligence embedded into the system, it will restart the operation of all the intelligence if it detects an improper state of the external hardware and/or internal timing sequences. During initialization, the CPU interface 201 sets all the necessary I/Os of the microprocessor to their default conditions required by the external hardware to function properly. The telephone interface 208 is preferably an FCC part 68 compatible RJ-11. At this point, if the telephonic device 108 connected to the telephone interface 208 were to be taken offhook a precision standard dial tone would be received by the telephonic device.
When telephonic device 108 connected at telephone interface 208 comes offhook, a Battery Voltage circuit 210 provides the necessary power required to operate the telephonic device 108. Since the telephonic device 108 receives power, its offhook state will be detected by an onhook & offhook detect circuit 207. It detects the Onhook/Offhook condition of the telephone device 108. This circuit also allows the CPU interface 201 to evaluate pulse dialing activity.
A communication path switching circuit 406, shown in block form in FIG. 5 connects a Part 68 telephonic type device to multiple communication media systems i.e., to a telephone line or to a cellular system interface of the invention. The communication path switching circuit 406, shown in detail in FIG. 6C, consists of relay 12, a transistor 13, a current limit resistor 14, and a diode 15. The Part 68 telephonic device terminals are connected to the contacts 12A-12F of relay 12. Contacts 12A-12C switch one terminal of the Part 68 device between communication path 1 and the cellular interface. Contacts 12D, 12E, & 12F switch the other terminal. Control of relay 12 is accomplished by a signal from microprocessor U3. A logic high (+5 VDC) from U3 (FIG. 6A) P2.1 is applied to transistor 13 through current limiter 14. Transistor 13 conducts upon application of the logic high, allowing current to flow through the coil of relay 12, changing the state of the relay and connecting the Part 68 device to the cellular interface. A logic low (GROUND) from U3 P2.1 cuts 13 off, terminating the coil current of 12, allowing the relay to change state and connecting the Part 68 device to communication path 1.
A ring signal detection circuit 440, shown in block form in FIG. 5, detects the presence of a ring signal voltage or current on communication path 1, originating in the central office, and it provides an isolated logic level to the microcontroller indicating the occurrence of a ringing event. As shown in detail in FIG., 6G, the components of the Ring Signal Detection Circuit 440 consists of resistors 30-34, a capacitor 35, an opto-isolator 36, and comparator 37. The circuit functions as follows: The Central Office ringing signal is coupled from communication path 1 via R1 through current limiting resistor 31, DC blocking capacitor 35, the bi-directional LED (terminals 1&2) of 36, and returning via T1. Application of the ringing signal to 36 causes the LED to illuminate forcing the associated phototransistor to conduct. The conducting phototransistor places a ground at the inverting input of comparator 37 pin 9 forcing the output of 37 pin 8 to a logic high (+5 VDC). The termination of the central office ringing signal cuts off the LED illumination of 36, forcing the phototransistor into a non-conducting state, and placing +5 VDC on pin 9 of 37 via pull-up resistor 30. This condition results in a logic low (GROUND) output from pin 8 of 37. The logic states indicating the presence/absence of ringing signals are conveyed to microprocessor U3, input P3.4 (FIG. 6A) for processing by the microprocessor software.
A ringer detection circuit 450, shown in block form in FIG. 5, tests to determine if a Part 68 telephonic device has been connected to communication path 2. Testing is accomplished by placing a test ringing signal on the path and observing the presence of current flow in the path due to the signal and a connected Part 68 device. The presence or absence of the Part 68 device is transmitted to the microcontroller as a logic signal. As shown in detail in FIG. 6H, the ringer detection circuit 450 consists of resistors 38-46, clamp diodes 47 and 48, a comparator 49, a solid state relay 50 and a transistor 51. The circuit functions as follows: A test ringing signal is generated by block 203, described previously, and applied to the communication path 2. If an on-hook, Part 68 telephonic device is connected to the path, the ringing signal forces current to flow through resistor 46, solid state relay 50, to the connected Part 68 device and the ringer signal generator 203 via CR. Solid state relay 50 is crosed and shunts 43 & 44 due to a U3 P3.2 microcontroller signal applied through 40, 41 and 51. A voltage develops across 46 due to the ringer current flow and is applied to the inverting input (pin 2) of comparator 49 via resistor 45 and clamp diodes 47 & 48. The application of voltage to 49 forces the device output at pin 1 to a logic low state (GROUND). The output of comparator 49 pin 1 is input to the microprocessor U3 at input P3.5 (FIG. 6A) for processing. Removal of the ringing signal, or the lack of an on-hook Part 68 device connected to the path, forces 49 to a logic high state (+5 VDC).
U.S. Classification 455/554.1, 455/557
Cooperative Classification H04M1/725, H04M1/723, H04M3/4283, H04M3/428, H04M2203/1091, H04W84/14
European Classification H04M1/723, H04M3/428, H04W84/14, H04M1/725