EP0497490A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatically configuring wireless PBX system
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1992-01-22
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2012-01-22
Abstract
Abstract A wireless PBX system provides ease of installation without site engineering or trial-and-error placement of components within the system. In its basic form, the wireless PBX system consists of only two types of components : a control unit including an radio frequency transceiver, and fixed location terminals, such as telephones and voice/data stations, which also include radio frequency transceivers. Portable handsets are optionally included in the system to allow for customer mobility. Installation of the PBX system is achieved simply by placing the system components in the desired locations at a premises, plugging them into line power, and performing some simple programming steps including a final step of initiating an automatic configuring process. Through this process, the system automatically configures itself for optimum operation in view of the radio environment and placement of components within the system at the customer premises. In the operation of this process, the control unit exchanges various radio messages with the terminals, decides which terminals should also serve as repeaters for linking those more distantly located terminals, and determines the appropriate frame structure for the system. A positive display indication at the control unit, following the end of the automatic configuring process, shows that all terminals have been linked and that the system is operating normally.
Inventors
- 👤 David John Helmkamp
- 👤 James Warren Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 11:17
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W84/00; H04W84/02; H04W84/10; H04W84/16; H04B; H04B7/00; H04B7/24; H04B7/26; H04B7/2603; H04B7/2606; H04W16/00; H04W16/24; H04W16/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
A control system for a wireless telephone system, said control system comprising: a control unit (201) for connecting to a switched network (210) of the telephone system; and a plurality of stations (110-113) for communicating with the control unit over a wireless communication channel; CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the plurality of stations are selectively positioned so as to divide a region associated with the control system into multiple areas from which telephone service by the plurality of stations is provided, at least a selected first one of the plurality of stations (110-112) being configurable by the control unit to provide wireless telephone service with the control unit for selected second ones of the plurality of stations (110-116) when located outside of the communication range of the control unit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
127 words
A control system for a wireless telephone system, said control system comprising: a control unit (201) for connecting to a switched network (210) of the telephone system; and a plurality of stations (110-113) for communicating with the control unit over a wireless communication channel; CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the plurality of stations are selectively positioned so as to divide a region associated with the control system into multiple areas from which telephone service by the plurality of stations is provided, at least a selected first one of the plurality of stations (110-112) being configurable by the control unit to provide wireless telephone service with the control unit for selected second ones of the plurality of stations (110-116) when located outside of the communication range of the control unit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
80 words
The control system as in claim 1 wherein the selected first one of the plurality of stations includes control means responsive to control signals indicating origin and destination addresses from either the control unit or a one of the selected second ones of the plurality of stations, the selected first station receiving and retransmitting the control signals to the control unit or to the selected one of the plurality of stations in accordance with the contents of the control signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
63 words
The control system as in claim 1 wherein at least a selected one of the second plurality of stations is configurable by the control unit for providing telephone sevice with the control unit for selected third ones of the plurality of stations located outside of the communication range of both the control unit and the selected first one of the plurality of stations.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
88 words
The control system as in claim 3 wherein the selected second one of the plurality of stations includes control means responsive to control signals indicating origin and destination addresses from either the selected first one of the plurality of stations or a one of the selected third ones of the plurality of stations, the selected second station receiving and retransmitting the control signals to the selected first station or to the selected third one of the plurality of stations in accordance with the contents of the control signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
75 words
The control system as in claim 4 wherein the selected second one of the plurality of stations is configured for providing telephone service with the control unit by control signals provided to the selected second one of the plurality of stations by the selected first one of the plurality of stations, the selected second one of the stations providing telephone service with the control unit for the selected third ones of the plurality of stations.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
97 words
The control system as in claim 1 wherein the control unit comprises means for storing a unique signal code for communicating with each of the plurality of stations, the signal code being comprised of a base number generated by the control unit and an additional number provided by each station to the control unit dwing an auto-configuring operation, the additional number corresponding to the address for each of the plurality of stations, and the control unit being unresponsive to any requesu for service from a station not providing a unique signal code recognized by the control unit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The control system as in claim 6 wherein the station address for the last one of the plurality of stations in the wireless system contains an additional character for identifying this station for the control unit during the auto-configuring operation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
91 words
The control system as in claim 1 wherein the control unit comprises means for providing a frame structure for communications between the control unit and the plurality of stations, the frame structure being operable for determining both a number of time slots available for providing telephone service between the control unit and selected first ones of the plurality of stations, and a number of time slots available for providing telephone service between the selected first ones of the plurality of stations and the selected second ones of the plurality of stations.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
60 words
The control system as in claim 8 wherein the control unit further comprises means for providing multiple carriers, each of the plurality of stations being configured by the control unit for communicating therewith over one of the plurality of carriers, and each carrier having a configurable frame structure for providing selectable telephone service for the plurality of stations operating thereon.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The control system as in claim 9 wherein at least one of the plurality of stations is a portable station.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
81 words
In a wireless telephone system, an arrangement for automatically configuring a plurality of stations for operating in said system, the arrangement comprising: a control unit for connecting to a switched network; and a plurality of stations for communicating with the control unit over a wireless communication channel, the control unit comprising means for selecting at least a first one of the plurality of stations for providing telephone service with the control unit for selected second ones of the plurality of stations.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
81 words
In a wireless telephone system, an arrangement for automatically configuring a plurality of stations for operating in said system, the arrangement comprising: a control unit for connecting to a switched network; and a plurality of stations for communicating with the control unit over a wireless communication channel, the control unit comprising means for selecting at least a first one of the plurality of stations for providing telephone service with the control unit for selected second ones of the plurality of stations.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
63 words
The arrangement for automatically configuring a plurality of stations for operating in a wireless telephone system in accordance with claim 11 wherein the control unit further comprises means for generating a first control signal over the communication channel, each of the plurality of stations receiving this control signal responding over the channel to the control unit for establishing communication with the control unit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
104 words
The arrangement for automatically configuring a plurality of stations for operating in a wireless telephone system in accordance with claim 12 wherein the means for selecting the first one of the stations further includes means for detecting those stations responding to the first control signal, responsive to the detecting means, the generating means generating a second control control signal over the communication channel to those stations responding to the first control signal and selecting from these stations the at least first one of the plurality of stations for providing telephone service with the control unit for selected second ones of the plurality of stations.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
141 words
The arrangement for automatically configuring a plurality of stations for operating in a wireless telephone system in accordance with claim 13 wherein the at least first one of the plurality of stations includes means for generating a third control signal over the communication channel for establishing communication with the selected second ones of the plurality of stations, the at least first one of the plurality of stations further including means for detecting those stations responding to the third control signal, responsive to the detecting means, the generating means in the at least first one of the plurality of stations generating a fourth control control signal over the communication channel to the control unit, this fourth control signal being indicative of those stations responding to the third control signal and these stations being the selected second ones of the plurality of stations.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of configuring a plurality of stations for operation in a wireless telephone system, the method comprising the steps of: connecting a control unit to a switched network, the control unit being arranged for communicating over a wireless communication channel; configuring a first station for communicating over the communication channel and for operating as a repeaterfor a more remote station upon receipt of a signal from the control unit, the first station operating as a station for originating and receiving calls directed to it and as a repeater station for providing communications between the control unit and the more remote unit.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of configuring a plurality of stations for operation in a wireless telephone system, the method comprising the steps of: connecting a control unit to a switched network, the control unit being arranged for communicating over a wireless communication channel; configuring a first station for communicating over the communication channel and for operating as a repeaterfor a more remote station upon receipt of a signal from the control unit, the first station operating as a station for originating and receiving calls directed to it and as a repeater station for providing communications between the control unit and the more remote unit.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
74 words
A wireless PBX comprising: a first telephone station; central control means for interconnecting said telephone station with a telephone network via a first wireless communications channel between said telephone station and said control means; and a second telephone station interconnected to said central control means via a communications channel which includes a wireless communications channel between said second telephone station and said first telephone station and which further includes said first wireless communications channel.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
74 words
A wireless PBX comprising: a first telephone station; central control means for interconnecting said telephone station with a telephone network via a first wireless communications channel between said telephone station and said control means; and a second telephone station interconnected to said central control means via a communications channel which includes a wireless communications channel between said second telephone station and said first telephone station and which further includes said first wireless communications channel.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
79 words
A central control unit for use in a wireless PBX which includes at least first and second telephone stations, said central control unit comprising: means for connecting said central control unit to a telephone network; means for establishing a direct wireless connection between said central control unit and said first telephone station; and means for establishing a repeatered wireless connection between said central control unit and said second telephone station, said repeatered wireless connection including said first telephone station.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
79 words
A central control unit for use in a wireless PBX which includes at least first and second telephone stations, said central control unit comprising: means for connecting said central control unit to a telephone network; means for establishing a direct wireless connection between said central control unit and said first telephone station; and means for establishing a repeatered wireless connection between said central control unit and said second telephone station, said repeatered wireless connection including said first telephone station.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
103 words
A central control unit for use in a wireless PBX which includes at least first and second telephone stations, said central control unit comprising: means for connecting said central control unit to a telephone network; means for attempting to establish a direct wireless connection with each of said telephone stations; and means operative upon the failure of said central control unit to establish such a connection with a particular one of said stations for attempting to establish a wireless connection with said one station using as a repeater an individual one of the telephone stations with which a direct connection was successfully made.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
103 words
A central control unit for use in a wireless PBX which includes at least first and second telephone stations, said central control unit comprising: means for connecting said central control unit to a telephone network; means for attempting to establish a direct wireless connection with each of said telephone stations; and means operative upon the failure of said central control unit to establish such a connection with a particular one of said stations for attempting to establish a wireless connection with said one station using as a repeater an individual one of the telephone stations with which a direct connection was successfully made.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
76 words
A wireless PBX system comprising: a central control unit and a plurality of wireless telephone stations, said central control unit including means for establishing a wireless telephonic communications channel with each of said wireless telephone stations and for interconnecting said wireless communications channels to a telephone network, ones of said wireless telephonic communications channels being unrepeatered and at least one other of them being a repeatered channel which includes at least one of said unrepeatered channels.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
76 words
A wireless PBX system comprising: a central control unit and a plurality of wireless telephone stations, said central control unit including means for establishing a wireless telephonic communications channel with each of said wireless telephone stations and for interconnecting said wireless communications channels to a telephone network, ones of said wireless telephonic communications channels being unrepeatered and at least one other of them being a repeatered channel which includes at least one of said unrepeatered channels.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
82 words
A plurality of telephone stations for use in a wireless PBX system which includes a central control unit for interconnecting said telephone stations with a telephone network via a wireless communications channel between said telephone stations and said control unit, at least one of the telephone stations comprising: means for establishing a repeatered wireless connection between said central control unit and at least one other of the telephone stations, said repeatered wireless connection including said at least one of the telephone stations.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
82 words
A plurality of telephone stations for use in a wireless PBX system which includes a central control unit for interconnecting said telephone stations with a telephone network via a wireless communications channel between said telephone stations and said control unit, at least one of the telephone stations comprising: means for establishing a repeatered wireless connection between said central control unit and at least one other of the telephone stations, said repeatered wireless connection including said at least one of the telephone stations.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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