US5020094A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cordless telephone network
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1989-08-01
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Granted: 1991-05-28
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Expires: 2009-08-01
Abstract
Abstract A cordless telephone network comprises a base unit (12) that is interconnected into a normal telephone network (19) and a plurality of hand-held cordless telephones (20). Each of the hand-held cordless telephones has a distinctive identification code and the base unit temporarily stores the identification code of the hand-held unit with which it is communicating during a call and will not communicate with other hand-held units having different identification codes during that call. Each of the hand-held units has the ability to scan a plurality of cordless telephone channels for either receiving a call on a channel on which its identification code is transmitted or placing a call on a channel on which a base unit transmits a "free-channel" signal. The hand-held units each have a voice activation/deactivation circuit which allows the hand-held unit to send and receive audio signals only when it has been given permission to do so by a base unit.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark S. Rash
- 👤 Nicholas D. Harrison
- 👤 F. Prince Butler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 06:21
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/72; H04M1/725; H04M1/72502; H04M1/72505; H04M1/72511
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
156 words
A cordless telephone network including a hand-held unit having a memorized distinctive ID code and including a cordless telephone transmitter/receiver means for cordlessly communicating 2-way calls between said hand-held unit and any one of a plurality of base units, said any one of said base units and said hand-held unit including a means for scanning a plurality of cordless telephone channels when said hand-held unit is making a call and when it is receiving a call, said hand-held unit further including a means for monitoring said plurality of channels during said scanning to determine if its hand-held unit ID code is transmitted on any one of said channels when said hand-held unit is receiving a call, and for determining if a base unit is transmitting a channel clear signal when said hand-held unit is making a call; said network further comprising a plurality of base units each including a means for transmitting a channel clear signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
156 words
A cordless telephone network including a hand-held unit having a memorized distinctive ID code and including a cordless telephone transmitter/receiver means for cordlessly communicating 2-way calls between said hand-held unit and any one of a plurality of base units, said any one of said base units and said hand-held unit including a means for scanning a plurality of cordless telephone channels when said hand-held unit is making a call and when it is receiving a call, said hand-held unit further including a means for monitoring said plurality of channels during said scanning to determine if its hand-held unit ID code is transmitted on any one of said channels when said hand-held unit is receiving a call, and for determining if a base unit is transmitting a channel clear signal when said hand-held unit is making a call; said network further comprising a plurality of base units each including a means for transmitting a channel clear signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A cordless telephone network as in claim 1 including additional hand-held units wherein each of said hand-held units transmits a different distinctive ID code to said base unit along with a command transmitted to said base unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
A cordless telephone network as in claim 2, wherein each of said hand-held units includes a voice activation circuit means for allowing a microphone and speaker thereof to be activated only after the hand-held unit receives its ID code transmitted to it from a base unit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
A cordless telephone network as in claim 1, wherein said hand-held unit includes a voice activation circuit means for allowing a microphone and speaker thereof to be activated only after the hand-held unit receives its ID code transmitted to it from the base unit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A cordless telephone network as in claim 1 wherein said hand-held unit includes a ringer means for being activated to produce a ring only after the hand-held unit receives its ID code.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A cordless telephone network as in claim 1 wherein said hand-held unit includes means for transmitting its ID code prior to each dialing access to a base unit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
A cordless telephone network as in claim 1 wherein said hand-held unit includes an activation means for allowing said hand-held unit to transmit only after the hand-held unit receives a channel clear signal or its hand-held ID Number.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
170 words
A cordless telephone network including a hand-held unit having a memorized distinctive ID code and including a cordless telephone transmitter/receiver means for cordlessly communicating two-way calls between said hand-held unit and a base unit, said base unit and said hand-held unit communicating with one another using cordless waves having a power range of only around 1000 feet or less on only cordless telephone channels, said hand-held unit inducing a means for scanning a plurality of cordless telephone channels when said hand-held unit is receiving a call and when it is making a call, said hand-held unit further including a means for monitoring said plurality of channels during said scanning to determine if a base unit is transmitting a channel clear signal when said hand-held unit is making a call and to determine if tis hand-held unit ID code is transmitted on any one of said channels when said hand-held unit is receiving a call; said network further comprising a base unit including a means for transmitting a channel clear signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
170 words
A cordless telephone network including a hand-held unit having a memorized distinctive ID code and including a cordless telephone transmitter/receiver means for cordlessly communicating two-way calls between said hand-held unit and a base unit, said base unit and said hand-held unit communicating with one another using cordless waves having a power range of only around 1000 feet or less on only cordless telephone channels, said hand-held unit inducing a means for scanning a plurality of cordless telephone channels when said hand-held unit is receiving a call and when it is making a call, said hand-held unit further including a means for monitoring said plurality of channels during said scanning to determine if a base unit is transmitting a channel clear signal when said hand-held unit is making a call and to determine if tis hand-held unit ID code is transmitted on any one of said channels when said hand-held unit is receiving a call; said network further comprising a base unit including a means for transmitting a channel clear signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
164 words
A cordless telephone network including a hand-held unit having a memorized distinctive ID code and including a cordless telephone transmitter/receiver means for cordlessly communicating two-way calls between said hand-held unit and a base unit, said base unit and said hand-held unit communicating with one another using cordless waves having a power range of only around 1000 feet or less on only cordless telephone channels, said hand-held unit including a means for scanning a plurality of cordless telephone channels for monitoring said plurality of channels during said scanning to determine if said base unit is transmitting a channel clear signal; said network further comprising a base unit including a means for transmitting a channel clear signal; said hand-held unit including a means for capturing said base unit upon receiving said channel clear signal so that thereafter said base unit only communicates with said hand-held unit by transmitting said hand-held unit's distinctive ID code along with commands transmitted between said hand-held unit and said base unit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
164 words
A cordless telephone network including a hand-held unit having a memorized distinctive ID code and including a cordless telephone transmitter/receiver means for cordlessly communicating two-way calls between said hand-held unit and a base unit, said base unit and said hand-held unit communicating with one another using cordless waves having a power range of only around 1000 feet or less on only cordless telephone channels, said hand-held unit including a means for scanning a plurality of cordless telephone channels for monitoring said plurality of channels during said scanning to determine if said base unit is transmitting a channel clear signal; said network further comprising a base unit including a means for transmitting a channel clear signal; said hand-held unit including a means for capturing said base unit upon receiving said channel clear signal so that thereafter said base unit only communicates with said hand-held unit by transmitting said hand-held unit's distinctive ID code along with commands transmitted between said hand-held unit and said base unit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
A cordless telephone network as in claim 9 wherein said hand-held unit includes an activation means for allowing said hand-held unit to transmit only after the hand-held unit receives a channel clear signal or its hand-held ID code.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
A cordless telephone network as in claim 9 wherein said hand-held unit includes a ringer means for being activated to produce a ring only after the hand-held unit receives its ID code.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
A cordless telephone network as in claim 9 wherein said hand-held unit includes means for transmitting its ID code prior to each dialing access to a base unit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-05-27 | 1994-11-26 | 1995-05-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-05-27 | 1998-11-26 | 1999-05-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-05-27 | 2002-11-26 | 2003-05-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |