Cordless telephone which intermittently monitors predetermined channels from all available channels

Claim 2

A cordless telephone comprising: a base unit connected to a telephone line network; a handset unit operable for communicating with said base unit by way of a radio link; means for establishing a standby mode in which said handset unit intermittently monitors a plurality of predetermined channels and for alternatively establishing a low power sleep mode; means at said base unit for detecting the arrival of an incoming call from said telephone network and for informing said handset unit of said arrival through one of said plurality of predetermined channels, means for exchanging via said radio link between said base unit and said handset unit information identifying respective available channels thereof; means for storing information identifying a plurality of said available channels which are the same for both said base unit and said handset unit; and means for selecting, from among said plurality of available channels, said plurality of predetermined channels which are to be intermittently monitored by said handset in said standby mode, said plurality of predetermined channels consisting of fewer channels than said plurality of available channels.

Claim 3

A cordless telephone as in claim 1, wherein said plurality of predetermined channels consists of two channels.

Claim 4

A cordless telephone as in claim 2, wherein said handset unit and said base unit each comprise means for monitoring ten channels.

Claim 5

A cordless telephone comprising: a base unit connected to a telephone line network; a handset unit operable for communicating with said base unit by way of a radio link; power supply means for each of said base and handset units; reset means connected between each of said base and handset units and the respective one of said power supply means for detecting initiation of operation of the respective power supply means; means for establishing a standby mode in which said handset unit intermittently monitors a plurality of predetermined channels and for alternatively establishing a low power sleep mode; means at said base unit for detecting the arrival of an incoming call from said telephone network and for informing said handset unit of said arrival through one of said plurality of predetermined channels, means for exchanging via said radio link between said base unit and said handset unit information identifying respective available channels thereof when said reset means detects initiation of operation of said power supply means for said base unit or said handset unit, respectively; means for storing information identifying a plurality of said available channels which are the same for both said base unit and said handset unit; and means for selecting, from among said plurality of available channels, said plurality of predetermined channels which are to be intermittently monitored by said handset unit in said standby mode, said plurality of predetermined channels consisting of fewer channels than said plurality of available channels.

Claim 6

A cordless telephone comprising: a base unit connected to a telephone line network; a handset unit operable for communicating with said base unit by way of a radio link; power supply means for each of said base and handset units; reset means connected between each of said base and handset units and the respective one of said power supply means for detecting initiation of operation of the respective power supply means; means for establishing a standby mode in which said handset unit intermittently monitors a plurality of predetermined channels and for alternatively establishing a low power sleep mode; means at said base unit for detecting the arrival of an incoming call from said telephone network and for informing said handset unit of said arrival through one of said plurality of predetermined channels, means for exchanging via said radio link between said base unit and said handset unit information identifying respective available channels thereof when said reset means detects initiation of operation of said power supply means for said base unit or said handset unit, respectively; means for storing information identifying a plurality of said available channels which are the same for both said base unit and said handset unit; and means for selecting, from among said plurality of available channels, said plurality of predetermined channels which are to be intermittently monitored by said handset unit in said standby mode, said plurality of predetermined channels consisting of fewer channels than said plurality of available channels.

Claim 7

A cordless telephone comprising: a base unit connected to a telephone line network; a handset unit operable for communicating with said base unit by way of a radio link; means for establishing a standby mode in which said handset unit intermittently monitors a plurality of predetermined channels and for alternatively establishing a low power sleep mode; means at said base unit for detecting the arrival of an incoming call from said telephone network and for informing said handset unit of said arrival through one of said plurality of predetermined channels, means for exchanging via said radio link between said base unit and said handset unit information identifying respective available channels thereof when a telephone conversation is complete; means for storing information identifying a plurality of said available channels which are the same for both said base unit and said handset unit; and means for selecting, from among said plurality of available channels, said plurality of predetermined channels which are to be intermittently monitored by said handset in said standby mode, said plurality of predetermined channels consisting of fewer channels than said plurality of available channels.

Claim 8

A cordless telephone comprising: a base unit connected to a telephone line network; a handset unit operable for communicating with said base unit by way of a radio link; means for establishing a standby mode in which said handset unit intermittently monitors a plurality of predetermined channels and for alternatively establishing a low power sleep mode; means at said base unit for detecting the arrival of an incoming call from said telephone network and for informing said handset unit of said arrival through one of said plurality of predetermined channels, means for exchanging via said radio link between said base unit and said handset unit information identifying respective available channels thereof when a telephone conversation is complete; means for storing information identifying a plurality of said available channels which are the same for both said base unit and said handset unit; and means for selecting, from among said plurality of available channels, said plurality of predetermined channels which are to be intermittently monitored by said handset in said standby mode, said plurality of predetermined channels consisting of fewer channels than said plurality of available channels.