US5535260A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cellular radiotelephone with dialed number analysis
Assignee: GTE Wireless Inc
•
Filing: 1994-09-29
•
Granted: 1996-07-09
•
Expires: 2014-09-29
Abstract
Abstract A radiotelephone (10) simulates the call origination process performed by land-line telephones. Dial tone is generated (78) in response to an off-hook condition and removed when a first digit (54) is dialed. A timer process (84, 110) and a number analysis process (100) simultaneously evaluate dialed digits to detect the completion of dialing. The number analysis process (100) identifies seven, ten, and eleven digit, and indeterminate length phone number formats (64, 66, 52, 68). The ten digit format is recognized in response to remotely programmed (42) connected NPA codes. For most calls, the number analysis process (100) instantly detects a phone number's final digit (62). In a few cases the timer process (84, 110) detects the final digit through the absence of dialing activity for a predetermined duration. When the final digit (62) is detected, an origination message is transmitted to a cellular network.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert G. Zicker
- 👤 John K. Dion
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 06:18
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W4/00; H04W4/24; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/26; H04M1/27; H04M1/274; H04M1/2745; H04M1/27485; H04M1/72; H04M1/725; H04M1/72502; H04M1/72505; H04M15/00; H04M15/80; H04M15/8033; H04W48/00; H04W48/18; H04W76/00; H04W76/20; H04W8/00; H04W8/18; H04W8/20; H04W8/205; H04W8/26; H04W8/265; H04M1/27463; H04M1/57; H04M1/724; H04M1/72403; H04M2215/00; H04M2215/32; H04M2215/74; H04M2215/7435; H04W16/00; H04W16/14; H04W16/16; H04W16/24; H04W16/32; H04W76/10; H04W8/22; H04W8/24; H04W8/245; H04W8/28; H04W84/00; H04W84/02; H04W84/10; H04W84/105; H04W84/14; H04W88/00; H04W88/02; H04W88/021; H04W88/06; H04W88/08; H04W88/18; H04W92/00; H04W92/02; H04W92/16; H04W92/18; Y; Y02; Y02D; Y02D30/00; Y02D30/70
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
A method of operating a cellular radiotelephone which is authorized to operate with a home cellular system that provides cellular services in a first geographical NPA area to originate a call, said method comprising the steps of: identifying the entry of a first three dialed digits and a later dialed digit, said first three digits being dialed prior to said later digit; determining, in response to said first three digits, whether said later digit is a final digit of a phone number by evaluating said first three digits to determine whether said first three digits define a connected NPA code which is remotely programmed into said radiotelephone, said connected NPA code corresponding to a geographical NPA area which overlaps or is adjacent to said first geographical NPA area; and automatically transmitting an origination message when said later digit is said final digit of said phone number, said origination message conveying said phone number to a telecommunication network.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
157 words
A method of operating a cellular radiotelephone which is authorized to operate with a home cellular system that provides cellular services in a first geographical NPA area to originate a call, said method comprising the steps of: identifying the entry of a first three dialed digits and a later dialed digit, said first three digits being dialed prior to said later digit; determining, in response to said first three digits, whether said later digit is a final digit of a phone number by evaluating said first three digits to determine whether said first three digits define a connected NPA code which is remotely programmed into said radiotelephone, said connected NPA code corresponding to a geographical NPA area which overlaps or is adjacent to said first geographical NPA area; and automatically transmitting an origination message when said later digit is said final digit of said phone number, said origination message conveying said phone number to a telecommunication network.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 additionally comprising the steps of: detecting manipulation of a key which signals an off-hook condition; and generating, in response to detection of said off-hook condition, an audio tone at said radiotelephone, said audio tone having a tonal quality approximating precision dial tone.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 additionally comprising the step of attenuating said audio tone when a first digit is entered.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as claimed in claim 3 additionally comprising the steps of: detecting manipulation of a key which signals an instruction to delete one or more dialed digits; and generating said audio tone in response to said detecting step when a first dialed digit is deleted.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said identifying step identifies the entry of each digit of said phone number, and said method additionally comprises the steps of: initiating a wait period in response to the entry of at least one of said digits; and performing said transmitting step when said wait period expires.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein said initiating step is configured so that entry of each digit following a first digit of said phone number reinitiates said wait period.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said determining step further comprises the step of signifying, when said first three digits do not correspond to said connected NPA area, the final digit of said phone number as occurring upon entry of a seventh dialed digit to be conveyed to said cellular telecommunication network.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said earlier digit is a first digit of said phone number; and said determining step comprises the step of signifying, when said first digit is a zero or a one, the final digit of said phone number as occurring after entry of an eleventh dialed digit to be conveyed to said cellular telecommunication network.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
210 words
A method of operating a cellular radiotelephone which is authorized to operate with a home cellular system that provides cellular services in a first geographical NPA area to originate a call, said method comprising the steps of: identifying the entry of a first three dialed digits and a later dialed digit, said first three digits being dialed prior to said later digit; determining, in response to said first three digits, whether said later digit is a final digit of a phone number by evaluating said first three digits to determine whether said first three digits define a connected NPA code, said connected NPA code corresponding to a geographical NPA area which overlaps or is adjacent to said first geographical NPA area; and automatically transmitting an origination message when said later digit is said final digit of said phone number, said origination message conveying said phone number to a cellular telecommunication network, wherein said determining step further comprises the steps of: verifying that said radiotelephone is not roaming; and signifying, when said radiotelephone is not roaming and said first three digits correspond to said connected NPA area, the final digit of said phone number as occurring upon entry of a tenth dialed digit to be conveyed to said cellular telecommunication network.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
210 words
A method of operating a cellular radiotelephone which is authorized to operate with a home cellular system that provides cellular services in a first geographical NPA area to originate a call, said method comprising the steps of: identifying the entry of a first three dialed digits and a later dialed digit, said first three digits being dialed prior to said later digit; determining, in response to said first three digits, whether said later digit is a final digit of a phone number by evaluating said first three digits to determine whether said first three digits define a connected NPA code, said connected NPA code corresponding to a geographical NPA area which overlaps or is adjacent to said first geographical NPA area; and automatically transmitting an origination message when said later digit is said final digit of said phone number, said origination message conveying said phone number to a cellular telecommunication network, wherein said determining step further comprises the steps of: verifying that said radiotelephone is not roaming; and signifying, when said radiotelephone is not roaming and said first three digits correspond to said connected NPA area, the final digit of said phone number as occurring upon entry of a tenth dialed digit to be conveyed to said cellular telecommunication network.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
198 words
A method of operating a cellular radiotelephone which is authorized to operate with a home cellular system that provides cellular services in a first geographical NPA area to originate a call, said method comprising the steps of: detecting the entry of each of a stream of dialed digits; initiating a timer when each of at least a portion of said stream of digits is entered so that subsequent digit entries reinitiate said timer; activating a number analysis process, said number analysis process responding to a first three of said digits to predict whether a last-entered digit is a final digit of a phone number by evaluating said first three digits to determine whether said first three digits define a connected NPA code which is remotely programmed into said radiotelephone, said connected NPA code corresponding to a geographical NPA area which overlaps or is adjacent to said first geographical NPA area; selecting between said timer and said number analysis process to provide a decision regarding when an entire phone number has been entered; and automatically transmitting an origination message when said entire phone number has been entered, said origination message conveying said phone number to a cellular telecommunication network.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
198 words
A method of operating a cellular radiotelephone which is authorized to operate with a home cellular system that provides cellular services in a first geographical NPA area to originate a call, said method comprising the steps of: detecting the entry of each of a stream of dialed digits; initiating a timer when each of at least a portion of said stream of digits is entered so that subsequent digit entries reinitiate said timer; activating a number analysis process, said number analysis process responding to a first three of said digits to predict whether a last-entered digit is a final digit of a phone number by evaluating said first three digits to determine whether said first three digits define a connected NPA code which is remotely programmed into said radiotelephone, said connected NPA code corresponding to a geographical NPA area which overlaps or is adjacent to said first geographical NPA area; selecting between said timer and said number analysis process to provide a decision regarding when an entire phone number has been entered; and automatically transmitting an origination message when said entire phone number has been entered, said origination message conveying said phone number to a cellular telecommunication network.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method as claimed in claim 10 additionally comprising the steps of: identifying manipulation of a key which signals an off-hook condition; and generating, in response to identification of said off-hook condition, an audio tone at said radiotelephone, said audio tone having a tonal quality approximating a precision dial tone.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as claimed in claim 11 additionally comprising the step of attenuating said audio tone when said detecting step detects entry of a first digit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein said selecting step selects said timer to provide said decision when a first digit is a zero or a one and a second digit is a zero or a one.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein said number analysis process comprises the step of deciding that said entire phone number has been entered after entry of an eleventh dialed digit when a first digit is a zero or a one.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
66 words
A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein said number analysis process further comprises the steps of: verifying that said radiotelephone is not roaming; and deciding that said entire phone number has been entered upon entry of a tenth dialed digit to be conveyed to said cellular network when said first three digits correspond to said connected geographical NPA area and said radiotelephone is not roaming.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein said number analysis process further comprises the step of deciding that said entire phone number has been entered upon entry of a seventh dialed digit to be conveyed to said network when said first three digits do not correspond to said connected geographical NPA area.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4658096A
Cited
US4737975A
Cited
US4775997A
Cited
US4922517A
Cited
US4959851A
Cited
US5117450A
Cited
US5046082A
Cited
US5153904A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-07-09 | 2000-01-08 | 2000-07-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-07-09 | 2004-01-08 | 2004-07-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-07-09 | 2008-01-08 | 2008-07-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |