US6044267A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for network operability of a multi-function cordless/cellular telephone
Assignee: AT&T Inc
•
Filing: 1997-03-24
•
Granted: 2000-03-28
•
Expires: 2017-03-24
Abstract
Abstract A method for routing a call to a cordless/cellular telephone accessible over the landline network via a home cordless base station according to a LL#, and acessible over a cellular network according to a mobile identification number (MIN). Upon receiving a call to a cordless/cellular user's land-line telephone number (LL#) or to the corresponding MIN, the landline network ascertains whether the cordless/cellular telephone is within communication range of its home cordless base station. The telephone call is then routed to the home cordless base station only if the CCT is within communication range of the cordless base station. If the CCT is not within range of the home cordless base station, the call is forwarded by the land-line telephone network to the cellular network with the MIN in order to complete a cellular call to the CCT. In an alternative embodiment, the landline telephone network, upon receiving a call to the CCT's LL# or MIN, interfaces with the cellular network provider to ascertain whether the cordless/cellular telephone is active in the cellular mode. If the cellular mode is active, the telephone network forwards the call using the MIN to the cellular network for completion of a cellular call to the CCT. Otherwise, if the cellular mode is not active, the telephone network completes the call to the home cordless base station.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark Jeffrey Foladare
- 👤 Shelley Betty Goldman
- 👤 David Phillip Silverman
- 👤 Roy Philip Weber
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 03:57
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W84/00; H04W84/02; H04W84/10; H04W84/105
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
196 words
A method for a landline network to route calls to a cordless/cellular station, said cordless/cellular station capable of cordless communication with a home cordless base station coupled to said landline network, and capable of wireless communication with a cellular network, said method comprising the landline network executed steps of: receiving a call to a telephone number associated with said cordless/cellular station; ascertaining whether said cordless/cellular station is within range of said home cordless base station; routing said call to said home cordless base station in the event that said cordless/cellular station is within communication range of said cordless base station; routing said call to said cellular network to complete a cellular connection of said call to said cordless/cellular station in the event that said cordless/cellular station is not within communication range of said home cordless base station; setting a homebase flag in the event that said cordless/cellular station is communicating via the home cordless base station over the landline network; checking said flag in response to an incoming call directed to said telephone number; and disconnecting said incoming call, or forwarding said incoming call to a predetermined destination, in the event that said flag is set.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
196 words
A method for a landline network to route calls to a cordless/cellular station, said cordless/cellular station capable of cordless communication with a home cordless base station coupled to said landline network, and capable of wireless communication with a cellular network, said method comprising the landline network executed steps of: receiving a call to a telephone number associated with said cordless/cellular station; ascertaining whether said cordless/cellular station is within range of said home cordless base station; routing said call to said home cordless base station in the event that said cordless/cellular station is within communication range of said cordless base station; routing said call to said cellular network to complete a cellular connection of said call to said cordless/cellular station in the event that said cordless/cellular station is not within communication range of said home cordless base station; setting a homebase flag in the event that said cordless/cellular station is communicating via the home cordless base station over the landline network; checking said flag in response to an incoming call directed to said telephone number; and disconnecting said incoming call, or forwarding said incoming call to a predetermined destination, in the event that said flag is set.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said ascertaining step includes the landline network executed steps of: querying said home cordless base station as to whether said cordless/cellular station is within communication range of said home cordless base station; and receiving a response signal from said home cordless base station, said response signal indicating whether said cordless/cellular station is within communication range of said home cordless base station.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method according to claim 2, further comprising the steps, executed by said home cordless base station after said querying step and before said receiving step, of: transmitting a homebase query signal for receipt by said cordless/cellular station; waiting a predetermined time interval for a reply signal from said cordless/cellular station in response to said homebase query signal; transmitting said response signal to said landline network.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said ascertaining step includes the step of determining whether said cordless/cellular station is activated as a cellular station and is not within its home cell site.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said telephone number associated with said cordless/cellular station includes a landline telephone number associated with said home cordless base station, and a mobile identification number associated with wireless calls to said cordless/cellular station via said cellular network.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps, executed by said cellular network, of: checking said flag in response to an incoming cellular call directed to said cellular number; and disconnecting, or forwarding to a predetermined destination, said incoming cellular call in the event that said flag is set.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method according to claim 6, further comprising the steps, executed by said cellular network, of: checking said flag in response to an incoming cellular call directed to said landline number; and disconnecting, or forwarding to a predetermined destination, said incoming cellular call in the event that said flag is set.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 1, further comprising the landline network executed step of transmitting a flag update signal, including said flag and associated cellular telephone number, to said cellular network.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
95 words
The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps, executed by said cellular network, of: ascertaining whether said cordless/cellular station is within range of said home cordless base station, in response to an incoming cellular call directed to said cellular number; and forwarding said incoming cellular call to said landline network in the event that said cordless/cellular station is within range of said home cordless base station; and completing said incoming cellular call as a cellular connection in the event that said cordless/cellular station is not within range of said home cordless base station.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method according to claim 9, wherein said ascertaining step includes the cellular network executed steps of: querying said landline network as to whether said cordless/cellular station is within communication range of said home cordless base station; and receiving a response signal from said landline network, said response signal indicating whether said cordless/cellular station is within communication range of said home cordless base station.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
79 words
The method according to claim 10, wherein said landline network, in response to said querying step, executes the steps of: querying said home cordless base station as to whether said cordless/cellular station is within communication range of said home cordless base station; receiving a reply signal from said home cordless base station, said reply signal indicating whether said cordless/cellular station is within communication range of said home cordless base station; and sending said response signal to said cellular network.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
188 words
A method for a landline network to route calls to a cordless/cellular station, said cordless/cellular station capable of cordless communication with a home cordless base station coupled to said landline network, and capable of wireless communication with a cellular network, said method comprising the landline network executed steps of: receiving a call to a telephone number associated with said cordless/cellular station; ascertaining whether said cordless/cellular station is activated as a cellular station; routing said call to said home cordless base station in the event that said cordless/cellular station is not activated as a cellular station; routing said call to said cellular network to complete a cellular connection of said call to said cordless/cellular station in the event that said cordless/cellular station is activated as a cellular station; setting a homebase flag in the event that said cordless/cellular station is communicating via the home cordless base station over the landline network; checking said flag, prior to said ascertaining step, in response to an incoming call directed to said telephone number; and disconnecting, or forwarding to a predetermined destination, said incoming call in the event that said flag is set.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
188 words
A method for a landline network to route calls to a cordless/cellular station, said cordless/cellular station capable of cordless communication with a home cordless base station coupled to said landline network, and capable of wireless communication with a cellular network, said method comprising the landline network executed steps of: receiving a call to a telephone number associated with said cordless/cellular station; ascertaining whether said cordless/cellular station is activated as a cellular station; routing said call to said home cordless base station in the event that said cordless/cellular station is not activated as a cellular station; routing said call to said cellular network to complete a cellular connection of said call to said cordless/cellular station in the event that said cordless/cellular station is activated as a cellular station; setting a homebase flag in the event that said cordless/cellular station is communicating via the home cordless base station over the landline network; checking said flag, prior to said ascertaining step, in response to an incoming call directed to said telephone number; and disconnecting, or forwarding to a predetermined destination, said incoming call in the event that said flag is set.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method according to claim 12, wherein said ascertaining step includes the landline network executed steps of: querying said cellular network as to whether said cordless/cellular station is activated as a cellular station; and receiving a response signal from said cellular network, said response signal indicating whether said cordless/cellular station is activated as a cellular station.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method according to claim 12, further comprising the steps, executed by said cellular network after said querying step and before said receiving step, of: transmitting a page signal for receipt by said cordless/cellular station; waiting a predetermined time interval for a reply signal from said cordless/cellular station in response to said page signal; transmitting said response signal to said landline network.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method according to claim 12, wherein said telephone number associated with said cordless/cellular station includes a landline telephone number associated with said home cordless base station, and a mobile identification number associated with wireless calls to said cordless/cellular station via said cellular network.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method according to claim 12, further comprising the steps, executed by said cellular network, of: checking said flag in response to an incoming cellular call directed to said cordless/cellular station; and disconnecting, or forwarding to a predetermined destination, said incoming cellular call in the event that said flag is set.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method according to claim 16, wherein said telephone number associated with said cordless/cellular station includes a landline telephone number associated with said home cordless base station, and a mobile identification number associated with wireless calls to said cordless/cellular station via said cellular network, and wherein said incoming cellular call is directed to said cordless/cellular station according to said mobile identification number.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method according to claim 16, wherein said telephone number associated with said cordless/cellular station includes a landline telephone number associated with said home cordless base station, and a mobile identification number associated with wireless calls to said cordless/cellular station via said cellular network, and wherein said incoming cellular call is directed to said cordless/cellular station according to said landline telephone number.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 12, further comprising the landline network executed step of transmitting a flag update signal, including said flag and associated cellular telephone number, to said cellular network.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
228 words
A method for a landline network to route calls to a cordless/cellular station, said cordless/cellular station capable of cordless communication with a home cordless base station coupled to said landline network, and capable of wireless communication with a cellular network, said method comprising the landline network executed steps of: receiving a call to a telephone number associated with said cordless/cellular station; ascertaining, in response to said receiving the call, whether said cordless/cellular station is within range of said home cordless base station by querying said home cordless base station, or by querying information stored in the landline or cellular network; routing said call to said home cordless base station in the event that said ascertaining indicates that said cordless/cellular station is within communication range of said cordless base station; routing said call to said cellular network to complete a cellular connection of said call to said cordless/cellular station in the event that said ascertaining indicates that said cordless/cellular station is not within communication range of said home cordless base station; setting a homebase flag in the event that said cordless/cellular station is communicating via the home cordless base station over landline network; checking said flag in response to an incoming call directed to said telephone number; and disconnecting said incoming call, or forwarding said incoming call to a predetermined destination, in the event that said flag is set.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
228 words
A method for a landline network to route calls to a cordless/cellular station, said cordless/cellular station capable of cordless communication with a home cordless base station coupled to said landline network, and capable of wireless communication with a cellular network, said method comprising the landline network executed steps of: receiving a call to a telephone number associated with said cordless/cellular station; ascertaining, in response to said receiving the call, whether said cordless/cellular station is within range of said home cordless base station by querying said home cordless base station, or by querying information stored in the landline or cellular network; routing said call to said home cordless base station in the event that said ascertaining indicates that said cordless/cellular station is within communication range of said cordless base station; routing said call to said cellular network to complete a cellular connection of said call to said cordless/cellular station in the event that said ascertaining indicates that said cordless/cellular station is not within communication range of said home cordless base station; setting a homebase flag in the event that said cordless/cellular station is communicating via the home cordless base station over landline network; checking said flag in response to an incoming call directed to said telephone number; and disconnecting said incoming call, or forwarding said incoming call to a predetermined destination, in the event that said flag is set.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
217 words
A method for a landline network to route calls to a cordless/cellular station, said cordless/cellular station capable of cordless communication with a home cordless base station coupled to said landline network, and capable of wireless communication with a cellular network, said method comprising the landline network executed steps of: receiving a call to a telephone number associated with said cordless/cellular station; ascertaining, in response to said receiving the call, whether said cordless/cellular station is activated as a cellular station by querying the cellular network or by querying information stored in the landline network; routing said call to said home cordless base station in the event that said ascertaining indicates that said cordless/cellular station is not activated as a cellular station; routing said call to said cellular network to complete a cellular connection of said call to said cordless/cellular station in the event that said ascertaining indicates that said cordless/cellular station is activated as a cellular station; setting a homebase flag in the event that said cordless/cellular station is communicating via the home cordless base station over the landline network; checking said flag, prior to said ascertaining step, in response to an incoming call directed to said telephone number; and disconnecting, or forwarding to a predetermined destination, said incoming call in the event that said flag is set.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
217 words
A method for a landline network to route calls to a cordless/cellular station, said cordless/cellular station capable of cordless communication with a home cordless base station coupled to said landline network, and capable of wireless communication with a cellular network, said method comprising the landline network executed steps of: receiving a call to a telephone number associated with said cordless/cellular station; ascertaining, in response to said receiving the call, whether said cordless/cellular station is activated as a cellular station by querying the cellular network or by querying information stored in the landline network; routing said call to said home cordless base station in the event that said ascertaining indicates that said cordless/cellular station is not activated as a cellular station; routing said call to said cellular network to complete a cellular connection of said call to said cordless/cellular station in the event that said ascertaining indicates that said cordless/cellular station is activated as a cellular station; setting a homebase flag in the event that said cordless/cellular station is communicating via the home cordless base station over the landline network; checking said flag, prior to said ascertaining step, in response to an incoming call directed to said telephone number; and disconnecting, or forwarding to a predetermined destination, said incoming call in the event that said flag is set.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4748655A
Cited
US5210785A
Cited
US5367558A
Cited
US5463674A
Cited
US4980907A
Cited
US5090051A
Cited
US5309502A
Cited
US5260988A
Cited
FR2693863A1
Cited
WO1994017639A1
Cited
WO1995001070A1
Cited
US5673308A
Cited
US5745851A
Cited
US5745852A
Cited
US5675629A
Cited
US5826191A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-03-28 | 2003-09-27 | 2004-03-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-03-28 | 2007-09-27 | 2008-03-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-03-28 | 2011-09-27 | 2012-03-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |