Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
236 words
A method for selectively screening calls in a cordless telephone having a base unit and a handset unit, wherein the base unit and handset each have a control unit coupled to a memory, a transmitter arranged for transmitting coded signals and voice signals, and a receiver arranged for receiving coded signals and voice signals, wherein a ring coded signal may be transmitted by the base unit to the handset to indicate receipt of a telephone call via a telephone line interconnected to the base unit, and wherein voice signals associated with the telephone call may be intercepted and recorded by a telephone answering device (TAD) coupled to the base unit, the method comprising the steps of: setting a loudspeaker flag in the memory in the handset unit by a handset unit user to indicate either an active or an inactive state; transmitting the ring coded signal by the base unit transmitter; detecting the ring coded signal in the handset unit to activate a handset ringer; determining whether the loudspeaker flag in the handset unit memory is set to an active state; and when the loudspeaker flag is set to an active state, coupling an amplifier and an auxiliary loudspeaker in the handset unit to the handset receiver; activating the handset receiver for monitoring TAD-intercepted voice signals transmitted by the base unit transmitter; and monitoring at the handset unit the intercepted voice signals via the auxiliary loudspeaker.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
236 words
A method for selectively screening calls in a cordless telephone having a base unit and a handset unit, wherein the base unit and handset each have a control unit coupled to a memory, a transmitter arranged for transmitting coded signals and voice signals, and a receiver arranged for receiving coded signals and voice signals, wherein a ring coded signal may be transmitted by the base unit to the handset to indicate receipt of a telephone call via a telephone line interconnected to the base unit, and wherein voice signals associated with the telephone call may be intercepted and recorded by a telephone answering device (TAD) coupled to the base unit, the method comprising the steps of: setting a loudspeaker flag in the memory in the handset unit by a handset unit user to indicate either an active or an inactive state; transmitting the ring coded signal by the base unit transmitter; detecting the ring coded signal in the handset unit to activate a handset ringer; determining whether the loudspeaker flag in the handset unit memory is set to an active state; and when the loudspeaker flag is set to an active state, coupling an amplifier and an auxiliary loudspeaker in the handset unit to the handset receiver; activating the handset receiver for monitoring TAD-intercepted voice signals transmitted by the base unit transmitter; and monitoring at the handset unit the intercepted voice signals via the auxiliary loudspeaker.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: transmitting a coded signal from the handset unit to the base unit when monitoring of the intercepted voice signals at the handset unit has been completed; and decoupling the amplifier and the loudspeaker from the handset receiver.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitted voice signals include a caller message stored in the TAD.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the caller message is selected from a plurality of caller-identifying messages stored in the TAD and is associated with a stored caller identifier in the base unit memory.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the coded signal causes the base unit control unit to terminate operation of the TAD and activate the base unit transmitter and receiver so that voice signals associated with the telephone call may be transmitted to and received from the handset unit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the coded signal causes the base unit control unit to deactivate the base unit transmitter.