GB2243746A

GB2243746A - Cordless telephones

Info

Publication number: GB2243746A
Application number: GB9009962A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Hart
Original assignee: Multitone Electronics PLC
Current assignee: Multitone Electronics PLC
Priority date: 1990-05-03
Filing date: 1990-05-03
Publication date: 1991-11-06
Also published as: GB9009962D0

Abstract

A cordless telephone handset 10-18 of the type which can only originate calls has an integrated radiopager 20-24 for providing the user with an indication that a calling party wishes to contact the user. At least one operational function of the radiopager, such as one or more addresses stored in a preprogrammable memory 22, can be entered or altered by means of a keypad 12 provided on the telephone handset 10-18. <IMAGE>

Description

CORDLESS TELEPHONES This invention relates to cordless telephones, that is telephones which are operable with an indirect partially cordless connection to the exchange, such as by means of a radio link.

Certain types of cordless telephone do not have the ability to receive and answer incoming calls; they can only originate calls. In order to overcome this disadvantage, it has been proposed to use a radiopaging receiver (radiopager) provided with a message display in order to provide an indication to the cordless telephone user that a calling party wishes to contact the user. The display on the radiopager can then identify the telephone number of the calling party (together with further information, if required) so that the cordless telephone user can originate a call to that number. It has also been suggested that, in order to provide a less cumbersome system, the radiopager circuitry could be integrated into the cordless telephone handset.

Radiopagers are commonly fitted with a coce store device, which induces some type of preprogrammed memory containing information relating to certain operational aspects of the radiopager, such as the or each specific identity (or address) of the particular radiopager.

Other information for configuring the radiopager's mode of operation can also be stored in this memory. The memory requires the necessary information to be entered into it before the radiopager can function.

This is typically accomplished either by externally programming a plugin memory device which is fitted to the radiopager, or by feeding the information directly to the radiopager, either by means of the radio link or by a temporary hardwire connection to the radiopager. In all of these alternative versions of preprogramming, some type of external programming device is necessary.

According to the invention there is provided a cordless telephone handset in combination with a radiopager, the telephone handset comprising transmitting means for transmitting signals including call originating signals, first receiving means for receiving signals from a called party, and a keyboard for entering information in order to originate a call, the radiopager comprising second receiving means for receiving radiopaging signals, and means responsive to the keyboard of the telephone handset to set a function of the radiopager in accordance with information entered by the keyboard.

Preferably, one of the functions of the radiopager to be set is the or each address which defines the radiopager's identity.

Since a cordless telephone handset generally contains a keypad with digit keys (0 to 9) for dialling and other keys for various control functions, as well as a display device for providing the user with status information relating to the status of the handset, the keypad and the display can conveniently be used to provide the means for programming the radiopager's memory. Therefore no external device is required to program the address and/or other operational characteristics of the radiopager, and this can result in improved configuration at the point of sale.

Preferably, a common memory can be provided within the telephone handset serving both the telephone part and the radiopager part of the apparatus.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, throughout which like parts are referred to by like references, and in which: Figure 1 is a block schematic diagram of a radiopager integrated into a cordless telephone, according to one embodiment of the invention; and Figure 2 is a block schematic diagram similar to Figure 1, but according to another embodiment of the invention.

Referring to Figure 1, a cordless telephone handset with integrated radiopager is shown in block schematic form, and in which the cordless telephone part includes a cordless telephone (CT) controller 10 connected to a keypad 12, a display 14, a radio and audio circuit 16 and a CT memory 18; the radiopager part includes a pager decoder and controller 20 connected to a pager preprogrammable memory 22 and to a pager receiving circuit 24. The CT controller 10 is also connected by a two-way path to the pager decoder and controller 20.

The cordless telephone part of the circuit operates in the normal manner in that a call is originated by the user activating the required keys on the keypad 12 which causes the CT controller 10 to send the call via the radio part of the radio and audio circuit 16. Once the call has been answered at the called party's end, normal conversation can take place by means of the radio and audio circuit 16. The dialled number can appear on the display 14 for verification, and preprogramned telephone numbers or other operational parameters can be read out of the CT memory 18.

The radiopager part of the circuit operates in the normal manner in that a transmission is received by the pager receiving circuit 214 which typically operates in a battery saving mode whereby the receiving circuit is turned on for a short period at regular intervals in order to check for paging signal transmissions. A received paging transmission is processed by the pager decoder and controller 20 which checks the radiopager's identity or address in the preprogrammable memory 22 with an appropriate part of the received signal. If it is found that the received signal is intended for the particular radiopager, the decoder and controller 20 processes the signal accordingly.In the context of the present apparatus, the paging signal will include text information for display, in the form of at least the telephone number of the calling party, as well as possible further information such as the calling party's name. This text information can conveniently be sent along the two-way path to the CT controller 10 for transfer to the display 14.

As described above, the preprogrammable memory 22 stores the radiopager's address (or addresses, if more than one is required). The memory 22 can also store other operational functions of the radiopager such as the ability to change the acoustic level of the alert tone(s) and the like. The radiopager will also include further memory capability in known manner such as temporary storage for storing received messages, but this is not shown.

In order'to avoid the need to use a separate external device to preprogram (or reprogram) the memory 22, the circuit shown in Figure 1 can respond to activation of selected keys on the keypad 12 of the cordless telephone part for achieving this function. The programming functions for the radiopager are preferably accessed by entering a secret code via the keypad 12. Once the access code is verified by the CT controller 10, the handset display 14 will indicate that the preset function, for example the radiopager's required address, is to be entered. The address is then entered via the keypad 12, the CT controller 10 transfers the data to the pager decoder and controller 20 via the two-way path, and the decoder and controller 20 programs the memory 22.If the operation is successful, the decoder and controller 20 transmits an "address programmed verified" message to the CT controller 10 via the two-way path which then places a "success" message on the display. If the programming is unsuccessful, a "failure" message may be displayed instead. Other data applicable to the configuration of the radiopager can be stored in the preprogrammable memory 22 by a similar process, either by means of a different secret code or by an additional step following entry of the secret code with a request on the display asking which function is to be programmed.

On completion of programming of the memory 22, the circuit is reset to normal operation. This can be done manually, for example by turning the telephone handset off and then on again, or automatically on completion of a predetermined programming sequence or, for example, by timeout in the absence of any keypad entry after a predetermined period.

Figure 2 shows a variation of the circuit in which the CT memory 18 and the pager preprogrammable memory 22 of the Figure 1 embodiment are replaced by a single common memory 30. This simplified construction is more cost effective than the circuit of Figure 1.

Operation proceeds in a similar manner to that described above, except that stored data relating to the radiopager operation, such as the address, is read out by the CT controller 10 in response to a request from the pager decoder and controller circuit 20 and is sent thereto; also, preprogramming is effected directly by the CT controller 10.

Claims

1. A cordless telephone handset in combination with a radiopager, the telephone handset comprising transmitting means for transmitting signals including call originating signals, first receiving means for receiving signals from a called party, and a keyboard for entering information in order to originate a call, the radiopager comprising second receiving means for receiving radiopaging signals, and means responsive to the keyboard of the telephone handset to set a function of the radiopager in accordance with information entered by the keyboard.

2. A combination according to claim 1, comprising storing means for storing information relating to the set function of the radiopager in accordance with the information entered by the keyboard.

3. A combination according to claim 2, wherein the storing means is provided by a common memory also storing data relating to the telephone handset.

4. A combination according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the storing means is operable to store at least one address, the radiopager comprising means for comparing address signals in the received radiopaging signals with the or each stored address, and wherein the or each stored address can be set by the keyboard.

5. A combination according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the means responsive to the keyboard to set the function is operable upon entry of a specific code on the keyboard.

6. A combination according to any one of the preceding claims, including means for providing an indication of successful setting of the function.

7. A combination according to claim 6, including a display wherein successful setting of the function is shown by a message on the display.

8. A combination according to claim 7, wherein the display also provides information relating to operation of the telephone handset.

9. A cordless telephone handset in combination with a radiopager, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.