GB2348575A

GB2348575A - Combined cordless and cellular telephone systems

Info

Publication number: GB2348575A
Application number: GB0001353A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alain Tisne; Laurent Lejay
Original assignee: Sagem SA
Current assignee: Sagem SA
Priority date: 1999-01-22
Filing date: 2000-01-21
Publication date: 2000-10-04
Anticipated expiration: 2020-01-21
Also published as: DE10002879B4; GB0001353D0; DE10002879A1; GB2348575B; FR2788924A1; FR2788924B1

Abstract

Local radio telephone network comprising a radio base 101 and at least one radio handset 102 linked to the base 101, data link means 122 to connect the assembly of the base 101 and the radio handset 122 and a telephone 120 of a cellular telephone network 140. A charger 123 for the cellular phone comprises means 127 for a data link to the cellular telephone 120 and second means 125,128 for a data link to the base 101, these means being connected to one another.

Description

2348575 LOCAL RADIO TELEPHONE NETWORK, CELLULAR TELEPHONE CHARGER, RADIO

HANDSET AND RADIO BASE FOR THE NETWORK The invention relates to a local radio telephone network comprising a radio base and at least one radio handset linked to the base. The base is linked to a wired telephone network, such as the STN network, and communicates with the handset or handsets by radio, using communication protocols such as that of the DECT standard.

Such a local radio telephone network allows its users to telephone whilst moving in the vicinity of the base. Nevertheless, because the base has to be connected by a wired link to the telephone network, the local network can only be used in places equipped with telephone sockets providing wired connection to the telephone network. Thus the user who has a local radio telephone network in his main residence will not be able to take this network and use it in a holiday residence, for example, without a telephone socket.

A local radio telephone network of the type presented above is known from EP 849 965 and comprises a radio base incorporating a cellular telephone charger, the base being able to be linked to the cellular network by means of the cellular telephone placed in its charger. However, with this local network, it is not possible to communicate simultaneously through two networks, cellular and wired.

The present invention aims at overcoming this disadvantage.

To this end, the invention relates-to a local radio telephone network comprising a radio base, at least one radio handset linked to the base, data link means in order to link the assembly of the radio base and handset and a telephone of a cellular telephone network, characterised by the fact that said linking means comprise a radio handset interface module by means of which the cellular telephone is intended to be linked to the base.

2 Straightaway it will be noted that the term cellular network is meant to designate a cellular network in the wide sense of the term, i.e. as much a network of cellular base stations as a network of land-based satellites.

Thanks to that, in the case where the base is linked to a telephone network other than the cellular network, for example the STN network, and pen-nits not only external communications through the other telephone network, but also internal communications between at least two handsets, a first handset A can communicate through the cellular network, by means of the base and the radio handset interface module in internal communication with handset A, and, simultaneously, a second handset B can communicate with a party outside the local network, through the STN network.

Advantageously, means are provided which are arranged to transform radio handset commands into commands for controlling a cellular telephone.

By preference, the radio base and handsets being arranged to communicate according to a given communication protocol, the assembly of the radio base and handset comprises means to encapsulate the commands to control a cellular telephone in said communication protocol, and the radio handset interface module comprises means for decapsulating said commands.

The invention relates also to a battery charger for a cellular telephone, for the above local radio telephone network, comprising first means for a data link to the cellular telephone and second means for a data link to the assembly of the radio base and radio handset, comprising a radio handset interface module arranged to be paired with the base by radio link, the first linking means being connected to the second linking means.

The invention also relates to a radio handset for the above local radio telephone network, comprising user interface means for capturing commands and means for generating commands to control a cellular telephone network, from commands captured with the aid of the user interface means.

3 The invention relates finally to a radio base for the above local radio telephone network, arranged to be paired with at least one radio handset, comprising means of transforming commands of a radio handset into commands for controlling a cellular telephone and, the base and the handset being arranged to communicate according to a given communication protocol, means are provided for encapsulating the commands for a cellular telephone in said protocol.

The invention will be better understood with the aid of the following description of two specific embodiments of the local radio telephone network of the invention, with reference to the attached drawing on which:

- figure 1 represents a diagram of the network, according to one of the embodiments, and - figure 2 represents a diagram of the network, according to the other embodiment.

The local radio telephone network represented on figure 1 comprises a base radio I and a plurality of radio telephone handsets 2, here six in number, connected to the base 1 by radio link and intended to communicate with it by using a cordless telephone communication protocol, in this instance the DECT protocol.

The base 1 comprises an interface line providing wired connection to a wired telephone network 10, in this instance the switched telephone network STN.

By means of the base 1, the handsets 2 can communicate through the STN telephone network 10 (external communication) and with one another (internal communication).

The base I comprises, apart from the standard elements of a DECT base, a connector 3 as a data link to a battery charger 23 of a telephone 20 of a 4 cellular network 40, here GSM, and an interface block 4 for communication between the local network and the cellular telephone 20.

The handsets 2 comprise a telephone keypad comprising, besides the ordinary elements of a telephone keypad, a GSM call button for calling through the GSM network 40.

In the interests of clarity, only the elements of the GSM telephone 20 and its charger 23 necessary for understanding the invention will now be described.

The cellular telephone 20 is intended to communicate through the GSM network 40, using the GSM communication protocol. It comprises a battery, not represented, charging contacts 21 and a service plug 22 for external connection and data transmission.

The battery charger 23 comprises a housing 24 to receive the telephone 20, charging contacts 26, intended to be connected to those 21 of the telephone 20, a socket 27 for connecting to the service plug 22 of the telephone 20 and for data transmission as well as a connector 25 for a data link with the base 1.

The connector 25, linking to the base 1, and the socket 27 for connecting to the telephone 20 are connected to one another.

The base 1 is connected to the charger 23, via the bias of connectors 3 and 25, connected to one another via a wired link 28. When it is placed in its charger 23, the telephone 20 is thus directly connected to the base 1 via a link, compdsing the wired link 28 and the link between the connector 25 and the socket 27, intended to make data pass between the telephone 20 and the base 1, especially voice data, transmitted during a communication between one of the handsets 2 and a party, and commands, as will be explained further on.

The interface block 4 acts as an interface for communication between, on the one hand, the base 1 and its radio handsets 2, and, on the other hand, the GSM telephone 20. It is intended to transform DECT commands, coming from a radio handset 2, into commands, or instructions, to control the GSM telephone 20, in this instance AT HAYES commands (ETSI GSM 07.07 standard) which will be called "AT commands" from now on. "IDECT command" is meant to designate a command defined by the DECT 5. communication protocol. These commands comprise in particular telephone commands to call, to unhook and to hang up. Moreover, if a telephone call is received, the GSM telephone 20 transmits to the base 1, through the service plug 22, an indication of an incoming call. When it receives this indication, the interface block 4 is intended to make the DECT radio handsets 2 ring.

After the structural description of the local radio telephone network, its functioning during a communication between one of the handsets 2 and a party external to the local network 2, through the GSM network 40, will now be described.

In order to recharge the GSM telephone 20, a user places it in the charger, thus connecting, on the one hand, the charging contacts 21 and 26 to one another, and on the other hand the plug 22 to the socket 27. The DECT base 1 is then connected to the GSM network 40 by means of the telephone 20.

If there is an incoming call on the GSM telephone 20, the latter transmits to the DECT base 1 an indication of an incoming call, through the plug 22. Under the control of the interface block 4, the base 1 then makes the DECT radio handsets 2 ring. When one of them is answered, it transmits a DECT off-hook command to the base. The base 1 transforms the DECT off-hook command into an AT off-hook command and transmits it to the telephone 20, through the link between the connector 3 and the socket 27. After receiving these data, the telephone 20 unhooks, s0that a telephone communication is established between the calling party and the handset 2 which has gone off-hook, through the GSM network 40.

In order to call a party with the aid of one of the handsets 2, through the GSM network 40, the user keys in the telephone dialling number of the party with 6 the aid of the handset 2 keypad, and presses the GSM call button. The handset 2 then transmits to the base a GSM telephone call DECT command and the telephone dialling number of the party. The interface block 4 transforms the DECT command received into an AT telephone call command.

The base 1 transmits this AT command to the telephone 20, with the telephone dialling number of the party, through the link between the connector 3 and the socket 27, After receiving these data, the telephone 20 calls the party, in order to establish a voice communication between the handset 2 in question and the party called through the GSM network 40.

During a telephone communication between the handset 2 and a party through the GSM 40, the data, especially voice data, transmitted between the party and the handset 2, pass through via the base 1 and the telephone 20.

Another embodiment of the local network only differs from the preceding description in what will now be described. In the interests of clarity, the elements of this second embodiment which correspond to elements of the first embodiment described above, have the same reference numbers as the latter, but increased by one hundred.

The local radio telephone network comprises the radio base 101, a plurality of radio telephone handsets 102, here five in number, and a battery charger 123 of a cellular telephone 120. The radio handsets 102 are arranged to be paired with the base 101, via radio link, and to communicate with it according to the DECT communication protocol.

The base 10 1, besides the st andard elements of a DECT base, comprises an interface block 104 for communicating between, on the one hand, the base 101 and its radio handsets 102, and, on the other hand, the cellular telephone 120. The interface block 104 is intended to transformer DECT commands, coming from a radio handset 102, into AT commands to control the GSM telephone 120, then to encapsulate these AT commands in the DECT communication protocol, as explained further on.

7 The charger comprises, in standard fashion, a housing 124 to receive the telephone 120 and contacts 126 for charging the battery of the telephone 120.

It comprises in addition a socket 127, for transmitting data and for connecting to the plug 122 of the telephone 120, as well as a radio telephone handset interface module 125, by means of which the telephone 120 is intended to be linked to the base 101. The connection socket 127 is connected to the radio handset interface module 125.

The radio telephone handset interface module 125 is a DECT radio handset, without a man-machine interface, arranged to be paired with the base 101, via radio link 128, and to communicate with it according to the DECT communication protocol. It acts as a link interface between the base 101 and the telephone 120 and comprises an interface block, not represented, for communicating between the base 101 and the telephone 120. This interface block is intended to decapsulate AT commands, encapsulated in the DECT protocol and transmitted by the base 101, before re-transmitting them to the telephone 120, and to transmit to the base 101 an internal telephone call command, if it receives an indication of an incoming call provided by the cellular telephone 120, as explained further on.

When the telephone 120 is in its charger 123, the base 101 is linked to the telephone 120 by means of the radio handset interface module 125. A radio handset 102 can then communicate with a party, through the GSM network 140, via the bias of an internal communication between the radio handset interface module 125 and the handset in question 102. The link between the base 101 and the telephon-e-120 is intended to make data pass through, especially voice and command data.

It will be emphasised here that when one of the handsets 102 is in communication with a party external to the local network, through the GSM network 140, via the bias of an internal communication with the handset interface module 125, another of the handsets 102 can simultaneously 8 communicate with another party external to the local network, through the wired telephone network 110.

After the structural description of the local radio telephone network, its 5 functioning during a communication between one of the handsets 102 and a party external to the local network, through the GSM network 140, will now be described.

In order to recharge the GSM telephone 120, its user places it in the charger, thus connecting, on the one hand, the charging contacts 121, 126 to one another, and, on the other hand the plug 122 to the socket 127.

In the case of an incoming call on the cellular telephone 120, the latter transmits an indication of an incoming call to the DECT handset module 125, is through the plug 122. The DECT handset module 125 then transmits to the base 101, by radio, an internal call command of the handsets 2. After receiving the command, the base 101 makes the handsets 102 ring. When one of them is answered, it transmits to the base 101 a DECT telephone offhook command. After receiving this command, the base 101 establishes an internal communication between the handset 102 which is off-hook and the DECT handset module 125, generates a telephone off-hook command and transmits it to the DECT handset module 125, encapsulating it in a specific field of the DECT protocol, in this instance the IWU field of an INFO frame of the DECT protocol. The DECT handset module 125 receives this INFO frame, extracts from it the telephone off-hook command, in other words decapsulates it, then re-transmits it to the telephone 120, through the plug 127. After receiving these data, the telephone 120 goes off-hook so that a telephone communication is established between the handset 102 in question and the calling party, through the GSM network 140, via the bias of a communication internal to the local network between the handset in question 102 and the DECT handset module 125.

1 9 In order to call a party with the aid of one of the handsets 102, through the GSM network 140, the users keys in the telephone dialling number of the party, with the aid of the handset keypad 102, and touches the GSM call button. The handset 102 transmits to the base 101 a internal call command of 5 the DECT handset module 125 and the telephone dialling number of the party. After receiving these data, the base 101 generates an AT telephone call command and transmits it to the DECT handset module 125, with the telephone dialling number of the party, encapsulating these data in the IWU field of an INFO frame of the DECT protocol. The DECT handset module 125 receives this frame, extracts from it the AT telephone call command and the telephone dialling number of the party, in other words decapsulates these data, then retransmits them to the telephone 120. The latter then calls the party, in order to establish a telephone communication between the handset 102 in question and the party, through the GSM network 140.

During a communication between one of the handsets 102 and a party external to the local network, through the GSM network 140, the handset 102 in question and the DECT handset module 125 communicate with one another, in internal communication, by means of the base 101. The data, in particular the voice data, transmitted between the handset 102 and the external party, pass via the base 1, the handset module 125 and the telephone 120.

During a communication between a first handset 102 and a first external party, through the GSM network 140, a second handset 102 can simultaneously transmit or receive a telephone call and communicate through the wired telephone network 110 with a second party external to the local network, by means of the base 101. The base 101, in this case, manages simultaneously the internal communication between the first handset 102 and the handset module 125, permitting the external communication of the first handset 102 with the first external party, through the GSM network 140, as well as the external communication of the second handset 102 with the second external party, through the wired telephone network 110.

One could envisage eliminating the socket for connection and transmission of data of the cellular telephone's battery charger and making the voice and command data go via the charging contacts.

The radio handsets could incorporate a communication interface block, arranged to generate commands, for example AT commands to control the cellular telephone, from commands captured with the aid of their telephone keypad.

It would also be possible to incorporate a communication interface block in the mobile telephone.

In a variant, the local network comprises in addition the elements described hereinafter.

The charger comprises a block for detecting the presence of the cellular telephone and a block for acquisition of identification data of the cellular telephone, in this instance an identification number. The detection block makes it possible to detect the presence of the cellular telephone in the charger, here by detecting a charging current. The acquisition block is intended to acquire the identification number of the telephone when the latter is in its charger and to re-transmit this number to the base.

The DECT radio base comprises an identification block and a telephone call switching block. The identification block is intended to verify the validity of the identification number of the cellular telephone, supplied by the charger's acquisition block, by comparing said number with a valid, pre-recorded identification number. The telephone call switching block is intended, under the control of the identification block, to control the base so that it calls a server for switching telephone calls and addresses to it a switching request for the purposes of making all the incoming calls, intended for the local network, pass through here, via the cellular network.

1 1 It will be noted here that the local network, comprising the base and its radio handsets and the cellular telephone, respectively has a telephone dialling number on the STN network and a telephone dialling number on the GSM network. The switching server, connected to the two networks STN and GSM, is intended to switch telephone calls through one or other of these networks, to one or other of the telephone dialling numbers.

When a user places the cellular telephone in the charger, the detection block detects the presence of the telephone. The acquisition block then acquires the identification number of the telephone, stored in the latter, and transmits it to the base. In the base, after receiving the identification number. the identification block verifies whether the identification number received is valid. If this is the case, under the control of the switching block, the base calls the switching server, through the STN network, and addresses to it a switching request to make all the incoming calls, intended for the local network, pass through the GSM network, in other words to switch the incoming calls, intended for the telephone dialling number of the local network on the STN network, to the telephone dialling number of the cellular telephone on the GSM network. Thus, if there is an incoming call on the local network, the switching server switches the call to the cellular telephone.

When the user removes the telephone from its charger, the detection block detects the absence of the telephone and signals this to the base. The latter then calls the switching server, through the STN network, and addresses to it a request to stop switching incoming calls.

It would be possible only to switch certain of the incoming calls, intended for the local network, to the cellular telephone, for example solely the calls coming from cellular telephones. It would be equally possible, conversely, to make at least certain of the incoming calls, intended for the cellular telephone network, pass through the STN network.

12 Instead of calling the switching server through the STN network, it would be possible to call it through the GSM network, insofar as the cellular telephone is in its charger and thus links the local network to the cellular network.

The radio base could also comprise a switching block intended to switch outgoing calls, transmitted by a handset of the local network, to one of the two networks, STN 100 and cellular 140, according to predefined criteria (cost of the communication, occupancy of the cellular network etc.) when the cellular telephone 120 is in its charger 123.

In another variant, the local network comprises in addition the following elements.

The charger incorporates an interpreter arranged to simulate, in combination with the keypad of a DECT radio handset paired with the DECT base, the actuation of a cellular telephone keypad. The interpreter is arranged to transform a command generated by actuating a button of the DECT handset keypad into a command simulating the actuation of a button of the cellular telephone keypad. It thus makes it possible to deport the cellular telephone keypad to the DECT handset.

The DECT radio handsets each have an internal call button permitting them to call another DECT radio handset of the local network, each DECT handset having an internal telephone calling number. An internal telephone calling number is also allocated to the DECT radio handset interface module, integrated in the charger.

When a user captures the internal calling number of the handset interface module, with the aid of the keypad of a radio handset, and presses the button for an internal call, the handset in question and the handset interface module establish between themselves an internal communication, by means of the base. From then on, thanks to the interpreter, the user can use the keypad of the radio handset in order to control the cellular telephone. The interpreter I I 13 receives commands generated by actuating a button on the keypad of the radio handset and transforms them into commands simulating the actuation of the buttons of the keypad of the cellular telephone.

The user can thus access different functions of the cellular telephone such as, for example, consulting a directory of called parties or a voice messaging box, modifying the directory of called parties, transmission and reception of SMS messages etc.

Instead of being integrated in the charger, the interpreter could be integrated in the base or in the radio handset.

In the place of AT commands, any other type of command of this sort could be used.

Finally, instead of a radio handset interface module, an interface radio handset could be provided, not integrated in the charger and able to be connected by -radio or wired link to the cellular telephone.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually 30 exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features

14 serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extend to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

1 1

Claims

Local radio telephone network comprising a radio base (1;'101), at least one radio handset (2; 102) linked to the base (1; 101), data link means (3,25,28, 27; 125,127) to connect the assembly of the base (1) and the radio handset (2; 102) and a telephone (20; 120) of a cellular telephone network (40; 140), characterised by the fact that said linking means comprise a radio handset interface module (125) paired with the base (101) by radio link (128), by means of which the cellular telephone (120) is intended to be linked to the base (10 1).
2. Network according to claim 1, wherein means (4; 104) are provided, arranged to transform commands of the radio handset (2; 102) into commands to control a cellular telephone (20; 120).
3. Network according to claim 2, wherein the base (101) and the radio handsets (102) being arranged to communicate according to a given communication protocol, the assembly of the base (101) and the radio handset (102) comprises means (104) for encapsulating the commands to control a cellular telephone in said communication protocol, and the radio handset interface module (125) comprises means for decapsulating said commands.
4. Network according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, the radio base comprising means for linking to another telephone network, switching means are provided which are arrangied to call a switching server and address to it a request to switch incoming calls, in order to make at least certain of the incoming calls pass through one of the two networks of the base and the cellular telephone.
5. Network according to claim 4, wherein the base comprises means of identifying the cellular telephone, these means being arranged to control the switching means.

16
6. Network according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein an interpreter is provided which is arranged to simulate, in combination with a keypad of the radio handset, the actuation of a cellular telephone keypad.
7. Battery charger for a cellular telephone (20; 120), for the local radio telephone network of claim 1, comprising first means (27; 127) for a data link to the cellular telephone (20; 120) and second means (25; 125) for a data link to the assembly of the base radio (1; 101) and the radio handset (2; 102), comprising a radio handset interface module (125), arranged to be paired with 10 the base (101) via radio link (128).
8. Radio handset for the local radio telephone network of claim 1, comprising user interface means for capturing commands and means for generating commands to control a telephone of a cellular network, from 15 commands captured with the aid of the user interface means.
9. Handset according to claim 8, wherein, the handset (102) being arranged to communicate with the base (101) according to a given communication protocol, means (104) are provided for encapsulating the commands to control 20 a cellular telephone (120) in said protocol.
10. Radio base for the local radio telephone network of claim 1, arranged to be paired with at least one radio handset (2; 102), comprising means (4; 104) for transforming commands of a radio handset into commands to control a 25 cellular telephone (20; 120) and, the base (101) and the handset (102) being arranged to communicate according to a given communication protocol, means (104) are provided for encapsulating the commands for a cellular telephone (120) in said protocol. 30
11. Radio base according to claim 10, wherein means for linking to a telephone network being provided in same, switching means are provided intended to switch automatically the outgoing telephone calls to one of the two 17 respective networks of the base and the cellular telephone, according to predefined criteria.
12. Local radio telephone network constructed and arranged substantially as 5 herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
13. Battery charger for a cellular telephone constructed and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
14. Radio hand set for a local radio telephone network constructed and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
15. Radio base for a local radio telephone network constructed and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.