CELLULAR RADIOTELPHONE WITH MARKED NUMBER ANALYSIS
Technical Field The present invention relates generally to cellular radiotelephones. More specifically, the present invention relates to the origination of calls from cellular radiotelephones. Background Technique The telephone industry has long used certain standards in managing the processes that occur when landline phones are used to make outgoing calls. Generally, when a telephone is picked up, a circuit is established between the telephone and a central office. The central office typically includes complex, sophisticated and expensive equipment, which provides the intelligence to manage the call origination process. The central office applies the dial tone to the local loop of the telephone as soon as the off-hook condition is detected. The dial tone provides an audible feedback that informs the user that the system is waiting for the user to enter. After the first digit is dialed, the central office removes the dial tone. As the user continues to dial digits, the central office analyzes the digits in order to determine routing and call charges and to identify when a complete telephone number has been dialed. This analysis is a complex task, because a wide variety of types of calls can originate in the telephone. For example, local calls, non-long distance inter-NPA calls, long-distance calls, operator assistance calls, international calls and other types of calls must be distinguished from each other, and different types of calls may require dialing different lengths. of digit currents. In areas where central offices with different area codes or LATAs reside close to each other, hundreds of office codes must be distinguished from hundreds of codes from another central office. Moreover, these complex rules for number-based analysis differ from one central office to another, so that each central office essentially implements its own number analysis plan. Cellular telephony has adopted a slightly different technique to originate calls. Generally, a user manipulates a combined handset to store dialed digits in a digit buffer located on a cellular radiotelephone. When the user has accessed a complete number in the digit buffer, the user presses the "send" key, which instructs a cellular radiotelephone to send an origination message to the network. The network then analyzes the digits in a manner similar to that performed for landline telephones. This technique preserves the RF spectrum because the network does not assign the scarce resources of an RF channel to the radiotelephone at the moment when a hang-up condition occurs, but waits until the user presses the send key. On the other hand, the conventional technique of origination of cell phone calls causes several problems. For example, this technique is different from the widely-understood and ubiquitous ground-based telephone call origination process. The difference causes many complications. New customers of cellular radiotelephones must learn a call origination process that is different from the one with which they are familiar, and there is a great cost associated with teaching a new process to a full population of users. For many users, the use of a different call origination process causes confusion, which ultimately leads to dissatisfaction. No audible feedback is provided, such as the well-known dial tone, to allow users to know that their instrument is waiting for user input, and many users who are accustomed to the process of origination of landline telephony calls to they often become distracted by the lack of this feedback. further, the process of origination of cellular calls requires the additional step of pressing the send key. This additional step seems to be unnatural and is easily forgotten by new users who are accustomed to the origination process of landline telephony calls. Various cellular telephone devices of the prior art have tried to make the cellular call origination process more similar to the corresponding process of lines on the ground. For example, a few prior art cellular devices have generated a dial tone on the radiotelephone itself to provide the familiar feedback. However, these devices have been made more cumbersome by additional switches and related mechanisms that set hanging and hanging conditions and that generally limit the portability and flexibility of the devices. In addition, various cellular telephony devices of the prior art have attempted to detect when a user completes the dialing activity so that the device can then automatically send an origination message to the cellular network without requiring a user to press the dial key. These prior art cellular devices usually wait until the oppression of additional keys on a keyboard for a predetermined duration is detected before automatically sending the origination message to the network. Unfortunately, for this technique to be reliable, the waiting time needs to be around three to eight seconds, which is an undesirably long and annoying wait that is imposed on users. Still other devices have tried to form an interface between landline telephone devices and conventional cellular radiotelephones. Such devices have attempted to simulate the operation of a central office in order to provide conventional central office signals to shoreline telephony devices and when evaluating rotary dial / ground tone telephony touch signals to determine when has marked the last digit. However, such devices are permanently wired or programmed in other ways to simulate a local dial plan from a particular central office, they only have the limited capacity to automatically detect the fact that the mark is completed, and are intended only for Stationary use in a place covered by the central office whose local dial plan is being simulated. Disclosure of the Invention Accordingly, it is an advantage of the present invention that an improved cellular radiotelephone is adapted to a call origination process that more closely approximates the ground call origination process. Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a cellular radiotelephone that analyzes the dialed digits in the radiotelephone to quickly determine when a user completes the dialing activity. Another advantage is that the present invention provides a dial tone for audible feedback and quickly detects the fact that the dialing activity is completed for a vast majority of outgoing calls. Another advantage is that the present invention can be configured as a mobile or portable unit that can be used anywhere, can be manufactured, inventoried and distributed without any particular distinction of area of use, and performs a process of consummation analysis of a dialed number that is particularly pertinent to a particular area of use while simultaneously carrying out another marked number consummation process that is applied in any area. The above and other advantages of the present invention are carried out in one form by a method of operating a cellular radiotelephone to originate a call. The method involves identifying the entry of the digits marked before and after when the previous digit is marked before the subsequent digit. In response to the previous digit, the method determines if the back digit is a final digit of a phone number. When the back digit is the final digit of the telephone number, an origination message is automatically transmitted from the radiotelephone. The origination message transmits the telephone number to a cellular telecommunication network.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A more complete understanding of the present invention may be derived by reference to the detailed description and the claims when considered in relation to the drawings, where like reference numbers refer to similar articles in all drawings; and where: Figure 1 shows a front view of a portable combined handset, representing one of the various types of cellular radiotelephones in which the present invention can be implemented; Figure 2 shows a block diagram of the electronic equipment of the combined handset; Figure 3 shows a flowchart of a remote programming session process carried out by the combined handset; Figure 4 shows a schematic representation of a geographical area for which the combined handset can carry out a numerical analysis process; Figure 5 shows a format diagram of various digit streams that the combined handset can analyze; Figure 6 shows a flow diagram of a vacuum operating procedure carried out by the combined handset; and Figure 7 shows a flow chart of the numerical analysis process. BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION TO PRACTICE Figure 1 shows a front view of a combined portable radiotelephone type handset 10, which represents one of several types of cellular radiotelephones in which the present invention can be implemented. Although the present invention can be implemented in any type of radiotelephone, its advantages can be particularly beneficial in relation to portable and mobile radiotelephones. The combined microphone 10 includes an antenna 12, a loudspeaker 14, the microphone 16, the display 18, and the keyboard 20. With the exception of the keyboard 20, these items are conventionally found in the combined cellular telephony handsets. The keyboard 20 includes many of the numeric keys 22 and usual non-numeric keys 23 conventionally found in combined cellular telephony handsets. However, the keyboard 20 omits a "send" key. Instead of a send key, the combined handset 10 includes a "call by telephone" key 24 and a "call end" key 26. The telephone call key 24 initiates the dial tone for making calls, may be Pressed to receive calls and can be used to activate a scintillating hang signal for services such as call waiting. In this way, the telephone call key 24 transmits an "off-hook" instruction to the combined handset 10. The end call key 26 is used to end calls, and in this way transmits a "hung" instruction to the combined handset 10. Technicians in the field will appreciate that the terms hanging and off-hook can have a historical significance in relation to landline telephone systems that may not accurately describe the cell phone operation. However, for the purposes of the present invention, a dropped function or condition generally means that a user desires to use the combined handset 10 and the telecommunications services provided therefor, and a hanging function or condition generally means that a user desires stop using the combined handset 10 and the services provided by it. Figure 2 shows a block diagram of electronic equipment included in the combined handset 10. The antenna 12 of the combined handset 10 is coupled to a first gate of a duplex device 28, while "a second gate of the duplex device 28 is adapted to receiving a modulated RF signal provided by a transmitter 30 and a third gate of the plex device 28 provides an RF signal received at an input of a receiver 32. An output of the receiver 32 is coupled to the loudspeaker 14, and an input of the transmitter 30 is coupled to the microphone 16. A controller 34 controls the operation of the combined handset 10. The controller 34 can be implemented using one or more commercially available microprocessors. The controller 34 provides control signals to the transmitter 30 and the receiver 32. In the preferred embodiment, these control signals enable / disable, and identify the frequency channels to which they are instructed to tune the transmitter 30 and the receiver 32. In alternate embodiments, the channel instructions may additionally or alternatively transmit TDMA timing slots and / or CDMA broadcast codes. In addition, these control signals identify _ audio channels in which signals will be received on the transmitter 30 and the receiver 32. A multi-frequency, dual tone (DTMF) tone generator 36 has an adapted control input to receive the control signals provided by the controller 34. An audio output of the DTMF tone generator 36 is coupled to audio inputs of the transmitter 30 and the receiver 32. In this manner, the controller 34 can instruct the transmitter 30 to transmit DTMF tones or audio from the microphone 16, and the controller 34 can instruct the receiver 32 to excite the speaker 14 using received DTMF signals or tones. Of course, the combined handset 10 can also transmit and receive data, such as Manchester code of 10 Kbits, which is conventionally used in cellular networks that observe an AMPs standard. The screen 18 is coupled to the controller 34 and visually displays the information provided thereto by the controller 34. The keyboard 20 is coupled to the controller 34 so that the controller 34 can detect keys that are pressed and then respond appropriately to the keys that they are oppressed. A memory 38 is coupled to the controller 34. The memory 38 includes both volatile and non-volatile storage. The memory 38 stores data, variables, tables, lists and databases that are used in relation to the operation of the combined handset 10. In addition, the memory 38 stores programming instructions that are executed by the controller 34 and that r define the various processes, procedures, routines, tasks and the like carried out by the controller 34 and the combined handset 10. A timer 40 is coupled to the controller 34 and helps the controller 34 to monitor the time step. Although Figure 2 shows the memory 38 and the timer 40 as separate components of the controller 34, those skilled in the art will appreciate that in some applications memory and timing components may be included within the controller 34, and that in other applications the functions of Timing can be carried out by executing software programming instructions. Figure 3 shows a flow diagram of a remote programming session process 42 carried out by the combined handset 10. The process 42 is carried out during a remote programming session. The particular events leading to the practice of the remote programming session 42 are not critical to the present invention. Such events, for example, can be the result of the combined handset 10 receiving a call or otherwise establishing a data communication link with a cellular network or through the cellular network to another device that also couples to the cellular network or to a public switched telecommunications network (PSTN) to which the cellular network is coupled. Alternatively, a remote programming session may be established when the combined handset 10 calls through a cellular network to some telephone number or otherwise establishes a data communication path. After a remote programming session call or other data communication path is established in or through the cellular network, you can then start a remote programming session. Generally, data can be passed to the combined handset 10 through the data communication path. As indicated in a task 44, the combined handset 10 receives one or more "connected" codes of numbering plan area (NPA) of the cellular network. The connected NPA codes have a relation or connection, which is discussed below in detail, with the code or area codes belonging to the origin system of the combined handset. After receiving the connected NPA codes, an optional task 45 is carried out to receive other programming that may be relevant to the tag analysis. Such programming may but need not indicate whether the combined handset 10 is configured to operate through a PBX and therefore must recognize access codes, and / or programming instructions that define local dialing rules unusual or revised in effect for a particular situation. After task 45, a task 46 stores the codes and any other programming data in memory 38 (see Figure 2) for later use in relation to a numerical analysis process, which is discussed below. After task 46, session 42 can receive and transfer any other data that may be advantageous for the session, and program control eventually causes session 42 to end, as indicated by output 48. Throughout the session of remote programming 42, the combined handset 10 can obtain programming that is designed specifically for particular local dialing rules. The remote programming session 42 can be carried out upon initial activation, when the local dialing rules change, or when a user moves their service to a new location. In addition, the remote programming session 42 can be carried out anywhere. In this way, such programming can be accomplished without requiring a user to visit a service center and without requiring service representatives to visit any particular site. Entire populations of combined handsets 10 can be re-programmed, as needed when changing the local dialing rules, at minimal cost. Figures 4 and 5 illustrate the significance of the connected NPA codes. Figure 4 shows a schematic representation of a geographical area for which the handset * >; combined 10 can carry out the numerical analysis process. Figure 5 shows format diagrams of various digit streams that can be analyzed by the combined handset 10. Figure 4 outlines three geographic NPA areas, called NPA1, NPA2 and NPA3. Generally, the NPA1-NPA3 areas illustrate three distinct but contiguous areas for which three different area codes are used. A source system coverage area 50 is juxtaposed over one or more of the NPA areas, such as the NPA2 and NPA3 areas. The area 50 represents the area within which the handset 10 is authorized to operate. Within the area 50, the handset 10 can operate in its "home" system. Outside of area 50, handset 10 will be "roaming". Origin and errant systems are well-known concepts in the field of cellular telephony. Figure 5 illustrates a diverse variety of formats of 0 telephone numbers. Figure 5 illustrates digits marked before the left of later dialed digits. A format 52 represents a typical long distance format. The format 52 includes eleven digits, where the first digit 54 is a zero or a one, a second digit 56 is a first digit of a 5 NPA code, a third digit 58 is a second digit of an NPA code, and a fourth digit 60 is a third digit of an NPA code. The next three digits represent a central office code NXX, and the next four digits represent a station code XXXX. The eleventh digit is a final digit 62 for the telephone number. According to the terminology of conventional telephony, the letter "N" of the NXX code can have any value in the range of 2-9 and the letter "X" of the codes NXX and XXXX can have any value in the range of 0 -9. The NPA code can be an N-O / l-X code or an NXX code. In other words, the first digit of the NPA code has a value in the range of 2-9, the last digit of the NPA code has a value in the range of 0-9, and the intermediate digit can be restricted to zero or one, according to a current standard or can be any value in the range of 0-9, according to a future norm. A format 63 illustrates a three-digit telephone number whose second and third digits are both one. This format includes the ubiquitous emergency number 911. The final digit 62 is the third digit. Format 64 illustrates a seven-digit telephone number that is used to make a local call, not a long distance call. The first three digits 54, 56 and 58 represent the central office code NXX, and the next four digits represent the station code XXXX. The final digit 62 is the seventh digit.
In a format 66, the tenth digit is the final digit 62. The format 62 uses NPA, NXX and XXXX codes without the preceding 0/1 using format 52. Format 66 is used in different degrees in different geographical areas. Typically, format 66 is used to make non-long distance calls between two different NPA areas. The fact that inter NPA calls are considered long distance calls is a private arrangement of the company or companies that provide service in the two NPA areas. The preceding zero or one is often omitted, so that customers clearly understand that such a call is not a long distance call. This ten-digit format applies to connected NPA codes. In other words, inter-NPA calls between connected NPA areas use ten-digit dialing while inter-NPA calls between non-connected NPA areas using eleven-digit dialing. The format 68 illustrates telephone numbers of varying length for which the precise placement of the final digit 62 is not determined. Generally, the numbers of the format 68 have either a zero or a one in the first digit 54 and a zero or a one in the second digit 56. Such numbers correspond to international calls, special signaling codes that are addressed to long distance operators, and the like. Referring again to Figure 4, for example if NPAl and NPA 2 are connected, then a call can be made from NPA2 to NPAl using ten digit dialing, as shown in format 66 (see Figure 5). If they are not connected, a call can be made from NPA2 to NPA1 using eleven-digit dialing, as shown in format 52 (see figure 5). Using ten- or eleven-digit dialing depends on the particular dialing arrangements made in the particular area where the home system 50 is located. However, through the remote programming session 42 (see Figure 3), the combined handset 10 can obtain the intelligence required to distinguish between ten- and eleven-digit marking. This intelligence is transmitted in the connected NPA codes discussed above. Such codes identify all the NPAs that are connected to the NPA (s) juxtaposed (s) with the coverage area of the source system 50. Moreover, the remote programming session 42 can be carried out as necessary to track changes in relationships between NPAs. Such changes can be implemented in a population of combined handsets 10 at a minimum cost and inconvenience for the subscribers. In this way, the remote programming session 42 allows the combined handsets 10 to be manufactured, inventoried and distributed without any particular distinction concerning the fact that the combined handsets 10 will eventually be authorized for use. When the combined handsets 10 are sold, the The activation process may lead to the remote programming session 42 being performed so that the combined handsets 10 can then be compatible with at least a portion of the marking rules in effect for the originating systems 50 of the combined handsets. Such programming can be changed later if the dialing rules change or if the user wishes to be activated to operate in a different origin system. Although Figure 4 illustrates the NPAl connected as if it were adjacent to the NPA2, this is not the only possible arrangement. A connected NPA area, which can be reached by ten-digit dialing, in some places can simply over-cover portions of one or more different NPA areas. Fig. 6 shows a flow chart of a vacuum operating procedure 70 carried out by the combined handset 10 to implement automatic recognition of mark consummation. Generally, the combined handset 10 performs the procedure 70 when energized and is not involved in communication with the cellular network. During the vacuum procedure 70, the combined handset 10 waits for a call to arrive or for a user to initiate a call that leaves. As indicated by the ellipse in Figure 6, the vacuum gait procedure 70 can perform tasks that are not relevant to the automatic recognition of mark consummation. Such tasks, for example, may include responding to incoming calls and monitoring and responding to changes that may occur in the availability of service. The method 70 performs an interrogation task 72 to determine whether a user has manipulated a key, such as the telephone call key 24 (see figure 1) of the keypad 20, to signal a dropped condition. If not, the program control remains in a loop within the vacuum operation procedure 70. If the off-hook condition is detected, an interrogation task 74 determines whether the cellular network service is still available. If the service is not then available, an outgoing call can not be made, and the program control remains in a loop within the vacuuming procedure 70. If task 74 determines that the service is available, a task 76 clears a buffer of digits, delete a first digit flag, reset a digit counter, and set a variable "maximum digit" to a value of seven. The digit buffer, the first digit flag, the digit counter and the maximum digit represent variables maintained in memory 38 (see FIG. 2). Deleting the digit buffer and resetting the digit counter initializes the digit buffer and the digit counter to indicate that no digits have been accessed. Clearing the first digit flag indicates that a first digit is neither zero nor one. The maximum digit variable is set to a default value of zero. If left unchanged the seventh digit marked will be declared final digit 62 (see figure 5) unless the user does not type the digits faster than a minimum speed, which is preferably about one digit every four seconds. If four seconds pass after a digit is typed without another digit being typed, an inter-digit timer, discussed below, will declare that the last digit dialed is the final digit 62. After task 76, a task 78 generates dial tone. The dial tone is generated by appropriately controlling: • -. the DTMF tone generator 36 (see Figure 2) to generate an audio tone having a tonal quality that approximates the precision dial tone. Preferably, the DTMF tone generator 36 is instructed to simultaneously generate signals of 350 and 440 Hz. In addition, the receiver 32 (see figure 2) is controlled to switch the audio output of the DTMF tone generator to the loudspeaker 14 (see figure 2). Next, an interrogation task 80 represents an entry point to a digit capture loop 82. The task 80 determines whether any key of the keyboard 20 has been pressed. If no key has been pressed, an interrogation task 84 determines if an interdigit timeout has occurred, but only after a first digit has been typed. If a key is not detected and no interdigit timeouts occur, the program control remains on the digit capture loop 82 returning to task 80. Although not shown in FIG. digits 82 may include other tasks, such as continuing to verify the service availability and testing the dead time duration, the expiration of which would cause the exit of the turn 82 back to the top of the vacuum operating procedure 70. Generally, the combined handset 10 uses two parallel processes to identify the final digit 62 (see Figure 5), a numerical analysis process and a timing process. Regardless of the process used to identify the final digit 62, when the final digit 62 is identified, an origination message is sent to the cellular network. The final digit identification process 62 preset is the timing process. The timing process will eventually detect the final digit 62 for any dialed telephone number. An interdigit timer is initiated or re-started by about a four-second count each time a digit is typed, as discussed below. When the interdigit timer expires, as determined in task 84, the combined handset 10 selects the timing process as the source of a decision regarding the consummation of the dialing activity. At this point, the program control proceeds from task 84 to task 86. Task 86 transmits the origination message to the cellular network. In the preferred embodiment, the origination message conforms to the standard cell phone protocol and format and informs the network about the telephone number of the called party. After task 86, the combined handset 10 processes the call in a conventional manner, as indicated in task 88. In this way, if the numerical analysis process can not detect the final digit 62 for any reason, including a pattern For unusual dialing, the origination message will eventually be transmitted after waiting for the interdigit delay following the last digit typed. This last digit can be the fourth digit, for example, or the thirteenth digit, in another example. However, the numerical analysis process quickly detects the final digit 62 for the vast majority of calls, and the waiting period that occurs following the capture of the final digit 62 is avoided for the vast majority of calls. When the task 80 detects the oppression of a key, an interrogation task 90 identifies whether the key pressed corresponds to a numeric key or a non-numeric key. If a numeric key is pressed, then a digit of a telephone number is identified, and the combined handset 10 proceeds to analyze the number collected up to that point. If a numeric key is not pressed, then the combined handset 10 can perform conventional tasks to respond to the key, as suggested by the ellipsis in Figure 6. Such tasks may include finishing the digit capture process and returning to the upper part of the vacuum operating procedure 70 when a hanging condition occurs. Additionally, redial or speed dial functions can be indicated. Eventually, a task 92 can be carried out. Task 92 responds to a non-numeric key indicating the desire to delete one or more digits previously typed. Such a key can be, for example, an "erase" key. In response to a suppression request, task 92 removes one or more digits from the digit buffer and appropriately adjusts the digit counter. Next, an interrogation task 94 determines whether the digit buffer is now empty. As long as the digit buffer is not empty, the program control returns to the digit capture loop
82 to continue capturing digits. If the digit buffer is empty as a result of task 92, the program control returns to the top of the vacuum operation procedure 70. As a consequence of returning to the top of the vacuum operation procedure 70, the the variables will be initialized and the dial tone will be restored as long as the combined handset 10 is still off-hook and the service is still available. When task 90 identifies a digit to be typed, a task 96 stores the identity of the digit typed into the digit buffer and increments the digit counter. Next, an interrogation task 98 determines whether the numerical analysis process has detected the final digit 62. Task 98 makes its determination by evaluating whether the digit counter now equals the maximum digit variable. As discussed above, the maximum digit variable is initially set to a default value of seven to fit the 64 telephone number format (see Figure 5), but may change when analyzing the numerical analysis process the telephone number start digits . In applications where the combined handset 10 is used in relation to a PBX, the predetermined value can be set to four or five. The precise predetermined value can be established through a remote programming session 42 (see figure 3). If the task 98 determines that the digit counter is equal to the maximum digit variable, then the combined handset 10 selects the numerical analysis process to make the decision regarding when the marking activity is completed. As a result of this selection, the program control proceeds to task 86 to automatically transmit the origination message to the cellular network. When the task 98 determines that the digit counter is not equal to the maximum digit variable, the program control proceeds to the numerical analysis process 100 to analyze the digit additionally. Figure 7 shows a flowchart of the numerical analysis process 100. The process 100 performs an interrogation task 102 to determine whether the digit identified is the first digit 54 (see Figure 5). Task 102 can examine the digit counter to make its determination. If the identified digit is the first digit 54, a task 103 evaluates the first digit to determine whether it represents an access code. Task 103 is an optional task that is included when the combined handset 10 is used in relation to a PBX system. An access code can be a "9", which can mean an external line, and "8", which can mean a long distance line, and similarly. If an access code is detected, an appropriate response (not shown) may be to decrement the digit counter, control the tone generator to provide audible feedback, set the default value of the maximum digit to 7, and return the program control to the digit capture loop 82 (see figure 6). When dialing through a PBX, the access code is not passed to the cellular network and is not counted upon detecting the final digit 62. After task 103, when a first digit is dialed, task 104 preferably removes , but at least attenuates, the dial tone signal generated above in relation to task 78 (see figure 6). After task 104, an interrogation task 106 determines whether the first digit 54 is a zero or a one. If the first digit is a zero or a one, then the process 100 of the combined handset 10 can conclude that the telephone number being typed does not follow the seven-digit dialing format 64 or the ten-digit dialing format 66 (see figure 5). However, the process 100 can not yet distinguish between the eleven-digit format 52 and the indeterminate length format 68 (see Figure 5). As the phone number could conform to the eleven-digit format 52, a task 108 sets the maximum digit variable to eleven. Since the telephone number can also conform to an indeterminate length format 68, task 108 sets the first digit flag to indicate that the first digit 54 is a zero or a one. After task 108, a task 110 initiates the interdigit timer discussed above to begin around a four second timeout. After task 110, the program control returns to the digit capture loop 82 (see figure 6) to wait for the next keypress. If an additional key is not pressed before the interdigit timer expires, the combined handset 10 will select the timer process to provide the decision regarding the consummation of the dialing activity and automatically transmit the origination message to the cellular network. When task 102 determines that the last digit typed was not the first digit 54, an interrogation task 112 determines whether the last digit typed was the second digit 56 (see figure 5). When the last digit typed was the second digit 54, an interrogation task 114 determines whether the first digit flag is set. The first digit flag is set when the first digit 54 is a zero or a one. If the first digit flag is not set at this point in the program flow, then the telephone number can not conform to the indefinite telephone number format 68 (see figure 5), and the program control proceeds to task 110 where the Interdigit timer is again started for another four seconds account. When the task 114 determines that the first digit flag was established, an interrogation task 116 determines whether the second digit 54 is a zero or a one. If the second digit 56 is not a zero or a one, then the telephone number can not conform to the indeterminate telephone number format 68, and the program control proceeds to task 110 where the interdigit timer is re-started for another account. four seconds When the first digit 54 is a zero or a one and the second digit 56 is a zero or a one, the program control proceeds from task 116 to task 118. In this situation, the indeterminate telephone number format has been detected. 68, and the numerical analysis process can not reliably detect the first digit 62 due to many variations occurring in the digit current lengths. Task 118 forces the combined handset 10 to select the timer process to provide the decision regarding the consummation of the dialing activity. Task 118 forces the combined handset 10 to select the timer process by disabling the maximum digit variable. This variable can be disabled, for example by storing in it a number or code that will prevent task 98 (see Figure 6) from meaning that the digit counter is equal to the maximum-digit variable. After task 118, the program control proceeds to task 110 where the interdigit timer is re-started for another four-second count. When the task 112 determines that the last digit typed is not the second digit 56 (see figure 5), an interrogation task 120 determines that the last digit typed is the third digit 58 (see figure 5). If the third digit 58 is detected, a task 121 evaluates the first three digits to determine if a three-digit format number 63 has been keyed (Figure 5). Although not shown, if a format number 63 such as 911 is typed, the program control proceeds directly to task 86 to immediately transmit the origination message to the cellular network. After the task 121 verifies that a format number 63 has not been keyed in, an interrogation task 122 determines whether the combined handset 10 is currently wandering in a cellular system other than its home system. If the combined handset 10 is wandering, then the program control proceeds to task 110 to re-start the interdigit counter and then collect the additional digits. As discussed above, the remote programming session 42 (see figure 3) programs the combined handset 10 to detect the ten-digit dialing format 66 (see figure 5) in relation to a geographic area in which service is authorized to the combined handset 10. When the combined handset 10 - is wandering away from this area, the ten digit dial recognition programming may be invalid for the area in which the combined handset 10 is being used. In this manner, the combined handset 10 he refrains from taking steps that might otherwise lead him to conclude that a telephone number follows the ten-digit format 66 (see figure 5). If a user is dialing a ten-digit telephone number, the timer process will detect the consummation of the dialing activity. However, if a user is wandering, the numerical analysis process will still detect seven- and eleven-digit telephone number formats 64 and 52, respectively. When task 122 determines that the combined handset 10 is not wandering, an interrogation task 124 determines whether the first three digits are listed in the connected NPA list formed through the remote programming session 42 (see figure 3) and stored in the memory 38 (see figure 2). If the first three digits do not describe a connected NPA, then the ten-digit dialing format 66 (see figure 5) is not indicated, and the program control proceeds to task 110 to re-start the interdigit timer and then capture digits additional If the first three digits describe a connected NPA, then the ten-digit dialing format 66 is indicated and the program control proceeds from task 124 to task 126. Task 126 sets the maximum digit variable to the value of ten. After task 126, the program control proceeds to task 110 to re-start the interdigit timer and then capture additional digits. The combined handset 10 will automatically and instantly transmit the origination message to the cellular network upon the capture of the tenth digit unless the user stops dialing before typing the tenth digit, in which case the interdigit timer dead time will initiate the message of origination. When each additional digit is typed, the program control again passes through the process of number analysis 100. For digits subsequent to the third digit 58 (see figure 5), task 120 passes the program control to task 110 to re- start the interdigit timer and then collect additional digits. The maximum digit variable remains at its default value of seven unless it is set to eleven in task 108 in response to the first digit 54, is completely disabled in task 118 in response to the second digit 56, or is set to ten in the task 126 in response to the third digit 58 in relation to the first digit 54, the second digit 56, and the connected NPA programming. In summary, the present invention provides an improved cellular radiotelephone that adapts to a call origination process that approaches the call origination process of land lines. The dial tone is generated in response to a dropped condition but is removed as soon as the first digit is dialed. For a vast majority of calls, a numerical analysis process immediately identifies a final digit of the telephone number as soon as it is dialed, and an origination message is automatically transmitted to the cellular network. For a few unusual calls in which the numerical analysis process can not reliably detect the final digit of the telephone number, a timer process triggers the transmission of the origination message after waiting for a dead time interdigits with duration of about four seconds These few unusual calls do not need to be distinguished from the other calls, but they are identified by giving the timing process a predetermined state. The present invention can be used anywhere, it can be manufactured, inventoried and distributed without any distinction of particular area of use, and it can still carry out a numerical analysis process that is pertinent only to a particular area. The present invention performs area-specific ten-digit telephone number format detection in response to connected NPA codes that are remotely programmed into the radiotelephone. The present invention has been described above with reference to preferred embodiments. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that changes and modifications may be made to these preferred embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, although the present invention is described with respect to a particular cellular system, the present invention can be used in relation to a wide variety of cellular systems and other radio telecommunications systems in which radio devices are used to dial telephone numbers. Further, although the present invention has been described in relation to a specific programming flow, those skilled in the art will appreciate that a large amount of variation in configuration process tasks and sequencing process tasks can be ordered to substantially achieve the same functions previously described herein. These and other changes and modifications that are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.