SI9720058A - Equipment for switching between different telephone network terminals - Google Patents

Abstract

The equipment for switching between a first radio terminal (4) and a second terminal (3) of two telephone networks differently associated (2, 5), respectively, comprises: linking means (11, 12, 121, 122) for connecting the two terminals (3, 4); and means for controlling (20) the linking means (11, 12) controlled by one of the two terminals (3, 4) and means for switching off (11) the connection between one of the terminals (3) and its associated network (2) are provided.

Description

DEVICE TO SWITCH BETWEEN TERMINALS OF DIFFERENT

TELEPHONE NETWORKS

The emergence of telephone networks operating on radio channels, such as. The GSM network offers users considerable flexibility in communication. However, such networks have only limited geographical coverage. Moreover, such networks, which may be based on a radio system or public telephone network (PSTNs), are different insofar as their individual terminals are not interchangeable.

The problem raised by the notifier relates to the user using the GSM handset and at home the telephone terminal connected to the PSTN. When the user is at home and for the sake of convenience, he places his GSM portable terminal on a piece of furniture, it may be at some distance from the other, while on the contrary it is close to another terminal to which he is not called.

In short, the applicant solves the problem of interchange between terminals, at least from the functional side.

From this side, the invention proposes a device capable of switching between at least the first radio-based terminal and the second terminal, considering two different telephone networks comprising:

connection terminals for connecting two terminals and 5 - connection control elements controlling at least one of the two terminals.

In this way it is possible to transfer calls from one terminal to another.

For outgoing calls it is also possible to choose a network that offers more attractive specifications or prices.

io The invention will be better understood on the basis of a description of an embodiment of a switching device of the invention, which is given by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings showing:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of the switching function of the switching device;

Figure 2 is a block diagram of the device shown in Figure 1.

The switching device indicated by code 1 is shown connected to: telephone line 2 of the Public Telephone Network (PSTN), telephone terminal unit 3 for connection to the PSTN and telephone handset 4 connected to the GSM radio telephone network 5.

The switching device 1 permits selective communication between either the terminal unit 3 and the PSTN telephone line 2 or between the GSM network 5 via the telephone handset 4, as shown in Figure 1 and as will be explained below. In the figure, the two connections terminated with an arrow symbolize the switching signal of device 1 coming from the individual terminal units 3 and 4 individually.

As shown in Figure 2, the dashed line device 1 has a routing or switching system consisting of two identical relays 11.12, the main task of which is shown in Figure 1. For the sake of convenience, the terminal units 3 and 4 shown separately from device 1.

Although only one router relay is shown in Figure 1, an additional call signal voltage sensing function is provided for io, which requires the presence of additional contacts. These may belong to the same relay or to another relay of the same type. The second option is used here so that the separations of the different routing functions are more noticeable. As a consequence, the routing function of Figure 1 is shown in Figure 2 with relay contact styles 11,12, which may be left-right glassy, which will be explained below.

Relay 11 has two contact styles, each with two contact positions: Standby / Active (2RA). The two hinged ends of the movable contact style are individually connected (at 221, 222) to the coupling

22 thus creating a connection with two wires of line 2. The two corresponding remaining contacts are connected (at 231,232) to the connector 23, thus creating a connection with terminal unit 3, while two active contacts lead out (at 111, 112) to the circuit signal of the circuit 13 for voltage sensing.

The relay 12 has hinged ends of two contact styles connected by a wire connection 121,122 to a 2-wire / 4-wire converter circuit 14. Two consistent active contacts are separately connected to the connecting points 231,232 leading to terminal unit 3.

The circuit 14 is connected to a connector 24 that connects the GSM telephone handset 4 to two pairs of wires specifically for transmission and reception.

The microprocessor 20 connected to the connector 24 controls the relay 11,12 io through the interface circuit 16 and is connected to the output of the detector circuit 13. The microprocessor 20 is also connected via a dividing circuit 15 to the connector 23 with V24 lines of data transmission type. The disconnect circuit 15 provides voltage separation between the PSTN line 2 and the microprocessor 20 and the coupling 24, in conjunction with relays 11,12, the detector circuit 13, and the two-wire / four-wire converter circuit 14. The GSM terminal 4 is thus electrically isolated from the PSTN line 2.

The battery charger 17, which is powered from the AC line, is connected to the battery charging connector 23 of the handset 4. It is also connected to the microprocessor 20, which thus controls the charger 17 and provides optimized charging time.

The pin of the coupler 24, which is connected to the microprocessor 20, supplies the fly with a signal indicating the presence of a telephone handset 4. The connection between this contact and the microprocessor 20 is connected to the supply voltage of the microprocessor 20 rectifier via a pull resistance. The GSM handset 4 is equipped with a suitable connector that has a grounded contact and is thus grounded when connected.

A manual switch 18 is also provided to allow the microprocessor 20 to control the switch group 11,12.

In the embodiment shown, the terminal unit 3 essentially comprises a cordless telephone and a base station carrying the device 1 and a fork or jack (24) for the GSM telephone handset 4. The latter is thus powered via a base with a charger 17. In the second case, one may be or more io 22,23,24 connectors connected to other parts of device 1 by wire, optical (eg by infrared) or by radio.

Terminal unit 3 also has a local charging device similar to charger 17, optionally with a battery connected to wire 121, 122 and connected to the DC power of terminal unit 3, the latter being isolated from PSTN line 2 by a relay interrupt 11,12 which diverts terminal unit 3 to the local power source mentioned above.

The operation of switchgear 1 will be explained below.

In the first case, when proceeding from standby in the absence of any telephone conversation, an incoming call from PSTN 2 via relay

11 causes terminal unit 3 to ring and establish a normal telephone connection. At this point, it is possible to disconnect the GSM handset 4 from the connector 24 to make an incoming or outgoing GSM call. In other words, terminal units 3 and 4 are mutually independent.

In the second case, we still proceed from the standby mode, the incoming call from GSM network 5 arrives via the GSM handset 4 as before to the telephone unit 3. At this end, the audio connection of the GSM handset 4 (the microphone and the speaker thereof) is connected. to the two-to-four-wire acoustic converter circuit 14 of the audio signal through the connector 24. The two-wire connection reaches the terminal unit 3 via a relay 12, which is forced into the working position by a microprocessor 20. The disconnect relay 11, which is also placed in the working position, causes the the PSTN line 2 is isolated from the terminal unit 3, which is now occupied and connected via this line to the io call voltage detector 13 to answer any other incoming call coming from the PSTN 2. In this case, the microprocessor 20 sends a V24 signal, which signals the presence of a call from the PSTN to the terminal unit 3 which gives the user an “bleep” beep. Terminal 3 user can then pick up the call by activating switch 18, which controls relay 11.12.

The user can end the conversation from PSTN 2 and then switch to device 11,12 to summarize the conversation on GSM network 5,

The microprocessor 20 is self-controlled via at least one terminal 3 and 4. In the case, terminal 3 actually collects all information concerning the connection status (incoming or outgoing calls in the PSTN or GSM network) to control the microprocessor 20 independently and also contains appropriate software support. Therefore, the GSM handset 4 transmits to the terminal unit 3 all information concerning GSM communication. This io information travels through the microprocessor 20 which, together with the circuit 15, connects connectors 23 and 24.

Microprocessor 20 is transparent during this phase, that is, it simply transmits information without processing it.

In the third case, when it comes to outgoing calls, terminal unit 3 establishes a connection with PSTN 2 in the classical sense. Switch 18 allows the control of devices 11,12 for outgoing call over GSM network 5.

It is to be understood that switch 18 is used here primarily as a conjecture, and that the control of the devices used 11,12 may be effected from one or both terminal units 3 and 4 by activating a button on the latter.

The device according to the invention can be adapted to telephone terminals from different networks, either analog or digital, using a digital / analog converter. In addition, it can also be offered as a user option to transfer an incoming call to one or the other terminal by modifying a working device, which can be done by a qualified person.

Claims (7)

PATENT APPLICATIONS 1. An apparatus for switching between at least the first radio-based terminal (4) and the second terminal (3) separately in two different connected telephone networks (2,5), characterized in that it comprises: io - connecting means (11,12,121,122) for connecting two terminals (3,4); and control means (20) for controlling connection means (11,12) controlled by at least one of two terminals (3,4) Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that a tripping action (11) is provided between one of the terminals (3) and the associated network (2). Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the disconnect means (11) allow the redirection of this terminal (3) to the local power supply. Device according to any of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the disconnect means (11) comprises a connection relay (11) connected to the line (2) of the connected telephone network. 5. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that the disconnect means that the line (2) can be transmitted to the call signal detector (13). io Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the connecting means (121, 122) are of wire type. The device of claim 6, 15, further comprising a power means (17) for the radio terminal (4) comprising a base station for receiving the terminal (4). An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, 20, characterized in that the control means comprises a microprocessor (20) connected to two connectors (23,24) for connecting terminals (3,4). Device according to claim 8, characterized in that one of the couplings (24) has a contact intended to detect the presence of the terminal (4). Device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the first terminal (4) is of GSM type and the second terminal (3) is of wire type and that the coupling means (14) is ready to adjust the audio signal io between the two terminals ( 3,4).