WO2011070570A1

WO2011070570A1 - System & method for a cordless end station of a land line

Info

Publication number: WO2011070570A1
Application number: PCT/IL2010/001031
Authority: WO
Inventors: Eliahu Trabelsi
Original assignee: Elitr Advanced System Ltd.
Priority date: 2009-12-08
Filing date: 2010-12-07
Publication date: 2011-06-16
Also published as: IL202588A0

Abstract

A system and a method for selective operation of a cordless end station phone (14) via a landline network (10) or a cellular network (20), by providing a communication base unit (40) accommodated for wired communication with the landline network and accommodated for wireless communication. The communication base unit is coupled by wired communication to the landline network. An adapted cellular phone (30) is accommodated for wireless communication with one of the communication base unit and the cellular network. Thereby the adapted cellular phone (30) is operable via the communication base unit (40) as a cordless end station phone (14) of the landline network (10) and as a cellular phone (22) via the cellular network (30).

Description

SYSTEM & METHOD FOR A CORDLESS END STATION OF A LAND LINE Technical Field

The present invention relates in general to telephony and to telephony end stations. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and a rnethod by which a wireless communication phone is operative as a cordless end station telephone for use with a wired landline network and with the cellular network.

Background Art

Wired phones using landlines, cordless phones coupled to landlines, and cell phones are well known per se. It is also known that the use of landline telephony is often less expensive than the use of cellular communication.

Cell-phones normally provide for calling or receiving a call anywhere by means of a wireless radio network. Common cordless landline telephones allow a user to roam freely within a range covered by the antenna of their base unit.

US Patent 7,308,255 to Loveland, referred to hereinbelow as Loveland, relates to mobile phone networks. Loveland divulges methods, systems, and computer program products for bridging mobile phone networks with other telephone networks.

It would be beneficial to have a system and a method for using a cell-phone as a cordless end-station (CES) of a wired telephone line, such that a user may receive an mcoming call or place a phone call by means of a landline by employing his cell phone. In addition, it would be advantageous to allow the user to select, between the wireless and the wired networks for making or receiving a phone call while using the same cell-phone.

Summary of Invention

Technical Problem

It is well known that landline phone services are usually cheaper than cellular telephony. Therefore, it would be beneficial to have a cordless end station phone that is adapted to operate as a portable device serving over a landline or over a cellular network according to selection by a user.

Solution to Problem

The problem is solved by a device such as a cordless end station phone that is coupled in wireless communication to a base station unit, which is itself coupled to both a landline network by wired communication and to a cellular network by wireless communication. Thereby, the cordless end station phone may be operable with a plain old landline telephone network and with a cellular phone. The base station unit may thus serve as an interface for both the landline network and the cellular network.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

There is provided a system for selective operation of a cordless end station phone (14), having a landline network (10) configured for coupling to a plurality of wired phones (12), and a cellular network (20) configured for coupling to a plurality of cellular phones (30). The system comprises a communication base unit (40) and an adapted cellular phone (30). The communication base unit (40) is coupled by wire to the landline network and is operative in bidirectional wireless communication. The adapted cellular phone (30) is configured for coupling by bidirectional wireless communication with the communication base unit (40) and with the cellular network (20). The communication base unit (40) operates as a cordless end station phone of the landline network when disposed in range for wireless communication with the communication base unit (40), and the cellular network (20) operate as a cellular phone (22).

The communication base unit (40) may be coupled to a plurality of wired phones (12) and to a plurality of adapted cellular phones (30).

The cordless end station phone (14) may provided to a user either as an originally manufactured adapted cellular phone (30) or as a cellular phone (22) reconfigured by retrofit.

The adapted cellular phones (30) may operates as a cellular phone (22) coupled to the cellular network (20), and as a cordless end station phone (14) coupled to a landline (10) when disposed in wireless communication range with the communication base unit (40). Furthermore, the cellular phone (22) may be coupled to the cellular network (20) when out of wireless communication range of the communication base unit (40).

The communication base unit (40) and the adapted cellular phone (30) may operate in radio frequency wireless communication, which frequency may be selected to operate at Bluetooth protocol radio frequency.

When disposed in wireless communication range with the communication base unit (40), the adapted cellular phone (30) may be selectively operable as either a cellular phone (22) coupled to the cellular network (20) or as a cordless end station phone (14) coupled to a landline (10). The communication base unit (40) may comprise at least one CBU computer program (45), which may be stored in CBU memory (44) and readable for execution by a CBU processor (43). Moreover, at least one CBU computer may be configured for execution by the CBU processor for operation of the cordless end station phone (14).

Likewise, the adapted cellular phone (30) may comprise at least one ACP computer program (35), which is stored in ACP memory (34) and readable for execution by an ACP processor (33), and is further configured for execution by the CBU processor for operation of the cordless end station phone (14).

Finally, there is provided method for operating a cordless end station phone (14) over a landline network (10) and over a cellular network (20). The method comprises the steps of providing a communication base unit (40) for coupling by wire to the landline network, and by wireless communication with the cellular network. Furthermore, the method comprises the steps of providing an adapted cellular phone (30) for coupling in selection, by wireless communication with the communication base unit (40) when in range therewith, for operating as a cordless end station phone of the landline network, and by wireless communication with the cellular network (20), for operating as a cellular phone (22).

Brief Description of Drawing

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of the system.

Description of Embodiments

In accordance with the embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a system and a method for implementing a cell-phone, or cellular phone, for use either as such, or as a cordless phone operative with a wired network, or landline network, whereby the cell-phone becomes a cordless end station (CES) for the wired network. To this end there is provided a landline that is coupled to a communication base unit CBU and an adapted or enhanced cell phone ACP, which is coupled in communication with a cellular network and with the CBU. It is thereby possible to use the adapted cell-phone for making a phone call via the landline network when in range of the CBU, whereby the adapted cell-phone is used as a CES, and the price of the call is charged at a regular landline rate.

The CBU may be directly connected to a landline such as an IDSN line, in parallel or in series with an ordinary wired phone operative with a plain old telephone system. The adapted cell phone ACP is appropriately configured to operate either as such, or as the handset, or the cordless end station phone CES that is coupled to the landline network. An 1031 adapted cell phone may be built according to the embodiments of the present invention. Alternatively, an available cell phone may be reconfigured in or by retrofit to become an enhanced cell phone for operation according to the embodiments of the present invention.

The adapted cell phone, either built as such or reconfigured in retrofit to operate as such, is referred to hereinbelow as the adapted cell phone, or ACP. Like common cordless phones that operate in association with a base station, the adapted cell phone ACP operates in association with the CBU. The ACP is configured to transmit to the CBU and to receive from the CBU various signals, such as signals in the Radio Frequency RF range for example, operating the Bluetooth electronic communication protocol. In addition, the ACP may operate as a regular cell phone for communication via a cellular network.

The CBU is configured to transform wireless digital signals received from the ACP functionalities into electric signals and pulses. Such wirelessly received signals may include signals generated by the operating keys of the cell phone, such as digit keys and/or start/end keys, as well as digital audio signals and/or alphanumerical characters. The CBU may receive all the aforementioned functionality signals from the ACP and then transform, adapt, and deliver CBU emitted signals to the landline network where they are received as if they originated from the functionalities sent by use of the keys and/or microphone of the handset of an ordinary wired telephone. The user is not shown in the Fig.

Incoming functionality signals received by the CBU from the landline network, such as for example ringing signals, busy and/or waiting call tones, electric audio signals, and/or alphanumerical data are converted to respective RF signals for transmission by the CBU to the ACP where they are received and interpreted respectively to ringing, audible content and/or displayed alphanumerical characters and graphical symbols. An ACP operative according to the embodiments of the present invention provides the user with a cordless end station CES having the same flexibility and convenience as if using a common and ordinary cordless phone, thus without the chore of being tethered by wire to the end of the landline.

Furthermore, according to the embodiments of the invention, the ACP provides a user with the flexibility to select the desired network by which an outbound call is going to be made. The user may use the ACP either as a cell phone connected to the wireless cellular network operated by the cellular service provider, or else to receive or make an outgoing phone call to be carried out by means of the land line of the wired network, while using the ACP as a CES. T/IL2010/001031

Reference is now made to Fig. 1 , which is a block diagram of the main elements of one embodiment of the present invention.

In Fig. 1, a wired network landline 10 is referred to as a landline 10 for short. The landline 10 may be coupled in communication with one or with a plurality of ordinary plain old phones 12, but is shown in Fig. 1 to be coupled to a single wired phone 12. Furthermore, a cellular network for operation with a cell phone 22, not shown in the Figs., or with an ACP 36 is depicted as a cellular network 20. Antennae and power supplies have been omitted in the description for the sake of simplicity.

In Fig. 1, an ACP 30 is shown to have cell phone elements and functionalities 31, including an ACP cellular network transceiver 36 such as a Bluetooth transceiver, and a cellphone processing unit 32. A "Bluetooth transceiver" is regarded as being a transceiver operating the open wireless technology Bluetooth standard as communication protocol. The power supply for the operation of the ACP 30 may be received from an internal battery, not shown in Fig. 1.

The cell phone processing unit 32 may further include a cell phone processor 33, a cell phone memory 34, which is loaded with one or more ACP computer programs 35. The cell phone processor 33 is configured to execute the instructions of the at least one processor readable ACP computer program 35, which is stored in the cell phone memory 34.

The ACP Bluetooth transceiver 36 is configured for wireless transmission at Bluetooth communication frequency, of signals including data, in reception as well as in transmission. However, the ACP 30 is also coupled in bidirectional communication with the cellular network 20.

Still in Fig. 1, a communication base unit CBU 40 is sown coupled to the landline network 10. The communication base unit CBU 40 is depicted as having an electronic circuitry 41, and a CBU processing unit 42 that is operatively coupled to a CBU transceiver 46, such as a Bluetooth transceiver for example. Power supply for the operation of the CBU 40 may be received from an internal or from an external source, such as for example, respectively, a battery internal to the CBU 40 and electricity mains or a battery external to the CBU 40. The antenna and the power supply for operation of the CBU 40 are not shown in Fig. 1.

The CBU processing unit 42 may further include a CBU processor 43, a CBU memory 44, which is loaded with one or more CPU computer programs 45. The CBU processor 43 is configured to execute the instructions of the at least one processor readable CBU computer program 45, which is stored in the CBU memory 44.

The CBU Bluetooth transceiver 46 is configured for bidirectional wireless transmission of signals including data, in reception as well as in transmission. Moreover, the CBU 40 is coupled in bidirectional wire communication with the landline 10.

The CBU 40 is thus equipped with a suitable CBU transceiver 46 for transmitting RF signals and for receiving RF signals, respectively to and from the ACP. Furthermore, the CBU 40 is also configured for remaining in operative communication with the wireless radio link of the ACP. Moreover, the CBU 40 has an electronic circuitry 41 providing for transformation of the signals received from the ACP 30 when operative as a CES, to electric signals to be transferred via the landline 10 as if they were generated by an ordinary plain old wired phone 12. Likewise, the electronic circuitry 41 also transforms signals incoming along the landline 10 into RF transmissions directed towards and for reception by the ACP transceiver of the ACP 30.

A cordless end station 14, CES 14 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a CBU 40 having a RF transceiver, the CBU transceiver 46, operative at the same frequency as that of the ACP transceiver 36 of the ACP 30. The antenna, not shown in the Figs., and transmitting power of the CBU transceiver 46 are selected such that the area of communication covered by the CBU 40 is limited to a predefined range, selected as desired, but which typically counts up to a hundred meters. Any communication protocol that provides for uniquely identifying control and audio signals as well as alphanumerical characters and functionality signals may be employed. Preferably, use is made of the Bluetooth protocol that is normally employed for computer networks having up to eight nodal points.

The communication link operative between the ACP 30 and common remote peripherals, such as headsets including microphone and earphones and/or loudspeakers, may also be implemented by means of a Bluetooth network. As well known, such Bluetooth protocol provides for a unique interpretation of the control signals and of the digital functionality signals to be transferred between a common cell-phone and its remote peripherals. Furthermore, the physical layer, electronic components and circuitry, and some of the software computer programs that are normally resident in a common cell phone may be employed as support for the communication linking between the ACP 30 and the CBU 40.

The CBU 40 may include electric circuitry 41 and components, such as AID and D/A circuits for transforming analog signals to digital data and vice versa. Furthermore, optional components providing for the generation of tones to mimic touch-tone phones are incorporated in the CBU 40. The CBU 40 is operative for the implementation of various functionalities required for handling the phone call, being provided with the electronic circuitry 41, and the CBU processing unit 42, which itself includes the CBU processor 43, the CBU memory 44, and at least one CBU software application and optionally other CBU program(s) 45. These various functionalities may include: identification of the calling and/or responding cell-phone, transformation of the control signals originated at the ACP 30 such as by the digits' keys and/or start/end keys to the respective control signals such as were originated by the handset of the land line, transforming the various signals to the respective Bluetooth signals and vice versa to normal telephony signals.

The CBU processing unit 42 is further operative in maintaining the cellular phone connection between the ACP 30 and the CBU 40 along the entire duration of the phone call, until the call is terminated by depression of the "end" key of the cell phone by the user.

Additionally, according to the embodiments of the invention, the ACP 30 is accommodated to run at least one dedicated ACP computer application program 35 by which the ACP functions in an end station mode which provides the user with all the cell phone functionalities 31 of an ordinary cordless phone coupled to a landline network 10. The user may switch the ACP 30 between these two modes of operation, namely the line land cordless end station CES mode and the cell phone mode, by means of a dedicated key and/or by use of the menu operating in association with the ACP computer program 35. When the line land cordless end station CES mode is selected, the automatic periodical calling and hand shaking with the respective base station of the wireless cellular network ceases. The ACP 30 is considered by the cellular network 20 involved as being turned "off for as long as the selected mode is set to the cordless end station (CES) mode. Furthermore, while being set to the cordless end station CES mode, the ACP 30 is configured to ignore and not to respond to any incoming ringing signal transmitted by any nodal point of the wireless cellular network 20 involved, even though the ring signal is addressed thereto. T IL2010/001031

When a ringing signal incoming via the wired landline network 10 is detected, the CBU 40 generates a respective command for wirelessly transmitting the ringing signal, via the CBU transceiver 46, to the respective ACP 30, the identity of which is pre-stored in the CBU memory 44 of the CBU 40. Via the ACP transceiver 36, the respective ACP 30 receives a wireless command addressing this specific ACP 30 to start ringing. The CBU 40 then emits, via the CBU transceiver 46, a wireless command addressing the respective ACP 30 to start to ring. Transfer of the ringing commands by the CBU 40 continues intermittently and successively as long as the incoming call arriving through the wired landline network 10 is operative and for as long as the user has not depressed the "start" key to accept the incoming call.

When the user does not depress the "start" key of the ACP 30, then the call remains unanswered. However, when the start key is depressed, a suitable wireless transmission signal that includes the identity of the respective ACP 30 involved and the control signal that represents a depressed start key are transmitted to the CBU 40. In turn, the CBU 40 first checks whether the responding ACP 30 is recognized, by checking that the corresponding correct identity is actually pre-stored in the CBU memory 44 of the CBU 40. Thereafter, the CBU 40 switches on the connection allowing telephonic communication and starts converting received signals into respective Bluetooth signals. These Bluetooth signals are wirelessly transmitted by the CBU transceiver 46 of the CBU 40 towards the ACP transceiver 36 of the ACP 30. In turn, the ACP 30 interprets these received Bluetooth signals to their respective audible content, which is sounded by the earpiece or loudspeaker of the ACP. The ACP 30 automatically identifies himself and responds to the CBU 40 each time a batch of signals or block of data is received.

Any such response causes the CBU 40 to continue to interpret and transform the content of the incoming call to Bluetooth signals, which are further transmitted to the ACP 30. All audible or digital response made by the user via the ACP 30 is transformed by the at least one ACP computer program 35 to respective Bluetooth signals and further transmitted towards the CBU 40. Thereby, any block of transmitted signals or data is identified as originating from a recognized and identified ACP 30. The CBU 40 ignores any transmission that is not identified as originating from the ACP 30 under consideration. Such dialogue continues until the call ends. The user of the ACP 30 may end the call by depressing the "end" key, which is interpreted and translated into the respective Bluetooth signal that is transmitted to the CBU 40. The CBU 40 further delivers the suitable end signal to the wired landline network 10 and stops the process including the periodical hand shaking between the ACP 30 and the CBU 40. Alternatively, an end signal such as an end-of-text message arriving across the phone landline network 10 is accepted, interpreted accordingly by the CBU 40, and transmitted via the CBU transceiver 46 and via the ACP 36, to the ACP 30. Thereafter, the CBU 40 ends the communication transmission process and stops the hand shaking communication protocol operative with the ACP 30. Thereby the current phone call ends until either, the user initiates another call, or a new call incoming across the wired landline network 10 is detected, and the same process to repeats itself.

When the user intends to make a phone call via the ACP 30, the number of the called party is either first dialed, or retrieved out of his phonebook that is stored in the ACP memory 34 of the ACP 30 in use. Following depression of the "start" key the ACP computer program 35 carries out the dialing. Once the ACP 30 is set to work in the cordless end station mode CES, the dialing data is converted to respective Bluetooth communication protocol signals and is transmitted wirelessly to the CBU 40 to command initiation of the dialing process. Next, depressing the "start" key suffices to wirelessly transmit these dialing signals towards the CBU 40. Subsequently, the CBU 40 checks and verifies the identity of the calling ACP 30 and transforms the dialing data into ordinary dialing signals or dialing pulses to be further delivered through the wired landline network 10. Any of the tones automatically returned as well as an answering by the called party is interpreted by the CBU 40, transformed to the respective wireless Bluetooth signal, and further successively transmitted to the ACP 30. A call answered by the called party is similarly processed by the CBU 40 and the ACP 30 such that the phone call is carried out by the CBU and the respective ACP by means of a process that goes on similarly to the process for an incoming call arriving by landline 10, as described hereinabove.

The ACP 30 automatically identifies itself at each and every accomplished transmission directed towards the CBU 40. The CBU 40 responds and carries out the call as long as the identity of the ACP 30 complies with the corresponding identity stored in the memory 44 of the CBU 40. The identity of the ACP 30 is usually recorded and stored in the CBU memory 44 of the CBU 40 when the CBU is first connected to the landline 10. The identity of the respective ACP 30 may be modified by the user who may choose to change the respective SIM card of the ACP 30. To change the identity of the ACP 30, the user has to input a P T/IL2010/001031 respective user name and password such as typically required with secured data. Optionally, the CBU 40 may store in the CBU memory 44 the identity, and support communication with more than one and up to seven different ACPs 30. For such a purpose, the identities of these ACPs 30 has to be pre-stored, so that when an inbound call arrives, the CBU 40 tries sequentially to call the different ACPs 30 according to their listing order as read from its CBU memory 44. The call will proceed only between the CBU 40 and the identified and corresponding ACP 30 that answers the call, within a predefined time interval starting from the moment at which ringing begins.

All value added services, such as voice mail, wake-up call, identified calling party, waiting call, and/or SMS services that are accessible to the user by means of the common base unit CBU 40 that is coupled to the considered wired network 10, and are operative with the respective land line 10. Evidently, this regards services that are in accordance with the service agreement executed between the subscriber and the service provider, which services may be accessed and operated by means of a CES, i.e. the ACP 30 and the respective CBU 40 that is connected to a land line 10. Nowadays, value added services are made available by service providers to a user of a common end station coupled to a wired network 10. Such value added services may include voice mail, wake-up call, identified calling party, waiting call, and/or SMS services. All added value services that are accessible to the user by means of a common end station coupled to the wired network via a landline 10 are also made available to the user by means of the CES, thus by the ACP 30 and the respective CBU that is connected to a land line 10. The respective signals associated with such services are interpreted to the respective Bluetooth signals as known and further transmitted to the remote ACP 30, or ACPs 30. The at least one ACP operating program 35 of the ACP 30 interprets these signals accordingly and further displays the respective data which is needed to be displayed, such as identified number or SMS message, across the screen of the ACP 30, as known.

An environment wherein at least one operative wire phone 12 coupled to a landline network 10, and an operative CBU 40 coupled to a landline 10 and to a cellular network 20, will automatically detect when an ACP 30 comes into communication range of the CBU 40. This means that the CBU 40 constantly interrogates the environment to detect an ACP 30 that is disposed in communication range. When an ACP 30 is detected, recognized, and identified to be a validated ACP, all incoming and outgoing telephony communications will be set by the CBU 40 to be handled by the ACP 30, which will then become a CES 14. However, the user may select another state for the ACP 30, if desired.

The description hereinabove thus provides for a cordless end station 14 operative with a landline network 10 having a communication base unit 40 electrically connectable to the landline 10. The CES 14 may comprise a cell phone 22 operative with a cellular network 20, wherein the cell phone is enhanced originally or by retrofit into an adapted cell phone 30 operable with the CBU 40. Furthermore, the ACP may operate as a CES 14 via the CBU 40 as a CES of the landline network 10, or as a cell phone 22 via the cellular network 20.

The CES 14 , which is coupled to the ACP 30, is operative in any of two user selectable modes of operation. One mode of operation is the cellular mode, wherein the ACP 30 is operative in receiving RF transmissions originated by a nodal point of a common wireless radio network, and another mode of operation, is the cordless landline end station mode, wherein the ACP 30 is operative in communication with the CBU 40.

It is noted that the CES 14, which is coupled to the ACP 30, is disconnected from communication with the common cellular wireless radio network 20 while being operative in the cordless landline end station mode.

According to the description hereinabove, there is provided a method and a system for a cordless end station phone CES 14. The method and the system include a landline network 10, possibly at least one wired phone 12 which is coupled to the landline network 10, a cellular network 20, and at least one adapted cellular phone 30 which is coupled to the cellular network 20. The method and the system comprise a communication base unit CBU 40 which is coupled by wire to the landline network 10, an adapted cell phone ACP 30 configured for wireless communication with the CBU 40 and with the cellular network 20, wherein the ACP 30 becomes a CES 14 of the landline network 10 when disposed in range for wireless communication with the CBU.

The ACP 30 may be provided as an originally manufactured device or as a retrofitted cellular phone 22, and the wireless communication may be provided at Bluetooth radio frequency, or at another radio frequency.

According to the description hereinabove, when the ACP 30 is in range for wireless communication with the CBU 40, the ACP is operative as a cellular phone 22 coupled to the cellular network 20 or as a CES 14 that is coupled to the landline network 10. Likewise, 2010 001031 when the ACP 30 is out of range for wireless communication with the CBU 40, the ACP is operative as a regular cellular phone 22.

Furthermore, when the ACP 30 is in range for wireless communication with the CBU 40, the ACP is selectively operable as a cellular phone 22 coupled to the cellular network 20 or as a CES 14 that is coupled to the landline network 10.

Moreover, each, one of the CBU 40 and of the ACP 30 has a transceiver, and both transceivers may operate at the same radio frequency.

Industrial Applicability

The embodiments described hereinabove are adapted applicable to the telephonic communication industry.

Reference Signs List

10 land line

12 wired phone

14 cordless end station phone

20 cellular network

22 cellular phone

30 adapted cellular phone (ACP)

31 ACP functionalities

32 ACP processing unit

33 ACP processor

34 ACP memory

35 ACP program(s)

36 ACP Bluetooth transceiver

40 communication base unit (CBU)

41 CBU functionalities

42 CBU processing unit

43 CBU processor

44 CBU memory

45 CBU program(s)

46 CBU Bluetooth transceiver

Claims

1. A system for selective operation of a cordless end station phone (14), the system comprising:

a landline network (10) configured for coupling to a plurality of wired phones (12), and

a cellular network (20) configured for coupling to a plurality of cellular phones (30), the system being characterized by comprising:

a communication base unit (40) coupled by wire to the landline network and operative in wireless communication,

an adapted cellular phone (30) configured to be coupled by wireless communication with:

the communication base unit (40), to operate as a cordless end station phone of the landline network when disposed in range for wireless communication with the communication base unit (40), and

the cellular network (20), to operate as a cellular phone (22).

2. The system as in Claim 1 , wherein:

the communication base unit (40) is coupled to a plurality of wired phones (12).

3. The system as in Claim 1 , wherein:

the communication base unit (40) is coupled to a plurality of adapted cellular phones

(30).

4. The system as in Claim 1 , wherein:

the cordless end station phone (14) is provided as one of an originally manufactured adapted cellular phone (30) and a cellular phone (22) reconfigured by retrofit.

5. The system as in Claim 1, wherein the adapted cellular phones (30) operates as: a cellular phone (22) coupled to the cellular network (20), and as a cordless end station phone (14) coupled to a landline (10) when disposed in wireless communication range with the communication base unit (40), and a cellular phone (22) coupled to the cellular network (20) when out of wireless communication range of the communication base unit (40).

6. The system as in Claim 1 , wherein:

the communication base unit (40) and the adapted cellular phone (30) operate in radio frequency wireless communication.

7. The system as in Claim 1, wherein:

the communication base unit (40) and the adapted cellular phone (30) are coupled in wireless communication selected to operate at Bluetooth protocol radio frequency.

8. The system as in Claim 1, wherein:

when disposed in wireless communication range with the communication base unit (40), the adapted cellular phone (30) is selectively operable as one of a cellular phone (22) coupled to the cellular network (20) and as a cordless end station phone (14) coupled to a landline (10).

9. The system as in Claim 1, wherein the communication base unit (40) comprises at least one CBU computer program (45) which is:

stored in CBU memory (44) and readable for execution by a CBU processor (43), and

configured for execution by the CBU processor for operation of the cordless end station phone (14).

10. The system as in Claim 1, wherein the adapted cellular phone (30) comprises at least one ACP computer program (35), which is:

stored in ACP memory (34) and readable for execution by an ACP processor (33), and

configured for execution by the ACP processor for operation of the cordless end station phone (14).

1 1. A method for operating a cordless end station phone (14) over a landline network (10) and over a cellular network (20),

the method being characterized by comprising the steps of:

providing a communication base unit (40) for coupling:

by wire to the landline network, and

by wireless communication with the cellular network,

providing an adapted cellular phone (30) for coupling in selection:

by wireless communication with the communication base unit (40) when in range therewith, for operating as a cordless end station phone of the landline network, and

by wireless communication with the cellular network (20), for operating as a cellular phone (22).

12. The method of Claim 1 1, further comprising the step of:

coupling the communication base unit (40) to a plurality of wired phones (12).

13. The method of Claim 1 1 , further comprising the step of:

coupling the communication base unit (40) to a plurality of adapted cellular phones

(30).

14. The method as in Claim 11 , further comprising the step of:

providing the cordless end station phone (14) as one of an originally manufactured adapted cellular phone (30) and a cellular phone (22) reconfigured by retrofit.

15. The method as in Claim 11 , further comprising the step of:

operating the adapted cellular phones (30) when disposed in wireless communication range with the communication base unit (40) as one of:

a cellular phone (22) coupled to the cellular network (20), and as a cordless end station phone (14) coupled to a landline (10) when disposed in wireless communication range with the communication base unit (40), and

a cellular phone (22) coupled to the cellular network (20) when out of wireless communication range of the communication base unit (40).

16. The method as in Claim 11, further comprising the step of:

operating the communication base unit (40) and the adapted cellular phone (30) in radio frequency wireless communication.

17. The method as in Claim 11 , further comprising the step of:

coupling the communication base unit (40) and the adapted cellular phone (30) in wireless communication selected to operate at Bluetooth protocol radio frequency.

18. The method as in Claim 11, further comprising the step of:

disposing the adapted cellular phone (30) in wireless communication range with the communication base unit (40), and

operating the adapted cellular phone (30) selectively as one of a cellular phone (22) coupled to the cellular network (20) and as a cordless end station phone (14) coupled to a landline (lO).

19. The method as in Claim 11, further comprising the step of:

storing in CBU memory (44) of at least one CBU computer program (45) which, when executed by a CBU processor (43), operates the method steps of claim 1 1.

20. The method as in Claim 11 , further comprising the step of:

storing in ACP memory (34) of at least one ACP computer program (35) which, when executed by an ACP processor (33), operates the method steps of claim 11.