Telecommunications – Radiotelephone system – Zoned or cellular telephone system
Reexamination Certificate
1998-02-02
2001-11-06
Bost, Dwayne (Department: 2681)
Telecommunications
Radiotelephone system
Zoned or cellular telephone system
C455S552100, C455S550100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06314287
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a method of automatic handling of phone numbers which are stored in an electronic phone list contained in a portable phone which is connected to a cellular network and one or more cordless networks.
The use of cellular phone systems creates problems, as numbers which may be called by a portable phone, have different formats according to whether the portable phone is present in the same region, in the same country or in another country relative to a phone which is being called. This problem has been solved in the GSM network by allowing it to analyse a called phone number and determine the correct format. This requires that the called phone number is in a so-called international format initiated by a “+” followed by a country code, which is “49” for Germany. This is followed by the number which would have to be called in an international call, which means that regional escape codes are omitted. The GSM network itself is capable of adding the necessary escape codes to the number—both internationally and regionally.
This functions excellently as far as it goes, but it must be expected in future that portable phones may be connected to both cellular networks, such as GSM, and cordless networks, such as DECT, thereby operating as dual mode phones. In DECT systems, the internal numbers will typically be extension numbers to a main number in a PSTN system. The dual mode phone will therefore be capable of calling a phone having an international type phone number via the cellular network, and a short extension number via the cordless network. If the phone number concerned is stored in the electronic phone number register or phone list of the dual mode phone, it must be stored in the long international format as well as in the extension number format, and the user himself must select the correct format when calling. A wrong selection here will have as a consequence that the cordless part of the phone cannot establish a call if it has the PSTN number as its input, or that the cellular part of the phone establishes a cellular call at a cellular rate, even though the in-house cordless rate is considerably cheaper.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with a first aspect of the invention there is provided a method of establishing a call using a radiophone which is adapted to communicate via a cellular network and at least one cordless network, comprising registering the networks to which the phone is connected, checking prior to the establishment of a call whether a phone number with which the call is to be established contains a main number corresponding to the main number of said at least one cordless network, determining the extension number of the cordless network if a main number is identified, and using the extension number of the cordless network when establishing the call via the associated cordless network.
The method enables the user to establish a call with a PSTN phone number using a dual mode phone, no matter whether the call is established via a cellular network or a cordless network.
In accordance with a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of storing a phone number in a radiophone which is adapted to communicate via a cellular network and at least one cordless network, and comprising registering the networks to which the phone is connected as well as their base numbers, and national and regional codes, checking prior to the storage of the phone number whether it is a valid extension number to said at least one cordless network, and, if so, generating a PSTN based number on the basis of the extension number and the registered network information.
In accordance with a third aspect there is provided a portable radiophone which is adapted to communicate via a cellular network and at least one cordless network, and which comprises a controller unit controlling the communication with said cellular network and said at least one cordless network. The controller unit registers the networks which are connected. A call storage memory receives a phone number when a call is to be established, and the controller unit checks whether the phone number of the call storage contains a main number corresponding to the main number of said at least one cordless network. If a main number is identified, the controller unit determines the extension number of the cordless network for use in the call on the basis of the stored phone number.
According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a portable radiophone which is adapted to communicate via a cellular network and at least one cordless network, and which comprises a controller unit which controls the communication with said cellular network and said at least one cordless network and registers the networks which are connected, and a stored phone number list from which a phone number may be obtained when establishing a call. When storing a phone number in the phone number list, the controller unit checks whether the number might be an extension number to said at least one cordless network, and, if so, the controller unit generates a PSTN based number on the basis of the extension number and the registered network information.
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Kraft Christian
Leickel Torsten
Bost Dwayne
Contee Joy K.
Nokia Mobile Phones Limited
Perman & Green LLP
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