Telephonic communications – Terminal – Switch or switch actuator structure
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-16
2001-10-30
Kuntz, Curtis (Department: 2643)
Telephonic communications
Terminal
Switch or switch actuator structure
C379S433020
Reexamination Certificate
active
06310955
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to improvements in portable telephony. More particularly, the invention relates to methods and apparatus for causing a portable telephone handset to go off-hook when picked up.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Wireless telephones are becoming increasingly common. Wireless telephones include both cellular telephones and wireline telephones having a base station and a wireless handset. In a cellular system the wireless operation is what makes the entire system possible. In the wireline system, the ability of the telephone to operate without a wire connected to the handset is a significant convenience to the user.
In both cellular and wireline systems, the wireless receiver must typically be manually placed into an off-hook position in order to place a call or answer an incoming call. For example, the user removes a wired line handset for its base or presses a button. The need to press a button can be an inconvenience to the user. In poor light, a user may not be able to see the keys and may have difficulty pressing the correct key. A user may not have both hands free, and it may be inconvenient in such a case for a user to both hold the handset and press a button to set the telephone to an off-hook condition. In each case it may be more convenient for the user to set the telephone to an off-hook condition by moving or disturbing the handset, without the necessity to make a precise motion needed to select and press a particular button.
There exists, therefore, a need in the art for a wireless telephone handset which can be set to an off-hook condition by movement of the handset particularly when the handset is not in a charging cradle. Such operation has the benefit of being familiar to users of standard wired telephones which are offhook whenever the handset is picked up.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An automatic off look system according to the present invention may suitably include a base station and a handset. When the base station receives an incoming call signal from a central office, the central office sends a ring signal to the base station and the base station sends a signal to the handset. The handset includes a controller which receives the ring signal. The handset also includes a sensor. The controller is operative to receive a signal from the sensor or a keypress from a keypad on the handset. During the pendency of the call, the controller looks for a keypress or a signal from the sensor. If the controller detects a keypress, the controller immediately sets the handset to an offhook condition. If the controller receives a signal from the sensor, the signal is preferably evaluated to determine if it meets a threshold sufficient to indicate that it is desired to set the handset to an offhook condition. If the signal meets the threshold, the controller sets the telephone to an offhook condition. If the signal does not meet the threshold, the controller resumes looking for a keypress or a signal from the sensor.
A more complete understanding of the present invention, as well as further features and advantages of the invention, will be apparent from the following Detailed Description and the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5337353 (1994-08-01), Boie et al.
patent: 5715311 (1998-02-01), Sudo et al.
patent: 5918188 (1999-06-01), Doran
patent: 5987119 (1999-11-01), Lee
patent: 62-003546 (1987-01-01), None
patent: 02-205151 (1990-08-01), None
patent: 02-277351 (1990-11-01), None
Eng George
Kuntz Curtis
Lucent Technologies - Inc.
Priest & Goldstein PLLC
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