Fixed wireless telephone device
View Patent ↗Methods and apparatus are disclosed for establishing a fixed wireless telephone service. A fixed wireless device includes a wireless device for establishing wireless connections to a wireless communications network that interfaces with a public switched telephone network. The fixed wireless device includes a connection that provides telephone service for an ordinary POTS-based telephone, handset, computer, or other communication device. Various techniques are provided for monitoring during use and/or verifying prior to use whether the fixed wireless device remains in an intended fixed location.
1. A system for providing telephone service to a POTS device interfaced to a wireless device that communicates through a wireless telephone network, comprising:
an emitter separate from the wireless device that produces a first signal;
a receiver at the wireless device that is configured to receive the first signal when in proximity to the emitter and provide an indication of receiving the first signal to indicate that the wireless device is in proximity to the emitter;
a converter at the wireless device for interfacing at least the transmission and reception portion of the wireless device to a POTS connection such that the at least transmission and reception portion provides telephone service via the wireless telephone network to the POTS connection, wherein the converter is configured to receive the indication from the receiver as to whether the first signal has been received and to terminate a call in progress if the first signal has not been received; and
a memory at the wireless device that stores a unique ID for the emitter, wherein the first signal has an encoded ID that identifies the emitter, and wherein the converter is further configured to provide wireless telephone service to the POTS connection only when the encoded ID from the first signal matches the unique ID stored in the memory.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the wireless device includes circuitry to prevent use of the wireless device when the receiver indicates that the wireless device is not in proximity to the emitter.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the memory also stores a unique ID for a POTS device communicatively linked to the POTS connection, and wherein the converter is configured to provide wireless telephone service to the POTS device only when the encoded ID from the first signal matches the unique ID stored in memory and the unique ID for the POTS device matches the unique ID stored in memory.
4. A method for providing telephone service to a POTS device interfaced to a wireless device that communicates through a wireless telephone network, the method comprising:
receiving at a receiver at the wireless device a first signal when in proximity to an emitter and providing an indication of receiving the first signal to indicate that the wireless device is in proximity to the emitter, the first signal being produced by the emitter separate from the wireless device;
using a converter at the wireless device for interfacing at least the transmission and reception portion of the wireless device to a POTS connection such that the at least transmission and reception portion provides telephone service via the wireless telephone network to the POTS connection, wherein the converter is configured to receive the indication from the receiver as to whether the first signal has been received and to terminate a call in progress if the first signal has not been received; and
storing in a memory at the wireless device a unique ID for the emitter, wherein the first signal has an encoded ID that identifies the emitter, and wherein the converter is further configured to provide wireless telephone service to the POTS connection only when the encoded ID from the first signal matches the unique ID stored in the memory.
5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising using, at the wireless device, circuitry to prevent use of the wireless device when the receiver indicates that the wireless device is not in proximity to the emitter.
6. The method of claim 4 , further comprising storing in the memory a unique ID for a POTS device communicatively linked to the POTS connection, and wherein the converter is configured to provide wireless telephone service to the POTS device only when the encoded ID from the first signal matches the unique ID stored in memory and the unique ID for the POTS device matches the unique ID stored in memory.
7. A computer-readable medium which stores a set of instructions which when executed performs a method for providing telephone service to a POTS device interfaced to a wireless device that communicates through a wireless telephone network, the method executed by the set of instructions comprising:
receiving at a receiver at the wireless device a first signal when in proximity to an emitter and providing an indication of receiving the first signal to indicate that the wireless device is in proximity to the emitter, the first signal being produced by the emitter separate from the wireless device;
using a converter at the wireless device for interfacing at least the transmission and reception portion of the wireless device to a POTS connection such that the at least transmission and reception portion provides telephone service via the wireless telephone network to the POTS connection, wherein the converter is configured to receive the indication from the receiver as to whether the first signal has been received and to terminate a call in progress if the first signal has not been received; and
storing in a memory at the wireless device a unique ID for the emitter, wherein the first signal has an encoded ID that identifies the emitter, and wherein the converter is further configured to provide wireless telephone service to the POTS connection only when the encoded ID from the first signal matches the unique ID stored in the memory.
8. The computer-readable medium of claim 7 , further comprising using, at the wireless device, circuitry to prevent use of the wireless device when the receiver indicates that the wireless device is not in proximity to the emitter.
9. The computer-readable medium of claim 7 , further comprising storing in the memory a unique ID for a POTS device communicatively linked to the POTS connection, and wherein the converter is configured to provide wireless telephone service to the POTS device only when the encoded ID from the first signal matches the unique ID stored in memory and the unique ID for the POTS device matches the unique ID stored in memory.