Desktop phone with interchangeable wireless handset
View Patent ↗Systems, methods, and devices for providing an external wireless interface for use with a desktop telephone are disclosed. In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, a telephone is provided which may include a universal connector operable to removably connect to any of a plurality of external radio transceivers. The external radio transceivers operate according a plurality of wireless communication protocols. In one embodiment, the universal connector may comprise a USB connector, and the external radio transceiver may be embodied as a USB dongle.
1. A telephone for use with an external radio transceiver, comprising:
a central processing unit (CPU);
an audio interface coupled to the CPU;
a telecommunication channel interface to a landline telecommunication network, wherein the telecommunication channel interface is coupled to the CPU;
and a universal connector coupled to the CPU;
wherein the universal connector is operable to removeably connect to any of a plurality of external interchangeable radio transceivers;
wherein each of the plurality of external interchangeable radio transceivers operates according to at least one of a plurality of wireless communication protocols and operates to establish a wireless connection with a wireless handset.
2. The telephone of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of wireless communication protocols comprises a cellular protocol.
3. The telephone of claim 1 , wherein the universal connector comprises a universal serial bus (USB) port.
4. The telephone of claim 3 , wherein at least one of the plurality of external interchangeable radio transceivers comprises a USB dongle.
5. The telephone of claim 1 , further comprising:
a hands-free microphone coupled to the CPU; and
a hands-free speaker coupled to the CPU.
6. The telephone of claim 1 , further comprising a telephone handset interface, wherein the telephone handset interface is operable to couple to a cordless handset.
7. The telephone of claim 1 , further comprising a telephone handset interface, wherein the telephone handset interface is operable to couple to a corded handset.
8. The telephone of claim 1 , wherein the telecommunication channel interface comprises a connection to an analog communication channel.
9. The telephone of claim 8 , wherein the analog communication channel comprises a plain old telephone service (POTS) connection.
10. The telephone of claim 1 , wherein the telecommunication channel interface comprises a connection to a digital communication channel.
11. The telephone of claim 10 , wherein the digital communication channel comprises an integrated services digital network (ISDN) channel.
12. The telephone of claim 10 , wherein the digital communication channel comprises an internet protocol (IP) channel.
13. The telephone of claim 1 , further comprising:
a video interface coupled to the CPU.
14. A wireless communication system, comprising:
a telephone comprising:
a central processing unit (CPU);
a telecommunication channel interface to a landline telecommunication network, wherein the telecommunication channel interface is coupled to the CPU; and
a universal connector coupled to the CPU; and
an external, interchangeable wireless adapter comprising:
a radio transceiver within a housing;
an antenna coupled to the radio transceiver; and
a mating universal connector coupled to the housing;
wherein the mating universal connector is operable to removably connect to the universal connector of the telephone;
wherein the universal connector of the telephone is operable to removably connect to any of a plurality of external, interchangeable wireless adapters; and
wherein each of the plurality of external, interchangeable wireless adapters operates according to at least one of a plurality of wireless communication protocols and operates to establish a wireless connection with a wireless handset.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the universal connector comprises a universal serial bus (USB) port.
16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the mating universal connector comprises a USB plug.
17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of wireless communication protocols comprises a cellular protocol.
18. The system of claim 14 , further comprising:
a wireless handset operable to communicate with the radio transceiver via radio waves.
19. The system of claim 14 , further comprising:
a wireless headset operable to communicate with the radio transceiver via radio waves.
20. A method of communicably coupling a landline telephone to any of a plurality of wireless communication devices, the method comprising:
providing an external interchangeable wireless adapter having a radio transceiver and a universal connector;
removably connecting the universal connector of the external interchangeable wireless adapter to a mating universal connector of the landline telephone;
sending an outgoing audio signal from a microphone of the wireless communication device to the landline telephone via the radio transceiver; and
receiving, by a wireless communication device, via the radio transceiver, an incoming audio signal received by the landline telephone from the landline.
21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the universal connector comprises a USB plug.
22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the mating universal connector comprises a USB port.
23. The method of claim 20 , wherein the wireless communication device comprises a wireless handset.
24. The method of claim 20 , wherein the wireless communication device comprises a wireless headset.