WO1998038753A1

WO1998038753A1 - Method and system for operating multiple terminal equipment units using a fixed wireless terminal

Info

Publication number: WO1998038753A1
Application number: PCT/US1998/000486
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael Anthony Krzystyniak; Scott Oliver Nyhart; Warren Paul Reif
Original assignee: Motorola Inc.
Priority date: 1997-02-28
Filing date: 1998-01-09
Publication date: 1998-09-03
Also published as: FR2760308A1; TW359926B; GB9803806D0; GB2326060A

Abstract

In a telecommunications system (50) using a fixed wireless terminal (52) having a transceiver (62) for communicating with a public switched telephone network (34) via a radio communication link (30) with a base station (32), multiple terminal equipment units (22) are coupled to the fixed wireless terminal (52). A complete request from a requesting communication resource (58) for access to a selected communication resource is detected (208). The communication resources include the transceiver (62), and first and second communication circuits (58 and 60), which are coupled to first and second ports (26), respectively, for coupling to first and second terminal equipment units (22), respectively. Thereafter, the availability of the selected communication resource is determined (212). If the selected communication resource is available, the requesting communication resource is coupled to the selected communication resource (222).

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR OPERATING MULTIPLE TERMINAL EQUIPMENT UNITS USING A FIXED WIRELESS

TERMINAL

Cross-Reference to Related Application

The present application is related to U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08/810,310, entitled "Method and System for Operating Multiple Terminal Equipment Units Using a Fixed Wireless Terminal", Attorney's Docket No. CE04448N, filed of even date herewith, and assigned to the assignee herein and which is incorporated herein by reference.

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a wireless telecommunications system, and more particularly to the operation of multiple terminal equipment units using a fixed wireless terminal in a wireless communications system.

Background of the Invention

In many parts of the world it is expensive or difficult to run copper wire or fiber optic cable to homes and business to provide local phone service. One way to avoid the cost of stringing cable is to implement a wireless local loop telephone system.

In a wireless local loop system, telephones and other terminal equipment at the customer's site is connected to a fixed wireless terminal (FWT). The FWT communicates with the public switched telephone network (PSTN) through a wireless or radio link. With a wireless local loop system, basic telephone service can be provided at a fraction of the cost of a traditional wire-line infrastructure to customers who would not otherwise have access to telecommunications services. Wireless local loop systems provide telecommunications systems operators with the benefits of rapid deployment, large coverage area, large capacity, and lower operating and maintenance costs. With a wireless local loop system, digital wireless telephone networks may be deployed rapidly and economically in developing countries which lack sufficient land-line infrastructure.

With reference to FIG. 1, there is depicted a prior art digital wireless communication system 20. As shown, terminal equipment unit 22 is coupled to fixed wireless terminal 24 at input port 26. Terminal equipment unit 22 may be a telephone, fax machine, computer, modem, or other customer provided equipment, or customer premise equipment (CPE). Input port 26 is typically implemented with an RJ-11 jack, which may be used to connect a twisted-pair of cooper cable between terminal equipment unit 22 and fixed wireless terminal 24. Fixed wireless terminal 24 is coupled to antenna 28 for transmitting radio frequency signal 30 to base station 32. Radio frequency signal 30 ordinarily conforms to an air interface standard, such as the industry standard IS-95 for code division multiple access (CDMA) cellular communication systems. After receiving signals from fixed wireless terminal 24, base station 32 ultimately communicates a user's voice or data signals to the public switched telephone network 34 so that a customer using a telephone may place a call to other telephones connected to PSTN 34.

Fixed wireless terminal 24 is referred to as "fixed" because it is ordinarily mounted or placed in a convenient location in a building or home so that it remains fixed in relation to the location of base station 32.

However, even when the cost of telephone infrastructure is reduced by using wireless communications, providing wireless telephone service in some areas may still be to expensive or economically unfeasible. To reduce costs even further, it has been proposed that more than one telephone be connected to the telephone interface at input port 26 in order to serve more than one telephone system customer. The problem with this cost-saving solution is that the customers connected to the fixed wireless terminal have no privacy with respect to the others connected to the same FWT; if one customer is using the telephone, other customers connected to the same FWT may listen to the conversation by merely picking up their telephone.

In addition to the privacy problem, when multiple telephones are connected to a single FWT the telephone system operator has the problem of not being able to distinguish a call initiated by one customer from a call initiated by another. This means that the telephone system operator cannot individually bill services, such as long distance calls, to a particular telephone. With so many services offered and purchased through telephone billing, not being able to determine which customer purchased a service is an important problem to be solved.

Another problem with connecting multiple telephones to input port 26 is that the telephone cannot be ordered to ring individually and selectively. In other words, when the FWT receives an incoming call, all telephones connected to input port 26 ring in response to the incoming call.

Yet another problem with the prior art occurs when one customer connected to the FWT wants to call another customer connected to the same FWT. The prior art does not provide a means by which one customer can call another connected to the same FWT. If one FWT is shared between neighbors, this means that one neighbor cannot call the other.

Another problem with the prior art occurs when one user wants to make a call while another user has a call in progress. The user attempting to make the call must waste time by periodically monitoring the line to know when the line is available for her call. Therefore, a need exists for an improved method and system for providing wireless local loop service to customers wherein customer access to telephone service is provided less expensively, more efficiently, more conveniently, and more completely, wherein access is provided to all telephones in the telecommunication system.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objects, and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 depicts a wireless local loop telecommunications system in accordance with the prior art;

FIG. 2 depicts a wireless local loop telecommunications system in accordance with the method and system of the present invention;

FIG. 3 depicts a high-level block diagram of a multi-line fixed wireless terminal in accordance with the method and system of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a high-level block diagram of a multi-line fixed wireless terminal using two-wire internal communication paths in accordance with a first embodiment of the method and system of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a high-level block diagram of a multi-line fixed wireless terminal using four-wire internal communication paths in accordance with a second embodiment of the method and system of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a high-level block diagram of a multi-line fixed wireless terminal having a digital data bus in accordance with a third embodiment of the method and system of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a high-level logical flowchart that illustrates a call origination operation in accordance with the method and system of the present invention; FIG. 8 is a high-level logical flowchart that illustrates an incoming call reception process in accordance with the method and system of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a high-level logical flowchart illustrating the process of reporting billing information in accordance with the method and system of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention

With reference now to FIG. 2, there is depicted a wireless local loop telecommunications system 50 in accordance with the method and system of the present invention. As illustrated, a plurality of terminal equipment units 22 are coupled to multi-line fixed wireless terminal 52 at input ports 26. As mentioned above, terminal equipment units 22 may be telephones, fax machines, computers, modems, or other customer provided equipment designed to interface with a typical POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) subscriber loop. In a preferred embodiment, input port 26 is implemented with an RJ-11- type modular jack which is commonly used by many phone companies. In other embodiments of the present invention, input port 26 may be implemented with other jacks from the RJ family of jacks registered with the FCC (Federal Communications Commission), such as RJ-12 and RJ-45 jacks. Other types of connectors may also be used.

For example, input port 26 may be implemented with any technology that bi-directionally couples signals or data between terminal equipment units 22 and multi-line fixed wireless terminal 52.

Additionally, input port 26 may be a "physical" port or a "logical" port. For example, in a system using two-wire telephones, two telephones may be connected to two physically separate ports implemented with RJ-11 jacks in an embodiment using physical ports 26. And in an embodiment using logical ports 26, both telephones may be connected to a single physical RJ-11 jack, wherein a first port 26 uses pins 2 and 3 of the RJ-11 jack as a first logical port, and pins 1 and 4 of the RJ-11 jack as a second logical port.

Multi-line fixed wireless terminal 52 transmits voice or data signals from antenna 28 by a radio frequency signal 30. Radio frequency signal 30, which ordinarily conforms to an industry standard such as IS-95 for a CDMA communications systems, may then be received at base station 32 and coupled to public switched telephone network 34 through, in a preferred embodiment, standard cellular infrastructure equipment. Radio frequency signal 30 is periodically established and transmitted when needed to complete a communication path between multi-line fixed wireless terminal 52 and base station 32. With reference now to FIG. 3, there is depicted a more detailed block diagram of multi-line fixed wireless terminal 52 in accordance with the method and system of the present invention. As shown, multiple terminal equipment units 22 are coupled to multi-line fixed wireless terminal 52 at input ports 26. Input ports 26 may be physical ports or logical ports. Signals passing through input ports 26 are coupled to coupling means 54 and 56 via first communication path 58 and second communication path 60, respectively. Coupling means 54 and 56 are used to couple communication resources to one another within multi-line fixed wireless terminal 52. Such communication resources include first communication path 58, second communication path 60, transceiver 62, busy signal generator 64, and ring back signal generator 66.

Both coupling means 54 and 56 are controlled by signals from controller 68. Controller 68 is coupled to first and second communication paths 58 and 60 for the purpose of off-hook detection and for monitoring signals from terminal equipment units 22 that request a communication resource connection. Controller 68 also collects and stores billing information in a billing information data base. Controller 68 is also coupled to transceiver 62 for transferring control information and requests for connection to communication resources, such as first and second communication paths 58 and 60. Billing information is also transferred between controller 68 and transceiver 62.

Transceiver 62 is preferably implemented according to one of several known standards for air interfaces for cellular communications systems, such as, but not limited to, the air interface standards promulgated by the TIA (Telecommunications Industries Association). Transceiver 62 is also adapted to periodically establish a temporary wireless communication link with base station 32 upon demand.

According to an important aspect of the present invention, coupling means 54 and 56 can selectively couple one of a plurality of communication resources in multi-line fixed wireless terminal 52 to another one of the plurality of communication resources. Such communication resources include first and second communication paths 58 and 60. For example, by connecting these two communication resources to one another through coupling means 54 and 56, a user at one of the connected terminal equipment units 22 may place a call to the other terminal equipment unit 22. In the example of FIG. 3, circuit 70 may be used to connect the two telephones to one another. Circuit 72 may be used connect terminal equipment units 22 to transceiver 62. Circuit 74 may be used to connect terminal equipment units 22 to busy signal generator 64. And similarly, circuit 76 may be used to connect terminal equipment units 22 to ring back signal generator 66.

With reference now to FIG. 4, there is depicted a more detailed block diagram of multi-line fixed wireless terminal 52 in accordance with the method and system of the present invention. In this embodiment, transceiver 62 includes a single codec 86 which is used for converting voice signals from analog form to digital signals suitable for transmission by transceiver 62. Codec 86 may also perform a compression/decompression function and as well as a coding /decoding function. Codec 86 may be implemented with any one of several known integrated circuits, such as the integrated circuit sold under part number ST5092 by SGS-Thompson Microelectronics, or part number MC145480 by Motorola, Inc.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, circuits 70-76 and first and second communication paths 58 and 60 are two-wire analog subscriber loop communication paths. Subscriber line interface circuit (SLIC) 88 is used to couple signals from codec 86 to circuit 72, essentially turning a two-wire circuit into a four-wire circuit.

By using a single codec 86, the codec function and hardware may be shared between multiple terminal equipment units 22, thereby reducing the manufacturing costs of multi-line fixed wireless terminal

52.

Also shown in FIG. 4 is a more detailed view of controller 68. As shown, controller 68 includes memory 90 for storing data describing the communication resource connections within multi-line fixed wireless terminal 52, and for storing billing information regarding specific connections between communication resources and the duration of such connections.

Resource connection database 92 stores data describing the current status of connections and sending connections between communication resources within multi-line fixed wireless terminal 52.

In order to determine availability of a communications resource, controller 68 consults data stored in resource connection database 92.

Billing information database 94 collects and stores data describing connections between communication resources and the duration of such connections within multi-line FWT 52. Such billing information data describes the services, or connections to communication resources, used by each terminal equipment unit 22, along with the duration of such service used. For example, when a customer places a telephone call, the connection with the communication resource is recorded by storing information such as the phone number called, and the duration of the call is also recorded. In the case of a call going out of FWT 52, a connection between the transceiver and the communications path coupled to a particular terminal equipment unit is recorded, along with the duration of such connection and use of the transceiver service. Information within the billing information database 94 is periodically transferred to base station 32 and collected by the digital wireless communication system operator in order to prepare bills for each individual terminal equipment unit.

Because controller 68 must respond to requests for connections between communications resources, off-hook detector 96 is used to detect when terminal equipment units 22 are in an off-hook condition. Off-hook detector 96 is also used in determining the availability of a terminal equipment unit 22. For example, a communications resource connection to a terminal equipment unit may not be available while the terminal equipment unit is off-hook.

Once a terminal equipment unit 22 has entered an off-hook state, the terminal equipment unit 22 usually generates signals that represent a request for a connection to a communication resource. Resource request detector 98 is used to capture and analyze these signals from terminal equipment units 22 and determine whether or not the terminal equipment unit 22 has made a complete request for a connection to a communication resource. Methods of detecting a complete request include analyzing a phone number entered at terminal equipment unit 22 to determine whether or not that phone number sufficiently describes a telephone in the PSTN, or another telephone connected to the multi-line fixed wireless terminal 52. Once a complete communication resource request has been detected, controller 68 attempts to connect the requesting communication resource to the requested communication resource. With reference now to FIG. 5, there is depicted a second embodiment of the method and system of the present invention that uses two subscriber line interface circuits 88. As illustrated, both first and second communication paths 58 and 60 include a serially coupled subscriber line interface circuit 88 that separates bi-directional communication paths 58 and 60 into input paths 58' and 60' and output paths 58" and 60". Because the communication path has been divided into an input path and an output path, coupling means 54 and 56 must also be divided into input and output sections. Also in this embodiment, the circuit between coupling means 54 and coupling means 56 is shown as directional circuits 70 and 70', and the circuit connected codec 86 is shown as directional circuits 72 and 72'.

Also in the example of FIG. 5, ring back signal generator 66 is selectively coupled to subscriber line interface circuits 88 by switch 100 under the control of controller 68. The signal generated by ring back signal generator 66 is typically a 40 Vrms, 20 Hertz signal, or other similar signal which may vary in different countries according to local specifications.

In FIG. 5, the detection of an off-hook condition at a terminal equipment unit 22 is implemented within subscriber line interface circuit 88. Thus, subscriber line interface circuits 88 are coupled to controller 68 in order to convey off-hook status of their respective terminal equipment units 22.

With reference now to FIG. 6, there is depicted a third embodiment of the method and system of the present invention wherein a coupling means 54 and 56 is implemented with a multiplexed data bus. As illustrated, first and second communication paths 58 and 60 include subscriber line interface circuits 88 and codecs 86. Coupling means 54 is implemented in this embodiment with multiplexed access to data bus 110 under the control of microprocessor 112. In a preferred embodiment, microprocessor 112 provides timing signals that define time slots so that codecs 86 may read and write data to and from data bus 110.

For example, to couple terminal equipment units 22 and 22' together, microprocessor 112 instructs terminal equipment unit 22 to read data from terminal equipment unit 22' while it is present on data bus 110, and vice versa. Similarly, terminal equipment unit 22 may be coupled to other communication resources via digital signal processor (DSP) 114. Such other communication resources include busy signal generator 64, ring back signal generator 66, and transceiver 62. In this third embodiment, busy signal generator 64 and ring back signal generator 66 may be implemented in software with pre-stored or calculated digital wave forms representing appropriate electrical telephony signals.

Microprocessor 112 is also coupled to memory 90 which may be used to store resource connection database 92 and billing information database 94. Also included within microprocessor 112 is resource request detector 98, which receives data from digital signal processor 114 in order to detect a complete request for connection to a communications resources. Such data from digital signal processor 114 may indicate that DSP 114 has detected entry of particular, DTMF tones at a terminal equipment unit.

With reference now to FIG. 7, there is depicted a high-level logic flowchart that illustrates the process of making an outgoing call in accordance with the method and system of the present invention. As illustrated, the process begins at block 200 and thereafter passes to block 202 wherein the process determines whether or not a terminal equipment unit, or user, has entered an off-hook state. If the user has not entered an off-hook state, the process passes to decision block 204 wherein the process determines whether or not an incoming call has been received. If the user has entered an off-hook state, the process indicates an unavailable status for such an off-hook user, as illustrated at block 206. This unavailable status may be recorded in resource connection database 92 in controller 68 (see FIG. 4) even though the communication path resource has not yet been connected to another requested communication resource. Noting the unavailable status of the off-hook user at this point may prevent controller 68 from attempting to couple another communication resource to the communication path to the off -hook user while the off -hook user is in the process of entering a complete communication resource request.

Next, the process determines whether or not a complete user request for a communication resource has been entered by the off-hook user, as depicted at decision block 208. Since controller 68 cannot couple a requesting communication resource (i.e., the communication path coupled to the off-hook user's terminal equipment unit) to a selected communication resource until a complete request for access to the selected communications resource is entered, resource request detector 98 (see FIG. 4) is used to analyze or detect a complete request from a requesting communication resource for access to a selected communication resource. In one embodiment, detecting a complete request may include analyzing a telephone number entered by a DTMF (Dual Tone Multi Frequency) keypad to determine whether or not a complete phone number has been entered. For example, resource request detector 98 may recognize numbers of local exchanges and long distance exchanges, in which case a local exchange will be followed by four additional numerals and a long distance exchange will be followed by seven additional numerals. Additionally, a prefix numeral, such as a "1", may indicate a long distance number will be entered comprising ten numerals.

In another embodiment, resource request detector 98 may recognize a complete request by detecting a delay that exceeds a predetermined time, wherein such delay is interpreted as an indication that the user or terminal equipment unit has completed the entry of the request. A complete request may also be detected by using a special character that delimits the request for access. For example, a "*" character or "#" character may be included at the end of a request. If the user has not completed a request for connection to a communication resource, the process continues to process the user request, as illustrated at block 210. This step may be implemented by continuing to receive additional signals that comprise a complete user request. Following the step at block 210, the process once again determines whether or not a complete user request has been entered, as depicted at block 208.

If a complete request for access to a selected communication resource has been entered, the process then determines whether or not the selected communication resource is available, as illustrated at decision block 212. In one embodiment, this step may be implemented by consulting the resource connection database 92 (see FIG. 4) which contains data reflecting the status of how communication resources in the multi-line fixed wireless terminal are coupled together, and status relating to requests that may be in progress.

If the selected communication resource is not available, the process indicates to the off-hook user the busy condition of the requested communications resource, as depicted at block 214. Such an indication may take the form of an audible busy signal, which, in response to the busy condition, is coupled to the communication path of the requesting communication resource. Therefore, if the requesting terminal equipment unit is a telephone, and the user attempts to call another telephone in the PSTN while the transceiver in the multi-line fixed wireless terminal is busy processing a call of another user connected to the same multi-line fixed wireless terminal, the requesting user will be coupled to an alternate communication resource, the busy signal generator 64, to provide an indication that the call cannot be processed at this time.

Following the busy signal indication, the process determines whether or not the requested communication resource has become available, as illustrated at decision block 216. If the requested communication resource is not available, the process iteratively rechecks the availability as indicated by the "no" branch from decision block 216.

If the request communication resource has become available, the process indicates to the requesting communication resource that the requested communication resource is available, as depicted at block 218.

This step may be implemented by coupling the requesting communication resource (e.g., the user that dialed a telephone number while transceiver 62 was already in use) with a signal from ring back signal generator 66 to ring the requester's terminal equipment unit. In this manner a user attempting to make a call via transceiver 62 while transceiver 62 was already in use receives a ring (which may be a ring that can be distinguished from a ring associated with an incoming call) to indicate that the requested communication resource, which in this case is transceiver 62, is now available to process the requesting user's call. Other methods of indicating the availability of the requested communication resource may also be used. For example, a light placed on or near the terminal equipment unit may be used to indicate the availability of the request communication resource.

Once the availability of the request communication resource is indicated, the process iteratively returns to block 202 to await the requesting user's next attempt for access to the requested communication resource.

Note that the requested communication resource may be the communication path coupled to another terminal equipment unit connected to the same multi-line fixed wireless terminal. (See communication paths 58 and 60 in FIG. 4) This is the case if one user wishes to call another user, which, for example, is a neighbor connected to the same FWT. Therefore, if the neighbor is currently making a call that uses the transceiver, the user making the request to be connected to the neighbor will receive a busy indication, and may later receive a ring back signal indicating that the neighbor has completed the call and is now available.

With reference again to decision block 212, if the selected communication resource is available, the process indicates an unavailable condition for the requested communications resource, as illustrated at block 220, which prevents other requesting users from coupling to the selected communication resource. This step may be implemented by representing a connection or coupling between the requesting resource and the selected resource in resource connection database 92 in controller 68 (see FIG. 4).

Next, the process connects or couples the requesting communication resource, such as the user's communication path, to the selected communications resource, such as the transceiver, as depicted at block 222. This process of coupling resources may be implemented with a switch, which is shown at reference numerals 54 and 56 in FIGs. 4 and 5, or with a multiplexed data bus with access controlled by a microprocessor, such as that shown at reference numerals 110 and 112 in FIG. 6. After coupling communications resources, the process maintains the connection by processing the user call, as illustrated at block 224.

Note that when the transceiver is either the requested or requesting communication resource, a temporary radio communication link is established between the FWT and a base station in accordance with the protocol that governs the air interface used by the wireless telecommunications system. Such a radio communications link typically exists for the duration of the call, after which it is terminated so that the air interface capacity for data transmission may be shared with other FWTs and mobile subscriber units in the system. The process next determines whether or not the user's call has been terminated, as depicted at block 226. The call may be terminated either by the called party or the calling party. If the call has not been terminated, the process iteratively loops to block 224, where call processing continues. If the call has been terminated, the process records billing information and queues such billing information for the next transmission from the FWT to the base station, as illustrated at block 228.

Such billing information may include data describing what communication resource was coupled to what other communication resource, and the duration of such coupling of resources. For example, data recorded may include that user 1, having a particular phone number, was coupled to the transceiver communication resource for 10 minutes, on a particular date, at a particular time, connected to another phone having a particular phone number. Such billing information may be periodically transmitted to a centralized data base in the digital wireless communication system. From there, such data may be used to prepare bills for customers subscribing to communication services. Such billing information may be recorded in billing information database 94 in controller 68 (see FIG. 4).

Next, the process indicates that the off-hook user (the requesting communication resource) and the requested communication resource are available for connection or coupling to other requesting users or resources, as depicted at block 230. This step may be implemented by updating data stored in resource connection database 92 (see FIG. 4).

After updating data in the resource connection database, the process returns to block 202 in order to detect a request from a next user, or to detect an incoming call.

Referring again to block 204, if the process determines that a call has been received into the FWT, the process proceeds from decision block 204, via off-page connector 250 in FIG. 7 to off-page connector 250 in FIG. 8. As illustrated in FIG. 8 at block 252, the process then indicates that the transceiver is unavailable for other users that may request that communication resource. Thus, the transceiver is unavailable for outgoing calls while the incoming call is being processed. Next, the process identifies the called user, as identified at block

254. An important aspect of the present invention is the ability of the multi-line FWT to direct an incoming call to a designated terminal equipment unit. The identity of the called user may be determined by examining signals received on a paging channel, or signals received in the traffic channel. Such traffic channel signals may include in-band signals such as DTMF tones, dim-and-burst signaling, or blank-and- burst signaling.

Note that the identification of the called user may be considered a detection of a complete request from a requesting communication resource; the transceiver is requesting access to a selected communication resource — the communication path coupled to the designated terminal equipment unit.

After identifying the called user, the process connects or couples the called user's communication path to a signal from the ring back signal generator, as depicted at block 256. In this step, only the designated terminal equipment unit receives a ring signal, rather than ringing all terminal equipment units connected to the FWT.

Next, the process determines whether or not the called user goes into an off-hook state, as illustrated at decision block 258. This decision may be implemented with controller 68 which receives input from either off-hook detector 96 or subscriber line interface circuits 88 (see FIGs. 4 and 5, respectively). If the called user has not gone into an off- hook state, the process determines whether or not the caller has terminated the call, as depicted at block 260. If the caller has not terminated the call the process iteratively loops back to decision block

258 to determine whether or not the called user has gone off-hook. If, however, the caller has terminated the call, the process indicates that the transceiver and called user communication resources are available, as illustrated at block 262. This step may be implemented by updating information stored in resource connection database 92 in controller 68 (see FIG. 4).

With reference again to decision block 258, if the called user goes off-hook, the process indicates that the called user's communication resource, such as the communication path coupled to the called terminal equipment unit, is unavailable for other requesting users, as depicted at block 264. This step may be implemented by storing the appropriate data in resource connection database 92.

Thereafter, the process continues with the call to the called user, as illustrated at block 266. The process then determines whether or not the call is terminated, as depicted at decision block 268. If the call has not terminated, call processing continues at block 266.

If the call has been terminated, the process records billing information and queues such billing information for the next transmission, as illustrated at block 270. Such billing information may be recorded in billing information database 94. The billing information may include data indicating which communication resources were coupled to one another, and the duration of such coupling.

Thereafter, the process indicates that the transceiver and the called user communication resources are available, as depicted at block 262. After indicating that the resources are available, the process returns to block 202 in FIG. 7 via off-page connector 264.

With reference now to FIG. 9, there is depicted a high-level logic flowchart that illustrates the process of sending queued billing information from an FWT to a base station in accordance with the method and system of the present invention. As illustrated, the process begins at block 300 and thereafter passes to block 302 wherein the process determines whether or not it is time to send billing information from the FWT to the base station so that it may be collected at a central database. If it is not time to send billing information, the process iteratively loops as illustrated by the "no" branch from block 302. If it is time to send the billing information, the process sends the queued billing information to the base station, as depicted at block 304. This step may be implemented by using controller 68 to initiate transmission of the billing data via transceiver 62 and radio frequency signal 30 (see FIGs. 2 and 4). Determining when to send billing information may be implemented by monitoring requests from base station 32 via a control channel, monitoring a time of day, monitoring a level of billable activity, or by other similar means.

As described above, the present invention is implemented in a single multi-line fixed wireless terminal having a single enclosure. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, functional blocks shown at reference numeral 150 may be enclosed in a separate enclosure called a multi-line adapter (see FIG. 3). In such a multi-line adapter, ports 26 are provided for coupling to terminal equipment units 22. Fixed wireless terminal port 152 handles channel traffic as well as control signals between transceiver 62 and controller 68 in multi-line adapter 150. In multi-line adapter 150, requests for communication resources are communicated between transceiver 62 and controller 68 via control lines in fixed wireless terminal port 152. Additionally, control lines in fixed wireless terminal port 152 may be used to communicate billing information.

It should be apparent from the above detailed description that the present invention couples a requesting communication resource to a selected communication resource within a fixed wireless terminal, if such selected communication resource is available. The requesting communication resource may include: communication paths 58 and

60, which are coupled to ports 26 and terminal equipment units 22; busy signal generator 64, which may be considered an alternate communications resource for indicating a status condition; ring back signal generator 66, which may be similarly used to indicate status; and transceiver 62. Communication paths 58 and 60 become requesting communication resources when signals from terminal equipment units coupled to these paths generate a complete request for access to a selected communication source. Transceiver 62 becomes a requesting communication resource when an incoming call is received and a particular terminal equipment unit is designated. In this case, the selected communication resource is the communication path coupled to the designated terminal equipment unit.

Benefits of the present invention include: privacy between terminal equipment units connected to the same FWT; the specific direction of an incoming call to a particular terminal equipment unit; the collection, recording, and transmission of billing information to a centralized database; the ability of one terminal equipment unit to call another terminal equipment unit on the same FWT; the indication of a busy condition when a user attempts a call when the transceiver is in use, or calls another terminal equipment unit while that terminal equipment unit is processing a call; and the ability to indicate that a desired communication resource, such as a neighboring terminal equipment unit or the transceiver, is available. Initially, the present invention may reduce the cost of deploying telephone service by reducing the number of transmitters required in the wireless communications system infrastructure. By reducing the number of transceivers in the system, the cost per terminal equipment unit may be significantly lowered.

While the present invention has been illustrated with examples showing separate physical ports 26 which are ideally suited to serve two customers in two separate houses or businesses, the present invention may include two logical ports 26 in one physical connector, and be used to wire separate phone lines in one residence or business depending on which pins in the physical connector are connected to the terminal equipment units.

Although the examples discussed in the detailed description above provide ports for connecting two terminal equipment units, the principles of the method and system of the present invention may be extended to connect N number of terminal equipment units to a single fixed wireless terminal having a single transceiver.

The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for the purpose of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiment was chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.

Claims

What is claimed is: 1. A method in a telecommunications system for operating multiple terminal equipment units using a fixed wireless terminal having a transceiver for communicating with a public switched telephone network via a radio communication link with a base station, said method comprising the steps of: among a plurality of communication resources in said fixed wireless terminal, detecting a complete request from a requesting communication resource for access to a selected communication resource, wherein said plurality of communication resources include said transceiver, and first and second communication circuits coupled to first and second ports, respectively, for coupling to first and second terminal equipment units, respectively; determining an availability of said selected communication resource; and coupling said requesting communication resource to said selected communication resource in response to said selected communication resource being available.

2. The method for operating multiple terminal equipment units using a fixed wireless terminal according to claim 1 wherein the step of detecting a complete request for access to a selected communication resource further includes detecting a request for access to said transceiver in response to receiving signals representing a complete phone number from said requesting communication resource, wherein said phone number is associated with a terminal equipment unit coupled to said public switched telephone network.

3. The method for operating multiple terminal equipment units using a fixed wireless terminal according to claim 1 wherein the step of detecting a complete request for access to a selected communication resource further includes detecting a request for access to said second communication circuit in response to receiving signals from said requesting communication resource representing a complete phone number, wherein said phone number is associated with said second terminal equipment unit coupled to said second port.

4. The method for operating multiple terminal equipment units using a fixed wireless terminal according to claim 1 further including the steps of: determining that said selected communication resource is unavailable; providing a communication resource busy indication for said requesting communication resource; monitoring said availability of said selected communication resource; and in response to said selected communication resource becoming available, providing a resource available indication for said requesting communication resource.

5. The method for operating multiple terminal equipment units using a fixed wireless terminal according to claim 1 further including the step of coupling said first terminal equipment unit to said selected communication resource in response to said selected communication resource being available.

6. The method for operating multiple terminal equipment units using a fixed wireless terminal according to claim 1 further including the said step of recording billing information including connections made between said plurality of communication resources in response to said coupling step.

7. A multi-line fixed wireless terminal comprising: first and second terminal equipment ports; a plurality of communication resources including: a transceiver adapted to selectively establish a wireless communication link with a base station transceiver connected to a public switched telephone network; a first communication path coupled to said first terminal equipment port; a second communication path coupled to said second terminal equipment port; coupling means coupled to each of said plurality of communication resources for coupling a requesting communication resource in said plurality of communication resources to a selected communication resource in said plurality of communication resources; and a controller coupled to each of said plurality of communication resources and said coupling means, said controller adapted to control said coupling means in response to a communication resource request detector.

8. The multi-line fixed wireless terminal according to claim 7 wherein said transceiver includes a single coder/ decoder, and said first and second communication paths are analog communication paths.

9. An apparatus in a telecommunications system for coupling multiple terminal equipment units to a fixed wireless terminal comprising: first and second terminal equipment ports; a fixed wireless terminal port; a plurality of communication resources including: a transceiver communication path coupled to said fixed wireless terminal port; a first communication path coupled to said first terminal equipment port; a second communication path coupled to said second terminal equipment port; coupling means coupled to each of said plurality of communication resources for coupling a requesting communication resource in said plurality of communication resources to a selected communication resource in said plurality of communication resources; and a controller coupled to each of said plurality of communication resources and said coupling means, said controller adapted to control said coupling means in response to a communication resource request detector.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said coupling means includes a multiplexed data bus coupled to said first communication path and said plurality of communication resources.