Cellular phone cordless home base unit

Abstract

A cellular telephone can be integrated in a base unit, and thereby used in addition to, or in place of a land line. Viewed from another perspective, a cellular phone or other communication device can be integrated with a communication network by at least temporarily coupling it to another cellular phone or communication device that was previously integrated with the communication network. Such a unit may integrate itself when coupled to a previously integrated phone by obtaining a MIN and ESN from the previously integrated phone. Such a unit may also provide access to non-integration information contained in the previously integrated phone, such as data related to contacts, tasks, and appointments.

1 - 17 . (canceled)  
   
   
       18 . A base unit comprising: 
 a docking facility that that communicatively engages a first portable cell phone having an identity on a cellular network; and    a subsystem that receives information from the portable cell phone sufficient to allow the docking facility to connect to the network using the identity of the portable cell phone, in place of the portable cell phone, while still allowing the portable cell phone to resume its identity on the network upon disengagement from the docking facility.    
   
   
       19 . The base unit of  claim 18 , further comprising a memory that holds integration information sufficient to identify the docking facility to the network as a device distinct from the portable cell phone.  
   
   
       20 . The base unit of  claim 18 , further comprising a first antenna that communicates with the network, and a second antenna that communicates with a wireless handset  
   
   
       21 . The base unit of  claim 18  wherein the information includes at least one of an electronic serial number and a mobile identification number.  
   
   
       22 . The base unit of  claim 18 , further comprising a cordless handset wirelessly coupled to the subsystem.  
   
   
       23 . The base unit of  claim 18  wherein the subsystem receives additional information from the portable cell phone other than the serial number and a mobile identification number.  
   
   
       24 . The base unit of  claim 23  wherein the additional information comprises data relating to at least one of the following: contacts, tasks, appointments, calls made, calls received, and calls missed.  
   
   
       25 . The based unit of  claim 18  wherein the information includes at least one of digital data.  
   
   
       26 . The based unit of  claim 18  wherein the digital data comprises data relating to at least one of the following: music file, picture file, text file, voicemail file and e-mail file.  
   
   
       27 . The base unit of  claim 18 , further comprising a memory that stores identity information different from the identity of the portable cell phone, such that the docking facility can be used as a stand alone cell phone.  
   
   
       28 . The base unit of  claim 18 , further comprising a connection for coupling with a land line.  
   
   
       29 . The base unit of  claim 18 , further comprising a second docking facility that can communicatively engage a second portable cell phone having an identity on the network that is different from the identify of the first portable cell phone.  
   
   
       30 . The base unit of  claim 29 , further comprising a first wireless handset that can communicate with the network using the identity of the first portable cell phone, and a second wireless handset that can simultaneously communicate with the network using the identity of the second portable cell phone.  
   
   
       31 . The base unit of  claim 18  further comprising a memory that retains the information upon disengagement of the portable cell phone from the docking facility.  
   
   
       32 . The base unit of  claim 18  wherein the docking facility includes a cradle.  
   
   
       33 . The base unit of  claim 18 , further comprising a charging unit that provides charging power to the portable cell phone through the cradle.  
   
   
       34 . The base unit of  claim 18  wherein the docking facility includes first and second cradles.  
   
   
       35 . The base unit of  claim 18  wherein the docking facility further includes a keypad.  
   
   
       36 . The base unit of  claim 18  wherein the docking facility further includes a speaker.  
   
   
       37 . The base unit of  claim 18  wherein the docking facility further includes a LCD screen.  
   
   
       38 . A base unit comprising: 
 a docking facility that that communicatively engages a first portable cell phone having an identity on a cellular network; and    a subsystem that receives information from the portable cell phone sufficient to allow the base unit to connect to the network using the identity of the portable cell phone, in place of the portable cell phone, while still allowing the portable cell phone to resume its identity on the network upon disengagement from the base unit.