Base Unit for Communicating with a Cellular Telephone

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a telecommunication system to be used with a cellular telephone network at a fixed location, including a portable cellular handset, a base unit having a recess for the portable cellular handset, a processor included in the base unit for processing information from the portable cellular handset, a display for displaying information processed by the processor, and controls for manipulating the information from the portable cellular handset. Also disclosed is a method of managing cellular telephone information associated with a particular cellular subscription, and wherein the cellular telephone information is downloaded from the portable cellular handset to the base unit.

1 . A telecommunication system, comprising: 
 a base unit having a receptacle configured to receive and establish an electrical connection with a wireless telephone;    a processor included in the base unit for accessing and processing call information from the wireless telephone;    a display for displaying information processed by the processor and based on the call information; and    controls on the base unit configured to receive at least one parameter used by the processor to process the call information.    
     
     
         2 . The telecommunication system of  claim 1 , further comprising a communication port configured to establish a wired communication link between a landline telephone and the wireless telephone.  
     
     
         3 . The telecommunication system of  claim 1 , further comprising an antenna port configured to couple the wireless telephone to a remote antenna.  
     
     
         4 . The telecommunication system of  claim 1 , further comprising a memory module configured to store information input via the controls.  
     
     
         5 . The telecommunication system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second receptacle configured to receive a cordless telephone.  
     
     
         6 . The telecommunication system of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless telephone comprises a cellular telephone.  
     
     
         7 . The telecommunication system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to access call information from the wireless telephone, the call information comprising at least one of a call time, a call date, or a call duration.  
     
     
         8 . The telecommunication system of  claim 1 , wherein the controls comprise a keypad.  
     
     
         9 . The telecommunication system of  claim 1 , wherein the controls are configured to permit modification of information stored within the wireless telephone.  
     
     
         10 . The telecommunication system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one parameter comprises parameters for categorizing the call information.  
     
     
         11 . The telecommunication system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one parameter comprises parameters defining a time period, and wherein the processor determines a duration of calls within the time period.  
     
     
         12 . The telecommunication system of  claim 11 , wherein the time period comprises at least one of a billing month, a prime time period, or a non-prime time period.  
     
     
         13 . A method of managing cellular telephone information in a telecommunication system, the method comprising: 
 establishing a wireline communication between a portable cellular handset and a base unit, the base unit including a processor for accessing information from the portable cellular handset, and the base unit further having a display for displaying information processed by the processor;    retrieving call information from the portable cellular handset to the base unit;    receiving one or more control data at controls on the base unit;    storing the control data in memory within the base unit;    processing the call information from the portable cellular handset_based on the control data stored in the base unit to generate processed information; and    displaying the processed information on the display.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising coupling communication signals between the portable cellular handset and a wired connection on the base unit.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising coupling signals at an antenna port on the base unit to the portable cellular telephone.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the information comprises at least one of a call time, a call date, or a call duration.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the control data comprises at least one of anytime minutes, total night minutes, weekend minutes, or total prime time minutes according to a cellular subscription.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the processor in the base unit determines a duration of calls occurring within a period of time defined by the control data.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the control data comprises a billing period.