Wireline interface for cellular telephone

An apparatus comprising:

• cellular transceiver means, for processing cellular telephone calls over a cellular radio network, to provide cellular audio input and cellular audio output signals;
• wireline interface means, for processing wireline telephone calls over a land-based telephone network, to provide wireline audio input and output signals;
• a handset, for providing handset audio input and handset audio output signals, the handset including a line button;
• an audio switch, connected to the cellular transceiver means and the wireline interface means;
• an active line detector for detecting when an active wireline is connected to the wireline interface adapter by detecting the presence of the tip and ring lines of said land-based telephone network and providing a signal to the cellular radio network to automatically enable call forwarding of calls intended for the cellular transceiver means to the active wireline through the wireline interface means when an active wireline is detected;
• and
• processor means, for operating the audio switch when the line button is operated, to toggle the audio switch to either connect the cellular audio signals to the handset audio signals, or to connect the wireline audio signals to the handset audio signals.

A telephone subscriber unit comprising:

• a cellular transceiver for providing cellular audio signals from a wireless telephone network;
• a handset for providing audio signals;
• a wireline interface adapter for providing wireline audio signals from a wireline telephone network;
• an audio switch disposed between the cellular transceiver, the handset, and the wireline interface adapter;
• means for selectively connecting the cellular audio signals to the handset audio signals during an active cellular telephone call, and for connecting the wireline audio signals to the handset audio signals during an active wireline telephone call;
• means for detecting that an active wireline is connected to the wireline interface adapter by detecting the presence of the tip and ring lines of said wireline network;
• means for automatically signalling the wireless telephone network to enable call forwarding of calls intended for the cellular transceiver to the active wireline through the wireline network when an active wireline is detected;
• means for detecting calling identification information during an incoming wireline call;
• and
• means for displaying the incoming caller identification information on a display in the handset during the progress of an incoming wireline call.