Call transfer and simplex call capability in a residential system using wireless residential extension handsets

A method of operating a wireless communications system having at least one personal base station and a plurality of mobile stations capable of wireless communications with the at least one personal base station, comprising the steps of:

• in response to input from a user of a first mobile station, transmitting a message from the first mobile station to the personal base station, the message including a request for service;
• receiving the message at the personal base station and interpreting the request for service as a request to establish a simplex connection between the first mobile station and another mobile station, when the first mobile station is in an idle state when making the request, and interpreting the request for service as a request to transfer an on-going call from the first mobile station to another mobile station, when the first mobile station is in a conversation state when making the request;
• and
• contacting at least one other mobile station from the personal base station for one of establishing the simplex connection and transferring the on-going call.

A method of operating a wireless communications system having at least one personal base station and a plurality of mobile stations capable of wireless communications with the at least one personal base station, comprising the steps of:

• in response to input from a user of a first mobile station, transmitting a message from the first mobile station to the personal base station, the message including a request for service;
• receiving the message at the personal base station and interpreting the request for service as a request to establish a simplex connection between the first mobile station and another mobile station, when the first mobile station is in an idle state when making the request, and interpreting the request for service as a request to transfer an on-going call from the first mobile station to another mobile station, when the first mobile station is in a conversation state when making the request;
• and
• contacting at least one other mobile station from the personal base station for one of establishing the simplex connection and transferring the on-going call,
• wherein the message further specifies a plurality of other mobile stations, wherein the personal base station pages a plurality of other mobile stations, and wherein the simplex connection or the transfer of the on-going call is made with the first mobile station to answer the page.

A wireless communications system, comprising:

• at least one personal base station and a plurality of mobile stations capable of wireless communications with the at least one personal base station;
• individual ones of said mobile stations including means, responsive to input from a user, for composing and transmitting a message to the personal base station, the message including a request for service;
• said personal base station comprising means for receiving the message from the transmitting mobile station and for interpreting the request for service as a request to establish a simplex connection between the transmitting mobile station and another mobile station, when the transmitting mobile station is in an idle state when making the request, and interpreting the request for service as a request to transfer an on-going call from the transmitting mobile station to another mobile station, when the transmitting mobile station is in a conversation state when making the request;
• said personal base station further comprising means for transmitting a message to at least one other mobile station for one of establishing the simplex connection and transferring the on-going call.

A wireless communications system, comprising:

• at least one personal base station and a plurality of mobile stations capable of wireless communications with the at least one personal base station;
• individual ones of said mobile stations including means, responsive to input from a user, for composing and transmitting a message to the personal base station, the message including a request for service;
• said personal base station comprising means for receiving the message from the transmitting mobile station and for interpreting the request for service as a request to establish a simplex connection between the transmitting mobile station and another mobile station, when the transmitting mobile station is in an idle state when making the request, and interpreting the request for service as a request to transfer an on-going call from the transmitting mobile station to another mobile station, when the transmitting mobile station is in a conversation state when making the request;
• said personal base station further comprising means for transmitting a message to at least one other mobile station for one of establishing the simplex connection and transferring the on-going call,
• wherein the message further specifies a plurality of other mobile stations, wherein the personal base station pages a plurality of other mobile stations, and wherein the simplex connection or the transfer of the on-going call is made with the first mobile station to answer the page.

A method of operating a wireless communications system having at least one base station and a plurality of mobile stations capable of wireless communications with the at least one base station, comprising the steps of:

• in response to input from a user of a first mobile station, transmitting a message from the first mobile station to the base station, the message including a request for service;
• and
• receiving the message at the base station and interpreting the request for service as being a request to transfer an on-going call from the first mobile station to at least one second mobile station;
• wherein the message further includes information specifying at least one second mobile station;
• and further comprising the steps of,
• sending a message from the base station to the at least one specified second mobile station for causing the at least one specified second mobile station to generate an alerting indicator;
• waiting for a period of time for a user respond to the alerting indicator;
• if the user does not respond to the alerting indicator, sending a message from the base station to a plurality of mobile stations for causing each of the plurality of mobile stations to generate an alerting indicator;
• and
• transferring the call to the first one of the plurality of mobile stations that responds to the alerting indicator.

A base station for use in a wireless communications system that includes a plurality of mobile stations, said base station comprising:

• means for receiving a message transmitted from a mobile station;
• means for interpreting the received message as one of a request to establish a simplex connection between the mobile station and another mobile station and a request to transfer an on-going call from the mobile station to another mobile station;
• and
• means for transmitting a message to at least one other mobile station for one of establishing the simplex connection and transferring the on-going call.

A mobile station for use in a wireless communications system that includes at least one base station, said mobile station comprising a transmitter and further comprising:

• a user interface;
• means, coupled to said user interface and responsive to input from a user, for composing and transmitting a message to the base station for requesting a simplex call connection to another mobile station operable with said base station;
• and
• transmitter control means, coupled to said transmitter, for turning said transmitter off and on during a simplex call conversation state.

A base station for use in a wireless communications system that includes a plurality of wireless handsets, said base station comprising a receiver audio path and a transmitter audio path and further comprising:

• means for receiving a message transmitted from an originating wireless handset;
• means for interpreting the received message as a request to establish a simplex connection between the originating wireless handset and a second wireless handset authorized to operate with the base station;
• and
• means for alerting the second wireless handset and, in response to the second wireless handset responding to the alert, for establishing a simplex call connection between the originating wireless handset and the second wireless handset by coupling together said receiver and transmitter audio paths.

A base station for use in a wireless communications system that includes a plurality of wireless handsets, said base station comprising:

• means for receiving a message transmitted from an originating wireless handset;
• means for interpreting the received message, in accordance with a state of the originating wireless handset when the message was transmitted, as a first type of request to make a connection between the originating wireless handset and a second wireless handset authorized to operate with the base station or as a second type of request to make a call transfer between the originating wireless handset and a second wireless handset authorized to operate with the base station;
• means for alerting the second wireless handset and, in response to the second wireless handset responding to the alert, for the second type of request transferring a call that is currently connected to the originating wireless handset to the second wireless handset;
• and
• means for determining that the second wireless handset is currently registered with the base station prior to alerting the second wireless handset;
• wherein
• if the second wireless handset is determined to not be currently registered with the base station, for the case of the second type of request the base station sends an alerting message back to the originating wireless handset so that the call can be transferred back to the originating wireless handset.