Cordless cellular system

A method of controlling a base station, the base station coupled to a cellular network and a public switched telephone network (PSTN) to support a dual mode mobile telephone to provide both cellular service and cordless landline service, wherein the method of controlling the base station comprises the steps of:

• initially registering with the cellular network to receive operational information including base station operating frequencies and base station operating power levels that support user-selected service levels;
• registering the mobile telephone to receive telephone service through the base station upon being detected by the mobile telephone, wherein the mobile telephone, while operating in a cellular mode and communicating via the cellular network, detects the base station using the base station operating power levels to recognize locations that are in proximity to the base station and searches for the base station using stored base station identification information when in proximity to the base station, wherein the mobile telephone automatically de-registers with the cellular network upon detecting the base station;
• receiving confirmation that the mobile telephone has automatically switched from providing cellular service to providing cordless landline service;
• providing a call forwarding update message to the cellular network upon receiving the confirmation, the message requesting re-routing of calls addressed to the mobile telephone from the cellular network to the PSTN telephone number;
• receiving a forwarded call addressed to the mobile telephone;
• determining a status of the mobile telephone in response to the received call;
• selecting a call information message in response to the status;
• sending the call information message to the mobile telephone;
• and
• transferring the forwarded call to the mobile telephone via a wireless link in response to receipt of a user response to the call information message.