Interface for subscriber-based wireless phones to wireline infrastructure

A method of using a wireless communication interface, comprising:

• detecting a dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) signal and a tip and ring signal from a phone appliance;
• converting said DTMF signal and said tip and ring signal to transmit and receive signals that are compatible with a mobile wireless device, said transmit and receive signals configured for a mobile wireless communications system corresponding to said mobile wireless device;
• and
• sending said transmit and receive signals to said mobile wireless device.

A method of using a wireless communication interface, comprising:

• receiving a transmit signal and a receive signal from a wireless device;
• shifting a voltage level of said receive signal with a comparator and a pull-up resistor to adapt said transmit signal to a voltage level compatible with a phone appliance;
• converting said transmit signal and said receive signal to a tip and ring signal wherein said tip and ring signal is compatible with said phone appliance;
• and
• sending said tip and ring signal to said phone appliance.

A wireless communication apparatus for coupling a mobile wireless device to a wireline phone appliance, the wireless communication apparatus comprising:

• a wireless interface capable of coupling to a mobile wireless device and having a level shifter, wherein said level shifter includes:
• a comparator output coupled to a wireless interface output connector;
• and
• a pull-up resistor coupled between said wireless interface output connector and a voltage source compatible with that of said mobile wireless device;
• a phone appliance interface capable of coupling to a phone appliance;
• and
• a protocol converter, coupled between said wireless interface and said phone appliance interface, wherein said protocol converter converts a dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) signal from said phone appliance interface into at least one of a transmit signal that is compatible with said wireless interface and a receive signal that is compatible with said wireless interface, wherein said transmit and receive are signals compatible with a mobile wireless communications system.