A Fixed Wireless Loop (FWL) is a system that supports access of wireline telecommunications devices to the public wireline network via wireless communications. A radio transceiver transmits and receives communication signals to and from a remote transceiver located at a subscriber's home or office. Thus, a FWL eliminates the need for copper wire transmission between service providers and their respective subscribers.
A FWL is typically provided utilizing a FWL terminal at the subscriber's home or office. Mobility has been added to the FWL via a cradled handset. While the handset, or hand-held transceiver, is in the cradle, the combined unit functions as a FWL terminal providing telephone service over the subscriber's telephone wiring. When the hand-held transceiver is removed from the cradle, the hand-held transceiver acts as a mobile unit allowing the subscriber to roam throughout the house, or the FWL home sector. This type of FWL terminal serves the market of telecommunications users not needing mobile wireless services on a continuous basis, but would like to have easy access to such services when needed. Known FWL terminals as described above include the CelDock manufactured by Telular and the IntelliGo manufactured by GTE.
Such devices, however, render the wireline phones connected to the FWL terminal inoperative when the hand-held transceiver is removed from the cradle. Furthermore, the mobility of the hand-held transceiver is limited to the FWL sector surrounding the subscriber's home or office.
Thus, there exists a need for a FWL terminal that supports wireline telecommunications services when the hand-held transceiver is removed from the cradle. There also exists a need for providing hand-off capability between the FWL hand-held transceiver and the public wireless network.