Concurrent wireless/landline interface apparatus and method

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Accordingly, in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a telephonic communication system having at least one communication device for interconnection with a telephone network via at least two communication media, the improvement comprising means for coupling the at least one communication device with the at least two communication media, and means for individually determining the availability of each of the at least two communication media, and means responsive to the determining means connected to the coupling means for automatically interconnecting the at least one communication device with the telephone network with available one of the communication media.
In accordance with another illustrative embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a communication system having first and second communication paths and at least one telephonic type communication device, the system being coupled to at least two communication networks for providing a first and second means of communication, said first means of communication coupled to the first communication path, and the communication system having at least one means for coupling the at least one telephonic communication type device to said first communication path, the improvement being means between said at least one telephonic type communication device and said coupling means for connecting said telephonic type communication device to said second communication path, and switching means coupled to said second communication path and to said first and second means of communication for selectively coupling said second communication path to one of said first and second means of communication.
In accordance with yet another illustrative embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a communication system having a communication path and at least one telephonic type communication device, the communication system being coupled to a communication network for providing a means of communication, and the communication system having at least one telephonic communication type device coupled to said communication path, the improvement being testing means coupled to said communication path for testing the presence of any signal thereon, and interface means coupled to said communication path and said testing means and being responsive to said testing means for coupling said communication path to said communication network