Abstract: A radiotelephone includes a base unit mounted within the vehicle having a wide area transceiver for communicating with a station outside the vehicle, a control unit disposed in the vehicle remotely from the base unit, and a local area network for establishing a communication link between the base unit and the control unit. The local area network is adapted to transmit control and data signals between the base unit and the control unit. The control unit includes a keypad for entering commands and data that are transmitted to the base unit via the local area network, and a display for displaying information to the user. The control unit may also include a speaker and microphone. Alternatively, the speaker and microphone may be contained in a remote audio unit that is linked to the base unit via the local area network. The control unit may, for example, be incorporated into the steering wheel of a vehicle while the base unit is concealed in the trunk or under the seat of the vehicle.

Abstract: A private radio switching system comprises at least one cordless handset that interfaces with the main switching apparatus of the switching system via a base station connected with the main switching apparatus. The private radio switching system also includes at least one main telephone set having a plurality of functions. The main telephone set is not connected with the main switching apparatus and does not have a wired handset. Instead, the cordless handset and the main telephone set interface with each other. Data generated by the cordless handset relating to handset operations is transmitted to the main telephone set by infrared ray (IR) or by other wireless data communication. The main telephone processes the data and displays a message on the display of the main telephone set that corresponds to the operational data. Data entered by the telephone main set is transmitted to the cordless handset by IR or other wireless data communication.