Patent US6512817B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6512817B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for polling telephony line status in an integrated services hub to reduce power consumption
Assignee: Sprint Communications Co LP
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Filing: 2000-08-31
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Granted: 2003-01-28
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Expires: 2020-08-31
Abstract
Abstract The present invention discloses a method for reducing battery power consumed by an integrated services hub supporting a plurality of telephone lines. The status of power to the integrated services hub is monitored, and upon detecting a failure of primary power, each of the telephone lines is polled to detect an off-hook condition. The status of power to the integrated services hub is monitored while polling, and the polling is stopped upon detecting a return of primary power to the integrated services hub or upon detecting an off-hook condition in one of the telephone lines. Polling is performed by placing one of the telephone lines in a standby state and the remaining telephone lines in a disabled state and monitoring the telephone line in standby state for a predetermined amount of time to detect an off-hook condition. After the predetermined amount of time has lapsed, the monitored telephone line is changed from standby state to disabled state, and the next of the plurality of telephone lines is placed in a standby state, while any remaining telephone lines remain a disabled state. This polling sequence is repeated during active polling.
Inventors
- 👤 Allan D. Dale
- 👤 II Earl Goodrich
- 👤 Craig Lyle Mahaney
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 09:33
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/08; H04M3/12; H04M3/22; H04M3/2272; H04M3/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
A method for reducing battery power consumed by an integrated services hub supporting a plurality of telephone lines, comprising: (a) monitoring the status of power to the integrated services hub; (b) upon detecting a failure of primary power, polling each of the telephone lines to detect an off-hook condition; (c) monitoring the status of power to the integrated services hub while polling; and (d) stopping polling upon detecting a return of primary power to the integrated services hub or upon detecting an off-hook condition in one of the telephone lines.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
90 words
A method for reducing battery power consumed by an integrated services hub supporting a plurality of telephone lines, comprising: (a) monitoring the status of power to the integrated services hub; (b) upon detecting a failure of primary power, polling each of the telephone lines to detect an off-hook condition; (c) monitoring the status of power to the integrated services hub while polling; and (d) stopping polling upon detecting a return of primary power to the integrated services hub or upon detecting an off-hook condition in one of the telephone lines.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
114 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of polling each of the telephone lines to detect an off-hook condition further comprises: (b)(1) placing one of the telephone lines in a standby state and the remaining telephone lines in a disabled state, (b)(2) monitoring the telephone line in standby state for a predetermined amount of time to detect an off-hook condition; (b)(3) after the predetermined amount of time has lapsed, changing the telephone line monitored in step (b)(2) from standby state to disabled state, placing the next of the plurality of telephone lines in a standby state, and maintaining any remaining telephone lines in a disabled state; and (b)(4) continuing steps (b)(2) and (b)(3).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the predetermined amount of time is equal to about one second divided by one less than the total number of telephone lines.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 2 wherein a telephone line in disabled state requires less power than a telephone line in standby state.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
162 words
An apparatus for reducing battery power consumed by an integrated services hub supporting a plurality of telephone lines, comprising: (a) at least one subscriber line interface circuit (SLIC), the SLIC having the ability to be placed in a disabled state, a standby state, and an active state and each of the telephone lines being connected to a SLIC; (b) at least one component to detect an off-hook condition in the telephone lines connected to the SLIC; (c) a power monitor for monitoring the status of power to the integrated services hub; and (d) a polling controller, the polling controller receiving notification from the power monitor regarding the status of power to the integrated services hub, the polling controller receiving notification from the component to detect an off-hook condition regarding the condition of the telephone lines, and the polling controller altering the state of the SLIC in response to the notifications from the power monitor and the component to detect an off-hook condition.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
162 words
An apparatus for reducing battery power consumed by an integrated services hub supporting a plurality of telephone lines, comprising: (a) at least one subscriber line interface circuit (SLIC), the SLIC having the ability to be placed in a disabled state, a standby state, and an active state and each of the telephone lines being connected to a SLIC; (b) at least one component to detect an off-hook condition in the telephone lines connected to the SLIC; (c) a power monitor for monitoring the status of power to the integrated services hub; and (d) a polling controller, the polling controller receiving notification from the power monitor regarding the status of power to the integrated services hub, the polling controller receiving notification from the component to detect an off-hook condition regarding the condition of the telephone lines, and the polling controller altering the state of the SLIC in response to the notifications from the power monitor and the component to detect an off-hook condition.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the component to detect an off-hook condition in the telephone lines is a subscriber line access circuit (SLAC).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the component to detect an off-hook condition in the telephone lines is integral to the SLIC.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the number of SLICs equals the number of telephone lines, with a separate SLIC corresponding with and connected to each of the telephone lines.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-01-27 | 2006-07-29 | 2007-01-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-01-27 | 2010-07-29 | 2011-01-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-01-27 | 2014-07-29 | 2015-01-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |