Power control apparatus of public telecommunication terminal

• US 20030040295A1
• Filed: 08/13/2002
• Published: 02/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hwang-Sub Kwon
• Original Assignee: Hwang-Sub Kwon
• Inventors: Kwon, Hwang-Sub
• Granted Patent: US 6,934,371 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/343.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/70 Administration or customization aspects; Counter-checking correct charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/73 Validating charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/888 severing connection after predetermined time or data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/02 Coin-freed or check-freed systems , e.g. mobile- or card-operated phones, public telephones or booths
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/70 Administration aspects, modify settings or limits or counter-check correct charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7072 Validate charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0235 where the received signal is a power saving command
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Disclosed is a power control apparatus of a public telecommunication terminal which makes the public telecommunication terminal (e.g., a public telephone) disposed in every place provided with a power control program so that the public telecommunication terminal itself can turn on/off the power supplied thereto in an automatic way. The apparatus includes: a power control unit supplying holding power and operating power; a central control unit operated with the operating power supplied from the power control unit to thereby control a public communication function and for storing the information set on a power control program with which the power control unit is turned on or off; and an auxiliary control unit operated with the holding power supplied from the power control unit and for downloading the information set on the power control program stored in the central control unit with which the power control unit is turned on or off, wherein the auxiliary control unit compares current time with starting time among the information set in the power control program and if the current time corresponds to the starting time, turns the power control unit on such that the operating power is supplied to the central control unit; the central control unit controls the power control unit if the current time corresponds to ending time among the information set on the power control program such that the power control unit is in a standby state and at the same time, completes the operation itself; and the power control unit is turned on under the control of the auxiliary control unit to thereby supply the operating power to the central control unit or is turned off under the control of the central control unit to thereby cut off the supply of the operating power to the central control unit such that the operation of the central control unit is completed.

Claims

1. A power control apparatus of a public telecommunication terminal, said apparatus comprising:

a power control unit adapted for supplying holding power and operating power;

a central control unit operated with said operating power supplied from said power control unit to thereby control a public communication function and for storing an information set on a power control program by which said power control unit is turned on or off; and

an auxiliary control unit operated with said holding power supplied from said power control unit and for downloading the information set on said power control program stored in said central control unit by which said power control unit is turned on or off, wherein said auxiliary control unit compares a current time with a starting time among said information set in said power control program and if said current time corresponds to said starting time, turns said power control unit on such that said operating power is supplied to said central control unit;

said central control unit controls said power control unit if said current time corresponds to an ending time among said information set on said power control program such that said power control unit is in a standby state and at the same time, completes the operation itself; and

said power control unit is turned on under the control of said auxiliary control unit to thereby supply said operating power to said central control unit or is turned off under the control of said central control unit to thereby cut off the supply of said operating power to said central control unit such that the operation of said central control unit is completed.

2. The power control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said power control unit is turned on under the control of said auxiliary control unit to thereby supply said operating power to said central control unit and at the same time to transmit an operating power output checking signal to said auxiliary control unit, and said auxiliary control unit makes said power control unit repeatedly turned on until said operating power output checking signal is received from said power control unit.

3. The power control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary control unit determines whether said power control unit is being turned on or off after said current time passes through said ending time, and if it is determined that said power control unit is being turned on after said current time has passed through said ending time, said auxiliary control unit makes said power control unit repeatedly turned off until said power control unit is turned off.

4. The power control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary control unit downloads said information set on said power control program stored in said central control unit at the time when said central control unit is being turned on with said operating power supplied from said power control unit.

5. The power control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a remote server capable of communicating with said public telecommunication terminal in a remote place;

a modem installed in said public telecommunication terminal, for interfacing the communications between said remote server and said public telecommunication terminal; and

a communication network connecting said remote server and said public telecommunication terminal in such a manner as to be communicated with each other, whereby said central control unit downloads said information set on said power control program from said remote server and updates the information at the time of being turned on with said operating power supplied from said power control unit.

6. The power control apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said power control unit controls the supply of said operating power to said central control unit and said modem according to power on/off control signals from said auxiliary control unit.

7. The power control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said central control unit further comprises an interface module with which said information set on said power control program is inputted by a user and updates said set information with the information on said power control program newly inputted through said interface module.

8. The power control apparatus according to claim 5 or 7, wherein said central control unit transmits periodically the updated information on said power control program to said remote server.