Multi-media communication subscriber station having battery powered backup

• US 20030059035A1
• Filed: 03/13/2002
• Published: 03/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Teleware Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Teleware Incorporated
• Inventors: Nebiker, Robert M., Meyerson, Robert F.
• Application Number:
  US10/096,562
• Publication Number:
  US 20030059035A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/399.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/02 Constructional features of telephone sets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2473 Telephone terminals interfacing a personal computer, e.g. using an API (Application Programming Interface) details of API H04M7/0021
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2478 Telephone terminals specially adapted for non-voice services, e.g. email, internet access centralized arrangements where telephones services are combined H04M7/0024; for recording text messages H04M3/5322; for accessing Internet H04M3/4938
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/08 with current supply sources at the substations generating ringing current H04M19/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

The present multi-media communication subscriber station has battery-powered backup. A power management controller monitors the line voltage and when the line voltage falls below a predetermined voltage level, the power management controller transfers operation power from line voltage to battery. When the multi-media communication subscriber station is operating on backup battery power, non-essential functional modules may be disabled. The power management controller continues to monitor the line voltage and when line voltage resumes, operation power is transferred back to line voltage.

Claims

1. A communication device served by a communication system that interconnects said communication device with a communication end point comprising:

base unit means, powered by input power, for communicating with said communication system to exchange control and subscriber data therebetween;

battery means for storing energy to power said communication device;

power management means including;

a battery recharging means for charging said battery means from the input power when the input power exceeds base unit required operating power; and

a power management means for monitoring said input power and supplementing input power with power from the battery means when the input power falls below base unit required operating power.

2. The communication device of claim 1 wherein the power management means further comprises:

means for monitoring stored battery charge; and

means for discontinuing non-essential functions when both input power is below base unit required operating power and stored battery charge falls below a predetermined level.

3. The communication device of claim 2 further comprising:

an application controller, responsive to loss of said line voltage, for gradually disconnecting non-essential functions in response to a total failure of the input power.

4. The communication device of claim 3 wherein said application controller further comprises:

a monitoring means for monitoring a usage of said non-essential functional modules and recording said usage and gradually disconnecting said non-essential functional modules in a predetermined order based on said usage.

5. The communication device of claim 1 further comprising:

a powered network interface circuit for both communicating over a network medium with the communication system and for receiving power provided by the communication system over the network medium.

6. The communication device of claim 5 further comprising:

an application controller, responsive to loss of said line voltage, for gradually discontinuing non-essential functions in response to a total failure of the input power.

7. The communication device of claim 6 wherein said application controller further comprises:

a monitoring means for monitoring a usage of said non-essential functional modules and recording said usage and gradually disconnecting said non-essential functional modules in a predetermined order based on said usage.

8. The communication device of claim 2 further comprising:

a powered network interface circuit for both communicating over a network medium with the communication system and for receiving power provided by the communication system over the network medium.

9. The communication device of claim 8 further comprising:

an application controller, responsive to loss of said line voltage, for gradually discontinuing non-essential functions in response to a total failure of the input power.

10. The communication device of claim 9 wherein said application controller further comprises:

a monitoring means for monitoring a usage of said non-essential functional modules and recording said usage and gradually disconnecting said non-essential functional modules in a predetermined order based on said usage.