Method and system for providing power to a communications device

• US 20040235414A1
• Filed: 06/15/2004
• Published: 11/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cingular Wireless II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Amin, Umesh, Buhrmann, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,099,707 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/3.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/08 with current supply sources at the substations generating ringing current H04M19/04

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relate to apparatus and methods to provide power to a communications unit. In one embodiment of the present invention, a system includes a first communications network to engage in communications with the communications unit and a second communications network to provide power to the communications unit.

Claims

1-20. -20. (Canceled)

21. A method of providing power to a subscriber interlace unit, the subscriber interface unit coupled to a first external network, a second external network, and a communications device, the method comprising:

receiving power from a first power source;

directing communications from the communications device to the first external network;

determining that power is not being received from the first power source;

receiving power from a landline receptacle unit, the landline receptacle unit coupled to a local exchange carrier via a landline; and

directing communications from the communications device to the second external network.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the first external network is a cable network.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the second external network is a wireless communications network.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the second external network is a local exchange carrier network.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the communications device is a telephone.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the subscriber interface unit comprises a digital splitter.

27. An apparatus to provide power to a subscriber interface unit, the subscriber interface unit coupled to a first external network, a second external network, and a communications device, the apparatus comprising:

a first power coupling to receive power from a first power source;

a first communications port to output communications from the communications device to the first external network;

a second power coupling to receive power from a landline receptacle unit, the landline receptacle unit coupled to a local exchange carrier via a landline; and

a second communications port to output communications from the communications device to the second external network; and

a control circuit to direct communications from the first communications device to said first communications port, to determine that power is not being received from the first power source, to direct receiving power from the landline receptacle unit, and to redirect communications from the communications device to the second communications port.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the first external network is a cable network.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the second external network is a wireless communications network.

30. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the second external network is a local exchange carrier network.

31. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the communications device is a telephone.

32. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the subscriber interface unit comprises a digital splitter.

33. A computer-readable medium storing a plurality of instructions to be executed by a processor to regulate the powering of a subscriber interface unit, the plurality of instructions comprising instructions to:

direct receipt of power from a first power source;

direct communications from the communications device to the first external network;

determine that power is not being received from the first power source;

direct receipt of power from a landline receptacle unit, the landline receptacle unit coupled to a local exchange carrier via a landline; and

direct communications from the communications device to the second external network.

34. The computer-readable medium of claim 33, wherein the first external network is a cable network.

35. The computer-readable medium of claim 33, wherein the second external network is a wireless communications network.

36. The computer-readable medium of claim 33, wherein the second external network is a local exchange carrier network.

37. The computer-readable medium of claim 33, wherein the communications device is a telephone.

38. The computer-readable medium of claim 33, wherein the subscriber interface unit comprises a digital splitter.

39-50. -50. (Canceled)