Patent ID: 6320945
Filing Date: 2001-11-20
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
A pay telephone unit for connection to a telephone line, said telephone unit comprising:a microprocessor;a nonvolatile memory device associated with said microprocessor;said memory device operative to receive and store usage information output from said microprocessor, as well as being operative to store therein program code and rate information;said memory device maintaining memory contents during on-hook condition without application of power thereto;power control circuitry operative to initiate power up of said microprocessor responsive to predetermined inputs;power routing circuitry operatively associated with said power control circuit to direct power from said telephone line to said microprocessor only in response to said predetermined inputs; anda real time clock device, said power routing circuitry further operative to direct power from said telephone line to said real time clock device irrespective of said predetermined inputs such that said real time clock device will directly receive all of its power from the telephone line in both off-hook and on-hook conditions.