Patent ID: 6996729
Filing Date: 2006-02-07
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
1. An improved DSL communication apparatus with lifeline functionality comprising: a DSL transceiver unit for transmitting and receiving DSL signals, wherein said DSL signals comprise voice signals, over a transmission line of a DSL communication network; a voice signal interface unit for transmitting voice signals extracted from said DSL signals received by said DSL transceiver unit to subscriber terminal equipment and for receiving voice signals from said subscriber terminal equipment and forwarding said voice signals to said DSL transceiver unit for transmission of said DSL signals; a control unit comprising a central processing unit and a voice coprocessor unit; and a memory unit; said control unit being in operative communication with a local power supply unit, wherein said local power supply unit is configured to provide a local supply voltage for said DSL communication apparatus in a normal operation mode; said control unit being configured to detect a local power failure state of said local power supply unit; said control unit being further configured such that, if said control unit detects said local power failure state, said control unit changes an operational mode of said DSL communication apparatus to a lifeline operation mode by activating an auxiliary supply voltage provided by an auxiliary power supply unit, said auxiliary power supply unit being coupled to said transmission line; said control unit being further configured to operate said DSL communication apparatus with said auxiliary supply voltage in said lifeline operation mode; said central processing unit being configured to monitor a status of said local power supply unit and activate said lifeline operation mode after having detected said local power failure state; said voice coprocessor unit being configured to process said voice signals; said central processing unit, after having detected said local power failure state and before changing said operational mode of said DSL communication apparatus from said normal operation mode to said lifeline operation mode, being configured to change said operational mode of said DSL communication apparatus to an intermediate operation mode and generate an interrupt for stopping said voice coprocessor unit; said memory unit being integral to said central processing unit and being configured to store a lifeline operation instruction code for said voice coprocessor unit, wherein said central processing unit is further configured to initiate a download of said lifeline operation instruction code from said memory unit to said voice coprocessor unit after having stopped said voice coprocessor unit in said intermediate operation mode.