Patent ID: 12192413

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings and is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of various example embodiments of the present disclosure. The following description includes various details to assist in that understanding, but these are to be regarded as merely examples. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the examples described herein can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions may be omitted for clarity and conciseness.

The terms and words used in the following description are merely used to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of the present disclosure is provided for illustration purposes only, and not for the purpose of limiting the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

FIG.1illustrates an exemplary diagram of a system in which a method of ensuring VOIP reliability after an interruption in power to a networking device is implemented according to an aspect of the present disclosure.

As illustrated inFIG.1, the system includes a telecommunications device102, a networking device104, and a server110, where the network device104facilitates communication between the telecommunications device102and the server110via the Internet108to establish a voice line for communication between the telecommunications device102and another device connected to the PSTN.

The telecommunications device102may be any system or device capable of making and receiving telephone calls. Telecommunications device102may run software that allows the telecommunications device102to act as a telephone to receive analog telephony signals, and communicate the received analog telephony signals to the networking device104. Non-limiting examples of the telecommunications device102include a traditional wired telephone, a cordless telephone, and other similar telecommunication devices. The present disclosure contemplates that more than one telecommunications device102may be a part of the system as illustrated inFIG.1.

The networking device104may be any system or device capable of facilitating communication between the telecommunications device102and server110via Internet108to establish a voice line for communication utilizing VOIP. The networking device104includes a VOIP telephony interface106performing operations of an embedded multimedia terminal adaptor. More specifically, the VOIP telephony interface106may be configured for receiving analog telephony signals directly from the telecommunications device102, converting the analog telephony signals into data packets capable of transmission over the Internet108, and forwarding the data packets to the server110via the Internet108. Additionally, the VOIP telephony interface106may be configured for receiving data packets from the server110via the Internet108, converting the received data packets into analog telephony signals, and providing the analog telephony signals to the telecommunications device102. The VOIP telephony interface106may be implemented in the networking device104as hardware, software, or a combination thereof for enabling the operations of the VOIP telephony interface106described herein.

Further, the networking device104may be any system or device capable of performing processing for ensuring VOIP reliability after the networking device104enters a power save mode in accordance with the aspects of the present disclosure described herein. Non-limiting examples of the networking device104include an embedded multimedia terminal adapter, a cable modem, a router, a gateway, and other similar computer devices.

When receiving analog telephony signals from or providing analog telephony signals to the telecommunications device102, for example when the telecommunications device102is an traditional wired telephone, the VOIP telephony interface106of the networking device104may communicate with the telecommunications device102via registered jack (RJ) such as RJ11, RJ13, and RJ25 telephone connections.

The server110may be any system or device capable of transmitting and/or receiving data packets from the networking device104in accordance with the aspects of the present disclosure described herein. More specifically, the server110may be any system or device provided by a VOIP provider or multiple-system operator (MSO) capable of receiving, processing, and forwarding data packets received from the VOIP telephony interface106of the networking device104to a computing device for interfacing with the PSTN. Additionally, the server110may be any system or device provided by a VOIP provider or MSO capable of receiving, processing, and forwarding data packets received from the PSTN to the VOIP telephony interface106of the networking device104. Non-limiting examples of the server110include a web server, an application server, a database server, and other similar computing devices. Further, the present disclosure contemplates that server110may be a cloud server running in a cloud computing environment.

The networking device104and the server110communicate via the Internet108using wired or wireless connections to allow communication via a broadband access link, such as a DOCSIS, PON, fixed wireless or DSL connection.

The server110may be configured to directly interface with the PSTN without an intermediary computing device. Server110communicates telephony signals including digitized voice to and from the PSTN. Server110also manages information about the VOIP terminals so that a call from the PSTN to a specific VOIP terminal is routed correctly, such as whether the VOIP terminal is in service or out of service.

FIG.2illustrates an exemplary method of ensuring VOIP reliability after entry of a networking device into a power saving mode.

At Step S202, the networking device104enters into a power saving mode. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the networking device104is supplied DC electrical power, which is converted from AC electrical power received from an AC mains. In such a case, a detection circuit may be integrated into the networking device104to detect when a DC voltage input to the networking device104falls below a predetermined threshold. e.g., the detection circuit may be configured to detect when the DC voltage falls below a threshold of 10.8 V, and when the DC voltage falls below this threshold, the detection circuit sends a signal to a controller of the networking device104signifying interruption of the power supplied the networking device104. Upon receipt of the signal, the controller may place the networking device104into a power saving mode.

When operating in the power saving mode in the event of interruption of power to the networking device104, the networking device104is configured to operate on battery power utilizing an internal battery in the event of interruption of power to the networking device104. In order to operate on battery power as long as possible, the networking device104may reduce a number of transmit and receive channels. For example, under normal operation according to Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) standards, e.g., DOCSIS 3.0 or DOCSIS 3.1, the networking device104bonds multiple transmit channels to send data at high speed and/or bonds multiple receive channels to receive data at high speed. However, this normal operation requires multiple transmitters and receivers of the networking device to be active.

In order to reduce power consumption, the networking device104may reduce the number of active transmitters and active receivers, that is, the networking device104may limit one transmit channel for sending data and one receive channel for receiving data, thereby reducing power demand of the networking device104and extending the life of the battery.

Further, in addition to reducing the number of active channels, the networking device104may shut down any residential network communication through the networking device104to further reduce the power consumption of the networking device. In other words, by shutting down the residential network communication through the networking device104, the networking device104intends for the one active transmit channel and the one active reception channel to primarily be used by the VOIP telephony interface106for VOIP communication.

It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the networking device104entering the power saving mode based on detection of an interruption of power to the networking device104. For example, the networking device104may monitor upstream and downstream data traffic, and the networking device104may enter and exit the power savings mode based on the monitored data traffic. In the event that the monitored data traffic is below a threshold for a predetermined amount of time, e.g., a downstream rate of 1.5 Mbps and an upstream rate of 0.5 Mbps for 300 seconds, the networking device104may enter the power saving mode, in which the networking device104may limit one transmit channel for sending data and one receive channel for receiving data, thereby reducing power demand of the networking device104. Subsequently, while in the power savings mode, the networking device104may exit the power savings mode in the event that the monitored data traffic is above a threshold for a predetermined time, e.g., a downstream rate of 2 Mbps and an upstream rate of 1 Mbps for 2 seconds.

At Step S204, the networking device104obtains an operational state of the VOIP telephony interface106indicating whether or not the VOIP telephony device106is operational. For example, as the operational state of the VOIP telephony interface106, the networking device104may obtain a provisioning state of the VOIP telephony interface106indicating whether or not the VOIP telephony interface106has completed loading and processing of initialization parameters.

At Step S206, the networking device104makes a determination whether or not the VOIP telephony interface106is in service based on the obtained operational state of the VOIP telephony interface106. For example, the networking device104may determine that the VOIP telephony interface106is in service when the obtained operational state indicates that the VOIP telephony interface106is operational, and the networking device104may determine that the VOIP telephony interface106is not in service when the obtained operational state does not indicate that the VOIP telephony interface106is operational.

In the case that the provisioning state of the VOIP telephony interface106is obtained as the operational state of the VOIP telephony interface106, the networking device104may determine that the VOIP telephony interface106is in service when the obtained provisioning state indicates that the VOIP telephony interface106has completed loading and processing of initialization parameters, and the networking device104may determine that the VOIP telephony interface106is not in service when the obtained provisioning state does not indicate that the VOIP telephony interface106has completed loading and processing of initialization parameters. However, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to determining whether or not the VOIP telephony interface106is operational based on the provisioning state of the VOIP telephony interface106.

If the networking device104determines that the VOIP telephony interface106is in service (“YES” at Step S208), VoIP is ready to be used by the telecommunications device102at Step S212. The networking device104may provide an indication to the telecommunications device at Step S212that VOIP is available and ready to be used. For example, the networking device104may transmit a dial tone to the telecommunications device102to signify that VoIP is available and ready to be used. Additionally, if the telecommunications device102includes a display, the networking device104may send a message displayable on the display of the telecommunications device102that VOIP is available and ready to be used.

If the networking device104determines that the VOIP telephony interface106is not in service (“NO” at Step S206), the networking device104then makes a determination at Step S208if the determination of whether or not the VOIP telephony interface106is in service has failed a predetermined number (“N”) times. The predetermined number may be selected so as to ensure that the VOIP telephony interface106is not in service. For example, the networking device104may certainly determine that the VOIP telephony interface106is not in service if the determination of whether or not the VOIP telephony interface106is in service has failed 3 times, that is, the predetermined number is 3.

If the networking device104determines that the determination of whether or not the VOIP telephony interface106is in service has not failed the predetermined number of times (“NO” at Step S208), the networking device104repeats the determination of whether or not the VoIP telephony interface106is in service at Step S204. The repeated determination of whether or not the VOIP telephony interface106is in service may be performed immediately or after a predetermined time delay.

On the other hand, if the networking device104determines that the determination of whether or not the VOIP telephony interface106is in service has failed the predetermined number of time (“YES”) at Step S208, the networking device104performs a reboot of the VOIP telephony interface106at Step S210. As a result of rebooting, the networking device104obtains a configuration file, which provides the VOIP telephony interface106with the IP address of the server110.

After obtaining the IP address of the server110from the configuration file, the VOIP telephony interface106transmits a registration request to the IP address of the server110in order to reestablish a connection to the server110. The registration request transmitted by the VOIP telephony interface106provides information identifying a location of the VOIP telephony interface106to the server110, for example, the information may identify an IP address and port number of the VOIP telephony interface106and/or an IP address and port number of the telecommunications device102. Upon receiving registration confirmation from the server110, the VOIP telephony interface106will have reestablished that VOIP is available and ready to be used by the telecommunications device102as a result of rebooting the VOIP telephony interface106.

After rebooting the VOIP telephony interface106at Step S210, VOIP is ready to be used by the telecommunications device102at Step S212. The networking device104may provide an indication to the telecommunications device at Step S212that VOIP is available and ready to be used. For example, the networking device104may transmit a dial tone to the telecommunications device102to signify that VoIP is available and ready to be used. Additionally, if the telecommunications device102includes a display, the networking device104may send a message displayable on the display of the telecommunications device102that VOIP is available and ready to be used.

Alternatively, instead of directly proceeding to Step S212after rebooting the VOIP telephony interface106, the networking device104may attempt to further perform a determination of whether the VOIP telephony interface106is in service to ensure that the VOIP telephony interface106is in service after rebooting the VOIP telephony interface106and only proceeding to Step S212after a determination that the VOIP telephony interface106is in service. For example, instead of directly proceeding to Step S212after rebooting the VOIP telephony interface106at Step S210, the method may return to Step S204and the networking device104determines whether the VOIP telephony interface106is in service.

It should be understood that the above-described method illustrated inFIG.2may be implemented as any combination of an apparatus, a system, an integrated circuit, and a computer program on a non-transitory computer readable recording medium. Hardware components, e.g., one or more processors, of such a combination may be implemented as an integrated circuit (IC), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or large scale integrated circuit (LSI), system LSI, super LSI, or ultra LSI components that perform a part or all of the features described herein.

The present disclosure includes the use of software, applications, computer programs, or algorithms. The software, applications, computer programs, or algorithms can be stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium for causing a computer, such as the one or more processors, to execute the steps described inFIG.2. For example, the one or more memories stores software or algorithms with executable instructions and the one or more processors can execute a set of instructions of the software or algorithms in association the performing the features of the embodiments described in the present disclosure.

The software and computer programs, which can also be referred to as programs, software applications, applications, components, or code, include machine instructions for a programmable processor, and can be implemented in a high-level procedural language, an object-oriented programming language, a functional programming language, a logical programming language, or an assembly language or machine language. The term computer-readable recording medium refers to any computer program product, apparatus or device, such as a magnetic disk, optical disk, solid-state storage device, memory, and programmable logic devices (PLDs), used to provide machine instructions or data to a programmable data processor, including a computer-readable recording medium that receives machine instructions as a computer-readable signal.

The term non-transitory computer-readable recording medium refers to any computer program product, apparatus or device, such as a magnetic disk, optical disk, solid-state storage device, memory, programmable logic devices (PLDs), DRAM, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired computer-readable program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer, or a general-purpose or special-purpose processor. Disk or disc, as used herein, includes compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk and Blu-ray disc. Combinations of the above are also included within the scope of computer-readable media.

FIG.3is a block diagram of an exemplary implementation of the telecommunications device102as a traditional wired telephone according to an aspect of the present disclosure. As previously discussed, the telecommunications device102is not limited to a traditional wired telephone, and the telecommunications device102may alternatively be a cordless telephone, a mobile device, a personal computer, a laptop, and other similar telecommunication devices.

As illustrated inFIG.3, the exemplary telecommunications device102includes user interface302such as a keypad or the like for enabling the dialing a telephone number, an audio interface304such as a handset, headset, speaker, or the like for enabling two-way exchange of audio, and a network interface306such as a RJ connection for connecting the telecommunications device102to the networking device104.

FIG.4is a block diagram of an exemplary implementation of server110according to an aspect of the present disclosure. It is contemplated by the present disclosure that the server110include electronic components or electronic computing devices operable to receive, transmit, process, store, and/or manage data and information associated with the systems and methods previously described, which encompasses any suitable processing device adapted to perform computing tasks consistent with the execution of computer-readable instructions stored in memory or computer-readable recording medium.

As illustrated inFIG.4, the exemplary server110includes one or more memories or memory locations including a main memory402as well as a power supply404, a network interface408, and one or more processors410. The main memory402can be a random access memory (RAM), a memory buffer, a hard drive, a database, an erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), a read only memory (ROM), a flash memory, hard disk or any other various layers of memory hierarchy.

The main memory402can be used to store any type of instructions associated with algorithms, processes, or operations for controlling the general functions of the server110including the operations of software as well as any operating system, such as Linux, UNIX, Windows Server, or other customized and proprietary operating systems.

The power supply404can be used to power the various components of the server110. The power supply404can include an interface to be powered through an electrical outlet.

The network interface408is a software and/or hardware interface implemented to establish a connection between the server110and the networking device104according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure described above.

The one or more processors410are used for controlling the general operations of the server110. Each one or the one or more processors410can be, but are not limited to, a central processing unit (CPU), a hardware microprocessor, a multi-core processor, a single core processor, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a digital signal processor (DSP), or other similar processing device capable of executing any type of instructions, algorithms, or software for controlling the operation of the server110. Communication between the components of the server110(e.g.,402,404,408, and410) are established using an internal bus406.

FIG.5is a block diagram of an exemplary implementation of the networking device104according to an aspect of the present disclosure. It is contemplated by the present disclosure that the networking device104include electronic components or electronic computing devices operable to receive, transmit, process, store, and/or manage data and information associated with the systems and methods previously described, which encompasses any suitable processing device adapted to perform computing tasks consistent with the execution of computer-readable instructions stored in memory or computer-readable recording medium.

As illustrated inFIG.5, the exemplary networking device104includes one or more memories or memory locations including a main memory504as well as an I/O interface502, a power supply506, a network interface510, one or more processors512, and the VOIP telephony interface106. The main memory504can be a random access memory (RAM), a memory buffer, a hard drive, a database, an erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), a read only memory (ROM), a flash memory, hard disk or any other various layers of memory hierarchy.

The main memory504can be used to store any type of instructions associated with algorithms, processes, or operations for controlling the general functions of the networking device104including the operations of software as well as any operating system, such as Linux, UNIX, Windows Server, or other customized and proprietary operating systems.

The I/O interface502can be an interface for enabling the transfer of information between the networking device104and external devices connected to the networking device104that need special communication links for interfacing with the one or more processors514. The I/O interface502can be implemented to accommodate various connections to the networking device104that include, but is not limited to, a universal serial bus (USB) connection, parallel connection, a serial connection, coaxial connection, a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) connection, or other known connection in the art connecting to external devices.

The power supply506can be used to power the various components of the networking device104. The power supply506can be self-contained, such as a battery pack, and/or the power supply506can include an interface to be powered through an electrical outlet.

The network interface510is a software and/or hardware interface implemented to establish a connection between the networking device104and the external device102and/or a connection between the networking device102and the server110via the Internet108according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure described above. It is contemplated by the present disclosure that the network interface510includes software and/or hardware interface circuitry for establishing communication connections with the rest of the system using both wired and wireless connections for establishing connections to, for example, a local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), metropolitan area networks (MANs), personal area networks (PANs), wireless local area networks (WLANs), system area networks (SANs), and other similar networks.

The one or more processors512are used for controlling the general operations of the networking device104and the operations of the VOIP telephony interface106described in the present disclosure. Each one or the one or more processors512can be, but are not limited to, a central processing unit (CPU), a hardware microprocessor, a multi-core processor, a single core processor, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a digital signal processor (DSP), or other similar processing device capable of executing any type of instructions, algorithms, or software for controlling the operation of the networking device104and the VOIP telephony interface106.

The VOIP telephony interface106is a software and/or hardware interface implemented to perform the operations of the VOIP telephony interface106described in the present disclosure. The VOIP telephony interface106may be implemented using one or more components of the above-described components of the networking device104(e.g.,502,504,506,510, and512).

Communication between the components of the networking device104(e.g.,502,504,506,510,512, and106) are established using an internal bus508.

As described above by way of example, the present disclosure provides an technique of ensuring VOIP reliability after a networking device enters a power saving mode, thereby ensuring that a user will be able to place a voice call for emergency services using VoIP in the event of the networking device entering the power saving mode.

Use of the phrases “capable of,” “capable to,” “operable to,” or “configured to” in one or more embodiments, refers to some apparatus, logic, hardware, and/or element designed in such a way to enable use of the apparatus, logic, hardware, and/or element in a specified manner.

The subject matter of the present disclosure is provided as examples of systems and method for performing the features described in the present disclosure. However, further features or variations are contemplated in addition to the features described above. It is contemplated that the implementation of the components and functions of the present disclosure can be done with any newly arising technology that may replace any of the above implemented technologies.

Additionally, the above description provides examples, and is not limiting of the scope, applicability, or configuration set forth in the claims. Changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements discussed without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Various embodiments may omit, substitute, or add various procedures or components as appropriate. For instance, features described with respect to certain embodiments may be combined in other embodiments.

Various modifications to the disclosure will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other variations without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. Throughout the present disclosure the terms “example,” “examples,” or “exemplary” indicate examples or instances and do not imply or require any preference for the noted examples. Thus, the present disclosure is not to be limited to the examples and designs described herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed.