Patent ID: 8306018

Claim:
A Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communications system comprising: one or more communications devices at system endpoints, said one or more communications devices comprising a first communications device having at least one selectable power saving mode in which that device is on but operates so that the device utilizes less power than when in a non-power saving mode; and a switch device communicatively coupled to the one or more communications devices; the first communications device sending a first request to the switch device to indicate an intention to enter one of the at least one selectable power saving modes for a first predetermined period of time; in response to receiving the first request, the switch device spooling messages intended for the first communications device for the first predetermined period of time such that the spooled messages are not sent to the first communications device for the first predetermined period of time; and after the first predetermined period of time elapses, the switch device sending the spooled messages to the first communications device; and wherein upon a call to the first communications device the switch device signals said call to the first communications device and the first communications device exits the entered one of the at least one power saving mode upon receipt of the signaling of the call; and wherein the messages that are spooled are messages relating to predefined events that are characterized as not requiring immediate sending to the first communications device; wherein after receiving the spooled messages, the first communications device sending a second request to the switch device to indicate an intention to enter one of the at least one selectable power saving mode for a second predetermined period of time; the switch device spooling messages intended for the first communications device for the second predetermined period of time; and after the second predetermined period of time elapses, the switch device sending the messages spooled during the second predetermined period of time to the first communications device.