Patent ID: 7474742

Claim:
In a relationship between a telecommunication service provider and a subscriber, a network interface device configured to be disposed at a subscriber premises, the network interface device comprising: a first face configured to be at least partially exposed to an exterior of a subscriber premises, the first face comprising a security device configured to prevent unauthorized access to the network interface device from the exterior of the subscriber premises; a second face generally opposing the first face and configured to be at least partially exposed to an interior of a subscriber premises, wherein the first and second faces define an interior space of the network interface device, the interior space being configured to have disposed therein at least one telecommunication component and to have generally stable environmental conditions, the first face being further configured to protect the interior space from ambient environmental conditions external to the subscriber premises, and the second face being further configured to allow ambient environmental conditions internal to the subscriber premises to influence the interior space; at least one telecommunication component disposed within the space defined by the first and second faces, the at least one telecommunication component being configured to provide connectivity between an internal communication medium and an external communication medium; and a backup supply of electrical power disposed within the interior space defined by the first and second faces and in electrical communication with the at least one telecommunication component, the backup supply of electrical power being configured to provide operational power to the at least one telecommunication component in the event of a general electrical power failure affecting the subscriber premises, the backup supply of electrical power comprising a plurality of batteries, the plurality of batteries comprising: a first battery that may be accessed only via the first face of the network interface device, and; a second battery that may be accessed only via the second face of the network interface device.