Auxiliary Call Control Component for Hibernating PC VoIP Reception
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Solution Overview
Problem
VoIP systems based on general-purpose computers cannot receive incoming calls when the computer is hibernating or powered off, as they rely solely on the PC's activity to respond to calls.
Innovation Solution
An auxiliary call control component is introduced that can signal the computing system to enter a state capable of processing incoming calls, even when the system is hibernating or powered off, by waking it up or powering it on, and inform the user of the incoming call, allowing the user to respond once the system is in a proper state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the PC-based telephone relies solely on the activity on the PC to respond to incoming calls, then the system complexity is reduced, but the system cannot receive calls when the PC is hibernating or powered off
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an auxiliary peripheral device as an intermediary between the network and the computing system. This peripheral maintains a persistent network connection and can receive incoming calls independently, then wakes or alerts the computing system to handle the call. This resolves the contradiction by adding a mediating component that ensures call reception reliability without requiring the main computing system to remain continuously active.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary peripheral performs preliminary actions by maintaining a persistent network connection and being in a ready state before the computing system needs to handle calls. It proactively receives incoming calls and prepares the computing system (by waking it up or generating alerts) before the actual call handling is needed, ensuring the system can respond reliably even when in hibernation or powered off.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the computing system is kept in a hibernating or powered off state to save energy, then energy consumption is reduced, but the system cannot process incoming calls
Solution Approach 1:
The auxiliary peripheral serves as an energy-efficient intermediary that maintains network connectivity with minimal power consumption. It can receive calls while the main computing system remains in hibernation or powered off, then triggers the computing system only when necessary. This allows the system to save energy during idle periods while maintaining call processing reliability when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the call reception function into two parts: the auxiliary peripheral handles network connectivity and initial call reception with minimal energy consumption, while the main computing system remains in low-power state and only activates when a call is received. This segmentation allows energy savings while preserving call processing capability.
3Reliability
If the auxiliary call control component is added to enable call reception during hibernation, then call reception reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The auxiliary peripheral acts as a dedicated intermediary device that specializes in maintaining network connectivity and receiving calls. By offloading this specific function to a separate component, the main computing system remains simple while the auxiliary device handles the complexity of persistent connection management and call interception.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary peripheral is designed as a multi-functional device that can serve multiple purposes: maintaining network connection, receiving calls, waking the computing system, and providing user notifications. This universality justifies the added complexity by consolidating multiple functions into a single auxiliary component rather than requiring separate systems for each function.
Data Source
AI summary
An auxiliary call control component is coupled to a computing system alerts the computing system of an incoming call in instances where the computing system is not capable of processing the incoming call. When the auxiliary call control component receives an incoming call, the auxiliary call control component determines whether the coupled computing system is in a proper state suitable for processing (e.g., “picking up”) the incoming call. If the computing system is not in the proper state, the auxiliary call control component accepts the incoming call, signals the computing system to enter the proper state, and informs the computing system of the incoming call. When placed in the proper state, the computing system may retrieve the incoming call to allow the user to receive to the incoming call at the computing system.