Key Telephone Terminal Power Saving Schedule Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

IP telephone sets face challenges in reducing power consumption effectively, as stopping network communication prevents activation or resumption of a power-saving state according to a primary device's schedule, leading to inefficiencies in power management.

Innovation Solution

A key telephone system with a primary device and terminal connected via wire-line for IP communication, where the primary device transmits a command for transitioning into a power-saving state along with a duration time, and the terminal includes a timekeeper to measure this duration, halting and activating communication accordingly to maintain a reduced power consumption state.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the IP telephone set stops network communication to reduce power consumption, then power consumption is reduced, but messages from the primary device cannot be received and the power-saving state cannot be activated or resumed according to the primary device's schedule

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidmessage reception reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The communication function is segmented into two modes: a low-power mode where network communication is stopped and a normal mode where communication is active. The terminal can switch between these segments based on the power-saving schedule received from the primary device, allowing it to maintain reliability by being in normal mode during scheduled communication periods while achieving power savings during non-critical periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The terminal receives and stores the power-saving schedule from the primary device in advance. This preliminary action allows the terminal to proactively switch to low-power mode at appropriate times while ensuring it will be in normal mode to receive messages when the primary device needs to communicate, resolving the contradiction between power saving and message reception reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Use of energy by moving object

If the IP telephone set stops network communication to reduce power consumption, then power consumption is reduced, but it is impossible to activate or resume power-saving state according to the primary device's schedule

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidschedule-based power management
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback through the power-saving schedule mechanism. The primary device determines appropriate power-saving times based on its communication needs and sends this schedule to the terminal. The terminal uses this feedback to adjust its communication mode, switching to low-power mode when permitted and returning to normal mode when needed, achieving both power savings and schedule compliance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The terminal's communication mode is made dynamic rather than static. It can transition between low-power mode and normal mode based on the received power-saving schedule. This dynamic adaptability allows the system to optimize power consumption at different times while maintaining the ability to receive messages when required, resolving the contradiction between power saving and schedule-based power management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2993913B1Key telephone system, control method, terminal, and program
Publication Date: 2019.10.02 NEC PLATFROMS LTD
  • EP2993913B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2993913B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2993913B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

An objective of the present invention is to further reduce power consumption. A key telephone system is formed from a terminal and a primary device. The primary device comprises a transmission means for transmitting power conservation sustaining time data which is data which indicates power conservation sustaining time which is the time wherein a power conservation state which is a state wherein power consumption is further reduced is sustained together with an instruction for transition to the power conservation state to the terminal when a power conservation state transition time is reached which is a time for transition to the power conservation state. The terminal comprises: a communication means for carrying out a communication with the primary device; a timekeeping means for measuring the passage of a set time; and a control means for setting the power conservation sustaining time upon the timekeeping means and interrupting the communication means upon receipt of the power conservation sustaining time data and the instruction for transition to the power conservation state, and for activating the interrupted communication means when the timekeeping means has measured the passage of the power conservation sustaining time.