Method and system for extending backup battery life in primary line customer premises equipment

A system for extending the depletion life of a back-up battery in a CMTS communication system at a user's location following a loss of off-site power event comprising:

• a relay for switching one or more telephony equipment devices between being connected to either the battery or one or more SLICs corresponding to the one or more telephony equipment devices, said relay having a coil for receiving a signal for causing said switching to occur;
• a sensing means for providing a current flow signal in response to current flowing from the battery to the telephony equipment device through a flash hook switch in at least one of the one or more telephony devices that is off hook;
• a current switch for providing a current path between the battery and the switching means in response to the current flow signal provided by the sensing means;
• and
• a sleep switch for breaking the path of current flowing to the switching means in response to a time elapsed signal.

A method for extending the depletion life of a battery that provides back-up power to one or more telephony equipment devices during a loss of off-site power event comprising:

• disconnecting the telephony equipment devices from corresponding SLICs by placing a telephony circuit into a sleep mode after a first predetermined time period has elapsed;
• providing a current path between the battery and the telephony equipment devices when said telephony circuit is placed in said sleep mode, said current path being broken when the telephony equipment device is on-hook;
• sensing current in the current path when the telephony equipment device is off-hook to provide a current flow signal while current is flowing in the current path;
• and
• placing the telephony circuit into an awakened state in response to said current flow such that the telephony equipment devices are connected to their corresponding SLICs.