Applying Low Power Enablement of Computing Devices to Process VoIP Phone Calls
AssigneeMicrosoft Corporation
InventorsTimothy M. Moore, Warren Vincent Barkley
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for enabling a computing device to process VoIP phone calls while conserving the computing device's resources is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a computing device configured to use a minimum resource device and an internally integrated or externally connected minimum resource device. Components of the minimum resource device may or may not be powered by the computing device. A method for processing VoIP phone calls while conserving the computing device's resources uses a minimum resource device.
Claims20
Apparatus for processing VoIP phone calls comprising:
- (a) a computing device including:
- (i) a central processing unit (CPU);
- and
- (ii) memory for storing instructions that, when executed, cause the CPU to:
- (1) be placed in a low power consuming state;
- (2) become activated by a wake-up message;
- and
- (b) a minimum resource device coupled to the computing device for sending and receiving VoIP phone calls, the minimum resource device including:
- (i) a microphone;
- and
- (ii) a speaker.
A method of configuring a computing device that includes VoIP software to communicate VoIP phone calls using a minimum resource device, the method comprising:
- (a) placing the computing device in a sleep mode when the computing device is shut down;
- (b) configuring the computing device to respond to wake-up messages;
- and
- (c) in response to the receipt of a wake-up message while the computing device is in a sleep mode, supplying power to the minimum resource device and activating the VoIP software.
A method of processing VoIP phone calls using a VoIP phone connected to a computing device, the method comprising:
- (a) in response to receiving a wake-up message determining if the wake-up message indicates a VoIP phone call;
- (b) if the wake-up message indicates a VoIP phone call, supplying power to a minimum resource device suitable for communicating VoIP phone calls and activating VoIP software;
- (c) processing the VoIP call using the minimum resource device and the VoIP software;
- and
- (d) when the VoIP call completes, placing the computing device into sleep mode in which the VoIP software is deactivated and power to the minimum resource device is terminated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.