US 6,658,576 B1
Energy-conserving communication apparatus selectively switching between a main processor with main operating instructions and keep-alive processor with keep-alive operating instructionGeneral
US 6,658,576 B1
Energy-conserving communication apparatus selectively switching between a main processor with main operating instructions and keep-alive processor with keep-alive operating instruction
Tech Center:
2100 Computer Architecture and Software
Examiner:
Thomas Lee
Art Unit:
2185 Computer Architecture and I/O
Agent:
COMPLEX MEMORY LLC
Inventors:
HOWARD HONG-DOUGH LEE
Assignee:
Priority:
09/29/99
Filed:
09/29/99
Granted:
12/02/03
Expiration:
09/29/19
Abstract
An energy-conserving computer or information communication apparatus comprising keep-alive communication circuitry, keep-alive memory circuitry, keep-alive control means, and keep-alive operating instructions for establishing instant communications without consuming main energy. Preferably, a power source carried on a signal-transmitting phone line or cable is used as keep-alive power. Also provided is an energy-conserving operating system capable of entering an energy-conserving operating state in addition to the normal operating state and the sleep, off, or standby state. Consequently, for the first time, the energy-conserving communication apparatuses or computers can stay normally offline (like telephones) for establishing instant and universal communications therebetween via the Internet, and allow to proceed with the download of communication information in the energy-conserving operating state similar to the conventional sleep state, without entering the power-consuming normal operating state.