Power-line communications

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10540887-B2
Application number	US-201615293357-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 14, 2016
Priority date	Nov 24, 2014
Publication date	Jan 21, 2020
Grant date	Jan 21, 2020

Abstract

Methods, systems, and products bridge wireless data transmissions with power-line communications. Should a failure occur in alternating current power, a backup battery maintains the power-line communications. Direct current battery power is used to power a wireless transceiver, thus maintaining both wireless data transmissions and communication during power failures.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:
receiving, by a cellular bridge unit, data modulated onto an electrical power conveyed according to a powerline communications via an electrical receptacle connected to an electrical wiring from an alarm controller associated with a security system;
converting, by the cellular bridge unit, the data modulated onto the direct current electrical power conveyed according to the powerline communications into a cellular data
energizing, by the cellular bridge unit, an internal cellular radio with the electrical power conveyed according to the powerline communications via the electrical receptacle connected to the electrical wiring; and
wirelessly transmitting, by the internal cellular radio, the cellular data converted from the data modulated onto the direct current electrical power via a cellular network to a destination.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a failure of an alternating current electrical power.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising connecting an internal backup battery in response to the failure of the alternating current electrical power.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising powering the internal cellular radio via a direct current battery power supplied by a backup battery internal to the cellular bridge unit.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising powering a modem via a direct current battery power supplied by a backup battery internal to the cellular bridge unit.

6. A cellular bridge unit, comprising:
a cellular radio internal to the cellular bridge unit
a hardware processor internal to the cellular bridge unit; and
a memory device internal to the cellular bridge unit, the memory device storing code, the code when executed causing the hardware processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:
receiving a modulated signal conveyed according to a powerline communications via an electrical receptacle connected to an electrical wiring from an alarm controller associated with a security system;
demodulating data from the modulated signal;
converting the data demodulated from the modulated signal into a cellular data;
energizing the cellular radio with an electrical power conveyed according to the powerline communications via the electrical receptacle connected to the electrical wiring; and
wirelessly transmitting the cellular data converted from the data demodulated from the modulated signal via a cellular network to a destination.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the operations further comprise determining a failure of an alternating current electrical power.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the operations further comprise connecting a backup battery internal to the cellular bridge unit in response to the failure of the alternating current electrical power.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the operations further comprise receiving a direct current battery power supplied by a backup battery internal to the cellular bridge unit.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the operations further comprise powering a modem via a direct current battery power supplied by a backup battery internal to the cellular bridge unit.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the operations further comprise powering an interface for power-over-Ethernet communications between the modem and the cellular radio.

Assignees

• At & T Ip I Lp

Inventors

• Hicks Iii John Alson
• Davis Brett
• Howell Glenn
• Thomas Robin
• Worsham James A
• Zimler Randy S

Classifications

• H04L12/6418

  Hybrid transport · CPC title

• H04B3/54

  Systems for transmission via power distribution lines · CPC title

• G08B29/181 Primary

  due to failing power supply · CPC title

• H04L12/10

  Current supply arrangements · CPC title

• H04B2203/5458

  Monitor sensor; Alarm systems · CPC title