Light socket WiFi device

• US 10,342,101 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2017
• Issued: 07/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cook, Charles I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Holloway, III, Edwin C
• Application Number:
  US15/665,058
• Publication Number:
  US 20180035518A1
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 340 1227, 340 1255, 340 1232, 340 1239, 340 1237, 455 903
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2816 Controlling appliance services of a home automation network by calling their functionalities arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station; in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light

Abstract

Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing wireless radio functionality in a home or building. In some embodiments, a device may comprise a light socket attachment configured to be inserted into a corresponding light socket, a communications system comprising a non-wired communications device (e.g., a wireless radio, a LiFi device, etc.), a light bulb receptacle configured to receive a light bulb, and/or circuitry configured to receive electric power through the light socket attachment, to direct a specified current to the communications system, and to direct remaining current to the light bulb receptacle. In an additional aspect, the device might be configured to implement a two-terminal or a three-terminal power connection light socket to power the communications system. In some cases, Power-Line Communications (“PLC”) may be used to transmit data over the three-terminal power connection to and from the communications system.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a light socket attachment that mates with a light socket receptacle of a lighting device when the light socket attachment is removably coupled to the lighting device, wherein the light socket receptacle of the lighting device is a three-terminal power connection light socket receptacle;

a communications system comprising a non-wired communications device;

a wired communications adapter contained within the communications system, wherein the wired communications adapter provides a link between the communications system and the light socket receptacle, and wherein the wired communications adapter is configured to transmit or receive data via the three terminals of the three-terminal power connection light socket, wherein a first terminal and a second terminal of the three terminal power connection light socket transmit data to the communications system, wherein a third terminal separate from the first terminal and the second terminal of the three terminal power connection light socket receives data from the communications system;

a light bulb receptacle configured to receive a light bulb; and

circuitry that receives electric power through the light socket attachment, the circuitry directing a specified amount of power from the received electric power to the communications system while directing remaining power of the received electric power to the light bulb receptacle.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the communications system functions as at least one of a wireless access point, a wireless repeater, or a wireless client.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the non-wired communications device comprises one of a wireless radio or a light-based communications device, wherein the wireless radio comprises one of a WiFi radio, a cellular communications transceiver, or a Bluetooth transceiver, wherein the light-based communications device comprises a Li-Fi communications device.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the communications system further comprises a wireless communications adapter.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the link provided by the wired communications adapter is a Power-Line Communications (“

PLC”

) link with the communications system.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the PLC link is based on at least one of G.hn specification or HomePlug specification.

7. The device of claim 4, wherein the wireless communications adapter provides backhaul functionality.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the light bulb comprises a lighting element.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the lighting element is at least one of a light-emitting diode, an incandescent lighting element, or a fluorescent lighting element.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the light socket attachment and the light bulb receptacle are compatible with one of a threaded attachment configuration, a plug-in attachment configuration, a twist and lock attachment configuration, a pin attachment configuration, or a prong attachment configuration.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the light bulb receptacle is further configured to receive a light bulb that is compatible with at least one of a two-terminal power source or a three-terminal power source.

12. The device of claim 1, further comprising one or more sensors, the one or more sensors comprising at least one of one or more proximity sensors, one or more motion sensors, one or more sound sensors, or one or more ambient light sensors, wherein the circuitry directs the remaining power of the received electric power to the light bulb receptacle in response to receiving predetermined signals from the one or more sensors.

13. A method, comprising:

providing a device comprising a light socket attachment that mates with a light socket receptacle of a lighting device when the light socket attachment is removably coupled to the lighting device, a communications system comprising a non-wired communications device, a wired communications adapter contained within the communications system, a light bulb receptacle that receives a light bulb, and circuitry that receives electric power through the light socket attachment, the circuitry directing a specified amount of power from the received electric power to the communications system while directing remaining power of the received electric power to the light bulb receptacle, wherein the light socket receptacle of the lighting device is a three-terminal power connection light socket, wherein the wired communications adapter provides a link between the communications system and the light socket receptacle, and wherein the wired communications adapter is configured to transmit or receive data via the three terminals of the three-terminal power connection light socket, wherein a first terminal and a second terminal of the three terminal power connection light socket transmit data to the communications system, wherein a third terminal separate from the first terminal and the second terminal of the three terminal power connection light socket receives data from the communications system;

inserting the light socket attachment of the device into the light socket receptacle; and

inserting the light bulb into the light bulb receptacle.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the communications system functions as at least one of a wireless access point, a wireless repeater, or a wireless client.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the non-wired communications device comprises one of a wireless radio or a light-based communications device, wherein the wireless radio comprises one of a WiFi radio, a cellular communications transceiver, or a Bluetooth transceiver, wherein the light-based communications device comprises a Li-Fi communications device.

16. A method for providing electric power to a device, the method comprising:

providing a device comprising a light socket attachment that mates with a light socket receptacle of a lighting device when the light socket attachment is removably coupled to the lighting device, a communications system comprising a processor and a non-wired communications device, a wired communications adapter contained within the communications system, a light bulb receptacle that receives a light bulb, and circuitry that receives electric power through the light socket attachment, the circuitry directing a specified amount of power from the received electric power to the communications system while directing remaining power of the received electric power to the light bulb receptacle, wherein the light socket receptacle of the lighting device is a three-terminal power connection light socket, wherein the wired communications adapter provides a link between the communications system and the light socket receptacle, and wherein the wired communications adapter is configured to transmit or receive data via the three terminals of the three-terminal power connection light socket, wherein a first terminal and a second terminal of the three terminal power connection light socket transmit data to the communications system, wherein a third terminal separate from the first terminal and the second terminal of the three terminal power connection light socket receives data from the communications system;

inserting the light socket attachment of the device into the light socket receptacle;

inserting the light bulb into the light bulb receptacle;

directing electric power from the light socket receptacle to the light socket attachment;

determining, with the processor of the communications system, the specified amount of power to be directed to the communications system;

directing, with the processor of the communications system, the determined specified amount of power to the communications system through the circuitry; and

directing, with the processor of the communications system, the remaining power to the light socket receptacle of the device through the circuitry.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the communications system further comprises a wireless communications adapter.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the link provided by the wired communications adapter is a Power-Line Communications (“

PLC”

) link with the communications system.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the PLC link is based on at least one of G.hn specification or HomePlug specification.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the wireless communications adapter provides backhaul functionality.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the device further comprises one or more sensors, the one or more sensors comprising at least one of one or more proximity sensors, one or more motion sensors, one or more sound sensors, or one or more ambient light sensors, wherein the method further comprises:

monitoring, with the one or more sensors, an area surrounding the lighting device; and

in response to exceeding predetermined sensor threshold levels, sending, with the one or more sensors, a signal to the circuitry;

wherein the circuitry directs the remaining power of the received electric power to the light bulb receptacle in response to receiving the signal from the one or more sensors.