System and method for wireless intercommunication and power delivery

• US 10,536,041 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2016
• Issued: 01/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Chen, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman, Jared
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bukhari, Aqeel H
• Application Number:
  US15/209,249
• Publication Number:
  US 20180019622A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,280 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/05 using capacitive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/60 responsive to the presence of foreign objects, e.g. detection of living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0029 with safety or protection devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0617 for beam forming
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0209 in terminal devices terminal devices per se H04W88/02

Abstract

A wireless signal may supply a wireless power signal to a device to power the device for an authentication. If the device is authenticated, the wireless signal may be adjusted to provide power to the device. If the device is not authenticated, the wireless signal may be adjusted to avoid providing power to the device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

transmitting a wireless signal to supply power to a device to allow power for authentication;

authenticating the device; and

adjusting the wireless signal to provide additional power of the wireless signal to power the device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless signal is spatially adjusted.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless signal is temporally adjusted.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the device does not have a dedicated power supply.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a sweeping wireless signal to detect devices to power.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless signal is adjusted to provide the power to the device for authentication.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting and adjusting are performed at a wireless access point.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the device intercommunicates with the wireless access point.

9. A method comprising:

receiving, at a device, wireless power from a wireless access point to power the device for authentication of the device;

authenticating the device using the received power; and

receiving additional power from the wireless access point for operation of the device based on adjusting the wireless power comprising the additional power.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the device does not have a power supply.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

transmitting, at the device, an indication that power is needed.

12. A method comprising:

providing, at a computing system, a signal to power a device;

receiving, at the computing system, location information from the device; and

adjusting, at the computing system, the signal to provide additional power to the device based on the location information.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the signal is spatially adjusted.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the signal is temporally adjusted.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the signal is a wireless signal.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the computing system is a wireless access point.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the signal is a power signal.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the location information is from an accelerometer at the device.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein multiple arranged signals are sent from the computing system.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the location information is an indication related to strength of the signals to allow the computing system to adjust the signals.

21. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

utilizing the location information to adjust power provided to one or more devices in a region, among a plurality of regions, of a map.