Network interface device communication via power line

• US 20060192434A1
• Filed: 12/20/2005
• Published: 08/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Calix Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Optical Solutions, Inc. (Calix Incorporated)
• Inventors: Vrla, Clifford, Biegert, Mark Richard, Paulsen, Mark Thomas, Steinkogler, Gary Lee
• Granted Patent: US 7,652,390 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/64
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/202 Casings or frames around the primary casing of a single cell or a single battery
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/244 Secondary casings; Racks; Suspension devices; Carrying devices; Holders characterised by their mounting method
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/251 specially adapted for stationary devices, e.g. power plant buffering or backup power supplies
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/296 characterised by terminals of battery packs terminals of batteries H01M50/543
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00009 using pulsed signals
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00017 using optical fiber
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/06 with automatic change-over , e.g. UPS systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/272 Star-type networks or tree-type networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/806 Arrangements for feeding power
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5408 using protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5437 Wired telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5445 Local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/545 Audio/video application, e.g. interphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5458 Monitor sensor; Alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/547 via DC power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5483 using coupling circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2210/077 using a separate fibre
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/542 the information being in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 : Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 : Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/12 : Energy storage units, uninterruptible power supply [UPS] systems or standby or emergency generators, e.g. in the last power distribution stages
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/121 : using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/124 : using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses

Abstract

The invention is directed to an optical network terminal (ONT) for use in a passive optical network (PON) that provides reliable battery status reporting and, optionally, remote monitoring and configuration of an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) unit. In particular, the UPS unit provides power to the ONT via a power line and transmits data to the ONT via the power line. Generally, the described invention supports one-way or two-way communication of status, alarm, and configuration signals using a single power line. Specifically, such signals may be transmitted over the power line by inserting a carrier frequency, such as a carrier frequency of approximately 1 MHz, onto the power line. In this manner, the invention may provide a simple battery status monitoring system while also reducing the cost of installation.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

supplying power to a network interface device via a power line that extends between the network interface device and an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) unit; and

transmitting data to the network interface device from the UPS unit via the power line.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the network interface device includes an optical network terminal (ONT) in a passive optical network (PON).

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting data from the network interface device to the UPS unit via the power line.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the data transmitted to the UPS unit includes one or more status requests that request status of hardware associated with the UPS unit.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the data transmitted to the network interface device includes one or more signals indicating status of the UPS unit.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the data transmitted to the network interface device includes one or more signals indicating status of the UPS unit.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the data transmitted to the network interface device includes one or more alarm signals indicating an alarm condition of the hardware associated with the UPS unit.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the alarm signals include at least one of an AC Fail signal indicating unavailability of line power to the UPS unit, a Battery Low signal indicating a low charge level on a battery associated with the UPS unit, a Replace Battery signal indicating a low power capability of the battery associated with the UPS unit, and a Battery Missing signal indicating absence of the battery associated with the UPS unit.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting data comprises inserting a carrier signal onto the power line.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the carrier signal has a carrier frequency of greater than or equal to approximately 1 megahertz (MHz).

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising filtering the carrier signal from the power line to receive the transmitted data in the network interface device.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the network interface device includes an optical network terminal (ONT) on a passive optical network (PON), the method further comprising transmitting the received data from the ONT to an optical line terminal (OLT) on the PON via an optical fiber link.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting data from the network interface device to the UPS unit via the power line, wherein the data transmitted to the UPS unit includes one or more status requests that request status of hardware associated with the UPS unit, and monitoring status of the hardware in response to the status requests.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the network interface device includes an optical network terminal (ONT) on a passive optical network (PON), and wherein the data transmitted to the ONT includes one or more signals indicating status of hardware associated with the UPS unit, the method further comprising transmitting the status signals to an optical line terminal (OLT) on the PON via an optical fiber link.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting data from the network interface device to the UPS unit via the power line, wherein the data transmitted to the UPS unit includes one or more configuration commands that specify configuration of hardware associated with the UPS unit, and configuring the hardware in response to the configuration commands.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the network interface device includes an optical network terminal (ONT) on a passive optical network (PON), the method further comprising receiving the configuration commands from an optical line terminal (OLT) on the PON via an optical fiber link.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the configuration commands include software updates, the method further comprising updating software in the UPS unit in response to the configuration commands.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the UPS unit includes a plurality of alarm signal terminals, and transmitting data to the network interface device from the UPS unit via the power line includes generating the data based on signals at the alarm signal terminals.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein generating the data includes generating the data via an adapter unit that couples to the alarm signal terminals.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the power line includes a power conductor and a power return conductor, and the power line transmits direct current (DC) power.

21. A network interface device comprising circuitry that receives operating power from a power line that extends between the network interface device and an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) unit, and an interface that receives data from the UPS unit via the power line.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the network interface device is an optical network terminal (ONT) in a passive optical network (PON).

23. The device of claim 21, wherein the interface transmits data to the UPS unit via the power line.

24. The device of claim 21, wherein the data transmitted to the UPS unit includes one or more status requests that request status of hardware associated with the UPS unit.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein the data received by the network interface device includes one or more signals indicating status of hardware associated with the UPS unit.

26. The device of claim 21, wherein the data received by the network interface device includes one or more signals indicating status of hardware associated with the UPS unit.

27. The device of claim 21, wherein the data received by the network interface device includes one or more alarm signals indicating an alarm condition of the hardware associated with the UPS unit.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein the alarm signals include at least one of an AC Fail signal indicating unavailability of line power to the UPS unit, a Battery Low signal indicating a low charge level on a battery associated with the UPS unit, a Replace Battery signal indicating a low power capability of the battery associated with the UPS unit, and a Battery Missing signal indicating absence of the battery associated with the UPS unit.

29. The device of claim 21, wherein the interface transmits data to the UPS unit via the power line, wherein the data transmitted to the UPS unit includes one or more configuration commands that specify configuration of hardware associated with the UPS unit, and configuring the hardware in response to the configuration commands.

30. The device of claim 29, wherein the network interface device is an optical network terminal (ONT) in a passive optical network (PON), the device further comprising an optical interface that receives the configuration commands from an optical line terminal (OLT) on the PON via an optical fiber link.

31. The device of claim 29, wherein the configuration commands include software updates to update software in the UPS unit.

32. The device of claim 21, wherein the data is inserted as a carrier signal onto the power line.

33. The device of 32, wherein the carrier signal has a carrier frequency of greater than or equal to approximately 1 megahertz (MHz).

34. An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) unit for a network interface device, the UPS unit comprising a power source, a power line that delivers power from the power source to the network interface device, and an interface that transmits data to the network interface device via the power line.

35. The UPS unit of claim 34, wherein the network interface device is an optical network terminal (ONT) in a passive optical network (PON).

36. The UPS unit of claim 34, wherein the interface receives data from the network interface device via the power line.

37. The UPS unit of claim 36, wherein the data received from the network interface device includes one or more status requests that request status of hardware associated with the UPS unit.

38. The UPS unit of claim 37, wherein the data transmitted to the network interface device includes one or more signals indicating status of hardware associated with the UPS unit.

39. The UPS unit of claim 34, wherein the data transmitted to the network interface device includes one or more signals indicating status of the UPS unit.

40. The UPS unit of claim 34, wherein the data received by the network interface device includes one or more alarm signals indicating an alarm condition of the UPS unit.

41. The UPS unit of claim 40, wherein the alarm signals include at least one of an AC Fail signal indicating unavailability of line power to the UPS unit, a Battery Low signal indicating a low charge level on a battery associated with the UPS unit, a Replace Battery signal indicating a low power capability of the battery associated with the UPS unit, and a Battery Missing signal indicating absence of the battery associated with the UPS unit.

42. The UPS unit of claim 34, wherein the interface receives configuration commands from the network interface device, the configuration commands specifying configuration of hardware associated with the UPS unit.

43. The UPS unit of claim 42, wherein the configuration commands include software updates to update software in the UPS unit.

44. The UPS unit of claim 34, wherein the interface transmits data to the network interface device via the power line by inserting a carrier signal onto the power line.

45. The UPS unit of claim 44, wherein the carrier signal has a carrier frequency of greater than or equal to approximately 1 megahertz (MHz).

46. The UPS unit of claim 34, further comprising a plurality of alarm signal terminals, and an adapter unit that couples to the alarm signal terminals, generates generating the data based on signals at the alarm signal terminals, and transmits the data via the power line

47. The UPS unit of claim 34, wherein the power line includes a power conductor and a power return conductor, and the power line transmits direct current (DC) power.

48. A network comprising:

a network interface device;

an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) unit; and

a power line that delivers power from the UPS unit to the network interface device,

wherein the UPS unit transmits data to the network interface device via the power line.

49. The network of claim 48, wherein the network is a passive optical network (PON) and the network interface device is an optical network terminal (ONT) on the PON.

50. The network of claim 48, wherein the data transmitted to the network interface device includes status data.

51. The network of claim 50, wherein the status data includes at least one of an AC Fail signal indicating unavailability of line power to the UPS unit, a Battery Low signal indicating a low charge level on a battery associated with the UPS unit, a Replace Battery signal indicating a low power capability of the battery associated with the UPS unit, and a Battery Missing signal indicating absence of the battery associated with the UPS unit.

52. The network of claim 48, wherein the network interface device transmits data to the UPS unit via the power line, wherein the data transmitted to the UPS unit includes configuration data.

53. The network of claim 48, wherein the UPS unit transmits data to the network interface device via the power line by inserting a carrier signal onto the power line.

54. The network of claim 53, wherein the carrier signal has a carrier frequency of greater than or equal to approximately 1 megahertz (MHz).

55. The network of claim 48, wherein the UPS unit includes a plurality of alarm signal terminals, the network further comprising an adapter unit that couples to the alarm signal terminals, generates generating the data based on signals at the alarm signal terminals, and transmits the data via the power line

56. The network of claim 48, wherein the power line includes a power conductor and a power return conductor, and the power line transmits direct current (DC) power.

57. An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) unit comprising:

a power source;

a plurality of signal terminals; and

an adapter unit that couples to the signal terminals, generates data based on signals at the signal terminals, and transmits the data via a power line with power provided by the power source.

58. An adapter unit for an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) unit, wherein the UPS unit includes a power terminal and a plurality of signal terminals, the adapter unit comprising:

input terminals that couple to the power terminal and the signal terminals;

circuitry that generates data based on signals at the signal terminals; and

output terminals that couple to a power line to transmit the data via a power line with power provided by the power terminal.