System and method for wireless access point with integrated emergency devices

• US 20070054618A1
• Filed: 09/08/2005
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Sultenfuss, Andrew, Lewis, Jonathan
• Application Number:
  US11/222,311
• Publication Number:
  US 20070054618A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.200
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/02 Details ; arrangements for supplying electrical power along data transmission lines systems for transmitting signals via power distribution lines H04B3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/085 Access point devices with remote components

Abstract

Wireless access points integrate building functions for improved building safety and reduced building wiring. A battery associated with a wireless access point is charged using power from a Power over Ethernet cable. The battery supports functions of the wireless access point and one or more building devices in the event of a power failure, the building devices communicating information through the wireless access point. For instance, emergency lighting and textual lamps are illuminated with the battery in the event of a power outage. As another example, fire sensors, fire alarms and intercoms provide emergency workers information and voice communication regarding the area within the proximity of a wireless access point to aid in rescue or fire fighting efforts.

Claims

1. A wireless access point comprising:

a wireless gateway operable to interface with plural information handling systems to send and receive information using wireless signals;

a network interface in communication with the wireless gateway, the network interface operable to connect to an Ethernet cable to send and receive information using Ethernet signals;

a power supply associated with the network interface and operable to receive power over the Ethernet cable to power the wireless gateway;

a battery interfaced with the power supply, the power supply operable to charge the battery with the power received over the Ethernet cable; and

a building device power supply interfaced with the battery and operable to provide power to one or more building devices.

2. The wireless access point of claim 1 further comprising an emergency lamp interfaced with the building device power supply, the emergency lamp operable to illuminate the building powered by the battery in the event of a building power failure.

3. The wireless access point of claim 1 further comprising a textual lamp operable to identify a building location, the textual lamp interfaced with the building device power supply and powered by the battery.

4. The wireless access point of claim 1 further comprising a building device interface in communication with the wireless gateway and operable to communicate with a building device to send information between the building device and the wireless gateway.

5. The wireless access point of claim 4 wherein the building device comprises a smoke detector, the smoke detector operable to receive power from the battery and to communicate smoke detection results through the wireless gateway to an external building device module.

6. The wireless access point of claim 4 wherein the building device comprises a heat sensor, the heat sensor operable to receive power from the battery and to communicate heat detection results through the wireless gateway to an external building device module.

7. The wireless access point of claim 4 wherein the building device comprises a fire alarm pull, the fire alarm pull operable to receive power from the battery and to communicate a fire alarm through the wireless gateway to an external building device module.

8. The wireless access point of claim 1 further comprising:

a microphone;

a speaker; and

a VoIP module interfaced with the microphone, speaker and wireless gateway, the VoIP module communicate voice information through the wireless gateway between the speaker, microphone and an external building device module.

9. A method for deploying a building device in a building space, the method comprising:

deploying a wireless access point in the building space;

powering the wireless access point through an Ethernet cable;

storing power provided from the Ethernet cable with a battery associated with the wireless access point;

deploying the building device proximate the wireless access point; and

powering the building device with the battery.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the building device comprises an emergency lamp, the method further comprising:

detecting a power failure in the building space; and

illuminating the emergency lamp with the battery.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the building device comprises a textual lamp.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the building device comprises a fire alarm pull, the method further comprising:

detecting a fire alarm indication at the fire alarm pull; and

communicating the fire alarm to a network through the wireless access point.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the building device comprises a smoke detector, the method further comprising:

detecting smoke indications with the smoke detector; and

communicating the smoke indications to a network through the wireless access point.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the building device comprises a heat sensor, the method further comprising:

detecting heat indications with the heat detector; and

communicating the heat indications to a network through the wireless access point.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein the building device comprises an intercom, the method further comprising:

supporting voice communications with the intercom; and

communicating the voice communications to a network as VoIP information passed through the wireless access point.

16. A system for supporting network communications and building functions in a building space, the system comprising:

a server information handling system operable to support networking of plural information handling systems, the server information handling system having plural networking ports operable to connect with networking cables to provide networking signals and power to the cables;

plural wireless access points deployed in the building space, each wireless access point operable to communicate with information handling systems using wireless signals;

plural networking cables, each networking cable connecting the server information handling system to a wireless access point;

a power supply associated with each wireless access point and operable to receive power from the networking cable to power the wireless access point; and

a battery interfaced with the power supply, the battery operable to receive a charge from the power supply and to supply power to a building device that performs the building function.

17. The system of claim 16 further comprising a building device interface associated with each wireless access point and operable to communicate with the building device, the wireless access point further operable to communicate information between the building device and the network.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the building device comprises an intercom and the information comprises voice information.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the building device comprises a sensor operable to sense fire conditions.

20. The system of claim 16 wherein the building device comprises a lamp.