Method and apparatus for managing battery log information and method of generating revenue through sales thereof

• US 20090015417A1
• Filed: 07/13/2007
• Published: 01/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tellabs Vienna, Inc. (Infinera Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Tellabs Vienna, Inc. (Infinera Corp.)
• Inventors: Bernard, Marc R., Atkinson, Douglas A.
• Application Number:
  US11/879,040
• Publication Number:
  US 20090015417A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/636.100
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/382 Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00019 using optical means
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/06 with automatic change-over , e.g. UPS systems
• 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: Y04S 20/12 Energy storage units, uninterruptible power supply [UPS] systems or standby or emergency generators, e.g. in the last power distribution stages

Abstract

Example embodiments of the present invention provide management and reporting tools for service providers to manage batteries within battery backup units (BBUs) deployed their networks. Service providers may generate battery reports periodically, on-demand, or on an event driven basis, and, in turn, may notify customers of a status of battery replacement. Specifically, example embodiments of the present invention allow an Optical Network Terminal (ONT) to log BBU history via a craft port, Optical Line Terminal (OLT), direct internal communications with the battery, or some other technician interface. The ONT may store this information in memory when it detects a battery replacement or when a technician issues commands about battery log information. The OLT or an Element Management System (EMS) may query battery log information from all ONTs and generate management reports therefrom. The information may be sold, on a subscription fee basis, for example, to battery manufacturers or service providers.

Claims

22. An apparatus for monitoring a battery backup unit, comprising:

memory at a network node other than a network node configured to receive backup power from the battery backup unit configured to store baseline information about the battery backup unit; and

an update module to update the baseline information in the memory at the network node at which it is stored with state or event information relating to the battery backup unit.

1. A method for monitoring a battery backup unit, comprising:

storing baseline information about a battery backup unit at a network node other than a network node configured to receive backup power from the battery backup unit; and

updating the baseline information at the network node at which it is stored with state or event information relating to the battery backup unit.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein storing the baseline information further comprises storing the baseline information at a time of installation of the battery backup unit.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein storing the baseline information further comprises storing the baseline information at a time after a time of installation of the battery backup unit.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein storing the baseline information further comprises accepting specified baseline information by a manufacturer of or a service provider employing the battery backup unit.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein storing the baseline information further comprises automatically storing the baseline information.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein storing the baseline information further comprises manually entering the baseline information.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein storing the baseline information further comprises transmitting the baseline information to an Optical Line Terminal (OLT) or a management system associated with the OLT.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein storing the baseline information further comprises transmitting the baseline information via at least one optical communications path.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein storing the baseline information further comprises retrieving the baseline information from a source.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the source is an Optical Line Terminal (OLT) or a management system associated with the OLT.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein storing the baseline information further comprises storing the baseline information locally at an Optical Network Terminal (ONT) or the battery backup unit.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the state information includes temperature, voltage, current, availability, usage or age.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the event information includes alarm information, duration of alarms or frequency of alarms.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

feeding back information regarding the battery backup unit to a manufacturer of or a service provider or third party employing the battery backup unit.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

collecting a fee for the information.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

correlating the information with battery backup unit information, including at least one of the following;

manufacturer, specifications, age and Optical Network Terminal (ONT)/battery backup unit combinations.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

informing an interested party of the correlation.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

recommending a battery backup unit to an interested party.

19. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

informing an interested party of battery backup unit compatibility, recall status, specifications, enhanced feature products, ordering information and performance history, optionally including alarms on an annual basis.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

notifying an interested party of status for replacement of a battery or cell within the battery backup unit.

21. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

forwarding the information to a regulatory body.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the memory is configured to store the baseline information at a time of installation of the battery backup unit.

24. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the memory is configured to store the baseline information at a time after a time of installation of the battery backup unit.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the memory is configured to store the baseline information as specified by a manufacturer of or a service provider employing the battery backup unit.

26. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the memory is configured to store the baseline information in an automated manner.

27. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the memory is configured to store the baseline information in a manual manner.

28. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the memory is in or coupled to an Optical Line Terminal (OLT) or a management system.

29. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the memory and update module are separated by at least one optical communications path.

30. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the memory is configured to retrieve the baseline information from a source.

31. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the source is an Optical Line Terminal (OLT) or a management system associated with the OLT.

32. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the memory is in or coupled to an Optical Network Terminal (ONT) or the battery backup unit.

34. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the event information includes alarm information, duration of alarms or frequency of alarms.

35. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising:

a communications module coupled to the memory to feed back information regarding the battery backup unit to a manufacturer of or a service provider employing the battery backup unit.

36. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising:

a collection module configured to collect a fee for the information.

37. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising:

a correlation module configured to correlate the information with battery backup information, including at least one of the following;

manufacturer, specifications, age and Optical Network Terminal ONT)/battery backup unit combinations.

38. The apparatus of claim 37 further comprising:

a reporting module configured report the correlated information to an interested party.

39. The apparatus of claim 37 further comprising:

a recommendation module configured to recommend a battery backup unit to an interested party.

40. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising:

a reporting module configured to report to an interested party battery backup unit compatibility, recall status, specifications, enhanced feature products, ordering information and performance history, optionally including alarms on an annual basis.

41. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising:

an indicator to indicate a status for replacement of a battery or cell within the battery backup unit.

42. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising:

a forwarding module configured to forward the information to a regulatory body.

32-1. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the state information includes temperature, voltage, current, availability, usage or age.

43. An electromagnetic signal carrying computer-readable instructions for monitoring a battery backup unit, the instructions comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

store baseline information about a battery backup unit at a network node other than a network node configured to receive backup power from the battery backup unit; and

update the baseline information at the network node at which it is stored with state or event information relating to the battery backup unit.

44. A method of generating revenue through sale of information relating to a network device, comprising:

storing state information related to a network node including at least some state information accessible only through direct automated access to the network node; and

collecting a fee for the information.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein the state information includes information about a battery backup unit.

46. The method of claim 44 wherein collecting the fee for the information includes collecting the fee on a subscription service fee basis.

47. The method of claim 44 wherein collecting the fee for the information includes collecting the fee on a per-subnetwork basis.

48. The method of claim 44 wherein collecting the fee for the information includes collecting the fee on a per-battery backup unit basis.

49. The method of claim 44 wherein collecting the fee for the information includes collecting the fee on a per-battery backup unit manufacturer basis.

50. The method of claim 44 wherein collecting the fee for the information includes collecting the fee on a per-battery backup model number basis.

51. The method of claim 44 wherein collecting the fee for the information includes collecting the fee from a manufacturer of a battery or battery backup unit configured to provide backup power to the network node.

52. The method of claim 44 wherein collecting the fee for the information includes collecting the fee from a service provider employing the battery backup unit.