POWER MANAGEMENT FOR DISTRIBUTED COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, AND RELATED COMPONENTS, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS

• US 20160173291A1
• Filed: 02/22/2016
• Published: 06/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Corning Optical Communications Wireless Ltd. (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hazani, Ami, Lupescu, Guy, Nisan, Ofer
• Granted Patent: US 10,992,484 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40045 Details regarding the feeding of energy to the node from the bus
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/04 TPC

Abstract

Power management techniques in distributed communication systems in which the power available at a remote unit (RU) is measured and compared to the power requirements of the RU. Voltage and current are measured for two dummy loads at the RU and these values are used to solve for the output voltage of the power supply and the resistance of the wires. From these values, a maximum power available may be calculated and compared to power requirements of the RU.

Claims

1. A remote unit for use in a distributed communication system, comprising:

at least one antenna configured to transmit radio frequency signals into a coverage area;

a power input configured to receive a power signal from a power distribution module through a power medium;

a power over Ethernet integrated circuit (POE IC) configured to measure voltage and current from the power input; and

a control system configured to;

open a services switch between the power input and a real load;

instruct the POE IC to close a first switch coupling a first load resistance to the power input;

instruct the POE IC to measure a first voltage and a first current associated with the first load resistance;

instruct the POE IC to open the first switch and close a second switch coupling a second load resistance to the power input;

instruct the POE IC to measure a second voltage and a second current associated with the second load resistance; and

calculate an available power for the remote unit.

2. The remote unit of claim 1, further comprising the services switch, the first switch and the second switch.

3. The remote unit of claim 1, wherein the POE IC comprises a current sensor.

4. The remote unit of claim 1, wherein the POE IC comprises a voltage sensor.

5. The remote unit of claim 1, wherein the remote unit is configured to receive communication signals from a fiber infrastructure.

6. The remote unit of claim 1, wherein the control system is configured to generate an alert if available power is insufficient for all services at the remote unit.

7. The remote unit of claim 1, wherein the control system is further configured to shut off a service if power is insufficient for all services.

8. The remote unit of claim 1, wherein the control system is further configured to reduce transmission power for one or more services if power is insufficient for all services.

9. The remote unit of claim 1, wherein:

the POE IC comprises at least one of a current sensor and a voltage sensor;

the control system is configured to reduce transmission power for one or more services if power is insufficient for all services; and

the remote unit comprises a plurality of service modules configured to provide the services at the remote unit, the plurality of service modules comprising service modules selected from the group consisting of;

cellular service, radio frequency communications, WiFi, Ethernet, and location based services.

10. The remote unit of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of service modules configured to provide the services at the remote unit.

11. The remote unit of claim 10, wherein the plurality of service modules comprises service modules selected from the group consisting of:

cellular service, radio frequency communications, WiFi, Ethernet, and location based services.

12. The remote unit of claim 1, wherein the first load resistance comprises approximately 680 Ω

and the second load resistance comprises approximately 4.7 kΩ

.

13. A method of managing power in a remote unit of a distributed communication system, the method comprising:

opening a services switch associated with a real load;

while a first switch associated with a first resistance is closed, measuring a first voltage and first current associated with the first resistance;

while a second switch associated with a second resistance is closed, measuring a second voltage and a second current associated with the second resistance; and

calculating an available power for the remote unit based on the first current, the first voltage, the second current and the second voltage.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising closing the first switch after opening the services switch.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising opening the first switch after measuring the first voltage and the first current.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising closing the second switch after opening the services switch.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising opening the second switch after measuring the second voltage and the second current.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising closing the services switch after opening the second switch.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein measuring comprises measuring with sensors within a power over Ethernet integrated circuit (POE IC).

20. A distributed communication system, comprising a plurality of remote units, each remote unit comprising:

at least one antenna configured to transmit radio frequency signals into a coverage area;

a power input configured to receive a power signal from a power distribution module through a power medium;

a power over Ethernet integrated circuit (POE IC) configured to measure voltage and current from the power input; and

a control system configured to;

open a services switch between the power input and a real load;

instruct the POE IC to close a first switch coupling a first load resistance to the power input;

instruct the POE IC to measure a first voltage and a first current associated with the first load resistance;

instruct the POE IC to open the first switch and close a second switch coupling a second load resistance to the power input;

instruct the POE IC to measure a second voltage and a second current associated with the second load resistance; and

calculate an available power for the remote unit.