Telecommunication enclosure monitoring system

• US 8,135,352 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2007
• Issued: 03/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Langsweirdt, Ronald L., Anders, Herbert, Lindenbeck, Bernd, Schneider, Bernhard, Hahn, Joerg, Starosta, Marian, Steinbrink, Manuel, Stieglitz, Manfred
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, John J
• Application Number:
  US12/299,140
• Publication Number:
  US 20090096603A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,777 Days
• Field of Search: 455/403, 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 455/405, 455/414.2, 455/456.3, 455/41.2, 455/41.1, 455/67.11, 455/557, 455/575.5, 455/575.8, 359/872, 340/539.1, 340/531, 340/870.01
• US Class Current: 455/67.11
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 11/00 Arrangements, systems or apparatus for checking, e.g. the occurrence of a condition, not provided for elsewhere
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/149 Wireguides in connector blocks

Abstract

A remote monitoring system for telecommunication enclosures includes a low profile or flush mounted sealed transceiver or antenna unit, an electronic module inside of the enclosure electrically connected to the transceiver and a communication device to send signals to the electronic module through the transceiver. The sealed housing generally comprises a portion extending through the exterior surface of the enclosure. In some embodiments, the transceiver may include a radio frequency antenna, a photoelectric cell, a light sensor or an infrared sensor, and the communication device may be a handheld device, a transponder, or a networked computer.

Claims

1. A remote telecommunication monitoring system comprising:

a telecommunication enclosure including an exterior surface;

a transceiver disposed in a sealed housing wherein the sealed housing is flush mounted to the exterior surface of the enclosure and wherein a portion of the sealed housing extends through the exterior surface an interior portion of the telecommunication enclosure;

an electronic module contained within the interior portion of the enclosure and electrically connected to the transceiver, wherein the electronic module is selected from the group consisting of an electronic lock, a data storage device, a memory device, telecommunication equipment, meteorological equipment, a test access matrix, an electronic alarm, a control unit, and an electronic sensor; and

a remote communications device that sends signals to and receives signals from the transceiver.

2. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the enclosure provides electromagnetic shielding protection.

3. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the remote communications device is selected from the group consisting of a handheld device, a transponder, and a networked computer.

4. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the remote communications device sends and receives radio frequency signals.

5. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the remote communications device sends and receives optical signals.

6. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the telecommunications enclosure is selected from the group consisting of a closure, a terminal, a cabinet, a vault, a manhole, a storage location, and an equipment room.

7. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the transceiver includes at least one of a radio frequency antenna, a photoelectric cell and a light sensor.

8. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the electronic module is an electronic sensor and wherein the signal received by the transceiver instructs the electronic sensor to take a reading of local environmental conditions and send the information back to the remote communications device.

9. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the electronic module is a data storage device and wherein the signal received by the transceiver instructs the data storage device to send queried information to the remote communications device.

10. The monitoring system of claim 9, wherein the queried information comprises at least one of an inventory of components contained within the enclosure, an access log for the enclosure, installation and maintenance records of equipment in enclosure, a list of customers and services supplied by the equipment in the enclosure, and alarm information for the enclosure.

11. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the electronic module is a test access matrix and wherein the signal received by the transceiver instructs the test access matrix device to perform diagnostic tests and to send test results to the remote communications device.

12. The monitoring system of claim 11, wherein the diagnostic tests comprise measuring data transmission rates of the telecommunication lines in the enclosure, identifying and locating bad lines or equipment, or monitoring of performance parameters of electronic equipment in the enclosure.

13. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the telecommunication equipment in the enclosure comprises a remote switching module, a Digital Subscriber Loop Access Multiplexers, or a Video Ready Access Device.

14. A method of querying a telecommunication enclosure comprising:

providing a transceiver mounted in a sealed housing wherein a portion of the sealed housing extends through an exterior mounting surface of the telecommunication enclosure and wherein the housing is flush-mounted on the exterior surface of the enclosure;

sending a signal from a communications device to an electronic module though the transceiver to initiate a task within the enclosure;

performing the task;

logging the receiving of the signal by the electronic component and a completion status of the task; and

sending an acknowledgement report from the electronic module to the remote communication device.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising retrieving information from a memory device.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the task comprises running an emergency open protocol comprising waking an electronic lock module from sleep mode;

powering an energy storage device; and

releasing an electronic lock to open the enclosure.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the electronic module includes a control unit and wherein the signal directs the control unit to send instructions to a secondary electronic module in the enclosure to perform a task.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the task is at least one of opening an electronic lock, executing a sensor reading and shutting off an alarm.