System for and method of detecting a non-functional battery back-up unit (BBU) of an optical network terminal

• US 8,330,425 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2009
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Hughes, George L., Gudlavenkatasiva, Bhaskar R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOATENG, ALEXIS ASIEDUA
• Application Number:
  US12/581,648
• Publication Number:
  US 20110091203A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,149 Days
• Field of Search: 320/134, 320/135, 320/136, 320/137, 320/127, 320/128, 320/129, 320/131, 320/132, 320/160, 320/161, 320/162, 398/17
• US Class Current: 320/137
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/27 Arrangements for networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/272 Star-type networks or tree-type networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/248 UPS systems or standby or emergency generators

Abstract

A system for and method of for detecting a non-functional battery back-up unit (BBU) of an optical network terminal is presented. The system and method may include receiving power outage data associated with a plurality of customer sites, receiving, from each of the plurality of customer sites, discharge time data associated with a battery via a network, calculating a mean discharge time based on the discharge time data, comparing the discharge time data associated with each battery to the mean discharge time, determining that each battery that is associated with discharge time data that indicates a discharge time value that is less than the mean discharge time is faulty, and outputting a data signal that indicates that a battery is faulty.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a power data computing apparatus configured to receive power outage data associated with a plurality of customer sites;

a discharge time computing apparatus configured to receive, from each of the plurality of customer sites, discharge time data associated with a battery via a network and calculate a mean discharge time based on the discharge time data wherein the discharge time data is automatically output to the network for receipt by the discharge time computing apparatus when a power loss occurs; and

a faulty determination computing apparatus configured to compare the discharge time data associated with each battery to the mean discharge time, determine that each battery that is associated with discharge time data that indicates a discharge time value that is less than the mean discharge time is faulty, and output a data signal that indicates that a battery is faulty.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the power data computing apparatus is further configured to receive power outage data by receiving power outage data that indicates that the plurality of customer sites are not receiving power from a commercial power source.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the discharge time value comprises a value that indicates an amount of time for the battery to become fully discharged.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the discharge time computing apparatus is further configured to calculate a maximum discharge time based on the discharge time data.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the faulty determination computing apparatus is further configured to compare the discharge time data associated with each battery to the maximum discharge time.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the faulty determination computing apparatus is further configured to determine that each battery that is associated with discharge time data that indicates a discharge time value that is less than the maximum discharge time by a predetermined proportion is faulty.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein each battery is coupled to an optical network terminal.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein each battery is included in a different battery back-up unit of the optical network terminal.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the network comprises an optical network.