Remote site telecom equipment communication

• US 8,787,896 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2012
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Edmon, Eugene L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Huy C
• Application Number:
  US13/687,853
• Publication Number:
  US 20130089016A1
• Time in Patent Office: 601 Days
• Field of Search: 455/418
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/43 using wireless personal area networks [WPAN], e.g. 802.15, 802.15.1, 802.15.4, Bluetooth or ZigBee
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/86 Performing a diagnostic of the sensing device
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0203 in the radio access network or backbone network of wireless communication networks

Abstract

The present invention provides for a system, method and apparatus for monitoring telecommunication components. The invention provides a switch placed at a remote location, wherein the switch includes a converter that converts power from a first voltage to a second voltage, a plurality of communication lines for a connection to a plurality of end users; and an interface that establishes a communication link with a central office. A transmitter is associated with the converter or other switch component; the transmitter transmits a wireless signal relating to a converter or other switch component operating condition. A receiving device receives wireless signals from the transmitter and provides the signals to a serving area interface for processing and/or transmission of the signals to a Central Office for monitoring. A transmitter may initiate transmission upon the occurrence of a change in operating condition.

Claims

1. A switch associated with a central office, the switch comprising:

a converter to convert a first voltage to a second voltage;

a sensor, coupled to the converter, to provide a status signal indicative of an operating condition of the converter;

a communication interface to establish communication links with the central office and with a plurality of end users; and

a transmitter device to wirelessly transmit the status signal to a receiving device associated with the communication interface;

wherein the receiving device communicates the status signal to the central office, wherein the communication interface is a digital subscriber loop multiplexer, and wherein the transmitter device comprises a reduced function device in deep-sleep until awakened in response to a change in the operating condition.

2. The switch of claim 1, further comprising a processor to process the status signal at the communication interface.

3. The switch of claim 1, wherein the transmitter device initiates transmission responsive to a change in the operating condition.

4. The switch of claim 3, wherein the change in the operating condition results from an event selected from a power failure and a change in power.

5. The switch of claim 1, wherein the transmitter device is a transceiver.

6. The switch of claim 1, wherein the receiving device is a transceiver.

7. The switch of claim 6, wherein the receiving device is a full function device.

8. The switch of claim 1 wherein the transmitting device randomly initiates communication with the receiving device.

9. A method, comprising:

providing a switch at a remote location, the switch including;

a converter that converts power from a first voltage to a second voltage;

a sensor, coupled to the converter, to provide a converter signal indicative of an operating condition of the converter, and

a communication interface to establish a communication link with a central office of a telecommunication system and to establish a plurality of communication links with a plurality of end users;

wirelessly transmitting the converter signal from a wireless transmitter associated with the converter to a wireless receiver associated with the communication interface; and

communicating the converter signal to the central office;

wherein the communication interface is a digital subscriber loop multiplexer, the wireless transmitter is a reduced function device operable to remain in a deep-sleep mode until detecting a change in the operating condition.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising processing the converter signal at the communication interface.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein wirelessly transmitting the converter signal initiates upon a change in the operating condition.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein detecting the change in the operating condition includes detecting an event selected from:

a power failure and a change in power.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the wireless transmitter is a transceiver.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the wireless receiving device is a transceiver.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the wireless receiving device is a full function device.

16. A telecommunication switch, comprising:

a power converter receiving an input having a first voltage and generating an output having a second voltage;

a sensor, coupled to power the converter, to generate a converter signal indicating an operating condition of the power converter;

a digital subscriber loop access multiplexer couple to a central office of a telecommunication network;

a serving area interface to establish communication links with the central office and with a plurality of end users;

a reduced function transmitter, associated with the power converter, to wirelessly transmit the converter signal; and

a full function receiver, associated with the serving area interface, to wirelessly receive the converter signal and communicate the converter signal to the central office;

wherein the reduced function transmitter device transitions from a deep-sleep mode in response to detecting a change in the operating condition.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the reduced function transmitter device is a Zigbee device.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein the full function receiving device is a Zigbee device.