Network Power Switching Using User Premises Backup Supply
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Solution Overview
Problem
Information delivery networks face interruptions due to power outages from regional issues or grid failures, as traditional backup batteries provide limited power and are quickly drained, leading to service disruptions.
Innovation Solution
Active components in the network can determine to receive electric power from user premises, using a controller to manage power input based on cost, availability, and source, including renewable energy, and communicate with other devices to optimize power flow and reduce dependence on the grid.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If backup batteries are used to power active components during grid outages, then service continuity is maintained for a limited time, but the batteries drain quickly and provide only temporary relief
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple power sources (grid power, user premises power, and battery backup) into a unified power supply system. The active component can draw power from any available source, merging the capabilities of separate power systems to ensure continuous operation during grid outages without rapid battery depletion.
Solution Approach 2:
The active component is designed with multi-functional power input capabilities, able to accept power from the grid, user premises with renewable sources, or battery backup. This universal power acceptance resolves the contradiction by providing multiple pathways for power supply, extending operational duration beyond what a single battery system could provide.
2Reliability
If active components continuously draw power from the grid, then power supply is reliable when available, but the network is vulnerable to regional outages and grid failures
Solution Approach 1:
The power input path selection is made dynamic rather than static. The active component can adaptively switch between different power sources based on real-time conditions such as grid availability, user premises power generation, and battery status. This dynamic adaptability resolves the contradiction by maintaining reliability through flexible response to changing power supply conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters by switching power input paths based on external conditions. When grid power becomes unavailable or when renewable power from user premises is available, the system changes the power source parameter to maintain continuous operation, thus resolving the vulnerability to grid failures while maintaining supply reliability.
3Device complexity
If batteries are used as the sole backup power source, then the system has simple architecture, but the limited power capacity causes quick drainage and service interruption
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than relying solely on batteries, the patent merges the battery backup with user premises power capability. This combination creates a more robust backup system that extends service continuity during outages while maintaining relatively simple architecture by utilizing existing user premises infrastructure for additional power support.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems are disclosed for leveraging user premises supplied electric power to power active components in an information delivery network. In response to one or more conditions, an active component may switch an input power path from using grid-supplied or battery power to draw power from a user premises. The decision to switch the power path may be based on a number of conditions, for example, whether power is available from the grid, the relative cost of power from the user premises and whether the power from the user premises includes power from a renewable source.