Premises Communication Hub With Backup Power and Failover Routing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing network communication systems at premises face challenges in maintaining reliable communication, particularly for sensitive communications like life safety alerts, during power or network outages, due to reliance on wireless routers that cease operation during such events.

Innovation Solution

A premises communication hub with dual communication and power modules, including a primary and secondary module, ensures continuous communication by switching to backup systems when primary power or network fails, using a supervision module to monitor and switch communication paths.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a wireless router is used to channel premise device communications for protocol compatibility, then communication protocol compatibility is improved, but reliability during power or network outages deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication protocol compatibilityVSAvoidcommunication reliability during power or network outages
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a premises communication hub as an intermediary device between premises devices and the wireless router. This hub receives communications from premises devices, performs protocol translation and routing functions, and maintains a direct connection to the remote server, thereby mediating the communication path to ensure both protocol compatibility and reliable operation during outages

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the communication system into distinct functional components: the premises communication hub handles protocol translation and routing, while the wireless router handles only wireless connectivity. This segmentation allows the hub to operate independently with its own power supply, ensuring that critical communication functions remain operational even when the wireless router fails during power or network outages

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If standard network communication protocols are implemented through a wireless router, then device interoperability is improved, but life safety communication reliability during outages deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice interoperabilityVSAvoidlife safety communication reliability during outages
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by equipping the premises communication hub with an independent power supply system that operates autonomously of the main premises power. The hub is pre-configured with backup power capabilities and maintains a direct communication path to the remote server, ensuring that life safety communications can be transmitted even before utility power fails or during the transition period after failure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The premises communication hub serves as a dedicated intermediary for life safety communications, receiving alerts from life safety devices, translating protocols as needed, and transmitting directly to the remote server. This intermediary function isolates critical life safety communications from the wireless router, which ceases operation during outages, thereby ensuring continuous reliable transmission

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4275331B1Premises communication hub
Publication Date: 2026.04.15 RESIDEO LLC
  • EP4275331B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4275331B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4275331B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A premises communication hub includes a primary communications module, a secondary communications module, a power supply, and a charging module. The primary communications module is configured to receive a premises signal from a premises device and transmit an external signal to a remote server. The secondary communications module is configured to receive the premises signal from the premises device and transmit the external signal to the remote server. The power supply includes a primary power input configured to receive power from a primary power source and a secondary power input configured to receive power from a secondary power source. The power supply is electrically connected to the primary communications module and the secondary communications module. And, the charging module is electrically connected to the secondary power source and configured to recharge the secondary power source.