# US 10,313,533 B2 · Power distribution for telecommunications system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,313,533 B2 - Document ID: US10313533B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/386,755 - Filed: 2013-02-27 - Published: 2015-03-12 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2012-03-20 - Assignees: British Telecommunications public limited company - Applicants: BRITISH TELECOMMUNICATIONS public limited company - Inventors: Nicholas Hector Edwards; Ian Robert Cooper - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10313533B2 ## CPC - H04M 19/001: {Current supply source at the exchanger providing current to substations} - H04B 3/46: Monitoring; Testing - H04L 12/10: Current supply arrangements - H04L 12/2869: {Operational details of access network equipments (admission control or resource allocation in access networks H04L12/5692)} - Y04S 40/00: Systems for electrical power generation, transmission, distribution or end-user application management characterised by the use of communication or information technologies, or communication or information technology specific aspects supporting them - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - Y04S: SYSTEMS INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO POWER NETWORK OPERATION, COMMUNICATION OR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVING THE ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION, MANAGEMENT OR USAGE, i.e. SMART GRIDS ## Abstract A communications connection comprises intermediate connection points (6,11) connected by a non-conducting communications link (20), with conversion equipment in one or both intermediate points for converting communications between electrical and non-electrical carriers, and each being arranged to be powered from the respective ends (1, 12). If a metallic path (18) is present between the two intermediate points, the system can be arranged to use this for a limited connection service in the event of loss of electrical power to one or both of the intermediate points (6,11). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A communications connection within a telecommunications access network comprising: a first intermediate connection point, a second intermediate connection point remote from the first intermediate connection point, and a non-conducting communications link between the first intermediate point and the second intermediate point; the first intermediate connection point being connectable by way of a first conducting link to a telephone network connection point and the second intermediate connection point being connectable by a plurality of second conducting links to a plurality of remote customer premises installations, at least one of the first and second intermediate connection points having conversion equipment for converting transmissions between electrical signals carried over its respective conducting link, and a non-electrical signal carried over the non-conducting link; and the respective first and second conversion equipments being electrically powered, and having respective power conversion equipment for receiving electrical power delivered over the respective conducting links from the telephone network connection point and the customer premises installations. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The communications connection according to claim 1, wherein: the first intermediate connection point is connectable by way of a first conducting link to a telephone network connection point; and the second intermediate connection point being connectable by a plurality of second conducting links to a plurality of customer premises installations suitable to form communications connections between the telephone network connection point and the customer premises installations. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The communications connection according to claim 1, wherein the non-conducting communications link is a wireless communications link. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The communications connection according to claim 1, wherein the non-conducting communications link is an optical fibre link. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The communications connection according to claim 1, wherein: the first intermediate connection point serves several connections, each having its own respective first conducting link, and power can be delivered from the telephone network connection point to the first intermediate connection point over any one or more of the conducting links to operate the first conversion equipment. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The communications connection according to claim 1, wherein power is only drawn from customer premises links currently carrying communications traffic. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The communications connection according to claim 5, wherein the power conversion equipment can be controlled to maintain the overall voltage level on each line within predetermined limits, dependant on traffic carried on the respective connections. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The communications connection according to claim 1, wherein: there is provided an intermediate conducting connection between the first intermediate connection point and second intermediate connection point, and provision is made to carry communications services over the intermediate conducting connection. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The communications connection according to claim 8, having a detection system to detect failure to the power supply to the first or second intermediate connection points, and to divert communications over the intermediate conducting connection. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The communications connection according to claim 1, wherein: a wireless communication link is provided between the first intermediate point and the second intermediate point as the non-conducting communications link between the first intermediate point and the second intermediate point; and a wired connection link is also provided between the first intermediate connection point and the second intermediate connection point. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The communications connection according to claim 1, wherein: a fiber optic link is provided between the first intermediate point and the second intermediate as the non-conducting communications link between the first intermediate connection point and the second intermediate connection point; and a wired connection link is also provided between the first intermediate point and the second intermediate point. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The communications connection according to claim 1, wherein: a wired connection link is provided between the first intermediate connection point and the second intermediate connection point; and a relay provides an electrical connection between the first conducting link and the wired connection link in the event of loss of power being detected.