# US 2016/0366602 A1 · Solar system with redundant data connection > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0366602 A1 - Document ID: US20160366602A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/176,771 - Filed: 2016-06-08 - Published: 2016-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2015-06-09 - Assignees: Vivint Solar, Inc. - Applicants: Vivint Solar, Inc. - Inventors: Daniel Rapp; Willard S. MacDonald; Roger L. Jungerman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160366602A1 ## CPC - H04W 24/04: Arrangements for maintaining operational condition - H04L 45/22: {Alternate routing} - H04W 40/00: Communication routing or communication path finding - H04W 88/16: Gateway arrangements - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract The present disclosure is directed to a methods, devices, and systems communicatively coupling a solar system to a network. A system may include a local router and a solar gateway. The solar gateway may include an interface for coupling to a network via the local router and a long-range module for coupling to the network via at least one other solar gateway. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A solar system, comprising: a local router; and a solar gateway including: an interface for coupling to a network via the local router; and a long-range module for coupling to the network via at least one remote solar gateway. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The solar system of claim 1, wherein the solar gateway further includes a group access point for coupling to the network. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The solar system of claim 2, wherein the group access point comprises a cellular modem. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The solar system of claim 2, wherein the group access point is configured to couple to the network via a cellular carrier. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The solar system of claim 1, wherein the long-range module includes at least one long-range radio. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The solar system of claim 5, wherein the at least one long-range radio comprises at least one 900 MHz wireless radio. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The solar system of claim 1, wherein the at least one long-range module is configured to communicate with the at least one remote solar gateway of another solar system when the connection to the network via the local router is lost. ### Claim 8 A solar system, comprising: a network; and a solar gateway configured to provide a plurality of communication paths between the solar gateway and the network. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The solar system of claim 8, the plurality of communication paths comprising: a first path for coupling to the network via a local router; and a second path for coupling to the network via at least one long-range radio. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The solar system of claim 9, wherein data is conveyed via the second path when connection to the network via the first path is lost. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The solar system of claim 9, the plurality of communication paths further comprising a third path including a group access point for coupling to the network. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The solar system of claim 11, wherein data is conveyed via the third path when all connections to the network via a local router are lost. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The solar system of claim 8, further comprising a group of solar gateways including the solar gateway, wherein less than 5% of solar gateways with the group of solar gateways include a group access point. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The solar system of claim 8, further comprising a local router coupled to the solar gateway via at least one of an Ethernet and a Wi-Fi connection. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The solar system of claim 8, further including at least one additional solar gateway configured to communicate with the solar gateway and the network. ### Claim 16 (depends on 8) The solar system of claim 8, further comprising one or more electrical components coupled to the solar gateway, the solar gateway configured to receive data from the one or more electrical components. ### Claim 17 A method, comprising: conveying data from a solar system to a network via a first communication path; and conveying data from the solar system to the network via a second, different communication path upon failure of the first communication path. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein conveying data from a solar system to a network via a first communication path comprises conveying the data from the solar system to the network via a router local to the solar system. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein conveying data from the solar system to the network via a second, different communication path comprises conveying the data from the solar system to the network via at least one long-radio radio and a router remote from the solar system. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further comprising establishing an agreement between a plurality of parties to enable a first party of the plurality of parties to use a router of at least a second party of the plurality of parties as part of the second, different communication path.