# US 8,787,896 B2 · Remote site telecom equipment communication > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,787,896 B2 - Document ID: US8787896B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/687,853 - Filed: 2012-11-28 - Published: 2013-04-11 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2005-08-12 - Assignees: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. - Applicants: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. - Inventors: Eugene L. Edmon - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8787896B2 ## CPC - H04W 52/0203: {in the radio access network or backbone network of wireless communication networks} - 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 - H04Q 2209/43: using wireless personal area networks [WPAN], e.g. 802.15, 802.15.1, 802.15.4, Bluetooth® or Zigbee® - H04Q 2209/86: Performing a diagnostic of the sensing device - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H04Q: SELECTING (switches, relays, selectors H01H; wireless communication networks H04W) ## 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 ### Claim 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The switch of claim 1, further comprising a processor to process the status signal at the communication interface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The switch of claim 1, wherein the transmitter device initiates transmission responsive to a change in the operating condition. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) 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. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The switch of claim 1, wherein the transmitter device is a transceiver. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The switch of claim 1, wherein the receiving device is a transceiver. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The switch of claim 6, wherein the receiving device is a full function device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The switch of claim 1 wherein the transmitting device randomly initiates communication with the receiving device. ### Claim 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. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising processing the converter signal at the communication interface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 wherein wirelessly transmitting the converter signal initiates upon a change in the operating condition. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) 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. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the wireless transmitter is a transceiver. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the wireless receiving device is a transceiver. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the wireless receiving device is a full function device. ### Claim 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. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16 wherein the reduced function transmitter device is a Zigbee device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16 wherein the full function receiving device is a Zigbee device.