EP-4740367-A1 - INTELLIGENT EDGE CONVERGENCE SYSTEM

Abstract

An intelligent consolidated enclosure system is provided that includes a plurality of spaced edge convergence points positioned within a building. Each edge convergence point is located in an associated unique location within the building to provide services to the unique associated location. Each edge convergence point includes an edge convergence switch and an intelligent control board (ICB). The edge convergence switch is coupled to a plurality of the powered network devices providing services with the associated unique location. The ICB is coupled to the edge convergence switch and a central power supply. The ICB is configured to manage power distribution and monitoring for the associated plurality of the powered network devices.

Inventors

• GERMAN, MICHAEL GREGORY
• DAVIS, Ronna Ellen
• HOPKINSON, WAYNE
• BAUTISTA, Jason
• EASTHAM, Thomas

Assignees

• CommScope Technologies LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260513

Application Date

20240627

Claims (20)

1. 1. An intelligent edge convergence system comprising: a plurality of spaced edge convergence points, each edge convergence point located in an associated unique location within a building to provide services to the unique associated location, each edge convergence point including, an edge convergence switch coupled to a plurality of powered network devices providing services within the associated unique location; and an intelligent control board (ICB) coupled to the edge convergence switch, the ICB coupled to a central power supply, the ICB configured to manage power distribution and monitoring for the associated plurality of the powered network devices.
2. 2. The intelligent edge convergence system of claim 1, wherein the ICB is further configured to identify each powered network device coupled to the edge convergence switch of an associated edge convergence point and manage routing and powering of each powered network device.
3. 3. The intelligent edge convergence system of claim 2, wherein the central power supply comprises: a power transmitter; and power distribution panel coupled the power transmitter.
4. 4. The intelligent edge convergence system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of powered network devices include at least one of an information technology device and an operational technology device.
5. 5. The intelligent edge convergence system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of powered network devices include at least one of a light sensor, a light control, an internet of things (IOU) sensor, a temperature control, an image capture device, an image control device, a telephone, a wireless communication access point, a local hardwired computer, and a WiFi access point.
6. 6. The intelligent edge convergence system of claim 1, further comprising: a separable power backplane coupling power from the central power supply to the ICB of an associated edge convergence point.
7. 7. The intelligent edge convergence system of claim 1, further wherein each edge convergence point is coupled to at least one powered network device with hybrid cabling that includes optical cabling and copper cabling.
8. 8. The intelligent edge convergence system of claim 1, further wherein the edge convergence switch of each edge convergence point is a power over Ethernet (PoE) switch that couples the power to each of the plurality of the powered network devices.
9. 9. The intelligent edge convergence system of claim 1, further wherein each ICB is configured to at least one of monitor and control temperature, fan speed, and fan spin efficiency to achieve a desired environmental condition within an associate edge convergence point.
10. 10. The intelligent edge convergence system of claim 1, wherein each ICB is programmed with at least one of an identification of an edge convergence point, an IP address, indoor location coordinate, incoming cable identification, unique serial identification, serial identification of each edge convergence switch in an associated edge convergence point, and each receiver/transmitter serial number in the associated edge convergence point.
11. 11. The intelligent edge convergence system of claim 1, wherein each ICB is configured to monitor at least one of temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide, moisture level within the associated unique location of the building, and air-quality.
12. 12. The intelligent edge convergence system of claim 1, wherein the ICB is configured to determine operating and environmental information that includes at least one of network connectivity information, power distribution and usage information, power loss information, temperature information, humidity information, carbon dioxide information and, air-quality information, the ICB further configured to communicate the determined operating and environmental information to a remote location where the operating and environmental information is automatically added to a building digital twin.
13. 13. A method of defining end-to-end power in a data and voltage network in a building with an intelligent edge convergence system, the method comprising: identifying a channel that is powering an intelligent control board (ICB) of an edge convergence point of a plurality of edge convergence points; identifying powered network devices coupled to ports of at least one edge convergence switch in the edge convergence point of the plurality edge convergence points with the ICB; and managing a routing of data and power at the edge convergence point of the plurality of edge convergence points with the ICB based on the identified channel that is powering the ICB and the identified powered network devices coupled to ports of the at least one edge convergence switch.
14. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein identifying the channel that is powering the ICB is done with a power test pattern generated by power sourcing equipment of the edge convergence point of the plurality of edge convergence points.
15. 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the ICB identifies powered network devices coupled to ports of the at least one edge convergence switch by receiving information directly from the at least one edge convergence switch.
16. 16. The method of claim 13, further comprising: determining at least one of power usage and power loss at each connection point in the defined end-to-end power in the data and voltage network.
17. 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising; communicating the determined at least one of power usage and power loss at each connection point in the defined end-to-end power in the data and voltage network to a remote location.
18. 18. A method of defining an end-to-end data connectivity in a data and voltage network in a building with an intelligent edge convergence system, the method comprising: determining network switch information with communications from an intelligent control board (ICB) within an edge convergence point; and determining connectivity between switch ports of at least one switch in a main equipment room and switch ports of at least one edge convergence switch in the edge convergence point.
19. 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising: using at least one of a command line interface (CLI), an application programming interface (API) or a simple network management protocol (SNMP) interface to determine connectivity between switch ports of the at least one switch in the equipment room and switch ports of the at least one edge convergence point switch.
20. 20. The method of claim 18, further comprising: performing a time domain reflectometer (TDR) test to determine connectivity at switch ports of at least one convergence switch to determine cable length information.

Description

INTELLIGENT EDGE CONVERGENCE SYSTEM CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This Application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 63/512,241, same title herewith, filed on July 6, 2023, which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference. BACKGROUND [0002] Buildings may incorporate a distributed cabling system to provide services and monitoring functions in different areas of the building. Examples of monitoring functions include fire sensors, moisture sensors, temperature sensors, CO2 sensors, etc. Examples of systems to provide services to an area of a building are lights, WiFi access, a distributed antenna system (DAS), etc. A DAS is commonly used to provide enhanced cellular phone coverage in indoor environments that frequently have insufficient coverage from outdoor cellular base stations due to increased signal attenuation caused by building structures. A DAS system is commonly comprised of multiple radio antennas that are distributed throughout the building. A base station downlink wireless signal may be captured and distributed by cables to the multiple radio antennas of the DAS which then retransmits the signal within the building. Likewise for the cellular uplink, the distributed radio antennas capture the uplink wireless signal from user equipment, such as mobile phones and these signals are amplified and routed by the cables back to the base station receiver equipment. In some implementations the distribution is achieved between the radio antennas and the base station equipment using electrical signals on electrically conductive cables either as RF or digital signals. In other implementations distribution is achieved between the radio antennas and the base station equipment using optical signals carried on optical fiber cables. [0003] Distributed hybrid cabling systems through the building may provide data communications and power delivery to devices that provide the service and monitoring functions in the different areas of the building. Hybrid cabling includes an optical cable (or fiber) for data and a copper cable to deliver power and data. Modem buildings benefit from monitoring power usage. Monitoring power usage allows for a power system to direct power to needed areas within a building and also can provide an indication that there may be an issue in an area of the building. [0004] For the reasons stated above and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for effective and efficient manner to monitor power usages and data connections within a building. SUMMARY [0005] The following summary is made by way of example and not by way of limitation. It is merely provided to aid the reader in understanding some of the aspects of the subject matter described. Embodiments provide an intelligent edge convergence system for distribution, monitoring and management of power and data connections. [0006] In one example, an intelligent edge convergence system that includes a plurality of spaced edge convergence points is provided. Each edge convergence point is located in an associated unique location within a building to provide services to the unique associated location. Each edge convergence point includes an edge convergence switch and an ICB. The edge convergence switch is coupled to a plurality of powered network devices that provide services within the associated unique location. The ICB is coupled to the edge convergence switch. The ICB is also coupled to a central power supply. The ICB is configured to manage power distribution and monitoring for the associated plurality of the powered network devices. [0007] In another example, a method of defining end-to-end power in a data and voltage network in a building with an intelligent edge convergence system is provided. The method includes identifying a channel that is powering an ICB of an edge convergence point of a plurality of edge convergence points; identifying powered network devices coupled to ports of at least one edge convergence switch in the edge convergence point of the plurality edge convergence points with the ICB; and managing a routing of data and power at the edge convergence point of the plurality of edge convergence points with the ICB based on the identified channel that is powering the ICB and the identified powered network devices coupled to ports of the at least one edge convergence switch. [0008] In yet another example, a method of defining an end-to-end data connectivity in a data and voltage network in a building with an intelligent edge convergence system is provided. The method includes determining network switch information with communications from an ICB within an edge convergence point; and determining connectivity between switch ports of at least one power distribution panel switch in a main equipment room and switch ports of at least one edge convergenc