IP Library Granted Patent US 11,444,368
Granted Patent B2
US 11,444,368 · App. 17/162,750 · Granted Sep 13, 2022

Systems of 5G-enabled integrated roofing accessories and mehtods of use thereof

Inventors: Rich Robinson (Round Rock, TX); Xavier Riley (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: BMIC LLC
H01Q1/22H01Q21/065H01Q21/28
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,444,368
App. No.
17/162,750
Granted
Sep 13, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

In some embodiments, systems and methods are configured to determine that a signal strength of a fifth generation cellular networking (5G) protocol communication is below a threshold strength value. The 5G protocol communication includes a millimeter wave (mmWave) frequency transmission between a computing device and a first integrated roofing accessory of a first roof. It is determined that a second integrated roofing accessory of a second roof would have an improved signal strength is indicative of a better line of sight to the computing device, and the first integrated roofing accessory and the second integrated roofing accessory are part of a 5G network. At least one of transferring the 5G protocol communication to the second integrated roofing accessory from the first integrated roofing accessory of the first roof, or including the second integrated roofing accessory into the 5G protocol communication with the computing device is performed.

Claims (51)

1. A method comprising:

determining, by at least one processor, that a signal strength of a fifth generation cellular networking (5G) protocol communication is below a threshold strength value, wherein the 5G protocol communication comprises a millimeter wave (mmWave) frequency transmission between a computing device and a first integrated roofing accessory of a first roof;

determining, by the at least one processor, that a second integrated roofing accessory of a second roof would have an improved signal strength of the 5G protocol communication relative to the signal strength of the 5G protocol communication;

wherein the improved signal strength is indicative of a better line of sight to the computing device;

wherein the first integrated roofing accessory and the second integrated roofing accessory are part of a 5G network; and

at least one of:

transferring, by the at least one processor, the 5G protocol communication with the computing device to the second integrated roofing accessory of the second roof from the first integrated roofing accessory of the first roof, or

including, by the at least one processor, the second integrated roofing accessory of the second roof into the 5G protocol communication with the computing device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first integrated roofing accessory further comprises at least one dielectric antenna extending above the first roof.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first integrated roofing accessory further comprises a shingle having at least one antenna.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining, by the at least one processor, stored data associated with the computing device, wherein the stored data is stored in a memory of the first integrated roofing accessory; and

enabling, by the at least one processor, sharing of the stored data between the first integrated roofing accessory and the second integrated roofing accessory upon determining that the second integrated roofing accessory has the improved signal strength.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, by the at least one processor, at least one compute task from the computing device; and

instructing, by the at least one processor, at least one compute resource to execute the at least one compute task, wherein the at least one compute resource is integrated with at least one of:

the first integrated roofing accessory, or

the second integrated roofing accessory.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is integrated with at least one of:

the first integrated roofing accessory, or

the second integrated roofing accessory.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is a part of the computing device.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first integrated roofing accessory comprises a software-defined radio.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising administering, by the at least one processor, the first integrated roofing accessory and the second integrated roofing accessory to form a mesh network of a plurality of integrated roofing accessories.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising routing, via the first integrated roofing accessory, the second integrated roofing accessory or both, by the at least one processor, the 5G protocol communication to a backhaul network for connection to the Internet.

11. A system comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one non-transitory computer readable medium storing software instructions, configured to be executed by the at least one processor, wherein upon execution of the software instruction, the at least one processor is configured to:

determine that a signal strength of a fifth generation cellular networking (5G) protocol communication is below a threshold strength value, wherein the 5G protocol communication comprises a millimeter wave (mmWave) frequency transmission between a computing device and a first integrated roofing accessory of a first roof;

determine that a second integrated roofing accessory of a second roof would have an improved signal strength of the 5G protocol communication relative to the signal strength of the 5G protocol communication;

wherein the improved signal strength is indicative of a better line of sight to the computing device;

wherein the first integrated roofing accessory and the second integrated roofing accessory are part of a 5G network; and

at least one of:

transfer the 5G protocol communication with the computing device to the second integrated roofing accessory of the second roof from the first integrated roofing accessory of the first roof, or include the second integrated roofing accessory of the second roof into the 5G protocol communication with the computing device.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first integrated roofing accessory further comprises at least one dielectric antenna extending above the first roof.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first integrated roofing accessory further comprises a shingle having at least one antenna.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein upon execution of the software instruction, the at least one processor is further configured to:

determine stored data associated with the computing device, wherein the stored data is stored in a memory of the first integrated roofing accessory; and

enable sharing of the stored data between the first integrated roofing accessory and the second integrated roofing accessory upon determining that the second integrated roofing accessory has the improved signal strength.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein upon execution of the software instruction, the at least one processor is further configured to:

receive at least one compute task from the computing device; and

instruct at least one compute resource to execute the at least one compute task, wherein the at least one compute resource is integrated with at least one of:

the first integrated roofing accessory, or

the second integrated roofing accessory.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one processor is integrated with at least one of:

the first integrated roofing accessory, or

the second integrated roofing accessory.

17. The system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one processor is a part of the computing device.

18. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first integrated roofing accessory comprises a software-defined radio.

19. The system of claim 11 , wherein upon execution of the software instruction, the at least one processor is further configured to administer the first integrated roofing accessory and the second integrated roofing accessory to form a mesh network of a plurality of integrated roofing accessories.

20. The system of claim 11 , wherein upon execution of the software instruction, the at least one processor is further configured to route, via the first integrated roofing accessory, the second integrated roofing accessory or both, the 5G protocol communication to a backhaul network for connection to the Internet.

Assignments (3)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 23, 2021
From: BMIC LLC; ELKCORP; ELK COMPOSITE BUILDING PRODUCTS, INC.; ELK PREMIUM BUILDING PRODUCTS, INC.; HBP ACQUISITION LLC; GAF ENERGY LLC; SIPLAST, INC.; SPECIALTY GRANULES INVESTMENTS LLC
To: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH
Reel/Frame 057572/0607 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 24, 2021
From: BUILDING MATERIALS INVESTMENT CORPORATION
To: BMIC LLC
Reel/Frame 057292/0184 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 15, 2021
From: ROBINSON, RICH; RILEY, XAVIER
To: BUILDING MATERIALS INVESTMENT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 055599/0039 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 17013468 · Sep 4, 2020
Related Publication 20220077564A1 · Mar 10, 2022