Streetlight-based telecommunications system and support unit for use therein
A telecommunications (telecom) system includes cellular transceivers, a core network, and at least one streetlight-mountable telecom support unit providing communications connectivity between the cellular transceivers and the core network. The cellular transceivers may be mounted to other streetlights. The telecom support unit includes a housing mountable to streetlight, a powerline interface, and a communication interface. The powerline interface is integrated or configured though a boundary structure of the housing and connectable to a complementary powerline interface of the streetlight. The communication interface provides communicative coupling to one or more of the remote cellular transceivers and may be configured through a second boundary structure of the housing. The telecom support unit may also include a clamp configured to enable mechanical coupling of the housing to a support structure of the streetlight. The telecom support unit may further include a microcontroller arranged to control operations of at least the streetlight.
1. A telecommunications system comprising:
a plurality of remote cellular transceivers;
a core network; and
at least one streetlight-mounted telecommunications support unit providing communications connectivity between the plurality of remote cellular transceivers and the core network, each telecommunications support unit including:
a housing mounted to a streetlight;
a first powerline interface configured through a boundary structure of the housing and connected to a second powerline interface of the streetlight, the first powerline interface receiving electrical power from the streetlight through the second powerline interface;
a communication interface communicatively coupled to one or more remote cellular transceivers of the plurality of remote cellular transceivers;
a line-side utility-grade power metering circuit; and
a load-side utility-grade power metering circuit, wherein the line-side utility-grade power metering circuit and load-side utility-grade power metering circuit are arranged to operate concurrently.
2. The telecommunications system of claim 1 , wherein each telecommunications support unit further comprises:
at least one cellular transceiver coupled to the communication interface.
3. The telecommunications system of claim 1 , wherein the communication interface is a high-bandwidth communication interface supporting communications at a data rate of at least ten gigabits per second (10 Gbps).
4. The telecommunications system of claim 1 , wherein each telecommunications support unit is configured as a combined baseband and cellular repeater device.
5. The telecommunications system of claim 1 , wherein each telecommunications support unit is configured as a baseband device or a cellular data repeater device.
6. The telecommunications system of claim 1 , wherein the communication interface is configured through a second boundary structure of the housing.
7. The telecommunications system of claim 1 , wherein each telecommunications support unit further comprises:
a microcontroller arranged to control operations of at least the streetlight to which the housing is mounted.
8. The telecommunications system of claim 1 , wherein each telecommunications support unit further comprises:
a clamp mechanically coupling the housing to a support structure of the streetlight to which the housing is mounted.
9. The telecommunications system of claim 1 , wherein the communication interface is a fiber interface or a wireless interface.
10. A telecommunications support unit comprising:
a housing mountable to a streetlight;
a first powerline interface configured through a boundary structure of the housing and connectable to a second powerline interface of the streetlight;
a communication interface providing communicative coupling to one or more remote cellular transceivers;
a line-side utility-grade power metering circuit; and
a load-side utility-grade power metering circuit, wherein the line-side utility-grade power metering circuit and load-side utility-grade power metering circuit are arranged to operate concurrently.
11. The telecommunications support unit of claim 10 , further comprising:
a clamp configured to enable mechanical coupling of the housing to a support structure of the streetlight.
12. The telecommunications support unit of claim 10 , wherein the communication interface is a high-bandwidth communication interface supporting communications at a data rate of at least ten gigabits per second (10 Gbps).
13. The telecommunications support unit of claim 10 , further comprising:
at least one cellular transceiver coupled to the communication interface.
14. The telecommunications support unit of claim 10 , wherein the housing includes a bottom surface integrated with a top surface by at least one angled wall and wherein the bottom surface has a larger area and profile than the top surface.
15. The telecommunications support unit of claim 10 , wherein the communication interface is configured through a second boundary structure of the housing.
16. The telecommunications support unit of claim 10 , further comprising:
a microcontroller arranged to control operations of at least the streetlight after the housing has been mounted to the streetlight.
17. A method comprising:
establishing a communication link between a telecommunications support unit and at least one cellular transceiver, the telecommunications support unit being mounted to a streetlight and receiving electrical power from the streetlight;
performing, by the telecommunications support unit, line-side utility-grade power metering and load-side utility-grade power metering concurrently; and
bidirectionally communicating cellular data between the telecommunications support unit and the at least one cellular transceiver through the communication link.
18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
establishing a second communication link between the telecommunications support unit and a core network to support communications between the core network and the at least one cellular transceiver.
19. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
establishing a second communication link between the telecommunications support unit and a second telecommunications support unit mounted to a second streetlight.