IP Library Granted Patent US 12,494,304
Granted Patent B2
US 12,494,304 · App. 18/223,489 · Granted Dec 9, 2025

System and method for providing signaling over a conductive material in a cable

Inventors: Anno van den Akker (Shaker Heights, OH); Wilson Ives (Los Angeles, CA); David Elliott (Salt Lake City, UT); Joshua S. Salazar (Los Angeles, CA)
Assignee: Space Exploration Technologies Corp.
H01B11/06H01B7/02H01B7/282H01B7/29H01B7/32
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,494,304
App. No.
18/223,489
Granted
Dec 9, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods for using the shield of a cable for communication are disclosed. An example system includes a first electronic device, a second electronic device and a cable coupled to the first electronic device and to the second electronic device and having a conductive material independent of at least one communication line. The first electronic device and the second electronic device can be configured to communicate using a first communication protocol via the at least one communication line and using a second communication protocol via the conductive material. Communications using the second communication protocol can include a feedback signal to indicate a status of at least one of the first electronic device or the second electronic device. The first electronic device can be a user terminal configured to communicate wirelessly with a satellite, and the second electronic device can be a router configured to communicate with at least one user device.

Claims (33)

1 . A system for communications, the system comprising:

a first electronic device;

a second electronic device; and

a cable coupled to the first electronic device and to the second electronic device and having a conductive material independent of at least one communication line,

wherein the first electronic device and the second electronic device are configured to communicate using a first communication protocol via the at least one communication line and using a second communication protocol via the conductive material, wherein communications using the second communication protocol include a signal to indicate a status of at least one of the first electronic device or the second electronic device.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first electronic device is a user terminal configured to communicate wirelessly with a satellite, and the second electronic device is a router configured to communicate with at least one user device.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the first electronic device or the second electronic device is configured to go to an idle state in response to the feedback signal.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the feedback signal includes a time for the at least one of the first electronic device or the second electronic device to remain in the idle state.

5 . The system of claim 3 , wherein:

the feedback signal includes a first signal and a signal transmitted after the first signal;

the at least one of the first electronic device or the second electronic device is configured to go to the idle state in response to the first signal; and

the at least one of the first electronic device or the second electronic device is configured to exit the idle state in response to a second signal.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the second communication protocol comprises an analog communication protocol.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the first communication protocol includes a digital communication protocol.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the feedback signal indicates at least one of a temperature status, motion status, humidity status, a power status, or an operating status of at least one of the first electronic device or the second electronic device.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the cable is an ethernet cable.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the conductive material comprises a shield.

11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one communication line is configured to transmit a data signal and a power signal.

12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one communication line comprises at least one of multiple twisted pairs of communication lines or multiple differential pairs of communication lines.

13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the cable includes a dielectric insulator located between the at least one communication line and the conductive material.

14 . A system for communications, the system comprising:

a first electronic device;

a second electronic device; and

a cable coupled to the first electronic device and to the second electronic device and having at least one communication line and a conducting material,

wherein the first electronic device and the second electronic device are configured to communicate using a first communication protocol via the at least one communication line and using a second communication protocol via the conducting material, the second communication protocol being different than the first communication protocol, wherein communications using the second communication protocol include a signal to indicate a status of at least one of the first electronic device or the second electronic device.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the first electronic device is a user terminal configured to communicate wirelessly with a satellite, and the second electronic device is a router configured to communicate with at least one user device.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein at least one of the first electronic device or the second electronic device is configured to go to an idle state in response to the feedback signal.

17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the feedback signal includes a time for the at least one of the first electronic device or the second electronic device to remain in the idle state.

18 . A system for communications, the system comprising:

a first electronic device;

a second electronic device; and

a cable coupled to the first electronic device and to the second electronic device and having at least one communication line and a conducting material,

wherein the first electronic device and the second electronic device are configured to communicate data using a first communication protocol via the at least one communication line and to communicate feedback data regarding a connection between the first electronic device and the second electronic device using a second communication protocol via the conducting material, the second communication protocol being different than the first communication protocol.

Assignments (2)
CERTIFICATE OF CONVERSION (STATE OF DELAWARE TO STATE OF TEXAS; NEW FILE NO.: 805421124; FILED: 02-14-2024) Recorded Mar 7, 2025
From: SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
To: SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
Reel/Frame 070445/0375 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 6, 2023
From: VAN DEN AKKER, ANNO; IVES, WILSON; ELLIOTT, DAVID; SALAZAR, JOSHUA S.
To: SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
Reel/Frame 065145/0888 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63391666 · Jul 22, 2022
Related Publication 20240029921A1 · Jan 25, 2024
References Cited (2)
US 5808371A · Kon'i · 1998 [cited by examiner]
US 10276280B1 · Lewis, Sr. · 2019 [cited by examiner]