SOLAR SYSTEM WITH REDUNDANT DATA CONNECTION
The present disclosure is directed to a methods, devices, and systems communicatively coupling a solar system to a network. A system may include a local router and a solar gateway. The solar gateway may include an interface for coupling to a network via the local router and a long-range module for coupling to the network via at least one other solar gateway.
1 . A solar system, comprising:
a local router; and
a solar gateway including:
an interface for coupling to a network via the local router; and
a long-range module for coupling to the network via at least one remote solar gateway.
2 . The solar system of claim 1 , wherein the solar gateway further includes a group access point for coupling to the network.
3 . The solar system of claim 2 , wherein the group access point comprises a cellular modem.
4 . The solar system of claim 2 , wherein the group access point is configured to couple to the network via a cellular carrier.
5 . The solar system of claim 1 , wherein the long-range module includes at least one long-range radio.
6 . The solar system of claim 5 , wherein the at least one long-range radio comprises at least one 900 MHz wireless radio.
7 . The solar system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one long-range module is configured to communicate with the at least one remote solar gateway of another solar system when the connection to the network via the local router is lost.
8 . A solar system, comprising:
a network; and
a solar gateway configured to provide a plurality of communication paths between the solar gateway and the network.
9 . The solar system of claim 8 , the plurality of communication paths comprising:
a first path for coupling to the network via a local router; and
a second path for coupling to the network via at least one long-range radio.
10 . The solar system of claim 9 , wherein data is conveyed via the second path when connection to the network via the first path is lost.
11 . The solar system of claim 9 , the plurality of communication paths further comprising a third path including a group access point for coupling to the network.
12 . The solar system of claim 11 , wherein data is conveyed via the third path when all connections to the network via a local router are lost.
13 . The solar system of claim 8 , further comprising a group of solar gateways including the solar gateway, wherein less than 5% of solar gateways with the group of solar gateways include a group access point.
14 . The solar system of claim 8 , further comprising a local router coupled to the solar gateway via at least one of an Ethernet and a Wi-Fi connection.
15 . The solar system of claim 8 , further including at least one additional solar gateway configured to communicate with the solar gateway and the network.
16 . The solar system of claim 8 , further comprising one or more electrical components coupled to the solar gateway, the solar gateway configured to receive data from the one or more electrical components.
17 . A method, comprising:
conveying data from a solar system to a network via a first communication path; and
conveying data from the solar system to the network via a second, different communication path upon failure of the first communication path.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein conveying data from a solar system to a network via a first communication path comprises conveying the data from the solar system to the network via a router local to the solar system.
19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein conveying data from the solar system to the network via a second, different communication path comprises conveying the data from the solar system to the network via at least one long-radio radio and a router remote from the solar system.
20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising establishing an agreement between a plurality of parties to enable a first party of the plurality of parties to use a router of at least a second party of the plurality of parties as part of the second, different communication path.