Cell site audit and inspection systems and methods related to battery and equipment connections

{
  "publication_number": "US10497112B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Cell site audit and inspection systems and methods related to battery and equipment connections",
  "abstract": "A method of verifying battery and/or equipment connections in a telecommunications site includes performing maintenance or installation of one or more components in a shelter associated with the telecommunication site; subsequent to the maintenance or installation, adding a torque mark to each connection associated with the one or more components; verifying the torque mark for each connection as part of a close-out audit; and verifying the torque mark at a subsequent time after the close-out audit to verify each connection is properly torqued.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A method of verifying an appropriate tightness of a connection, the method comprising the steps of: installing or performing maintenance on a telecommunications component in a shelter associated with a telecommunications site; tightening a connector for making a connection in association with the telecommunications component; adding a torque mark to at least the connector to visually indicate an appropriate torque associated with the connection; performing a close-out audit that includes at least a verification that the torque mark visually indicates a properly torqued connection; and performing a second audit subsequent to the close-out audit to determine if there is a problem with the connection.",
    "2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: detecting if the torque mark is broken, is no longer intact, has been removed, or has fallen off; and if so, adjusting the connection to the appropriate torque.",
    "3. The method of claim 1, wherein the torque mark comprises paint of a distinct color different from the connection.",
    "4. The method of claim 1, wherein the connection comprises any of a battery/terminal connection, a rack bolt connection to a structure, and cable connections.",
    "5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of performing the second audit is performed remotely by viewing photos of the connection to determine if there is a problem with the connection.",
    "6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of performing the second audit is performed remotely and is based on a virtual site survey.",
    "7. The method of claim 6, wherein the virtual site survey comprises: obtaining video capture of the component; processing the video capture to define a three-dimensional (3D) model of the component; and verifying the torque mark from the 3D model to determine if there is a problem with the connection.",
    "8. The method of claim 1, wherein the close-out audit comprises: obtaining video capture of the component; and processing the video capture to verify that the torque mark visually indicates a properly torqued connection.",
    "9. The method of claim 1, wherein the component is an electrical component and the connection is a physical and electrical connection.",
    "10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining if there is a problem with the connection further includes verifying whether the connection remains properly torqued.",
    "11. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of adding the torque mark includes applying the torque mark to the connector and at least one additional component located adjacent to the connector when the connector is tightened to make the connection.",
    "12. The method of claim 1, wherein the component includes a battery configured to provide backup power to the telecommunications site.",
    "13. The method of claim 1, wherein the connector includes at least one security screw.",
    "14. A system comprising: a telecommunications component installed in a shelter associated with a telecommunications site; a connector configured to form a connection in association with the telecommunications component; and a torque mark applied over at least the connector; wherein the torque mark is configured to provide visual confirmation that the connector has been properly torqued to form the connection; wherein, during a close-out audit, the torque mark is verified to indicate a properly torqued connection; and wherein, during a second audit subsequent to the close-out audit, the torque mark is verified to determine if the connector remains properly torqued.",
    "15. The system of claim 14, wherein the torque mark comprises paint of a distinct color different from the connector.",
    "16. The system of claim 14, wherein the component is an electrical component and the connection is a physical and electrical connection.",
    "17. The system of claim 14, wherein the component includes a battery configured to provide backup power to the telecommunications site.",
    "18. The system of claim 17, wherein the torque mark includes paint, ink, tape, wax, or silicon and covers the connector, a battery terminal of the battery, and a terminal plate to which the battery terminal is connected.",
    "19. The system of claim 17, wherein the connection is a connection between the battery and a battery terminal, a connection between a bracket and a housing for securing the battery, or a connection between battery cables.",
    "20. The system of claim 14, wherein the connector includes at least one security screw."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "Filing Date Serial No. Title May 31, 2016 15/168,503 VIRTUALIZED SITE SURVEY SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CELL SITES Jul. 15, 2016 15/211,483 CLOSE-OUT AUDIT SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CELL SITE INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE Jun. 20, 2017 15/628,070 BATTERY INSTALLATION WITH SECURITY SCREWS FOR THEFT DETERRENCE IN CELL SITE SHELTERS AND THE LIKE Jul. 28, 2016 15/221,866 BATTERY INSTALLATION IMPROVEMENT APPARATUS AND METHOD IN CELL SITE SHELTERS AND THE LIKE\n\nThe present disclosure generally relates to cell site audit and inspection systems and methods. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to cell site audit and inspection systems and methods related to battery and equipment connections.\n\nDue to the geographic coverage nature of wireless service, there are hundreds of thousands of cell towers in the United States. With over 200,000 cell sites in the U.S., geographically distributed everywhere, installation and maintenance at cell sites can be expensive, time-consuming, and complex. For example, cell sites include a shelter or cabinet located proximate to the cell tower. For network availability, the shelter or cabinet includes a battery backup for power redundancy when a primary power source is unavailable, such as commercial power. For example, depending on configuration, the battery backup may include 4, 8, 16, 48, etc. batteries which each can weigh several hundred pounds. The installation/removal process such batteries is labor intensive and slow. It would be advantageous to provide a battery installation improvement apparatus and method in cell site shelters and the like to address the labor intensity and speed.",
  "cpc": [
    "G06T 7/001",
    "B64C 2201/042",
    "B64C 2201/06",
    "B64C 2201/108",
    "B64C 2201/127",
    "B64C 2201/141",
    "B64C 39/024",
    "B64D 47/08",
    "B64U 20/87",
    "B64U 2101/30",
    "B64U 2201/10",
    "G06T 2200/04",
    "G06T 2200/08",
    "G06T 2207/10028",
    "G06T 2207/10032",
    "G06T 2207/30184",
    "G06T 2207/30204",
    "G06T 7/0008",
    "G06T 7/337",
    "G06T 7/55",
    "H04W 16/20",
    "H04W 16/225"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B64U 20/87",
    "G06T 7/00",
    "B64D 47/08",
    "G06K 9/00",
    "G06T 7/33",
    "G06T 7/55",
    "H04W 16/20"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Etak Systems LLC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Joseph HUMMER",
    "Anthony Gentile",
    "Lee Priest"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2017-07-31",
  "publication_date": "2019-12-03",
  "grant_date": "2019-12-03",
  "priority_date": "2016-05-31",
  "application_number": "US-201715664432-A",
  "family_id": "60418153",
  "cited_by_count": 9,
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    "US20100271199A1",
    "US20120053871A1",
    "US20130172731A1",
    "US20150155673A1"
  ]
}