1. A communication system comprising a first communication apparatus and a second communication apparatus that are connected to each other via a communication line that exchanges a signal, wherein: each of the first communication apparatus and the second communication apparatus is connected to a first power supply, which is a power supply included therein or an external power supply located nearby and includes a power transmission mechanism that superimposes power on the signal in the communication line and transmits the power that is superimposed to a counterpart communication apparatus via the communication line as a second power supply, and the first communication apparatus and the second communication apparatus select one of the power from the first power supply and the power from the second power supply transmitted from the counterpart communication apparatus via the communication line as an operating power supply according to a state of the power in each of the first power supply and the second power supply and are supplied with the power that has been selected.

2. The communication system according to Claim 1, wherein each of the first communication apparatus and the second communication apparatus transmits, by the power transmission mechanism, when the amount of power from the first power supply of one communication apparatus has reached the level where one communication apparatus and the counterpart communication apparatus can be concurrently operated, the power from the first power supply of one communication apparatus to the counterpart communication apparatus as the second power supply via the communication line in such a way that the power is superimposed on the signal and further selects the power from the first power supply of one communication apparatus as the operating power supply and is supplied with the power that has been selected, or when the power has been transmitted from the counterpart communication apparatus as the second power supply via the communication line, selects one of the power from the first power supply of one communication apparatus and the power transmitted from the counterpart communication apparatus as the second power supply via the communication line as the operating power supply in a predetermined order and is supplied with the power that has been selected.

3. The communication system according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein each of the first communication apparatus and the second communication apparatus selects, when the amount of power supplied from the first power supply of one communication apparatus has reached the level where only one communication apparatus can be operated although it is not sufficient to concurrently operate both one communication apparatus and the counterpart communication apparatus, the power from the first power supply of one communication apparatus as the operating power supply and is supplied with the power that has been selected.

4. The communication system according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein each of the first communication apparatus and the second communication apparatus selects, when the amount of power supplied from the first power supply has reached the level where only one communication apparatus can be operated although it is not sufficient to concurrently operate one communication apparatus and the counterpart communication apparatus in one communication apparatus and the amount of power from the first power supply has reached the level where both one communication apparatus and the counterpart communication apparatus can be concurrently operated in the counterpart communication apparatus, the power transmitted from the counterpart communication apparatus as the second power supply via the communication line as the operating power supply and is supplied with the power that has been selected.

5. The communication system according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein each of the first communication apparatus and the second communication apparatus selects, when the amount of power supplied from the first power supply of one communication apparatus has been decreased to the level where even only one communication apparatus can no longer be operated, the power transmitted from the counterpart communication apparatus as the second power supply via the communication line as the operating power supply and is supplied with the power that has been selected.

6. The communication system according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein when the amount of power supplied from the first power supply in a communication apparatus that is predetermined as a specific communication apparatus from the first communication apparatus and the second communication apparatus has reached the level where both one communication apparatus and the counterpart communication apparatus can be concurrently operated, the counterpart communication apparatus selects, regardless of the amount of power from the first power supply in one communication apparatus, the power that has been transmitted from the specific counterpart communication apparatus via the communication line as the second power supply as the operating power supply and is supplied with the power that has been selected.

7. The communication system according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the communication apparatus that is predetermined as the specific communication apparatus from the first communication apparatus and the second communication apparatus includes an operation switch, and the communication system sends a signal to stop the operation of the communication function of the counterpart communication apparatus and to cancel the stop of the operation of the communication function of the counterpart communication apparatus via the communication line by an operation of the operation switch.

8. The communication system according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the first communication apparatus is an indoor communication apparatus that is installed indoors and the second communication apparatus is an outdoor communication apparatus that is installed outdoors.

9. A power supply control method in a communication system comprising a first communication apparatus and a second communication apparatus that are connected to each other via a communication line that exchanges a signal, wherein: each of the first communication apparatus and the second communication apparatus is connected to a first power supply, which is a power supply included therein or an external power supply located nearby, superimposes power on the signal in the communication line, and transmits the power that is superimposed to a counterpart communication apparatus via the communication line as a second power supply, and the first communication apparatus and the second communication apparatus select one of the power from the first power supply and the power transmitted from the counterpart communication apparatus via the communication line as an operating power supply according to a state of the power in each of the first power supply and the second power supply and are supplied with the power that has been selected.

10. A power supply control non-transitory computer readable medium that executes the power supply control method according to Claim 9 as a non-transitory computer readable medium that can be executed by a computer.

COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, POWER SUPPLY CONTROL
METHOD, AND POWER SUPPLY CONTROL NON-TRANSITORY
COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM
Technical Field
[0001]
The present invention relates to a communication system, a power supply control method, and a power supply control non-transitory computer readable medium, and more specifically, to a communication system, a power supply control method, and a power supply control non-transitory computer readable medium including a mechanism capable of supplying power bidirectionally between an indoor communication apparatus and an outdoor communication apparatus via a communication line. Background Art
[0002]
In recent years, a technique for constructing a communication system by a plurality of function modules that have been divided may be employed according to an improvement made in the functionality of the communication system. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-359579 (Patent Literature 1), titled "CABLE EQUALIZATION SYSTEM IN COMMUNICATION APPARATUS" discloses a communication system that is separated into an outdoor communication apparatus (ODU: Out Door Unit) and an indoor communication apparatus (IDU: In Door Unit). In the communication system according to Patent Literature 1, the outdoor communication apparatus is installed outdoors and includes a function of transmitting and receiving a high-frequency radio signal and the indoor communication apparatus is installed indoors and includes a function of generating and decoding transmission/reception signals. In the communication system having the above configuration, when power is supplied from the indoor communication apparatus (IDU) having an

3 indoor power supply to the outdoor communication apparatus (ODU), a technique for superimposing power on a communication line such as a co-axial cable that has originally been provided to send signals and supplying power to the counterpart outdoor communication apparatus (ODU) has recently been employed. Further, various attempts have been made to draw an outdoor power supply that uses wind power generation, photovoltaic power generation or the like to an inside via a power supply line as shown in Fig. 7, for example, to supply power to the indoor communication apparatus (IDU).
[0003]
Fig. 7 is a system configuration diagram showing a configuration of a communication system according to related art when both the indoor power supply and the outdoor power supply are used. As shown in Fig. 7, an indoor communication apparatus 101 is configured to be supplied with power by one of an indoor power supply 105 and an outdoor power supply 106 that has been selected via a power supply selection circuit 104 and further transmit power to an outdoor communication apparatus 102 via a communication line 103 in such a way that the power is superimposed on a signal. That is, both the indoor power supply 105 connected to a power supply plug such as a commercial power supply and the outdoor power supply 106 such as wind power or solar cell drawn from outdoors via a power supply line 107 are connected to the power supply selection circuit 104 and power is supplied to the indoor communication apparatus 101 from one of the indoor power supply 105 and the outdoor power supply 106 that has been selected.
[0004]
By employing the configuration as shown in Fig. 7, the indoor communication apparatus 101 and the outdoor communication apparatus 102 that constitute the communication system are able to operate not only by means of the indoor power supply 105 but also by means of the outdoor power supply 106 according to the selection operation by the power supply selection circuit 104. Citation List

Patent Literature
[0005]
[Patent-Literature 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-359579 (Pages 3-4) Summary of Invention Technical Problem
[0006]
In the communication system according to the related art as shown in Fig. 7, a power input mechanism to take in the power from the power supply is included only in the indoor communication apparatus 101, and power is supplied to the outdoor communication apparatus 102 via the communication line 103 while being superimposed on the signal from the indoor communication apparatus 101. Therefore, when the outdoor power supply 106 that uses wind power generation, photovoltaic power generation or the like is used in addition to the indoor power supply 105, the power supply line 107 to draw power from outdoors to indoors is needed in addition to the communication line 103. Further, even when the outdoor power supply 106 is installed near the outdoor communication apparatus 102, the indoor communication apparatus 101 that has drawn the outdoor power supply 106 via the power supply line 107 supplies power to the outdoor communication apparatus 102 via the communication line 103. This increases the power transmission distance and causes a power transmission loss.
[0007]
When such a configuration in which the outdoor communication apparatus 102 newly includes a power input mechanism to take in the power from the outdoor power supply 106 (e.g., solar cell) and the power from the solar cell is supplied only to the outdoor communication apparatus 102, not to the indoor communication apparatus 101, is employed in order to eliminate the power supply line 107, when a power failure or the like occurs in the indoor power supply 105 (e.g., commercial power supply) and the power supply to the indoor communication apparatus 101 from the indoor power supply

5 105 is stopped, even when the power generation ability of the solar cell as the outdoor power supply 106 is sufficiently high, power cannot be supplied to the indoor communication apparatus 101 from the outdoor power supply 106.
[0008]
Further, in the technique for superimposing power on an Ethernet (registered trademark) communication line that is defined as a Power over Ethernet (PoE) (registered trademark) in the IEEE802.3 standard, the power to be transmitted to the communication line is gradually increased to check whether it is possible to supply power to the communication line when a power supply is turned on. However, when only the operation for gradually increasing the transmission power just after the power supply is turned on is implemented, the power superimposed on the communication line may not reach the amount of power that is necessary for the operation when the power from the power supply in the counterpart communication apparatus is interrupted. Therefore, even when the amount of power of the power supply is that required for the operations of not only one communication apparatus but also the counterpart communication apparatus, the counterpart communication apparatus can no longer be operated even using the power superimposed on the communication line and the operation of the counterpart communication apparatus may stop. Therefore, only the implementation of the PoE technique as the technique for superimposing the power on the communication line is not enough.
[0009] (Objects of the Present Invention)
The present invention has been made in view of the aforementioned circumstances and aims to provide a communication system, a power supply control method, and a power supply control non-transitory computer readable medium capable of connecting a power supply to both a first communication apparatus (e.g., indoor communication apparatus) and a second communication apparatus (e.g., outdoor communication apparatus) that are connected to each other

6 using a communication line and continuously operating the first communication apparatus and the second communication apparatus by allowing them to select a power supply that supplies power to the first communication apparatus and the second communication apparatus according to the state of the power output from each power supply. Solution to Problem
[0010]
In order to solve the aforementioned problems, a communication system, a power supply control method, and a power supply control non-transitory computer readable medium according to the present invention mainly employ the following characteristic configurations.
[0011]
(1) A communication system according to the present invention
is a communication system including a first communication apparatus
and a second communication apparatus that are connected to each other
via a communication line that exchanges a signal, in which each of the
first communication apparatus and the second communication apparatus
is connected to a first power supply, which is a power supply included
therein or an external power supply located nearby, superimposes
power on the signal in the communication line and transmits the power
that is superimposed to a counterpart communication apparatus via the
communication line as a second power supply, and the first
communication apparatus and the second communication apparatus
select one of the power from the first power supply and the power from
the second power supply transmitted from the counterpart
communication apparatus via the communication line as an operating
power supply according to a state of the power in each of the first
power supply and the second power supply and are supplied with the
power that has been selected.
[0012]
(2) A power supply control method according to the present
invention is a power supply control method in a communication system
including a first communication apparatus and a second communication
apparatus that are connected to each other via a communication line

7 that exchanges a signal, in which each of the first communication apparatus and the second communication apparatus is connected to a first power supply, which is a power supply included therein or an external power supply located nearby, superimposes power on the signal in the communication line, and transmits the power that is superimposed to a counterpart communication apparatus via the communication line as a second power supply, and the first communication apparatus and the second communication apparatus select one of the power from the first power supply and the power transmitted from the counterpart communication apparatus via the communication line as an operating power supply according to a state of the power in each of the first power supply and the second power supply and are supplied with the power that has been selected.
[0013]
(3) A power supply control non-transitory computer readable medium according to the present invention executes the power supply control method described in (2) above as a non-transitory computer readable medium that can be executed by a computer. Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0014]
According to a communication system, a power supply control method, and a power supply control non-transitory computer readable medium of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.
[0015]
That is, unlike the technique according to the related art, in the communication system that is divided into a plurality of communication apparatuses such as a first communication apparatus (e.g., indoor communication apparatus) and a second communication apparatus (e.g., outdoor communication apparatus), there is no need to provide a power supply line to transmit power of a power supply (e.g., solar cell) located inside or near the second communication apparatus (e.g., outdoor communication apparatus) to the first communication apparatus (e.g., indoor communication apparatus) in addition to the communication line, whereby the cost for the installment can be

8 reduced. Further, the distance of the power transmission path to supply power to the second communication apparatus (e.g., outdoor communication apparatus) can be reduced, whereby the power transmission loss can be reduced. Further, since the operating power supply is selected according to the power state of each power supply, it is possible to continuously operate the first communication apparatus (e.g., indoor communication apparatus) and the second communication apparatus (e.g., outdoor communication apparatus) in an optimal power state for each power supply. Brief Description of Drawings [0016]
Fig. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the outline of a system configuration of a communication system according to the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a system configuration diagram showing one example of the system configuration of the communication system according to the present invention;
Fig. 3 is a system configuration diagram showing a configuration different from that of Fig. 2 of the communication system according to the present invention;
Fig. 4 is a system configuration diagram showing a configuration different from the configurations of Figs. 2 and 3 of the communication system according to the present invention;
Fig. 5A is a block configuration diagram showing one example of internal configurations of an indoor communication apparatus and an outdoor communication apparatus that constitute the communication system shown in Fig. 2;
Fig. 5B is a block configuration diagram showing one example of internal configurations of the indoor communication apparatus and the outdoor communication apparatus that constitute the communication system shown in Fig. 2;
Fig. 6A is a block configuration diagram showing an example different from those of Figs. 5A and 5B of the internal configurations of the indoor communication apparatus and the outdoor communication

9 apparatus that constitute the communication system shown in Fig. 2;
Fig. 6B is a block configuration diagram showing an example different from those of Figs. 5A and 5B of the internal configurations of the indoor communication apparatus and the outdoor communication apparatus that constitute the communication system shown in Fig. 2; and
Fig. 7 is a system configuration diagram showing a configuration of a communication system according to a related art when both an indoor power supply and an outdoor power supply are used.
Description of Embodiments [0017]
Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, preferred exemplary embodiments of a communication system, a power supply control method, and a power supply control non-transitory computer readable medium according to the present invention will be described. In the following description, the communication system and the power supply control method according to the present invention will be described. Needless to say, the power supply control method may be executed as a power supply control non-transitory computer readable medium that can be executed by a computer or the power supply control non-transitory computer readable medium may be recorded in a recording medium that can be read out by a computer. [0018] (Features of the Present Invention)
Before describing exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the outline of the features of the present invention will be described first. The present invention relates to a mechanism for selecting a power supply that supplies power to each communication apparatus that constitutes a communication system. The communication system is composed of a plurality of communication apparatuses (e.g., an indoor communication apparatus (IDU: In Door Unit) and an outdoor communication apparatus (ODU: Out Door Unit). Each of the communication apparatuses is connected to a first power

10
su pp l y, wh ich is a p ow er sup pl y in clud ed th erei n or an ex te rn al po wer
su pp l y. Each of th e c ommuni catio n appar atu s es inc lud es a po we r inp ut
m ech ani sm t hat takes t he p ow er fro m t he fi r st po wer suppl y as an
operatin g power s uppl y, a power t r ansmiss ion m ec hani sm t hat
5 su perimp os es t he pow er on a si gnal on a comm unicatio n l i ne th at
conn ect s t h e comm uni catio n ap pa rat uses and t rans mits t he p owe r f rom t he fi rst po we r s upp l y to a co unterp art c om muni ca tion app arat us as a s econ d pow er su ppl y, a nd a po we r extractio n m ech ani s m t hat t ake s th e power t r ansmitt ed from th e co unterp art c om muni ca tion ap par atu s as the
10 second power supply while being superimposed on the signal on the
commu nic ati on l ine as t he o pe r at ing pow er su ppl y. Fu r the r , th e communication line between the indoor communication apparatus (IDU) and the outdoor communication apparatus (ODU) includes a mechanism t hat enab les bi directio nal t r ansm is si on of the p ow er while bei ng
15 superimposed on a signal , and when the power supply is superimposed
on t he comm unicatio n li ne w hic h i s p r ovid ed betwe en th e ind oor communication apparatus (IDU) and the outdoor communication apparatu s ( ODU), bidi recti ona l power t r ans miss ion from th e ind oo r communication apparatus (IDU) to the outdoor communication
20 apparatus (ODU) or from the outdoor communication apparatus (ODU)
t o t he i ndoo r c om muni ca ti on appa r atus ( IDU ) . [0 01 9]
F i g. 1 i s a con ce ptu al di agram sho wi ng t he o utli ne of a s yst em confi gurat ion of a c om muni ca tion s ystem ac cordi ng t o th e pre s ent
25 invention and shows an example having a configuration in which a
power su ppl y s el ect ion ci r cui t i nclu din g t hree m ec hanisms of th e power input mechanism, the power transmission mechanism, and the power ext r actio n me ch anism th at can be swi tch ab l y cont r oll ed b y a cont ro l ci r cu it i s i ncl ude d i n bot h the i ndo or com municati on app arat us
30 (IDU) and the outdoor communication apparatus (ODU) interconnected
b y t he comm unicatio n li ne . Th at is , an in door co mmu nicatio n apparatu s 1 an d an o ut doo r comm uni c ati on app arat us 2 t hat constit ute t he commun ic atio n s ys te m a r e conn ec ted to eac h other by a commu nic ati on l ine 3 th at c an bidi rectio na ll y t r an smit sign als i n s uch

11 a way t hat po wer i s superi mpo s ed on a signal and t he i ndo or
communication apparatus 1 and the outdoor communication apparatus 2
r esp ectiv el y i nclu de a pow er su ppl y s el ect ion ci rcui t 12 includi ng
t hree swi tc hes 1 a, 1b , an d 1c t hat can b e open ed and cl os ed b y a
5 cont ro l ci r cu it 11 and a p ow er s upply s el ec t i on ci r cu i t 2 2 in cludin g
t hree s wi tch es 2 a, 2b , and 2 c th at can be o pened an d closed b y a cont ro l ci r cu it 21 . Fu r ther , a n i ndo or po we r su ppl y 1 3 is con ne ct ed to the indoor communication apparatus 1 and an outdoor power supply 23 i s co nn ect ed to th e outd oor co m m un icatio n app ar at us 2 as a fi r st po we r
10 supply to supply power to each communication apparatus and to
t r ansmit p ower to the cou nt erp art commun icatio n app arat us. [0 02 0]
In Fi g. 1 , th e swi tch 1a of th e po wer s upp l y selectio n circuit 1 2 of th e i ndoo r com muni ca ti on appa r atus 1 fo rm s th e po we r i np ut
15 m ech ani sm t o t ake i n the po we r from t he ind oor pow er suppl y 1 3 (first
power s uppl y) as t he op eratin g p owe r s uppl y, th e switch 1b forms the power transmission mechanism to superimpose the power from the i ndoo r p ow er sup pl y 1 3 (f irs t p ow er su pp l y) on t h e si gnal as th e s econ d pow er su ppl y a nd tra ns mit the p ow er to t he count erp art o utd oor
20 commu nic ati on ap pa r at us 2 via t he commu nic ation l ine 3, an d t h e
sw it ch 1 c forms t he p ower ex tra ctio n me ch an is m to tak e i n the po we r t r ansmitt ed from t he co unt erpa r t o utdo or co mm uni cat ion appa r atu s 2 vi a th e co mm uni ca tion lin e 3 a s the s ec ond po wer sup pl y w hi le bei ng su perimp os ed on t he si gnal as t he o pe r at ing po we r s uppl y. Simi larl y,
25 t he s wit ch 2 a o f t he po wer sup pl y s el ect ion ci r cui t 22 of th e out doo r
communication appar atus 2 forms the power input mechanism to take in t he p ower from t he out door po we r s uppl y 2 3 (fi rst po wer sup pl y ) as th e operatin g power s uppl y, th e swit ch 2b fo r ms th e po we r trans miss io n mechanism to superimpose the power from the outdoor power supply 23
30 ( first p ower sup pl y) o n the si gna l as t he se con d p ow er su pp l y an d
t r ansmit t he pow er to the cou nt erp art ind oor com muni catio n ap parat us 1 vi a th e commun ic ati on l ine 3, and th e sw itc h 2 c fo rm s the pow er extracti on m echanism t o t ak e i n the po we r trans mitt ed f rom th e count erp art i ndo or co m m uni cat ion ap par atus 1 via t he commu nic ation

12
1 i ne 3 a s t he s ec ond power supp l y wh ile b eing sup erimp os ed o n th e
si gn al as t he operating po we r s uppl y.
[0 02 1]
Accordin g t o the con f i gurat ion s how n in Fig. 1 , when th e
5 outdo or po wer s up pl y 2 3 (e . g. , w ind po wer , s ola r cell) is us ed in t he
communication system having a configuration in which power is
supplied while being superimposed on the communication line 3 from
the indoor communication apparatus 1 to the outdoor communication
apparatu s 2 and t he out door po we r s uppl y 2 3 is in stalle d ne ar t he
10 outdoor communication apparatus 2, the power from the outdoor power
su pp l y 23 c an be t r ans mitt ed w hil e b ein g sup erim posed on th e si gnal on the communication line 3 from the outdoor communica tion apparatus
2 to t he i ndoo r c ommu nicatio n ap parat us 1 witho ut p r ov idin g the p ow er
su pp l y li ne to d r aw t he pow er fro m the o ut doo r pow er su ppl y 2 3 to t he
15 i ndoo r comm un icatio n app arat us 1 i n addi tion to t he commu nicatio n
l i ne 3, whereb y th e cost for t he i n st al lm ent ca n be red uc ed . W hen the outdo or pow er su ppl y 2 3 is inst al led ne ar t he out door com muni cati on apparatu s 2 , t he outdo or comm un icatio n app arat us 2 is di r ect l y conn ect e d t he outd oor po wer s uppl y 23 , w he r eb y t he i ndoo r
20 commu nic ati on ap pa r at us 1 ne eds n ot tra nsm i t t he p ower tra ns mit ted
vi a th e po we r su pp l y l ine t o th e o utd oor comm uni ca t i on app aratus 2 vi a th e c ommun ic ation l ine 3 and th e po we r tran sm is si on dista nc e can be red uc ed . It is t he r efo re po ssibl e to re duce the pow er t ransmi ssion l oss as well .
25 [0022]
In summ ar y, t he pres ent in venti on e m pl o ys th e fo llo win g t ech niqu es i n ord er t o so lv e the pro blems a cc ording t o the rel at ed art . [0 02 3]
(1) For example, when an outdoor power supply such as
30 photovoltaic power generation is used and the power input mechanism
t o tak e in t he po we r from th e po we r supp l y i s p r ovid ed onl y i n the i ndoo r comm un icatio n app arat us ( ID U), no t in the o utd oor
commu nic ati on ap pa r at us (O DU), as in th e r elat ed ar t, ev en wh en th e outdo or pow er su ppl y i s l ocat ed n ea r th e out doo r comm unicatio n

13
apparatu s ( ODU), the co nstru cti on to i ns t all a p ow er su ppl y l in e from
t he o ut doo r power supp l y l ocat ed near th e o utdo or co mmu ni cation
apparatus (ODU) to the indoor communication apparatus (IDU) is
ne ed ed , which r eq ui res the cos t for th e in s t all m ent . Fu rt her, a po we r
5 t r ansmission loss th at t he p ow er is tra ns mit ted to t he out doo r
communication apparatus (ODU) from the indoor communication apparatu s ( IDU) v i a th e c omm un ication lin e o ccu r s. [0 02 4]
M eanw hil e, in t he prese nt i nv enti on , th e po we r inp ut me ch anis m
10 t o t ak e in the p ow er fro m the power su ppl y is in clu ded al so i n t he
outdoor communication apparatus (ODU), which eliminates the need to
i nst all t he power sup pl y lin e from the o utd oor p ow er s up pl y t o the
i ndoo r comm uni ca ti on ap pa r at us ( ID U ) an d allo ws t he ou tdo or
communication apparatus (ODU) to operate using the power that has
15 be en dire ctl y take n f rom t he o ut doo r p ow er sup pl y .
[0 02 5]
( 2 ) No w, when th e instal lme nt of the power su ppl y lin e from th e
outdo or pow er su ppl y t o th e ind oor c ommu nic ation app aratu s ( IDU ) is
omi tted and th e po wer is su pplied o nl y to th e outd oor commu nic ation
20 apparatu s ( O D U ) from th e out door pow er suppl y as i n (1 ), i f t he p ower
f eedi ng to t he ind oor comm uni ca t i on app aratus ( ID U) from th e in doo r
power supply stops for any reason, even when the outdoor power
su pp l y generat es a su ffi ci ent amo unt o f po wer , th e pow er fe ed ing
operation t o t he indo or c omm un icati on app ara tus ( ID U ) comp let el y
25 st op s , which st ops t he o pe r ati on a s t he ind oor co mmu nicatio n
apparatu s ( IDU). [0026]
Th erefo r e , in t he pre s ent inv enti on , th e out door comm uni cati on
apparatu s ( O D U ) in cl udes th e pow er tran smi s sion m ec ha ni sm t hat
30 allows power to be superimposed on a signal on the communication
l i ne to t he i ndo or c ommuni cation app arat us ( ID U) a nd both t h e po we r t r ansmission fro m the ind oor c ommuni cation appar atu s (ID U) to t he outdoor communication apparatus (ODU) and the power transmission from the outdoor communication apparatus (ODU) to the indoor

14 communication apparatus (IDU) can be performed on the
c o m m unicati on l ine t hat co nn ect s the i ndo or commu nic at ion app aratu s
(IDU) and the outdoor communication apparatus (ODU), whereby the
bi directi ona l p owe r t r ans miss ion op erat ion can be per f orme d. Furth er,
5 t he i ndoo r commu nic ati on app ara t us ( IDU ) i ncl udes t he p ow er
extracti on m echanism t hat tak es t he po we r th at ha s been t r ansm itt ed while bei ng su peri mpos ed o n th e sig nal v i a the c ommu ni cation l in e as the operating power supply. Accordingly, even when the power f eedi ng from th e ind oor pow er s uppl y st ops, the pow er to b e s uppli ed
10 t o t he i ndoo r c om muni ca ti on appa r atus ( IDU ) is sw it ch ed to th e pow er
f r om t he c ommu nic ati on l ine and th e op erat io n of th e ind oor communication apparatus (IDU) can be continued. [0 02 7]
( 3 ) In th e c ase of th e P ower o ve r Ethernet (Po E ) d efin ed in t he
15 IEEE 802 .3 s t and ard a s a t ech niq ue for su perimp osin g th e pow er on th e
commu nic ati on l ine , a s d es crib ed a bove , afte r th e p owe r s uppl y i s t urned on , t he volt age o f t he p ower sup erimpo s ed on th e commu nic ati on l ine i s grad uall y in creas ed to check w het her it is possib le t o perform power fe edin g t o the commu nic ati on l ine . W hen
20 onl y s uc h a grad ua l voltage i ncreas e op erati on is im pl emen ted , ev en
when both the indoor communication apparatus (IDU) and the outdoor communication apparatus (ODU) connected to the communication line i nclu de th e power supp l y fu nc tion b y t he Po E t ec hniqu e , i f th e power su pp l y f r om th e po we r sou r ce ( e. g. , o utdo or power su pp l y v ia th e
25 power input mechanism of the outdoor communication apparatus
(ODU)) via the power input mechanis m of one of the communication apparatu s es is int errupt ed , e ve n when o ne c om muni ca ti on appa r atus des ires to b e su ppl ied wit h po we r from th e co unt erpart com mu nicati on apparatu s ( e.g. , t he i ndo or po wer su ppl y vi a th e p ow er i nput
30 mechanism of the indoor communication apparatus (IDU)) via the
communication line , the amount of power may not reach the power l evel ne cessar y f o r t he op erati on of the commun ic at ion app aratu s and t he op erat i on of th e co mm uni cat ion appar atu s m a y be stop pe d. [0 02 8]

15
Ac cordin gl y, t he p r esent in ve nti on p erforms con trol to
constantl y mo nito r t he volt age l ev el o f the pow er s up pl y a nd s el ect the
power supply from which power should be taken based on the result of
t he mon ito rin g , whereb y it is possib l e t o ap propri ate l y deal wit h
5 va riat ion s a n d in te r r uption of the po wer sup pl y out put and ac hi ev e the
conti nuo us op eration as th e comm unicati on s yst em . [0 02 9]
B y em plo yi ng th e abo ve co nfigu r atio n, as describ ed above, t here i s n o n eed to i ns tal l the po wer su ppl y li ne to transmit po wer from
10 t he o ut doo r pow er su ppl y t o t he ind oor c ommu ni catio n apparatu s
( IDU), whereb y t he co st fo r th e inst al lment c an be redu ced . F urt herm ore, it is pos sib le t o reduce th e p ower t r an smiss ion path to supply power to the outdoor communication apparatus (ODU), whereby t he p ower t r ansm iss ion lo ss c an be redu ce d. Fu rt hermo r e, th e
15 operation of th e c omm uni ca ti on s ys tem ca n be co ntin ue d mo re rel i abl y .
[0 03 0]
Note t hat t he pres ent inv ent ion is no t l im ited to th e communication system composed of the indoor communication apparatus and the outdoor communication apparatus and may be a
20 commu nic ati on s yst em i ncludi ng a first c om m uni ca tio n app arat us an d a
s econ d com m unicatio n app arat us th at are di vid ed into arbitrar y two f uncti ons r egard le ss of in doo rs and ou tdo ors . Fo r ex ampl e , t he commu nic ati on s yst em divi ded into th e t wo fun cti ons of the fi r st communication apparatus and the second communication apparatus may
25 be a communication system including a first power supply and a second
power supply. The first power supply may be a power supply included i n each o f the first comm un icatio n app arat us and t he se con d commu nic ati on s yst em o r a n ext erna l po wer su ppl y lo cat e d nearb y t o which the fi rst commu ni cati on ap pa r at us a nd th e s ec ond comm uni cati on
30 s ys tem a re con ne cted t o s up pl y p ow er t o ea ch of th e fi r st
communication apparatus and the second communication apparatus. Th e se co nd po we r supp l y is abl e to t r ans mit th e power f r om t he fi rst power su ppl y to t he count erp art com muni ca t i on appa r atus bi directi ona ll y i n su ch a wa y th at th e p ow er is sup eri mpo s ed on th e

16 si gn al o n a commu nic ation l ine th at c onn ects th e f irs t com muni cati on apparatu s an d t he s eco nd c ommuni cation ap par atu s . T he
commu nic ati on s yst em i s further ab le to sel ec t from whi ch on e of t he
fi rst po we r s upp l y an d t he se con d p ow er s up pl y t he p ow er s ho uld b e
5 t aken ac co r di ng to t he result of mo nito ri ng the pow er sup pl y st at e in
ea ch of th e firs t c omm uni ca ti on appa r at us a nd th e s ec ond commu nic ati on ap pa r at us . [0 03 1]
F urt herm ore , the pres ent in venti on m a y b e a com mu nicatio n
10 s ys tem com p osed of a plurali t y of ( arbit r ary num be r of) co mmun ic at ion
apparatu s es , not onl y t wo commu nic at ion app aratu s es , as in a c as e i n
which a communication network composed of a plurality of network
devi ces are forme d . Th at i s , the presen t inventio n ma y be s uit ab l y
appli ed to a comm uni catio n s yst em in w hi ch, in an enviro nme nt i n
15 which a p l urali t y o f pow er s uppli es a r e dis perse d , e ac h commu nic atio n
apparatu s t hat co nstitut e t he n etw ork d evi ce in clu des a po we r s upp l y
or the commu ni c atio n ap parat us es a r e co nn ected to t he r esp ect ive
power su ppl i es a rrange d n ea r by and t he com muni ca ti on s ys te m is a ble
t o b idi r ect io nal l y tra nsmi t po we r in such a wa y th at th e power is
20 su perimp os ed on a s ign al t o a c om mun ic ation li ne t hat forms t h e
communication network .
[0 03 2] (Configuration Example of Exemplary Embodiments)
Next , wi th re f ere nce t o the d rawi ngs, o ne ex am pl e o f t he s yst em
25 confi gurat ion of th e commu nic atio n s yst em acco r din g to th e p r esent
i nven tion wi ll be describ ed i n detail . First , a s yst em confi guratio n of
a comm uni c at ion sys t em sh own i n Fi g. 2 wi ll be d es cri bed . Fig. 2 is a
system configuration diagram showing one example of the system
confi gurat ion of th e commu nic atio n s yst em acco r din g to th e p r esent
30 invention and shows a case in which the outdoor power supply 23
sh own in t he co ncept ual di agra m i n Fig. 1 i s consti tu ted us in g a s ola r cell . [0 03 3]
A bidi recti on al commu ni catio n lin e 3 cap abl e o f t r ansmitti ng

17
power i n s uch a w a y that th e po we r is su pe rimp osed on a sign al i s
connected between an indoor communication apparatus 1 and an
outdo or com mu nicatio n app arat us 2 t hat con stitu te t he com muni cati on
system shown in Fig. 2, as shown in the conceptual diagram shown in
5 F i g. 1 . F urt her , an in door po we r supp l y 1 3 con ne ct ed to th e in doo r
commu nic ati on ap pa r at us 1 is i ncl u de d i ndoo r s , and a so lar c ell 23 a is i nclu ded outdo ors as th e ou tdo or po wer suppl y 23 conn ect ed to th e outdo or c om muni cat i on ap pa r at us 2 as a first p ow er s uppl y u s ed t o supply power to each communication apparatus and transmit power to
10 t he co unt erpart comm u ni catio n ap pa rat us .
[0 03 4]
F urt her , t he i ndo or co mm uni cat ion appar atu s 1 and t he o utd oor commu nic ati on ap pa r at us 2 h ave th e int ernal con fi gura tion s si mil ar to t hos e of th e con ce ptu al d ia gr am s hown in Fi g. 1 . The in doo r
15 communication apparatus 1 and the outdoor communication apparatus 2
r esp ectiv el y i ncl ud e a pow er su ppl y s el ect ion ci rcui t 12 an d a po we r su pp l y s el ecti on ci r cuit 22 , an d each o f th e pow er sup pl y se l ection ci rcui t 12 and th e pow er su ppl y sel ect ion ci rcui t 22 incl udes th r ee sw it ch es that c an swit ch abl y co nt r ol t he p owe r sup pl y rout e ac co r di ng
20 t o the power su ppl y s tate .
[0 03 5]
Th at is , t he ind oor co mm uni cat ion ap par atus 1 and th e ou tdo or commu nic ati on ap pa r at us 2 a r e abl e to s elect , b y t he pow er su ppl y s el ect ion ci rcui t 12 a nd the pow er su ppl y s el ect i on ci r cuit 22 , wh eth er
25 t o receiv e power f r om t he nei ghbo ri ng fi r st po wer sup pl y (t he i ndo or
power su ppl y 13 i n the in doo r commun ic ation app arat us 1 a nd the so la r cell 2 3a i n th e ou tdo or comm uni cati on a pparatus 2) b y th e pow er i npu t m ech ani sm as t he op erati ng pow er sup pl y, wh eth er to r ec ei ve p ow er t r ansmitt ed from t he co unt erpa r t commu ni catio n ap pa rat us via t he
30 commu nic ati on l ine 3 as th e s ec ond po we r supp l y (p ow er o f t he solar
cell 2 3a t r ansm itt ed from th e o utd oo r co mmuni cat ion apparatus 2 in t he ca se o f t he ind oor c om muni ca tion app arat us 1 and po wer of th e i ndoo r power supply 13 transmitted from the indoor communication apparatus 1 in t he case o f th e outd oor co mm un ica tio n app ar at us 2 ) b y t he po wer

18 extraction mechanism as the operating power supply, or whether to transmit the power to be transmitted to the counterpart communication apparatus (i.e., power from the first power supply, that is, power from the indoor power supply 13 in the indoor communication apparatus 1 5 and power from the solar cell 23a in the outdoor communication apparatus 2) to the communication line 3 by the power transmission mechanism as the second power supply. The selection operations in the power supply selection circuit 12 and the power supply selection circuit 22 according to the power supply state are controlled in each
10 communication apparatus autonomously or according to a control
signal or a communication state from the counterpart communication apparatus. [0036]
The communication system shown in Fig. 2 shows a
15 configuration example in which cables are used as the communication line 3 between the indoor communication apparatus 1 and the outdoor communication apparatus 2 and to connect the indoor communication apparatus 1 and a signal source and the outdoor communication apparatus 2 modulates a signal received from the indoor
20 communication apparatus 1 to output the modulated signal to the radio space as a radio signal and sends a signal obtained by demodulating the radio signal received from the radio space to the indoor communication apparatus 1 via the communication line 3 which is a cable. That is, the communication system shown in Fig. 2 transmits
25 and receives signals by the signal path of the signal
source→(wired)→{indoor communication apparatus 1 →communication line 3(wired)→outdoor communication apparatus 2}→(wireless) →{outdoor communication apparatus 2→communication line 3(wired) →indoor communication apparatus 1}→(wired) →signal source.
30 [0037]
Next, Fig. 3 shows a configuration example of the communication system different from that of Fig. 2. Fig. 3 is a system configuration diagram showing a configuration different from that of Fig. 2 of the communication system according to the present invention

19 and shows a system configuration example when three or m ore pl urali t y of com mun ic at ion a pp aratu s es are c onnect ed to on e
communication line. The communication system shown in Fig. 3 shows
a con fi gura ti on ex am ple in whi ch t hree co mm uni cat ion appa r atu ses 31,
5 32, and 33 are connected to one communication line 3 and a power
su pp l y 41 , a p ower s uppl y 4 2, and a pow er su ppl y 4 3 are r es pe ct ivel y connected to the communication apparatus 31, the communication apparatu s 3 2, a nd the co mm uni cat ion ap par atu s 33. [0 03 8]
10 As sho wn in Fig. 3 , in a n orma l st ate, w hen th e p lura lit y o f
commu nic ati on ap pa r at us es 31, 32, a nd 33 are c onnect ed to on e commu nic ati on l ine 3 , p ow er can b e tran smi tte d t o the commu nic ati on l i ne 3 from a specific c ommuni cation ap par atu s (e . g. , th e commu nic ati on ap pa r at us 3 1) th at i s p r ed et erm i n ed a s a d efa ult p ow er
15 t r ansmission ap par atu s amo ng th e co mmun ic ati on a pp aratu s 31 , t he
communication apparatus 32, and the communication apparatus 33 and t he p ower can b e s uppl ied to o the r c ommu ni cation apparatu s es (e. g. , the communication apparatus 32 and the communication apparatus 33 ) as th e operatin g p ower sup pl y. A s shown in × in Fi g. 3 , when th e
20 power su ppl y from t he pow er sup pl y 41 is i nterr upt ed for an y reas on
and th e d efaul t po wer tran sm i ssio n app aratu s (e . g. , th e comm uni catio n apparatu s 3 1 ) st op s th e power tr a ns m is si on op erati on vi a t he commu nic ati on l ine 3 , an operati on for tran sm i tt in g p ow er t o the communication line 3 from any one of the other communication
25 apparatu s es (e .g., the co mm uni cat ion ap par atu s 32 or the
commu nic ati on ap pa r at us 3 3 ) i n a predet erm in ed order is s ta rt ed and t he def aul t power tr ansmission apparatu s in which the po we r t r ansmission op era tion h as been s top ped (e . g., t he co mmu ni cation apparatu s 3 1 ) is s wit che d t o pe r f or m th e op eratio n for receivi ng t he
30 power from the communication line 3.
[0 03 9]
Next, Fig. 4 shows a configuration example of a communication s ys tem differ ent f rom t he co nfigu r ation ex ampl es of F i gs . 2 and 3 . F i g. 4 s hows a s ys te m co nfi gura tion di agra m sh owin g a co nfigu r atio n

20 di fferent fro m t he confi guratio ns of F i gs. 2 a nd 3 of t he commu nic ati on s yst em a cco rd ing t o th e pre s ent inv enti on . Fig. 4 sh ows a s yst em co nfiguration ex am ple i n whi ch t he i ndoo r
communication apparatus 1 and the outdoor communication apparatus 2
5 sh own in Fi g. 2 a re i nte gr ated as on e comm uni cat io n a ppa ratu s and th is
commu nic ati on ap pa r at us a nd a b att ery w it h a comm unicati on funct ion are combined. The communication system shown in Fig. 4 shows a configuration example in which a communication apparatus 51 in which the indoor communication apparatus 1 and the outdoor communication
10 apparatu s 2 s how n in Fig. 2 a r e i ntegr at ed wit h ea ch oth er is conn ec ted
t o a solar c ell 23a, w hi ch i s o ne ex a mpl e o f th e outd oo r po wer sup pl y 23 a nd t o th e b at ter y w it h a comm unicati on funct ion 6 1 vi a a commu nic ati on l ine 3 a a nd a p ower sup pl y 13 a whi ch is s imil ar t o the i ndoo r p ow er sup pl y 1 3 i s conn ec t ed to th e b att er y w ith th e
15 communication function 61. The battery with the communication
f uncti on 61 h as a fun ction of com mu nicati ng a co ntrol sign al, a f ai lure, t he rem ain ing cap aci t y o f the po we r s uppl y 1 3 a and t he lik e wi th th e commun ic ation app arat us 5 1 v ia the c ommu ni cat ion l in e 3 a. Th at is , t he batt ery wi t h the comm unicati on fu nct ion 61 corr espo nds t o
20 the indoor communication apparatus 1 shown in Fig. 2 and the
communication apparatus 51 corresponds to the outdoor communication apparatu s 2 s hown i n F i g. 2 . [0 04 0]
Further, the communication system shown in Fig. 4 shows the
25 confi gurat ion ex ampl e in wh ich c ab l es are use d as t he commun ic ation
l i ne 3 a b etween t he b att er y wit h the commu nic ation f un cti on 6 1 and the communication apparatus 51 and to connect the communication apparatu s 5 1 a nd a si gnal sou r ce , and th e c ommu nicatio n app arat us 5 1 pe rforms s i gnal pro ces si ng o f the si gn al receiv ed from th e s ign al
30 so urce, t hen mo du lates th e si gnal an d o utpu ts t he mod ulat ed s ign al to
t he rad io space as a rad io s ign al , performs si gna l p roc ess i ng of th e si gn al o btain ed b y de mo dul ati ng t he r adi o sign al r ecei ved f r om t he r adio spa ce , and sends t he sign al to th e s ignal so urc e vi a th e cab le. Th at is , t he comm uni catio n s ystem s how n in Fig. 4 tra ns mit s and

21 receives signals by the signal path of the signal source→(wired)→{communication apparatus 5 1 }→(wireless) →{communication apparatus 5 1}→(wired)→signal source. [0041] 5 (Description of Operations of Exemplary Embodiments)
Next, one example of the operation of the communication system according to the present invention will be described in detail as one example of the power supply control method according to the present invention taking a configuration example of the communication
10 system shown in Fig. 2 as an example. In the communication system shown in Fig. 2, the indoor power supply 13 is able to constantly supply power unless power failure or the like of a commercial power supply occurs. On the other hand, the solar cell 23a, which is one example of the outdoor power supply, is a power supply in which the
15 power supply state can be unstable according to the sunshine
condition. An operation of a case in which the power supply state needs to be controlled according to the power generation amount in the solar cell 23a will be described first. Figs. 5A and 5B show examples of the internal configurations of the indoor communication apparatus 1
20 and the outdoor communication apparatus 2, respectively, to implement the power supply control method in such a case. [0042]
Figs. 5A and 5B each show a block configuration diagram showing one example of the internal configurations of the indoor
25 communication apparatus 1 and the outdoor communication apparatus 2 that constitute the communication system shown in Fig. 2 and show one example of the internal configurations of the indoor communication apparatus 1 and the outdoor communication apparatus 2 when the power supply route to the indoor communication apparatus 1 and the
30 outdoor communication apparatus 2 is controlled according to the
power generation amount in the solar cell 23a, which is one example of the outdoor power supply 23. Fig. 5A shows an example of the internal configuration of the indoor communication apparatus 1 and Fig. 5B shows an example of the internal configuration of the outdoor

22 commu nic ati on ap pa r at u s 2. [0 04 3]
As shown in Fig. 5 A, the indoor communication apparatus 1 at
l east in clu des a p ow er s uppl y se le ct i on ci r cui t 1 2 tha t sel ect s w hich
5 one o f th e p ower f r om t he in doo r po wer sup pl y 13 , w hic h i s th e fi rst
power supply, of the indoor communication apparatus 1 and the power t r ansmitt ed vi a the comm un icatio n li ne 3 as t he se con d p ow er s uppl y should be taken as the power supply to operate a communication f uncti on 14 , a mix er 15 an d th e li ke a nd sele cts t he p ow er sup pl y ro ut e
10 to determine whether to overlap the power from the indoor power
su pp l y 13 wi th th e s ignal on th e com muni ca ti on lin e 3 to tra nsmi t the power t o the count erp art o utd oor commu ni catio n ap pa rat us 2 as t he counterpart second power supply, and a communication function 14 t hat ge ne r ates a sign al to be tran sm itted to th e comm unicati on l ine 3
15 and p ro ce sses a sign al receiv ed vi a th e com municati on line 3, and a
m i xer 15 t hat sup erimpo s es t he po we r from th e p ow er s uppl y se le ct i on ci rcui t 12 on a tra ns m i ssio n si gnal f r om t he c ommu nicatio n funct i o n 14, separ ate s the pow er from th e sign al r ec ei ved via t he commu nic ati on l ine 3 , and out puts t he s ign al a nd t he p owe r to th e
20 commu nic ati on fun ctio n 1 4 a nd the po we r s upp l y s electio n ci rcuit 1 2 ,
r esp ectiv el y. The thre e diod e s ym bo ls i n the po we r s upp l y s e lectio n ci rcui t 12 i ndi cat e t he swi t ches ( the swit ch es 1a, 1b, a nd 1c sho wn in F i g. 2 ) t hat are au tono mou sl y s wi tch ed acco r din g to t he v ol tage l evel of each of the power from the indoor power supply 13 and the power
25 t r ansmitt ed vi a the comm un icatio n li ne 3 .
[0 04 4]
F urt her , as sho wn in Fig. 5 B, th e out door c omm unicati on apparatu s 2 at least in clud es a power s upp l y sele ctio n circ uit 22 th at s el ect s w hi ch o ne of t he po we r from th e first p ow er s uppl y o f the
30 outdo or com mu nicatio n app arat us 2 , wh i ch is t he sol ar c el l 23 a, on e
ex am ple o f t he outdo or po wer su ppl y 23 , a nd the p ow er t ransmit t ed vi a the communication line 3 as the second power supply should be taken as th e po we r s upp ly to op era te a c ommuni cation fun cti on 2 4 , a mix er 25 and t he lik e an d s el ects t he po we r s uppl y r oute t o determin e

23
whet her to o verl ap th e p owe r f r om t he sol ar cel l 23 a with t he si gnal on
t he co mmun i cat ion li ne 3 to t r ans mit th e power to th e cou nte r part
i ndoo r comm uni ca ti on ap pa r at us a s t he co unt erpart se con d p ow er
su pp l y, a c ommun ic ati on fun ct ion 2 4 th at gen erat es a s ign al t o be
5 t r ansmitt ed to th e c om muni ca tion lin e 3 a nd p r oc ess es a si gnal
r ecei ved via th e c omm uni cation lin e 3, an d a mix er 25 t hat
su perimp os es t he po we r from th e power s uppl y sele ct i on ci r cui t 2 2 o n a t ransmi ssion sig nal f ro m th e c ommuni cat ion fun ctio n 24 , s epa r at es t he po we r from th e s ignal r ec ei v ed via t he co mmun ic ation l ine 3, an d
10 output s t he sign al and th e po wer to t he com muni cati on fun ction 24 and
t he po we r suppl y s ele ctio n ci r cuit 22 , re specti vel y. [ 0045]
F urt her , t he po we r supp l y s el ectio n c ir cuit 2 2 s how n in Fig. 5 B at l eas t inc lu des, b es id es a con t ro l circ ui t 21 th at co ntrol s the pow er
15 su pp l y r ou t e , a fi rst v ol tage sen so r 2 6 tha t detects th e volt age l ev el of
t he po we r t r an sm itte d fro m the count erp art i ndo or commu nicati on apparatu s 1 vi a th e co mm uni cat ion lin e 3 a s th e s ec on d p owe r su pp l y, a s econ d volt age se nsor 2 7 th at de t ect s t he volt age l ev el o f th e pow er f r om t he sol ar cell 2 3a, whi ch is t he fi r st po we r supp l y of th e out door
20 commu nic ati on ap pa r at us , an d a boo s te r ci rcuit 28 t o boo st t he vol ta ge
l evel of the po wer f ro m th e s ol ar c el l 23a when t he p ower from t he so l ar c ell 2 3 a i s trans mit ted to th e c ounterpart i ndoo r commu nic ation apparatu s 1 via t he co mm uni cat ion lin e 3. [0 04 6]
25 Th e c on trol c ircuit 2 1 op erates b y th e po we r directl y outpu t
f r om t he f i rst vo lta ge s enso r 26 or t he s ec ond vol ta ge s ensor 27 , cont ro ls t he po we r supp l y r out e based on the res ult of mo nito r in g the r eceptio n sign al and th e po we r o ut put f ro m th e fi r st v olta ge sen so r 2 6 and th e second v ol tage sens or 27 as t he pow er to b e su ppli ed ,
30 generat es a cont r ol si gnal to c on trol th e operatio n o f t he b oost er
ci rcui t 2 8 , and ou tpu ts th e co nt rol s ign al . Th e tw o di od e s ymb ols in t he p ower sup pl y s electi on ci r cuit 22 i ndi cate t he swit ch es
( correspo ndi ng t o the sw it ch es 2 a a nd 2c sho wn in Fi g. 2 ) t hat sw i t ch ac cordin g t o the volt age l ev el o f each o f th e pow er fro m t he sol ar cell

24 23 a and th e po we r trans mi t ted via t he co mmuni cat ion l in e 3. [0 04 7]
As on e ex am pl e, th e cont rol of t he p owe r sup pl y r ou t e in t he
indoor communication apparatus 1 and the outdoor communication
5 apparatu s 2 s how n in Fi gs . 5 A an d 5B i s executed as follo ws .
[0 04 8]
( 1 ) W hen the se cond volt age sens or 27 det ect s th at th e power
generati on amo unt i n th e so la r c ell 2 3 a is s o sm all th at it is impossibl e
t o su ppl y t he am oun t of p ow er necessar y fo r th e op eratio n of onl y th e
10 outdoor communication apparatus 2 ,
t he i nd oo r com m unicati on app ara tus 1 p erf orm s cont r ol b y th e
power su ppl y s el ect ion ci r cui t 12 to s el ect t he p ower from th e ind oor
power su ppl y 13 as the ope r atin g po we r s uppl y a nd o perat e b y th e
s el ect ed p ower a nd tran sm i t t he p ow er fro m the in doo r po we r suppl y 1 3
15 t o t he m ix er 1 5 a nd the c omm uni cation lin e 3 sin ce th e vol ta ge l ev el o f
the power superimposed on the signal from the comm unication line 3
has n ot i ncreased . On t he oth er ha nd , the outd oor c ommu ni cation
apparatu s 2 perfo r ms co nt rol, ba s ed on th e co nt rol from t he cont r ol
ci rcui t 21, b y th e po wer s upp l y selectio n circuit 2 2, to sel ec t the
20 power t r ansmitt ed from th e ind oor comm u ni catio n ap pa r at us 1 vi a th e
commu nic ati on l ine 3 as th e o pe r atin g p owe r supp l y a n d operate b y t he s el ect ed p ower. [0 04 9]
Th at is , t he comm uni catio n f un ct ion 2 4 and t he mix er 25 in t he
25 outdoor communication apparatus 2 operate by the power output from
t he first volt age s ensor 26 vi a t he p owe r sup pl y s elect ion c i rcuit 2 2.
Th e con trol ci rcuit 2 1 i n the ou tdoor com municati on a pparatus 2
operates b y t he power dire ctl y o utp ut from th e fi rst vo lta ge sensor 26 .
F urt her, sin ce it i s imp os si bl e to t r an smit t h e po we r from th e sol ar cell
30 23 a t o t he coun ter pa rt ind oo r c ommuni cation appar atu s 1 via t he
commu nic ati on l ine 3 , b y t he con t ro l from the con trol circuit 2 1 , th e boos ter c ircuit 28 o f the pow er sup pl y se l ection ci rcu it 22 i n th e outdo or c om muni cat i on ap pa r atu s 2 doe s not p erfo rm th e op eratio n f or boos tin g the po we r from th e sol ar c ell 2 3a.

25 [0 05 0]
( 2 ) W hen the se cond volt age sens or 27 has de t ect ed t hat th e
power gen eratio n am oun t in the s ola r cell 23 a has b een i ncr ease d t o the
l evel wh ere onl y t he o ut doo r c ommu nic ati on app ara tus 2 ca n be
5 operated from the level where even only the outdoor communication
apparatu s 2 c an not be operated ,
t he o ut doo r c omm uni cat ion ap par atu s 2 p erfo rms con trol, bas ed
on t he cont r ol fro m t he co ntrol circ uit 21 , t o swi tch t he st at e in whi ch
t he po we r t r an sm itte d fro m the in door comm unicatio n a pp aratus 1 vi a
10 t he commun ic atio n li ne 3 i s sel ect ed to th e state i n which the pow er
f r om t he sol ar c ell 2 3 a i s select ed as t he o pe r ati ng pow er sup pl y b y t he power su ppl y s el ect ion ci r cui t 2 2. [0 05 1]
That is , t he comm uni catio n f un ct ion 2 4 and t he mix er 25 in t he
15 outdoor communication apparatus 2 are operated by the power output
f r om t he se cond v olta ge s en so r 2 7 v ia th e po we r s uppl y se l ection
ci rcui t 22. Th e cont r ol circuit 21 in the out doo r comm unicatio n
apparatu s 2 operate s b y th e po we r di rect l y outp ut from th e secon d
voltage se nso r 2 7. Fu r ther , th e boo s ter ci rcuit 2 8 of t he p ow er sup pl y
20 s el ect ion ci rcui t 22 in th e o utd oo r c omm uni cation appar atu s 2 k eeps
t he s tat e i n whic h the op erat ion for boostin g t he p owe r f rom t he so la r
cell 2 3 a i s no t pe r f orm ed . As a result , the i ndo or com municati on
apparatu s 1 keeps the stat e of selecti ng t he p ow er f rom t he ind oor
power su ppl y 1 3 as t he ope r atin g po we r s uppl y a nd o perat es b y th e
25 s el ect ed p ower.
[0 05 2]
( 3 ) W hen the se cond volt age sens or 27 has de t ect ed t hat th e
power gen eratio n am oun t in the s ola r cell 23 a has b een in cre ased to th e
l evel wh ere the outdoo r c omm uni cation appar atu s 2 and t he in doo r
30 commu nic ati on ap pa r at us 1 c an be con cu r r en tl y p erf o r med ,
t he o ut doo r c omm uni cat ion ap par atu s 2 p erfo rms an o pe rat ion f or bo ostin g th e p owe r from t he s olar cell 23 a b y t he boo st er circuit 2 8 i n t he p ow er sup ply s electi on ci rcuit 2 2 based on th e con trol from th e cont ro l ci r cu it 21 , sup erimp os ing the p ow er on th e si gn al i n the mix er

26 25, and t ransmit ti ng th e power to the cou nt erp art ind oor
commu nic ati on ap pa r at us 1 vi a t he comm unicati on line 3 . Wh en it is
detect ed th at t he v ol t age le vel of th e po wer s upe r i m posed on the si gna l
vi a th e co mm uni ca tion lin e 3 h a s b een in cre asi ng, th e power su ppl y
5 s el ect ion ci rcui t 12 of th e in door commun icatio n app arat us 1 per f orms
cont ro l to swit ch t he st at e in whi ch th e power f r om t he i ndo or po wer su pp l y 13 i s sele cte d to a st ate i n which th e power f r om t he commu nic ati on l ine 3 i s sel ect ed a s th e op eratin g p owe r s uppl y. [ 0053]
10 That is , t he com mun ic at ion fu nctio n 14 and th e mix er 15 i n th e
i ndoo r comm uni ca ti on ap pa r at us 1 ar e swi tched t o t he sta t e in w hic h t he y are op erat ed b y t he p ow er from t he com mun ic ati on li ne 3 . Th e outdo o r c om muni cat i on ap pa r at us 2 ke eps t he sta te in wh ic h it sele cts t he po we r from th e s ola r cel l 2 3 a as t he op eratin g p owe r s uppl y and
15 operates b y th e s ele ct ed p ow er .
[0 05 4]
( 4 ) Aft er th at , whe n th e se cond vo lta ge s enso r 2 7 has det ec t ed t hat th e p ower gen e r at ion amou nt in th e s ola r cel l 23 a has be en de crease d f rom t he l evel whe r e t he outd oor c ommu ni cat ion apparatu s 2
20 and th e i nd oo r commu ni cati on ap pa r at us 1 c an b e con cu r r entl y
operated t o t he l evel where on l y t he ou tdo or com municatio n app arat us 2 can b e op e rated ,
t he o ut doo r c omm uni cat ion ap par atu s 2 sto ps , b ased o n the cont ro l f r om t he con t ro l ci r cuit 21 , t he o perati on for boo st ing th e
25 boos ter c ircuit 28 in th e po wer su ppl y se l ection ci rcu it 22 and th e
operation f or t ransmit ti ng th e power f r om t he sol ar c ell 23 a to th e m i xer 25 a nd t he c omm uni cation lin e 3. W h en it is det ected th at t he voltage l ev el o f t he p ower sup erimpo s ed on th e si gnal v ia th e commu nic ati on l ine 3 has b ee n decreas ed, t he po we r supp l y s el ectio n
30 ci rcui t 12 o f th e ind oor c ommuni catio n ap p arat us 1 pe r f orms cont ro l to
auton omo us l y sw itc h the st at e in whi ch the pow er fro m th e
commu nic ati on l ine 3 i s sel ect ed to t he sta te in whic h th e p owe r f r om t he i ndoo r p owe r sup pl y 1 3 is s el ecte d as t he op era ti ng pow er s uppl y. [0 05 5]

27
Th at is , t he comm un ic at ion fu nctio n 14 and th e mix er 15 i n th e
i ndoo r comm uni ca ti on ap pa r at us 1 ar e swi tched t o t he sta t e in w hic h
they are operated by the power from the indoor power supply 13 . Note
t hat th e o utdoo r c omm uni ca ti on appa r at us 2 k ee ps th e stat e i n wh ich
5 t he p ower from t he s ola r cel l 2 3 a is s el ect ed as th e op eratin g p ow er
su pp l y a nd th e out do or co mmuni cat ion apparatu s 2 op erat es by t he s el ect ed p ower. [0 05 6]
( 5 ) Aft er th at , whe n th e se cond vo lta ge s enso r 2 7 has det ec t ed
10 t hat th e po wer gene r at ion amou nt in th e s ola r cel l 23 a has be en
de crease d f rom t he l evel whe r e onl y t he o utdo or co mmuni cat ion
apparatu s 2 c an be o pe r at ed t o the level where eve n t he o pe r ation o f
onl y th e o ut doo r c omm uni cation appar atu s 2 is no l on ger possibl e,
t he o ut doo r c omm uni cat ion ap p a r atu s 2 p erfo rms con trol to
15 sw it ch , b y th e power s uppl y sele ctio n circu it 22, the stat e in which t he
power f ro m t he solar c ell 23 a is s electe d to a stat e in wh ic h the po we r
t r ansmitt ed from t he in door comm unicati on ap para tus 1 vi a th e
commu nic ati on l ine 3 i s sel ect ed as t he op eratin g p owe r s uppl y b ase d
on t he cont r ol fro m t he co ntrol circ uit 21 .
20 [0057]
In summary, the communication function 24 and the mixer 25 in
t he o ut doo r c omm uni cat i on ap pa r at us 2 o pe r at es b y th e p ow er out pu t
f r om t he fi rs t volt age s ensor 26 vi a t he p owe r supp l y s electi on c i rcuit
22. T he con trol ci rcuit 21 i n th e o utdoo r co mmuni cat ion apparatu s 2
25 operates b y t he p ow er d ir ec tl y out pu t f r om t he fi rst vo lta ge sensor 26 .
On the o th er hand , t he in door comm unicati on app ara tus 1 k eep s th e
st at e in whi ch i t s ele cts the p ower from th e in doo r po we r suppl y 1 3 as
t he o perat ing power s uppl y a nd op erat es b y th e s ele cted pow er .
[0 05 8]
30 As d es crib ed ab ove , b ased on t he result of m onito r ing th e pow er
f r om t he sol ar c ell 2 3a , th e in door c omm uni cati on a pp arat us 1 and th e outdo or c om muni cat i on ap pa r at us 2 are abl e to app r op riatel y s el ect on e of th e i ndoo r p ow er sup pl y 1 3 an d t he s ola r cel l 23 a as th e op erati ng power su ppl y f or t he c ontin uou s op eratio ns of t he in do or

28 communication apparatus 1 and the outdoor communication apparatus 2. [0 05 9]
Next , wi th re f ere nce t o F igs . 6 A an d 6B, an ex am ple diffe ren t
5 f r om t hat of Figs. 5A and 5B showing th e operati ons o f t he
commu nic ati on s yst em a cco rd ing t o th e pre s ent inv enti on wi ll be des crib ed i n d etail as a noth er exampl e of t he p ow er sup pl y con trol m etho d ac co rdi ng to t he pre s ent inv enti on tak in g t he confi guratio n example of the communication system shown in Fig. 2 as an example.
10 [0060]
Figs. 6A and 6B are block configuration diagram s showing ex am ples di f ferent from those of Fi gs. 5 A a nd 5B sho wing th e in t ernal confi gurat ions of th e in doo r commu nicati on ap para tus 1 an d the outdo or com mu nicatio n app arat us 2 t hat con stitu te th e commu nic ati on
15 s ys tem sh ow n in Fig. 2 and e ach s ho w a n internal con fi gurati on
ex am ple whe n a power sup pl y ro ut e is sele cte d b y t he collabo r atio n o f the indoor communication apparatus 1 and the outdoor communication apparatu s 2 . That is , whi l e the con t rol ci r cui t 21 in o ne commu nic ati on ap pa r at us (i.e ., t he out door comm unicatio n app arat us 2)
20 ex ecut es t he co ntrol regardi ng the pow er su ppl y ro ut e of the i ndoo r
communication apparatus 1 and the outdoor communication apparatus 2 i n t he o pe r ati on e xam pl es of t he ind oor c om m uni ca tio n app arat us 1 and the outdoor communication apparatus 2 shown in Figs. 5A and 5B, the examples shown in Figs. 6A and 6B show internal configuration
25 ex am ples when the control r ega rd ing th e power s uppl y r out e of t he
indoor communication apparatus 1 and the outdoor communication apparatu s 2 is ex ec ut ed b y t he collabo r at i on o f th e i nd oor
communication apparatus 1 and the outdoor communication apparatus 2. Fu rth er , Figs. 6A and 6 B al so s how one ex am ple of th e int ernal
30 confi gurat ion wh en a t empo rar y s t op an d a re - st art (c an cel o f t he stop )
of th e op era ti on of th e commu ni ca tio n fun cti on in th e out do or commu nic ati on ap pa r at us 2 outp ut as a rad io si gna l are al low ed b y th e operation of th e c omm uni cation s ys tem b y t he o pe r at o r acco r din g to t he s tat e of t he p ow er t o be sup pl ied i n te rms of s afet y and o pe r ab ilit y.

29
F i g. 6 A shows o n e exampl e of t he in t ernal con f i gurat ion of th e in doo r
communication apparatus 1 and Fig. 6B shows one example of the
i nt ern al c onfigu r atio n o f t he out door c ommu ni cation app arat us 2 .
[0 06 1]
5 As shown in Fig. 6A, the indoor communication apparatus 1 at
l east in clu des a po we r s uppl y s election ci rcui t 12 a t hat se le ct s w hic h one o f th e power from th e ind oor pow er s uppl y 1 3, which is the first power supply, of the indoor communication apparatus 1 and the power t r ansmitt ed vi a the commun ic ation li ne 3 as t he s e con d p ow er s uppl y
10 should be taken as the power supply to operate a communication
f uncti on 14 , a mix er 15 and the lik e and s el ects th e po wer s uppl y ro ute t o d et ermin e wheth er to ove r lap th e po we r from th e i ndo or po we r su pp l y 13 wi th th e s ignal on th e com mu ni ca t i on lin e 3 to tra ns m i t the power t o the count erp art o utd oor commu ni catio n ap pa rat us 2 as t he
15 counterpart second power supply, and a communication function 14
t hat ge ne r ates a si gnal to be t ran sm itt ed to th e co m m uni ca tion lin e 3 and p ro ce sses a sign al re ce iv ed v ia t he com muni cati on lin e 3, a mix er 15 t hat su pe rimp oses t he p ow er f ro m t he p ower sup pl y sele cti on circuit 12a on a tra nsm i ssio n si gnal fro m t he co mmun i cat ion f unc ti on 14 ,
20 s eparates the p ow er fro m the si gnal re cei ved vi a th e commu ni catio n
l i ne 3 , and ou tputs th e sign al and th e po we r to t he co mmu nic ation f uncti on 14 a nd t he p ow er sup pl y s el ect ion ci rcui t 12 a, r es pe ct ivel y, and an OD U swi tch 18 to gene r at e a con trol si gna l t o th e out doo r commu nic ati on ap pa r at us 2 .
25 [0062]
F urt her , t he po we r supp l y s electio n c ircuit 1 2a s how n in Fig. 6A a t l east in clud es, b esi des th e con tr ol ci r cuit 1 1 that cont r ol s t he power s uppl y ro ut e , a fi rst vo lta ge s enso r 1 6 th at d et ects th e voltage l evel of the po wer t r ans mitt ed from th e co unter pa rt in doo r
30 communication ap paratus 1 via the communication line 3 as the second
power su ppl y, a s econd v ol tage sen s or 17 tha t d etects the v olt age l evel of th e po we r from th e i ndo or pow er s uppl y 1 3, whi ch is t he fi rs t pow er su pp l y of t he in doo r com m unicati on app ara tus, and t hree sw it ch es 1 a, 1b, and 1 c t hat ope n an d close th e power su ppl y rou te bas ed o n the

30 cont ro l f r om t he con t ro l ci r cuit 11 . [0 06 3]
The switch 1a forms the power input mechanism to take in the
power from the indoor power supply 13 as the operating power supply
5 and su pp l y th e power to th e c omm uni cation fun cti on 14, t he mix e r 1 5,
and the ODU switch 18, the switch 1b forms the power transmission mechanism to superimpose the power from the indoor power supply 13 on t he si gnal and tra nsmit t he p ower to t he co unt erpart o u tdo or commu nic ati on ap pa r at us 2 via t he c ommu ni cation l in e 3, an d th e
10 sw it ch 1 c forms th e power ext r acti on m ec hanism to take i n the po we r
t r ansmitt ed from t he co unt erpa r t o utdo or comm uni cat i on appa r atus 2 vi a th e co mm uni ca tion lin e 3 w hil e b ein g s up erim po s ed on th e si gnal as th e operatin g p ower sup pl y a nd sup pl y t he pow er to th e communication function 14, the mixer 15, and the ODU switch 18.
15 [0064]
Th e c on trol c ircuit 1 1 op erates b y t he po we r di rectl y out pu t f r om t he f i rst vo lta ge s enso r 16 or t he s ec ond v ol tage sen sor 17 , cont ro ls t he po we r supp l y r out e based on the pow er and th e re cepti on si gn al o utput from t he fi rst volt age sens or 16 a nd the secon d volt age
20 s enso r 17 t o sup ply p ow er, an d gen erat es and o utpu t s a cont r ol si gna l
t o cont r ol t he o pe r at ion of t he co mm uni cat ion fun ctio n 14. The ODU sw it ch 1 8 gen erate s, when pre ssed b y an op era to r, a c ontrol sign al to i nst ruct t he cont rol ci r cuit 1 1 to st op th e op eratio n of t he commu nic ati on fun ctio n 2 4 of th e c ounterpart outdo or comm uni catio n
25 apparatu s 2 or t o ca nc el th e sto p of th e o per atio n o f t he co mmun ic at ion
f uncti on 24 a nd requ est s t he c ont rol circ ui t 11 to sen d th e cont r ol si gn al to t he cou nte r part out door co mmun i cati on a pp aratu s 2 v i a the commu nic ati on l ine 3 . [0 06 5]
30 F urt her, a s s how n in Fi g. 6 B, th e outdo or co m m uni cat ion
apparatu s 2 has an i nte rn al co nfi guratio n s ubs tan tial l y the sa m e as th at of th e in doo r co mmu ni c ation app aratu s 1 shown in Fi g. 6A, a nd at least i nclu des a p ower sup pl y s el ecti on ci r cuit 22 a t ha t sel ects w hich o ne o f t he po we r from t he first p ow er su ppl y o f t he out doo r commu nic ation

31
apparatu s 2 , which is th e so lar c ell 23 a, one exam ple o f th e out doo r
power su ppl y 23 and th e po we r tran s mitt ed via t he com muni ca t i on lin e
3 as the second power supply should be taken as the power supply to
operate a c omm uni cat i on fun ctio n 2 4 , a m ixe r 25 and t he lik e an d
5 s el ect s t he power suppl y ro ut e to determi ne wh eth er t o ov erla p t he
power f ro m t he sol ar cell 23a wi th th e s i gnal on th e commu ni catio n l i ne 3 to t ransmit the po wer to th e count erpart in doo r commu nic ation apparatu s 1 as t he cou nt erp art se co nd po we r s uppl y, a comm uni ca ti on f uncti on 24 th at g en erates a si gnal t o be trans mitt ed to th e
10 commu nic ati on l ine 3 and pro ce ss es a s ign al receiv ed via t he
communication line 3, and a mixer 25 that superimpo ses the power f r om t he p ower supp l y selectio n circuit 22 a on a t ransmissi on sign al f r om t he c om muni cat ion fun ctio n 24, s epa r ates th e power f r om t he si gn al re ce iv ed v ia t he com mun icati on lin e 3, and outpu ts t he si gnal
15 and the power to the communication func tion 24 and the power supply
s el ect ion ci rcui t 22 a, r esp ectiv el y. [0 06 6]
F urt her, th e p ow er s uppl y se le ct ion circ ui t 22 a sho wn i n Fig. 6B at l eas t inc lu des, b es id es th e cont ro l ci rcu it 21 t hat co ntrols the pow er
20 su pp l y r ou t e, a first v olt age s enso r 26 t h at d et ects the vo lta ge l evel o f
t he po we r t r an sm itte d fro m the count erp art i ndo or commu nic ati on apparatu s 1 vi a th e co mm uni cat ion lin e 3 a s th e seco nd p ower supp l y, a s econ d volt age se nsor 2 7 th at de t ect s t he volt age l ev el o f th e pow er f r om t he fi rs t pow e r s uppl y o f t he out doo r comm unicatio n app arat us 2,
25 which i s t he sol ar c el l 23 a, one ex am ple o f th e out door po we r supp l y
23, and t hree s witc hes 2a, 2b , an d 2c t hat op en o r cl os e th e p owe r su pp l y r ou t e bas ed on th e co ntrol from th e cont r ol c ircuit 21. [ 0067]
The switch 2a forms the power input mechanism to take in the
30 power f ro m t he solar c ell 23 a a s th e op era ti ng pow er sup pl y an d s uppl y
t he po we r to th e c omm uni cation fun ctio n 24 and t he m ixe r 25 , the switch 2b forms the power transmission mechanism to sup erimpose the power f ro m t he solar c ell 23 a on t he sign al an d tran sm i t t he p ow er t o t he count erp art i ndo or co mm uni cat ion appar atu s 1 v ia t he

32
commu nic ati on l ine 3 , and th e swit ch 2c forms t he p ow er ex tra cti on
m ech ani sm t o t ake i n the po we r trans mit ted f ro m t h e co un terp art
i ndoo r comm un icatio n app arat us 1 v ia t he com mun ic at i on lin e 3 whi le
bein g su pe rimp os ed o n th e s ign al as the o pe r at ing po we r s uppl y and
5 supply the power to the communication function 24 and the mixer 25.
[0 06 8]
Th e con trol ci rcuit 2 1 o per at es b y th e po we r directl y outpu t
f r om t he fi rs t volt age sens or 26 or t he secon d volt age s enso r 27,
cont ro ls t he po we r supp l y r out e based on the rec eptio n si gna l and th e
10 power o utp ut fro m th e fi rst v ol t age s enso r 26 an d t he secon d volt age
s enso r 27 as th e p ower to be sup plie d, ge nerates a c ontrol si gnal to
cont ro l the op eration of th e comm unicati on fu nct ion 2 4 , an d outpu ts
t he co ntrol sign al .
[0 06 9]
15 The con trol regar d ing the pow er su ppl y ro ute i n th e in door
communication apparatus 1 and the outdoor comm unication apparatus 2 shown in Figs. 6A and 6B is executed as follows as one example. [0 07 0]
( 1 ) W hen the se cond volt age sens or 27 has de t ect ed t hat th e
20 power gen eratio n am oun t in the s ola r cell 23 a i s so sm all t hat it is
i m poss ibl e to su pp l y t he amou n t o f p ower ne ces s ar y f or th e op eratio n of onl y th e ou td oor co mm uni cat ion appar atu s 2 ,
t he o ut doo r c omm uni cat ion ap par atu s 2 p erfo rms con trol, bas ed
on t he cont r ol fro m t he co ntrol circ uit 21 , t o op en t he swi t ch es 2 a a nd
25 2b, close t he s wit ch 2 c, s ele ct th e po we r tran sm it ted f r om t he ind oor
commu nic ati on ap pa r at us 1 vi a t he c ommu ni cation l in e 3 as th e
operatin g power s uppl y fo r th e op erat io n of th e o utd oo r c om muni ca ti on
apparatu s 2 b y th e po we r s uppl y s electio n circuit 2 2a .
[0 07 1]
30 Th at is , t he comm uni cat io n fu nct ion 2 4 and t he mix er 25 i n th e
outdoor communication apparatus 2 operate by the power output from t he first volt age s ensor 26 vi a t he p owe r sup pl y s elect ion c i rcuit 2 2a . Th e con trol ci rcuit 2 1 i n the ou tdoor com municati on a pparatus 2 operates b y t he p ow er directl y o ut pu t f r om t he fi rst vo lta ge sensor 26 .

33 [0 07 2]
On the o th er h and , t he in door comm unicati on a pp aratus 1
detects, as t he d ete ct ion r es ul ts i n th e f irs t vo lta ge senso r 1 6 an d the
s econ d volt age se nsor 1 7, th at th e volt age level of th e pow er
5 su perimp os ed on t he si gnal fr om the comm unicatio n l i ne 3 h as not
de crease d and the pow er o utp ut from th e in doo r po we r su pp l y 1 3 i s i n
t he no rm al s t at e . Ther efo r e, th e in door commu ni catio n ap parat us 1
pe rforms co nt rol, b as ed on th e con trol f ro m th e c on trol circ uit 21, to
open t he s wi tch e s 1 c an d 1b, cl os e t he s wit ch 1 a, and s el ect the po wer
10 f r om t he i ndoo r p ow er sup pl y 1 3 as t he op eratin g p owe r s uppl y fo r t he
operation o f the i ndo or comm uni cati on a pparatus 1 b y th e po we r su pp l y s el ecti on ci r cuit 12 a . [0 07 3]
Th at is , t he com m uni cat ion fun ctio n 14, th e mix er 15 , and t he
15 ODU switch 18 in the indoor communication apparatus 1 operate by the
power o utp ut fro m th e secon d vol t age se ns or 1 7 vi a t he po we r suppl y s el ect ion ci rcui t 12 a. Th e cont rol ci r cuit 11 i n th e ind oor
commu nic ati on ap pa r at us 1 op erat es b y th e p owe r di rect l y ou t put from
t he se cond v olt age se ns or 1 7.
20 [0074]
( 2 ) W hen the se cond volt age sens or 27 has de t ect ed t hat th e
power gen eratio n am oun t in th e s ola r cell 23 a has b een in cre ased to th e
l evel wh ere onl y t he o ut doo r c omm unicati on app ara tus 2 can be
operated from the level where even only the outdoor communication
25 apparatu s 2 c an not be operated ,
t he o ut doo r c omm uni cat ion ap par atu s 2 p erfo rms con trol, bas ed
on t he cont r ol fro m t he co ntrol c ir c uit 21 , t o op en t he s wit ch 2 c, clo s e
t he sw it ch 2 a, a nd swi tc h th e s tat e i n whi ch th e power t r ansmitt ed from
t he ind oo r c om muni ca ti on appa r atus 1 vi a t he commu nicatio n lin e 3 is
30 s el ect ed t o the st ate in whi ch t he po we r from th e sol ar cel l 23a is
s el ect ed as t he operatin g p ow er sup pl y b y th e po we r s uppl y s electio n ci rcui t 22 a. T he swi t ch 2b is kept t o be op en ed . [0 07 5]
Th at is , t he comm uni catio n f un ct ion 2 4 and t he mix er 25 in t he

34
outdo or com mu nicatio n app arat us 2 are i n th e stat e in wh ic h th e y a r e
operated b y t he p ow er outpu t f r om t he fi r st vol ta ge s ensor 26 vi a the
power su ppl y s el ect ion ci r cui t 22a. Th e c ontrol c ircuit 2 1 in the
outdo or c om muni cat i on ap pa r at us 2 i s in th e s tat e i n whi ch it is
5 operated b y t he p ow er direc tl y o ut pu t f r om t he f irs t vo lta ge s ensor 26.
On the o th er hand , sin ce th ere i s no chan ge in th e d et ect ion r esul ts i n t he first volt age s ensor 16 a nd the s ec ond vol ta ge s enso r 17 , th e i ndoo r commu nic ati on ap pa r at us 1 k eep s th e s tat e i n whi ch it sel ect s th e power f ro m t he i ndo or po w er sup pl y 1 3 fo r t he op erati on of the in doo r
10 communication apparatus 1 .
[0 07 6]
( 3 ) W hen th e seco nd vo l t age s enso r 27 d ete ct s t hat t he po wer generati on amo unt i n th e so la r c ell 2 3 a h as been inc r ea sed t o th e l evel where the outdoor communication apparatu s 2 and the indoor
15 commu nic ati on ap pa r at us 1 c an be con cu r r en tl y o pe r at ed ,
t he co ntrol ci rcu it 2 1 o f t he out doo r commu nic ation ap pa r at us 2 fi rst ou tputs to th e comm uni cat i on fun cti o n 2 4 a c ontrol sign al to i nst ruct t he com mun ic at ion fu nct io n 24 t o gener a te a notifi cat i on si gn al to s end a no tifi cation i ndicati ng t hat t he p ower ge ne r ation
20 am oun t in th e solar c ell 23 a h as been i nc r eas ed t o the level where b oth
the outdoor communication apparatus 2 and the indoor communication apparatu s 1 c an b e con cu rre ntl y op erated . The commu nic ati on func tio n 24 t hat has receiv ed the c ont rol sign al ge ne r ates th e notifi cat ion s ign al i nst ruct ed b y th e c ont rol circu i t 2 1 a nd s ends th e n oti ficati on si gnal t o
25 t he co unt erpart i ndo or comm uni cati on a ppa ratus 1 vi a t he mix e r 2 5 an d
t he commun ic atio n li ne 3 . [0 07 7]
The communication function 14 of the indoor communication apparatu s 1 th at h as r eceive d t h e n oti fi cati on sign al fr om th e out doo r
30 communication apparatus 2 via the communication line 3 and the mixer
15 transfe r s t he noti fic ation si gna l to t he c ont r ol circ uit 11. T he cont ro l ci r cu it 11 ch ecks wh eth er i t is r ead y to s wit ch the p ow er su pp l y f r om th e i ndoo r p ow er sup pl y 1 3 t hat h as sup pli ed power to t he power f ro m t he commu ni catio n line 3 . Wh en it is con fir med t hat th e

35
power su ppl y c an b e s wit ched wit hout an y probl em , th e cont rol ci r cuit
11 outp uts t o the comm unicati on funct ion 14 a co ntrol sign al to
i nst ruct t he com mun ic at ion fu nct io n 14 t o gener at e a r esponse si gnal to
r equest t ransmi ssi on of the p ow er f r om t he sol ar cell 23 a t o t he i ndo or
5 communication apparatus 1 via the communication line 3 in such a way
t hat th e po wer is s upe rim pose d on the si gnal . Th e com municati on f uncti on 14 th at h as r eceive d t h e cont r ol si gnal generates t he resp onse si gn al in dicated by t he con trol ci r cuit 11 a nd s end s b ac k th e re sp on s e si gn al to t he co unt erp art o utd oor commu ni catio n ap parat us 2 vi a th e
10 mixer 15 and the communication line 3 .
[0 07 8]
The communication function 24 of the outdoor communication apparatu s 2 th at h as r eceive d t h e res po nse sign al se nt from th e ind oor communication apparatus 1 via the communication line 3 and the mixer
15 25 transfe r s t he respon s e si gnal t o t he cont r ol circ uit 21. T he cont rol
ci rcui t 21 that ha s r ecei ved t he resp onse si gnal cau s es t he sta t e of not onl y th e o ut doo r c omm uni cation appar atu s 2 b ut also th at of th e ind oo r communication apparatus 1 to become one in which they receive power f r om t he sol ar c ell 2 3a . Tha t is , b ase d o n the cont ro l f r om t he c ont rol
20 ci rcui t 21 , such a c ont rol is p erfo rm ed b y th e po we r su ppl y s el ect ion
ci rcui t 22 a a s t o close th e sw it ch 2 b, s upe r im pose t he pow er from th e so l ar c ell 2 3 a o n t he sign al fr om th e comm uni catio n fun cti on 2 4 in t he m i xer 25 , and t r an smit t he po wer to the co unt erp art i ndo or commu nic ati on ap pa r at us 1 via t he c ommu nic ation l ine 3 . T he swit ch
25 2 c is kep t to b e o pened and th e swi t ch 2 a i s k ept to b e clo s ed .
[0 07 9]
On the o th er h and , t he ind oor c om m uni ca tion appar atu s 1 th at has sent b ack th e re sp on s e s ign al t hat r equest s p ow er t ransmi ss ion f r om t he sol ar c ell 2 3 a p erform s c ont rol , at a tim ing su bst anti all y th e
30 s am e as th e ti min g wh en the s wit ch 2 b is cl osed i n t he count erpart
outdo or c om muni cat i on ap pa r at us 2, b as ed on th e c ontrol f ro m th e cont ro l ci r cu it 11 , t o close t he swit ch 1 c , ope n t he s witc h 1 a, and sw it ch t h e state in wh ich t he p ow er from t he ind oor po wer s uppl y 1 3 is s el ect ed t o th e sta te i n wh ich t he po we r tran sm itt ed from th e outdo or

36
commu nic ati on ap pa r at us 2 via t he commu nic ation l ine 3 is s el ected as
t he o perat ing power s uppl y b y t he p owe r sup pl y s el ect io n ci r cuit 12 a .
Th e switch 1b i s k ept to b e o pened .
[0 08 0]
5 Th at is , t he com m uni cat ion fun ctio n 14, th e mix er 15 , and t he
ODU switch 18 in the indoor communication apparatus 1 start to
operate b y t he power out put from th e fi rst v ol tage sen so r 16 v ia t he
power su ppl y s el ect ion ci r cui t 12a . Th e c ontrol c ircuit 1 1 in the
i ndoo r comm uni ca ti on ap pa r at us 1 o pe r at es b y t he pow er t hat i s
10 di rect l y ou tp ut fro m th e fi r st vol ta ge sens or 16 .
[0 08 1]
As a res ult , both t he ind oor co m m un ica tio n app ar at us 1 and th e
outdo or com mu nicatio n app arat us 2 are set to t he s tat e in w hi ch t he
power f ro m t he solar c ell 23 a is us ed as th e o pe r at ing pow er suppl y.
15 [0082]
When the indoor power supply 13 has also reached the power
l evel wh ere both t he ind oor co mm un icatio n app ar a t us 1 an d the outd oor
commu nic ati on ap pa r at us 2 c an be c onc urrentl y operate d in a ddit io n to
t he s ola r cell 2 3a , a n operatio n di ffere nt fro m tha t descri be d abov e is
20 pe rform ed. That is, i n t his ca se, th e ind oo r c ommu ni cat ion apparatu s 1
m a y s el ect o ne of th e s ol ar cell 2 3a and t he ind oo r po wer s uppl y 1 3 as t he o perat ing power s uppl y i n a p r edeter min ed order . [0 08 3]
( 4 ) Aft er th at , whe n th e se cond vo lta ge s enso r 17 h as det ect ed
25 that the amount of power of the indoor power supply 13 has been
de crease d t o t he level where o nl y t he i ndo or com municatio n app arat us 1 can b e op era t ed ,
t he co ntrol ci rcu it 11 of th e i ndoo r comm unicati on a pp arat us 1
fi rst output s t o th e co mmun i cat ion fu nctio n 14 a cont ro l sign al to
30 i nst ruct t he com mun ic at ion fu nct io n 14 t o gener at e a notifi cat ion
si gn al to s end a no tifi cation i ndicati ng t hat t he am oun t of po wer of th e i ndoo r p ow er sup pl y 1 3 ha s been d ec r eased t o th e l eve l wh ere onl y t he i ndoo r comm un icatio n app arat us 1 ca n be op erat ed to set b ac k t he sta te of th e i ndoo r c om m unicati o n a pparatus 1 so th at th e in doo r

37
commu nic ati on ap pa r at us 1 op erat es b y th e p owe r f rom th e ind oor
power supply 13, not by the power from the communication line 3. The
commu nic ati on fun ctio n 1 4 tha t has r ec eiv ed the con t rol s ign al
generat es t he not ific atio n sign al inst r ucted b y th e c ont r ol circ uit 11
5 and s en ds t he not ific atio n si gnal t o th e coun te rp art out doo r
communication apparatus 2 via the mixer 15 and the communication line 3. [0 08 4]
The communication function 24 of the outdoor communication
10 apparat us 2 t hat has rec eiv ed th e no ti fi cation sign al from th e ind oor
communication apparatus 1 via the communication line 3 and the mixer 25 transfe r s t he noti fi ca tion sign al to t he c ont r ol circ uit 21. T he cont ro l ci r cu it 21 ch ecks wh eth er i t is r ead y to st op t he p ower from t he so l ar ce ll 23a t hat h as t r ansmit t ed p owe r to t he co mmuni cat ion lin e 3 .
15 Wh en i t is confi rm ed that the power su ppl y can b e s to pp ed wi thout an y
problem, t he co ntrol ci rcui t 21 outp uts t o the com municati on fu nct ion 24 a co ntrol s ign al t o in s tru ct t he commun icatio n fu nct ion 2 4 to generat e a respon s e s i gnal i ndi cati ng th at t he p ow er t ransmi ssion from t he solar c el l 2 3 a c an be s topped . Th e commu nic atio n f unc ti on 24 t hat
20 has receiv ed the con t ro l si gna l gen erates t he respo ns e si gnal inst ruct ed
b y the cont rol ci r cuit 21 and sen ds ba ck the r esponse s ign al t o th e count erp art i ndo or co m m uni cat ion ap par atus 1 via t he mix er 25 and t he commu nic ati on l ine 3 . [0 08 5]
25 The communication function 14 of the indoor communication
apparatu s 1 th at h as r eceive d t he respo ns e si gnal f r om the out doo r communication apparatus 2 via the communication line 3 and the mixer 15 transfe r s t he r esp onse si gn al to t he cont r ol circ uit 11. T he cont rol ci rcui t 11 that ha s r ecei ved t he resp on s e si gna l sw itc hes the power
30 su pp l y t hat sup pli es po we r t o t he indo or co mmuni cat ion apparatu s 1
from the power from the communication line 3 to the power from the i ndoo r p ow er sup pl y 1 3 as t he op eratin g p owe r sup pl y. Th at is, bas ed on t he cont r ol b y th e co nt rol ci r cui t 11 , su ch a co ntrol is per f orme d b y t he p ower sup pl y s electi on ci r cuit 12 a as to cl os e t he swi tch 1a, op en

38 t he sw it ch 1 c, a nd s el ect t he po wer from th e ind oor pow er s uppl y 1 3 as t he o perat ing power s uppl y. The sw it ch 1b is ke pt to be op ene d . [0 08 6]
In summary, the communication function 14, the mixer 15, and
5 the ODU switch 18 in the indoor communication apparatus 1 are to be
operated b y t he p ow er outpu t f r om t he se co nd v olt age sens or 17 via t he
power su ppl y s el ect ion ci r cui t 12a. Th e c ontrol c ircuit 1 1 in the
i ndoo r comm uni c ation app aratu s 1 o pe r at es b y th e pow er di rectl y
output f r om t he second v olt age sen s or 17 .
10 [0087]
On the o th er h and , t he out doo r commun ic atio n app arat us 2 t hat has sent b ack th e re sp on s e s ign al i nd ica t i ng th at the pow er
t r ansmission from th e s ola r cel l 23 a ca n be s topp ed performs cont ro l,
bas ed o n the cont r ol fro m the cont ro l circ uit 21, to op en th e switc h 2b
15 and st op t he o pe r ation fo r t r ans mitt in g th e po we r from th e s ol ar c ell
23a vi a th e c om muni ca ti on lin e 3 b y t he po we r suppl y s ele ctio n ci r cuit
22a at a timi ng su bs tan ti all y t he s ame as th e t imin g wh en th e s witch 1c
i s op en ed i n th e cou nt erp art in do or com municati on a pparatus 1 . T he
sw it ch 2 c i s k ept t o be op ene d and t he swi tc h 2 a is k ept to b e closed .
20 [0088]
Th at is , t he comm uni catio n f un ct ion 2 4 and t he mix er 25 i n th e
outdo or com mu nicatio n app arat us 2 are k ept to b e t he st ate in whi ch
t he y are op erat ed b y t he po we r out put f ro m th e se cond vol ta ge s ensor
27 via t he power s uppl y sele ctio n circ uit 22a. Th e co ntrol ci r cuit 2 1
25 i n t he outdo or commu nic a tion appa r atu s 2 is kept t o be the st ate i n
which it is o per ate d by t he pow er d ire ctl y ou tpu t f r om the seco nd voltage se nso r 2 7. [0 08 9]
As a res ult , t he i ndo or comm uni cati on a pparatus 1 and t he
30 outdo or com mu nicatio n app arat us 2 are r esp ect ive l y se t t o t he sta t es in
which the power f r om t he fi rst power s upp l y o f th e i ndoo r
commu nic ati on ap pa r at us , i . e. , t he pow er from th e indoo r p ow er sup pl y 13, and t he po wer from t he so la r c ell 23 a a r e us ed as th e o per atin g power supply.

39 [0 09 0]
( 5 ) Aft er th at , whe n it i s d ete ct ed b y th e s eco nd vo lta ge s enso r
17 that the amount of power of the indoor power supply 13 has been
i ncreased f rom t he l ev el whe r e onl y th e in doo r comm unicati on
5 apparatu s 1 c an be o pe r at ed t o t he level where t he i ndo or
communication apparatus 1 and the outdoor communication apparatus 2 ca n b e co nc urrentl y o perated ,
t he co ntrol ci rcu it 11 of th e i ndoo r comm unicati on a pp arat us 1 output s t o t he commu ni cation fu ncti on 1 4 a con tr ol si gnal t o i ns truc t
10 t he co mmun i cat ion fu nctio n 14 t o gen erat e a noti fi cat i on s ign al to s en d
a n oti fi ca t i on in dic at in g t hat th e am ount o f po we r of t he in doo r p ow er su pp l y 13 h as reac hed th e le vel wh ere b ot h th e ind oor com muni cati on apparatus 1 and the outdoor communication apparatus 2 can be concurren tl y operate d t o s et back t he s tat e of t he i ndo or
15 commu nic ati on ap pa r at us 1 so t hat t he ind oor co m m un ica tio n app ar at us
1 op erates b y th e po we r from th e c ommun ic ati on li ne 3, not b y t he power from the indoor power supply 13 . The communication function 14 t hat has receiv ed the con t ro l sign al ge ne r ates th e notifi cat ion s ign al i nst ruct ed b y th e c ont rol circu i t 1 1 a nd s ends th e noti fi cat ion s ign al to
20 t he co unt erpart o utd oor comm uni cati on a pparatus 2 v ia t he mix e r 1 5
and th e commun ic ation l ine 3. [0 09 1]
The communication function 2 4 of the outdoor communication apparatu s 2 th at h as r eceive d t h e n oti fi cati on sign al fr om th e ind oor
25 communication apparatus 1 via the communication line 3 and the mixer
25 transfe r s t he noti fi ca tion sign al to t he c ont r ol circ uit 21. T he cont ro l ci r cu it 2 1 ch ecks wh eth er i t is r ead y to r e - st art t he o pe r ati on f or t ransmittin g th e power f r om t he sol ar cel l 23a t hat h as b een st op ped to t he commu nic ati on l ine 3 . W he n it i s c on firmed th at t he
30 operation ca n b e re - st art ed w ith out an y p r obl em, th e cont rol ci r cuit 21
output s t o t he commu ni cation fu ncti on 2 4 a con tr ol si gnal t o i ns truc t t he co mmun i cat ion fu nctio n 24 t o gen erat e a respo ns e si gna l indicati ng t hat th e po wer tra ns m i ssio n f r om t he sol ar c ell 2 3 a c an b e re-star ted . Th e com muni cati on fun ctio n 24 that has re cei ved th e con trol si gna l

40 generat es t he resp onse si gna l ins tructed b y t he co ntrol ci r cui t 2 1 an d s ends ba ck t he r es ponse sign al to th e co unterpart i nd oo r
communication apparatus 1 via the mixer 25 and the communication
line 3.
5 [0092]
The communication function 14 of the indoor communication apparatu s 1 th at h as r eceive d t h e res ponse sign al from th e out doo r communication apparatus 2 via the communication line 3 and the mixer 15 transfe r s t he respon s e si gnal t o t he cont r ol circ uit 11. T he cont rol
10 ci rcu i t 11 th at has r ec eiv ed t he r esp ons e si gna l sw itc hes the power
su pp l y th at su ppl ie s power to t he indo or co mmuni cat ion apparatu s 1 from the power from the indoor power supply 13 to the power from the commu nic ati on l ine 3 as t he o pe r atin g p owe r supp l y. Th at i s , base d on t he co ntrol by t he con t ro l ci r cuit 11 , t he p owe r sup pl y selecti on ci rcuit
15 12a pe rforms co nt rol to c lo s e th e sw it ch 1 c, op en th e swi tch 1a, and
s el ect the p ow er f rom t he c omm un icatio n l ine 3 as the oper ati ng po we r su pp l y. The swi tc h 1b is k ep t to be op en ed . [0 09 3]
In summary, the communication function 14, the mixer 15, and
20 the ODU switch 18 in the indoor communication apparatus 1 are to be
operated b y t he p ow er out put fr om th e fi r st v ol tage sen sor 16 v ia the power su ppl y s el ect ion ci r cui t 1 2 a. Th e c ontrol c ircuit 1 1 in the i ndoo r comm uni ca ti on ap pa r at us 1 o pe r at es b y th e pow er di rectl y output f r om t he first vol ta ge s ensor 16.
25 [0094]
On the o th er h and , t he out doo r commun ic atio n app arat us 2 t hat has sent b ack th e re sp on s e s ign al i nd ica t in g t hat th e po wer
t r ansmission from th e sol ar c ell 23 a ca n be re -st art ed per f or m s cont ro l, bas ed o n the cont r ol fro m the cont ro l circ uit 21 , to cl ose the s wit ch 2 b
30 and al low t he r e -sta rt o f the op eratio n fo r t r ansm itti ng th e p ow er f r om
t he s ola r c el l 2 3a vi a t he co mm uni cation lin e 3 b y t he po we r su pp l y s el ect ion ci rcui t 22 a at a tim ing substantia ll y th e s ame as th e ti min g when t he swi t ch 1 c is closed in t he cou nt erp art in door co mmun i cat ion apparatu s 1 . Th e swit ch 2c is kept t o be op ene d an d t he s wit ch 2 a is

41 kept to be closed. [0 09 5]
That is , t he comm uni catio n f un ct ion 2 4 and t he mix er 25 in t he
outdo or com mu nicatio n app arat us 2 are k ept to b e t he st ate in whi ch
5 t he y are op erat ed b y t he po we r out put f ro m th e se cond vol ta ge s ensor
27 via t he power s uppl y se le cti on c irc uit 22a . Th e co ntrol ci r cuit 2 1
i n t he outdo or commu nic ati on app ara t us 2 is kept t o be the st ate i n
which it is o per ate d by t he pow er d ire ctl y ou tpu t f r om the seco nd
voltage se nso r 2 7.
10 [0096]
As a res ult , both t he ind oor co m m un ica tio n a p para t us 1 an d th e
outdo or c om muni cat i on ap pa r at us 2 are set to t he s tat e s in wh ich th e y
are op erat ed usin g t he pow er from th e s ola r cel l 23 a as th e op erati ng
power supply.
15 [0097]
( 6 ) Aft er th at , whe n the second voltage se ns or 2 7 det ec ts th at
t he p ower generat ion am oun t in th e s ola r cel l 23 a has b een d ec r ea sed
f r om t he l evel w he r e t he out door c om m unicati on app ara tus 2 an d th e
i ndoo r comm uni ca ti on ap pa r at us 1 ca n be co nc ur r entl y op erated to th e
20 level where only the outdoor communication apparatus 2 can be
operated ,
t he co ntrol ci rcu it 2 1 o f t he out doo r commu nic ation ap pa r at us 2
output s t o t he commu ni cation fu ncti on 2 4 a con tr ol si gnal t o inst ruct
t he co mmun i cat ion fu nctio n 24 t o gen erat e a noti f ic at ion si gna l fo r
25 s endin g a no ti fi ca tio n in dic ati ng that t h e pow er gen era tio n amou nt i n
t he solar c el l 2 3 a h as been d ec r eased to th e l ev el wh ere th e ind oor
commu nic ati on ap pa r at us 1 c ann ot be con curren tl y operat ed wi t h th e
outdoor communication apparatus 2 . The communication function 24
t hat h as r ec ei ved th e co ntrol s ign al ge ne r at es the notific ati on si gnal
30 i ndicat ed b y th e c on trol c ircuit 2 1 a nd sends th e noti fi cat i on s ign al to
t he co unt erpart i ndo or comm uni cati on a ppa ratus 1 vi a t he mix e r 2 5 an d t he commun ic atio n li ne 3 . [0 09 8]
The communication function 14 of the indoor communication

42
apparatu s 1 th at h as r eceive d t h e n oti fi cati on sign al fr om th e out doo r
communication apparatus 2 via the communication line 3 and the mixer
15 transfe r s t he noti fi ca tion sign al to t he c ont r ol circ uit 11. T he
cont ro l ci r cu it 11 ch ecks wh eth er i t is r ead y to s wit ch the p ow er
5 supply that supplies power from the power from the communication
l i ne 3 t o the power fr om the i ndo or po wer su ppl y 13 . W hen it is confi rm ed that the po wer s uppl y can be swi t ched wit ho ut an y probl em , t he co ntro l circuit 1 1 o utp uts a co nt rol s ign al t o inst ru ct t he generati on of the r esponse si gnal in dic ati ng the pow er tr an smi ssion
10 f r om t he sol ar c ell 2 3 a can be st opp ed to th e co mmuni cat ion fun ctio n
14. Th e c om muni cat i on fun ctio n 1 4 th at has re cei ved th e co nt rol si gn al ge ne rates a r esp onse si gnal in dic at ed b y th e con tr ol ci rcuit 1 1 and s en ds ba ck t he r es po nse sign al to t he co unt erpa rt o utdo or communication apparatus 2 via the mixer 15 and the communication
15 line 3.
[0 09 9]
The communication function 24 of the ou tdoor communication apparatu s 2 th at h as r eceive d t h e res ponse sign al from th e ind oor communication apparatus 1 via the communication line 3 and the mixer
20 25 t ransfe r s th e r esponse si gnal to t he control circui t 21 . T he cont r ol
ci rcui t 21 that ha s r ecei ved th e res pon s e sign al sto ps po wer t r ansmission to t he i nd oo r c ommuni cat ion apparatu s 1 from th e so lar cell 2 3a a nd allo ws the po wer fro m t he sol ar cell 23a to b e s uppli ed to onl y th e o ut doo r c omm uni cation appar atu s 2. T ha t i s , b as ed o n th e
25 cont ro l f r om t he con t ro l ci r cuit 21 , t he p owe r supp l y s electi on c i rcuit
22a pe rforms co nt rol to o pen th e swi t ch 2b an d all ow th e sto p of the operation of t ransmit t i ng th e power f r om t he so la r c ell 2 3 a t o the count erp art i ndo or co mm uni cat ion ap par atus 1. T he sw itch 2 c is k ept t o b e open ed , th e sw it ch 2 a i s k ept to b e closed , and t he o utdo or
30 commu nic ati on ap pa r at us 2 k eep s th e s tat e i n whi ch it sel ect s th e
power f ro m t he solar c ell 23 a a s the op era ti ng pow er sup pl y for th e operation of th e o utdoo r comm unicatio n ap parat us 2 . [0 10 0]
On the o th er h and , t he ind oor c om m uni ca tion appar atu s 1 th at

43 has sent b ack th e re sp on s e s ign al i nd ica t i ng th at the pow er
t r ansmission from th e s ola r cel l 2 3 a ca n be s topp ed performs cont ro l,
bas ed o n the cont r ol by th e c ont rol circ ui t 11, to close t he sw itc h 1a,
open t he s wi tch 1 c, a nd s witch th e stat e in wh ich t he power tra nsmi tte d
5 from the outdoor communication apparatus 2 via the communication
l i ne 3 i s sel ect ed to th e st ate i n wh i ch th e po wer from t he ind oor power
su pp l y 1 3 i s sele cte d a s t he op erati ng pow er su ppl y b y t he pow er
su pp l y s el ecti on ci r cuit 12 a at a t imin g subst anti all y th e s am e as t he
t i m ing w he n th e swi tch 2b i s o pened in th e cou nte r pa rt out doo r
10 communication apparatus 2 .
[0 10 1]
That is , t he com m uni cat ion fun ctio n 14, th e m ix er 15 , and t he ODU switch 18 in the indoor communication apparatus 1 are to be operated b y t he p ow er outpu t f r om t he se co nd v olt age sens or 17 via t he
15 power su ppl y s el ect ion ci r cui t 12a. Th e c ontrol c ircuit 1 1 in the
i ndoo r comm uni ca ti on ap pa r at us 1 o pe r ate s b y th e po we r di r ectl y output f r om t he second v olt age sen s or 17 . [0 10 2]
As a res ult , t he in doo r c ommun icati on app ara tus 1 and t he
20 outdo or com mu nicatio n app arat us 2 are r esp ect ive l y set to t he st at es in
which the y are op erat ed b y th e power f ro m th e f irst power s uppl y o f t he ind oo r commu nic ati on app ara t us , i.e . , the pow er from th e i ndoo r power su ppl y 13 , a nd t he p ow er fro m t he solar cel l 23a as t he operatin g power sup pl y.
25 [0103]
While the switch 1b can be kept to be opened, when the indoor power supply 13 is a stable power suppl y that consumes a small amount of po wer , i n case of an ab r upt decrease o f the po we r g en erati on amo unt i n the sol ar c ell 23 a, t he s wit ch 1b may be clo sed and p ower can b e
30 t r ansmitt ed in adv an ce to th e co unter pa rt out doo r commu nicati on
apparatu s 2 vi a th e co mm uni cat ion lin e 3 i f th e amou nt o f p ower o f th e i ndoo r power su pp l y 1 3 ha s reach ed th e l ev el wh ere both th e ind oor communication apparatus 1 and the outdoor communication apparatus 2 ca n b e concurr en tl y o per at ed .

44 [0 10 4]
( 7 ) Aft er th at , whe n it i s d et ected in the seco nd volt age s ens or
27 t hat t he po wer ge ne ration am oun t in th e sol ar ce ll 23 a has b een
de crease d f rom t he l evel whe r e onl y t he o ut doo r commun icatio n
5 apparatu s 2 c an be o pe r at ed t o t he level where eve n onl y th e outd oo r
commu nic ati on ap pa r at us 2 c an no l onge r be op erat ed ,
t he co ntrol ci rcu it 2 1 o f t he out doo r commu nic ation ap pa r at us 2 fi rst output s t o th e co mmun i cat ion fu nctio n 24 a cont ro l sign al to i nst ruct t he com mun ic at ion fu nct io n 24 t o gener at e a noti f ic at i o n
10 si gn al to s end a no tifi cation i ndicati ng t hat t he p ower ge ne r ation
am oun t in th e solar c ell 23 a h as been d ec r eased to th e l ev el wh ere even onl y th e o ut doo r c omm uni cation appar atu s 2 c an n o l on ger b e op era ted . Th e com muni ca ti on fun ctio n 24 th at has re ce i ve d th e con trol si gna l generat es t he not ific atio n si gna l i ns tru ct ed b y t he c ont r ol circ uit 21
15 and s en ds t he n oti fi cati on sign al to t he co unt erpa r t in doo r
communication apparatus 1 via the mixer 25 and the communication line 3. [0 10 5]
The communication function 14 of the indoor communication
20 apparatu s 1 th at h as r eceive d t h e n oti fi cati on sign al fr om th e out doo r
communication apparatus 2 via the communication line 3 and the mixer 15 transfe r s t he noti fi ca tion sign al to t he c ont r ol circ uit 11. T he cont ro l ci rcuit 1 1 ch ecks wh eth er t he am ount of power o f t he i ndo or power supply 13 has recovered to the amount of power where the
25 indoor communication apparatus 1 and the outdoor communication
apparatu s 2 c an be con curren tl y s upp lied wi th po we r . When i t is confirmed that the amount of power of the indoor power supply 13 has r ecov ere d t o the st at e wher e the po wer can b e tran sm itt ed als o to th e outdoor communication apparatus 2 via the communication line 3
30 wi tho ut an y probl em , th e cont r ol ci rcuit 11 output s t o t h e
commu nic ati on fun ctio n 1 4 a con t ro l si gna l to i nstru ct t he commu nic ati on fun ctio n 1 4 to ge nerat e a r esp onse sig nal ind ic at ing t hat th e po wer tra ns m i ssio n f r om t he i ndo or po we r su pp l y 1 3 can be st art ed . The c om muni ca ti on fun cti on 14 th at has re ce iv ed t he co ntrol

45
si gn al ge ne rates th e respon s e si gna l i ndi cat ed b y th e c ontrol circui t 11
and s en ds ba ck t he r es po nse sign al to t he co unt erpa rt o utdo or
communication apparatus 2 via the mixer 15 and the communication
line 3.
5 [0106]
The communication function 2 4 of the outdoor communication apparatu s 2 th at h as r eceive d t h e res ponse sign al from th e ind oor communication apparatus 1 via the communication line 3 and the mixer 25 t ransfe r s th e r esponse si gnal to t he control circui t 21 . T he cont r ol
10 ci rcui t 21 that h a s recei ved th e resp ons e si gna l sto ps t he o pe r ati on fo r
su pp l yin g t he p ower fro m th e s ola r cel l 23 a an d all ows t he sup pl y of t he po we r t r an sm itte d fro m the in door comm unicatio n a pp aratus 1 vi a t he commun ic atio n li ne 3 . Th at i s , ba s ed on th e co nt rol from t he cont ro l ci r cu it 21 , t he power sup pl y s ele cti on circ uit 22 a pe r fo rms
15 cont ro l to clo s e t he s wit ch 2c, op en the swit ch 2 a , a nd s wit ch the st ate
i n whi ch th e p ow er fr om the s ola r ce ll 2 3 a is s el ect ed t o th e stat e i n which the power transmitted from the indoor communication apparatus 1 vi a th e commun ic ati on l ine 3 is sel ect ed as th e op eratin g p owe r su pp l y. Th e s wi tch 2b is k ept to be op en ed .
20 [0107]
Th at is , t he comm uni catio n f un ct ion 2 4 and t he mix er 25 in t he outdo or c om muni cat i on ap pa r at us 2 are t o b e o pe r at ed b y th e p ow er output f r om t he fi r st vol tage sensor 2 6 vi a th e p ow er su ppl y se l ect ion ci rcui t 22 a. T he cont ro l circu it 21 in th e outd oor c ommu ni cation
25 apparatu s 2 operate s b y th e po we r th at is directl y o utput f ro m th e first
voltage se nso r 2 6. [0 108]
M eanwhil e, th e i ndo or co m m uni cat ion appar atu s 1 th at h as sent ba ck t he res pon s e sign al indi catin g t hat t he p ower t r ansmi ssi on from
30 t he i ndoo r p owe r sup pl y 1 3 wil l b e s ta rt ed pe r f orm s con tr ol , b ase d on
t he co ntrol by t he con t ro l ci r cuit 11 , t o close t h e s wi tch 1b and s ele ct t he s tat e i n whi ch the po wer from th e ind oo r pow er s uppl y 1 3 is t r ansmitt ed t o the cou nt erp art ou td oo r comm un icatio n app ara tus 2 v ia t he commun ic atio n li ne 3 b y t he p ow er s up pl y se le ct ion c ircuit 1 2a at a

46
t i m ing s ub st ant ial l y t he same as th e timi ng wh en th e sw itch 2c is
cl osed i n t h e coun terpart outd oor co mmun i c ati on a pp aratu s 2 . As
described above, the switch 1b may have already been closed in some
ca ses . The swit ch 1 c i s k ept to b e op ened an d th e s witc h 1 a i s k ept to
5 be clo s ed a n d th e i ndo or com m unicat ion ap par atus 1 k ee ps th e s tat e i n
which the power f r om t he ind oor pow er s up pl y 1 3 is s el ect ed as th e operatin g power s uppl y fo r t he op erat i on of th e i ndo or co m m uni cat ion apparatu s 1 . [0 10 9]
10 That is , t he com m uni cat ion fun ctio n 14 , th e mix er 15 , and t he
ODU switch 18 in the indoor communication apparatus 1 keep the state i n whi ch t he y are ope r ated b y th e p ow er outpu t f r om t he se co nd voltage se nso r 1 7 via th e p ow er sup pl y sel ect ion c i rcui t 12a . T he cont ro l ci r cu it 11 in t he ind oor c ommuni cation appar atu s 1 o per ate s b y
15 t he p ower di r ec tl y out put from th e se cond v olt age sen s or 17.
[0 11 0]
As a r es ult , both t he ind oor co m m un ica tio n app ar at us 1 and th e outdo or com mu nicatio n app arat us 2 are set to t he s tat es in whi ch th e power f ro m t he i ndo or po we r su ppl y 1 3 i s used as t he op era tin g pow er
20 su pp l y.
[0 11 1]
F urt her , i n t he con figu rati on ex ampl e o f th e co mmuni cation s ys tem sh ow n in Figs. 6A and 6B , be si des t he fu nctio ns d esc rib ed abov e , the O DU s wit ch 18 to i ns t ru ct to stop t he o pe rat ion of th e
25 communication function 24 of the counterpart outdoor communication
apparatu s 2 an d to can cel the stop of th e o per atio n o f t he
commu nic ati on fun ctio n 2 4 is i nclu ded in t he ind oo r c ommu ni cation apparatu s 1 . W hen the cont ro l ci r cuit 11 d et ects tha t th e OD U s wi tch 18 has be en presse d in t he ind oor c ommun icatio n app arat us 1, the
30 cont ro l si gnal t o promot e ge ne r at ion of a s top ind icatio n sign al t o
i nst ruct t he st op o f t he op erati on of the co mmun ic at ion fu nct i on 24 o f t he count erp art o utd oor c omm uni cation a ppa r atus 2 i s ou tp ut to t he communication function 14. The communication function 14 that has r ecei ved the cont r ol si gnal ge ne rates th e sto p indi cati on sign al

47
i nst ruct ed b y th e c ont rol circu i t 1 1 a nd s ends th e s to p ind ic at ion sign al
t o t he c oun t erpar t ou td oo r com muni catio n ap pa rat us 2 vi a t he mix e r 1 5
and th e commun ic ation l ine 3.
[0 11 2]
5 The communication function 24 of the outdoor communication
apparatu s 2 th at h as r eceive d t h e sto p indicati on si gnal from the in doo r communication apparatus 1 via the communication line 3 and the mixer 25 transfe r s t he stop i ndi cati on s ign al to t he c ont r ol circ uit 21. Wh en t he control circu it 21 con firms th at t he re ce ived si gnal is the
10 i ndicati on t o s top th e o per atio n o f t he comm unicatio n function 24, th e
cont ro l ci r cu i t 2 1 set s bot h the swit ch es 2 a and 2c o f th e p owe r su pp l y s el ect ion ci rcui t 22 a to t he op en ed sta te an d sto ps t he power su ppl y to t he commun ic atio n fu nct ion 24 an d t he mix er 2 5 to st op the ope ration of th e commu nic at i on fun ctio n 2 4.
15 [0113]
In such a st at e, t he cont rol circ ui t 21 c an b e oper at ed b y r ecei vin g t he po we r from th e c omm uni ca tion lin e 3 directl y o utp ut f r om t he f i rst vo lta ge s enso r 26 or t he p owe r f rom t he solar cel l 23a di rect l y ou tp ut fro m th e se co nd volt age sens or 27. Furt he r, th e firs t
20 voltage se ns or 2 6 is el ectr ic all y co nn ect ed to th e com muni ca ti on lin e 3
where the signal and the power can be superimposed with each other wi tho ut th e in terv enti on of th e mix er 2 5 , the con tr ol circ uit 21 can b e operated b y t he p ow er from t he first volt age s e ns or 2 6, an d th e cont r ol ci rcui t 21 is abl e to directl y e xchan ge si gn als wit h t he count erp art
25 i ndoo r comm uni ca ti on ap pa r at us 1 v ia th e fi rst volt age sensor 26 .
Th erefo r e , the c on trol ci r cuit 2 1 is able t o gen erat e th e res pon s e sign al
i ndicati ng t hat t he o pe r at ion o f t he commu ni cation f unctio n 24 h as
be en st opp ed based on the st op i ndi cat ion s ign al th at th e co nt rol
ci rcui t 21 h as rece ived and dire ctl y s end th e respo ns e s ign al back to
30 t he ind oo r c om muni ca ti on appa r atus 1 from th e f ir st v oltage se nso r 2 6
vi a t he co mmun i cation l ine 3 . [0 11 4]
Aft er th at , w he n t he O DU swit ch 18 i s presse d again in t he i ndoo r comm uni ca ti on ap pa r at us 1, t he c ont r ol circ uit 11 gene r at es a

48 st op c ancel sign al to c anc el t he st op o f th e oper ati on of t he
commu nic ati on fun ctio n 2 4 of t he c ounterpart outdo or comm uni catio n
apparatu s 2 and sends t he stop ca nc el sign al to th e cou nt erp art out door
commu nic ati on ap pa r at us 2 vi a t he comm unicati on line 3 .
5 [0115]
The c on trol c ircuit 2 1 of t he o utdo or com muni ca ti on a pp aratus 2 t hat h as r ec ei ved f r om th e fi rst v olt age s enso r 26 the stop can cel si gn al se nt fro m th e ind oor co mm un icatio n app ar at us 1 via t he commu nic ati on l ine 3 and th e mix e r 25 is r eco ver ed to th e s tat e i n
10 which the operating power supply according to the power state when
t he fi r st vol ta ge s enso r 2 6 an d th e s ec ond vol ta ge s enso r 27 hav e detect ed i s s ele ct ed . [0 11 6]
Accordin g t o the abo ve op erat ion , the i ndo or com municati on
15 apparatus 1 and the outdoor communication apparatus 2 work together
t o select on e o f t he i ndo or po we r sup p l y 1 3 and t he so lar cell 2 3 a as t he o perat ing power s uppl y m ore ap prop ri at el y b ase d on th e res ult o f m onito r ing the pow er from t he i nd oo r po we r s upp l y 1 3 and th e so lar cell 2 3a , wher eb y the i ndo or com m unicati on app ara tus 1 and th e
20 outdo or c om muni cat i on ap pa r at us 2 ca n operate contin uousl y.
[0 11 7]
The ope r ati on for s el ect in g t he po wer sup pl y r out e i n th e ind oo r communication apparatus 1 and the outdoor communication apparatus 2 havin g th e i ntern al c on figu r ation s in Fi gs . 5A, 5 B , 6 A , an d 6B is n ot
25 l i m ited to th e a forem en tion ed op erat i on . Th at i s , in th e
communication system composed of communication apparatuses co rrespo ndi ng t o a p l urali t y of function s (e . g. , th e in do or
communication apparatus 1 and the outdoor communication apparatus 2) that ar e di vi ded f ro m each oth er , b as ed on a pred eterm ine d
30 commu nic ati on ap pa r at us , th e po wer sup pl y rout e o f each
commu nic ati on ap pa r at us t hat con sti tute s t he c omm unicati on s yst em ca n b e co nt roll ed a cc ord ing t o t he stat e o f the amo unt of pow er i npu t f r om a pow er su ppl y l oc at ed n ea r t he co mmun ic at ion app aratus or a power su ppl y in clud ed in th e c omm uni ca tion appar atu s (th e amo unt of

49 power input from the power input mechanism) . [0 11 8]
In th e int ernal con fi gurati ons s hown in Figs. 6 A and 6 B , fo r
example, when the indoor communication apparatus 1 which is located
5 ne ar a pow er sup pl y t hat most st abl y supp l i es t he power i s sel ec t ed as
the predetermined communication apparatus and the amount of power of th e i ndoo r power s uppl y 1 3 lo cated ne ar t he in doo r commu nic ation apparatu s 1 and conn ected t o t he in door commu ni catio n ap parat us 1 h as r eached t he level whe re bo th t he i ndoo r commu nic atio n ap pa rat us 1 and
10 t he out doo r commun ic at ion app aratu s 2 c an b e c onc urrentl y op erated ,
r egard less of t he p ower gene r ation amo unt in t he solar c e ll 23 a, wh i ch i s on e ex amp l e of th e o utd oor power supp l y 2 3 , t he ind oor po we r supply 13 may be used to operate both the indoor communication apparatu s 1 an d th e outd oor co m m un icatio n app ar at us 2 .
15 [0119]
Al tern ati vel y, ev e n when th e amou nt o f po wer o f t he i ndo or power su ppl y 13 h as reache d the level wh ere bot h t he ind oor
communication apparatus 1 and the outdoor communication apparatus 2 ca n b e co nc urrentl y o perated , if t he po we r gener atio n amo unt in the
20 so l ar c ell 2 3a, whi ch is one ex am ple of the ou tdo or pow er sup pl y 2 3 ,
has reache d t he level where o nl y th e out door co mmu ni cat ion app aratu s 2 can b e op erat ed o r a level higher t han t hi s l ev el , th e indo or communication apparatus 1 may be operated using the indoor power supply 13 and the outdoor communication apparatus 2 may be operated
25 us in g th e so l ar cel l 23 a, whi ch is one exa mpl e o f t he o ut doo r p ow er
su pp l y 23 i nstead o f operati ng bo th th e ind oor comm un icati on apparatu s 1 an d th e outd oor co m m un icatio n app ar at us 2 usi ng the indoor power supply 13. [0 12 0]
30 Further, when the amount of power of the indoor power supply
13 h as been d ecreased t o t he l eve l wher e onl y th e i ndo or
commu nic ati on ap pa r at us 1 c an be o pe r ate d, if th e power gen erat ion am oun t in t he s ola r c ell 23 a, whi ch is on e ex am pl e o f t he o ut doo r power su ppl y 2 3 , h as reach ed t he level where on l y t he o utd oor

communication apparatus 2 can be operated or a level higher than this level, the indoor communication apparatus 1 may be operated using the indoor power supply 13 and the outdoor communication apparatus 2 may be operated using the solar cell 23a, which is one example of the outdoor power supply 23. Further, in case of a further decrease in the amount of power of the indoor power supply 13, when the solar cell 23a, which is one example of the outdoor power supply 23, is in the state in which it is possible to supply the power not only to the outdoor communication apparatus 2 but also to the indoor communication apparatus 1, such a configuration may be set in advance to transmit the power from the solar cell 23a to the indoor communication apparatus 1 on the communication line 3.
[0121]
However, when the amount of power of the indoor power supply 13 has been decreased to the level where even the operation of only the indoor communication apparatus 1 is no longer possible, and the power generation amount in the solar cell 23a, which is one example of the outdoor power supply 23, has reached the level where both the outdoor communication apparatus 2 and the indoor communication apparatus 1 can be concurrently operated, the power supply that supplies power may be immediately switched to the power from the solar cell 23a to operate the indoor communication apparatus 1 and both the indoor communication apparatus 1 and the outdoor communication apparatus 2 may be concurrently operated using the solar cell 23a.
[0122]
Further, while the configuration example of the communication system when two power supplies of one indoor power supply and one outdoor power supply are used has been described in the above description, the present invention is not limited to the case in which two power supplies are used. Needless to say, the present invention can be suitably applied to a communication system composed of a plurality of communication devices located in the respective positions of a plurality of power supplies that are dispersed as a network device in an environment in which the plurality of power supplies are

dispersed.
[0123]
The configurations according to the preferred exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described above. It should be noted, however, the above exemplary embodiments are merely examples of the present invention and do not limit the present invention. Those skilled in the art will easily understand that the above exemplary embodiments may be changed in various ways according to specific applications without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
[0124]
While the present invention has been described as a hardware configuration in the above exemplary embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the hardware configuration. The present invention can achieve arbitrary processing by causing a central processing unit (CPU) to execute a computer program. The program can be stored and provided to a computer using any type of non-transitory computer readable media. Non-transitory computer readable media include any type of tangible storage media. Examples of non-transitory computer readable media include magnetic storage media (such as flexible disks, magnetic tapes, hard disk drives, etc.), optical magnetic storage media (e.g., magneto-optical disks), Compact Disc Read Only Memory (CD-ROM), CD-R, CD-R/W, and semiconductor memories (such as mask ROM, Programmable ROM (PROM), Erasable PROM (EPROM), flash ROM, Random Access Memory (RAM), etc.). The program may be provided to a computer using any type of transitory computer readable media. Examples of transitory computer readable media include electric signals, optical signals, and electromagnetic waves. Transitory computer readable media can provide the program to a computer via a wired communication line (e.g., electric wires, and optical fibers) or a wireless communication line.
[0125]
While the present invention has been described with reference

to the exemplary embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments stated above. Various changes that can be understood by those skilled in the art may be made on the configurations and the details of the present invention within the scope of the present invention.
[0126]
This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-109019, filed on May 23, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. Reference Signs List
[0127]
1 INDOOR COMMUNICATION APPARATUS
la SWITCH
lb SWITCH
lc SWITCH
2 OUTDOOR COMMUNICATION APPARATUS
2a SWITCH
2b SWITCH
2c SWITCH
3 COMMUNICATION LINE
3a COMMUNICATION LINE
11 CONTROL CIRCUIT
12 POWER SUPPLY SELECTION CIRCUIT 12a POWER SUPPLY SELECTION CIRCUIT
13 INDOOR POWER SUPPLY 13a POWER SUPPLY
14 COMMUNICATION FUNCTION
15 MIXER
16 FIRST VOLTAGE SENSOR
17 SECOND VOLTAGE SENSOR
18 ODU SWITCH

21 CONTROL CIRCUIT
22 POWER SUPPLY SELECTION CIRCUIT

22a POWER SUPPLY SELECTION CIRCUIT
23 OUTDOOR POWER SUPPLY
23a SOLAR CELL
24 COMMUNICATION FUNCTION
25 MIXER
26 FIRST VOLTAGE SENSOR
27 SECOND VOLTAGE SENSOR
28 BOOSTER CIRCUIT
3 1 COMMUNICATION APPARATUS
32 COMMUNICATION APPARATUS
33 COMMUNICATION APPARATUS

41 POWER SUPPLY
42 POWER SUPPLY
43 POWER SUPPLY
51 COMMUNICATION APPARATUS
61 BATTERY WITH COMMUNICATION FUNCTION
101 INDOOR COMMUNICATION APPARATUS
102 OUTDOOR COMMUNICATION APPARATUS
103 COMMUNICATION LINE
104 POWER SUPPLY SELECTION CIRCUIT
105 INDOOR POWER SUPPLY
106 OUTDOOR POWER SUPPLY
107 POWER SUPPLY LINE

WE CLAIM:
1. A communication system comprising a first communication
apparatus and a second communication apparatus that are connected to
each other via a communication line that exchanges a signal, wherein:
each of the first communication apparatus and the second communication apparatus is connected to a first power supply, which is a power supply included therein or an external power supply located nearby and includes a power transmission mechanism that superimposes power on the signal in the communication line and transmits the power that is superimposed to a counterpart communication apparatus via the communication line as a second power supply, and
the first communication apparatus and the second communication apparatus select one of the power from the first power supply and the power from the second power supply transmitted from the counterpart communication apparatus via the communication line as an operating power supply according to a state of the power in each of the first power supply and the second power supply and are supplied with the power that has been selected.
2. The communication system according to Claim 1, wherein
each of the first communication apparatus and the second
communication apparatus transmits, by the power transmission
mechanism, when the amount of power from the first power supply of
one communication apparatus has reached the level where one
communication apparatus and the counterpart communication apparatus
can be concurrently operated, the power from the first power supply of
one communication apparatus to the counterpart communication
apparatus as the second power supply via the communication line in
such a way that the power is superimposed on the signal and further
selects the power from the first power supply of one communication
apparatus as the operating power supply and is supplied with the power
that has been selected, or when the power has been transmitted from
the counterpart communication apparatus as the second power supply

via the communication line, selects one of the power from the first power supply of one communication apparatus and the power transmitted from the counterpart communication apparatus as the second power supply via the communication line as the operating power supply in a predetermined order and is supplied with the power that has been selected.
3. The communication system according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein each of the first communication apparatus and the second communication apparatus selects, when the amount of power supplied from the first power supply of one communication apparatus has reached the level where only one communication apparatus can be operated although it is not sufficient to concurrently operate both one communication apparatus and the counterpart communication apparatus, the power from the first power supply of one communication apparatus as the operating power supply and is supplied with the power that has been selected.
4. The communication system according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein each of the first communication apparatus and the second communication apparatus selects, when the amount of power supplied from the first power supply has reached the level where only one communication apparatus can be operated although it is not sufficient to concurrently operate one communication apparatus and the counterpart communication apparatus in one communication apparatus and the amount of power from the first power supply has reached the level where both one communication apparatus and the counterpart communication apparatus can be concurrently operated in the counterpart communication apparatus, the power transmitted from the counterpart communication apparatus as the second power supply via the communication line as the operating power supply and is supplied with the power that has been selected.
5. The communication system according to any one of Claims 1

to 4, wherein each of the first communication apparatus and the second communication apparatus selects, when the amount of power supplied from the first power supply of one communication apparatus has been decreased to the level where even only one communication apparatus can no longer be operated, the power transmitted from the counterpart communication apparatus as the second power supply via the communication line as the operating power supply and is supplied with the power that has been selected.
6. The communication system according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein when the amount of power supplied from the first power supply in a communication apparatus that is predetermined as a specific communication apparatus from the first communication apparatus and the second communication apparatus has reached the level where both one communication apparatus and the counterpart communication apparatus can be concurrently operated, the counterpart communication apparatus selects, regardless of the amount of power from the first power supply in one communication apparatus, the power that has been transmitted from the specific counterpart communication apparatus via the communication line as the second power supply as the operating power supply and is supplied with the power that has been selected.
7. The communication system according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the communication apparatus that is predetermined as the specific communication apparatus from the first communication apparatus and the second communication apparatus includes an operation switch, and the communication system sends a signal to stop the operation of the communication function of the counterpart communication apparatus and to cancel the stop of the operation of the communication function of the counterpart communication apparatus via the communication line by an operation of the operation switch.
8. The communication system according to any one of Claims 1

to 7, wherein the first communication apparatus is an indoor communication apparatus that is installed indoors and the second communication apparatus is an outdoor communication apparatus that is installed outdoors.
9. A power supply control method in a communication system
comprising a first communication apparatus and a second
communication apparatus that are connected to each other via a
communication line that exchanges a signal, wherein:
each of the first communication apparatus and the second communication apparatus is connected to a first power supply, which is a power supply included therein or an external power supply located nearby, superimposes power on the signal in the communication line, and transmits the power that is superimposed to a counterpart communication apparatus via the communication line as a second power supply, and
the first communication apparatus and the second communication apparatus select one of the power from the first power supply and the power transmitted from the counterpart communication apparatus via the communication line as an operating power supply according to a state of the power in each of the first power supply and the second power supply and are supplied with the power that has been selected.
10. A power supply control non-transitory computer readable
medium that executes the power supply control method according to
Claim 9 as a non-transitory computer readable medium that can be
executed by a computer.