Endpoint repeater functionality selection
First Claim
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1. A repeater endpoint in a network of endpoints having metering functionality, the repeater endpoint comprising:
- a processor;
a memory in communication with the processor;
a transceiver configured to send and receive messages between the processor and the network; and
a battery configured to supply power to the processor and the transceiver, wherein the processor is configured to;
evaluate a repeater availability of the repeater endpoint, wherein the repeater availability comprises communication reliability and battery capacity, wherein the communication reliability includes determining having a sufficient quality of service connection from the repeater endpoint to out-of-range endpoints or a central facility on the network, and wherein the battery capacity of the repeater endpoint includes determining having a capacity above a predetermined level;
transmit signals via the transceiver, the signals intended for the out-of-range endpoints and configured with preambles having a discovery bit to indicate to the out-of-range endpoints availability of repeater functionality at the repeater endpoint sufficient to support repeating messages from the out-of-range endpoints based on the evaluating of the repeater availability of the repeater endpoint;
receive one or more messages at the repeater endpoint from the out-of-range endpoints that require the repeater functionality to be heard at the central facility; and
relay the one or more received messages, wherein the relaying is performed by the repeater endpoint and other repeater endpoints having repeater availability in a shared manner, wherein the shared manner distributes workload over at least two repeater endpoints of the other repeater endpoints having repeater availability to prevent any single endpoint of the other repeater endpoints from performing the entire relaying required by the out-of-range endpoints.
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Abstract
Disclosed are apparatus and methodology for improving communications among battery operated network endpoints and a central facility. A battery operated endpoint may determine its remaining battery capacity and decide whether it is able to provide message repeating services to other endpoints within the network. The endpoint may make such decision based also on its own communications reliability to a central facility either directly or via other endpoints operating as repeaters.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A repeater endpoint in a network of endpoints having metering functionality, the repeater endpoint comprising:
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a processor; a memory in communication with the processor; a transceiver configured to send and receive messages between the processor and the network; and a battery configured to supply power to the processor and the transceiver, wherein the processor is configured to; evaluate a repeater availability of the repeater endpoint, wherein the repeater availability comprises communication reliability and battery capacity, wherein the communication reliability includes determining having a sufficient quality of service connection from the repeater endpoint to out-of-range endpoints or a central facility on the network, and wherein the battery capacity of the repeater endpoint includes determining having a capacity above a predetermined level; transmit signals via the transceiver, the signals intended for the out-of-range endpoints and configured with preambles having a discovery bit to indicate to the out-of-range endpoints availability of repeater functionality at the repeater endpoint sufficient to support repeating messages from the out-of-range endpoints based on the evaluating of the repeater availability of the repeater endpoint; receive one or more messages at the repeater endpoint from the out-of-range endpoints that require the repeater functionality to be heard at the central facility; and relay the one or more received messages, wherein the relaying is performed by the repeater endpoint and other repeater endpoints having repeater availability in a shared manner, wherein the shared manner distributes workload over at least two repeater endpoints of the other repeater endpoints having repeater availability to prevent any single endpoint of the other repeater endpoints from performing the entire relaying required by the out-of-range endpoints. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A memory storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a repeater endpoint in a network of endpoints having metering functionality, perform acts comprising:
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evaluating a repeater availability of the repeater endpoint, wherein the repeater availability comprises communication reliability and battery capacity, wherein the communication reliability includes determining having a sufficient quality of service connection from the repeater endpoint to out-of-range endpoints or a central facility on the network, and wherein the battery capacity of the repeater endpoint includes determining having a capacity above a predetermined level; transmitting signals intended for the out-of-range endpoints and configured with preambles having a discovery bit to indicate to the out-of-range endpoints availability of repeater functionality at the repeater endpoint sufficient to support repeating messages from the out-of-range endpoints based on the evaluating of the repeater availability of the repeater endpoint; receiving one or more messages at the repeater endpoint from the out-of-range endpoints that require the repeater functionality to be heard at the central facility; and relaying the one or more received messages, wherein the relaying is performed by the repeater endpoint and other repeater endpoints having repeater availability in a shared manner, wherein the shared manner distributes workload over at least two repeater endpoints of the other repeater endpoints having repeater availability to prevent any single endpoint of the other repeater endpoints from performing the entire relaying required by the out-of-range endpoints. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification