System and method for message consolidation in a mesh network
First Claim
1. A method for a radio node coupled to a sensing device or an actuator to consolidate messages in a network of radio nodes that communicate data to an access node coupled to a computer, comprising the steps of:
- receiving a plurality of messages during a communication receive period at a first radio node, the plurality of messages received from a plurality of radio nodes logically further from the access node than the first radio node;
constructing a consolidated message containing each of the plurality of messages received from the plurality of radio nodes logically further from the access node than the first radio node; and
transmitting wirelessly the consolidated message from the first radio node to another radio node logically closer to the access node or directly to the access node if the access node is within the transmission range of the first radio node during a communication transmit time for the first radio node, wherein each of the plurality of messages are extracted from the consolidated message upon receipt at the access node.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for consolidating messages in a network comprising an access node coupled to a computer and a plurality of radio nodes coupled to sensing devices, such as a utility meter, is disclosed. Inbound message consolidation includes a radio node receiving two or more inbound messages that are consolidated. The radio node wirelessly transmits the consolidated message to a radio node logically closer to the access node or directly to the access node if the access node is within the transmission range of the radio node. The access node extracts the individual messages from the consolidated message upon receipt. For outbound messages, the access node consolidates original messages having common routes and transmits the consolidated message to a last node in the common route. The last node in the common route splits the consolidated message into the original messages and transmits each one to a destination radio node.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for a radio node coupled to a sensing device or an actuator to consolidate messages in a network of radio nodes that communicate data to an access node coupled to a computer, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a plurality of messages during a communication receive period at a first radio node, the plurality of messages received from a plurality of radio nodes logically further from the access node than the first radio node;
constructing a consolidated message containing each of the plurality of messages received from the plurality of radio nodes logically further from the access node than the first radio node; and
transmitting wirelessly the consolidated message from the first radio node to another radio node logically closer to the access node or directly to the access node if the access node is within the transmission range of the first radio node during a communication transmit time for the first radio node, wherein each of the plurality of messages are extracted from the consolidated message upon receipt at the access node. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for an access node coupled to a computer to consolidate outbound messages to a plurality of radio nodes in a network of radio nodes each coupled to a sensing device or an actuator, comprising the steps of:
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determining whether two or more original outbound messages addressed to separate destination radio nodes contain one or more common route segments;
constructing a consolidated outbound message containing each original outbound message that is addressed to a separate radio node and has a common route segment with another original outbound message, wherein the consolidated message contains a common route and a remaining route portion for each original outbound message that is part of the consolidated outbound message;
transmitting wirelessly the consolidated outbound message along the common route to a radio node that is a last radio node in the common route;
splitting the consolidated message at the last radio node in the common route into the original outbound messages; and
transmitting wirelessly the original outbound messages from the last radio node in the common route to each of the separate destination radio nodes. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for an access node coupled to a computer to consolidate outbound messages to a plurality of radio nodes in a network of radio nodes each coupled to a sensing device or an actuator, comprising the steps of:
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determining whether two or more original outbound messages addressed to separate destination radio nodes contain one or more common route segments;
constructing a consolidated outbound message containing each original outbound message that is addressed to a separate radio node and has a common route segment with another original outbound message, wherein the consolidated message contains a remaining route portion for each original outbound message that is part of the consolidated outbound message;
transmitting wirelessly the consolidated outbound message along the common route to a radio node that is a last radio node in the common route;
splitting the consolidated message at the last radio node in the common route into two or more split messages, wherein one or more of the split messages contains a plurality of original outbound messages;
transmitting wirelessly the one or more of the split messages containing a plurality of original messages from the last radio node in the common route to a last radio node in a continued common route;
separating the one or more of the split messages containing a plurality of original messages at the last radio node in the continued common route into the original outbound messages; and
transmitting wirelessly the original outbound messages from the last radio node in the continued common route to each of the separate destination radio nodes.
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14. A system for communicating consolidated outbound messages wirelessly transmitted from an access node coupled to a back end computer to a plurality of radio nodes coupled to data collectors, comprising:
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logic configured to examine each original outbound message to determine whether one or more common route segments exist for at least two original outbound messages;
logic configured to consolidate each original outbound message that has a common route segment with another original outbound message into a consolidated outbound message, wherein the consolidated outbound message contains a common route and a remaining route portion for each original outbound message that is part of the consolidated outbound message;
a transceiver configured to wirelessly transmit the consolidated outbound message, wherein the outbound consolidated message is communicated along the common route to a radio node that is a last radio node in the common route;
logic in the last radio node in the common route configured to split the consolidated message into one or more original outbound messages; and
a transceiver in the last radio node in the common route configured to wirelessly transmit each of the one or more original outbound messages to a destination radio node. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification