Outage notification system

• US 20080068217A1
• Filed: 09/10/2007
• Published: 03/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Itron Global Sarl (Itron, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Inventors: Van Wyk, Hartman, Monier, Fabrice, Bartier, Jerome
• Granted Patent: US 8,059,011 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.11
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/006 Remote reading of utility meters to a non-fixed location, i.e. mobile location
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/16 in which transmission is by pulses
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7143 Arrangements for generation of hop patterns
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15 Active relay systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/127 based on intermediate node capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/005 Routing actions in the presence of nodes in sleep or doze mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/10 based on available power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/22 using selective relaying for reaching a BTS [Base Transceiver Station] or an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/248 Connectivity information update
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/00 Synchronisation arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0015 one node acting as a reference for the others
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/002 Mutual synchronization
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 70/8418 adapted for focusing electric field or current, e.g. tip-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

The present technology relates to protocols relative to utility meters associated with an open operational framework. More particularly, the present subject matter relates to protocol subject matter for advanced metering infrastructure, adaptable to various international standards, while economically supporting a 2-way mesh network solution in a wireless environment, such as for operating in a residential electricity meter field. The present subject matter supports meters within an ANSI standard C12.22/C12.19 system while economically supporting a 2-way mesh network solution in a wireless environment, such as for operating in a residential electricity meter field, all to permit cell-based adaptive insertion of C12.22 meters within an open framework. Cell isolation is provided through quasi-orthogonal sequences in a frequency hopping network. Additional features relate to Outage notification system features, and corresponding methodology and apparatus subject matters, both at the network and device level.

Claims

1. Methodology for enabling outage notifications in an advanced metering system mesh network, comprising:

establishing a network including a central facility and a plurality of end devices, at least some of which end devices comprise metrology devices;

configuring the network for bidirectional communications between the central facility and each of the plurality of end devices;

causing an end device experiencing power outage conditions to transmit a power outage message to neighbor end devices; and

configuring the plurality of end devices so that neighbor end devices not experiencing a power outage respond to a power outage message for forwarding such power outage message to the central facility over the network,

whereby power outage data is reported to the central facility via the network using end devices not experiencing power outage conditions, without requiring a direct communications link between the central facility and an end device experiencing power outage conditions.

2. Methodology as in claim 1, wherein the power outage message includes an outage ID, an address of the originating end device, and an outage time.

3. Methodology as in claim 2, wherein the plurality of end devices are configured to compare the outage ID of incoming power outage messages, and to discard duplicative messages based on a repeated outage ID, so as to reduce the number of communications being forwarded involving power outage messages.

4. Methodology as in claim 1, wherein the plurality of end devices responding to a power outage message are further configured to timestamp the arrival of the power outage message, and to forward the power outage message and timestamp over the network as a priority communication.

5. Methodology as in claim 1, wherein an end device experiencing power outage conditions is configured to immediately cease normal operations thereof and to transmit a plurality of short power outage messages over a randomized time window.

6. Methodology as in claim 5, wherein an end device experiencing power outage conditions is configured to transmit the plurality of short power outage messages pursuant to a frequency hopping communications protocol used by the network.

7. Methodology as in claim 1, further including correlating power outage messages received by the central facility with information about an electricity supply network associated with the advanced metering network, to determine power outage boundary areas relative to areas of the electricity supply network which are not experiencing power outage conditions.

8. Methodology as in claim 1, wherein at least some of the end devices comprise cell relays providing communications between others of the end devices and the central facility.

9. Methodology as in claim 1, wherein the plurality of end devices are configured to store outage message data if access to the network by such plurality of end devices is disrupted by a power outage, to reestablish communications with the network, and to forward stored outage message data to the central facility.

10. An advanced metering system mesh network with power outage notification functionality, comprising:

a central facility; and

a plurality of end devices, at least some of which end devices comprise metrology devices, with said central facility and said plurality of end devices being configured for bi-directional communications therebetween;

wherein said plurality of end devices are configured so that an end device experiencing power outage conditions transmits a power outage message to neighbor end devices; and

wherein said plurality of end devices are further configured so that neighbor end devices not experiencing a power outage respond to a power outage message for forwarding such power outage message to said central facility over said network,

whereby power outage data is reported to said central facility via said network using end devices not experiencing power outage conditions, without requiring a direct communications link between said central facility and an end device experiencing power outage conditions.

11. An advanced metering system mesh network as in claim 10, wherein:

said power outage message includes an outage ID, an address of the originating end device, and an outage time; and

said plurality of end devices are configured to compare the outage ID of incoming power outage messages, and to discard duplicative messages based on a repeated outage ID, so as to reduce the number of communications being forwarded involving power outage messages.

12. An advanced metering system mesh network as in claim 10, wherein:

an end device experiencing power outage conditions is configured to immediately cease normal operations thereof and to transmit a plurality of short power outage messages over a randomized time window; and

said plurality of end devices responding to a power outage message are further configured to timestamp the arrival of such power outage message, and to forward such power outage message and timestamp over said network as a priority communication.

13. An advanced metering system mesh network as in claim 12, wherein:

an end device experiencing power outage conditions is further configured to transmit said plurality of short power outage messages pursuant to a frequency hopping communications protocol used by the network; and

at least some of said end devices comprise cell relays providing communications between others of said end devices and said central facility.

14. An advanced metering system mesh network as in claim 10, wherein said plurality of end devices are further configured to store outage message data if access to the network by such plurality of end devices is disrupted by a power outage, to attempt to reestablish communications with said network in accordance with predetermined connection protocol, and to forward stored outage message data to said central facility once communications with said network are reestablished.

15. A metrology device with power outage notification functionality for use with an advanced metering system mesh network having a central facility and a plurality of other network devices, at least some of which comprise other metrology devices, comprising:

a metrology portion configured to measure consumption of a utility commodity;

a transmitter portion configured to transmit consumption information and other data; and

a receiver portion configured to receive information from other network devices;

wherein said metrology device is configured, when experiencing power outage conditions, to cause said metrology portion to cease measuring consumption, and to cause said transmitter portion to transmit a power outage message; and

wherein said metrology device is further configured, when not experiencing power outage conditions, to cause said receiver portion to receive a power outage message from another metrology device, and to cause said transmitter portion to transmit such power outage message.

16. A metrology device as in claim 15, wherein said power outage message includes an outage ID, an address of the originating end device, and an outage time.

17. A metrology device as in claim 16, wherein said metrology device is further configured to compare the outage ID of incoming power outage messages, and to discard duplicative messages based on a repeated outage ID, so as to reduce the number of communications being forwarded involving power outage messages.

18. A metrology device as in claim 16, wherein said power outage message includes a plurality of short power outage messages transmitted over a randomized time window.

19. A metrology device as in claim 15, wherein said metrology device is further configured, when not experiencing power outage conditions, to timestamp the arrival of a power outage message, and to forward such power outage message and timestamp over said network identified as a priority communication.

20. A metrology device as in claim 15, wherein said transmitter portion is configured to transmit a power outage message pursuant to a frequency hopping communications protocol used by a mesh network with which said metrology device is associated.

21. A metrology device as in claim 15, wherein said metrology device is further configured to store outage message data if access to a network by such metrology device is disrupted, to attempt to reestablish communications with such network in accordance with predetermined connection protocol, and to forward stored outage message data to a central facility of such a network once communications with such network are reestablished.