Downlink routing mechanism

• US 20080068996A1
• Filed: 09/12/2007
• 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: Monier, Fabrice, Clave, Arnaud
• Granted Patent: US 7,756,030 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/230.1
• 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 apparatus and methodology subject matters relating to Downlink routing mechanisms.

Claims

1. Methodology for an advanced metering system mesh network with multiple mode downlink routing, comprising:

establishing a network including a central facility and a plurality of node devices, at least some of which node devices comprise metrology devices, and at least some of which node devices comprise cell masters which provide communications between the central facility and others of the node devices associated therewith in respective cells formed by each respective cell master;

configuring the network for bi-directional communications between the central facility and each of the plurality of node devices;

from each node device associated with a given specific cell master in a respective cell formed thereby, providing information to such given specific cell master about communications links of each of such node devices in such respective cell;

selectively sending a monocast downlink message from a given respective cell master to a specific node device associated therewith, using a monocast downlink path determined by such given respective cell master based on its received information from all node devices associated therewith; and

selectively sending a broadcast downlink message from a given respective cell master to all node devices associated therewith.

2. Methodology as in claim 1, wherein:

each node device provides updated information to its respective cell master about any changes to its communications links in such respective cell;

each node device returns a Broken Link message to its respective cell master if it is unable after a predetermined number of retransmissions to successfully transmit a message to its intended recipient; and

each cell master uses Broken Link messages and updated information received from the respective node devices in its respective cell in its subsequent determinations of any downlink monocast paths.

3. Methodology as in claim 1, wherein each of the node devices:

retransmits incoming broadcast downlink messages but filters incoming broadcast downlink messages so as to delete any such broadcast downlink message which it has already retransmitted so as to avoid duplicative retransmissions;

retransmits up to a predetermined number of times any message transmitted thereby which fails to be acknowledged by its intended recipient, until such message is successfully transmitted; and

filters from any retransmissions any message which is beyond a predetermined period of time after its original transmission from a cell master associated with such node device.

4. Methodology for an advanced metering system frequency hopping mesh network with dynamic multiple mode downlink routing to all node devices thereof, comprising:

establishing a network including a central facility and a plurality of node devices, at least some of which node devices comprise metrology devices, at least some of which node devices comprise cell masters which provide communications between the central facility and others of the node devices associated therewith in respective cells formed by each respective cell master, and at least some of which node devices comprise father node devices which provide a communications link between a respective cell master and others of the node devices defining son node devices of a given respective father node device in the respective cell of the respective cell master;

configuring the network for bi-directional communications between the central facility and each of the plurality of node devices via associations with respective of the cell masters;

at each node device, maintaining a neighbor table containing information about each such node device and its respective neighbor relationships and communications links within a respective cell formed by a respective cell master;

from each node device associated with a given specific cell master in a respective cell formed thereby, forwarding the neighbor table thereof to such given specific cell master;

at each node device associated with a given specific cell master in a respective cell formed thereby, updating its respective neighbor table when any changes occur to any of its respective neighbor relationships or communications links, and forwarding such updated neighbor table thereof to such given specific cell master;

selectively sending a broadcast downlink message from a given respective cell master to all node devices associated therewith in its respective cell; and

selectively sending a monocast downlink message from a given respective cell master to a specific node device associated therewith in the respective cell formed by such given respective cell master, using a monocast downlink path determined by such given respective cell master based on received neighbor tables from all node devices associated therewith in its respective cell,

whereby such network dynamically adapts its downlink routing to changes in communications links among the node devices thereof.

5. Methodology as in claim 4, further comprising at each cell master, building a routing table thereat for determining a monocast downlink path to each respective node device within its respective cell, based on a predetermined minimum number of neighbor tables from such respective node devices within its respective cell, and updating such routing table based on any received information regarding changes to any of such respective node devices or the respective neighbor relationships or communications links thereof.

6. Methodology as in claim 5, wherein the monocast downlink paths are determined so as to avoid for a given such path multiple passes through the same node device, so as to avoid a circular path.

7. Methodology as in claim 4, wherein:

the monocast downlink paths respectively comprise a list of each interim node device along a given path within a respective cell, for reaching a particular node device within such cell; and

each interim node device along a given monocast downlink path removes its identity from such path list and retransmits the monocast downlink message to the next identified node device on such path list.

8. Methodology as in claim 7, wherein:

each node device along a given monocast downlink path sends a Broken Link return message to the cell master associated with it in its respective cell, if such node device is unable to successfully transmit the respective monocast downlink message to the next identified node device on such path list;

upon receipt of a Broken Link message at a respective cell master, such cell master redetermines a monocast downlink path, if possible based on available information about its respective cell, to the originally intended particular node device, and retransmits the respective monocast downlink message along such redetermined monocast downlink path.

9. Methodology as in claim 8, wherein a node device which is unable to successfully transmit a respective monocast downlink message to the next identified node device on such path list does not send a Broken Link return message to the cell master associated with it in its respective cell if such respective monocast downlink message is either of a notification that a particular node device within the respective cell is out or a notification that a particular node device is newly registered to such respective cell.

10. Methodology as in claim 4, wherein each of the node devices:

retransmits incoming broadcast downlink messages but filters incoming broadcast downlink messages so as to delete any such broadcast downlink message which it has already retransmitted so as to avoid duplicative retransmissions;

retransmits up to a predetermined number of times any message transmitted thereby which fails to be acknowledged by its intended recipient, until such message is successfully transmitted; and

filters from any retransmissions any message which is beyond a predetermined period of time after its original transmission from a cell master associated with such node device.

11. An advanced metering system mesh network with multiple mode downlink routing, comprising:

a central facility; and

a plurality of node devices, at least some of which node devices comprise metrology devices, and at least some of which node devices comprise cell masters which provide communications between said central facility and others of said node devices associated therewith in respective cells formed by each respective cell master, with each node device configured for bi-directional communications with said central facility;

wherein

each of said node devices is configured to provide information to its respective cell master about communications links thereof in such respective cell; and

each respective cell master is configured to selectively send a monocast downlink message from it to a specific node device associated therewith, using a monocast downlink path determined by it based on its received information from all node devices associated therewith, and is further configured to selectively send a broadcast downlink message from it to all node devices associated therewith.

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

each of said node devices is further configured for providing updated information to its respective cell master about any changes to its communications links in such respective cell, and for returning a Broken Link message to its respective cell master if it is unable after a predetermined number of retransmissions to successfully transmit a message to its intended recipient; and

each respective cell master is further configured for using Broken Link messages and updated information received from the respective node devices in its respective cell in its subsequent determinations of any downlink monocast paths.

13. An advanced metering system mesh network as in claim 11, wherein each of said node devices is further configured for:

retransmitting incoming broadcast downlink messages but filtering incoming broadcast downlink messages so as to delete any such broadcast downlink message which it has already retransmitted so as to avoid duplicative retransmissions;

retransmitting up to a predetermined number of times any message transmitted thereby which fails to be acknowledged by its intended recipient, until such message is successfully transmitted; and

filtering from any retransmissions any message which is beyond a predetermined period of time after its original transmission from a cell master associated with such node device.

14. An advanced metering system frequency hopping mesh network with dynamic multiple mode downlink routing to all node devices thereof, comprising:

a central facility; and

a plurality of node devices, at least some of which node devices comprise metrology devices, at least some of which node devices comprise cell masters which provide communications between said central facility and others of said node devices associated therewith in respective cells formed by each respective cell master, and at least some of which node devices comprise father node devices which provide a communications link between a respective cell master and others of said node devices defining son node devices of a given respective father node device in the respective cell of the respective cell master, with each of said node devices configured for bi-directional communications between said central facility and each of said plurality of node devices via associations with respective of said cell masters;

wherein

each of said node devices is configured for maintaining a neighbor table containing information about its respective neighbor relationships and communications links within a respective cell formed by its respective cell master, for forwarding its neighbor table to its respective cell master, for updating its respective neighbor table when any changes occur to any of its respective neighbor relationships or communications links, and for forwarding such updated neighbor table to its respective cell master; and

each respective cell master is configured for selectively sending a broadcast downlink message to all node devices in its respective cell, and for selectively sending a monocast downlink message to a specific node device associated in its respective cell, using a monocast downlink path determined by it based on received neighbor tables from all node devices in its respective cell,

whereby said network dynamically adapts its downlink routing to changes in communications links among said node devices thereof.

15. An advanced metering system frequency hopping mesh network as in claim 14, wherein each respective cell master is further configured for building a routing table thereat for determining a monocast downlink path to each respective node device within its respective cell, based on a predetermined minimum number of neighbor tables from such respective node devices within its respective cell, and updating such routing table based on any received information regarding changes to any of such respective node devices or the respective neighbor relationships or communications links thereof.

16. An advanced metering system frequency hopping mesh network as in claim 15, wherein each respective cell master is further configured for determining monocast downlink paths so as to avoid for a given such path multiple passes through the same node device, so as to avoid a circular path.

17. An advanced metering system frequency hopping mesh network as in claim 14, wherein:

each respective cell master is further configured for comprising the monocast downlink paths respectively as a list of each interim node device along a given path within a respective cell, for reaching a particular node device within such cell; and

each respective interim node device along a given monocast downlink path is further configured removing its identity from such path list and retransmitting the monocast downlink message to the next identified node device on such path list.

18. An advanced metering system frequency hopping mesh network as in claim 17, wherein:

each node device along a given monocast downlink path is further configured for sending a Broken Link return message to its cell master, if such node device is unable to successfully transmit the respective monocast downlink message to the next identified node device on such path list;

each respective cell master, upon receipt of a Broken Link message, is further configured for redetermining a monocast downlink path, if possible based on available information about its respective cell, to the originally intended particular node device, and for retransmitting the respective monocast downlink message along such redetermined monocast downlink path.

19. An advanced metering system frequency hopping mesh network as in claim 18, wherein a node device which is unable to successfully transmit a respective monocast downlink message to the next identified node device on such path list is further configured for not sending a Broken Link return message to its cell master if such respective monocast downlink message is either of a notification that a particular node device within the respective cell is out or a notification that a particular node device is newly registered to such respective cell.

20. An advanced metering system frequency hopping mesh network as in claim 14, wherein each of said node devices are further configured for:

retransmitting incoming broadcast downlink messages but filtering incoming broadcast downlink messages so as to delete any such broadcast downlink message which it has already retransmitted so as to avoid duplicative retransmissions;

retransmitting up to a predetermined number of times any message transmitted thereby which fails to be acknowledged by its intended recipient, until such message is successfully transmitted; and

filtering from any retransmissions any message which is beyond a predetermined period of time after its original transmission from its respective cell master.

21. A metrology device for use with an advanced metering system mesh network with multiple mode downlink routing, and including a central facility, a plurality of node devices, with at least some of such node devices comprising such metrology devices, and at least some of such node devices comprising cell masters providing communications between the central facility and others of the node devices associated therewith in respective cells formed by the respective cell masters, with each node device configured for bi-directional communications with such central facility via associations with respective cell masters, said metrology device 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 in an associated network;

wherein said metrology device portions are configured for maintaining a neighbor table containing information about its respective neighbor relationships and communications links within a respective cell formed by its respective cell master in an associated network, for forwarding its neighbor table to its respective cell master, for updating its respective neighbor table when any changes occur to any of its respective neighbor relationships or communications links, and for forwarding such updated neighbor table to its respective cell master, so that such cell master may selectively forward downlink messages to the respective node devices of its cell for arriving at the intended node device.

22. A metrology device as in claim 21, wherein said metrology device portions are further configured for receiving monocast downlink messages from its respective cell master in an associated network, such monocast downlink messages being passed along a monocast downlink path on which said metrology device resides, and for

removing its identity from a listing of such path included with its corresponding message and retransmitting the monocast downlink message to a next identified node device on the listing of such path.

23. A metrology device as in claim 21, wherein said metrology device portions are further configured for sending a Broken Link return message to its cell master, if such metrology device is unable to successfully transmit a downlink message to the next identified node device on a path list associated with such message.

24. A metrology device as in claim 23, wherein said metrology device portions are further configured for not sending a Broken Link return message to its cell master in the event of an unsuccessful transmission of a downlink message if such downlink message is either of a notification that a particular node device within the respective cell is out or a notification that a particular node device is newly registered to such respective cell.

25. A metrology device as in claim 21, wherein said metrology device portions are further configured for:

retransmitting incoming broadcast downlink messages coming from its respective cell master in an associated network but filtering incoming broadcast downlink messages so as to delete any such broadcast downlink message which it has already retransmitted so as to avoid duplicative retransmissions;

retransmitting up to a predetermined number of times any message transmitted thereby which fails to be acknowledged by its intended recipient, until such message is successfully transmitted; and

filtering from any retransmissions any message which is beyond a predetermined period of time after its original transmission from its respective cell master.