Broadcast acknowledgement in a network
First Claim
1. A method for distributing information to nodes in an advanced metering system mesh network, comprising:
- establishing a mesh network including at least one master node and a plurality of node devices, at least some of which node devices comprise metrology devices;
configuring the network for bidirectional communications among the at least one master node and each of the plurality of node devices using a repeating hyperframe subdivided into a repeating time slot packet protocol;
assigning levels to each node based on the number of hops the node is away from the master node such that nodes further away from the master node will be assigned higher numbers;
identifying at each node neighbor nodes thereof, wherein neighbors with a lower level are identified as fathers of the node, neighbors having an equal level are identified as brothers, and neighbors having a higher level are identified as sons;
broadcasting a message from the master node to the higher level nodes; and
assigning acknowledgement sequences to son nodes within messages broadcast by father nodes, whereby sons failing to receive messages broadcast from fathers may be identified.
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Accused Products
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 broadcast acknowledgement features.
140 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for distributing information to nodes in an advanced metering system mesh network, comprising:
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establishing a mesh network including at least one master node and a plurality of node devices, at least some of which node devices comprise metrology devices;
configuring the network for bidirectional communications among the at least one master node and each of the plurality of node devices using a repeating hyperframe subdivided into a repeating time slot packet protocol;
assigning levels to each node based on the number of hops the node is away from the master node such that nodes further away from the master node will be assigned higher numbers;
identifying at each node neighbor nodes thereof, wherein neighbors with a lower level are identified as fathers of the node, neighbors having an equal level are identified as brothers, and neighbors having a higher level are identified as sons;
broadcasting a message from the master node to the higher level nodes; and
assigning acknowledgement sequences to son nodes within messages broadcast by father nodes, whereby sons failing to receive messages broadcast from fathers may be identified. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for distributing information to nodes in an advanced metering system mesh network, comprising:
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establishing a mesh network including at least one master node and a plurality of node devices, at least some of which node devices comprise metrology devices;
configuring the network for bi-directional communications among the at least one master node and each of the plurality of node devices using a repeating hyperframe subdivided into a repeating time slot packet protocol;
assigning levels to each node based on the number of hops the node is away from the master node such that nodes further away from the master node will be assigned higher numbers;
identifying at each node neighbor nodes thereof, wherein neighbors with a lower level are identified as fathers of the node, neighbors having an equal level are identified as brothers, and neighbors having a higher level are identified as sons; and
broadcasting messages from father nodes to son nodes as paired sequences, wherein the first message in the paired sequence specifies a response order for son nodes and the second message includes a broadcast identification. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An advanced metering system mesh network, comprising:
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at least one master node; and
a plurality of node devices, at least some of which node devices comprise metrology devices, with said plurality of node devices configured for bi-directional communications among said at least one master node and each of said plurality of node devices using a repeating hyperframe subdivided into a repeating time slot packet protocol;
whereineach respective node is configured for being assigned a level based on the number of hops the node is away from said at least one master node, and for identifying neighbor nodes having a lower level as father nodes, neighbors having an equal level as brother nodes, and neighbors having a higher level as son nodes; and
such father nodes are configured for broadcasting messages to son nodes as paired sequences with a first message specifying a response order for son nodes and a second message including a broadcast identification. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification