Real time clock distribution and recovery
First Claim
1. A method for providing real time clock distribution in an advanced metering system mesh network, comprising:
- establishing a network including at least one root node and a plurality of node devices, at least some of which node devices comprise metrology devices;
configuring the network for bi-directional communications between the at least one root node and each of the plurality of node devices;
establishing a hyperframe having a predetermined length;
dividing the hyperframe into a predetermined number of time slots represented by time slot numbers ranging from zero to the predetermined number of time slots;
establishing a maximum hyperframe number corresponding to a number of times the hyperframe is to be repeated in a sequence represented by hyperframe numbers ranging from zero to such maximum hyperframe number;
configuring the at least one root node for communications with a predetermined time standard;
repeatedly incrementing the time slot number so that the time slot number rolls over to zero as the next number following the predetermined number of time slots;
incrementing the hyperframe number once following each rollover of the time slot number so that the hyperframe number rolls over to zero as the next number following the maximum number of hyperframes; and
broadcasting a message including a timestamp derived from the predetermined time standard from the root node to the plurality of node devices whenever the hyperframe number and the time slot number are both zero, whereby the plurality of node devices may each be synchronized with the root node.
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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 real time clock distribution and recovery.
129 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for providing real time clock distribution in an advanced metering system mesh network, comprising:
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establishing a network including at least one root node and a plurality of node devices, at least some of which node devices comprise metrology devices;
configuring the network for bi-directional communications between the at least one root node and each of the plurality of node devices;
establishing a hyperframe having a predetermined length;
dividing the hyperframe into a predetermined number of time slots represented by time slot numbers ranging from zero to the predetermined number of time slots;
establishing a maximum hyperframe number corresponding to a number of times the hyperframe is to be repeated in a sequence represented by hyperframe numbers ranging from zero to such maximum hyperframe number;
configuring the at least one root node for communications with a predetermined time standard;
repeatedly incrementing the time slot number so that the time slot number rolls over to zero as the next number following the predetermined number of time slots;
incrementing the hyperframe number once following each rollover of the time slot number so that the hyperframe number rolls over to zero as the next number following the maximum number of hyperframes; and
broadcasting a message including a timestamp derived from the predetermined time standard from the root node to the plurality of node devices whenever the hyperframe number and the time slot number are both zero, whereby the plurality of node devices may each be synchronized with the root node. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for resynchronizing real time clock information in an advanced metering system mesh network, comprising:
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establishing a network including at least one root node and a plurality of node devices, at least some of which node devices comprise metrology devices;
configuring the network for bi-directional communications between the at least one root node and each of the plurality of node devices;
configuring the plurality of node devices such that one or more node devices correspond to one or more son node devices and one or more node devices correspond to father node devices;
associating each son node device with one or more father node devices;
transmitting update time information to each son node device from its associated one or more father node devices in a packet format including predetermined preamble and header portions at a predetermined bit rate; and
configuring each son node device to resynchronize itself based on the transmitted update time information each time it receives a message from one of its associated father node devices. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An advanced metering system mesh network, comprising:
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a root node; and
a plurality of node devices, with each of said node devices configured for bi-directional based communications with said root node, and with at least some of said node devices comprising metrology devices;
wherein each of said plurality of node devices is further configured to transmit respective packet messages, each packet message containing at least a preamble portion and a header portion, wherein each of said plurality of node devices is further configured to operate in accordance with repeating time slots within repeating hyperframes, with each of said plurality of node devices assigned a network cell address and a level number based on the number of hops to each respective node device from said root node, and wherein each packet message includes at least an indication of the transmitting node device'"'"'s level number, cell address, and time slot, whereby synchronization of all node devices in the network may be maintained. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification