Method and system of providing IP-based packet communications with in-premisis devices in a utility network

• US 20080186202A1
• Filed: 05/24/2007
• Published: 08/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Itron Networked Solutions, Inc. (Itron, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Silver Spring Networks, Inc. (Itron, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pace, James, Vaswani, Raj, Flammer, George
• Granted Patent: US 8,364,846 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.03
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/00 Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/17306 Intercommunication techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4633 Interconnection of networks using encapsulation techniques, e.g. tunneling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/659 Internet protocol version 6 [IPv6] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/22 Alternate routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/28 using route fault recovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/741 Routing in networks with a plurality of addressing schemes, e.g. with both IPv4 and IPv6
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/10 of different types
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/251 between different IP versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2514 between local and global IP addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5038 for local use, e.g. in LAN or USB networks, or in a controller area network [CAN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5061 Pools of addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/167 Adaptation for transition between two IP versions, e.g. between IPv4 and IPv6 translation of Internet protocol [IP] addresses H04L61/2503
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/33 for indoor environments, e.g. buildings
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 : Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/04 : using triggered events
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 : Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 : Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 : Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/005 : Data network PoA devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 : Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 : Inter-networking arrangements
• 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: Y02D 30/50 : in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 : Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/18 : Network protocols supporting networked applications, e.g. including control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

One example embodiment provides a method and system where a node in a utility network assigns an IP network address to an in-premise device which communicates to the utility node over an in-premise network which is not IP based. The utility node proxies the assigned IP address to the utility network, allowing other nodes on the utility network to address and communicate with the in-premise device.

Claims

1. A wireless communication system comprising:

a plurality of utility nodes capable of receiving commodity meter information, the utility nodes connected in a utility network, the utility nodes including an in-premise interface;

wherein the in premise interface of the utility node associates a network address with an in-premise device communicating over an in-premise network.

2. The wireless network system of claim 1, wherein the in-premise network is WPAN network.

3. The wireless network system of claim 2, wherein the in-premise WPAN network uses the ZigBee communications protocol.

4. The wireless network system of claim 2, wherein the in-premise WPAN network uses the UWB communications protocol.

5. The wireless network system of claim 1, wherein the in-premise network is a PLC communications network.

6. The wireless network system of claim 1, wherein the in-premise network may use both the UWB communications protocol and a PLC communications network.

7. The wireless network system of claim 1, wherein the in-premise network may use both the ZigBee communications protocol and a PLC communications network.

8. The wireless network system of claim 1, wherein the associated network address is an IPv6 network address.

9. The wireless network system of claim 1, wherein the associated network address is an IPv4 network address.

10. The wireless network system of claim 1, wherein the in premise network may use IP protocols.

11. The wireless network system of claim 2, wherein the WPAN network may use IP protocols.

12. The wireless network system of claim 1, wherein the utility node proxies the associated network address to the utility network.

13. The wireless network system of claim 1, wherein the utility node forwards IPv6 data packets to a back office system in response to data received from an in premise device through the in premise interface.

14. The wireless network system of claim 1, wherein the utility node forwards IPv4 data packets to a back office system in response to data received from an in premise device through the in premise interface.

15. The wireless network of claim 12, wherein at least one back office system in communication with the utility network receives the associated network address proxied by the utility node and sends at least one message to the in-premise device using the associated network address.

16. The wireless network system of claim 1, wherein the utility node associates a unique network addresses to each of a plurality of in-premise devices.

17. The wireless network system of claim 1, wherein the associated unique network addresses are globally routable.

18. The wireless network system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of in-premise devices is physically located at a neighboring premise.

19. A method of communicating on a wireless utility network, comprising:

receiving an indication of the existence of at least one in-premise device over a non-IP based communications network;

associating a network address with the in-premise device; and

sending an indication of the association of the network address with the in-premise device to at least one other node in the utility network.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the at least one other node in the utility network is an access point.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the associated network address is an IPv6 address.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the non-IP based communications network is a WPAN network.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the WPAN network uses a communication protocol chosen from:

UWB communications protocol, ZigBee communications protocol.

24. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving an indication of the existence of a second in-premise device over a non-IP based communications network;

associating a second network address with the second in-premise device; and

sending an indication of the association of the second network address with the second in-premise device to at least one other node in the utility network.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

receiving a message from at least one of the in-premise devices intended for a node on the utility network, wherein the received message was received from non-IP based communications network;

sending at least one packet on the utility network addressed to the intended node on the utility network, wherein the at least one packet sent includes the associated network address of the at least one of the in-premise device associated with the received message.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the intended node on the utility network is an access point, the access point forwarding the packet to node on a communication network the access point is in communication with.