METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CREATING AND MANAGING ASSOCIATION AND BALANCING OF A MESH DEVICE IN A MESH NETWORK

• US 20090138617A1
• Filed: 11/21/2008
• Published: 05/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Trilliant Networks Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Trilliant Networks Incorporated
• Inventors: VEILLETTE, Michel
• Application Number:
  US12/275,252
• Publication Number:
  US 20090138617A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/238
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/04 Interdomain routing, e.g. hierarchical routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/28 using route fault recovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/34 Source routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/48 Routing tree calculation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/66 Traffic distributors
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/22 using selective relaying for reaching a BTS [Base Transceiver Station] or an access point
• 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 30/70 in wireless communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

A method and system are provided for associating a meter to a mesh gate through a mesh network. The method may include selecting a prospective mesh network. The method may include automatically transmitting a neighbor request to the prospective mesh network. The method may include receiving a neighbor response from a neighbor node from different mesh networks. The method may include transmitting an association request to mesh gate via the prospective mesh network. The method may include receiving an association response responsive to a successful authentication by the mesh gate.

Claims

1. A method of associating a meter to a mesh network, comprising:

selecting a prospective mesh network;

automatically transmitting a neighbor request to the prospective mesh network;

receiving a neighbor response from a mesh gate via the prospective mesh network;

transmitting an association request to the mesh gate via the prospective mesh network, the association request including a meter identifier; and

receiving an association response responsive to a successful authentication by the mesh gate.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to an occurrence of a predefined trigger, automatically associating with a second mesh network.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the trigger is at least one of:

an expiration of a predefined time period, and an installation of a new mesh gate within radio range of the meter.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the neighbor request is transmitted to a neighboring meter associated with the prospective mesh network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the neighbor response includes any combination of one or more of the following:

a next hop to the mesh gate;

a number of hops to the mesh gate;

a path quality;

a mesh gate load; and

a router load.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the neighbor response includes all of the following:

a next hop to the mesh gate;

a number of hops to the mesh gate;

a path quality;

a mesh gate load; and

a router load.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the prospective mesh network is associated with:

a network name, the network name including a network name prefix identifying a service provided by the mesh network; and

a network identifier.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the mesh gate further checks a mesh gate load factor before sending the association response.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the mesh gate further transmits the meter identifier to a server.

10. A method of associating a meter to a mesh network, comprising:

receiving an automatically transmitted neighbor request from the meter through the mesh network, the neighbor request received responsive to a transmitted mesh network identifier on a predefined channel;

transmitting a neighbor response to the meter through the mesh network;

receiving an association request, the association request including a meter identifier and an authentication key; and

responsive to successfully authenticating the authentication key, transmitting an association response and adding the meter identifier to a neighborhood table.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the neighbor response includes at least one of and any combination of two or more of:

a next hop to the mesh gate;

a number of hops to the mesh gate;

a path quality;

a mesh gate load; and

a router load.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the neighbor response includes all of the following:

a next hop to the mesh gate;

a number of hops to the mesh gate;

a path quality;

a mesh gate load; and

a router load.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the mesh network is associated with:

a network name, the network name including a network name prefix identifying a service provided by the mesh network;

a network identifier; and

a network channel.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

before transmitting the association response, verifying a mesh gate load is below a predetermined threshold.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

transmitting the network identifier and the meter identifier to a server over a wide area network.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

forwarding communications between the server and the meter.

17. A system for transmitting a network power status, comprising:

a prospective mesh network;

a wide area network separate from the prospective mesh network;

at least one meter, the meter configured to;

(i) detect the prospective mesh network,

(ii) automatically transmit an association request to the prospective mesh network, and

(iii) associate with the prospective mesh network;

a mesh gate in communication with the prospective mesh network and in communication with the wide area network, the mesh gate configured to;

(i) receive the automatically transmitted association request from the meter, and

(ii) responsive to successfully authenticating the meter, transmit an association response to the meter and adding the meter identifier to a neighborhood table; and

a server in communication with the mesh gate over the wide area network, the server configured to receive the meter identifier from the mesh gate.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the mesh gate is further configured to transmit a next hop to the mesh gate, a number of hops to the mesh gate, a path quality, a mesh gate load, and a router load to the meter.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the prospective mesh network is associated with

a network name, the network name including a network name prefix identifying a service provided by the mesh network;

a network identifier; and

a network channel.

20. The system of claim 17, the mesh gate further configured to, before transmitting the association response, verifying a mesh gate load is below a predetermined threshold.

21. The system of claim 20, the mesh gate configured to forward communications between the server and the meter.

22. The system of claim 17, the system further comprising:

a second prospective mesh network; and

a second mesh gate in communication with the second prospective mesh network and the wide area network;

wherein the meter is further configured to, responsive to an occurrence of a predefined trigger, automatically associate with the second mesh network.

23. A computer program stored in a computer readable form for execution in a processor and a processor coupled memory for to perform a method of associating a meter, the method comprising:

selecting a prospective mesh network;

automatically transmitting a neighbor request to the prospective mesh network;

receiving a neighbor response from a mesh gate via the prospective mesh network;

transmitting an association request to mesh gate via the prospective mesh network, the association request including a meter identifier; and

receiving an association response responsive to a successful authentication by the mesh gate.

24. A computer program stored in a computer readable form for execution in a processor and a processor coupled memory for to perform a method of associating a meter to a mesh network, the method comprising:

receiving an automatically transmitted neighbor request from the meter through the mesh network, the neighbor request received responsive to a transmitted mesh network identifier on a predefined channel;

transmitting a neighbor response to the meter through the mesh network;

receiving an association request, the association request including a meter identifier and an authentication key; and

responsive to successfully authenticating the authentication key, transmitting an association response and adding the meter identifier to a neighborhood table.

25. A method of associating a meter to a mesh network, comprising:

selecting a prospective mesh network by the meter, the prospective mesh network associated with a mesh gate;

automatically transmitting a neighbor request from the meter to the prospective mesh network;

receiving the automatically transmitted neighbor request at the mesh gate from the meter through the prospective mesh network, the neighbor request received responsive to a transmitted mesh network identifier on a predefined channel;

transmitting a neighbor response from the mesh gate to the meter through the prospective mesh network;

receiving the neighbor response at the meter from the mesh gate via the prospective mesh network;

transmitting an association request from the meter to the mesh gate via the prospective mesh network, the association request including a meter identifier;

receiving the association request at the mesh gate, the association request including a meter identifier and an authentication key;

responsive to successfully authenticating the authentication key at the mesh gate, transmitting an association response and adding the meter identifier to a neighborhood table; and

receiving an association response at the meter responsive to a successful authentication by the mesh gate.

26. A computer program stored in a computer readable form for execution in a processor and a processor coupled memory for to perform a method of associating a meter to a mesh network, the method comprising:

selecting a prospective mesh network by the meter, the prospective mesh network associated with a mesh gate;

automatically transmitting a neighbor request from the meter to the prospective mesh network;

receiving the automatically transmitted neighbor request at the mesh gate from the meter through the prospective mesh network, the neighbor request received responsive to a transmitted mesh network identifier on a predefined channel;

transmitting a neighbor response from the mesh gate to the meter through the prospective mesh network;

receiving the neighbor response at the meter from the mesh gate via the prospective mesh network;

transmitting an association request from the meter to the mesh gate via the prospective mesh network, the association request including a meter identifier;

receiving the association request at the mesh gate, the association request including a meter identifier and an authentication key;

responsive to successfully authenticating the authentication key at the mesh gate, transmitting an association response and adding the meter identifier to a neighborhood table; and

receiving an association response at the meter responsive to a successful authentication by the mesh gate.

27. A system for of associating a meter to a mesh network, comprising:

means for selecting a prospective mesh network by the meter, the prospective mesh network associated with a mesh gate;

means for automatically transmitting a neighbor request from the meter to the prospective mesh network;

means for receiving the automatically transmitted neighbor request at the mesh gate from the meter through the prospective mesh network, the neighbor request received responsive to a transmitted mesh network identifier on a predefined channel;

means for transmitting a neighbor response from the mesh gate to the meter through the prospective mesh network;

means for receiving the neighbor response at the meter from the mesh gate via the prospective mesh network;

means for transmitting an association request from the meter to the mesh gate via the prospective mesh network, the association request including a meter identifier;

means for receiving the association request at the mesh gate, the association request including a meter identifier and an authentication key;

means for responsive to successfully authenticating the authentication key at the mesh gate, transmitting an association response and adding the meter identifier to a neighborhood table; and

means for receiving an association response at the meter responsive to a successful authentication by the mesh gate.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the means for selecting a prospective mesh network by the meter comprises computer-readable instructions and a microcontroller unit.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the means for automatically transmitting a neighbor request from the meter to the prospective mesh network comprises computer-readable instructions and a microcontroller unit.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein the means for receiving the automatically transmitted neighbor request at the mesh gate from the meter through the prospective mesh network, the neighbor request received responsive to a transmitted mesh network identifier on a predefined channel, comprises computer-readable instructions and a microcontroller unit.

31. The system of claim 27, wherein the means for transmitting a neighbor response from the mesh gate to the meter through the prospective mesh network comprises computer-readable instructions and a microcontroller unit.

32. The system of claim 27, wherein the means for receiving the neighbor response at the meter from the mesh gate via the prospective mesh network comprises computer-readable instructions and a microcontroller unit.

33. The system of claim 27, wherein the means for transmitting an association request from the meter to the mesh gate via the prospective mesh network, the association request including a meter identifier comprises computer-readable instructions and a microcontroller unit.

34. The system of claim 27, wherein the means for receiving the association request at the mesh gate, the association request including a meter identifier and an authentication key comprises computer-readable instructions and a microcontroller unit.

35. The system of claim 27, wherein the means for responsive to successfully authenticating the authentication key at the mesh gate, transmitting an association response and adding the meter identifier to a neighborhood table, comprises computer-readable instructions and a microcontroller unit.

36. The system of claim 27, wherein the means for receiving an association response at the meter responsive to a successful authentication by the mesh gate comprises computer-readable instructions and a microcontroller unit.