BEACON REQUESTS AND RS BIT RESOLVING CIRCULAR ROUTES

• US 20120051401A1
• Filed: 11/07/2011
• Published: 03/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Itron Global Sarl (Itron, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Inventors: Monier, Fabrice, Bartier, Jerome
• Granted Patent: US 8,441,987 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/134
• 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 concerning the handling of Beacon Requests and Registered State bit resolving to avoid circular routes.

Claims

1. Methodology for an end device within an advanced metering system frequency hopping network to handle a synchronization request from another end device, comprising:

providing a frequency hopping network including a plurality of end devices, at least some of which end devices comprise metrology devices;

configuring the plurality of end devices for bi-directional communications with other end devices;

receiving a synchronization request at a given end device from a neighboring unsynchronized end device; and

determining whether the given end device has received within a predetermined number of recent time slots a message from a father end device by which the given end device has been synchronized, and

if so, then transmitting a synchronization acceptance signal to the requesting unsynchronized end device;

or

if not, then transmitting a beacon request signal to a registered father end device.

2. Methodology as in claim 1, wherein the step of determining whether the given end device has received a message from a father end device comprises checking at least one bit in a data packet received from the father end device to determine if the father end device is registered within the advanced metering system frequency hopping network.

3. Methodology as in claim 2, further comprising:

receiving synchronization information from the father end device to which a beacon request signal was sent; and

storing at the given end device information received from the father end device in response to the beacon request signal.

4. Methodology as in claim 3, wherein the synchronization information received from the father end device includes time, frequency, and network identifier information.

5. Methodology as in claim 2, further comprising a step, after the step of transmitting a synchronization acceptance signal, of sending synchronization information from the given end device to the neighboring unsynchronized end device.

6. Methodology as in claim 5, wherein the synchronization information sent from the given end device to the neighboring unsynchronized end device includes time, frequency, and network identifier information.

7. Methodology as in claim 1, further comprising a step of sending a synchronization refusal signal to the neighboring unsynchronized end device if the given end device has no registered father end devices.

8. Methodology for enabling a network end device to establish a link to an existing advanced metering system frequency hopping network, comprising:

providing a frequency hopping network including a central facility and a plurality of end devices, at least some of which end devices comprise metrology devices;

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

causing a previously registered end device which has lost its synchronization to the network to transmit a beacon request to a neighboring end device; and

configuring the neighboring end device to transmit synchronization information to the previously registered end device if the neighboring end device has received within a predetermined number of recent time slots a message from a father end device by which the neighboring end device has been synchronized.

9. Methodology as in claim 8, further comprising a step of transmitting a beacon request from the neighboring end device to a father end device by which the neighboring end device has been previously synchronized if it is determined that the neighboring end device has not received within the predetermined number of recent time slots a message from the father end device.

10. Methodology as in claim 9, further comprising:

receiving synchronization information from the father end device to which a beacon request signal was sent; and

storing information at the neighboring end device received from the father end device in response to the beacon request signal such that the synchronization information available at the neighboring end device is refreshed.

11. Methodology as in claim 10, further comprising a step, after the step of storing Information, of transmitting the refreshed synchronization information to the previously registered end device after receiving a subsequent request for synchronization from the previously registered end device.

12. Methodology as in claim 8, further comprising a step of sending a synchronization refusal signal from the neighboring end device to the previously registered end device if the neighboring end device has no registered father end devices.

13. Methodology as in claim 8, wherein the synchronization information sent by the neighboring end device includes time, frequency, and network identifier information.

14. Methodology as in claim 8, further comprising a step, in response to the beacon request, of configuring the previously registered end device to collect and store information transmitted from the neighboring end device.

15. Methodology as in claim 14, further comprising a step of configuring the previously registered end device to synchronize with a preferred network based on any collected information in accordance with predetermined criteria.

16. Methodology as in claim 14, further comprising a step of configuring the previously registered end device to synchronize with a preferred network based on the lowest number of end devices within a cell of end devices.

17. Methodology as in claim 14, further comprising a step of configuring the previously registered end device to synchronize with a preferred network based on the proximity and propagation delay of end devices within a cell of end devices.

18. An advanced metering system frequency hopping network, comprising:

a central facility;

a plurality of end devices, at least some of which end devices comprise metrology devices, with said central facility and said plurality of end devices being configured for bi-directional communications therebetween; and

at least one end device capable of receiving a synchronization request from an unsynchronized neighboring end device; and

wherein such at least one end device, upon receiving a synchronization request from an unsynchronized neighboring end device, is configured for determining whether it has received within a predetermined number of recent time slots a message from a higher level end device by which the at least one end device has been synchronized, and

if so, then transmitting a synchronization acceptance signal to the unsynchronized neighboring end device, or

if not, then transmitting a beacon request signal to a registered higher level end device.

19. An advanced metering system frequency hopping network as in claim 18, wherein said at least one end device is configured to check at least one bit in one or more data packets received from a higher level end device to determine if the higher level end device is registered within the advanced metering system frequency hopping network.

20. An advanced metering system frequency hopping network as in claim 18, wherein said at least one end device is configured to send a synchronization refusal signal to the unsynchronized neighboring end device requesting synchronization if said at least one end device has no registered higher level end devices with which it is synchronized.

21. An advanced metering system frequency hopping network as in claim 18, wherein said at least one end device is further configured after transmitting a beacon request signal for:

receiving synchronization information from the higher level end device to which a beacon request signal was sent; and

storing information received from the higher level end device in response to the beacon request signal.

22. An advanced metering system frequency hopping network as in claim 18, wherein said at least one end device is configured after transmitting a synchronization acceptance signal to send synchronization information from said at least one end device to said unsynchronized neighboring end device requesting synchronization.

23. An advanced metering system frequency hopping network as in claim 22, wherein said synchronization information sent from said at least one end device to said unsynchronized neighboring end device includes time, frequency, and network identifier information.