ENDPOINT REPEATER FUNCTIONALITY SELECTION

• US 20130093600A1
• Filed: 10/18/2011
• Published: 04/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Inventors: Cumeralto, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 9,420,515 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/36 Repeater circuits H04B3/58 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/10 based on available power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/24 Connectivity information management, e.g. connectivity discovery or connectivity update
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Disclosed are apparatus and methodology for improving communications among battery operated network endpoints and a central facility. A battery operated endpoint may determine its remaining battery capacity and decide whether is it able to provide message repeating services to other endpoints within the network. The endpoint may make such decision based also on it own communications reliability to a central facility either directly or via other endpoints operating as repeaters.

Claims

1. A method for improving communications among battery operated network endpoints and a central facility, comprising:

transmitting a signal from endpoints to indicate availability of repeater functionality thereat sufficient to support repeating messages from other endpoints; and

relaying messages from endpoints requiring repeater functionality to be heard at the central facility.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein transmitting a signal is permitted based on the battery capacity of an endpoint being sufficient to support repeating messages from other endpoints.

3. A method as in claim 2, wherein said sufficient battery capacity comprises such battery capacity being above a predetermined level.

4. A method as in claim 3, wherein transmitting a signal is further permitted based on the endpoint having a sufficient quality of service connection to at least another upstream endpoint or directly to a central facility.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein transmitting a signal is permitted based on the reliability of the endpoint'"'"'s communication path to the central facility.

6. A method as in claim 5, wherein transmitting a signal is further permitted based on the battery capacity of an endpoint being sufficient to support repeating messages from other endpoints.

7. A method as in claim 1, wherein transmitting a signal comprises transmitting a discovery bit.

8. A method as in claim 1, further comprising;

associating a measurement device with the endpoint, so that the endpoint may transmit measurement data to the central facility.

9. A method as in claim 8, wherein the measurement device corresponds to a consumption measurement device.

10. A method as in claim 9, wherein the consumption measurement device corresponds to at least one of a water, gas, and oil meter.

11. A method as in claim 1, including establishing a network of endpoints, at least some of which are configured to operate as repeaters.

12. A network, comprising:

a central facility; and

a plurality of endpoints, selected of said plurality of endpoints being battery powered and having capability to operate as a repeater;

wherein said endpoints having capability to operate as a repeater provide an indication of such capability to other endpoints only after determining that they have repeater functionality thereat sufficient to support repeating messages from other endpoints.

13. A network as in claim 12, wherein said indication is provided based on the battery capacity of an endpoint being sufficient to support repeating messages from other endpoints.

14. A network as in claim 13, wherein said sufficient battery capacity comprises such battery capacity being above a predetermined level.

15. A network as in claim 14, wherein said indication is further provided based on the endpoint having a sufficient quality of service connection to at least another upstream endpoint or directly to a central facility.

16. A network as in claim 12, wherein said indication is provided based on reliability of the endpoint'"'"'s communication path to said central facility.

17. A network as in claim 16, wherein said indication is further provided based on the battery capacity of an endpoint being sufficient to support repeating messages from other endpoints.

18. A network as in claim 12, wherein said indication comprises a signal transmitted by said endpoints.

19. A network as in claim 12, wherein indicating capability to other endpoints to operate as a repeater is permitted based on reliability of the endpoint'"'"'s communication path to the central facility.

20. A network as in claim 12, wherein endpoints having sufficient battery capacity to support repeating messages transmit a discovery bit.

21. A network as in claim 12, further comprising;

a measurement device associated with at least selected of said plurality of endpoints,

whereby the endpoint may transmit measurement data to the central facility.

22. A network as in claim 21, wherein said measurement device comprises a consumption measurement device.

23. A network as in claim 22, wherein said consumption measurement device corresponds to at least one of a water, gas, and oil meter.

24. A method for improving communications among battery operated network endpoints and a central facility, comprising:

collecting measurement data at least some of said endpoints;

evaluating transmission conditions of an endpoint in such network;

transmitting to other of such endpoints in such network availability of an endpoint to provide repeater functionality to such other endpoints.

25. A method as in claim 24, wherein evaluating includes evaluating upstream links of an endpoint in such network.

26. A method as in claim 24, wherein evaluating includes determining battery capacity of an endpoint in such network.

27. A method as in claim 26, wherein determining battery capacity includes determining whether such battery capacity is above a predetermined level.

28. A method as in claim 24, including relaying messages from endpoints requiring repeater functionality to be heard at the central facility.

29. A method as in claim 24, wherein:

evaluating includes evaluating upstream links of an endpoint in such network, and determining battery capacity of such endpoint; and

said method includes relaying messages from endpoints requiring repeater functionality to be heard at the central facility.