CELL ROUTER FAILURE DETECTION IN A MESH NETWORK

• US 20130162441A1
• Filed: 12/22/2011
• Published: 06/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Itron Global Sarl (Itron, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Inventors: Bartier, Jerome, Van Wyk, Hartman, Monier, Fabrice
• Granted Patent: US 9,419,888 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/064 involving time analysis
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/085 Retrieval of network configuration; Tracking network configuration history
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0811 by checking connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/22 Alternate routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/28 using route fault recovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/22 using selective relaying for reaching a BTS [Base Transceiver Station] or an access point
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to methodologies, apparatuses, and systems for providing cell router (relay) failure detection in a mesh network. Individual cell relays heading up cells within a mesh network transmit synchronization signals including as a portion thereof a counter value. Nodes with the cells monitor the counter value and search for a new connection to a central facility if the counter value fails to update within a predetermined value.

Claims

1. A method for providing cell router failure detection, comprising:

periodically updating a value based on a value received from a cell relay;

comparing the value with a previously received value; and

determining whether communications with the cell relay have failed based on the results of the comparison.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the value is received as a portion of a synchronization frame.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein the value corresponds to a numerical value.

4. A method as in claim 3, wherein determining whether communications with the cell relay have failed corresponds to determining whether the numerical value has changed within a predetermined period of time.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein the value corresponds to a time value.

6. A method as in claim 4, wherein determining whether communications with the cell relay have failed corresponds to determining whether the time value has changed within a predetermined period of time.

7. A method as in claim 1, wherein the cell relay is operative in a mesh network associated with a collection engine, other such cell relays, and a plurality of associated nodes.

8. A method as in claim 7, wherein at least some of the associated nodes are respectively associated with metering endpoints, and the collection engine is operative for collecting metering data from such metering endpoints.

9. A network enabled node device, comprising:

a counter configured to be updated based on a received network signal;

a comparator configured to compare a counter value with a previous counter value; and

a processor configured to search for network access based on results of a comparison of said counter value and said previous counter value.

10. A device as in claim 9, wherein said counter is updated based on a portion of a network synchronization frame.

11. A device as in claim 10, wherein said portion contains a numerical value.

12. A device as in claim 9, wherein said processor searches for network access if said counter fails to be updated within a predetermined time period.

13. A device as in claim 10, wherein the value corresponds to a time value.

14. A device as in claim 13, wherein said processor searches for network access if the time value has not changed within a predetermined period of time.

15. A device as in claim 9, wherein said device is configured for operation with a mesh network having a data collection engine, at least one cell relay, and a plurality of said node devices.

16. A mesh network, comprising:

a collection engine;

at least two cell relays; and

at least one node respectively associated with each of said at least two cell relays, the at least one node associated with each of said at least two cell relays forming with its associated cell relay a cell within the network;

wherein said cell relays transmit synchronization signals including at least a counter value to nodes within their own cell;

said at least one node monitors said counter value; and

said at least one node searches for network access to said collection engine upon failure to receive updated counter values from its associated cell relay within a predetermined time period.

17. A mesh network as in claim 16, wherein said cell relays transmit a numeric counter value.

18. A mesh network as in claim 16, wherein said cell relays transmit a time counter value.

19. A mesh network as in claim 16, wherein said at least one node is forbidden from searching within the cell of its previously associated cell relay during a predetermined time period.

20. A mesh network as in claim 16, wherein at least some of the associated nodes are respectively associated with metering endpoints, and said collection engine is operative for collecting metering data from such metering endpoints.