TARGET DIRECTED JOINING ALGORITHM FOR MULTI-PAN NETWORKS

• US 20150046704A1
• Filed: 07/25/2014
• Published: 02/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: LIANG, ROBERT, VIJAYASANKAR, KUMARAN
• Application Number:
  US14/341,366
• Publication Number:
  US 20150046704A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/162
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5433 Remote metering
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0816 Key establishment, i.e. cryptographic processes or cryptographic protocols whereby a shared secret becomes available to two or more parties, for subsequent use
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/03 Protecting confidentiality, e.g. by encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A method of network joining. A first service node (SN) of SNs in a multi-Personal Area Network including data concentrators (DCs) that communicate with a server over a common communications medium configures a beacon request frame (BRF) including a Media Access Control (MAC) header including a header information element (HIE) or a payload IE (PIE), and a MAC CRC footer. The BRF includes a unique address of a first DC corresponding to the first SN or an encrypted data sequence with a key. The first SN transmits the BRF over the common communications medium. Responsive to receiving the BRF, the first DC processes the BRF to identify the unique address or has the key and applies the key to decipher the encrypted BRF. The first DC transmits a beacon frame over the common communications medium, wherein others of the plurality of DCs do not transmit respective beacon frames.

Claims

1. A method of network joining, comprising:

a first service node (SN) of a plurality of SNs having primary metering units in a multi-Personal Area Network (multi-PAN) including a plurality of data concentrators (DCs) that communicate with at least one server over a common communications medium configuring a beacon request frame (BRF), wherein said BRF comprises a Media Access Control (MAC) header including a header information element (HIE), or a payload IE (PIE), and a MAC cyclic redundancy check (CRC) footer, said BRF including a unique address of a first of said plurality of DCs (first DC) or at least partial encryption of a data sequence (encrypted data sequence) with a key shared with said first DC (pre-shared key);

said first SN transmitting said BRF over said common medium;

responsive to receiving said BRF, said first DC processing said BRF to identify said unique address or said first DC having said pre-shared key and applying said pre-shared key to decipher said BRF, and

said first DC transmitting a beacon frame over said common communications medium, wherein others of said plurality of DCs do not transmit respective beacon frames.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said unique address comprises a unicast address in said MAC header.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said unique address is included in said HIE or in said PIE.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said encrypted data sequence comprises encryption of an entirety of said BRF.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said encrypted data sequence is transmitted in said HIE, said PIE, or as a MAC payload.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of SNs and said plurality of DCs are all within a common building having a plurality of homes.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said common communications medium is a powerline supporting powerline communications (PLC).

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said common communications medium is a wireless medium supporting wireless communications.

9. A modem for a service node (SN) to communicate in a multi-Personal Area Network (multi-PAN) including a plurality of data concentrators (DCs) that communicate with at least one utility server over a common communications medium, comprising:

a processor, wherein said processor is communicably coupled to a memory which stores a target directed joining algorithm (joining algorithm) for said multi-PAN including code for compiling a beacon request frame (BRF), and wherein said processor is programmed to implement said joining algorithm, said joining algorithm;

configuring said BRF comprising a Media Access Control (MAC) header including a header information element (HIE), or a payload IE (PIE), and a MAC cyclic redundancy check (CRC) footer, said BRF including a unique address of a first of said plurality of DCs (first DC) or at least partial encryption of a data sequence (encrypted data sequence) with a key, and

causing said first SN to transmit said BRF over said common communications medium.

10. The modem of claim 9, wherein said modem is formed on an integrated circuit (IC) comprising a substrate having a semiconductor surface, wherein said processor comprises a digital signal processor (DSP).

11. The modem of claim 9, wherein said unique address comprises a unicast address in said MAC header.

12. The modem of claim 9, wherein said unique address is included in said HIE or said PIE.

13. The modem of claim 9, wherein said encrypted data sequence comprises encryption of an entirety of said BRF.

14. The modem of claim 9, wherein said encrypted data sequence is transmitted in said BRF as said HIE, said PIE, or a MAC payload.

15. A multi-Personal Area Network (PAN) system, comprising:

a plurality of data concentrators (DCs) each including a DC modem including a DC processor that is coupled to a DC memory, said DC modem coupled to a DC transceiver configured to communicate with at least one utility server over a common communications medium;

a plurality of service nodes (SN) each including a SN modem including a SN processor that is coupled to a SN memory, said SN modem coupled to a SN transceiver configured to communicate over said common communications medium, wherein said SN processor is communicably coupled to said SN memory which stores a target directed joining algorithm (joining algorithm) for said multi-PAN system including code for compiling a beacon request frame (BRF), and wherein said SN processor is programmed to implement said joining algorithm, said joining algorithm;

configuring said BRF comprising a Media Access Control (MAC) header including a header information element (HIE) or a payload IE (PIE), and a MAC cyclic redundancy check (CRC) footer, said BRF including a unique address of a first of said plurality of DCs (first DC) or at least partial encryption of a data sequence (encrypted data sequence) with a key shared with said first DC (pre-shared key), and causing said first SN to transmit said BRF over said common communications medium;

responsive to receiving said BRF, said first DC configured for processing said BRF to identify said unique address or said first DC having said pre-shared key in said DC memory and applying said pre-shared key to decipher said BRF, and

said first DC configured for transmitting a beacon frame over said common communications medium, wherein others of said plurality of DCs are configured for not transmitting respective beacon frames.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said unique address comprises a unicast address in said MAC header or is included in said HIE, or in said PIE.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein said encrypted data sequence comprises encryption of an entirety of said BRF.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein said plurality of SNs and said plurality of DCs are all within a common building having a plurality of homes.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein said common communications medium is a powerline supporting powerline communications (PLC).

20. The system of claim 15, wherein said common communications medium is a wireless medium supporting wireless communications.