Dynamic self-configuring metering network
First Claim
Patent Images
1. In a network having a collector that receives data from nodes and communicates the data to a communication server, a method of registering said nodes to communicate with said collector, comprising:
- initiating a node scan to establish communication between said collector and said nodes;
determining a reliability of a data communication path between said collector and a node that responds to said node scan; and
registering said node if said node has a reliability above a first predetermined threshold;
repeating said node scan at said collector multiple times to insure all first level nodes that are capable of receiving said node scan have responded by comparing the number of nodes scans performed to a predetermined number of scans.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A dynamic self-configuring system for collecting metering data comprises a collector meter. The collector meter scans for meters that are operable to directly communicate with the collector and registers such meters as level one meters. The collector transmits instructions to the level one meters to scan for meters that are operable to directly communicate with the level one meters. The collector registers meters that respond as level two meters.
-
Citations
16 Claims
-
1. In a network having a collector that receives data from nodes and communicates the data to a communication server, a method of registering said nodes to communicate with said collector, comprising:
-
initiating a node scan to establish communication between said collector and said nodes; determining a reliability of a data communication path between said collector and a node that responds to said node scan; and registering said node if said node has a reliability above a first predetermined threshold; repeating said node scan at said collector multiple times to insure all first level nodes that are capable of receiving said node scan have responded by comparing the number of nodes scans performed to a predetermined number of scans. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A network communication system comprising collectors that receive data from nodes registered with said collectors, and said collectors communicating the received data to a communication server, a method of qualifying communication between said nodes and said collectors, comprising:
-
maintaining a list of nodes registered with a first collector; determining a level of success of communication between a first node and said first collector; and if said level of success is below a predetermined threshold, instructing said first node to respond to subsequent node scans, wherein node scans are initiated by each collector to register nodes that are in communication with said each collector; changing a collector to which said first node communicates to a second collector in response to a subsequent node scan; qualifying said node wherein said second collector makes plural attempts to communicate to said node; and registering said node to said second collector if a predetermined number of said plural attempts to communicate are successful; organizing said nodes into levels beginning with a first level that communicate directly with said collectors through nth level that communicate directly to an nth-1 level; performing said subsequent node scans at successively higher levels beginning with first level nodes through nth-1 level nodes to register second level nodes through nth level nodes; and updating a list of registered nodes in accordance with responses that are received from said second level nodes through said nth level nodes. - View Dependent Claims (16)
-
Specification