Cell size management
First Claim
1. A method for managing cell size in an advanced metering system mesh network, comprising:
- establishing a mesh network including at least one cell incorporating at least one master node and a plurality of node devices, with at least some of the node devices comprising metrology devices, and with at least some of the node devices being organized into at least one cell;
configuring the network for bi-directional communications among the at least one master node and each of the plurality of node devices using a repeating hyperframe subdivided into a repeating time slot packet protocol;
synchronizing a plurality of the node devices to the at least one master node;
establishing a cell size indicator based on the number of node devices synchronized to the master node;
establishing average propagation delay respectively between each node device and the master node;
establishing a global average propagation delay based on the average propagation delay respectively between each node device and the master node;
transmitting the cell size indicator and the global average propagation delay information as a portion of any message transmitted from the master node to the node devices; and
at each respective node device, sorting and selecting neighbors thereof to select the best access for synchronization and to make a choice between different available cells based on messages received from the master node.
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Accused Products
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 relating to cell size management.
191 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for managing cell size in an advanced metering system mesh network, comprising:
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establishing a mesh network including at least one cell incorporating at least one master node and a plurality of node devices, with at least some of the node devices comprising metrology devices, and with at least some of the node devices being organized into at least one cell; configuring the network for bi-directional communications among the at least one master node and each of the plurality of node devices using a repeating hyperframe subdivided into a repeating time slot packet protocol; synchronizing a plurality of the node devices to the at least one master node; establishing a cell size indicator based on the number of node devices synchronized to the master node; establishing average propagation delay respectively between each node device and the master node; establishing a global average propagation delay based on the average propagation delay respectively between each node device and the master node;
transmitting the cell size indicator and the global average propagation delay information as a portion of any message transmitted from the master node to the node devices; andat each respective node device, sorting and selecting neighbors thereof to select the best access for synchronization and to make a choice between different available cells based on messages received from the master node. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An advanced metering system mesh network, comprising:
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a mesh network including at least one cell incorporating at least one master node and a plurality of node devices, with at least some of the node devices comprising metrology devices, and with at least some of the node devices being organized into at least one cell, with the mesh network configured for bi-directional communications among the at least one master node and each of the plurality of node devices using a repeating hyperframe subdivided into a repeating time slot packet protocol, and with a plurality of the node devices synchronized with the master node; and a transmitter, associated with the master node, and configured for transmitting a cell size indicator based on the number of node devices synchronized to the master node, and for transmitting a global average propagation delay based on average propagation delay respectively between each node device and the master node, with the transmissions comprising a portion of any message transmitted from the master node; and wherein said node devices are configured for receiving messages from said transmitter, and based thereon, sorting and selecting neighbors thereof so as to select the best access for synchronization and so as to make a choice between different available cells. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification