Wireless communication enabled meter and network

• US 8,019,836 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2008
• Issued: 09/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: F2VS Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Mesh Comm LLC
• Inventors: Elliott, Karl E., Garrard, Kenneth W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Application Number:
  US12/030,527
• Publication Number:
  US 20080132185A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,308 Days
• Field of Search: 709220-221, 709217-218, 709223-229, 709/250
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/04 Network management architectures or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/34 Signalling channels for network management communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/12 Network monitoring probes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/00 Systems for electrical power generation, transmission, distribution or end-user application management characterised by the use of communication or information technologies, or communication or information technology specific aspects supporting them
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/18 Network protocols supporting networked applications, e.g. including control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

A meter enabled for wireless communication and a wireless communication network are disclosed. A meter enabled for wireless communication comprises a metering device, a wireless communication system and an interface between the two. Meter data can be read, and the meter can be controlled via communication with a wireless network using, e.g., the Bluetooth™ protocol A self-configuring wireless network is also disclosed. The wireless network includes a number of vnodes, and one or more VGATES. The vnodes are devices that are enabled for wireless communication using, e.g., the Bluetooth™ protocol. Vnodes are operative to form ad hoc piconet connections. The one or more VGATES comprise computer network gateways that are enabled for wireless communication using, e.g., the Bluetooth™ protocol. Thus, the VGATES enable the wireless array of vnodes to communicate with a private or public computer network to transmit data or receive commands. The network may also communicate with a VNOC system. VNOC is a universal communications adapter that enables the wireless array of vnodes to communicate (either directly or through a VGATE) with a central control facility via various wireless or wired communication media.

Claims

1. A self configuring wireless network, comprising:

(i) a group of virtual network nodes, each of said group of virtual network nodes supporting a wireless communication link, said group of virtual network nodes being capable of self configuring said group of virtual network nodes into an organized network via messaging between said group of virtual network nodes; and

(ii) a gateway being communicatively coupled to said group of virtual network nodes and configured to provide a communication access point between said group of virtual network nodes and an external network, wherein access by an additional virtual network node, which is separate from said group of virtual network nodes, to said external network is facilitated by a route that includes a wireless communication link between said additional virtual network node and a first of said group of virtual network nodes and a path from said first of said group of virtual network nodes to said virtual gate defined by said organized network.

2. The self configuring wireless network of claim 1, wherein each of said group of virtual network nodes is configured to execute a self configuration cycle to establish said organized network.

3. The self configuring wireless network of claim 2, wherein said self configuration cycle is executed upon initialization and/or upon a detected disruption in connectivity.

4. The self configuring wireless network of claim 2, wherein said self configuration cycle includes a determination of whether a number of hops to said virtual gate exceeds a maximum number of hops.

5. The self configuring wireless network of claim 2, wherein said self configuration cycle includes an examination of a measure of redundancy in connections.

6. The self configuring wireless network of claim 2, wherein said self configuration cycle includes a determination of whether a connection is made only to a group of virtual network nodes that is searching for another virtual network node.

7. The self configuring wireless network of claim 2, wherein said self configuration cycle includes a determination of signal strength.

8. The self configuring wireless network of claim 2, wherein said self configuration cycle is based on request messages that are sent after pseudo random delays.

9. The self configuring wireless network of claim 1, wherein each of said group of virtual network nodes store information regarding the identities and/or location of at least one other virtual network node.

10. The self configuring wireless network of claim 1, wherein each of said group of virtual network nodes stores a routing table that comprises routing information about at least one other virtual network node.

11. The self configuring wireless network of claim 1, wherein each of said group of virtual network nodes is configured to execute a polling procedure to poll at least one other virtual network nodes.

12. The self configuring wireless network of claim 1, wherein each of said group of virtual network nodes is configured with encryption capability to encrypt communications with at least one other virtual network node.

13. The self configuring wireless network of claim 1, wherein said virtual gate comprises a computer network gateway.

14. The self configuring wireless network of claim 1, wherein said virtual gate stores geographic location of all virtual network nodes within a pre-specified distance of said virtual gate.

15. The self configuring wireless network of claim 1, wherein said wireless communication link employs at least one multiplexed communication channel.

16. The self configuring wireless network of claim 1, wherein said wireless communication link includes a first channel used for upstream communication and a second channel used for downstream communication.

17. A self configuring wireless network, comprising:

(i) a group of virtual network nodes, each of said group of virtual network nodes supporting a wireless communication link, said group of virtual network nodes being capable of self configuring said group of virtual network nodes into an organized network via messaging between said group of virtual network nodes;

(ii) a gateway being communicatively coupled to said group of virtual network nodes and configured to provide a communication access point between said group of virtual network nodes and an external network, wherein access by an additional virtual network node, which is separate from said group of virtual network nodes, to said external network is facilitated by a route that includes a wireless communication link between said additional virtual network node and a first of said group of virtual network nodes and a path from said first of said group of virtual network nodes to said virtual gate defined by said organized network; and

(iii) an interface module configured to facilitate communication of event information between said virtual network nodes and said external network.

18. The self configuring wireless network of claim 17, wherein said interface module comprises:

a communication interface configured to accommodate communication between said virtual network nodes and said external network;

an event naming module configured to identify pre-specified events;

an event database configured to store information regarding the pre-specified events;

an event management module configured to process and manage occurrences of the pre-specified events; and

a communication management module configured to manage communication of the pre-specified events between the virtual network nodes and said external network.

19. The self configuring wireless network of claim 18, wherein said communication interface facilitates remote monitoring of at least one of said virtual network nodes.

20. The self configuring wireless network of claim 18, wherein said communication interface includes a customer interface.

21. The self configuring wireless network of claim 20, wherein said customer interface comprises a web browser interface, electronic mail interface, a customized Internet Protocol application interface, a telephone interface, a modem interface, and/or a paging device interface.

22. The self configuring wireless network of claim 18, wherein said communications interface includes a network interface.

23. The self configuring wireless network of claim 22, wherein said network interface comprises a Bluetooth interface, a cellular communication interface, a satellite communication interface, a MicroBurst interface, an Internet communication interface, an OrbComm interface, a GSM interface, and/or a Cellemetry interface.

24. The self configuring wireless network of claim 17, wherein said interface module further comprises a configuration management module that specifies one or more of interface information, protocol information, and pre-specified services.

25. The self configuring wireless network of claim 17, wherein said interface module further comprises a security management module that manages security of communications.

26. The self configuring wireless network of claim 17, wherein said interface module further comprises an error and recovery management module that manages detection of, and recovery from, communication errors.

27. The self configuring wireless network of claim 17, wherein said interface module further comprises a replication redundancy management module that replicates attribute information regarding the self configuration wireless communication network.

28. The self configuring wireless network of claim 17, wherein said interface module further comprises a billing module that tracks and bills usage of services provided by the self configuring wireless communication network.

29. The self configuring wireless network of claim 17, wherein said interface module further comprises an audit and logging module.

30. The self configuring wireless network of claim 17, wherein said interface module further comprises a publication and subscription management module that manages the publication of the occurrences of the pre-specified events.