Use of minimal propagation delay path to optimize a mesh network

• US 8,391,177 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2010
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Itron Global Sarl (Itron, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Inventors: Picard, Gilles
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Brian D
• Application Number:
  US12/902,853
• Publication Number:
  US 20110026425A1
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 370/238, 370/229, 370/230.1, 370/252, 370/315, 340/870.01, 340/870.02
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/006 Remote reading of utility meters to a non-fixed location, i.e. mobile location
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/16 in which transmission is by pulses
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7143 Arrangements for generation of hop patterns
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15 Active relay systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/127 based on intermediate node capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/005 Routing actions in the presence of nodes in sleep or doze mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/10 based on available power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/22 using selective relaying for reaching a BTS [Base Transceiver Station] or an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/248 Connectivity information update
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/00 Synchronisation arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0015 one node acting as a reference for the others
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/002 Mutual synchronization
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 70/8418 adapted for focusing electric field or current, e.g. tip-shaped
• 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

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. Particular present features relate to the use of minimal propagation delay path to optimize a mesh network.

Claims

1. A method for optimizing an advanced metering system mesh network, comprising:

establishing a network including a central facility root node and a plurality of linked node devices, at least some of the node devices comprising metrology devices;

configuring the network for bi-directional communications between the central facility root node and each of the plurality of node devices;

computing an average local propagation delay for each node device for each one-hop link to itself;

computing a total value of propagation delay along each path from each node device to the central facility root node based on the average local propagation delay and global propagation delay values stored in immediate neighbor devices;

selecting at each node device the lowest value of total values of propagation delay to define its own global propagation delay value; and

conducting communications using the path corresponding to the selected value,

whereby communications among nodes within the network are optimized.

2. A method as in claim 1, further comprising:

sharing the global propagation delay value for each node device with every other node device accessible within its range,

calculating a global propagation delay to the central facility root node for each respective node device given only the average local propagation delay for the respective node device and shared values from its immediate neighbors.

3. A method as in claim 2, wherein each node device shares its own global propagation delay value by updating its message header.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein the average local propagation delay is updated after each use of any given link.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein each node device is configured to update its packet success rate after each packet transmission attempt with a sliding average using the relationship:

6. A method as in claim 5, wherein the propagation delay of any link is updated using the relationship:

7. A method for optimizing an advanced metering system mesh network, comprising:

establishing a network including a central facility root node and a plurality of linked node devices, at least some of the node devices comprising metrology devices;

configuring the network for bi-directional communications between the central facility root node and each of the plurality of node devices;

computing an average local propagation delay for each one-hop link;

propagating global propagation delay information from the central facility root node to each of the node devices on a step by step basis;

storing global propagation delay information at each node device; and

conducting communications using a path corresponding to the lowest value of total propagation delay based on the stored global propagation delay information and the average local propagation delay,

whereby each node device selects a communications path based only on knowledge of its own average local propagation delay and the global propagation delay information from immediate neighbor node devices.

8. A method as in claim 7, wherein each node device makes available its own global propagation delay value by updating its message header.

9. A method as in claim 7, wherein the average local propagation delay is updated after each use of any given link.

10. A method as in claim 7, wherein each node device is configured to updated its packet success rate after each packet transmission attempt with a sliding average using the relationship:

11. A method as in claim 10, wherein the propagation delay of any link is updated using the relationship:

12. An advanced metering system mesh network, comprising:

a central facility root node; and

a plurality of node devices, each node device configured for bi-directional communications with said central facility root node, at least some of the node devices comprising metrology devices;

wherein each node device is further configured to compute an average local propagation delay for each one-hop link to itself in the mesh network and to select a shortest transmission path to said central facility root node based only on its own computed average propagation delay and global propagation delay information stored in its immediate neighbors;

whereby communications between said central facility root node and said plurality of node devices are optimized.

13. An advanced metering system mesh network as in claim 12, wherein said central facility root node is configured to propagate global propagation delay information to each node device on a step by step basis.

14. An advanced metering system mesh network as in claim 12, wherein each node device is configured to update its average local propagation delay calculation after each use of any given link.

15. An advanced metering system mesh network as in claim 12, wherein each node device is configured to update its packet success rate after each packet transmission attempt with a sliding average using the relationship:

16. An advanced metering system mesh network as in claim 15, wherein each node device is configured to update the propagation delay to any other linked node device using the relationship: