Downlink routing mechanism

• US 8,488,482 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2010
• Issued: 07/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Itron Global Sarl (Itron, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Inventors: Clave, Arnaud, Monier, Fabrice
• Primary Examiner(s): Sam, Phirin
• Application Number:
  US12/832,173
• Publication Number:
  US 20100271945A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,104 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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. Cell isolation is provided through quasi-orthogonal sequences in a frequency hopping network. Additional features relate to apparatus and methodology subject matters relating to Downlink routing mechanisms.

Claims

1. A method for an advanced metering system mesh network with multiple mode downlink routing, comprising:

establishing a network including a central facility 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 comprising cell masters which provide communications between the central facility and others of the node devices associated therewith in respective cells formed by each respective cell master;

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

from each node device associated with a given specific cell master in a respective cell formed thereby, providing information to the given specific cell master about communications links of each of the node devices in the respective cell;

selectively sending a monocast downlink message from a given respective cell master to a specific node device associated therewith, using a monocast downlink path determined by the given respective cell master based on its received information from all node devices associated therewith; and

selectively sending a broadcast downlink message from a given respective cell master to all node devices associated therewith.

2. Methodology as in claim 1, wherein:

each node device provides updated information to its respective cell master about any changes to its communications links in the respective cell;

each node device returns a Broken Link message to its respective cell master if it is unable after a predetermined number of retransmissions to successfully transmit a message to its intended recipient; and

each cell master uses Broken Link messages and updated information received from the respective node devices in its respective cell in its subsequent determinations of any downlink monocast paths.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein each of the node devices:

retransmits incoming broadcast downlink messages but filters incoming broadcast downlink messages so as to delete any the broadcast downlink message which it has already retransmitted so as to avoid duplicative retransmissions;

retransmits up to a predetermined number of times any message transmitted thereby which fails to be acknowledged by its intended recipient, until the message is successfully transmitted; and

filters from any retransmissions any message which is beyond a predetermined period of time after its original transmission from a cell master associated with the node device.

4. An advanced metering system mesh network with multiple mode downlink routing, comprising:

a central facility; 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 comprising cell masters which provide communications between said central facility and others of said node devices associated therewith in respective cells formed by each respective cell master, with each node device configured for bi-directional communications with said central facility;

wherein

each of said node devices is configured to provide information to its respective cell master about communications links thereof in the respective cell; and

each respective cell master is configured to selectively send a monocast downlink message from it to a specific node device associated therewith, using a monocast downlink path determined by it based on its received information from all node devices associated therewith, and is further configured to selectively send a broadcast downlink message from it to all node devices associated therewith.

5. An advanced metering system mesh network as in claim 4, wherein:

each of said node devices is further configured for providing updated information to its respective cell master about any changes to its communications links in the respective cell, and for returning a Broken Link message to its respective cell master if it is unable after a predetermined number of retransmissions to successfully transmit a message to its intended recipient; and

each respective cell master is further configured for using Broken Link messages and updated information received from the respective node devices in its respective cell in its subsequent determinations of any downlink monocast paths.

6. An advanced metering system mesh network as in claim 4, wherein each of said node devices is further configured for:

retransmitting incoming broadcast downlink messages but filtering incoming broadcast downlink messages so as to delete any the broadcast downlink message which it has already retransmitted so as to avoid duplicative retransmissions;

retransmitting up to a predetermined number of times any message transmitted thereby which fails to be acknowledged by its intended recipient, until the message is successfully transmitted; and

filtering from any retransmissions any message which is beyond a predetermined period of time after its original transmission from a cell master associated with the node device.