Wireless communication enabled meter and network

• US 8,700,749 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2011
• Issued: 04/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: F2VS Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Nanolife Health, Inc. (f/k/a Endeavor IP, Inc.)
• Inventors: Elliott, Karl E., Garrard, Kenneth W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Application Number:
  US13/227,590
• Publication Number:
  US 20120063338A1
• Time in Patent Office: 950 Days
• Field of Search: 709/200, 709/203, 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. A self-configuring wireless network is disclosed that includes a number of vnodes, and one or more VGATES. Vnodes are operative to form ad hoc piconet connections. The one or more VGATES comprise computer network gateways that are enabled for wireless communication. 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 that enables the wireless array of vnodes to communicate (either directly or through a VGATE) with a central control facility.

Claims

1. A self-configuring wireless network, comprising:

a group of virtual network nodes, wherein each node of the group of virtual network nodes determines, via messaging, a respective node of the group of network nodes to connect with, and wherein the group of virtual network nodes is capable of self-configuring into an organized network; and

a gateway communicatively coupled to the group of virtual network nodes to provide a communication access point between the group of virtual network nodes and an external network, wherein access by an additional virtual network node to the external network is facilitated by a route that comprises a path from a first node of the group of virtual network nodes to the gateway defined by the organized network.

2. The self-configuring wireless network of claim 1, each node of the group of virtual network nodes to execute a self-configuration cycle to establish the organized network.

3. The self-configuring wireless network of claim 2, wherein the self-configuration cycle comprises a determination of whether a number of hops to the gateway exceeds a maximum number of hops.

4. The self-configuring wireless network of claim 2, wherein the self-configuration cycle comprises an examination of a measure of redundancy in connections.

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

6. The self-configuring wireless network of claim 2, wherein the self-configuration cycle comprises a determination of signal strength.

7. The self-configuring wireless network of claim 2, wherein the self-configuration cycle is based on a request message that is sent after pseudo random delays.

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

9. The self-configuring wireless network of claim 1, each node of the group of virtual network nodes to execute a polling procedure to poll another virtual network node.

10. The self-configuring wireless network of claim 1, wherein the gateway stores geographic location of virtual network nodes within a pre-specified distance of the gateway.

11. A wireless network method, comprising:

organizing a group of virtual network nodes into an organized network in view of a self-configuration process implemented by the group of virtual network nodes, wherein each node of the group of virtual network nodes determines, via messaging, a respective node of the group of network nodes to connect with; and

coupling the group of virtual network nodes to a gateway, the gateway to provide a communication access point between the group of virtual network nodes and an external network, wherein access by an additional virtual network node to the external network is facilitated by a route that comprises a path from a first node of the group of virtual network nodes to the gateway defined by the organized network.

12. The wireless network method of claim 11, wherein the organizing comprises executing, by each node of the group of virtual network nodes, a self-configuration cycle to establish the organized network.