Multi-protocol network registration and address resolution

• US 8,935,412 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2012
• Issued: 01/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Itron Networked Solutions, Inc. (Itron, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Silver Spring Networks, Inc. (Itron, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hughes, Sterling, Van Greunen, Jana, Pugh, William L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Krisna
• Application Number:
  US13/653,795
• Publication Number:
  US 20130042014A1
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 709/228, 709/245, 709/227, 709/242
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/677 Multiple interfaces, e.g. multihomed nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/123 Evaluation of link metrics techniques for monitoring network metrics H04L43/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]

Abstract

The functionality of communications standards and protocols that are application-layer specific are overlaid on an IP-based infrastructure, by employing an IP DNS server as the registration host for IP and other communications standards based and protocol based communications. Communication can occur at either the IP layer or the communications standards or protocol application layer. At the IP layer, a host application can interrogate network nodes. To extend this service to other communications standards or protocol communications, device registration and resolve services are implemented on the DNS server. Similar to the manner in which an IP-based service uses a native, IP-based DNS resolve request, a host can utilize a resolution request against the communications standards and protocol-enabled DNS server for standards and protocol application-layer interrogation of endpoints.

Claims

1. A node in a utility network, comprising:

a first interface that communicates with an associated device by means of a Distribution Automation (DA) device protocol, the DA device being configured to communicate according to a protocol including at least one of MODBUS and DNP 3.0;

a second interface that communicates with a network by means of an IP protocol; and

a processor that, in response to receipt of an IP-based data packet via said second interface, reformats data in said packet to conform to the DA device protocol and forwards the reformatted data via said first interface, and that, in response to receipt of DA device protocol formatted data at said first interface, reformats said data into an IP-based packet and transmits said packet over the network via said second interface.

2. The node of claim 1, wherein said second interface transmits packets wirelessly over said network.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising:

sending a DNS lookup request to a Domain Name Service (“

DNS”

) server for a record identifying a DA device, wherein said record comprises at least an Internet Protocol (“

IP”

) address;

receiving at least said IP address from said DNS server;

creating a data packet; and

sending said data packet to said DA Device associated with said IP address.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said record additionally comprises at least one DA communications protocol address.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said DA communications protocol address is selected from the group consisting of:

MODBUS and DNP 3.0.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein said record comprises a plurality of IP addresses.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein an IP address is selected from said plurality of said IP addresses according to an IP address preference metric that identifies one of a plurality of IP addresses to be used in communicating with said DA Device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said IP address preference metric is at least partially based upon one of the following network attributes:

routing, preference, sub-network configuration, and service group.

9. The method of claim 3, wherein said data packet comprises an IP protocol command comprising at least one of a request or a command.

10. The method of claim 3, wherein said data packet is sent to said DA Device associated with said IP address through one of a plurality of communication paths.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said communication paths comprise an access point.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said communication paths comprise a relay.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein said communication paths comprises a DA communications node.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said data packet is sent to said DA communications node associated with said DA Device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said DA communications node reformats said data packet to a DA communications protocol and forwards said data packet to said DA Device.

16. A method for communicating over a network comprising:

receiving a lookup request for a record identifying a Distribution Automation Device (“

DA Device”

) from a host, wherein said record comprises at least a network address; and

returning at least an application-layer address and at least one network-layer address to said host in response to said lookup request.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said record additionally comprises at least one DA communications protocol address.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said DA communications protocol address is selected from the group consisting of:

MODBUS and DNP 3.0.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein said record comprises a plurality of IP addresses.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein an IP address is selected from said plurality of said IP addresses according to an IP address preference metric that identifies one of a plurality of IP addresses to be used in communicating with said DA Device.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said IP address preference metric is at least partially based upon one of the following network attributes:

routing, preference, sub-network configuration, and service group.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein said data packet comprises an IP protocol command comprising at least one of a request or a command.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein said data packet is sent to said DA Device associated with said IP address through one of a plurality of communication paths.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said communication paths comprise an access point.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein said communication paths comprise a relay.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein said communication paths comprise a DA communications node.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said data packet is sent to said DA communications node associated with said DA Device.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein said DA communications node reformats said data packet to a DA communications protocol and forwards said data packet to said DA Device.

29. A method for communicating over a network comprising:

receiving a data packet associated with a Distribution Automation Device (“

DA Device”

), wherein said data packet comprises an Internet Protocol (“

IP”

) command;

reformatting said IP command to a DA communications protocol; and

sending said DA communications protocol to said DA device.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein said DA communications protocol is selected from the group comprising consisting of:

MODBUS and DNP 3.0.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein said data packet comprises an IP protocol command comprising at least one of a request or a command.