Number of sons management in a cell network

• US 9,129,514 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2010
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Itron Global Sarl (Itron, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Inventors: Monier, Fabrice, Bartier, Jerome
• Primary Examiner(s): Eskandarnia, Arvin
• Application Number:
  US12/848,502
• Publication Number:
  US 20100295704A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,863 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 Number-of-sons'"'"' management.

Claims

1. A metrology device for use with an advanced metering system mesh network having adaptive neighborhood management of communications links, and having a central facility, a plurality of node devices, with at least some of such node devices comprising such metrology devices, and at least some of such node devices comprising father node devices providing synchronized communications links for others of the node devices defining son node devices of a given respective father node device, with each node device configured for bi-directional communications with such central facility via associations with respective of the father node devices, said metrology device comprising:

a metrology portion configured to measure consumption of a utility commodity;

a transmitter portion configured to transmit consumption information from its associated metrology portion and other data;

and a receiver portion configured to receive information from other network devices in an associated network;

wherein said metrology device portion is configured for providing to its respective father node device on an associated network information about alternative father communications links available to such metrology device in such associated network, so that such respective father node device may make determinations about removing such metrology device as a son thereof in lieu of other node devices on such associated network.

2. A metrology device as in claim 1, wherein said metrology device portion is further configured for including in transmissions from said metrology device a flag notification indicating whether such metrology device has available to it potential fathers above a predetermined number thereof.

3. A metrology device as in claim 2, wherein said metrology device portion is further configured such that transmitting such flag notification comprises including a set bit in a message format of transmissions from such metrology device.

4. A metrology device as in claim 1, wherein said metrology device portion is further configured for responding to a removal notification from its respective father node device of an associated network by thereafter reacquiring synchronization with one of its available alternative father communications links.