Systems and methods for distributing data within a mesh network
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a utility provider configured to provide utility services to a plurality of customers;
a plurality of meters, each meter configured to measure utility usage data of a respective customer; and
a plurality of intermediate nodes configured to transmit the utility usage data from the plurality of meters to the utility provider,wherein, when at least one of the plurality of meters is scheduled to receive a firmware upgrade, the utility provider is configured to forward the firmware upgrade to at least one of the plurality of intermediate nodes,wherein the at least one of the plurality of intermediate nodes is configured to receive and store the firmware upgrade and, after storing the firmware upgrade, is further configured to forward the firmware upgrade to at least one of the plurality of meters,wherein each intermediate node comprises a voltage monitoring device configured to monitor a voltage level of a power supply providing power to the respective intermediate node, andwherein, if the voltage monitoring device determines the voltage level to be below a predetermined threshold level, the respective intermediate node pauses the forwarding process until the voltage level returns to above the predetermined threshold level.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for distributing a firmware upgrade within a mesh network are provided. In one implementation, a firmware upgrade distributing system comprises a utility provider, which is configured to provide utility services to a plurality of customers, a plurality of meters, and a plurality of nodes. Each meter is configured to measure utility usage data of a respective customer. The nodes are configured to transmit the utility usage data from the plurality of meters to the utility provider. When at least one of the meters is scheduled to receive a firmware upgrade, the utility provider is configured to forward the firmware upgrade to at least one of the plurality of nodes. The at least one node is configured to receive and store the firmware upgrade and, after storing the firmware upgrade, is further configured to forward the firmware upgrade to at least one of the plurality of meters.
16 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a utility provider configured to provide utility services to a plurality of customers; a plurality of meters, each meter configured to measure utility usage data of a respective customer; and a plurality of intermediate nodes configured to transmit the utility usage data from the plurality of meters to the utility provider, wherein, when at least one of the plurality of meters is scheduled to receive a firmware upgrade, the utility provider is configured to forward the firmware upgrade to at least one of the plurality of intermediate nodes, wherein the at least one of the plurality of intermediate nodes is configured to receive and store the firmware upgrade and, after storing the firmware upgrade, is further configured to forward the firmware upgrade to at least one of the plurality of meters, wherein each intermediate node comprises a voltage monitoring device configured to monitor a voltage level of a power supply providing power to the respective intermediate node, and wherein, if the voltage monitoring device determines the voltage level to be below a predetermined threshold level, the respective intermediate node pauses the forwarding process until the voltage level returns to above the predetermined threshold level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for storing and forwarding data, comprising:
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receiving from a first node a plurality of data packets comprising a data package; storing each of the data packets in a memory; sending an acknowledgement upon receiving each of the plurality of data packets; monitoring a voltage level of a power supply; and in response to receiving a final data packet of the data package and sending a final acknowledgement, sending to a second node the plurality of data packets stored in the memory, wherein if the voltage level is determined to be below a predetermined threshold level, pausing the process of sending the plurality of data packets to the second node until the voltage level returns to above the predetermined threshold level. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A system for storing and forwarding data, comprising:
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a processing device configured to execute logic instructions; a voltage monitoring device configured to monitor a voltage level of a power supply providing power to the system; and a memory device in communication with the processing device, the memory device configured to store a set of logic instructions enabling the processing device to receive from a first node a plurality of data packets comprising a data package, store each of the plurality of the data packets, send an acknowledgement upon receiving each of the plurality of data packets, and in response to receiving a final data packet of the plurality of data packets and after sending a final acknowledgement, send to a second node the plurality of data packets stored in the memory device, wherein if the voltage monitoring device determines the voltage level to be below a predetermined threshold level, the processing device causes the process of sending the plurality of data packets to the second node until the voltage level returns to above the predetermined threshold level.
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Specification