Apparatus and method for assessment of mesh network topology

• US 9,838,891 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2015
• Issued: 12/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enel X North America, Inc. (ENEL SPA)
• Original Assignee: Enernoc
• Inventors: Willig, Randy C., Jones, Morgan
• Primary Examiner(s): Choudhury, Faisal
• Application Number:
  US14/984,098
• Publication Number:
  US 20160119802A1
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 370329, 370254
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/002 Remote reading of utility meters
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 15/02 simultaneously, i.e. using frequency division
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7156 Arrangements for sequence synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/71563 Acquisition
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/06 for supporting key management in a packet data network cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management H04L9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/43 using wireless personal area networks [WPAN], e.g. 802.15, 802.15.1, 802.15.4, Bluetooth or ZigBee
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/50 using a mobile data collecting device, e.g. walk by or drive by
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/60 for transmitting utility meters data, i.e. transmission of data from the reader of the utility meter
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/06 Testing, supervising or monitoring using simulated traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

A mesh network topology assessment mechanism is provided including a plurality of first wireless routers, coupled together over a multi-hop mesh network, and a second wireless router. The second wireless router is coupled to the first wireless routers and, responsive to a message having a link assessment mode, introduces a unique delay into forwarding of the message to a next one of the plurality of first wireless routers in route to a destination device. The second wireless router has a store-and-forward controller, having a unique delay time corresponding to the unique delay, where the unique delay time is substantial and thus provides for creation of measurable latency in the message sent between an origination device and the destination device.

Claims

1. A method for assessing a topology of a mesh network, comprising:

first coupling a plurality of first wireless routers together over a multi-hop mesh network;

second coupling a second wireless router to the plurality of first wireless routers over the multi-hop mesh network; and

responsive to a message having a link assessment mode, via the second wireless router, introducing a unique delay into forwarding of the message to a next one of the plurality of first wireless routers in route to a destination device, wherein the second wireless router has a unique delay time corresponding to the unique delay, and wherein the unique delay time is substantial and thus provides for creation of measurable latency in the message sent between an origination device and the destination device, wherein the unique delay time is at least an order of magnitude greater than that introduced by message propagation and internal routing software, and wherein response latency between the origination device and the destination device is ascertained because the response latency correlates with a sum of delays programmed into the second wireless router and one or more of the plurality of first wireless routers that are participating in routing of the message.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the second wireless router is programmed with said unique delay time.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the delays selected such that a propagation path and a network topology are clearly discerned from a cumulative propagation time of the message.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the multi-hop mesh network comprises an IEEE 802.15.4 wireless network.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the multi-hop mesh network comprises an IEEE 802.11 wireless network.