Method and system for configurable qualification and registration in a fixed network automated meter reading system

• US 7,187,906 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2004
• Issued: 03/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Elster Electricity LLC (Honeywell International Inc.), Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Elster Electricity LLC (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Borleske, Andrew J., Mason, Robert T. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson; Matthew D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SOBUTKA, PHILIP
• Application Number:
  US10/831,903
• Publication Number:
  US 20050239414A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,044 Days
• Field of Search: 455 68- 70, 455/41.2, 455/3, 455/426.1, 455/2, 455/517, 455/66.1, 455/67.11, 455/524, 455/5, 455/434, 455/515, 455/561, 455/562.1, 370/338, 370/328, 340/870.2, 340/7, 340/870.11, 340 101- 6
• US Class Current: 455/69
• 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: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A dynamic self-configuring system for collecting metering data comprises a collector meter. The collector meter scans for meters that are operable to directly communicate with the collector and registers such meters as level one meters. The collector transmits instructions to the level one meters to scan for meters that are operable to directly communicate with the level one meters. The collector registers meters that respond as level two meters. A qualification threshold used in the registration process is adjustable.

Claims

1. A method of establishing a wireless communication network among a plurality of nodes, comprising the following steps performed at one of the plurality of nodes:

(a) identifying other nodes that are capable of communicating with said one node, the other nodes defining a subset of said plurality of nodes;

(b) for each node in the subset, determining whether two-way communications between that node and said one node satisfy a qualification threshold, and if so, identifying that node as one for which two-way communications with said one node can be performed;

(c) storing information about each of the nodes identified in step (b), said identified nodes comprising a level of said wireless communication network; and

(d) adjusting the qualification threshold and repeating steps (a) through using the adjusted qualification threshold,

wherein the qualification threshold represents an acceptable percentage of successful communications between nodes.

2. The method recited in claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises, for each node in the subset:

(i) transmitting a predetermined number of messages to the node, the node being expected to transmit a response for each of said transmitted messages;

(ii) receiving a number of responses from the node;

(iii) comparing the number of responses received from the node to a predetermined threshold value, the predetermined threshold value defining said qualification threshold; and

(iv) if the number of responses received from the node satisfies the predetermined threshold value, identifying the node as one for which two-way communications with said one node can be performed.

3. The method recited in claim 2, further comprising adjusting the predetermined number of messages transmitted to each node of the subset.

4. The method recited in claim 1, wherein step (d) comprises adjusting the qualification threshold based on a characteristic of said plurality of nodes.

5. The method recited in claim 4, wherein said characteristic of said plurality of nodes may comprise one of (i) a density of said plurality of nodes in a selected geographic area, (ii) a signal strength with which the nodes can transmit, (iii) a measure of the importance of data being transmitted by each node, and (iv) an identification of different types of nodes in the wireless communication network.

6. The method recited in claim 1, wherein step (a) comprises:

broadcasting a message requesting other nodes that receive the broadcast message to transmit a response; and

identifying any nodes from which a response to the broadcast message is received, those nodes defining said subset of nodes.

7. The method recited in claim 1, wherein steps (a) through are performed at a first node that defines a collector of said wireless communication network, and wherein the nodes identified in step (b) comprise a first level of said wireless communication network.

8. The method recited in claim 7, further comprising performing steps (a) through at each node of the first level, the nodes identified in step (b) from each first level node together comprising a second level of said wireless communication network.

9. The method recited in claim 8, wherein for each second level node, a single communication path is established between the second level node and the collector through a first level node from which the second level node was identified in step (b), and wherein that first level node serves as a repeater for two-way communications between the second level node and the collector.

10. The method recited in claim 8, further comprising:

performing steps (a) through (c) at each node of the second level, the nodes identified in step (b) from each second level node together comprising a next level of said wireless communication network; and

repeating steps (a) through (c) at successive next levels of the wireless communication network until a predetermined number of levels of said wireless communication network are established.

11. The method recited in claim 10, wherein a respective communication path is established between the collector and each node at each level of the wireless communication network.

12. The method recited in claim 10, wherein step (d) is performed at the collector and then also at each node of each successive level of the wireless communication network to create a new network using the adjusted qualification threshold.

13. The method recited in claim 12, wherein information concerning the communication paths from the collector to each node is saved at the collector prior to performing step (d).

14. The method recited in claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of nodes comprises a meter for measuring the consumption of a resource.

15. The method recited in claim 14, wherein said resource comprises one of electricity, gas, and water.

16. A method of establishing a wireless communication network among a plurality of nodes, comprising the following steps performed at one of the plurality of nodes:

(a) identifying other nodes that are capable of communicating with said one node, said other nodes defining a subset of said plurality of nodes;

(b) for each node in the subset,

(i) transmitting a predetermined number of messages to the node, the node being expected to transmit a response for each of said transmitted messages;

(ii) receiving a number of responses from the node;

(iii) comparing the number of responses received from the node to a predetermined threshold value; and

(iv) if the number of responses received from the node satisfies the predetermined threshold value, identifying the node as one for which two-way communications with said one node can be performed;

(c) storing information about each of the nodes identified in step (b)(iv), said identified nodes comprising a level of said wireless communication network; and

(d) adjusting the predetermined threshold value and repeating steps (a) through (c) using the adjusted threshold value.

17. The method recited in claim 16, wherein step (d) comprises adjusting the predetermined threshold value based on a characteristic of said plurality of nodes.

18. The method recited in claim 17, wherein said characteristic of said plurality of nodes may comprise one of (i) a density of said plurality of nodes in a selected geographic area, (ii) a signal strength with which the nodes can transmit, (iii) a measure of the importance of data being transmitted by each node, and (iv) an identification of different types of nodes in the wireless communication network.

19. The method recited in claim 16, further comprising adjusting the predetermined number of messages transmitted to each node of the subset.

20. The method recited in claim 16, wherein step (a) comprises:

broadcasting a message requesting other nodes that receive the broadcast message to transmit a response; and

identifying any nodes from which a response to the broadcast message is received, those nodes defining said subset of nodes.

21. The method recited in claim 16, wherein steps (a) through (c) are performed at a first node that defines a collector of said wireless communication network, and wherein the nodes identified in step (b)(iv) comprise a first level of said wireless communication network, said method further comprising performing steps (a) through at each node of the first level, the nodes identified in step (b)(iv) from each first level node together comprising a second level of said wireless communication network.

22. The method recited in claim 21, wherein for each second level node, a single communication path is established between the second level node and the collector through a first level node from which the second level node was identified in step (b)(iv), and wherein that first level node serves as a repeater for two-way communications between the second level node and the collector.

23. The method recited in claim 21, further comprising:

performing steps (a) through at each node of the second level, the nodes identified in step (b)(iv) from each second level node together comprising a next level of said wireless communication network; and

repeating steps (a) through at successive next levels of the wireless communication network until a predetermined number of levels of said wireless communication network are established.

24. The method recited in claim 23, wherein a respective communication path is established between the collector and each node at each level of the wireless communication network.

25. A device comprising:

a memory;

wireless communication electronics for transmitting and receiving messages; and

a processor that executes instructions that enable said device to establish at least a portion of a wireless communication network among a plurality of devices, the instructions, when executed by the processor, causing said device to;

(a) identify other devices that are capable of communicating with said device, the other devices defining a subset of said plurality of devices;

(b) for each device in the subset, determine whether two-way communications between that device and said device satisfy a qualification threshold, and if so, identify that device as one for which two-way communications with said device can be performed;

(c) store information about each of the devices identified in step (b) in said memory, said identified devices comprising a level of the wireless communication network; and

(d) adjust the qualification threshold and repeat steps (a) through (c) using the adjusted qualification thresholds

wherein the qualification threshold represents an acceptable percentage of successful communications between devices.

26. The device recited in claim 25, wherein said device determines whether two-way communications with another device satisfy the qualification threshold by:

(i) transmitting a predetermined number of messages to the other device, the other device being expected to transmit a response for each of said transmitted messages;

(ii) receiving a number of responses from the other device;

(iii) comparing the number of responses received from the other device to a predetermined threshold value, the predetermined threshold value defining said qualification threshold; and

(iv) if the number of responses received from the other device satisfies the predetermined threshold value, identifying the other device as one for which two-way communications with said device can be performed.

27. The device recited in claim 26, wherein said device is further operable to adjust the predetermined number of messages transmitted from the said device to the other device.

28. The device recited in claim 25, wherein said device adjusts the qualification threshold and repeats steps (a) through (c) in response to a command received from a server with which said device communicates.

29. The device recited in claim 25, wherein the qualification threshold is adjusted based on a characteristic of said plurality of devices.

30. The device recited in claim 29, wherein said characteristic of said plurality of devices may comprise one of (i) a density of said plurality of devices in a selected geographic area, (ii) a signal strength with which the devices can transmit, (iii) a measure of the importance of data being transmitted by each device, and (iv) an identification of different types of devices in the wireless communication network.

31. The device recited in claim 25, wherein said device identifies other devices that are capable of communicating with said device by:

broadcasting a message requesting other devices that receive the broadcast message to transmit a response; and

identifying any devices from which a response to the broadcast message is received, those devices defining said subset of devices.

32. The device recited in claim 25, wherein said device comprises a collector that communicates with other device in the wireless communication network to obtain data from those other devices and to store that data in the memory of said device.

33. The device recited in claim 25, wherein said device comprises a meter for measuring the consumption of a resource.

34. The device recited in claim 33, wherein said resource comprises one of electricity, gas, and water.

35. The device recited in claim 25, wherein said device comprises one of a meter, an in-home display, an in-home thermostat, and a load control device.

36. A processor-readable medium having stored thereon instructions for establishing a wireless communication network among a plurality of nodes, the instructions, when executed by a processor at one of the plurality of nodes, causing the processor at said one node to:

(a) identify other nodes that are capable of communicating with said one node, the other nodes defining a subset of said plurality of nodes;

(b) for each node in the subset, determine whether two-way communications between that node and said one node satisfy a qualification threshold, and if so, identify that node as one for which two-way communications with said one node can be performed;

(c) store information about each of the nodes identified in step (b), said identified nodes comprising a level of said wireless communication network; and

(d) adjust the qualification threshold and repeat steps (a) through (c) using the adjusted qualification threshold,

wherein the qualification threshold represents an acceptable percentage of successful communications between nodes.

37. The processor-readable medium recited in claim 36, wherein the instruction cause the processor to perform step (b) for each node in the subset by:

(i) transmitting a predetermined number of messages to the node, the node being expected to transmit a response for each of said transmitted messages;

(ii) receiving a number of responses from the node;

(iii) comparing the number of responses received from the node to a predetermined threshold value, the predetermined threshold value defining said qualification threshold; and

(iv) if the number of responses received from the node satisfies the predetermined threshold value, identifying the node as one for which two-way communications with said one node can be performed.

38. The processor-readable medium recited in claim 36, further comprising instruction that cause the processor to adjust the predetermined number of messages transmitted to each node of the subset.

39. The processor-readable medium recited in claim 36, wherein the instructions that cause the processor to adjust the qualification threshold and repeat steps (a) through are performed in response to a command received from a server with which said one node can communicate.

40. The processor-readable medium recited in claim 36, wherein the qualification threshold is adjusted based on a characteristic of said plurality of nodes.

41. The processor-readable medium recited in claim 40, wherein said characteristic of said plurality of nodes may comprise one of (i) a density of said plurality of nodes in a selected geographic area, (ii) a signal strength with which the nodes can transmit, (iii) a measure of the importance of data being transmitted by each node, and (iv) an identification of different types of nodes in the wireless communication network.

42. The processor-readable medium recited in claim 36, wherein the instructions cause the processor to perform step (a) by:

broadcasting a message requesting other nodes that receive the broadcast message to transmit a response; and

identifying any nodes from which a response to the broadcast message is received, those nodes defining said subset of nodes.

43. In a wireless communication network comprising a plurality of nodes, wherein one node defines a collector of the network which communicates with each of a subset of nodes defining a first level of the network, and wherein each node of the first level further communicates with another subset of nodes different from said first level and from the nodes that communicate with other first level nodes, all the nodes that communicate with a respective first level node defining a second level of the network, and wherein each second level node communicates with the collector through its respective first level node, and further wherein the network is established by a process comprising:

(a) identifying from the collector other nodes that are capable of communicating with the collector;

(b) for each node identified in step (a), determining from the collector whether two-way communications between that node and the collector satisfy a qualification threshold, and if so, identifying that node as one for which two-way communications with the collector can be performed;

(c) storing information about each of the nodes identified in step (b), said identified nodes comprising the first level of the wireless communication network; and

(d) instructing each first level node to perform steps (a) through (c) from the first level node, the nodes identified in step (b) from each first level node together comprising the second level of said wireless communication network,

a method comprising;

(i) instructing the collector to adjust the qualification threshold and to re-perform steps (a) through using the adjusted qualification threshold to establish a new first level of nodes, and

(ii) instructing each first level node to re-perform steps (a) though (c) from the first level node using the adjusted qualification threshold to establish a new second level of the network.

44. The method recited in claim 43, wherein the qualification threshold represents an acceptable percentage of successful communications between nodes.

45. The method recited in claim 43, wherein step (b) comprises, for each node identified in step (a):

(i) transmitting a predetermined number of messages to the node, the node being expected to transmit a response for each of said transmitted messages;

(ii) receiving a number of responses from the node;

(iii) comparing the number of responses received from the node to a predetermined threshold value, the predetermined threshold value defining said qualification threshold; and

(iv) if the number of responses received from the node satisfies the predetermined threshold value, identifying the node as one for which two-way communications can be performed.

46. The method recited in claim 45, further comprising adjusting the predetermined number of messages transmitted to each node.

47. The method recited in claim 43, wherein the qualification threshold is adjusted in steps (i) and (ii) based on a characteristic of said plurality of nodes.

48. The method recited in claim 47, wherein said characteristic of said plurality of nodes may comprise one of (i) a density of said plurality of nodes in a selected geographic area, (ii) a signal strength with which the nodes can transmit, (iii) a measure of the importance of data being transmitted by each node, and (iv) an identification of different types of nodes in the wireless communication network.

49. The method recited in claim 43, wherein step (a) comprises:

broadcasting a message requesting other nodes that receive the broadcast message to transmit a response; and

identifying any nodes from which a response to the broadcast message is received.

50. The method recited in claim 43, further comprising saving information identifying the communication paths from the collector to each node prior to performing steps (i) and (ii).

51. The method recited in claim 43, wherein each of said plurality of nodes comprises a meter for measuring the consumption of a resource.

52. The method recited in claim 51, wherein said resource comprises one of electricity, gas, and water.