Discovery phase in a frequency hopping network
First Claim
1. A method for enabling a newly installed network end device to establish a link to an existing advanced metering system frequency hopping network, comprising:
- establishing a network including a central facility and a plurality of end devices, at least some of which end devices comprise metrology devices;
configuring the network for bi-directional communications between the central facility and each of the plurality of end devices;
causing a newly installed end device to transmit a discovery beacon, the discovery beacon including information as to a specific listening channel on which the newly installed end device will listen during a listening window;
configuring selected of the plurality of end devices to transmit a response to a received discovery beacon;
placing the newly installed end device in a listen mode during a listening window on the listening channel specified in the transmitted discovery beacon;
configuring the newly installed end device to collect and store information transmitted from one or more of the plurality of end devices in response to the discovery beacon; and
configuring the newly installed end device to synchronize with a preferred network based on the lowest number of end points within a cell of end points.
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Accused Products
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. Particular present features relate to operation at the node level of a Discovery Phase in a frequency hopping network.
201 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for enabling a newly installed network end device to establish a link to an existing advanced metering system frequency hopping network, comprising:
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establishing a network including a central facility and a plurality of end devices, at least some of which end devices comprise metrology devices; configuring the network for bi-directional communications between the central facility and each of the plurality of end devices; causing a newly installed end device to transmit a discovery beacon, the discovery beacon including information as to a specific listening channel on which the newly installed end device will listen during a listening window; configuring selected of the plurality of end devices to transmit a response to a received discovery beacon; placing the newly installed end device in a listen mode during a listening window on the listening channel specified in the transmitted discovery beacon; configuring the newly installed end device to collect and store information transmitted from one or more of the plurality of end devices in response to the discovery beacon; and configuring the newly installed end device to synchronize with a preferred network based on the lowest number of end points within a cell of end points. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for enabling a newly installed network end device to establish a link to an existing advanced metering system frequency hopping network, comprising:
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establishing a network including a central facility and a plurality of end devices, at least some of which end devices comprise metrology devices; configuring the network for bi-directional communications between the central facility and each of the plurality of end devices; causing a newly installed end device to transmit a discovery beacon, the discovery beacon including information as to a specific listening channel on which the newly installed end device will listen during a listening window; configuring selected of the plurality of end devices to transmit a response to a received discovery beacon; placing the newly installed end device in a listen mode during a listening window on the listening channel specified in the transmitted discovery beacon; configuring the newly installed end device to collect and store information transmitted from one or more of the plurality of end devices in response to the discovery beacon; configuring the newly installed end device to synchronize with a preferred network based on any collected information in accordance with predetermined criteria; and causing a newly installed end device to transmit discovery beacons over several hopping channels in succession prior to entering a listening mode and; including in the discovery beacons the number of remaining discovery beacons to be sent. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. An advanced metering system frequency hopping network, comprising:
a central facility; a plurality of end devices, at least some of which end devices comprise metrology devices, with said central facility and said plurality of end devices being configured for bi-directional communications therebetween; and at least one device configured to attempt to establish a link to at least one of said plurality of end devices in accordance with predetermined criteria; wherein said at least one device is configured to attempt to establish a link by transmitting a plurality of discovery beacons on successive hopping channels, each beacon including information as to a specific channel on which said at least one device will listen during a listening window, and as to the number of remaining beacons to be transmitted. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
Specification