Uplink routing without routing table
First Claim
1. Methodology for an advanced metering system mesh network with self-optimizing uplink communications, comprising:
- establishing a network including a central facility and a plurality of end devices, at least some of which end devices comprise metrology devices, and at least some of which end devices comprise cell relays which provide communications between others of the end devices and the central facility;
configuring the network for bi-directional communications between the central facility and each of the plurality of end devices via associations with respective of the cell relays;
computing an average local propagation delay for each one-hop link for uplink communications from end devices towards its associated cell relay;
computing global average propagation delay along each uplink path from an end device to its associated cell relay; and
optimizing the global average propagation delay at at least one of said end devices,whereby uplink communications from such at least one of the end devices to the central facility are optimized without requiring storage of a routing table.
3 Assignments
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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. Cell isolation is provided through quasi-orthogonal sequences in a frequency hopping network. Additional features relate to apparatus (both network and device related) and methodology subject matters relating to uplink routing without requiring a routing table.
156 Citations
25 Claims
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1. Methodology for an advanced metering system mesh network with self-optimizing uplink communications, 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, and at least some of which end devices comprise cell relays which provide communications between others of the end devices and the central facility; configuring the network for bi-directional communications between the central facility and each of the plurality of end devices via associations with respective of the cell relays; computing an average local propagation delay for each one-hop link for uplink communications from end devices towards its associated cell relay; computing global average propagation delay along each uplink path from an end device to its associated cell relay; and optimizing the global average propagation delay at at least one of said end devices, whereby uplink communications from such at least one of the end devices to the central facility are optimized without requiring storage of a routing table. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11)
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8. An advanced metering system mesh network with self-optimizing uplink communications, comprising:
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a central facility; and a plurality of end devices, with at least some of said end devices comprising metrology devices, and at least some of said end devices comprising cell relays which provide communications between others of said end devices and said central facility, with each end device configured for bi-directional communications with said central facility via an associated one of said cell relays; wherein at least one end device is configured to compute an average local propagation delay for each one-hop link for uplink communications from itself towards its associated cell relay, to compute global average propagation delay along each uplink path from itself to its associated cell relay, and to optimize its global average propagation delay, whereby uplink communications from said end devices to said central facility are optimized without requiring storage of a routing table. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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9. A metrology device for use with an advanced metering system mesh network with self-optimizing uplink communications, and including a central facility, a plurality of end devices, with at least some of such end devices comprising such metrology devices, and at least some of such end devices comprising cell relays which provide communications between others of such end devices and the central facility, with each end device configured for bi-directional communications with such central facility via an associated one of such cell relays, said metrology device comprising:
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a metrology portion configured to measure consumption of a utility commodity; a transmitter portion configured to transmit consumption information and other data; and a receiver portion configured to receive information from other network devices; wherein said transmitter portion and said receiver portion are configured to compute an average local propagation delay for each one-hop link for uplink communications from said metrology device towards its associated cell relay, to compute global average propagation delay along each uplink path from said metrology device to its associated cell relay, and to optimize its global average propagation delay, whereby uplink communications from said metrology device to a central facility of an associated advanced metering system mesh network are optimized without requiring storage of an uplink routing table in said metrology device. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification