System and method for implementing handover of a hybrid communications module

• US 9,001,787 B1
• Filed: 09/19/2012
• Issued: 04/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trilliant Networks Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Trilliant Networks Incorporated
• Inventors: Conant, Robert, Bemmel, Vincent, Jacobsen, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Elliott, IV, Benjamin H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nowlin, Eric
• Application Number:
  US13/622,686
• Time in Patent Office: 930 Days
• Field of Search: 370/311, 370/331, 370/338, 370/230, 370/252, 370/318, 370/392, 370/401, 370/231, 370/238, 370/255, 370/328, 370/329, 370/333, 370/341, 370/386, 370/428, 370/203, 455/436, 455/522, 455/13.4, 455/442, 455/438, 455/127.5, 455/343.5, 455/435.2, 455/437, 455/439, 455/443, 455/444, 455/448, 455/571, 713/340, 713/320
• US Class Current: 370/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0066 of control information between different types of networks in order to establish a new radio link in the target network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/04 Reselecting a cell layer in multi-layered cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A system and process for switching to or between multiple networks to optimize communication between an energy device, e.g., meter, in proximity to at least one of the multiple networks and a head end server to facilitate communication of energy-related data therebetween is described. The system includes a communications module associated with the energy device for controlling the switching between networks and/or the directing of energy-related data communications over different networks in accordance with data type.

Claims

1. A process for switching to or between multiple networks to optimize communication between a fixed position energy device in proximity to at least one of the multiple networks and a head end server to facilitate communication of energy-related data therebetween comprising:

receiving instructions at a fixed position communications module that establish rules for the communications module to control switching communications to or from the energy device associated with the communications module from a first network via a first transceiver at the fixed position of the communications module to a second network via a second transceiver at the fixed position of the communications module, which rules cause periodic scanning by said second transceiver to determine a desirability of using the second network to provide communications of said energy-related data; and

instructing by the communications module, upon a determination of the desirability of using the second network to provide communications of said energy-related data, the first transceiver to cease communications with the energy device and instructing the second transceiver to initiate communications with the energy device to facilitate communication of energy-related data to or from the energy device and the head end server;

wherein the established rules provide a desired progression for switching communications based on financial cost-effectiveness from the first network, where financial cost of communication is usage-based, to the second network, where financial cost of communication is not usage-based;

wherein the energy related data includes at least price information for communication to the energy device; and

wherein the first network is cellular-based and the second network is mesh node-based.

2. The process according to claim 1, wherein the second network is a wireless mesh network.

3. The process according to claim 2, wherein receiving instructions further includes:

periodically scanning by the communications module for availability of data from one or more neighboring mesh devices;

collecting the data by the communications module from the one or more available neighboring mesh devices; and

determining from the collected data if the one or more available neighboring energy devices is a mesh access point or is in communication with a mesh access point and, if so determined, associating the energy device with the one of the one or more available neighboring mesh devices.

4. The process according to claim 1, wherein the instructions to the first transceiver to cease communications with the energy device are applicable to a first subset of communications such that the first subset of communications will occur on the second network and remaining communications remain on the first network.

5. The process according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving instructions at a communications module to switch communications to or from the energy device associated with the communications module from the second network to a third network; and

instructing by the communications module the second transceiver of the second network to cease communications with the energy device and instructing a third transceiver of a third network to initiate communications with the energy device.

6. The process according to claim 5, wherein the third network is a power line communications (PLC) network.

7. The process according to claim 5, wherein the instructions to the first transceiver to cease communications with the energy device are applicable to a first subset of communications such that the first subset of communications will occur on the second network and remaining communications remain on the first network.

24. The process according to claim 1, where the determination of the desirability of using the second network to provide communications of said energy-related data is based on the established rules relating to performance of the second network.

25. The process according to claim 1, where the determination of the desirability of using the second network to provide communications of said energy-related data is based on the established rules relating to factors other than performance of the second network.

26. The process according to claim 25, where the established rules relating to factors other than performance of the second network relate to the second network having a node density sufficient to support failover.

27. The process according to claim 1, where the second network is a wireless mesh network, and its availability is based on the mesh network reaching a node density sufficient to support failover.

8. A process for switching to or between multiple networks to optimize communication between multiple energy devices in proximity to at least one of the multiple networks and a head end server to facilitate communication of energy-related data therebetween comprising:

receiving instructions at a communications module that establishes rules at the communications module to control a predetermined preferential switching of communications to or from the multiple energy devices associated with the communications module from a first network to a second network; and

instructing by the communications module, upon an occurrence of a trigger generated according to the rules of the communications module, a first transceiver of a first network, which first transceiver is located at a fixed location, to cease communications with the multiple energy devices and instructing a second transceiver of a second network, which second transceiver is located at a fixed location, to initiate communications with the multiple devices to facilitate communication of energy-related data to or from the multiple energy devices and the head end server;

wherein the established rules provide a desired progression for switching communications based on financial cost-effectiveness from the first network, where financial cost of communication is usage-based, to the second network, where financial cost of communication is not usage-based;

wherein the energy related data includes at least price information for communication to the energy device; and

wherein the first network is a cellular-based and the second network is a mesh node-based.

9. The process according to claim 8, wherein the second network is a wireless mesh network and the instructions to switch from the first network to the second network apply to a subset of the multiple energy devices and not to remaining multiple energy devices.

10. A system for switching to or between multiple networks to optimize communication of energy-related data comprising:

a communications module at a fixed location including;

a first submodule controlling a first transceiver at the fixed location of the communications module for communicating with a first network using a first network protocol, and

a second submodule controlling a second transceiver at the fixed location of the communications module for communicating with a second network using a second network protocol;

an energy device located at a fixed position and associated with the communications module, wherein the energy device tracks energy-related data that is available to the communications module for communications thereby; and

a server for receiving energy-related data from the communications module via at least one of the first and second networks;

wherein the communication module receives instructions that establish rules for the communications module to control switching communications to or from the energy device from the first network to the second network,

wherein the established rules provide a desired progression for switching communications based on financial cost-effectiveness from the first network, where financial cost of communication is usage-based, to the second network, where financial cost of communication is not usage-based;

wherein the energy related data includes at least price information for communication to the energy device; and

wherein the first network is cellular-based and the second network is mesh node-based.

11. The system according to claim 10, further including a third submodule controlling a third transceiver for communicating with a third network using a third network protocol.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the third network is a PLC network.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein the first network is a cellular network, the second network is a first RF mesh network and the third network is a second RF mesh network.

14. The system according to claim 13, further comprising at least one in-home device in communication with the energy device over the second RF mesh network, wherein the at least one in-home device tracks energy related data for at least one appliance associated with a dwelling.

15. The system according to claim 10, wherein the communications module further comprises a processor for providing individual instructions to the first and second submodules regarding which of the first and second networks should be used to communicate an energy-related data communication from the energy device to the server.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the processor receives the individual instructions from the server.

17. The system according to claim 11, wherein the communications module further comprises a processor for providing individual instructions to the first, second and third submodules regarding which of the first, second and third networks should be used to communicate an energy-related data communication from the energy device to the server.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the processor receives the individual instructions from the server.

19. A communications module at a fixed location for switching to or between multiple networks to optimize communication of energy-related data to and from a fixed position energy device associated with the communications module comprising:

a first submodule controlling a first transceiver at the fixed location of the communications module for communicating energy-related data via a first network using a first network protocol when a first predetermined condition is met; and

a second submodule controlling a second transceiver at the fixed location of the communications module for communicating energy-related data via a second network using a second network protocol when a second predetermined condition is met, wherein said second predetermined condition includes a receipt of instructions that establish rules to cause periodic scanning by said second transceiver after said first predetermined condition is met, to determine availability of the second network to provide communications of said energy-related data, and if determined to be available, causes said second transceiver to provide communications of said energy-related data via said second network;

wherein the established rules provide a desired progression for switching communications based on financial cost-effectiveness from the first network, where financial cost of communication is usage-based, to the second network, where financial cost of communication is not usage-based;

wherein the energy related data includes at least price information for communication to the energy device; and

wherein the first network is cellular-based and the second network is mesh node-based.

20. The communications module of claim 19, further comprising:

a third submodule controlling a third transceiver at the fixed location of the communications module for communicating energy-related data via a third network using a third network protocol when a third predetermined condition is met.

21. The communications module of claim 20, further comprising:

a fourth submodule controlling a fourth transceiver at the fixed location of the communications module for communicating energy-related data via a fourth network using a fourth network protocol when a fourth predetermined condition is met.

22. The communications module of claim 21, wherein the third and fourth networks are selected from the group consisting of RF mesh, cellular, WiFi and power line communications (PLC).

23. The communications module of claim 19, wherein the first and second predetermined conditions include at least one of:

receipt of instructions at the communications module from a server to communicate on one of the first and second networks and unavailability of one or the other of the first and second networks.