Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090134969 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRANSMITTING AND RECEIVING INFORMATION ON A NEIGHBORHOOD AREA NETWORK - In accordance with the techniques discussed herein, a device can access data stored by other devices or units on a network. Devices recording data can provide the data to another device for display to a user. A user can then use the information to make decisions about how and when to control energy use. A communications logic unit associated with the radio can format messages including data from a data storage unit. Data can be stored in tables and written to or retrieved by reading or writing part of the table or the entire table. | 05-28-2009 |
20090135018 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FALSE ALERT FILTERING OF EVENT MESSAGES WITHIN A NETWORK - When a metering coupled to a network loses its primary power source and has a secondary power source, such as a super-capacitor, it recognizes and reports a power outage. In this case, the head end server may verify the power outage report by querying through the downstream nodes coupled to the network about the power outage. When a node loses its primary power source and has no secondary power source, it will fail to make a regularly scheduled report at the appropriate time. Consequently, the head end server verify the power outage by polling downstream nodes coupled to the HAN about the power outage to deduce whether a power outage. | 05-28-2009 |
20090135677 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR APPLICATION LAYER TIME SYNCHRONIZATION WITHOUT CREATING A TIME DISCREPANCY OR GAP IN TIME - In correcting a time discrepancy, a clock may be speeded up or slowed down using an adjustment ratio. The ratio may be used to slow down or speed up the clock for an amount of time, after which the clock speed will be correct. | 05-28-2009 |
20090135716 | COMMUNICATION AND MESSAGE ROUTE OPTIMIZATION AND MESSAGING IN A MESH NETWORK - A method and system facilitate communications between an unassociated device and a server via a mesh network and a wide area network. The method may include receiving transmissions from candidate proxy devices, wherein each candidate proxy device is associated with a mesh network. The method may include selecting a proxy device from the candidate proxy devices. The method may include communicating with a server via the proxy device and the associated mesh network. | 05-28-2009 |
20090135753 | POWER-CONSERVING NETWORK DEVICE FOR ADVANCED METERING INFRASTRUCTURE - A method and system may provide supporting reduced functionality devices in an AMI system. The method may include receiving at least one transmission from at least one candidate router, the transmission including candidate router information. The method may include selecting a router from the at least one candidate router. The method may include associating with a mesh gate by sending a device identifier to the mesh gate via the selected router. The method may include initiating a sleep cycle. The method may include receiving a held message from the router after waking up from the sleep cycle, wherein the held message is received by the router during the sleep cycle. | 05-28-2009 |
20090135762 | POINT-TO-POINT COMMUNICATION WITHIN A MESH NETWORK - A method and system provide receiving communications via either a short address or a long address. The method may include, responsive to receiving a packet, parsing a packet header. The method may include computing a response to the packet. The method may include, responsive to determining the packet includes a short address addressee, transmitting the response via a mesh network. The method may include, responsive to determining the packet includes a long address addressee, transmitting the response via a point-to-point protocol. | 05-28-2009 |
20090135836 | COLLECTOR DEVICE AND SYSTEM UTILIZING STANDARDIZED UTILITY METERING PROTOCOL - A device-agnostic collector is capable of accepting information pushed from a node for aggregation and subsequent transmission to the head end server. As a receiver of pushed information, the device-agnostic collector does not require information about the type of meter at the node or the type of data structures transmitted by the node. | 05-28-2009 |
20090135843 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING MESH DEVICES IN MULTI-TREE OVERLAPPING MESH NETWORKS - Methods, systems, and devices described herein can allow a mesh device to participate in multiple mesh networks. A plurality of mesh devices can each associate with a mesh network, each mesh network managed by an access point. Mesh devices exchange neighbor information with neighboring mesh devices, including information of mesh devices associated with a different mesh network. Communication paths can include mesh devices of multiple mesh networks. This provides path diversity among mesh devices and improves bandwidth and reliability. In addition, this provides access diversity in case of mesh network or mesh gate failures. | 05-28-2009 |
20090135851 | TRANSPORT LAYER AND MODEL FOR AN ADVANCED METERING INFRASTRUCTURE (AMI) NETWORK - Mesh networks, network devices, and computer program products for implementing a transport layer. The transport layer is operable to provide connection oriented transport layer services to at least one of an application layer, a presentation layer, and a session layer. The transport layer header flags essentially consist of: SYN, ACK, PSH, and RST. | 05-28-2009 |
20090136042 | APPLICATION LAYER AUTHORIZATION TOKEN AND METHOD - An authorization token may provide security for operations. The authorization token may be encrypted by a key manager of a head end system so that only a target device may decrypt the authorization token and perform an operation. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138099 | ENERGY USE CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD - Devices and systems control energy usage in accordance with instructions from a head end system. A device may be instructed to cease energy consumption. Another device may allow users to override some instructions. Messages may be provided to users to request the cessation of energy consumption; the users may, but need not comply. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138617 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CREATING AND MANAGING ASSOCIATION AND BALANCING OF A MESH DEVICE IN A MESH NETWORK - A method and system are provided for associating a meter to a mesh gate through a mesh network. The method may include selecting a prospective mesh network. The method may include automatically transmitting a neighbor request to the prospective mesh network. The method may include receiving a neighbor response from a neighbor node from different mesh networks. The method may include transmitting an association request to mesh gate via the prospective mesh network. The method may include receiving an association response responsive to a successful authentication by the mesh gate. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138713 | PROXY USE WITHIN A MESH NETWORK - A method and system facilitate communications between an unassociated device and a server via a mesh network and a wide area network. The method may include receiving transmissions from candidate proxy devices, wherein each candidate proxy device is associated with a mesh network. The method may include selecting a proxy device from the candidate proxy devices. The method may include communicating with a server via the proxy device and the associated mesh network. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138777 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR POWER OUTAGE AND RESTORATION NOTIFICATION IN AN ADVANCED METERING INFRASTRUCTURE NETWORK - A method and system are provided to transmit a meter power status. The method includes recognizing a power status change at a meter. The method includes, if the meter is scheduled to transmit first, transmitting a notification message to at least one neighboring meter towards a mesh gate, wherein the notification message includes a power status indicator and a meter identifier. The method includes, if the meter is not scheduled to transmit first, waiting a predetermined time period to receive a notification message from at least one neighboring meter. The method includes, responsive to receiving a notification message, adding a meter identifier to the received notification message before retransmitting the modified notification message to at least one neighboring meter. The method includes retransmitting the notification message. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138866 | UPGRADE PROCESS SYSTEM AND METHOD - Firmware, software, or data of a target device may be upgraded by a head end system using one or more of a plurality of systems and methods adapted to upgrade the target device in a variety of different network topologies. | 05-28-2009 |
20100061272 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPLEMENTING MESH NETWORK COMMUNICATIONS USING A MESH NETWORK PROTOCOL - The following describes data structures, communication protocol formats and process flows for controlling and facilitating secure communications between the nodes of a mesh network, such as utility meters and gateway nodes comprising a utility network. The enabled processes include association, information exchange, route discovery and maintenance and the like for instituting and maintaining a secure mesh network. | 03-11-2010 |
20100127889 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR VIRTUAL ENERGY MANAGEMENT DISPLAY - A method and system of virtual energy management display involves periodically receiving via a mesh local area network electronic data representing energy management-related information by a RF communication-enabled memory storage device coupled to an electronic display device within a home area network. Electronic data representing telemetry information is likewise periodically received by the RF communication-enabled memory storage device from at least one RF communication-enabled energy management-related device within the home area network. The electronic data is converted to a common format by an application running at least in part on the memory storage device and displayed on a screen associated with the display device. | 05-27-2010 |
20120062210 | Process for Detecting Energy Theft - The present invention relates generally to detecting energy theft within an energy distribution system and more particularly to systems and methods for detecting energy discrepancies in voltages and/or currents reported by electric meters present in a distribution circuit, without requiring installation of additional hardware at the transformer. Typically, the location of each of at least two meters is determined with respect to a transformer. The line resistances within the distribution circuit are determined starting with a line resistance farthest from the transformer. Estimated line voltages are determined for at least one electric meter using the estimated line resistances, and the estimated voltages are compared to actual voltage readings for the at least one electric meter. The existence of line loss is determined based on this comparison. | 03-15-2012 |
20120092184 | Method for Synchronizing Meter Clocks in a Network - Methods and systems are provided for synchronizing meter clocks in both basic residential meters and in advanced and C&I meters with advanced communication modules. The synchronization methods and systems provide easy-to-manage solutions from the head end, without impacting billing data. | 04-19-2012 |
20120140678 | Communication and Message Route Optimization and Messaging in a Mesh Network - A method and system facilitate communications between an unassociated device and a server via a mesh network and a wide area network. The method may include receiving transmissions from candidate proxy devices, wherein each candidate proxy device is associated with a mesh network. The method may include selecting a proxy device from the candidate proxy devices. The method may include communicating with a server via the proxy device and the associated mesh network. | 06-07-2012 |
20120192025 | Aggregated Real-Time Power Outages/Restoration Reporting (RTPOR) In a Secure Mesh Network - Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for the reporting of status changes, such as but not limited to power outages and/or power restorations, throughout a smart grid system. Through the use of location-based reporting period selection and/or status change report aggregation, embodiments may provide efficient reporting processes that timely and accurately report status change information from the point(s) of the change to a back-end system via an access point. | 07-26-2012 |
20130002447 | Methods and Systems For Virtual Energy Management Display - A method and system of virtual energy management display involves periodically receiving via a mesh local area network electronic data representing energy management-related information by a RF communication-enabled memory storage device coupled to an electronic display device within a home area network. Electronic data representing telemetry information is likewise periodically received by the RF communication-enabled memory storage device from at least one RF communication-enabled energy management-related device within the home area network. The electronic data is converted to a common format by an application running at least in part on the memory storage device and displayed on a screen associated with the display device. | 01-03-2013 |
20130080800 | Energy Use Control System and Method - Devices and systems control energy usage in accordance with instructions from a head end system. A device may be instructed to cease energy consumption. Another device may allow users to override some instructions. Messages may be provided to users to request the cessation of energy consumption; the users may, but need not comply. | 03-28-2013 |
20130198305 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING MESH DEVICES IN MULTI-TREE OVERLAPPING MESH NETWORKS - Methods, systems, and devices described herein can allow a mesh device to participate in multiple mesh networks. The method comprises associating with a first access point over a first mesh network, wherein the first access point manages the first mesh network; responsive to receiving a neighbor information broadcast from a neighboring mesh device, updating a neighborhood table stored in an accessible memory, wherein the neighbor information includes a neighboring mesh device information and a neighboring mesh device network identifier; responsive to a request to transmit a message to a destination, determining a next device, wherein the next device is on a calculated path towards the destination, the path including mesh devices from a plurality of mesh networks; and transmitting the message to the next device. | 08-01-2013 |
20140200013 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING SECURE COMMUNICATIONS OVER A CELLULAR NETWORK - A process for communicating utility-related data over at least one network is described. the process includes: collecting utility-related data at a hub device during a first predetermined period of time; securing the utility-related data at the hub device using digital envelopes during the first predetermined period of time; initiating by the hub device an autonomous wake up process during a second predetermined period of time; sending the secure utility-related data over a first network to a designated server via at least one User Datagram protocol (“UDP”) message during the second predetermined period of time; and receiving an acknowledgement of receipt message of the at least one UDP message from the designated server; wherein the first and second predetermined periods of time typically do not overlap, but may overlap. | 07-17-2014 |
20140207854 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING SECURE COMMUNICATIONS OVER A CELLULAR NETWORK - A process for communicating utility-related data over at least one network is described. the process includes: collecting utility-related data at a hub device during a first predetermined period of time; securing the utility-related data at the hub device using digital envelopes during the first predetermined period of time; initiating by the hub device an autonomous wake up process during a second predetermined period of time; sending the secure utility-related data over a first network to a designated server via at least one User Datagram protocol (“UDP”) message during the second predetermined period of time; and receiving an acknowledgement of receipt message of the at least one UDP message from the designated server; wherein the first and second predetermined periods of time typically do not overlap, but may overlap. | 07-24-2014 |
20140282482 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING SECURE COMMUNICATIONS OVER A CELLULAR NETWORK - A process for communicating utility-related data over at least one network is described. the process includes: collecting utility-related data at a hub device during a first predetermined period of time; securing the utility-related data at the hub device using digital envelopes during the first predetermined period of time; initiating by the hub device an autonomous wake up process during a second predetermined period of time; sending the secure utility-related data over a first network to a designated server via at least one User Datagram protocol (“UDP”) message during the second predetermined period of time; and receiving an acknowledgement of receipt message of the at least one UDP message from the designated server; wherein the first and second predetermined periods of time typically do not overlap, but may overlap. | 09-18-2014 |