Mueller International, LLC

Brent Dukes

David Edwin Splitz

Dale McLeod Magley

Robert Henry Grady

Hassan Ali

Timothy J Brown

Valentin Mircea Burtea

Edward C Parish

Thomas Cullinan

Gregory Caron

Robert Grady

A method includes periodically sending an Advanced Meter Reading (AMR) beacon from a node at a first regular time interval, the AMR beacon containing a register identification (ID) and a reading detected by the node, and periodically listening, at the node, for a hail message such that instances of listening occur at a second regular time interval smaller than the first regular time interval. The node can also be configured to receive a mobile command from a mobile transceiver, as well as a Network System Status Request and a parent assignment command from a stationary transceiver.

Node migration

A method of broadcasting firmware updating messages in a communication system includes the steps of receiving a broadcast remote firmware update (BRFU) setup message from an upstream source, the BRFU setup message specifying a number of transmissions of a broadcast of a firmware file; broadcasting setup information from the BRFU setup message on a first channel to downstream devices, the setup information specifying at least one other channel to which each downstream device should listen to receive a copy of the firmware file; and repeatedly broadcasting the firmware file to the downstream devices in accordance with the BRFU setup message.

Broadcast remote firmware update

Disclosed are technologies for a communication system for a utility infrastructure system. The communication system includes a host configured to aggregate and collect utility data. The communication system also includes a remote, battery-powered node connected to a utility device of the utility infrastructure system. According to some examples, the node is configured to initiate a first communication message to the host via a first type of communication channel. The first type of communication channel is short message service (SMS), and the first communication message includes the utility data. The node is also configured to receive a SMS reply from the host, wherein the SMS reply includes information for communicating with the host via a second type of communication channel.

SMS communication for cellular node

A method of avoiding response signal collisions includes broadcasting a message from a broadcasting device to a plurality of downstream devices, the message containing timing instructions specifying a time at which each downstream device should send its response to the message after successfully receiving the message, and determining whether every downstream device targeted in the message successfully received the message. A method of processing a message includes analyzing, by a downstream device in a communication network, filtering information in a received message to determine whether the filtering information targets the downstream device, and responsive to determining that the filtering information targets the downstream device, determining, by the downstream device, whether the message requires a response, and responsive to a determination that the message requires a response, analyzing timing information in the received message to determine response timing, and scheduling a response as defined in the timing information.

Broadcast messaging

A method includes periodically sending an Advanced Meter Reading (AMR) beacon from a node at a first regular time interval, the AMR beacon containing a register identification and a reading detected by the node, and periodically listening, at the node, for a communication such that instances of listening occur at a second regular time interval smaller than the first time interval. In one aspect of the disclosure, the communication is a mobile command from a mobile transceiver. In another aspect of the disclosure, the communication is a Network System Status Request or a parent assignment command from a stationary transceiver.

Examples of data communication using a private preamble are disclosed. In one example implementation according to aspects of the present disclosure, a data stream is detected. It is then determined whether the received data stream includes a private preamble known to the computing node. If it is determined that the data stream includes a private preamble known to the computing node, a targeted data stream intended for the computing node is received by the computing node.

Data communication using a private preamble

Technologies are described herein for dynamically determining and assigning parent nodes and routes for nodes in a mesh network. A host sends a command message to one or more nodes of the mesh network. The command message is configured to cause the nodes to collect communication parameters regarding neighboring nodes and to upload neighbor lists containing the communication parameters regarding the neighboring nodes to the host. The host then calculates a link score for the pairs of neighboring nodes in the mesh network based on the communication parameters in the uploaded neighbor lists and assigns one or more parent nodes to at least one of the nodes based on the calculated link scores. The host then sends a command message to the node causing the node to reconfigure based on the command message and begin communicating through the newly assigned one or more parent nodes.

Dynamic routing in a mesh network

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for communicating with a radio frequency (RF) device. A hybrid method for collecting data may include a pushing method of collecting data and a pulling method of collecting data. The pushing method of collecting data may be configured such that a first node initiates data collection with a second node during a pushing period. The pulling method of collecting data may be configured such that the first node waits on the second node to initiate data collection during a pulling period. The pushing period and the pulling period may occur at different times.

High traffic data transmission

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for communicating with a radio frequency (RF) device. An exemplary method includes: listening, by the collector node, during a first listening period, for a hailing signal from a plurality of RF devices on a hailing channel, the hailing signal including identification of a specified data channel; in response to receiving the hailing signal from one of the plurality of RF devices, switching to the specified data channel and receiving data, by the collector node, on the specified data channel; collecting, by the collector node, during a collecting period, data from the plurality of RF devices; receiving, by the collector node, the data from at least one of the plurality of RF devices; and listening, during a second listening period, for an alert notification, wherein the first listening period and the collecting period occur at different times.

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for communicating with a radio frequency (RF) device. An exemplary method includes: listening, by the collector node, during a listening period, for a hailing signal from a plurality of RF devices on a hailing channel, the hailing signal including identification of a specified data channel; in response to receiving the hailing signal from one of the plurality of RF devices, switching to the specified data channel and receiving data, by the collector node, on the specified data channel; collecting, by the collector node, during a collecting period, data from the plurality of RF devices; and receiving, by the collector node, the data from at least one of the plurality of RF devices, wherein the listening period and the collecting period occur at different times.

Growing community of inventors

Raynham, MA, United States of America

Brent Dukes