Itron Gmbh

Christopher Higgins

Hartman Van Wyk

Robert C Sonderegger

Timothy James Driscoll

Kenneth J Holbrook

Aaron Stainback

Hub and agent techniques allow safe command execution and data retrieval through firewall(s). In an example, cloud-based server of a company communicates with a plurality of agent applications operating on a remote customer's site. Using hub-and-agent techniques, cloud-based systems are able to direct the agents to perform functions for, and add value to, on-premises servers at remote customer locations. Secure communications techniques are introduced, allowing the hub server in the cloud to securely communicate with, and receive data from, the agents operating behind a firewall at a remote, on-customer-premises server.

Hub and agent communication through a firewall

Determination of electrical network topology and connectivity are described herein. A zero-crossing is indicated at a time when the line voltage of a conducting wire in an electrical grid is zero. Such zero-crossings may be used to measure time within a smart grid, and to determine the connectivity of, and the electrical phase used by, particular network elements. A first meter may receive a phase angle determination (PAD) message, including zero-crossing information, sent from a second meter, hereafter called a reference meter. The first meter may compare the received zero-crossing information to its own zero-crossing information. A phase difference may be determined between the first meter and the reference meter from which the PAD message originated. The first meter may pass the PAD message to additional meters, which propagate the message through the network. Accordingly, an electrical phase used by meters within the network may be determined.

Electrical network topology determination

Disclosed are apparatus and methodology subject matters for controlling the allocation of system nodes to a variable number of communication servers in an Advanced Metering System (AMS). An Orchestration Manager is provided through which all requests for end-device communications are routed. The Orchestration Manager periodically rebalances node assignments to reallocate nodes among communication servers in order to maintain data collection efficiency and in order to redistribute end devices from a failed communication server, or to otherwise adjust for the addition of a newly activated communication server.

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Wake Forest, NC, United States of America

Christopher Higgins