Itron Gmbh

Itron Global Sarl

Other

Iltron, Inc.

Hartman Van Wyk

Jerome Bartier

Viet-Hung Nguyen

Fabrice Monier

Gilles Picard

Mehdi Mani

James Laurence Taylor

Bastien Mainaud

Daniel Popa

Youcef Haddab

Robert C Sonderegger

Timothy James Driscoll

John Buffington

Vincent Mosser

Kenneth Charles Rigdon

Arnaud Clave

Elliott Adam Nelson

Alexandre Kerlain

Keith W Barnes

Yacine Khaled

Christopher Higgins

Iskander Banaouas

Chris Higgins

Sylvain Trinquet

Jean-Jacques Dormard

Laurent Van Dersteen

Jean-Jacques Dormand

Viet Hung Nguyen

Techniques for bridging communication between multiple networks to facilitate distribution of multicast data are described herein. For example, a node that is able to communicate with its network and an adjacent network may send a subscription message indicating that the node is a member of a multicast group. The subscription message may be forwarded up both networks. The node may then forward, between the networks, data that is destined for members of the multicast group.

Multi-network operation with member node for multicast groups

A method for sending communications with dynamic data correction to at least one receiving device includes dividing a message into one or more message blocks and determining corresponding redundancy blocks for the one or more message blocks, the redundancy blocks to be used by at least one of the receiving devices for message block detection or message block correction. The method further includes constructing a data packet including a header and a data payload including the one or more message blocks and the corresponding redundancy blocks. The construction of the data packet is such that it is processable by receiving devices that are configured to recognize and process the corresponding redundancy blocks and also processable by other receiving devices that cannot recognize the presence of the corresponding redundancy blocks. The method further includes sending the constructed data packet to the at least one receiving device.

Message correction and dynamic correction adjustment for communication systems

A device and method for receiving communications with dynamic data correction, the method including receiving at a receiving device a data packet from a sending device, the data packet including a header, and a data payload including one or more message blocks and corresponding redundancy blocks; recognizing, via pre-configuration of the receiving device, that there are redundancy blocks to receive along with the one or more message blocks and reading in the message blocks and corresponding redundancy blocks; determining that at least one of the message blocks is defective (e.g., corrupt, missing, etc.); processing one or more of the redundancy blocks to correct the defective message blocks; and optionally sending a response message to the sending device. The method may further include identifying which message blocks are defective and sending a request for, and receiving, redundancy blocks corresponding to the identified defective message blocks.

Techniques for employing a Mains Powered Device as a proxy for communicating on behalf of a Battery Powered Device are described herein. In some examples, the Mains Powered Device may be a parent node to the Battery Powered Device in a network which operates using a Routing Protocol for Low-Power and Lossy Networks (RPL). The Mains Powered Device may detect and/or forward a Destination Advertisement Object (DAO) transmitted from the Battery Powered Device to a DODAG root of the network, and begin to perform subsequent transmission of DAOs on behalf of the Battery Powered Device. In this way, the Mains Powered Device updates a routing table of the DODAG root periodically to include an indication of the Battery Powered Device as existing in the network, while extending the battery life of the Battery Powered Device by transmitting DAOs on behalf of the Battery Powered Device.

Proxy mechanism for communications to establish routes in networks

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

Techniques for bridging communication between multiple networks to facilitate distribution of multicast data are described herein. For example, the techniques may identify a particular node that is able to communicate with each network and instruct the particular node to act as a bridge between the networks. The particular node may forward data from either network to the other network. This may allow data for a multicast group to be distributed to members of the multicast group that are located in separate networks.

Multi-network operation for multicast groups

Given a node of a utility service distribution network, a topology of a subset of the distribution network having the given node as a root node and one or more child nodes branching from the given node is determined. The topology may be determined based on relationships or correlations of utility usage information between the given node and a plurality of potential nodes that are considered in the topology determination. Upon determining the topology associated with the given node, the determined topology may be used to detect fraud and leakage that may occur in the distribution network on a regular basis or upon request. If fraud or leakage is detected in the distribution network, the system may schedule a follow-up and/or field investigation to investigate and fix the fraud or the leakage in the distribution network.

Automatic network topology detection and fraud detection

Disclosed are techniques to minimize the electricity consumption of battery powered devices during network communications and performance of other functions. Example techniques include efficiently discovering other mains powered and battery powered devices within communication range of the battery powered device. In another example, techniques enable a battery powered device to serve as a relay for one or more other battery powered devices. In another example, techniques ensure that transmissions to and/or from battery powered devices are delivered efficiently and with low latency. In yet another example, techniques determine whether and under what conditions a battery powered device should migrate from one network to another. In the event of migration, example techniques minimize battery consumption associated with the migration.

Relay functionality of battery powered devices

Network discovery by battery powered devices

A node having a multiple protocol receiver may listen to multiple links in parallel and determine a quality of links having multiple communication technologies between the node and multiple neighbor nodes. The multiple communication technologies may include radio frequency (RF) communication technologies and one or more power line communication (PLC) communication technologies. The node determines a link quality metric for each link associated with an optimum communication technology and data rate, and maintains availability information of neighbor nodes. The node may then route communications to neighbor nodes using the link quality metric and the availability information.

Multi-media multi-modulation and multi-data rate mesh network

Transmission timing for battery powered devices

The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to methodologies, apparatuses, and systems for providing cell router (relay) failure detection in a mesh network. Individual cell relays heading up cells within a mesh network transmit synchronization signals including as a portion thereof a counter value. Nodes with the cells monitor the counter value and search for a new connection to a central facility if the counter value fails to update within a predetermined value.

Cell router failure detection in a mesh network

Growing community of inventors

Montloius sur Loire, France

Hartman Van Wyk