Landis+gyr Innovations, Inc.

Motorola Mobility LLC

Jeffrey B Shudark

Stephen John Chasko

David Decker

Emmanuel Monnerie

Christopher Sean Calvert

Vishal Kumar

James Davis

James Patrick Hanley

James Paul Hartman

Chris Calvert

David Anthony Bishop

Ruben Salazar

Sean Holcombe

Geydi M Lorenzo

Mark M Neill

A communication module uses information received from a metrology module within the same network device and information about the properties of the specific metrology module, such as supply capacity and pulse volume, to determine when an error condition exits. The communication module accumulates pulses during an accumulation interval and compares the number of pulses accumulated during the accumulation interval to a threshold number of pulses to determine whether an error condition exists. If there is an error condition, then the communication module generates an alert and may transmit the alert without waiting for a scheduled communication.

Detecting an error condition by monitoring a resource flow at a premises

Systems and methods are disclosed for selecting a parent node in a time-slotted channel hopping ('TSCH') network. A method can include synchronizing, by a low-energy node, communications with a channel hopping pattern of a primary TSCH network. The method can further include transmitting, by the low-energy node, a selection-phase enhanced beacon request that requests an enhanced beacon from TSCH nodes with availability to accept children and with at least a specified link quality using the synchronized communications. The method can further include receiving, by the low-energy node, a selection-phase enhanced beacon from a TSCH node. The method can further include transmitting, by the low-energy node, an adoption request to the TSCH node. The method can further include receiving, by the low-energy node, an adoption response from the TSCH node indicating the TSCH node is managing the primary TSCH network join on behalf of the low-energy node.

Selecting a parent node in a time-slotted channel hopping network

Systems and methods are disclosed for interleaving communications with a home area network (HAN) and a data network. A gateway device interleaves communications within timeslots of a time slotted channel hopping protocol. A gateway device can be configured to determine, during a first portion of a timeslot, whether the gateway device received a portion of a message from a data network. If the gateway device receives no messages from the data network during the first portion of the timeslot, the gateway device switches to listen for communication from the HAN during a second portion of the timeslot. If the gateway device receives a portion of the message from the HAN, the gateway device continues to receive receives the remainder of the message until one or more trigger conditions that cause the gateway device to listen for communication from the data network.

Interleaved communication with resource providers and a home area network

Systems and methods are provided for maintaining a low power endpoint (LPE) synchronized on a time synchronized channel hopping network (TSCH). An LPE receives a guaranteed time slot (GTS) from a parent node. The LPE determines a wake-up time that coincides with or is prior to the GTS. The LPE enters a low power mode to conserve power until the wake-up time occurs. At that time, the LPE enters a regular power mode and may communicate with the parent node.

System and method for maintaining synchronization with low power endpoints in a time synchronized channel hopping network

An IP packet may include an IP header and one or more optional IP extension headers. The packet may contain non-IP protocol data in one of the IP extension headers. An application that uses non-IP protocol data may use the non-IP protocol data from the IP extension header. This allows an application designed for a non-IP protocol stack to operate on a device with an IP protocol stack with minimal modification. The non-IP protocol data may alternatively support non-IP routing options within a network or sub-network.

Method and system for using extension headers to support protocol stack migration

A node receives status data associated with a current collector in the network, where the node is active on the current collector. The node also receives status data associated with a candidate collector in the network, where the node is not active on the candidate collector. An analysis of the status data of the collectors is generated, where the analysis includes at least comparing respective network loads reported in the received status data. An optimal collector is determined from among the current collector and the candidate collector. The determination of the optimal collector is based at least in part upon the analysis of the status data of the collectors. The node remains active on the current collector when the current collector is determined to be the optimal collector, and the node becomes active on the candidate collector when the candidate collector is determined to be the optimal collector.

Techniques for optimizing a mesh network

An IP packet may include an IP header and one or more optional IP extension headers. The packet may contain non-IP protocol data in one of the IP extension headers. An application that uses non-IP protocol data may use the non-IP protocol data from the IP extension header. This allows an application designed for a non-IP protocol stack to operate on a device with an IP protocol stack with minimal modification. The non-IP protocol data may support routing options within a network or sub-network.

Systems and methods are disclosed that can be used to broadcast or otherwise send load shed and other requirements over a network to recipients. One exemplary embodiment involves sending a first broadcast message to a first group of recipients. The first broadcast message requests compliance with a requirement but does not require a synchronous reply from the first group of recipients. The first group of recipients are each configured to automatically comply with the requirement in response to receiving the first broadcast message. The exemplary embodiment further involves determining, for example, based on actual load determination, to send a second broadcast message to a second group of recipients different from the first group of recipients and sending the second broadcast message to the second group of recipients, the second broadcast message requesting compliance with the requirement.

Methods and systems for requesting compliance with a requirement over a network

Systems and methods are disclosed for sending messages regarding an emergency at a facility. The messages can be sent to an emergency response service or directly to another facility through a wireless mesh network. The wireless mesh network can comprise one or more nodes that route measurement data, such as utility meter reading data. The emergency messages can be assigned a higher priority so that they travel through the wireless mesh network more quickly. A device receiving an emergency message may identify the address of the associated facility, for example, by identifying an address associated with utility service also provided at the same facility. The address can be forwarded to an emergency response service and a confirmation or other message may be sent back to the facility. A device at a facility may receive various messages from a control center, such as a weather center, over the wireless mesh network.

Methods and systems for sending messages regarding an emergency that occurred at a facility

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for managing utility device operations. In one aspect, a utility apparatus includes a processing apparatus that manages data processing tasks for the utility apparatus. The utility apparatus also includes a communications apparatus, coupled to the processing apparatus, that is configured to transmit and receive data over a network. A metrology apparatus is coupled to the processing apparatus, the metrology apparatus being configured to measure and provide meter data that includes at least a measure of utilized utility services. A network apparatus is also coupled to the processing apparatus, the network apparatus being configured to coordinate communication between devices that belong to a home area network. A utility identification module interface is coupled to the processing apparatus, the utility identification module having an interface that removably receives a utility identification module.

Utility device management

A mobile communication device () downloads an application file (), which includes an application () and a menu parameter set (). The mobile communication device uses custom menu categories (), and the application is delivered using standardized categories. The mobile communication device maps the application's standardized category to one of the custom categories, and adds the application name to the custom category.

Growing community of inventors

Cumming, GA, United States of America

Jeffrey B Shudark