Itron Global Sarl

Itron Gmbh

Khalid Maallem

Yacine Khaled

Jerome Bartier

Keith W Barnes

Thomas F Uhling

Ahmad Kaouk

Fabrice Monier

Imad Jamil

Samuel De Vals

Jérôme Bartier

Aziza Ben-Mosbah

Meriem Mahjoub

Techniques are directed to using communication metric data associated with multiple modulation schemes to achieve a link quality metric that is representative of the link as a whole, across the multiple modulation schemes that may be employed on the link. A calculation of a link quality metric may be triggered by a network layer transmission attempt, with communication metrics accumulated at the link layer of the link. A filter used to calculate the link quality metric may be updated based on network layer transmission attempts, based on successful and/or unsuccessful transmissions at a Media Access Control (MAC) layer of the link. More generally, a calculation of link quality may be triggered by a higher layer transmission attempt while being calculated based on transmission attempts at a lower layer of the link.

Reliable link quality estimation in multi-rate networks

Various embodiments disclose techniques for time-multiplexing multiple listening schedules and physical layer modes that include a first node listening, using a first physical layer mode, for a first network discovery signal; in response to not detecting the first network discovery signal, listening, using a second physical layer mode, for a second network discovery signal; and in response to detecting the second network discovery signal transmitted by a second node using the second physical layer mode, establishing a connection with the second node using the second physical layer mode.

Time-multiplexing of multiple listening schedules and physical layer modes in a mesh network

Techniques for allocating event offsets within a period of transmission are described. A mains-powered device (MPD) may act as a 'parent' to one or more battery-powered devices (BPDs). The MPD may assign “event offsets” to each BPD. The event offset is a time by which the BPD's timeslot is “offset” from the start of a periodic cycle of transmissions by the MPD. Thus, each event offset indicates a time that the BPD must be “awake,” i.e., operating its radio receiver and/or performing other functionality. A BPD may spend a substantial fraction of its time in a “sleep” mode, wherein less power is used and fewer functions are performed than during a period of that BPD's event offset. Another BPD may have a different event offset. Communications by the MPD with each child BPD may be substantially uniformly distributed over the period. To increase efficiency, groups of BPDs may receive multicasts.

Downlink event allocation in a network

Techniques for managing multi-mode communications between nodes in a network include initiating, by a first node in a mesh network, a carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) session while the first node is in a first mode. The CSMA/CA session is associated with a request to transmit a data message to a second node in the mesh network. Initiating the CSMA/CA session includes determining availability of a channel associated with a channel schedule of the second node associated with the first mode.

Managing multi-mode communications between nodes in a network

Various embodiments disclose a method that includes: attempting to detect, with a first transceiver associated with a first node, a network discovery signal, wherein the attempting is performed according to (a) a first listening schedule associated with a first physical layer mode and (b) a second listening schedule associated with a second physical layer mode; detecting, with the first transceiver, the network discovery signal during a slot associated with the first listening schedule; and in response to detecting the network discovery signal, establishing, with the first node, a connection between the first node and the second node using the first physical layer mode.

Techniques are directed to determining, based at least in part on link quality metric data associated with communication over a link between the first node and a second node, to send an information message to the second node preceded by sending a corresponding polling message to the second node or to send the information message to the second node not preceded by sending the corresponding polling message to the second node. Based at least in part on the determining, a node may send the information message to the second node preceded by sending the corresponding polling message to the second node or sending the information message to the second node not preceded by sending the corresponding polling message to the second node. Overhead associated with polling messages may be reduced.

Adaptive polling based on link quality

Techniques for allocating event offsets within a period of transmission are described. A mains-powered device (MPD) may act as a 'parent' to one or more battery-powered devices (BPDs). The MPD may assign 'event offsets' to each BPD. The event offset is a time by which the BPD's timeslot is &#x201c;offset&#x201d; from the start of a periodic cycle of transmissions by the MPD. Thus, each event offset indicates a time that the BPD must be &#x201c;awake,&#x201d; i.e., operating its radio receiver and/or performing other functionality. A BPD may spend a substantial fraction of its time in a &#x201c;sleep&#x201d; mode, wherein less power is used and fewer functions are performed than during a period of that BPD's event offset. Another BPD may have a different event offset. Communications by the MPD with each child BPD may be substantially uniformly distributed over the period. To increase efficiency, groups of BPDs may receive multicasts.

Techniques are directed to determining a rank value associated with a first network node. An example method includes determining a second network node indicated as being a preferred parent network node for the first network node. A first rank value is processed to determine a second rank value, the first rank value corresponding to a path from the second network node to a destination network node, including rounding up the first rank value in a predetermined manner to at least a second next higher integral rank value than the first rank value, to determine the second rank value. The second rank value is processed with at least a third rank value to determine the rank value associated with the first network node, the third rank value associated with a path from one of a plurality of candidate parent network nodes, for the first network node, to the destination network node.

Optimized objective function for routing determination

Various embodiments disclose a computer-implemented method for managing multi-mode communications between node devices in a network comprising initiating a carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) session at a first node while in a first mode, where the CSMA/CA session is associated with a request to transmit a data message to a second node, switching from the first mode to a second mode, in response to switching to the second mode, suspending the CSMA/CA session at the first node, switching back to the first mode, and in response to switching back to the first mode, resuming the CSMA/CA session at the first node.

Disclosed are techniques to provide data at listening event offsets, using a buffering scheme having a common buffer. Received data, to be transmitted at the listening event offsets, is stored into the common buffer without classification to listening event offsets. Data to be transmitted at an upcoming listening event offset is identified in the common buffer prior to the listening event offset. Example techniques provide for simpler reconfigurability of listening events offsets, as well as transmitting data at each listening event offset that is responsive to a state of the system prior to the listening event offset.

Growing community of inventors

Issy les Moulineaux, France

Khalid Maallem