Trilliant Networks, Inc.

Trilliant Holdings Inc.

Michel Veillette

Frederick R Enns

Randall Wayne Frei

Robert Conant

Randy Frei

Vincent Bemmel

William Steven Vogel

Kevin House

Nathan Ota

Francis Lacasse

Victor Edward Magnotti

A method for multi-channel beaconing in a network comprising for each network node of a plurality of network nodes: determining a link or a pseudo random sequence of links that identifies when and on what channel the network node is scheduled to transmit beacons; receiving the schedule for when and on which channel the network node should listen for beacons from one or more neighbor nodes of the plurality of network nodes; transmitting beacons based the established schedule; and listening for beacons from one or more neighbor nodes based on the schedule received from these neighbor nodes.

Method and system for multi-channel beaconing in a time slotted channel hopping network

A method for utilizing a default channel during unused periods of timeslots to join, communicate, and/or synchronize with a network comprising determining a time slot is idle; in response to determining the time slot is idle tuning to a default channel while the timeslot is idle; receiving a message on the default channel; and optionally transmitting a subsequent message on the same channel.

Method and system for communicating using a default channel during unused periods of timeslots

A computer implemented method and system for secure aggregated event reports. The method comprises determining, by a device, that a status change has occurred at the device; receiving, by the device, a status change report from one or more child devices; generating, by the device, a device status change record; generating a record verification field, comprising: combining a nonce, an event type, and a unique device identifier; generating a message integrity check code for the combined nonce, event type and device identifier; and appending the message integrity check code to the device status change record; appending the device status change record to the received status change report; and transmitting, by the device, the status change report to one or more parent devices toward a head end system.

Method and apparatus for secure aggregated event reporting

A process for communicating utility-related data over at least one network is described. the process includes: collecting utility-related data at a hub device during a first predetermined period of time; securing the utility-related data at the hub device using digital envelopes during the first predetermined period of time; initiating by the hub device an autonomous wake up process during a second predetermined period of time; sending the secure utility-related data over a first network to a designated server via at least one User Datagram protocol ('UDP') message during the second predetermined period of time; and receiving an acknowledgement of receipt message of the at least one UDP message from the designated server; wherein the first and second predetermined periods of time typically do not overlap, but may overlap.

Device and method for facilitating secure communications over a cellular network

A computer implemented method and apparatus for authenticating a field tool by a field device comprising: receiving, on a field device, an authentication certificate; verifying the authentication certificate using a trust anchor certificate on the field device; securing communication between the field tool and the field device with a key generated by a key derivation method using exchanged certificates; receiving a field tool task authorization certificate; verifying the authorization certificate using a trust anchor certificate on the field device; receiving a task request to perform a task by the field tool; and determining whether the task is authorized based on the task authorization certificate; and performing the task on the field device when it is determined the task is authorized.

Method and system for hand held terminal security

A process for communicating utility-related data over at least one network is described, the process includes: collecting utility-related data at a hub device during a first predetermined period of time; securing the utility-related data at the hub device using digital envelopes during the first predetermined period of time; initiating by the hub device an autonomous wake up process during a second predetermined period of time; sending the secure utility-related data over a first network to a designated server via at least one User Datagram, protocol ('UDP') message during the second predetermined period of time; and receiving an acknowledgement of receipt message of the at least one UDP message from the designated server; wherein the first and second predetermined periods of time typically do not overlap, but may overlap.

A process for routing data frames from a first node to a second node within a network is provided. The process includes: a tree routing sub-process, a source routing sub-process, a temporary routing sub-process and a mesh routing sub-process, wherein the particular sub-process for routing a data frame from the first node the second nodes is selected in accordance with the following logic executed on a processor: if the data frame has a source route header the source routing sub-process is selected; if there is an entry for the target address in a temporary routing table, the temporary routing sub-process is selected; if the second node is a coordinator node, the tree routing sub-process is selected; if the second node is not a coordinator node, the mesh routing sub-process is selected.

System and method for implementing mesh network communications using a mesh network protocol

The following describes data structures, communication protocol formats and process flows for controlling and facilitating secure communications between the nodes of a mesh network, such as utility meters and gateway nodes comprising a utility network. The enabled processes include association, information exchange, route discovery and maintenance and the like for instituting and maintaining a secure mesh network.

A method for a first mesh device associated with two mesh networks to serve as a conduit in an overlapping mesh network environment comprises associating with both a first access point over a first mesh network and a second access point over a second network, wherein each access point manages a respective mesh network; responsive to receiving a neighbor information broadcast from a first neighboring mesh device in the first mesh network, updating a neighborhood table; responsive to receiving a neighbor information broadcast from a second neighboring mesh device in the second mesh network, updating the neighborhood table; responsive to a request to transmit a message from a device in the first mesh network to a destination in the second mesh network, determining a next device, wherein the next device is on a path towards the destination in the second mesh network; and transmitting the message to the next device.

System and method for operating mesh devices in multi-tree overlapping mesh networks

Methods, systems, and devices described herein can allow a mesh device to participate in multiple mesh networks. The method comprises associating with a first access point over a first mesh network, wherein the first access point manages the first mesh network; responsive to receiving a neighbor information broadcast from a neighboring mesh device, updating a neighborhood table stored in an accessible memory, wherein the neighbor information includes a neighboring mesh device information and a neighboring mesh device network identifier; responsive to a request to transmit a message to a destination, determining a next device, wherein the next device is on a calculated path towards the destination, the path including mesh devices from a plurality of mesh networks; and transmitting the message to the next device.

The present invention relates generally to detecting energy theft within an energy distribution system and more particularly to systems and methods for detecting energy discrepancies in voltages and/or currents reported by electric meters present in a distribution circuit, without requiring installation of additional hardware at the transformer. Typically, the location of each of at least two meters is determined with respect to a transformer. The line resistances within the distribution circuit are determined starting with a line resistance farthest from the transformer. Estimated line voltages are determined for at least one electric meter using the estimated line resistances, and the estimated voltages are compared to actual voltage readings for the at least one electric meter. The existence of line loss is determined based on this comparison.

Process for detecting energy theft

Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for the reporting of status changes, such as but not limited to power outages and/or power restorations, throughout a smart grid system. Through the use of location-based reporting period selection and/or status change report aggregation, embodiments may provide efficient reporting processes that timely and accurately report status change information from the point(s) of the change to a back-end system via an access point.

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Waterloo, Canada

Michel Veillette