Method and apparatus for communicating information between a headend and

Abstract

A distribution system architecture provides a platform for communicating energy services and non-traditional services as part of an overall communications infrastructure. A native message, regardless of the source of the message's application, is divided into data packets that are encapsulated and transmitted through an open network from a headend to a gateway or from the gateway to the headend. The receiver of the encapsulated data reassembles the original native message from the encapsulated data packets. The encapsulating information can include a header which incorporates a time division multiple access transport scheme. The encapsulating information at the headend provisions the gateways from the headend in a real time fashion and the headend dynamically allocates the gateway functions of listening, talking and acknowledging. A third of the time slots are allocated for polling each of the gateways during a predetermined period, a second third of the time slots are allocated to asynchronous, unsolicited communications from the gateways, and the final third of the slots are reserved for either polled or asynchronous communications. The reserved slots are dynamically allocated by the headend based on system and gateway needs.