Abstract: In some aspects, a channel hopping sequence for communication on a mesh network is generated. The hopping sequence may include multiple channels assigned to respective positions in the hopping sequence. In some cases, a first channel is assigned to a first position such that the first channel may transmit communications in a first transmission mode, such as a low-bandwidth transmission mode. In addition, an additional channels adjacent to the first channel is also assigned to the first position such that the combination of the first channel and additional channel may transmit communications in a second transmission mode, such as a high-bandwidth transmission mode. In some cases, a whitelist is determined based on the assigned channels. The whitelist may indicate channels that do not conflict with the assigned channels during transmission of a communication. In addition, channels may be assigned to the hopping sequence based on the whitelist.

Abstract: A system for switching between different communication modes by network nodes according to a time-division schedule to transmit and receive data packets is provided. For example, a transmitting node is configured to determine a scheduled communication mode of an upcoming time division according to a time-division schedule, and transmit a data packet in that time division when the scheduled communication mode matches a selected communication mode supported by both the transmitting node and a receiving node. The receiving node operates in a scheduled communication mode specified for a current time division by the time-division schedule and determines whether a header of the data packet is detected in the current time division. If not, the receiving node switches to a second scheduled communication mode specified for the subsequent time division by the time-division schedule to detect the header of the data packet in a subsequent time division.

Abstract: A system for determining a communication mode utilized by a transmitting node to transmit a data packet in a mesh network is provided. For example, a receiving node operates in a base communication mode to detect a pilot p of a data packet. The pilot prefix contains a signal with a predetermined frequency. In response to determining that the pilot prefix is detected, the receiving node detects a communication mode used to transmit the data packet based on preamble signals that are contained in a preamble of the data packet and are received after the detected pilot prefix. Once the communication mode is detected, the receiving node receives and processes the remaining portion of the data packet using the detected communication mode.

Abstract: A first node in a TSCH network may receive a message-initiation packet from a second node on the TSCH network. Based on information in the message-initiation packet, the first node may determine a transmission time for a message content packet that is associated with the message-initiation packet. The first node may generate or modify a node-specific transmission delay that indicates a backoff associated with the second node. The node-specific transmission delay may indicate a quantity of backoff time slots during which the first node delays initiating a transmission with the second node. If the first node receives, during the node-specific transmission delay, an additional packet intended for the second node, the first node may queue the additional packet until after the node-specific transmission delay is completed.

Abstract: A method for avoiding collision between a parent node and a child node in a time-slotted-channel-hopping (TSCH) mesh network is provided. For example, each node in the TSCH network can be configured to obtain a transmit offset index. At the beginning of a timeslot, the node determines its transmission priority based on the transmit offset index and an absolute slot number (ASN) of the timeslot. If the transmission priority of the node is an early transmission priority, the node transmits data packets according to the normal transmission process of the TSCH network. If the transmission priority of the node is a late transmission priority, the node enters a listen before talk (LBT) mode to listen for incoming communication on the network. If no incoming communications are detected during the LBT mode, the node then transmits data packets according to the normal transmission process of the TSCH network.

Abstract: A first node in a TSCH network may receive a message-initiation packet from a second node on the TSCH network. Based on information in the message-initiation packet, the first node may determine a transmission time for a message content packet that is associated with the message-initiation packet. The first node may generate or modify a node-specific transmission delay that indicates a backoff associated with the second node. The node-specific transmission delay may indicate a quantity of backoff time slots during which the first node delays initiating a transmission with the second node. If the first node receives, during the node-specific transmission delay, an additional packet intended for the second node, the first node may queue the additional packet until after the node-specific transmission delay is completed.

Abstract: A system for switching between different communication modes by network nodes according to a time-division schedule to transmit and receive data packets is provided. For example, a transmitting node is configured to determine a scheduled communication mode of an upcoming time division according to a time-division schedule, and transmit a data packet in that time division when the scheduled communication mode matches a selected communication mode supported by both the transmitting node and a receiving node. The receiving node operates in a scheduled communication mode specified for a current time division by the time-division schedule and determines whether a header of the data packet is detected in the current time division. If not, the receiving node switches to a second scheduled communication mode specified for the subsequent time division by the time-division schedule to detect the header of the data packet in a subsequent time division.

Abstract: Techniques described enable a modular communication card to alert of its removal from a device. A method described herein includes monitoring, at a modular communication card for sending communications from a utility meter, a power fail signal received from a card of the utility meter. According to the method, the modular communication card monitors a power supply signal that supplies power to components of the modular communication card while the modular communication card is installed on the utility meter. The method includes detecting a change in the power fail signal, indicating a loss of power. The method further includes detecting that the power supply signal is outside an operational voltage range. The method further includes, responsive to the change and the power supply signal being outside, determining that the modular communication card has been removed from the utility meter. Additionally, the method includes transmitting an alert indicating the removal.

Abstract: A method for avoiding collision between a parent node and a child node in a time-slotted-channel-hopping (TSCH) mesh network is provided. For example, each node in the TSCH network can be configured to obtain a transmit offset index. At the beginning of a timeslot, the node determines its transmission priority based on the transmit offset index and an absolute slot number (ASN) of the timeslot. If the transmission priority of the node is an early transmission priority, the node transmits data packets according to the normal transmission process of the TSCH network. If the transmission priority of the node is a late transmission priority, the node enters a listen before talk (LBT) mode to listen for incoming communication on the network. If no incoming communications are detected during the LBT mode, the node then transmits data packets according to the normal transmission process of the TSCH network.

Abstract: In some aspects, a channel hopping sequence for communication on a mesh network is generated. The hopping sequence may include multiple channels assigned to respective positions in the hopping sequence. In some cases, a first channel is assigned to a first position such that the first channel may transmit communications in a first transmission mode, such as a low-bandwidth transmission mode. In addition, an additional channels adjacent to the first channel is also assigned to the first position such that the combination of the first channel and additional channel may transmit communications in a second transmission mode, such as a high-bandwidth transmission mode. In some cases, a whitelist is determined based on the assigned channels. The whitelist may indicate channels that do not conflict with the assigned channels during transmission of a communication. In addition, channels may be assigned to the hopping sequence based on the whitelist.

Abstract: In some aspects, a channel hopping sequence for communication on a mesh network is generated. The hopping sequence may include multiple channels assigned to respective positions in the hopping sequence. In some cases, a first channel is assigned to a first position such that the first channel may transmit communications in a first transmission mode, such as a low-bandwidth transmission mode. In addition, an additional channels adjacent to the first channel is also assigned to the first position such that the combination of the first channel and additional channel may transmit communications in a second transmission mode, such as a high-bandwidth transmission mode. In some cases, a whitelist is determined based on the assigned channels. The whitelist may indicate channels that do not conflict with the assigned channels during transmission of a communication. In addition, channels may be assigned to the hopping sequence based on the whitelist.

Abstract: A method is provided to transmit a message over a wireless mesh network. According to the method, a node connects to a second node by a first communications band and a second communications band, such that the node is configured to communicate with the second node over both the first communications band and the second communications band. The node identifies a message for transmission to the second node. The node determines that the second node is capable of receiving the message by way of the first communications band and is capable of receiving the message by way of the second communications band. The node dynamically determines a selected communications band, from the first communications band and the second communications band, to use to transmit the message to the second node over the wireless mesh network. The node transmits the message to the second node over the selected communications band.

Abstract: A system for determining a communication mode utilized by a transmitting node to transmit a data packet in a mesh network is provided. For example, a receiving node operates in a base communication mode to detect a pilot p of a data packet. The pilot prefix contains a signal with a predetermined frequency. In response to determining that the pilot prefix is detected, the receiving node detects a communication mode used to transmit the data packet based on preamble signals that are contained in a preamble of the data packet and are received after the detected pilot prefix. Once the communication mode is detected, the receiving node receives and processes the remaining portion of the data packet using the detected communication mode.

Abstract: A system for selecting a communication mode for a transmitting node to communicate with a receiving node in a mesh network is provided. For example, a transmitting node can gather mode selection data that describe communication conditions of the transmitting node and the receiving node. Based on the mode selection data, the transmitting node can determine a first white list of modes that can be used by the transmitting node to successfully transmit data packets to the receiving node. The transmitting node also determines a second white list of modes that can be used by the receiving node to send acknowledgment packets successfully to the transmitting node. The transmitting node further identifies overlapped modes between the first and second white lists of modes. The transmitting node can then select one of the overlapped modes for transmitting data packets to the receiving node.

Abstract: A system for determining a communication mode utilized by a transmitting node to transmit a data packet in a mesh network is provided. For example, a receiving node operates in a base communication mode to detect a pilot prefix of a data packet. The pilot prefix contains a signal with a predetermined frequency. In response to determining that the pilot prefix is detected, the receiving node detects a communication mode used to transmit the data packet based on preamble signals that are contained in a preamble of the data packet and are received after the detected pilot prefix. Once the communication mode is detected, the receiving node receives and processes the remaining portion of the data packet using the detected communication mode.

Abstract: A system for determining a communication mode utilized by a transmitting node to transmit a data packet in a mesh network is provided. For example, a receiving node operates in a base communication mode to detect a pilot prefix of a data packet. The pilot prefix contains a signal with a predetermined frequency. In response to determining that the pilot prefix is detected, the receiving node detects a communication mode used to transmit the data packet based on preamble signals that are contained in a preamble of the data packet and are received after the detected pilot prefix. Once the communication mode is detected, the receiving node receives and processes the remaining portion of the data packet using the detected communication mode.

Abstract: A radio and advanced metering system. In an example, a multi-device module includes a host device interface configured to connect to a host device. The host device interface includes a communications interface that can send communications to and receive communications from the host device. The multi-device module includes a radio that can to connect to a wireless network and a microcontroller configurable to perform different functions.

Abstract: A system for selecting a communication mode for a transmitting node to communicate with a receiving node in a mesh network is provided. For example, a transmitting node can gather mode selection data that describe communication conditions of the transmitting node and the receiving node. Based on the mode selection data, the transmitting node can determine a first white list of modes that can be used by the transmitting node to successfully transmit data packets to the receiving node. The transmitting node also determines a second white list of modes that can be used by the receiving node to send acknowledgment packets successfully to the transmitting node. The transmitting node further identifies overlapped modes between the first and second white lists of modes. The transmitting node can then select one of the overlapped modes for transmitting data packets to the receiving node.

Abstract: In some aspects, a channel hopping sequence for communication on a mesh network is generated. The hopping sequence may include multiple channels assigned to respective positions in the hopping sequence. In some cases, a first channel is assigned to a first position such that the first channel may transmit communications in a first transmission mode, such as a low-bandwidth transmission mode. In addition, an additional channels adjacent to the first channel is also assigned to the first position such that the combination of the first channel and additional channel may transmit communications in a second transmission mode, such as a high-bandwidth transmission mode. In some cases, a whitelist is determined based on the assigned channels. The whitelist may indicate channels that do not conflict with the assigned channels during transmission of a communication. In addition, channels may be assigned to the hopping sequence based on the whitelist.

Abstract: A method is provided to transmit a message over a wireless mesh network. According to the method, a node connects to a second node by a first communications band and a second communications band, such that the node is configured to communicate with the second node over both the first communications band and the second communications band. The node identifies a message for transmission to the second node. The node determines that the second node is capable of receiving the message by way of the first communications band and is capable of receiving the message by way of the second communications band. The node dynamically determines a selected communications band, from the first communications band and the second communications band, to use to transmit the message to the second node over the wireless mesh network. The node transmits the message to the second node over the selected communications band.