Abstract: A radio frequency communication system includes a transmitter that selects a frequency channel from among multiple frequency channels available to the transmitter and to a receiver, listens to ensure that a selected channel is unused before transmitting, and sends a preamble longer in time than a receiver scan time during which the receiver is operable to scan all frequency channels available to transmitter and receiver for the preamble. The receiver scans through the available frequency channels for a preamble, finds the preamble on a channel, and locks on to the channel on which the preamble was found.

Abstract: A set sleep period is coordinated among a plurality of mesh network nodes to conserve power. A controller is synchronized with an existing wireless mesh network by sending a network synchronization signal from the controller indicating that sleep timing information is lost, and receiving a reply from one or more wireless mesh network nodes within the existing wireless mesh network comprising sleep timing information for the wireless mesh network.

Abstract: Various embodiments include a method and system for configuring a smart energy network using a link key database. An energy services interface, on the smart energy network, extracts a unique identifier associated with a smart energy device from a communication with the smart energy device. The energy services interface may then use the unique identifier to receive information associated with the smart energy device from the link key database.

Abstract: In an example, an apparatus, such as a header pin, includes an insulator and a first pin disposed at least partially within the insulator. The first pin includes a first portion configured to electrically couple to a circuit board. A second portion is configured to releasably engage a pin of a surface mount module. The second portion includes a retention feature configured to selectively retain the second portion in engagement with the pin of the surface mount module. The second portion is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein the second portion is biased toward the first position. The second portion is movable to the second position to allow the pin of the surface mount module to pass by the retention feature. The second portion is configured to move back toward the first position to engage the pin of the surface mount module.

Abstract: A radio frequency communication system includes a radio frequency transmitter having a chirp generator operable to transmit a first chirp signal, and transmit a second chirp signal that is circular shifted relative to the first chirp signal. A receiver receives the first chirp signal and the second chirp signal, such that the proportion of phase offset between the first and second chirp signals is proportional to the frequency offset of the received signals. The first and second chirp signals are despread, and the phase difference between the first and second chirp signals is used to determine a frequency offset of the received first and second chirp signals that is proportional to the phase difference between the first and second chirp signals.

Abstract: Distance between two radio frequency devices is estimated by receiving a plurality of spread spectrum chirp signals frequency offset from one another, and evaluating the received plurality of spread spectrum chirp signals for relative phase shifts between the plurality of spread spectrum chirp signals. A fine propagation time is derived using the phase shifts between the spread spectrum chirp signals. A frequency domain despreading window is shifted to reduce the influence of time-delayed near multipath signals in receiving the plurality of spread spectrum chirp signals.

Abstract: Various embodiments include methods and systems for a distributed networked device controller such as a thermostat.

Abstract: Various embodiments include methods and systems for a cloud enabled virtual gateway. The virtual gateway can masquerade to a cloud-based application as a gateway at a geographic location. The virtual gateway can also receive a request from the cloud-based application for a device at the geographic location. The virtual gateway can then communicate with a third-party system to satisfy the request where the third-party system is communicatively coupled to the device.

Abstract: A computing system and method to dispatch and receive messages that are generated responsive to the occurrence of events. The server generates a message when an event such as the clicking of a mouse button occurs. This message can serve as an input for several program modules such as subroutines. A central dispatcher module is programmed with dispatching strategies to dispatch the message to a customized dispatcher module if the message is of a particular kind. The customized dispatcher module is programmed with dispatching strategies to distribute the message to the program modules. The central dispatcher module does not directly interface to the program modules. This allows for the installation and removal of the program modules without reprogramming the central dispatcher module.

Abstract: In an example, an apparatus, such as a header pin, includes an insulator and a first pin disposed at least partially within the insulator. The first pin includes a first portion configured to electrically couple to a circuit board. A second portion is configured to releasably engage a pin of a surface mount module. The second portion includes a retention feature configured to selectively retain the second portion in engagement with the pin of the surface mount module. The second portion is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein the second portion is biased toward the first position. The second portion is movable to the second position to allow the pin of the surface mount module to pass by the retention feature. The second portion is configured to move back toward the first position to engage the pin of the surface mount module.

Abstract: In a mesh network having a plurality of wireless nodes, including a first, second, third and fourth node, wherein each node includes a routing table, a method of route discovery. A first route request message is broadcasted from the first node and received at the second and third nodes. In the second node, a link quality metric is calculated as a function of link quality of the link to the first node and as a function of capacity in the routing table of the second node. In the third node, a link quality metric is calculated as a function of link quality of the link to the first node and as a function of capacity in the routing table of the third node. A second route request message is broadcasted from the second node and received by the fourth node, wherein the second route request message includes the link quality metric calculated by the second node.

Abstract: A network comprising a server and a remote client including an input output pin is disclosed. The server and the client are connected through a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) connection. The server controls the client input output pin, e.g., switches it on and off. The input output pin control instruction is transmitted from the server to the client. The control instruction is not stored in the client memory upon its execution.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a connection manager have been disclosed. By providing for persistent connections with clients, the connection manager allows for servers to communicate with clients, which would otherwise be inaccessible.

Abstract: A networked firmware management system is operable to manage firmware in one or more target devices by receiving a virtual bundled firmware update package comprising two or more individual firmware update files. The system identifies one or more networked target devices having a virtual firmware target matching the virtual bundled firmware update package, and sends the virtual bundled firmware update package to the virtual firmware target on the one or more networked devices.

Abstract: A networked firmware management system is operable to manage firmware in one or more target devices by receiving one or more firmware target specifications from one or more target devices, the firmware target specifications each identifying a firmware target in the target device. The server stores the one or more received firmware target specification, associated with the one or more firmware targets in the target device. When the server receives a firmware update, the server matches a firmware attribute of the received firmware update against the one or more firmware target specifications stored in the server, and sends the received firmware update to any firmware targets in the target device having a firmware target specification that matches the received firmware update attribute.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for associating network entities, such as devices and services have been disclosed. By utilizing context operational modifiers, such as context rules, context definitions, and context services, entities may be associated.

Abstract: Various embodiments include a devices, systems, and methods to configure a wireless device. A wireless device may comprise a housing, a wireless communication interface, and a configuration interface. The housing may be configured to be mounted to an outlet supplying power to the wireless device via an electrical conductor. The wireless communication interface may be capable of connecting the wireless device to a wireless network. The configuration interface may be coupled to both the electrical conductor and the wireless communication interface and communicate with a configuration device directly attached to the electrical conductor. The configuration device may communicate configuration instructions to the wireless device over the electrical conductor by modulating power on the electrical conductor. The configuration interface may configure the wireless interface to connect the wireless device to the wireless network based on the configuration instructions.

Abstract: A local area utility network includes a utility, a low-speed backhaul between the utility and a utility provider, and a high-speed broadband network interface module in the utility coupling the utility directly to a broadband network. A plurality of utilities is coupled via a wireless mesh home area utility network. The low-bandwidth backhaul is operable to communicate at least one of billing, pricing, and load control events to a utility provider, and the high-speed broadband network connection to a home automation system.

Abstract: The physical position of an unknown node in a network is determined by sending a first sent WiFi signal from one of an unknown node and a first reference node having a known location, and repeating the sent WiFi signal in the other of the unknown node and first reference node with a first reply WiFi signal. A distance is derived between the unknown node and the first reference node from the time of flight of the first sent and first reply WiFi signals. A second WiFi signal is sent from one of the unknown node and a second fixed node having a known location, and repeating the sent second WiFi signal in the other of the unknown node and second reference node with a second reply WiFi signal, and A distance is derived between the unknown node and the second reference node from the time of flight of the second sent and second reply WiFi signals. A physical location of the unknown node is determined based on the derived distances between the unknown node and the first and second reference nodes.

Abstract: A wireless mesh network test system comprises a plurality of mesh network nodes, each comprising an antenna connection. An antenna network couples the antenna connections of the plurality of nodes, and a plurality of attenuators are distributed in the antenna network such that the attenuators simulate distance between the wireless mesh network nodes.