Abstract: Described is a system that includes a solid-state switch in series with a battery and a controller. The system also includes a capacitor coupled between a source and a gate of the solid-state switch and a resistor coupled between the gate of the solid-state switch and ground. The solid-state switch gradually transitions from an open state to a closed state over a time constant of the capacitor and the resistor upon application of power from the battery to the solid-state switch. The system further includes a first switching device that controls the application of power from the battery to the solid-state switch. Additionally, the system includes a second switching device that provides a discharge path of the capacitor upon completion of a task by the controller.

Abstract: An electric meter socket includes: a first plurality of connection points within the electric meter socket configured to form electrical connections to line voltage wirings of an electric distribution system; a second plurality of connection points within the electric meter socket configured to form electrical connections to output voltage wirings of a DER device; one or more connection points within the electric meter socket configured to form an electrical connection of neutral wires of the electric distribution system, the DER device, and a load; and a plurality of receptacles, each of the plurality of receptacles electrically connected to a corresponding connection point and configured to accept a mating connector of an electric meter.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for reconstructing a personal area network (“PAN”) after a failure in a system or network. A method can include detecting, by a node, a power failure in a system. The method can further include storing, by the node, data about a parent node in the system at a time of the power failure. The method can further include detecting, by the node, power restoration in the system and entering a restoration state in response to detecting the power restoration. The method can further include transmitting, by the node and to the parent node, an enhanced beacon request via a particular frequency channel associated with the parent node. The method can also include receiving, by the node, an acknowledgment response from the parent node via the frequency channel and receiving, by the node, an enhanced beacon request from the parent node via the frequency channel.

Abstract: A system can include a server, various application servers, various database servers, and a system database. The application servers can be divided into application server groups that each include an application server. The server receives data from a data source and the data includes a source identifier and a key identifier associated with the data source. The server determines a particular application server group that is associated with the data source based on the source identifier of the data source and transmits the data from the data source to an application server of the application server group. The application server determines a particular database server associated with the application server group and transmits the data to the database server, which determines a particular partition of a system database in which to store the data based on the key identifier of the data source.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a secure local connection between a network node of a network and an edge device attached to the network node is provided by extending the security of the network to this local connection. The edge device attached to the network node communicates with a network manager of the network to obtain security keys and security credentials for the edge device. Using the security keys and the security credentials, the edge device can establish a secure channel between the network node and the edge device over the local connection. The edge device further communicates with the network manager to exchange routing information and to obtain a network address for the edge device. The edge device can then communicate, through the network node, with other network nodes in the network using the security keys, the security credentials, and the network address.

Abstract: A system for crosstalk cancelation for electricity metering in a power distribution network is provided. For example, a meter can be used to generate a set of measurement points by measuring electrical signals provided by a reference power device according to a set of source points. Based on the set of source points and the corresponding set of measurement points, a crosstalk cancelation function is derived and stored in the meter. When the meter is deployed at a geographical location and generates a measurement point by measuring the electrical signal on the power distribution network, the meter further applies the crosstalk cancelation function to the measurement point to generate a transformed measurement point. The meter calculates various characteristics of the power distribution network based on the transformed measurement points and transmits the calculated characteristics to a headend system.

Abstract: A method for maintaining synchronization of nodes in a mesh network includes: receiving primary beacons from a first transmitting node during a predetermined time interval, each of the primary beacons comprising time information indicating a time that a respective primary beacon was transmitted; comparing the time that each of the primary beacons was transmitted with a time that each of the primary beacons was received to determine a time difference; accumulating the time difference for each primary beacon received from the first transmitting node during the predetermined time interval to generate a first time synchronization error; comparing the first time synchronization error to a first threshold value; and in response to determining that the first time synchronization error exceeds the first threshold value, transmitting a first request to the first transmitting node to increase a rate of beacon transmissions for a specified period of time.

Abstract: Techniques described herein detect a meter orientation based on a temperature gradient measured for a utility meter. A method for detecting a meter orientation includes determining a set of temperature measurements including a respective temperature measurement at two or more temperature sensors of a utility meter. The method further includes comparing the set of temperature measurements to a thermal fingerprint of the utility meter. The thermal fingerprint represents a baseline set of one or more temperature gradients based on the two or more temperature sensors over time. The method further includes detecting a meter orientation based on comparing the set of temperature measurements to the thermal fingerprint of the utility meter.

Abstract: A method for programming global positioning system (GPS) coordinates for a smart meter includes receiving, by a server remote from the smart meter, an image file of a photograph of the smart meter; recognizing identification information of the smart meter from the image file; extracting GPS coordinates from metadata of the received image file; transmitting the GPS coordinates and instructions to store the GPS coordinates to the smart meter identified by the identification information; and storing, by a processor of the smart meter, the GPS coordinates in a memory of the smart meter.

Abstract: A multi-radio border router for synchronizing communications of multiple border router radios is provided. For example, the border router includes a border router component connected to each of the plurality of border router radios. The border router component configured for selecting one of the plurality of border router radios as a master radio and assigning channel offset parameters for each of the plurality of border router radios. The master radio is configured for broadcasting synchronization beacons based on which the non-master radios synchronize their respective clocks with that of the master radio. After the synchronization, each of the border router radios communicates with endpoints associated therewith according to a channel hopping pattern modified by applying a channel offset determined based on the channel offset parameters assigned to the respective radio.

Abstract: Certain aspects and features include techniques for reporting resource flow at a metering device. In an example, a metering device measures resource flow by measuring a pressure or a flow rate. The metering device sets a reporting rate to a default reporting rate. The metering device transmits communications indicating the measured resource flow to an external device at the reporting rate. The metering device detects seismic activity at the metering device. The metering device determines that the seismic activity exceeds a seismic threshold. The metering device, in response to determining that the seismic activity exceeds the seismic threshold, adjusts the reporting rate to an event reporting rate, and starts an event time period. The metering device, transmits communications indicating the measured resource flow to the external device at the event reporting rate during the event time period.

Abstract: A tool listening device including a transceiver is configured to listen on a radio channel selected from a discovery channel hopping sequence. The tool listening device is configured to identify a preamble, indicating a start of a packet. The tool listening device continues to listen until a packet header is received. The tool listener extracts, from the packet header, a source address, a destination address and a frame type. The tool listening device adds the source address, the destination address, and the frame type to a data structure, and transmits the data structure to an external device, where the data may be visualized. The tool listening device is further configured to select another radio channel from the discovery channel hopping sequence.

Abstract: A method includes storing, at a head-end system, an indication of initial configuration parameters of a configurable resource meter. The method also includes requesting, by the head-end system, a report indicating updated configuration parameters from the configurable resource meter and receiving, at the head-end system, the report indicating the updated configuration parameters of the configurable resource meter. Additionally, the method includes comparing an indication of the updated configuration parameters to the indication of the initial configuration parameters. Further, the method includes determining a potential compromise of the configurable resource meter when the indication of the updated configuration parameters is different from the indication of the initial configuration parameters.

Abstract: This disclosure involves verifying that a power network model corresponds to an electric power network providing electrical power in a geographical area. For instance, a validation device computes a validation score for a power network model based on a connectivity score, an asset score, and a power-flow score. The connectivity score indicates connectivity errors in the power network model as compared to the power network. The asset score indicates power-delivery errors in the power network model with respect to power-consuming assets serviced by the power network. The power-flow score indicates power-flow calculation errors in the power network model with respect to voltage ranges for the power network. The validation score is repeatedly computed for iteratively updated versions of the power network model until a threshold validation score is obtained. The validated power network model is provided to a control system for identifying and correcting errors in the power network.

Abstract: A sectorized antenna assembly includes a mounting device, a support arm, a first antenna assembly, and a second antenna assembly. The mounting device supports the sectorized antenna assembly on a structure, and the support arm is connected to the mounting device and extends outwards from the mounting device in a lateral direction. The first antenna assembly is directly connected to the mounting device. The second antenna assembly is supported by the support arm such that the support arm is between the second antenna assembly and the mounting device and such that the second antenna assembly is offset in the lateral direction from the mounting device compared to the first antenna assembly.

Abstract: Technologies for implementing edge intelligence for utility communication networks are provided. For example, a system includes a mesh network and a utility fog configured to manage the mesh network. The utility fog includes a secure utility system configured for executing a private utility application and a first edge intelligence device configured for executing a first subset of software applications. Each software application is configured to manage endpoints in the mesh network or process data collected by the mesh network. The mesh network includes the endpoints and an edge intelligence device configured for executing a second subset of the software applications that is different from the first subset of software applications.

Abstract: Techniques for hot socket detection are disclosed. In an example, a meter includes a current transformer with a secondary bifilar winding. The meter is in proximity to a current coil. The secondary bifilar winding includes a first bifilar winding and a second bifilar winding. A start lead of the first bifilar winding is connected to a start lead of the second bifilar winding. The meter further includes a voltage source configured to generate a direct current (DC) voltage signal. The DC voltage signal is provided to a finish lead of the first bifilar winding. A first sense resistor is connected between a finish lead of the second bifilar winding and ground. A processing circuit receives a signal indicating a voltage across the first sense resistor and determines a temperature associated with the current coil. The processing circuit is further configured to detect a hot socket condition based on the temperature.

Abstract: A DER (distributed energy resource) device includes a metrology module and a communications module. The metrology module monitors the output of the DER device and the communications module provides bidirectional communications across a communications network to control the DER device. The control of the DER devices may include commands to connect the DER device to the grid, to disconnect the DER device to the grid, to connect the DER device to the premises, or to adjust a power characteristic of the output of the DER device.

Abstract: A utility meter includes a real-time clock (RTC), a supercapacitor, a power supply, and a set of photodiodes. The RTC keeps time utilized for time stamps applicable to events that occur during alternating current (AC) power outages of the utility meter, and the supercapacitor powers the RTC. The power supply operates in an active mode responsive to an AC line voltage meeting a threshold and, when in the active mode, charges the supercapacitor to power the RTC. The set of photodiodes absorbs energy from ambient light and charges the supercapacitor to power the RTC. Thus, the supercapacitor is configured to be charged based on the power supply and based on the set of photodiodes.

Abstract: A system may include a device including a sensor configured to measure a parameter of a resource distributed along a distribution line of the resource distribution system and one or more validation devices. Each validation device includes a sensor configured to measure the parameter of the resource distributed along the distribution line or a related parameter. When the device detects that the parameter is out-of-range condition, it sends a query to the validation devices requesting information on the parameter or the related parameter. When the information regarding the parameter or related parameter also indicates an out-of-range condition, then the system validates the out-of-range condition. After validating the condition, the system may control a resource regulation device to adjust the parameter.