Abstract: A utility meter has a multiprocessor architecture including (i) a microprocessing unit (MPU) for executing multiple software applications and (ii) another processing unit for performing core metrology functions in real time. For instance, the utility meter includes a metrology engine, an MPU, and one or more metrology applications. The metrology engine measures consumption of a resource and generates consumption data based on the consumption of the resource. The metrology engine includes a metrology processor, a dedicated memory, and a real-time operating system run by the metrology processor to enable the metrology engine to run time-critical metrology functions in real time. The MPU is coupled to the metrology processor and includes one or more processor cores. The MPU runs the one or more metrology applications over a primary operating system of the MPU, and the one or more metrology applications utilize the consumption data.

Abstract: A method includes a joining node, not yet joined to a network, listening to a second node that is joined to the network. The joining node may determine a join time at which to request to join the network. The joining node may receive from the second node a beacon indicating time synchronization of the network and further including a first congestion variable indicating a level of congestion of the network. The joining node may adjust the join time based on the first congestion variable in the beacon. At the join time, the joining node may transmit an association request to join the network.

Abstract: A method for generating charge for a service disconnect operation for an electric meter includes: charging a service disconnect capacitor for an electric meter to a voltage higher than a voltage provided by a power supply of the electric meter; monitoring the voltage on the service disconnect capacitor; receiving, by the electric meter, a service disconnect switch instruction signal; determining, based on the monitoring, whether the voltage on the service disconnect capacitor exceeds a specified voltage threshold value; and in response to receiving the service disconnect switch instruction signal and determining that the voltage on the service disconnect capacitor exceeds the specified voltage threshold value, discharging the service disconnect capacitor through windings of a service disconnect actuator. The service disconnect actuator may be configured to cause contacts of a service disconnect switch to change position to make or break a circuit connection between a line voltage and a load.

Abstract: A system for discovering the topology and phase of an electrical power distribution system is provided. For example, a group of meters connected to an electrical power distribution system can process sensor data obtained at the meters and generate descriptors based on the processed data and transmit the descriptors to a headend system. The headend system can, after receiving the descriptors from the various meters in the system, group these meters to generate a grouping by applying clustering algorithms to the descriptors of these meters. The headend system can further compare the current grouping with past groupings to determine a confidence level of the current grouping and assign a segment identifier or a phase identifier or both to one or more of the meters based on the confidence level.

Abstract: An electric meter includes a housing, a first set of connection paths, and a second set of connection paths. The first set of connection paths couple to a meter socket and are electrically coupled to a first electrical connection path between first phases of an electric distribution power source, a distributed energy resource device, and a load. First electrical metrology components of the first electrical connection path are positioned within a first segment of the housing. The second set of connection paths couple to a meter socket and are electrically coupled to a second electrical connection path between second phases of the electric distribution power source, the distributed energy resource device, and the load. Second electrical metrology components of the second electrical connection path are positioned within a second segment of the housing that is non-overlapping with the first segment of the housing.

Abstract: An on-demand power service provides electrical vehicle charging. Requesting the on-demand power service may include determining a current location of a computing device, determining an amount of power requested by a user of the computing device, and locating a plurality of mobile charging stations within a predefined geographic distance from the current location of the computing device. The method further includes receiving a price associated with each respective mobile charging station among the plurality of mobile charging stations, and providing on a display of the computing device, selectable options to purchase on-demand power from a mobile charging station among the plurality of mobile charging stations.

Abstract: A method for electrical arc detection in an electrical connection between an electric meter and a socket is provided. The method may include receiving a vibration signal from a vibration sensor and an arc detection signal from an arc detector. The vibration signal may be correlated in time with the arc detection signal. An electrical arc may be detected based on the correlating the vibration signal with the arc detection signal.

Abstract: An integrated metering device allows a resource provider to control the output of a distributed generation device onto a resource distribution network or grid. The integrated metering device may include a communications module, a metrology module, an inverter and regulator device, and a transfer switch. A resource provider may communicate with the integrated metering device via the communications module and may control the inverter and regulator device or the transfer switch. The metrology module may monitor the energy provided by the distributed generation device to the grid and may send information about the generated energy to the resource provider via the communications module.

Abstract: Techniques for secure team-based communication on existing wireless mesh networks are disclosed. In an example, a first network node receives a network encryption key from a headend system. The first network node receives a sub-group encryption key that is unique to a sub-group of nodes, a sub-group identifier, and a sub-group node list that lists the sub-group of nodes associated with the sub-group identifier. The first network node generates an application layer message for a second node of the sub-group of nodes at an application layer. The first network node encrypts the application layer message using the sub-group encryption key. The first network node generates a team packet that is addressed to a selected node and includes the encrypted application layer message and the sub-group identifier. The first network node encrypts the team packet using the network encryption key and transmits the encrypted team packet to the selected node.

Abstract: A system for processing reading records collected from a resource distribution network and converting IEC reading type codes is provided. For example, a meter data management system obtains meter reading records that are collected from meter nodes deployed in a resource distribution network. Each of the meter nodes is configured to measure characteristics of resource consumption at a location associated with the meter node, and each of the meter reading records includes a reading value of the resource consumption and an IEC reading type code identifying a type of the reading value. The meter data management system processes the meter reading records by converting a reading record from its original IEC reading type code to a common IEC reading type code so that the multiple meter reading records can be aggregated to generate a load profile. Loads associated with the meter nodes can be adjusted based on the generated load file.

Abstract: A utility meter assembly having a base that is secured to a front cover. The assembly includes a dual locking system having a first locking position and a second locking position. In the first locking position, the front cover is removably secured with the base. In the second locking position, the front cover is permanently secured with the base to prevent separation of the two components unless one or both components are destroyed.

Abstract: A method for responding to a voice activated request includes receiving a speech input request from a smart speaker requesting energy management data associated with energy consumption at a premises of the smart speaker. The method also includes generating a voice service request including a first query for a first data source. The first query includes a request for the energy management data. Additionally, the method includes communicating the first query to the first data source and receiving a first response to the first query from the first data source. Further, the method includes generating an audible speech output in response to the speech input request based on the first response to the first query and transmitting the audible speech output to the smart speaker. The smart speaker audibly transmits the audible speech output.

Abstract: A meter collar includes a connection path to form an electrical connection between a distributed energy resource (DER) meter and line voltage wirings of an electric distribution system and a second connection path to form an electrical connection between the DER meter and neutral wires of the electric distribution system, a DER device, and a load. Further, the meter collar includes a third connection path within the meter collar to form an electrical connection between the DER meter and output voltage wirings of the DER device. Furthermore, the meter collar includes mating connectors electrically connected to a first end of a corresponding connection path to accept mating connectors of the DER meter. The meter collar also includes mating connectors electrically connected to a second end of the corresponding connection path to mate with the line voltage wirings, the neutral wires, and the output voltage wirings.

Abstract: Methods for verifying and updating connectivity information in a geographic information system may consider location information for meters and transformers and voltage data obtained by the meters. Meters that are incorrectly associated with a transformer may be flagged and candidate transformers may be evaluated to identify a correct association. The analysis may consider voltage data from multiple meters to determine correlation values. Correlation values or confidence factors may be used to identify a transformer for the correct association.

Abstract: Certain aspects and features include a system and method for energy measurement in electric meter systems. In an example, an electric meter receives an Alternating Current (A/C) signal. The electric meter includes a current measurement device that is configured to obtain a current measurement of a current of the A/C signal. The current measurement includes a fundamental frequency component and a noise component. The electric meter receives a current measurement signal from the current measurement device and filters the noise component from the current measurement, thereby creating a filtered current measurement signal. When the filtered current measurement signal is greater than a starting current threshold, the electric meter calculates an energy consumption measurement.

Abstract: A method for restricting write cycles to a storage device includes tracking a first count of a first set of writes to memory executed by a first subsystem of a computing device and, further, determining that the first count meets a write threshold of the first subsystem. The method includes determining that blocking criteria are met by the first subsystem based on the first count exceeding the write threshold of the first subsystem and, further, determining that blocking criteria are not met by a second subsystem of the computing device. The method includes blocking the first set of writes from being synchronized to the storage device, based on the blocking criteria being met by the first subsystem, and synchronizing memory contents of the second subsystem to the storage device, based on the blocking criteria not being met by the second subsystem.

Abstract: Aspects and examples are disclosed for apparatuses and processes for establishing a communication link between a network using a routing protocol for low power and lossy networks (RPL) and a non-RPL-enabled device. For instance, a communication link establishment method includes establishing, by a routing protocol for low power and lossy networks (RPL) enabled device, a communication link with a non-RPL-enabled device. The method also includes establishing, by the RPL-enabled device, a network connection with an RPL-enabled network. Further, the method includes providing, by the RPL-enabled device, a proxy communication link between the non-RPL-enabled device and the RPL-enabled network. Providing the proxy communication link includes assigning a globally unique address (GUA) to the non-RPL-enabled device, and transmitting, by the RPL-enabled device, a proxy destination advertisement object to the RPL-enabled network where the proxy destination advertisement object comprises the GUA.

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 for performing a blockchain operation includes receiving an indication of a number of a plurality of endpoints in a processing network. The method further includes assigning nonce offsets to each endpoint of the plurality of endpoints and assigning communication randomization windows to each endpoint of the plurality of endpoints. The communication randomization windows stagger communication windows of the endpoints to a head-end. Additionally, the method includes sending a message to each of the endpoints indicating an operation to perform and an expected result. Further, the method includes receiving a success indication from a first endpoint of the plurality of endpoints. The success indication including a nonce match value from the nonce offset of the first endpoint. Furthermore, the method includes verifying a nonce match value with the expected result.

Abstract: A method includes identifying a packet for transmission and determining a radio channel for the transmission of the packet. The method further includes determining that the packet is in a restricted class and, responsive to the packet being in the restricted class, determining a dynamic maximum available time on the radio channel based on a reserved time and a dwell time limit. The method further includes calculating a remaining dwell time on the radio channel based on a comparison of a spent dwell time on the radio channel to the dynamic maximum available time. Further, the method includes determining a transmission duration for transmitting the packet over the radio channel and, responsive to the remaining dwell time being less than the transmission duration, postponing the packet.