Patents Assigned to Silver Spring Networks, Inc.
  • Patent number: 7962101
    Abstract: A method and system for providing a network protocol for utility services are disclosed are disclosed. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method determines whether a measured real signal strength differs from a an accepted real signal strength by a configurable control limit parameter. In the event the measured real signal strength exceeds either an upper or lower bound based upon the configurable control limit parameter a determination is made whether there has been an unacceptable number of measured real signal strengths that exceed either an upper or lower bound based upon the configurable control limit parameter. In the event there has been an unacceptable number of measured real signal strengths that exceed either an upper or lower bound, which may include reaching or exceeding a configurable out of bound incidence limit, then a determination is made to calculate a new accepted real signal strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Silver Spring Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Raj Vaswani, Daniel McKernan, William San Filippo, III
  • Patent number: 7961741
    Abstract: Bulk information is transferred to nodes in a communication network having a plurality of widely dispersed nodes. The information can be an image, content, or configuration information. The information is uni-cast to a selection of nodes by a central node or server, to seed the information at certain nodes in the network. The information is then distributed by these seed nodes to every other node in the network. A first algorithm selects which nodes should be seeded with information by the central node. A second algorithm distributes information in the network on a query basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Silver Spring Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Jana van Greunen, William San Filippo, III, Sterling Hughes
  • Publication number: 20110122798
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed by which RF mesh networks can identify utility distribution topologies by using power line communication combined with wireless networking to identify the mapping of transformers and other distribution equipment at a back office system server. At a specified time, an item of distribution equipment signals a unique identifier by introducing a phase shift in the electric power being delivered by that equipment. A meter node detects and decodes these temporal shifts to obtain an identifier of equipment supplying the power to it. Upon ascertaining this identification, the meter node sends an acknowledgment to thereby register with that equipment. The association of the particular customer's premises with the equipment is also sent to a back office system, to enable a map of the correspondence between meter and the equipment to be generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: Silver Spring Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Sterling HUGHES, James Pace, Jana van Greunen, William E. San Filippo, III
  • Publication number: 20110116534
    Abstract: Forward error correction is used in conjunction with detection of a start frame delimiter (SFD) to provide flexibility and to reduce missed instances of an SFD. Candidate SFDs in an incoming signal are identified using a lower-than-normal detection threshold, and corresponding markers are stored in a buffer. For each stored marker, a physical layer header following the candidate SFD is decoded with error-correction techniques, to determine whether uncorrectable errors exist. If so, the candidate is discarded and the next candidate is evaluated. If no uncorrectable errors exist, the candidate is declared a valid SFD, and the remaining signal is decoded. Dual detection thresholds can be employed in networks that permit both error-encoded and non-coded packets. A technique for selecting SFD patterns that facilitate higher performance is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: Silver Spring Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Cristina Seibert, Edwin Shearer
  • Patent number: 7940669
    Abstract: Methods and systems for providing a network and routing protocol for utility services are disclosed. A method includes discovering a utility network. Neighboring nodes are discovered and the node listens for advertised routes for networks from the neighbors. The node is then registered with one or more utility networks, receiving a unique address for each network registration. Each upstream node can independently make forwarding decisions on both upstream and downstream packets, i.e., choose the next hop according to the best information available to it. The node can sense transient link problems, outage problems and traffic characteristics. Information is used to find the best route out of and within each network. Each network node maintains multi-egress, multi-ingress network routing options both for itself and the node(s) associated with it. The node is capable of several route maintenance functions utilizing the basic routing protocol and algorithms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Silver Spring Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Raj Vaswani, Sterling Hughes, Jana van Greunen, William E. San Filippo, III, George Flammer, III
  • Patent number: 7894481
    Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed for dynamically fragmenting packets transmitted in a communications network. Fragments are generated by splitting a packet based on a value of a fragment size parameter. A first fragment is sent to a receiving node. As the sending node, a transmission success parameter is determined that indicates whether the first fragment was successfully received. Based on the value of the transmission success parameter, a link quality parameter value representing a chance a second fragment having the same size as the first fragment will be successfully received by the receiving node is updated. The sending node compares the value of the link quality parameter and a value of a quality threshold parameter and changes the value of the fragment size parameter based on a result of the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Silver Spring Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Jana van Greunen, William E. San Filippo, III, Sterling Hughes
  • Patent number: 7889094
    Abstract: A network interface device includes a transceiver capable of connecting a utility meter to a wireless network, and a visual indicator capable of displaying a status of a connection between the utility meter and the wireless network. The visual indicator can be an LED, whose display state indicates the status of network connectivity. Alternatively, the visual indicator can be an integrated digital display of the meter that is typically used to indicate a metering parameter, such as total consumption or rate of consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Silver Spring Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Brad Gilbert, Raj Vaswani
  • Patent number: 7868782
    Abstract: An electronic electric meter for use in a networked automatic meter reading environment. The meter includes a meter microcontroller, a measurement microcontroller, a communication microcontroller and spread spectrum processor, and a plurality of other communication interface modules for communicating commodity utilization and power quality data to a utility. The meter measures electricity usage and monitors power quality parameters for transmission to the utility over a spread spectrum local area network (LAN) to a remotely located gateway node. The gateway node transmits this data to the utility over a commercially available fixed wide area network (WAN). The meter also provides direct communication to the utility over a commercially available network interface that plugs into the meter's backplane or bus system, bypassing the local area network communication link and gateway node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Silver Spring Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Lance A. Ehrke, Kimbel A. Nap, Donn R. Dresselhuys
  • Patent number: 7859477
    Abstract: A J-Pole antenna disclosed including: shunt segment extending out of the plane of the J-Pole antenna. A shunt segment extending out of the plane of the J-pole antenna aids in attaching the antenna to a connector and allowing for a reduction in the size of the antenna and connector. The shunt segment also makes the antenna shorter while preserving the same gain and impedance performance as a conventional J-Pole antenna. A connector plate and connector may be used with the antenna having the shunt segment extending out of the plane of the J-Pole antenna. A protective enclosure may be used with the J-Pole antenna and allowing a radiating antenna segment of the J-Pole antenna to extend from the protective enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Silver Spring Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Birnbaum, Brad Gilbert, Thomas Mabry
  • Patent number: 7853417
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system including a utility network including a product distribution pathway for delivering a product, a plurality of electronic utility devices associated with the utility network to monitor at least one parameter associated with the product distribution pathway, and a management processor in communication with the devices and operable to poll at least a subset of the electronic utility devices in response to an input to evaluate performance of one of the utility network and the system in response to information relating to the at least one parameter. The evaluation can include a rule-based analysis of one of the parameter and the information relating to the parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Silver Spring Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Raj Vaswani, James Pace, Sterling Hughes
  • Publication number: 20100299452
    Abstract: A method and system for providing a network and routing protocol for utility services are disclosed. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises discovering a utility network, wherein a utility device (for example, a constant powered meter) sends network discovery messages to find the utility network. Neighboring meters are discovered and the device listens for advertised routes for one or more networks from the neighbors. The device is then registered with one or more utility networks, receiving a unique address for each network registration. Also illustrated in this invention disclosure is how each device of a class of devices (for example, battery powered meter) finds and associates itself with another device (for example, constant powered meter). The constant powered meter also registers its associate battery powered meter with the utility networks. The constant powered meter registers itself with the access points and the upstream nodes in the path out of each network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: Silver Spring Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: George Flammer, Sterling Hughes, Daniel McKernan, Raj Vaswani
  • Publication number: 20100299441
    Abstract: The functionality of communications standards and protocols that are application-layer specific are overlaid on an IP-based infrastructure, by employing an IP DNS server as the registration host for IP and other communications standards based and protocol based communications. Communication can occur at either the IP layer or the communications standards or protocol application layer. At the IP layer, a host application can interrogate network nodes. To extend this service to other communications standards or protocol communications, device registration and resolve services are implemented on the DNS server. Similar to the manner in which an IP-based service uses a native, IP-based DNS resolve request, a host can utilize a resolution request against the communications standards and protocol-enabled DNS server for standards and protocol application-layer interrogation of endpoints.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: Silver Spring Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Sterling HUGHES, Jana Van Greunen, William L. Pugh
  • Patent number: 7839899
    Abstract: A method of updating routing information in a network where reboot information of other nodes in the network is used to determine whether a given node has recent route updates. If the reboot information indicates the given node has not recently rebooted, then routing information from that given node is used to update the routing information of the comparing node. The reboot information may be a reboot counter which is incremented by a node in response to the node going through a reboot process. When a node reboots, it may request the reboot counter from neighboring nodes. The received reboot counter is compared to the stored reboot counter for at least one node. The rebooting node may choose to receive routing information from a node which has not had its reboot counter changed from the stored reboot counter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Silver Spring Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Jana van Greunen, Sterling Hughes, Raj Vaswani, William San Filippo, III
  • Patent number: 7797009
    Abstract: A method and system for providing a network protocol for utility services are disclosed are disclosed. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises discovering a utility network, wherein a constant powered meter sends network discovery messages to find the utility network. Neighboring meters are discovered, wherein the constant powered meter sends hello messages periodically. The constant powered meter is registered with the utility network. Further, the battery powered meter finds and associates itself with a constant powered meter. The constant powered meter also registers its associate battery powered meter with the utility network. The constant powered meter sends a node registration message to the gateway of the utility network. The constant powered meter can sense outage problems with the gateway and the neighbors of its network, and search and migrate to an alternate network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Silver Spring Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Marko Kiiskila, Padmasheela Rayala, William San Filippo, III
  • Publication number: 20100214922
    Abstract: Systems and methods of optimizing packet flow in a network are disclosed. An internetwork includes plural networks, each network having plural non-router nodes and at least one router node. The non-router nodes of a first network can be configured to perform congestion control. The non-router node establishes a packet rate value for a packet queue associated with a second network of the internetwork. A total number of packets not greater than the packet rate value are removed from the packet queue. The removed packets are sent to a node in the second network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: Silver Spring Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Wilson Chuen Yew Yeung, Brian Matsuo, Sterling Hughes
  • Patent number: 7783764
    Abstract: The functionality of a C12.22 application layer is overlaid on an IP-based infrastructure, by employing an IP DNS server as the registration host for both IP- and C12.22-based communications. Communication can occur at either the IP layer or the C12.22 application layer. At the IP layer, a host application can interrogate network nodes. To extend this service to C12.22 communications, C12.22 registration and resolve services are implemented on the DNS server. Similar to the manner in which an IP-based service uses a native, IP-based DNS resolve request, a C12.22 host can utilize a C12.22 resolution request against the C12.22-enabled DNS server for C12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Silver Spring Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: James Pace, Winston D. Lew, Daniel S. McKernan
  • Patent number: 7772989
    Abstract: An electronic electric meter for use in a networked automatic meter reading environment. The electric meter retrofits into existing meter sockets and is available for new meter installations for both single phase and three phase electric power connections. The meter utilizes an all electronic design including a meter microcontroller, a measurement microcontroller, a communication microcontroller and spread spectrum processor, and a plurality of other communication interface modules for communicating commodity utilization and power quality data to a utility. The electric meter utilizes a modular design which allows the interface modules to be changed depending upon the desired communication network interface. The meter measures electricity usage and monitors power quality parameters for transmission to the utility over a two-way 900 MHz spread spectrum local area network (LAN) to a remotely located gateway node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Silver Spring Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Lance A. Ehrke, Kimbel A. Nap, Donn R. Dresselhuys
  • Patent number: 7769888
    Abstract: A method and system for providing a network and routing protocol for utility services are disclosed. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises discovering a utility network, wherein a utility device (for example, a constant powered meter) sends network discovery messages to find the utility network. Neighboring meters are discovered and the device listens for advertised routes for one or more networks from the neighbors. The device is then registered with one or more utility networks, receiving a unique address for each network registration. Also illustrated in this invention disclosure is how each device of a class of devices (for example, battery powered meter) finds and associates itself with another device (for example, constant powered meter). The constant powered meter also registers its associate battery powered meter with the utility networks. The constant powered meter registers itself with the access points and the upstream nodes in the path out of each network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Silver Spring Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: George Flammer, Sterling Hughes, Daniel McKernan, Raj Vaswani
  • Patent number: 7706757
    Abstract: A wireless communication apparatus adapted to be mounted on an elevated surface having an electrical socket thereon. The apparatus includes a housing, a photocell and a transceiver. The housing at least partially defines an interior space and has a portion which is translucent. The photocell is supported by the housing in the interior space so that ambient light exterior to the housing passes through the translucent portion to the photocell. The transceiver is also supported by the housing and is positioned within the interior space of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Silver Spring Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Juan R. Luglio, Kurt J. Nemer
  • Publication number: 20100061350
    Abstract: Rather than using a large number of transceivers (transmitter/receiver pairs) operating in parallel, Access Points with multiple channels are used to aggregate, or stack, transmitted response communications, e.g., transmitting multiple acknowledgements (ACKs) in a single packet to one or more sources of received packets. The method includes sending on a plurality of channels, by each of a plurality of respective first nodes, a communication to a second node, receiving on the plurality of channels, by the second node, the communication from each of the plurality of first nodes and sending, by the second node, a transmission that contains a response to each communication that was successfully received from each of the plurality of first nodes. The response to each of the plurality of first nodes is part of a single message sent by the second node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicant: Silver Spring Networks, Inc.
    Inventor: George Flammer, III