Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a hybrid femtocell device comprising a femtocell access point and a metrology device, such as a commercial power meter. Each hybrid femtocell device is configured to connect to a backhaul network either via a local network connection or via a neighboring hybrid femtocell. A hybrid femtocell device may be advantageously installed in place of a conventional power meter to operate as both a conventional femtocell access point providing cellular coverage for a targeted location, as well as a smart power meter.

Abstract: A method is provided for simulation of multiple network nodes in an internetwork. A range of a plurality of network addresses are assigned to a simulation node. The simulation node monitors network communications to listen for packets. Upon receipt of a packet having a destination address within the assigned range, a command is forwarded to an end-use application, such as firmware. The end-use application processes the command and returns a result. A response packet having the result is transmitted to the back office server with the destination address of the received packet as the source of the response packet.

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.

Abstract: One example embodiment provides a method and system where a node in a utility network registers with one or more access point devices associated with one or more local area utility networks. The utility node generates a unique network address using a network address prefix of a network address associated with the access point device. The utility node registers with a DNS server. Messages sent to the utility node are routed through the access point corresponding to the received prefix used to generate the unique network address for the utility node. The network address for the utility node and access point may be IPv6 addresses and the network address prefix may be an IPv6 prefix, or may be an IPv4 address.

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.

Abstract: After power is restored to a node in a utility network, that node employs one or more of its neighboring nodes as proxies to route a message to a central control facility of the utility. The message contains information about the restored node, and possibly one or more of its neighbor nodes. This information may include reboot counters, the amount of time that the node was down, momentary outages or power fluctuations, and/or the time of power restoration. The node that creates and initially sends the message can be the restored node itself, or another node that recognizes when a restored node has recently come back online.

Abstract: A communication device detects whether anomalous events occur with respect to at least one node in a utility network. The communication device has recorded therein threshold operating information and situational operating information. The threshold operating information includes data indicative of configured acceptable operating parameters of nodes in the network based on respective locational information of the nodes. The situational information includes data indicative of configured operation data expected to be received from nodes in the network during a predetermined time period, based on a condition and/or event occurring during the time period. The communication device receives operation data from nodes in the network, and determines whether the operation data from a node constitutes an anomalous event based on a comparison of the received operation data with (i) the threshold operating information defined for the node and (ii) the situational information.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting device failures in a network having nodes coupled to a central controller, in which a first of the nodes communicates with the central controller via a second of the nodes. When the second node determines that the first node has not transmitted a predetermined number of messages over a predefined number of time periods, the second node provides a failure alert to the central controller. The central controller records a failure alert received from the second node in a log. Based on a set of failure alerts received from a number of nodes recorded in the log, the central controller determines whether the first node has failed.

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.

Abstract: A mobile device communicates with an authenticator affiliated with a recharging facility, to identify itself. To confirm that the mobile device is connected to the correct facility, the authenticator instructs the mobile device to draw electrical charge according to an identifiable pattern. Upon detecting a charge being drawn according to that pattern, the authenticator has confirmation that the identified device is connected to the facility, and permits the charging to proceed. The amount of electricity drawn during the charging procedure can be metered, and then billed to a party associated with the identified mobile device.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a wireless communications system configured to efficiently operate within an arbitrarily and uniquely defined set of channels. Each one of the set of channels has an assigned digital radio transceiver instance configured to operate according to transmission requirements that are unique to the corresponding channel. A set of digital radio transceiver instances comprises a meta-transceiver, which enables communications to one or more other devices via one or more digital radio transceiver instances.

Abstract: One example embodiment provides a method and system where a node in a utility network receives a block of IPv6 network addresses from an access point in the utility network. The utility node allocates an IP network address from the block of IPv6 network addresses received from the access point to an in-premise device which communicates to the utility node over an in-premise network which is not IP based. The utility node proxies the allocated IP address to the utility network, allowing other nodes on the utility network to address and communicate with the in-premise device.

Abstract: A system that provides a cryptographic unit that generates secret keys that are not directly accessible to software executed by a controller. The cryptographic unit can include a restrictor device, a finite state machine, a random number generator communicatively and a memory. The memory stores values generated by the random number generator. The restrictor device and the finite state machine include hardware logic that restricts access or changes to the contents of the memory.

Abstract: Methods include those by which nodes in a Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS) wireless network may be flexibly configured for beacon transmission and reception. The method may allow for any node to synchronize to any other node's given frequency to receive one or more beacon (broadcast) packets from that node at the designated period. The method may include sending, by a first node, a message to one or more neighbor nodes and responding, by the one or more neighbor nodes, with a message to the first node, the response message including a beacon frequency, a beacon transmit time and information about the current hopping sequence. The first node periodically programs its receiver to the beacon frequency at the beacon transmit time and uses the hopping sequence to receive information including at least one of routing information and timing updates for hopping channel synchronization from the one or more neighbor nodes.

Abstract: A method and system of operating a utility node to communicate in a wireless utility network are provided. A utility node in the wireless utility network discovers at least two access points each respectively constituting an interface between a wide area network and the wireless utility network. The node discovers at least two access points constituting an interface between the two networks, registers with the discovered access points, and obtains at least two unique network addresses each respectively associated with a corresponding one of the access points with which the node has registered. The node provides the at least two addresses to a back office server which is communication with the wide area network to provide the back office server with at least two routes to reach the node. The at least two routes are respectively associated with a corresponding one of the access points with which the node registered.

Abstract: A node residing within a wireless mesh network is configured to transmit a state transition message to a downstream node also residing within the wireless mesh network. The state transition message indicates a new operating state for the downstream node. Upon receipt of the state transition message, the downstream node may transition to the new operating state and then transmit an acknowledgement message back to the node that sent the state transition message. Alternatively, the downstream node may transmit the acknowledgement message back to the node that sent the state transition message first, and then transition to the new operating state.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting device failures in a network having nodes coupled to a central controller, in which a first of the nodes communicates with the central controller via a second of the nodes. When the second node determines that the first node has not transmitted a predetermined number of messages over a predefined number of time periods, the second node provides a failure alert to the central controller. The central controller records a failure alert received from the second node in a log. Based on a set of failure alerts received from a number of nodes recorded in the log, the central controller determines whether the first node has failed.

Abstract: A system and method is presented for broadcasting from a utility node a request for network routing information, receiving at the utility node routing information from neighboring utility nodes in response to the broadcast request, and registering the utility node with an access point that provides ingress and egress to and from the network. A node is selected to function as a proxy gateway for one or more other nodes in the network. A new utility node becomes connected to one or more utility networks by registering with the proxy gateway. The proxy gateway transmits registration requests and registration information from each node to a back office server and/or a Domain Name Server via an access point for which the proxy gateway functions as its proxy.

Abstract: A method for generating and using frequency-hopping sequences in frequency-hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) networks, such that no additional network overhead is required to convey a device's hopping sequence to another device, is disclosed. Furthermore, a method to maximize the number of unique hopping sequences, without increasing the random access memory (RAM) requirements on the network devices, is disclosed.

Abstract: One example embodiment provides a method and system where a node in a utility network registers with one or more access point devices associated with one or more local area utility networks. The utility node generates a unique network address using a network address prefix of a network address associated with the access point device. The utility node registers with a DNS server. Messages sent to the utility node are routed through the access point corresponding to the received prefix used to generate the unique network address for the utility node. The network address for the utility node and access point may be IPv6 addresses and the network address prefix may be an IPv6 prefix, or may be an IPv4 address.