Patents by Inventor Bastien Mainaud
Bastien Mainaud has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 10833910Abstract: Techniques are directed to opportunistically communicating using a modulation scheme that is other than the preferred modulation scheme, to update communication metric data for the second modulation scheme, such as a modulation scheme that has not been used as much as the first modulation scheme. The second modulation scheme may be associated with a higher data rate than the preferred modulation scheme. If communication using the second modulation scheme is successful, subsequent communication may be carried out exclusively using the second modulation scheme, and the communication metrics may develop such that the second modulation scheme becomes the preferred modulation scheme.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2019Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: Itron Global SARLInventors: Jerome Bartier, Fabrice Monier, Yacine Khaled, Ahmad Kaouk, Vincent Roussel, Bastien Mainaud, Viet-Hung Nguyen
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Patent number: 10567997Abstract: A new device is deployed to an area in which a network is provided. The new device may join the network using a single handshake via a neighboring device that is a member of the network and register with a network management system managing the network. If the network is overloaded or has limited bandwidth remaining, the network may refuse to admit the new device, or if the new device is isolated, may force some devices that are members of the network to leave or migrate from the network to allow the isolated device to join the network.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2017Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: ITRON GLOBAL SARLInventors: Daniel Popa, Bastien Mainaud, Viet-Hung Nguyen, Mehdi Mani, Michael T. Garrison Stuber
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Patent number: 10375672Abstract: Techniques for broadcasting data in a multi-channel network having a control channel and multiple data channels are described. A node wishing to broadcast data may determine a particular data channel from among the multiple data channels, a modulation technique, and a data rate to be utilized to broadcast the data. The broadcasting node may transmit a message over the control channel indicating that the data will be broadcast on the particular data channel using the modulation technique and at the determined data rate. The broadcasting node and a node wishing to receive the data may switch to the particular data channel. The broadcasting node may broadcast the data over the particular data channel, while the receiving node may receive the data. After broadcasting the data or a predetermined time period has expired, the broadcasting node and receiving node may switch to the control channel.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2014Date of Patent: August 6, 2019Assignee: ITRON GLOBAL SARLInventors: Viet-Hung Nguyen, Jerome Bartier, Fabrice Monier, Bastien Mainaud
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Patent number: 9843985Abstract: A node having a multiple protocol receiver may listen to multiple links in parallel and determine a quality of links having multiple communication technologies between the node and multiple neighbor nodes. The multiple communication technologies may include radio frequency (RF) communication technologies and one or more power line communication (PLC) communication technologies. The node determines a link quality metric for each link associated with an optimum communication technology and data rate, and maintains availability information of neighbor nodes. The node may then route communications to neighbor nodes using the link quality metric and the availability information.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2015Date of Patent: December 12, 2017Assignee: ITRON GLOBAL SARLInventors: Bastien Mainaud, Viet-Hung Nguyen, Hartman Van Wyk, John Buffington
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Publication number: 20170150400Abstract: A new device is deployed to an area in which a network is provided. The new device may join the network using a single handshake via a neighboring device that is a member of the network and register with a network management system managing the network. If the network is overloaded or has limited bandwidth remaining, the network may refuse to admit the new device, or if the new device is isolated, may force some devices that are members of the network to leave or migrate from the network to allow the isolated device to join the network.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2017Publication date: May 25, 2017Applicant: ITRON GLOBAL SARLInventors: DANIEL POPA, BASTIEN MAINAUD, VIET-HUNG NGUYEN, MEHDI MANI, MICHAEL T. GARRISON STUBER
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Patent number: 9591525Abstract: A new device is deployed to an area in which a network is provided. The new device may join the network using a single handshake via a neighboring device that is a member of the network and register with a network management system managing the network. If the network is overloaded or has limited bandwidth remaining, the network may refuse to admit the new device, or if the new device is isolated, may force some devices that are members of the network to leave or migrate from the network to allow the isolated device to join the network.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2012Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: ITRON GLOBAL SARLInventors: Daniel Popa, Viet-Hung Nguyen, Mehdi Mani, Michael T. Garrison Stuber, Bastien Mainaud
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Patent number: 9456258Abstract: Disclosed are techniques to minimize the electricity consumption of battery powered devices during network communications and performance of other functions. Example techniques include efficiently discovering other mains powered and battery powered devices within communication range of the battery powered device. In another example, techniques enable a battery powered device to serve as a relay for one or more other battery powered devices. In another example, techniques ensure that transmissions to and/or from battery powered devices are delivered efficiently and with low latency. In yet another example, techniques determine whether and under what conditions a battery powered device should migrate from one network to another. In the event of migration, example techniques minimize battery consumption associated with the migration.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2015Date of Patent: September 27, 2016Assignee: Itron, Inc.Inventors: Mehdi Mani, Hartman Van Wyk, Kenneth Charles Rigdon, Elliott Adam Nelson, Keith Barnes, Iskander Banaouas, Yacine Khaled, Viet-Hung H. Nguyen, Bastien Mainaud
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Publication number: 20160021433Abstract: Disclosed are techniques to minimize the electricity consumption of battery powered devices during network communications and performance of other functions. Example techniques include efficiently discovering other mains powered and battery powered devices within communication range of the battery powered device. In another example, techniques enable a battery powered device to serve as a relay for one or more other battery powered devices. In another example, techniques ensure that transmissions to and/or from battery powered devices are delivered efficiently and with low latency. In yet another example, techniques determine whether and under what conditions a battery powered device should migrate from one network to another. In the event of migration, example techniques minimize battery consumption associated with the migration.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2015Publication date: January 21, 2016Inventors: Mehdi Mani, Hartman Van Wyk, Kenneth Charles Rigdon, Elliott Adam Nelson, Keith Barnes, Iskander Banaouas, Yacine Khaled, Viet-Hung H. Nguyen, Bastien Mainaud
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Publication number: 20150181500Abstract: A node having a multiple protocol receiver may listen to multiple links in parallel and determine a quality of links having multiple communication technologies between the node and multiple neighbor nodes. The multiple communication technologies may include radio frequency (RF) communication technologies and one or more power line communication (PLC) communication technologies. The node determines a link quality metric for each link associated with an optimum communication technology and data rate, and maintains availability information of neighbor nodes. The node may then route communications to neighbor nodes using the link quality metric and the availability information.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2015Publication date: June 25, 2015Inventors: Bastien Mainaud, Viet-Hung Nguyen, Hartman Van Wyk, John Buffington
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Patent number: 9049692Abstract: A hybrid access protocol (HAP) controls access of nodes of a network to a communication medium, such as a radio frequency communication channel. In one example, a one-hop neighbor of a root node receives priority information from the root node, which includes a list of communication time slots, and an indication of one or more of the communication time slots during which the one-hop neighbor has communication priority relative to other one-hop neighbors of the root node. If the one-hop neighbor has information to transmit to the root node, it waits a predetermined period of time before transmitting the information to the root node. While waiting, the one-hop neighbor listens for transmissions by other nodes. In response to expiration of the predetermined period of time without overhearing transmissions by other nodes, the one-hop neighbor transmits its data to the root node.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2012Date of Patent: June 2, 2015Assignee: Itron, Inc.Inventors: Viet-Hung Nguyen, Bastien Mainaud
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Patent number: 9014190Abstract: A node receives information that is to be transmitted to a destination. Upon receipt of the information, the node may query a busy device list to determine an availability of one or more neighbor nodes. The node may then identify a neighbor node that, according to the busy device list, is available to receive transmissions and is capable of propagating the information to the destination. The node may then transmit the information to the identified neighbor node.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2012Date of Patent: April 21, 2015Assignee: Itron, Inc.Inventors: Viet-Hung Nguyen, Bastien Mainaud, Fabrice Monier, Jerome Bartier
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Patent number: 9007923Abstract: Techniques for quick advertisement of a failure of a cellular router in a network are described herein. In one example, problems with the cellular router in the network are recognized, such as by the cellular router itself, or by a node in communication with the cellular router. In response, one or more cellular router failure notification packets are sent by the cellular router prior to failure to one or more nodes within a cell served by the failing cellular router. The cellular router failure notification packets indicate that the cellular router is failing, thereby starting a discovery process in each node, wherein an attempt is made to discover a new cellular router.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2012Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: Itron, Inc.Inventor: Bastien Mainaud
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Patent number: 8995361Abstract: Techniques for communicating via a control channel, determining a particular data channel based on the communicating, and transferring data via the particular data channel are described. One or more messages are communicated via the control channel between first and second nodes. The one or more messages may indicate a particular data channel from multiple data channels that may be utilized to transfer data between the first and second nodes. The one or more messages may also indicate a modulation technique and/or data rate that may be implemented on the particular data channel. The one or more messages may be utilized to determine the particular data channel that will be utilized to transfer the data. The first and second nodes may switch to the particular data channel based on the determination and transfer the data via the particular data channel.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2012Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignee: Itron, Inc.Inventors: Viet-Hung Nguyen, Jerome Bartier, Bastien Mainaud, Fabrice Monier, Daniel Popa, Hartman Van Wyk
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Publication number: 20140321384Abstract: Techniques for broadcasting data in a multi-channel network having a control channel and multiple data channels are described. A node wishing to broadcast data may determine a particular data channel from among the multiple data channels, a modulation technique, and a data rate to be utilized to broadcast the data. The broadcasting node may transmit a message over the control channel indicating that the data will be broadcast on the particular data channel using the modulation technique and at the determined data rate. The broadcasting node and a node wishing to receive the data may switch to the particular data channel. The broadcast node may broadcast the data over the particular data channel, while the receiving node may receive the data. After broadcasting the data or a predetermined time period has expired, the broadcasting node and receiving node may switch to the control channel.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 3, 2014Publication date: October 30, 2014Inventors: Viet-Hung Nguyen, Jerome Bartier, Fabrice Monier, Bastien Mainaud
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Patent number: 8804724Abstract: In a wireless and/or power line communication (PLC) network environment, techniques for multicast of data and management of multicast groups assist in regulating bandwidth consumption and provision of desired multicast data. Nodes indicate interest in multicast groups by transmission of reports upstream. Report transmission may be suppressed to balance bandwidth with need for multicast data. Multicast data packets may be retransmitted downstream to fulfill requests indicated by the reports at a rate and/or frequency based on multicast packet duplication or redundancy. Information, such as broken links or “leave” packets, may indicate that one or more downstream nodes should be removed from a forwarding state. However such removal may impact other nodes. A query may be transmitted downstream, to determine if retransmission/forwarding of multicast retransmissions should continue. Query transmission may be based on a balance between query bandwidth consumption and the needs of downstream nodes.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2012Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Assignee: Itron, Inc.Inventors: Daniel Popa, Jorjeta Gueorguieva Jetcheva, Mehdi Mani, Bastien Mainaud, Viet-Hung Nguyen
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Patent number: 8792406Abstract: Techniques for broadcasting data in a multi-channel network having a control channel and multiple data channels are described. A node wishing to broadcast data may determine a particular data channel from among the multiple data channels, a modulation technique, and a data rate to be utilized to broadcast the data. The broadcasting node may transmit a message over the control channel indicating that the data will be broadcast on the particular data channel using the modulation technique and at the determined data rate. The broadcasting node and a node wishing to receive the data may switch to the particular data channel. The broadcast node may broadcast the data over the particular data channel, while the receiving node may receive the data. After broadcasting the data or a predetermined time period has expired, the broadcasting node and receiving node may switch to the control channel.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2012Date of Patent: July 29, 2014Assignee: Itron, Inc.Inventors: Viet-Hung Nguyen, Jerome Bartier, Fabrice Monier, Bastien Mainaud
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Patent number: 8737378Abstract: Techniques for synchronization of clocks in nodes in a network are described. In one example, a node times or measures a synchronization timeout period. During the synchronization timeout period, the node may hear a beacon. In that event, the node may reset its clock using a time indicator found within the beacon. If the node does not hear a beacon before the end of the synchronization timeout period, the node may send a beacon request to one of its parents. In response, the parent node will broadcast a beacon, which may be heard by other nodes in the vicinity of the parent node. Upon receipt of the beacon and an included time indicator, the node will update its clock. Upon clock update, another synchronization timeout period is then started and the cycle is repeated, thereby maintaining synchronization of the clock with clocks of other nodes.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2012Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Itron, Inc.Inventors: Bastien Mainaud, Viet-Hung Nguyen, Fabrice Monier, Jerome Bartier
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Publication number: 20130315057Abstract: In a wireless and/or power line communication (PLC) network environment, techniques for multicast of data and management of multicast groups assist in regulating bandwidth consumption and provision of desired multicast data. Nodes indicate interest in multicast groups by transmission of reports upstream. Report transmission may be suppressed to balance bandwidth with need for multicast data. Multicast data packets may be retransmitted downstream to fulfill requests indicated by the reports at a rate and/or frequency based on multicast packet duplication or redundancy. Information, such as broken links or “leave” packets, may indicate that one or more downstream nodes should be removed from a forwarding state. However such removal may impact other nodes. A query may be transmitted downstream, to determine if retransmission/forwarding of multicast retransmissions should continue. Query transmission may be based on a balance between query bandwidth consumption and the needs of downstream nodes.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2012Publication date: November 28, 2013Applicant: Itron, Inc.Inventors: Daniel Popa, Jorjeta Gueorguieva Jetcheva, Mehdi Mani, Bastien Mainaud, Viet-Hung Nguyen
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Publication number: 20130294230Abstract: A new device is deployed to an area in which a network is provided. The new device may join the network using a single handshake via a neighboring device that is a member of the network and register with a network management system managing the network. If the network is overloaded or has limited bandwidth remaining, the network may refuse to admit the new device, or if the new device is isolated, may force some devices that are members of the network to leave or migrate from the network to allow the isolated device to join the network.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2012Publication date: November 7, 2013Applicant: Itron, Inc.Inventors: Daniel Popa, Bastien Mainaud, Mehdi Mani, Viet-Hung Nguyen, Michael Thomas Garrison Stuber
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Publication number: 20130272293Abstract: A hybrid access protocol (HAP) controls access of nodes of a network to a communication medium, such as a radio frequency communication channel. In one example, a one-hop neighbor of a root node receives priority information from the root node, which includes a list of communication time slots, and an indication of one or more of the communication time slots during which the one-hop neighbor has communication priority relative to other one-hop neighbors of the root node. If the one-hop neighbor has information to transmit to the root node, it waits a predetermined period of time before transmitting the information to the root node. While waiting, the one-hop neighbor listens for transmissions by other nodes. In response to expiration of the predetermined period of time without overhearing transmissions by other nodes, the one-hop neighbor transmits its data to the root node.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2012Publication date: October 17, 2013Applicant: Itron, Inc.Inventors: Viet-Hung Nguyen, Bastien Mainaud