Abstract: Device power consumption is reduced by operating using both one-way and two-way communication techniques. In an aspect a device operates in a first mode enabling one-way communication to an other device for a first portion of device operation time. The first mode includes transmitting a first set of messages to the other device while turning off a power supply used by a receiver of the device. The device switches between operating in the first mode and the second mode. The second mode enables two-way communication between the device and the other device for a second portion of device operation time less than the first portion of device operation. The second mode includes transmitting a second message to the other device, and in response to the transmitting the second message, turning on the power supply used by the receiver.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems, methods, and apparatus for estimating power time of use. According to an example embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for synchronizing local system time with a network clock for estimating power time of use. The method includes storing power usage data and initial time stamps, wherein the initial time stamps are derived from one or more of a local clock or broadcast network time; receiving data comprising network time; adjusting the local system time with a PID loop, wherein the PID loop adjusts the local system time based at least in part on a difference between the local clock and the received network time; storing, with the power usage data and initial time stamps, an indicator when the difference is greater than a predetermined value; and determining synchronization when the difference is less than or equal to a predetermined value.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for reducing network congestion in a smart utility meter system are provided. The systems, methods, and apparatuses may include providing, for a utility meter, a first communications interface for communicating with a first network; providing, for the utility meter, a second communications interface for communicating with a second network different from the first network; receiving or generating, by the utility meter, information having a destination; selecting either the first communications interface or the second communications interface; and delivering the information to the destination via the selected communications interface.

Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of methods and systems of using a timer based memory buffer for metrology. One embodiment of the method comprises receiving metrology data from one or more metrology sensors; writing at least part of the metrology data to a volatile memory; incrementing a write pointer to indicate the metrology data contained within the volatile memory; and repeating the above until a timer expires, then reading at least a portion of the metrology data from the volatile memory.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses may be provided for determining power usage within a meter. The systems, methods, and apparatuses may include providing, for a utility meter, at least one communications interface for communicating with a home area network (HAN); receiving or transmitting, via the at least one communications interface of the utility meter, information having a source or destination associated with the home area network (HAN); determining, by the utility meter, that the information is attributable to activity chargeable to a customer associated with the home area network (HAN); and updating, by the utility meter, a customer usage amount based upon the determination that the information is attributable to the activity chargeable to the customer.

Abstract: Embodiments of this invention include a network communications stack for a system for communicating data over a network. A media access control (MAC) layer running on a radio processor of the communications stack at least partially processes messages received from a network, i.e., before the message is passed to a host processor. Specifically, the MAC layer includes software configured to analyze a destination address contained in the message, and determine whether the destination address contained in the message matches a destination address programmed in the MAC layer.

Abstract: A system for monitoring operation of an electric vehicle charging station is provided. The system includes a battery charger configured to couple to a device for supplying current to the device, a current sensor coupled to the battery charger for measuring current supplied from the battery charger to the device, the current sensor configured to generate a measured current profile based on the measured current supplied to the device, and a processor coupled to the current sensor. The processor is configured to receive the measured current profile transmitted from the current sensor, and compare the measured current profile to at least one known current profile to monitor operation of the charging station.

Abstract: Systems and methods for dynamic load reduction control messaging. In one embodiment, a system can include at least one memory that stores computer-executable instructions; and at least one processor configured to access the at least one memory, wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the computer-executable instructions. The computer-executable instructions can be operable to receive, by the at least one processor, a multicast load control instruction for a demand response device; generate, based at least in part on the multicast load control instruction, at least one unicast load control instruction; and transmit, by a transmission device coupled to the at least one processor, the at least one unicast load control instruction to a home area network (HAN) device.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for identifying, invalid nodes within a mesh network are provided. A routing table may be maintained by a utility meter. The routing table may include information associated with one or more devices in communication with the utility meter via a mesh network. A change in the routing table may be identified by the utility meter, and an alert message associated with the identified change may be generated by the utility meter. The generated alert may then be output by the utility meter for communication to a central controller configured to process the alert message to identify an invalid node within the mesh network.

Abstract: Systems and methods may be provided for adaptive communications with utility meters based on atmospheric conditions. The systems and methods may include obtaining weather information associated with a location of a utility meter; determining, based upon the weather information, whether the utility meter location is associated with weather that affects communications performance; and modifying an acceptable communications error rate associated with the utility meter or the communications interface of the utility meter from a first value to a second value upon determining that the utility meter location is associated with weather that affects communications performance. One or more of the foregoing operations may be performed by a utility meter or a utility server computer associated with the utility meter.

Abstract: A method is provided that includes determining, via data processing circuitry, error rate metrics of data transmissions over a constrained application protocol (CoAP) using a first CoAP segment size. The method further includes determining, via the data processing circuitry, a second CoAP segment size for the data transmissions based at least in part upon the error rate metrics.

Abstract: An energy meter system includes an energy meter with metering circuitry that is enabled to collect metrology data relating to energy usage. Communications circuitry in the energy meter is configured to selectively communicate the metrology data to a head end server over an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) network and a home area network (HAN).

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for network intrusion detection are provided. A device configured to facilitate network intrusion detection may include at least one memory and at least one processor. The at least one memory may be configured to store computer-executable instructions. The at least one processor may be configured to access the at least one memory and execute the computer-executable instructions to (i) identify a communication, the communication comprising one of (a) a communication received by the device or (b) a communication generated by the device; (ii) identify a type associated with the communication; (iii) determine, based at least in part upon the identified type, a list of acceptable content for the communication; (iv) analyze, based at least in part upon the determined list, the content of the communication; and (v) determine, based at least in part upon the analysis, whether the content is acceptable content.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for facilitating utility meter communication are provided. One or more communications to be transmitted by a utility meter may be identified by the utility meter. A cost associated with the transmission of the one or more communications may be determined by the utility meter, and a determination may be made as to whether the cost satisfies one or more cost parameters. If it is determined that the cost satisfies the one or more cost parameters, the one or more communications may be transmitted by the utility meter. If, however, it is determined that the cost does not satisfy the one or more cost parameters, the one or more communications may be stored by the utility meter for subsequent transmission.

Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of methods, systems and devices of providing a communications gateway between one or more first networks and a second network. In accordance with one aspect, a method is provided comprising receiving, by a first device, information communicated from one or more first networks, wherein the first device is a low power device; and transmitting, by a second device, at least part of the information over a second network, wherein the second device is a high power device and wherein the first device and the second device receive power from a wired communications system.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, apparatuses, and systems for mirroring instruments. In an embodiment, a plurality of mirror capable devices may report their capability. A mirror capable device may be selected from the plurality of mirror capable devices based on signaling conditions associated with the utility device's power consumption.

Abstract: A method is provided that includes determining, via data processing circuitry, error rate metrics of data transmissions over a constrained application protocol (CoAP) using a first CoAP segment size. The method further includes determining, via the data processing circuitry, a second CoAP segment size for the data transmissions based at least in part upon the error rate metrics.

Abstract: An energy meter system includes an energy meter with metering circuitry that is enabled to collect metrology data relating to energy usage. Communications circuitry in the energy meter is configured to selectively communicate the metrology data to a head end server over an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) network and a home area network (HAN).

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention can provide systems and methods for controlling the load of demand response network devices. According to one embodiment of the invention, a system can be provided. The system can be operable to determine a desired load control configuration for a network of devices, generate a load control message based at least in part on the desired load control configuration, and transmit the load control message to the network of devices.

Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for receiving a load control notification, modifying power supplied to a load, and determining an energy savings based on the modification.