Abstract: Systems and methods for charging vehicles includes at least one mobile device and a utility network management center (“NMC”). The at least one mobile device is configured as an electronic utility device and includes a network interface card (“NIC”). The at least one mobile device is also associated with a utility billing account and at least one utility commodity meter. The utility NMC is configured to communicate with the at least one mobile device and the at least one utility commodity meter over a network, locate the at least one mobile device, and monitor a state of the at least one utility commodity meter. The utility NMC is also configured to determine a usage of a commodity based on the state of the at least one utility commodity meter and bill the utility billing account associated with the mobile device for the usage of the commodity.

Abstract: Systems and methods for charging vehicles. In some embodiments, a system includes at least one mobile device and a utility network management center (“NMC”). The at least one mobile device is configured as an electronic utility device and includes a network interface card (“NIC”). The at least one mobile device is also associated with a utility billing account and at least one utility commodity meter. The utility NMC is configured to communicate with the at least one mobile device and the at least one utility commodity meter over a network, locate the at least one mobile device, and monitor a state of the at least one utility commodity meter. The utility NMC is also configured to determine a usage of a commodity based on the state of the at least one utility commodity meter, and bill the utility billing account associated with the mobile device for the usage of the commodity.

Abstract: A wireless mesh network is configured to implement a latency-sensitive communication protocol in order to facilitate data communications between devices coupled to that network and configured to communicate with one another based on that protocol. Specifically, a node within the wireless mesh network receives a continuous stream of data that includes an N-bit sequence from an upstream device coupled to the wireless mesh network. The node transmits the N-bit sequence to a downstream node within the wireless mesh network. The downstream node re-creates the continuous stream of bits based on the received N-bit sequence, and then transmits the re-created continuous stream of bits to another device coupled to the wireless mesh network. By operating in conjunction with one another, the nodes within the wireless mesh network facilitate communication between the devices coupled to wireless mesh network according to the latency-sensitive communication protocol.

Abstract: A wireless mesh network is configured to implement a latency-sensitive communication protocol in order to facilitate data communications between devices coupled to that network and configured to communicate with one another based on that protocol. Specifically, a node within the wireless mesh network receives a continuous stream of data that includes an N-bit sequence from an upstream device coupled to the wireless mesh network. The node transmits the N-bit sequence to a downstream node within the wireless mesh network. The downstream node re-creates the continuous stream of bits based on the received N-bit sequence, and then transmits the re-created continuous stream of bits to another device coupled to the wireless mesh network. By operating in conjunction with one another, the nodes within the wireless mesh network facilitate communication between the devices coupled to wireless mesh network according to the latency-sensitive communication protocol.

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: A computer-implemented system and method for updating an electronic device. One method includes obtaining a binary patch for a binary image being executed by the device, generating a plurality of independent packets based on the binary patch to be applied by the device to the binary image to generate a portion of a patched binary image, wherein the packets are streamed to the device over at least one network. An electronic device executing a binary image is also provided, which includes an input/output interface configured to receive a stream of independent binary patch packets from at least one server that are generated by the server based on a binary patch, and a processor configured to apply each packet to the binary image to generate a portion of a patched binary image and, when the processor has applied each of the packet, replace the binary image with the patched binary image.

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.

Abstract: Systems and methods for charging vehicles. In some embodiments, a system includes at least one mobile device and a utility network management center (“NMC”). The at least one mobile device is configured as an electronic utility device and includes a network interface card (“NIC”). The at least one mobile device is also associated with a utility billing account and at least one utility commodity meter. The utility NMC is configured to communicate with the at least one mobile device and the at least one utility commodity meter over a network, locate the at least one mobile device, and monitor a state of the at least one utility commodity meter. The utility NMC is also configured to determine a usage of a commodity based on the state of the at least one utility commodity meter, and bill the utility billing account associated with the mobile device for the usage of the commodity.

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: 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 node of a first network can be configured to perform congestion control. The non-router node sends a request packet to a node in a second network. The value of a packet-in-flight counter associated with the network is adjusted when the request packet is sent to the second network node and when a response packet is received from the second network node. The non-router node determines whether another request packet can be sent to another network in the internetwork based on a value of the packet-in-flight counter.

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.

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 node of a first network can be configured to perform congestion control. The non-router node sends a request packet to a node in a second network. The value of a packet-in-flight counter associated with the network is adjusted when the request packet is sent to the second network node and when a response packet is received from the second network node. The non-router node determines whether another request packet can be sent to another network in the internetwork based on a value of the packet-in-flight counter.