Abstract: A system includes a server, a plurality of end devices, and at least one gathering gateway serving as a relay between the server and the end devices. The server creates at least one group and allocates end devices to each group created; defines, for each group, instances of a group reception window separated by a period so as to occur at deterministic instants; receives uplink frames coming from end devices; for such end device allocated to a group, acknowledges the uplink frames received in a downlink frame transmitted in multicast mode, in such group reception window defined for said group, said downlink frame including a group acknowledgement for all the uplink frames sent by end devices of the group during the period preceding said instance of the group reception window; and, for such end device that is not allocated to a group, acknowledges the uplink frames received in unicast mode.

Abstract: A prediction method for predicting freezing of a liquid flowing in a pipe of a liquid meter includes steps of: acquiring measurements of air temperature in the liquid meter; evaluating an air temperature prediction parameter and then, from the air temperature prediction parameter, evaluating a liquid temperature prediction parameter; using the liquid temperature prediction parameter to estimate a duration-to-freezing between a present instant and an instant at which the liquid risks freezing; and generating an alarm if the duration-to-freezing is less than a predetermined time threshold.

Abstract: A gateway acts as an intermediary between a plurality of smart fluid meters and an information system responsible for collecting metering index readings made by said smart fluid meters. The gateway is connected to the information system by a first communication network, and the gateway is connected to first smart fluid meters from said plurality by means of a second long-range radio communication network, said first smart fluid meters being able to act as relays for second smart fluid meters by means of a third short-range radio communication network. The gateway selects one or more first smart fluid meters as relays, according to the battery charge levels obtained, and configures the second communication network accordingly.

Abstract: A measurement method for measuring the temperature of water in a meter includes the steps of: causing an emitter transducer of the meter to emit an ultrasonic measurement signal, and acquiring an electrical measurement signal produced by a receiver transducer of the meter; measuring a speed of the ultrasonic measurement signal in the water and a level of the electrical measurement signal; using the level of the electrical measurement signal to determine whether the temperature of the water is less than or greater than an inflection temperature corresponding to a point of inflection; estimating the temperature of the water from the speed of the ultrasonic measurement signal by using a first formula if the temperature of the water is less than the inflection temperature, and by using a second formula if the temperature of the water is greater than the inflection temperature.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method, for a long range wide-area communication network comprising at least one electronic device and an application server, for the acknowledgement of a frame exchanged, the method being executed by the electronic device and comprising the steps of: sending a first frame to the application server, the first frame comprising data, determining a first integrity code according to the data in the first frame, receiving a second so-called acknowledgement frame from the application server, the acknowledgement frame comprising a second integrity code, if the first integrity code determined by the electronic device and the second integrity code are equal, then validating the acknowledgement by the application server of the first frame sent by the electronic device.

Abstract: A system includes a server, a plurality of end devices, and at least one gathering gateway serving as a relay between the server and the end devices. The server creates at least one group and allocates end devices to each group created; defines, for each group, instances of a group reception window separated by a period so as to occur at deterministic instants; receives uplink frames coming from end devices; for such end device allocated to a group, acknowledges the uplink frames received in a downlink frame transmitted in multicast mode, in such group reception window defined for said group, said downlink frame including a group acknowledgement for all the uplink frames sent by end devices of the group during the period preceding said instance of the group reception window; and, for such end device that is not allocated to a group, acknowledges the uplink frames received in unicast mode.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method, for a long range wide-area communication network comprising at least one electronic device and an application server, for the acknowledgement of a frame exchanged, the method being executed by the electronic device and comprising the steps of: sending a first frame to the application server, the first frame comprising data, determining a first integrity code according to the data in the first frame, receiving a second so-called acknowledgement frame from the application server, the acknowledgement frame comprising a second integrity code, if the first integrity code determined by the electronic device and the second integrity code are equal, then validating the acknowledgement by the application server of the first frame sent by the electronic device.