Abstract: An apparatus includes a smart meter trust center switch. The switch includes a computer processor that is configured to execute a subset of functions of a smart meter in a home area network (HAN). The computer processor is also configured to be coupled to and communicate with the smart meter and an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) and advanced meter reading (AMR) network.

Abstract: Devices, methods, and systems for occupancy detection are described herein. One or more device embodiments include a memory and a processor. The processor is configured to execute executable instructions stored in the memory to determine an interference temperature associated with a number of radio equipped devices located in an area at a point in time, determine a radio tomographic map associated with the area at the point in time, and determine whether the area is occupied at the point in time based on the determined interference temperature and the determined radio tomographic map.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a smart meter trust center switch. The switch includes a computer processor that is configured to execute a subset of functions of a smart meter in a home area network (HAN). The computer processor is also configured to be coupled to and communicate with the smart meter and an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) and advanced meter reading (AMR) network.

Abstract: Managing a home area network is described herein. One method includes receiving operating information associated with a device in a home area network, and determining a profile associated with the device based, at least in part, on the operating information.

Abstract: Devices, methods, and systems for occupancy detection are described herein. One or more device embodiments include a memory and a processor. The processor is configured to execute executable instructions stored in the memory to determine an interference temperature associated with a number of radio equipped devices located in an area at a point in time, determine a radio tomographic map associated with the area at the point in time, and determine whether the area is occupied at the point in time based on the determined interference temperature and the determined radio tomographic map.

Abstract: Protocols for ad-hoc wireless networks (200) that use mediation devices (202–210) to facilitate communication between low power, low duty cycle wireless devices (212–226) are provided. In order to avoid premature battery exhaustion in particular devices, devices operating as mediation devices (202–210) report their communication load to low duty cycle wireless devices (212–226) that are positioned to be able to use the mediation devices (202–210). Based on the information as to communication load received from multiple mediation devices (202–210), and optionally on a virtual hop count that is a predictor of how rapidly the use of a route through a particular mediation device will lead to battery exhaustion, low duty cycle wireless devices (212–226) choose a mediation device (202–210) to use or proportion use of mediation devices (202–210) in order to delay battery exhaustion in the network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for responding to node failures within an ad-hoc network is provided herein. In particular, an ad-hoc network (300) is provided that analyzes a type of network failure, and operates as either a random network or a scale-free network in response to the node failure. The ad-hoc network provided herein will adjust from one topology to another as environmental conditions dictate. Thus, the survivability of a network is increased in the event of either node failures or dedicated attacks.

Abstract: Protocols for ad-hoc wireless networks (200) that use mediation devices (202-210) to facilitate communication between low power, low duty cycle wireless devices (212-226) are provided. In order to avoid premature battery exhaustion in particular devices, devices operating as mediation devices (202-210) report their communication load to low duty cycle wireless devices (212-226) that are positioned to be able to use the mediation devices (202-210). Based on the information as to communication load received from multiple mediation devices (202-210), and optionally on a virtual hop count that is a predictor of how rapidly the use of a route through a particular mediation device will lead to battery exhaustion, low duty cycle wireless devices (212-226) choose a mediation device (202-210) to use or proportion use of mediation devices (202-210) in order to delay battery exhaustion in the network.

Abstract: The invention is a routing method for data in a personal area network. The personal area network includes a plurality of nodes. The method includes receiving a frame at a node, determining whether the node contains a routing table entry for the frame destination, and when the node contains a routing table entry, determining a route for the frame based on a first routing protocol. The method further includes, when the node does not contain a routing table entry for the frame destination, determining whether a route should be discovered for the frame destination, and when a route should not be discovered, determining a route for the frame based on a second routing protocol.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for a spanning tree network. A communication device can connect to a piconet network and the communication device can transmit at least one available piconet identifier prior to receiving a request for the available piconet identifier from a dependent communication device, the available piconet identifier providing a parent piconet coordinator identification for the dependent communication device. A dependent communication device can connect to the piconet network, determine if the communication device can support a dependent piconet, and receive at least one available piconet identifier prior to requesting information regarding establishing a dependent piconet, the available piconet identifier providing parent piconet identification for the communication device for the dependent piconet.

Abstract: In order to discover neighboring nodes (203, 207, 208) within a particular piconet, a first node (206) determines a list of all nodes (205-207) within its piconet (201) and then transmits to each node within the piconet, a message requiring a response. Depending upon which nodes are heard from, a list is formulated by the first node comprising those nodes neighboring the first node. In order for neighboring nodes within other piconets to “discover” the first node, the first node will also scan its environment to determine piconet identifications for other piconets, and then broadcast a “discovery” message having a piconet identification of a neighboring piconet. In a similar manner, the first node will also scan its environment to determine discovery messages transmitted by other nodes, thus determining neighboring nodes outside its piconet.

Abstract: A method for peer-to-peer ranging and discovery of a rigid body existing in a scatternet having piconets and nodes includes the steps of defining a node (12) in a piconet (10) to be a piconet controller (PNC) having controller functions, locating a rigid body seed including the node (12), and discovering a rigid body by sequentially downloading controller functions of the piconet controller (12) to at least one border node. Also provided is a communications node including a receiver for receiving communications from other communications nodes in a communications range (R), a transmitter for sending communications to other communications nodes in the communications range (R), a memory storing at least ranging information and a unique identification for describing the node, and a processor connected to the receiver, to the transmitter, and to the memory, the processor being programmed to carry out the method according to the present invention.