Abstract: The present invention is directed to utility service delivery wherein distributed intelligence and networking is used in the optimization of the service delivery. The present invention employs a network of data collection nodes and aggregation nodes located on a power grid controlled by a controlling agency. The data collection nodes comprise Intelligent Communicating Devices (ICDs) and Communicating Devices (CDs), which transmit metrics they collect over the power grid from locations near meters or service transformers to the aggregation nodes. Commands, policies, and program updates may be transmitted from a server at an aggregation node to the ICDs and CDs. The ICDs are also capable of issuing control commands to the CDs and grid management devices, acting locally and/or in conjunction with other ICDs, CDs, aggregation nodes, and central controlling agencies. Through these communications and commands, utility services delivery and utilization is optimized.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for synchronizing edge devices on a network, wherein the network has limited bandwidth and does not support a practical carrier sense mechanism. The edge devices transmit, using a slotted protocol, to a server located at a central data aggregation point. The server also controls a Central Transmitter, which sends messages to the edge devices to assign transmission slots and provide timing information to the edge devices to ensure that transmissions sent by devices sharing the same communication channel do not collide.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to utility service delivery wherein distributed intelligence and networking is used in the optimization of the service delivery. The present invention employs a network of data collection nodes and aggregation nodes located on a power grid controlled by a controlling agency. The data collection nodes comprise Intelligent Communicating Devices (ICDs) and Communicating Devices (CDs), which transmit metrics they collect over the power grid from locations near meters or service transformers to the aggregation nodes. Commands, policies, and program updates may be transmitted from a server at an aggregation node to the ICDs and CDs. The ICDs are also capable of issuing control commands to the CDs and grid management devices, acting locally and/or in conjunction with other ICDs, CDs, aggregation nodes, and central controlling agencies. Through these communications and commands, utility services delivery and utilization is optimized.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for synchronizing edge devices on a network, wherein the network has limited bandwidth and does not support a practical carrier sense mechanism. The edge devices transmit, using a slotted protocol, to a server located at a central data aggregation point. The server also controls a Central Transmitter, which sends messages to the edge devices to assign transmission slots and provide timing information to the edge devices to ensure that transmissions sent by devices sharing the same communication channel do not collide.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for synchronizing edge devices on a network, wherein the network has limited bandwidth and does not support a practical carrier sense mechanism. The edge devices transmit, using a slotted protocol, to a server located at a central data aggregation point. The server also controls a Central Transmitter, which sends messages to the edge devices to assign transmission slots and provide timing information to the edge devices to ensure that transmissions sent by devices sharing the same communication channel do not collide.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for synchronizing edge devices on a network, wherein the network has limited bandwidth and does not support a practical carrier sense mechanism. The edge devices transmit, using a slotted protocol, to a server located at a central data aggregation point. The server also controls a Central Transmitter, which sends messages to the edge devices to assign transmission slots and provide timing information to the edge devices to ensure that transmissions sent by devices sharing the same communication channel do not collide.

Abstract: Automated execution of health care protocols in an integrated communications infrastructure is described. In one aspect, a computing device receives data from one or more of the remote computing devices, telecom devices, or executing health care protocols. The computing device then determines if the received data is a health care protocol triggering event. If so, the computing device identifies a standard of health care based protocol expression mapped to the triggering event, and instantiates (i.e., executes or automates) a protocol having the contextual characteristics of the mapped protocol expression and the triggering event. The automated protocol implements a set of actions associated with providing health care to a patient. If the received data is determined not to be a health care protocol triggering event, the computing device dispatches the received data to any executing health care protocol that previously registered to receive such input.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward the resumption of a journaling process in a data management appliance after a period of unavailability. The data management appliance is a random-access storage system that at the logical block level replicates the contents of a primary storage system over time. A small “dirty extent map” is established on the primary storage device. The dirty extent map keeps track of which portions of primary storage are written to while journaling is interrupted. When journaling is resumed, the contents of the dirty extents are compared to the latest replica of the primary storage to identify the differences. These differences are then journaled as if they were write commands. Meanwhile, new write commands are also journaled by the data management appliance. Once the differences of all of the dirty extents have been journaled, the data management appliance may resume normal journaling operation.