Abstract: Technologies are described herein for time-synchronizing multiple remote network nodes concurrently with time beacons. A hub device in the network, at a preconfigured start time, begins to periodically broadcast time beacons containing current time values retrieved from an accurate time source over a beacon period, while other nodes of the network, at the same preconfigured start time, start listening for time beacons. When a node receives a time beacon broadcast by the hub device, the node sets a real-time clock of the node to the current time value in the received time beacon.

Abstract: Technologies are described herein for time-synchronizing multiple remote network nodes concurrently with time beacons. A hub device in the network, at a preconfigured start time, begins to periodically broadcast time beacons containing current time values retrieved from an accurate time source over a beacon period, while other nodes of the network, at the same preconfigured start time, start listening for time beacons. When a node receives a time beacon broadcast by the hub device, the node sets a real-time clock of the node to the current time value in the received time beacon.

Abstract: Technologies are described herein for time-synchronizing multiple remote network nodes concurrently with time beacons. A hub device in the network, at a preconfigured start time, begins to periodically broadcast time beacons containing current time values retrieved from an accurate time source over a beacon period, while other nodes of the network, at the same preconfigured start time, start listening for time beacons. When a node receives a time beacon broadcast by the hub device, the node sets a real-time clock of the node to the current time value in the received time beacon.

Abstract: Examples of data communication using a private preamble are disclosed. In one example implementation according to aspects of the present disclosure, a data stream is detected. It is then determined whether the received data stream includes a private preamble known to the computing node. If it is determined that the data stream includes a private preamble known to the computing node, a targeted data stream intended for the computing node is received by the computing node.

Abstract: Systems and methods for communicating with a radio frequency (RF) device are disclosed herein. In particular, a method of recovering an out-of-service node comprises sending a hailing message on a plurality of hailing channels from a second node to the out-of-service node, the second node being in direct wireless communication with the out-of-service node, and sending a synchronization request message from the second node to the out-of-service node on a first data channel.

Abstract: Technologies are described herein for time-synchronizing multiple remote network nodes concurrently with time beacons. A hub device in the network, at a preconfigured start time, begins to periodically broadcast time beacons containing current time values retrieved from an accurate time source over a beacon period, while other nodes of the network, at the same preconfigured start time, start listening for time beacons. When a node receives a time beacon broadcast by the hub device, the node sets a real-time clock of the node to the current time value in the received time beacon.

Abstract: Technologies are described herein for dynamically determining and assigning parent nodes and routes for nodes in a mesh network. A host sends a command message to one or more nodes of the mesh network. The command message is configured to cause the nodes to collect communication parameters regarding neighboring nodes and to upload neighbor lists containing the communication parameters regarding the neighboring nodes to the host. The host then calculates a link score for the pairs of neighboring nodes in the mesh network based on the communication parameters in the uploaded neighbor lists and assigns one or more parent nodes to at least one of the nodes based on the calculated link scores. The host then sends a command message to the node causing the node to reconfigure based on the command message and begin communicating through the newly assigned one or more parent nodes.

Abstract: Examples of data communication using a private preamble are disclosed. In one example implementation according to aspects of the present disclosure, a data stream is detected. It is then determined whether the received data stream includes a private preamble known to the computing node. If it is determined that the data stream includes a private preamble known to the computing node, a targeted data stream intended for the computing node is received by the computing node.

Abstract: Systems and methods for communicating data within mesh networks are provided. According to one implementation, a data communication node comprises a radio frequency (RF) driver configured to transmit RF signals to and receive RF signals from a remote device via an antenna. The node further comprises a timing device configured to establish a plurality of sequential time periods having start times and end times in synchronization with corresponding time periods of the remote device. The node also includes a memory device configured to store a frequency channel table listing a predetermined sequence of channels, the table also being stored in the remote device. Furthermore, the node comprises a transmitting module configured to forward information related to a data packet to the RF driver for transmission over a channel of the predetermined sequence of channels to the remote device during a first of the plurality of sequential time periods.

Abstract: Technologies are described herein for dynamically determining and assigning parent nodes and routes for nodes in a mesh network. A host sends a command message to one or more nodes of the mesh network. The command message is configured to cause the nodes to collect communication parameters regarding neighboring nodes and to upload neighbor lists containing the communication parameters regarding the neighboring nodes to the host. The host then calculates a link score for the pairs of neighboring nodes in the mesh network based on the communication parameters in the uploaded neighbor lists and assigns one or more parent nodes to at least one of the nodes based on the calculated link scores. The host then sends a command message to the node causing the node to reconfigure based on the command message and begin communicating through the newly assigned one or more parent nodes.

Abstract: Systems and methods for distributing a firmware upgrade within a mesh network are provided. In one implementation, a firmware upgrade distributing system comprises a utility provider, which is configured to provide utility services to a plurality of customers, a plurality of meters, and a plurality of nodes. Each meter is configured to measure utility usage data of a respective customer. The nodes are configured to transmit the utility usage data from the plurality of meters to the utility provider. When at least one of the meters is scheduled to receive a firmware upgrade, the utility provider is configured to forward the firmware upgrade to at least one of the plurality of nodes. The at least one node is configured to receive and store the firmware upgrade and, after storing the firmware upgrade, is further configured to forward the firmware upgrade to at least one of the plurality of meters.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for communicating with a radio frequency (RF) device. An exemplary method includes: listening, by the collector node, during a first listening period, for a hailing signal from a plurality of RF devices on a hailing channel, the hailing signal including identification of a specified data channel; in response to receiving the hailing signal from one of the plurality of RF devices, switching to the specified data channel and receiving data, by the collector node, on the specified data channel; collecting, by the collector node, during a collecting period, data from the plurality of RF devices; receiving, by the collector node, the data from at least one of the plurality of RF devices; and listening, during a second listening period, for an alert notification, wherein the first listening period and the collecting period occur at different times.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for communicating with a radio frequency (RF) device. An exemplary method includes: listening, by the collector node, during a listening period, for a hailing signal from a plurality of RF devices on a hailing channel, the hailing signal including identification of a specified data channel; in response to receiving the hailing signal from one of the plurality of RF devices, switching to the specified data channel and receiving data, by the collector node, on the specified data channel; collecting, by the collector node, during a collecting period, data from the plurality of RF devices; and receiving, by the collector node, the data from at least one of the plurality of RF devices, wherein the listening period and the collecting period occur at different times.

Abstract: Systems and methods for communicating with a radio frequency (RF) device are disclosed herein. In particular, a method of recovering an out-of-service node comprises sending a hailing message on a plurality of hailing channels from a second node to the out-of-service node, the second node being in direct wireless communication with the out-of-service node, and sending a synchronization request message from the second node to the out-of-service node on a first data channel.

Abstract: Systems and methods for communicating with a radio frequency (RF) device are disclosed herein. In particular, a method of the present disclosure includes: listening for a first hailing signal to be received on at least one hailing channel selected from a plurality of hailing channels, selecting at least one hailing channel based upon a system time and a node identification; determining a noise floor for the at least one hailing channel; and upon receiving a noise signal on the at least one hailing channel, adjusting the noise floor in response to the noise signal.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for communicating with a radio frequency (RF) device. An exemplary method includes: sending to the RF device a hailing signal based on a system time; and sending to the RF device a data message.

Abstract: Systems and methods for distributing a firmware upgrade within a mesh network are provided. In one implementation, a firmware upgrade distributing system comprises a utility provider, which is configured to provide utility services to a plurality of customers, a plurality of meters, and a plurality of nodes. Each meter is configured to measure utility usage data of a respective customer. The nodes are configured to transmit the utility usage data from the plurality of meters to the utility provider. When at least one of the meters is scheduled to receive a firmware upgrade, the utility provider is configured to forward the firmware upgrade to at least one of the plurality of nodes. The at least one node is configured to receive and store the firmware upgrade and, after storing the firmware upgrade, is further configured to forward the firmware upgrade to at least one of the plurality of meters.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for communicating with a radio frequency (RF) device. An exemplary method includes: listening, by the collector node, during a first listening period, for a hailing signal from a plurality of RF devices on a hailing channel, the hailing signal including identification of a specified data channel; in response to receiving the hailing signal from one of the plurality of RF devices, switching to the specified data channel and receiving data, by the collector node, on the specified data channel; collecting, by the collector node, during a collecting period, data from the plurality of RF devices; receiving, by the collector node, the data from at least one of the plurality of RF devices; and listening, during a second listening period, for an alert notification, wherein the first listening period and the collecting period occur at different times.

Abstract: Systems and methods for communicating data within mesh networks are provided. According to one implementation, a data communication node comprises a radio frequency (RF) driver configured to transmit RF signals to and receive RF signals from a remote device via an antenna. The node further comprises a timing device configured to establish a plurality of sequential time periods having start times and end times in synchronization with corresponding time periods of the remote device. The node also includes a memory device configured to store a frequency channel table listing a predetermined sequence of channels, the table also being stored in the remote device. Furthermore, the node comprises a transmitting module configured to forward information related to a data packet to the RF driver for transmission over a channel of the predetermined sequence of channels to the remote device during a first of the plurality of sequential time periods.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for communicating with a radio frequency (RF) device. An exemplary method includes: listening, by the collector node, during a listening period, for a hailing signal from a plurality of RF devices on a hailing channel, the hailing signal including identification of a specified data channel; in response to receiving the hailing signal from one of the plurality of RF devices, switching to the specified data channel and receiving data, by the collector node, on the specified data channel; collecting, by the collector node, during a collecting period, data from the plurality of RF devices; and receiving, by the collector node, the data from at least one of the plurality of RF devices, wherein the listening period and the collecting period occur at different times.