Patent · US Expired

Grouping mesh clusters

US7321316B2 · kind B2 · utility

57Cited by
22References
42Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 4, 2005
Grant dateJan 22, 2008
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 2, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY04S20/30
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Systems and methods for grouping mesh networks. Mesh networks enable energy data to be transferred from an energy sensing device to a destination device using various networks and reduces the need to install metering stations. Embodiments of the invention join or group mesh networks that otherwise are not able to communicate. The connections between the grouped mesh networks can be passive using directional antennas or passive antennas or active using higher power RF devices, solar repeaters, mobile mesh devices, etc. The energy data is routed in a smart manner, by performing load balancing at gateways, by monitoring the signal to noise ratio of available communication paths, etc. Mesh clusters can also be created to define low power clusters, address blocking clusters, and frequency based clusters. Grouping clusters facilitates the efficient transfer of energy data from an energy sensing device to a energy management station.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.