| abstract |
The present technology relates to protocols relative to utility meters associated with an open operational framework. More particularly, the present subject matter relates to protocol subject matter for advanced metering infrastructure, adaptable to various international standards, while economically supporting a 2-way mesh network solution in a wireless 5 environment, such as for operating in a residential electricity meter field. The present subject matter supports meters within an ANSI standard Cl2.22/Cl2.19 system while economically supporting a 2-way mesh network solution in a wireless environment, such as for operating in a residential electricity meter field, all to permit cell-based adaptive insertion of Cl2.22 meters within an open framework. Cell isolation is provided through quasi-orthogonal sequences in a 0 frequency hopping network. Additional features relate to real time clock distribution and recovery, uplink routing without requiring a routing table, and the handling of Beacon Requests and Registered State bit resolving to avoid circular routes. Features relating to cell or node utilization or management in a mesh network include cell size management, Number-of sons' management, crystal drift compensation in a mesh network, broadcast acknowledgement 5 features, and Traffic Load Control in a Mesh Network Other features relate to Embedded RF environmental evaluation tool features to gauge the performance need of RF transceivers, Downlink routing mechanisms, Outage notification system features, the use of minimal propagation delay path to optimize a mesh network, and operation at the node level of a Discovery Phase in a frequency hopping network. WO 2008/033514 PCT/US2007/020022 LUj z -J <C,14 I- rC-) C cJo e n)_ C-)J - |