Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130162399 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATION BETWEEN RFID INTERROGATORS - One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for efficiently interconnecting RFID interrogator elements. Each interrogator element is configured to function as both an RFID interrogator and an RFID tag. The RFID interrogator function enables one interrogator element to perform a read or write data operation to a second interrogator element functioning as an RFID tag. Two-way communications between interrogator elements is facilitated by read and write operations. A data backhaul network may be advantageously implemented as a wireless mesh network, comprising a plurality of interrogator elements, to transmit data from each interrogator element to a server for processing. | 06-27-2013 |
20130163449 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPTIMAL LISTEN BEFORE TRANSMIT IN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS - One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for transmitting data in a listen before talk (LBT) wireless transmission regime. A digital radio receiver is configured to simultaneously receive and decode digital data transmissions from multiple radio channels. A digital radio transmitter is configured to listen to the multiple radio channels prior to transmitting digital data on a selected one of the multiple channels, based on locally determined channel occupancy. Optimal LBT efficiency is achieved within the set of multiple channels, thereby improving overall transmission efficiency between the transmitter and the receiver. | 06-27-2013 |
20130165104 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTEGRATED METROLOGY WITHIN A FEMTOCELL ACCESS POINT - One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a hybrid femtocell device comprising a femtocell access point and a metrology device, such as a commercial power meter. Each hybrid femtocell device is configured to connect to a backhaul network either via a local network connection or via a neighboring hybrid femtocell. A hybrid femtocell device may be advantageously installed in place of a conventional power meter to operate as both a conventional femtocell access point providing cellular coverage for a targeted location, as well as a smart power meter. | 06-27-2013 |
20130170335 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONVERGENCE AND AUTOMATIC DISABLING OF ACCESS POINTS IN A WIRELESS MESH NETWORK - One embodiment of the present disclosure sets forth a technique for convergence and automatic disabling of access points in a wireless mesh network. Specifically, an access point within a wireless mesh network computes one or more network metrics to determine whether the metrics are unfavorable or favorable. If the network metrics are favorable, then the access point disables the access point's network connection. An access point turns the network connection back on based on whether a routing was lost for at least a preset amount of time, utilization of one or more neighboring access points is above a preset value, or one or more network metrics have degraded by a certain percentage value. One advantage of this approach is that cost savings may be achieved when the number of access points dynamically changes to accommodate varying communications conditions. | 07-04-2013 |
20130188574 | TRANSCEIVER HOPPING COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM - One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a wireless communications system configured to efficiently operate within an arbitrarily and uniquely defined set of channels. Each one of the set of channels has an assigned digital radio transceiver instance configured to operate according to transmission requirements that are unique to the corresponding channel. A set of digital radio transceiver instances comprises a meta-transceiver, which enables communications to one or more other devices via one or more digital radio transceiver instances. | 07-25-2013 |
20130223351 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MULTI-CHANNEL FREQUENCY HOPPING SPREAD SPECTRUM COMMUNICATION - One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for transmitting data in a frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) wireless communication system. A multi-channel receiver is configured to receive data from one or more channels simultaneously. The multi-channel receiver enables efficient implementation of a transmission protocol in which multiple candidate nodes within a wireless mesh network are polled for availability to receive a packet of data. The packet of data is transmitted to one or more available nodes based on prevailing link conditions, thereby increasing the likelihood of successful delivery. Data flooding may be selectively implemented to further increase the likelihood of successful delivery. | 08-29-2013 |
20130223481 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MULTI-CHANNEL FREQUENCY HOPPING SPREAD SPECTRUM COMMUNICATION - One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for transmitting data in a frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) wireless communication system. A multi-channel receiver is configured to receive data from one or more channels simultaneously. The multi-channel receiver enables efficient implementation of a transmission protocol in which multiple candidate nodes within a wireless mesh network are polled for availability to receive a packet of data. The packet of data is transmitted to one or more available nodes based on prevailing link conditions, thereby increasing the likelihood of successful delivery. Data flooding may be selectively implemented to further increase the likelihood of successful delivery. | 08-29-2013 |
20140012524 | POWER GRID TOPOLOGY DISCOVERY VIA TIME CORRELATION OF PASSIVE MEASUREMENT EVENTS - A wireless mesh network is configured to manage a power grid. Each node within the wireless mesh network is configured to detect and classify voltage fluctuations in power supplied by an upstream transformer coupled to the power grid. When a given node detects a particular type of fluctuation (i.e., an “event”), the node generates a timestamped event classification that reflects the type of event and a time when the event occurred. A server configured to manage the wireless mesh network receives timestamped event classifications from each node within the wireless mesh network and then performs a time correlation with the received timestamped event classifications to determine which nodes detected similar events. When two or more nodes detected the same event at similar times, the server determines that those nodes are coupled to the same transformer. | 01-09-2014 |
20140067330 | DUAL MODE SMART GRID METER - One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a dual mode smart grid meter configured to operate within both an automatic meter reading (AMR) system and an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) system. An AMR transmitter periodically transmits metrology data for interoperation with AMR reading operations. An AMI transceiver responds to AMI queries and commands for interoperation with AMI requirements. The disclosed dual mode smart grid meter beneficially enables utility operators to deploy or upgrade metering devices within an existing AMR network without disruption meter reading operations, while simultaneously preparing for an overall upgrade to reading operations based on AMI protocols. | 03-06-2014 |
20140369270 | CONFIGURING A NETWORK OF DEVICES TO OPERATE WITHIN A TELEVISION WHITESPACE SPECTRUM - Nodes within a network are configured to communicate with one another on one or more television white space (TVWS) frequencies that may be subject to interference caused by nearby TV towers. In order to mitigate that interference, the nodes may be configured to communicate according to specific operating parameters. The operating parameters may be generated based on expected interference levels caused by the nearby TV towers or QOS metrics associated with available channels. The nodes may also update a private database to reflect the expected interference levels or measured QOS metrics for different channels. | 12-18-2014 |
20150029954 | TECHNIQUES FOR ROUTING FROM AN ENDPOINT WITH SIMULTANEOUS ASSOCIATIONS TO MULTIPLE NETWORKS - A node within a wireless endpoint device may be coupled to multiple heterogeneous networks simultaneously. The node is configured to select between the different networks based on various constraints associated with the endpoint device, applications executing on the endpoint device, traffic routed by the endpoint device, and constraints associated with the multiple networks. Based on these different constraints, and based on the current operating mode of the node, the node rates each network, and then selects the network with the highest rating to be used for routing purposes. | 01-29-2015 |