公开(公告)号：US20220376805A1

公开(公告)日：2022-11-24

申请号：US17326203

申请日：2021-05-20

Applicant: ITRON, INC.

Inventor： Thomas F. UHLING ,  Keith Wayne BARNES ,  Howard Neal BRACE ,  Imad JAMIL

IPC: H04J3/06

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for communicating within a network. The technique includes receiving, from a first node in the network and at a first receive time, a first periodic beacon that includes a first network time associated with the first node. The technique also includes determining a first transmission time of a first unicast message to the first node based on the first network time and a unicast interval between consecutive unicast listening times on the first node. The technique further includes transmitting the first unicast message to the first node at the first transmission time.

公开(公告)号：US20220353179A1

公开(公告)日：2022-11-03

申请号：US17245544

申请日：2021-04-30

Applicant: ITRON, INC.

Inventor： Thomas F. UHLING ,  Keith Wayne BARNES ,  Howard Neal BRACE ,  Imad JAMIL ,  Fabrice MONIER

IPC: H04L12/753 ,  H04W40/02 ,  H04W40/24 ,  H04W48/16

Abstract: A network system includes a main network implementing a conventional network protocol and a BPD subtree implementing a custom network protocol. The main network comprises a plurality of MPD nodes, the conventional network protocol being configured for MPD nodes. The BPD subtree comprises a plurality of BPD nodes, the custom network protocol being configured for BPD nodes. The custom network protocol defines smaller and simpler subtrees relative to the conventional network protocol. As a result, the custom network protocol defines less complex functions relative to the conventional network protocol, including functions for discovery, messaging, and loop management. A root node of the BPD subtree is connected with an MPD node of the main network and one or more descendant nodes of the BPD subtree. The root node implements the conventional network protocol and the custom network protocol.