Data broadcasting with a prepare-to-broadcast message

One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a network device, cause the one or more processors to:

• determine a particular data channel, from a plurality of data channels, for broadcasting consumption data, the consumption data associated with consumption of at least one of electricity, water, or gas;
• determine modulation techniques that are commonly available to a plurality of nodes located within a predetermined proximity to the network device, the plurality of nodes belonging to a heterogeneous network of nodes capable of communicating with the network device but having differing sets of modulation techniques available to use;
• determine a modulation technique of the determined commonly available modulation techniques to utilize for broadcasting the consumption data, the determined modulation technique providing a longest communication range from among the determined commonly available modulation techniques;
• broadcast a prepare-to-broadcast message via a control channel, the prepare-to-broadcast message indicating that the consumption data will be broadcast on the particular data channel and using the determined modulation technique;
• switch to the particular data channel;
• broadcast the consumption data via the particular data channel and the determined modulation technique without having received a communication from a neighboring node that indicates an availability of the neighboring node to receive the consumption data;
• and
• switch to the control channel after the consumption data has been broadcast.

A method comprising:

• receiving a message from a neighboring node via a control channel, the message indicating that consumption data will be broadcast via a particular data channel of a plurality of data channels and via a modulation technique determined by the neighboring node, wherein the determined modulation technique is one of a plurality of modulation techniques that are determined to be commonly available to a plurality of nodes located within a predetermined proximity to the neighboring node, the plurality of nodes belonging to a heterogeneous network of nodes capable of communicating with the neighboring node but having differing sets of modulation techniques available to use, wherein the determined modulation technique is further determined to provide a longest communication range from among the determined commonly available modulation techniques, and wherein the consumption data is associated with consumption of at least one of electricity, water, or gas;
• without sending a communication to the neighboring node indicating an availability to receive the consumption data:
• switching to the particular data channel;
• and
• listening for a broadcast of the consumption data from the neighboring node via the particular data channel;
• and
• switching to the control channel after the consumption data has been received or a predetermined time period has expired.

One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

• receive a message from a neighboring node via a control channel, the message indicating that consumption data will be broadcast via a particular data channel of a plurality of data channels and via a modulation technique determined by the neighboring node, wherein the determined modulation technique is one of a plurality of modulation techniques that are determined to be commonly available to a plurality of nodes located within a predetermined proximity to the neighboring node, the plurality of nodes belonging to a heterogeneous network of nodes capable of communicating with the neighboring node but having differing sets of modulation techniques available to use, wherein the determined modulation technique is further determined to provide a longest communication range from among the determined commonly available modulation techniques, and wherein the consumption data is associated with consumption of at least one of electricity, water, or gas;
• without sending a communication to the neighboring node indicating an availability to receive the consumption data:
• switch to the particular data channel;
• and
• listen for a broadcast of the consumption data from the neighboring node via the particular data channel;
• and
• switch to the control channel after the consumption data has been received or a predetermined time period has expired.

A network computing device comprising:

• one or more processors;
• memory communicatively coupled to the one or more processors;
• and
• one or more modules stored in the memory and executable by the one or more processors to perform acts including:
• identifying a particular data channel from a plurality of data channels for broadcasting consumption data, the consumption data associated with consumption of at least one of electricity, water, or gas;
• determining modulation techniques that are commonly available to a plurality of nodes located within a predetermined proximity to the network computing device, the plurality of nodes belonging to a heterogeneous network of nodes capable of communicating with the network computing device but having differing sets of modulation techniques available to use;
• determining a modulation technique of the determined commonly available modulation techniques to utilize for broadcasting the consumption data, the determined modulation technique providing a longest communication range from among the determined commonly available modulation techniques;
• transmitting a message indicating that the consumption data will be broadcast via the particular data channel of the plurality of data channels and the determined modulation technique;
• and
• broadcasting the consumption data via the particular data channel and the determined modulation technique without having received a communication from a neighboring node that indicates an availability of the neighboring node to receive the consumption data.