# US 11,910,293 B2 · Optimized multicast messaging in LPWA networks > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,910,293 B2 - Document ID: US11910293B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/882,977 - Filed: 2022-08-08 - Published: 2022-12-08 - Granted: 2024-02-20 - Earliest claimed: 2021-01-08 - Assignees: Charter Communications Operating, LLC - Applicants: Charter Communications Operating, LLC - Inventors: Umamaheswar A. Kakinada; Hossam Hmimy - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11910293B2 ## CPC - H04W 40/026: {Route selection considering the moving speed of individual devices} - H04W 40/125: {using a measured number of retransmissions as a link metric} - H04W 40/34: Modification of an existing route - H04W 72/21: in the uplink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards the network - Y02D 30/70: in wireless communication networks - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE ## Abstract Various embodiments comprise systems, methods, architectures, mechanisms and apparatus for optimizing the delivery of multicast messages to a set of targeted (receiver) devices via a low power wide area (LPWA) network such as by minimizing a number of gateway devices in a set of gateway devices needed to reach the target devices, by optimizing the use of radio communication resources to minimize costs associated with using metered backhaul network services (e.g., costs associated with using cellular network backhaul services), by maximizing the resiliency, speed, or synchronization of the set of gateway devices, by favoring operator-owned resources, or by achieving other goals consistent with operator policies, preferences and other considerations. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for routing a multicast message from a network server toward a plurality of target devices configured to communicate with a low power wide area (LPWA) network comprising a plurality of gateways, the method comprising: determining, for a multicast message to be routed toward the target devices via the LPWA network, a plurality of multicast paths wherein each multicast path comprises a respective set of gateways configured to reach all target devices; determining, for each respective set of gateways forming a multicast path, a composite weighted metric (CWM) in accordance with a plurality of selection factors, wherein each selection factor is weighted in accordance with an operator policy; selecting a multicast path comprising a set of gateways P having a lowest CWM; and transmitting the multicast message toward only the gateways included in the selected set of gateways P. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of selection factors for each gateway comprises at least one of a number of target devices reachable only through the gateway, and a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) of target devices proximate the gateway. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of selection factors for each gateway comprises a backhaul message delivery cost of the gateway. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the RSSI of target devices proximate the gateway comprises a measured RSSI values received in uplink message from target devices. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the RSSI of target devices proximate the gateway comprise calculated RSSI values based on proximity of gateway and target devices. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of selection factors for each gateway further comprises at least one of a number of target devices reachable by the gateway, a gateway radio frequency (RF) usage cost, and a gateway messaging load cost. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of selection factors for each gateway further comprises at least one of a current gateway utilization level cost, and a predicted gateway utilization level. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of selection factors for each gateway further comprises at least one of a gateway application type suitability, a gateway application priority suitability, a gateway reliability suitability, a gateway security suitability, and a gateway performance suitability. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of selection factors for each gateway further comprise at least one of a gateway usage unavailability cost, and a gateway conformance with operator policies/preferences. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: selecting a second multicast path comprising a set of gateways P2 having a second lowest CWM; and said transmitting comprises transmitting the multicast message toward the gateways included in each of the two selected sets of gateways P and P2. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein for each multicast session a selected set of gateways numbered among all reachable gateways is determined in accordance with the following equation, where Fi is a value of a factor i, Wi is a weight given to a factor i, GWk is a favorability/cost metric of a gateway k, and p is a subset of gateways among all reachable gateways which can be used to reach all target end devices: ∑ k = 1 k = p ∑ i = 1 i = n G ⁢ W ⁢ k * ( Fi × Wi ) . ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the weight Wi given to each factor Fi is selected to provide a CWM for determining a set of gateways P configured to provide a low cost multicast tree. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the weight Wi given to each factor Fi is selected to provide a CWM for determining a set of gateways P configured to provide one of a high speed multicast tree and a high reliability multicast tree. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: selecting a second multicast path comprising a set of gateways P2 having a second lowest CWM; and said transmitting comprises transmitting the multicast message toward the gateways included in each of the two selected sets of gateways P and P2. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the weight Wi given to each factor Fi is selected to provide a CWM for determining sets of gateways P and P2 configured to provide one of low cost multicast trees and high reliability multicast trees. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the weight Wi given to each factor Fi is selected to provide a CWM for determining a set of gateways P configured to provide a high reliability multicast tree, and a CWM for determining a set of second gateways P2 configured to provide a high reliability multicast tree. ### Claim 17 A system for determining multicast routes for messages from a network server toward a plurality of target devices configured to communicate with a low power wide area (LPWA) network comprising a plurality of gateways, the system comprising: a network manager, operably coupled to the network server and configured for: determining, for a multicast message to be routed toward the target devices via the LPWA network, a plurality of multicast paths wherein each multicast path comprises a respective set of gateways configured to reach all target devices; determining, for each respective set of gateways forming a multicast path, a composite weighted metric (CWM) in accordance with a plurality of selection factors, wherein each selection factor is weighted in accordance with an operator policy; selecting a multicast path comprising a set of gateways P having a lowest CWM; and transmitting the multicast message toward only the gateways included in the selected set of gateways P. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the plurality of selection factors for each gateway comprises at least one a number of target devices reachable only through the gateway, a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) of target devices proximate the gateway, and a backhaul message delivery cost of the gateway. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the RSSI of target devices proximate the gateway comprises at least one of measured RSSI values received in uplink message from target devices and calculated RSSI values based on proximity of gateway and target devices. ### Claim 20 A tangible and non-transient computer readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by a computer, adapt the operation of the computer to provide a method for routing multicast messages from a network server toward a plurality of target devices configured to communicate with a low power wide area (LPWA) network comprising a plurality of gateways, the method comprising: determining, for a multicast message to be routed toward the target devices via the LPWA network, a plurality of multicast paths wherein each multicast path comprises a respective set of gateways configured to reach all target devices; determining, for each respective set of gateways forming a multicast path, a composite weighted metric (CWM) in accordance with a plurality of selection factors, wherein each selection factor is weighted in accordance with an operator policy; selecting a multicast path comprising a set of gateways P having a lowest CWM; and transmitting the multicast message toward only the gateways included in the selected set of gateways P.