# US 2008/0186202 A1 · Method and system of providing IP-based packet communications with in-premisis devices in a utility network

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- Number: US 2008/0186202 A1
- Document ID: US20080186202A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 11/807,176
- Filed: 2007-05-24
- Published: 2008-08-07
- Earliest claimed: 2007-02-02
- Assignees: Silver Spring Networks, Inc.
- Inventors: Raj Vaswani; George Flammer; James Pace
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080186202A1

## CPC

- G01D 4/004: {Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location}
- G01D 21/00: Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for
- G06F 15/17306: {Intercommunication techniques}
- H04L 12/4633: {Interconnection of networks using encapsulation techniques, e.g. tunneling}
- H04L 45/28: using route fault recovery
- H04L 45/741: Routing in networks with a plurality of addressing schemes, e.g. with both IPv4 and IPv6
- H04L 61/10: of different types
- H04L 61/251: between different IP versions
- H04L 61/2514: between local and global IP addresses
- H04L 61/4511: using domain name system [DNS]
- H04L 61/5007: Internet protocol [IP] addresses
- H04L 61/5038: for local use, e.g. in LAN or USB networks, or in a controller area network [CAN]
- H04L 61/5061: Pools of addresses
- H04L 69/14: Multichannel or multilink protocols
- H04L 69/16: Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
- H04L 69/167: Adaptation for transition between two IP versions, e.g. between IPv4 and IPv6 (translation of Internet protocol [IP] addresses H04L61/2503)
- H04W 60/04: using triggered events
- H04W 80/04: Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
- H04L 67/125: involving control of end-device applications over a network
- H04L 2101/659: Internet protocol version 6 [IPv6] addresses
- H04W 4/33: for indoor environments, e.g. buildings
- H04W 8/26: Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
- H04W 48/08: Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery (signalling during connection H04W76/00)
- H04W 84/12: WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
- H04W 84/18: Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
- H04W 88/005: {Data network PoA devices}
- H04W 88/08: Access point devices
- H04W 92/02: Inter-networking arrangements
- Y02B 90/20: Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector (smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00)
- Y02D 30/50: in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate
- Y04S 20/30: Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading
- Y04S 40/18: Network protocols supporting networked applications, e.g. including control of end-device applications over a network
- G01D: MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)
- Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
- 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
- Y04S: SYSTEMS INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO POWER NETWORK OPERATION, COMMUNICATION OR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVING THE ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION, MANAGEMENT OR USAGE, i.e. SMART GRIDS

## Abstract

One example embodiment provides a method and system where a node in a utility network assigns an IP network address to an in-premise device which communicates to the utility node over an in-premise network which is not IP based. The utility node proxies the assigned IP address to the utility network, allowing other nodes on the utility network to address and communicate with the in-premise device.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A wireless communication system comprising:
a plurality of utility nodes capable of receiving commodity meter information, the utility nodes connected in a utility network, the utility nodes including an in-premise interface;
wherein the in premise interface of the utility node associates a network address with an in-premise device communicating over an in-premise network.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The wireless network system of claim 1, wherein the in-premise network is WPAN network.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The wireless network system of claim 2, wherein the in-premise WPAN network uses the ZigBee communications protocol.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The wireless network system of claim 2, wherein the in-premise WPAN network uses the UWB communications protocol.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The wireless network system of claim 1, wherein the in-premise network is a PLC communications network.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The wireless network system of claim 1, wherein the in-premise network may use both the UWB communications protocol and a PLC communications network.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The wireless network system of claim 1, wherein the in-premise network may use both the ZigBee communications protocol and a PLC communications network.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The wireless network system of claim 1, wherein the associated network address is an IPv6 network address.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The wireless network system of claim 1, wherein the associated network address is an IPv4 network address.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The wireless network system of claim 1, wherein the in premise network may use IP protocols.

### Claim 11 (depends on 2)

The wireless network system of claim 2, wherein the WPAN network may use IP protocols.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The wireless network system of claim 1, wherein the utility node proxies the associated network address to the utility network.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The wireless network system of claim 1, wherein the utility node forwards IPv6 data packets to a back office system in response to data received from an in premise device through the in premise interface.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The wireless network system of claim 1, wherein the utility node forwards IPv4 data packets to a back office system in response to data received from an in premise device through the in premise interface.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The wireless network of claim 12, wherein at least one back office system in communication with the utility network receives the associated network address proxied by the utility node and sends at least one message to the in-premise device using the associated network address.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The wireless network system of claim 1, wherein the utility node associates a unique network addresses to each of a plurality of in-premise devices.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The wireless network system of claim 1, wherein the associated unique network addresses are globally routable.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The wireless network system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of in-premise devices is physically located at a neighboring premise.

### Claim 19

A method of communicating on a wireless utility network, comprising:
receiving an indication of the existence of at least one in-premise device over a non-IP based communications network;
associating a network address with the in-premise device; and
sending an indication of the association of the network address with the in-premise device to at least one other node in the utility network.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the at least one other node in the utility network is an access point.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the associated network address is an IPv6 address.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, wherein the non-IP based communications network is a WPAN network.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The method of claim 22, wherein the WPAN network uses a communication protocol chosen from: UWB communications protocol, ZigBee communications protocol.

### Claim 24 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, further comprising:
receiving an indication of the existence of a second in-premise device over a non-IP based communications network;
associating a second network address with the second in-premise device; and
sending an indication of the association of the second network address with the second in-premise device to at least one other node in the utility network.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The method of claim 24, further comprising:
receiving a message from at least one of the in-premise devices intended for a node on the utility network, wherein the received message was received from non-IP based communications network;
sending at least one packet on the utility network addressed to the intended node on the utility network, wherein the at least one packet sent includes the associated network address of the at least one of the in-premise device associated with the received message.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The method of claim 25, wherein the intended node on the utility network is an access point, the access point forwarding the packet to node on a communication network the access point is in communication with.