US 2008/0186203 A1 · Method and system for packet transit through IPV4 networks connecting IPV6 nodes and LANs in a utility grid using tunneling technique

Abstract

One example embodiment provides a method and system where LAN nodes in an IPv6 utility network are able to communicate with an IPv6 node through and IPv4 network. An access point associated with an IPv6 LAN in the utility network establishes an explicit or configured tunnel to an IPv6 node or and IPv6 network through and IPv4 network. In one preferred embodiment the IPv6 node is a back office system communicating through an IPv4 WAN with the IPv6 node in the utility network LAN using the access point in the LAN. The access point communicates with the back office system through the IPv4 WAN to establish a “6 in 4” tunnel through the IPv4 WAN. A tunnel broker may maintain the “6 in 4” tunnel through the IPv4 WAN between the access point and the back office system.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A wireless communication system comprising:

a plurality of utility nodes capable of receiving commodity utilization and status information, the utility nodes connected in an IPv6 utility network;
at least one access point connected to the utility network, the access point providing communication to at least one IPv4 wide area network;
at least one node capable of communicating using IPv6, the at least one node in communication with the access point through the IPv4 wide area network;
and
wherein an IPv6 tunnel is established from the at least one access point to the at least one node through the IPv4 wide area network.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

11/807,184Filed 24 May 2007

Priority

2 Feb 2007

Published

7 Aug 2008

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification39 codes

G01D 4/004
Remote reading of utility meters: remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
G01D 21/00
Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for
G06F 15/17306
Using an interconnection network, e.g. matrix, shuffle, pyramid, star, snowflake: intercommunication techniques
H04L 12/4633
Interconnection of networks: interconnection of networks using encapsulation techniques, e.g. tunneling

Method and system for packet transit through IPV4 networks connecting IPV6 nodes and LANs in a utility grid using tunneling technique

Life of this patent

Method and system for packet transit through IPV4 networks connecting IPV6 nodes and LANs in a utility grid using tunneling technique

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30