# US 9,439,145 B2 · Approach for extended battery life network nodes > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,439,145 B2 - Document ID: US9439145B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/669,413 - Filed: 2012-11-05 - Published: 2014-05-08 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-05 - Assignees: Silver Spring Networks, Inc. - Applicants: Silver Spring Networks, Inc. - Inventors: Jana Van Greunen; William Pugh; Sterling Hughes - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9439145B2 ## CPC - H04W 52/0206: {in access points, e.g. base stations} - H04L 41/0654: using network fault recovery (ring fault isolation or reconfiguration in loop networks without recovery actions by a network management system H04L12/437) - H04W 52/0222: {in packet switched networks} - H04W 84/12: WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks] - 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) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - 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 In an embodiment, triplets of network-enabled FCIs operate to monitor the three phases of a power distribution system. In being network-enabled, the FCIs also operate as nodes of an RF mesh network. In an embodiment, upon the detection of a power failure, the triplet of network FCIs is serially operated so as to extend their networking capabilities by approximately three times. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer-implemented method for increasing the operating time of a collection of battery-backed wireless network nodes, the method comprising: detecting a power outage within a plurality of power lines that power a plurality of nodes; in response to detecting the power outage, selecting a lead node from among the plurality of nodes, wherein each node in the plurality of nodes is configured to access a wireless network, and wherein each node in the plurality of nodes that is not the lead node comprises a non-lead node; transitioning network functionality from the non-lead nodes to the lead node; and placing each non-lead node in a reduced power state for a respective predetermined time. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein each node in the plurality of nodes is incorporated as part of a fault circuit indicator. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting the lead node responsive to battery status of the plurality of nodes. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising, for each of the plurality of nodes, transmitting a lead status message responsive to a battery status, wherein the lead node is selected as a first node to transmit the lead status message. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the respective predetermined time responsive to the battery status of the lead node. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising waking up a first non-lead node; obtaining a second status of the lead node; and determining whether the lead node should maintain its networking functionality. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, further comprising placing the first non-lead node in a reduced power state for a second predetermined time based on the second status of the lead node when the lead node is determined to maintain its networking functionality. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, further comprising transitioning network functionality from the lead node to the first non-lead node when the lead node is determined to not maintain its networking functionality. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising powering down the lead node after network functionality has been transitioned to the first non-lead node. ### Claim 10 A non-transitory computer-readable medium including instructions that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to manage a collection of battery-backed wireless network nodes, by performing the steps of: detecting a power outage within a plurality of power lines that power a plurality of nodes; in response to detecting the power outage, selecting a lead node from among the plurality of nodes, wherein each node in the plurality of nodes is configured to access a wireless network, and wherein each node in the plurality of nodes that is not the lead node comprises a non-lead node; transitioning network functionality from the non-lead nodes to the lead node; and placing each non-lead node in a reduced power state for a respective predetermined time. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein each node in the plurality of nodes is incorporated as part of a fault circuit indicator. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The non-transitory computer-readable, medium of claim 10, further comprising the step of selecting the lead node responsive to battery status of the plurality of nodes. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, further comprising the step of, for each of the plurality of nodes, transmitting a lead status message responsive to a battery status, wherein the lead node is selected as a first node to transmit the lead status message. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, further comprising the step of determining the respective predetermined time responsive to the battery status of the lead node. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, further comprising the steps of waking up a first non-lead node; obtaining a second status of the lead node; and determining whether the lead node should maintain its networking functionality. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, further comprising the step of placing the first non-lead node in a reduced power state for a second predetermined time based on the second status of the lead node when the lead node is determined to maintain its networking functionality. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, further comprising the step of transitioning network functionality from the lead node to the first non-lead node when the lead node is determined to not maintain its networking functionality. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, further comprising the step of powering down the lead node after network functionality has been transitioned to the first non-lead node. ### Claim 19 A wireless network device, comprising: a transceiver circuit configured to generate a radio signal based on a carrier signal and configured to receive a radio signal based on a carrier signal; and a processor that is coupled to the transceiver circuit and configured to: detect a power outage within a plurality of power lines that power a plurality of nodes; in response to detecting the power outage, select a lead node from among the plurality of nodes, wherein each node in the plurality of nodes is configured to access a wireless network, and wherein each node in the plurality of nodes that is not the lead node comprises a non-lead node; transition network functionality from the non-lead nodes to the lead node; and place each non-lead node in a reduced power state for a respective predetermined time.