# US 9,882,812 B2 · Mesh network nodes configured to alleviate congestion in cellular network

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- Number: US 9,882,812 B2
- Document ID: US9882812B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/426,435
- Filed: 2014-09-10
- Published: 2016-09-29
- Granted: 2018-01-30
- Earliest claimed: 2013-09-10
- Assignees: Silver Spring Networks, Inc.
- Applicants: Silver Spring Networks, Inc.
- Inventors: Elad Gottlib; Dorothy Gellert
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9882812B2

## CPC

- H04W 28/0215: {based on user or device properties, e.g. MTC-capable devices (services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC] H04W4/70; wireless resource selection or allocation plan definition based on terminal or device properties H04W72/51)}
- H04L 45/123: {Evaluation of link metrics (techniques for monitoring network metrics H04L43/08)}
- H04L 47/24: Traffic characterised by specific attributes, e.g. priority or QoS
- H04W 4/70: Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
- H04W 8/04: Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
- G01D 2204/45: Utility meters networked together within a single building
- H04W 48/02: Access restriction performed under specific conditions
- H04W 84/04: Large scale networks; Deep hierarchical networks
- 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)
- Y04S 20/30: Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading
- 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)
- 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
- Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
- 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

A plurality of nodes in a first network mitigate data restrictions on access points which are an interface between the first network and a second network. The access points advertise their access parameters to the second network to the nodes. The nodes maintain a list of the advertised access parameters of each access point. The nodes determine whether to transmit data to the second network according to a first transmission mode or a second transmission mode based on the data to be transmitted and the list of access parameters maintained by that node. In the first transmission mode, the node determines to transmit the data to a first access point having a lowest cost with that node. In the second transmission mode, the node determines to transmit the data to a second access point having fewer access restrictions to the second network than the first access point.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system comprising:
a plurality of nodes connected in a first wireless network;
a plurality of access points connected to the first wireless network and to at least one second wireless network distinct from the first wireless network, the plurality of access points each respectively constituting an interface between the first wireless network and the at least one second wireless network, wherein:
each of the access points is configured to advertise its access parameters to the at least one second wireless network to the nodes in the first wireless network, the access parameters including an indication of access restrictions the corresponding access point currently has to the at least one second wireless network, respectively;
each of the nodes is configured to maintain a list of the access parameters of each access point in the first wireless network to the at least one second wireless network based on the advertised access parameters respectively transmitted from the access points;
each of the nodes is configured to determine whether data is to be transmitted to the second wireless network according to one of a first transmission mode and a second transmission mode based on the data to be transmitted, a priority of a payload of the data to be transmitted, and the list of access parameters maintained by that node;
in the first transmission mode, the node is configured to determine to transmit the data to a first one of the access points having a lowest cost between the node and the first one of the access points; and
in the second transmission mode, the node is configured to determine to transmit the data to a second one of the access points having fewer access restrictions to the second wireless network than the first one of the access points, based on the maintained list of access parameters of each access point to the at least one second wireless network.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein each of the nodes is configured to determine whether data is to be transmitted to the second wireless network according to one of the first transmission mode and the second transmission mode based on the content of a payload of the data to be transmitted.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein each of the nodes is configured to determine whether data is to be transmitted to the second wireless network according to one of the first transmission mode and the second transmission mode based on a latency requirement of a payload of the data to be transmitted.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the cost between the node and the first one of the access points is a path cost to the first one of the access points, and
wherein the path cost from the node to the first one of the access points is an aggregated cost of egress to each hop along a path from the node to the first one of the access points.

### Claim 5

A system comprising:
a plurality of nodes connected in a first wireless network;
a plurality of access points connected to the first wireless network and to at least one second wireless network distinct from the first wireless network, the plurality of access points each respectively constituting an interface between the first wireless network and the at least one second wireless network, wherein:
each of the access points is configured to advertise its access parameters to the at least one second wireless network to the nodes in the first wireless network, the access parameters including an indication of access restrictions the corresponding access point currently has to the at least one second wireless network, respectively;
each of the nodes is configured to maintain a list of the access parameters of each access point in the first wireless network to the at least one second wireless network based on the advertised access parameters respectively transmitted from the access points;
each of the nodes is configured to determine whether data is to be transmitted to the second wireless network according to one of a first transmission mode and a second transmission mode based on the data to be transmitted and the list of access parameters maintained by that node;
in the first transmission mode, the node is configured to determine to transmit the data to a first one of the access points having a lowest cost between the node and the first one of the access points;
in the second transmission mode, the node is configured to determine to transmit the data to a second one of the access points having fewer access restrictions to the second wireless network than the first one of the access points, based on the maintained list of access parameters of each access point to the at least one second wireless network,
wherein the access parameters of the access points respectively comprise information including at least one of: (i) whether the corresponding access point is subject to access class barring, and (ii) whether the corresponding access point is subject to extended access barring.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, wherein the access parameters of the access points respectively further comprise information including at least one of: (iii) whether the corresponding access point is designated to have low access priority, and (iv) whether the corresponding access point is approaching or has exceeded a periodic data transfer allowance.

### Claim 7

A method of mitigating data restrictions for a plurality of nodes connected in a first wireless network, wherein a plurality of access points are connected to the first wireless network and to at least one second wireless network distinct from the first wireless network, the plurality of access points each respectively constituting an interface between the first wireless network and the at least one second wireless network, the method comprising:
advertising, by the access points, access parameters to the at least one second wireless network to the nodes in the first wireless network, the access parameters including an indication of access restrictions the corresponding access point currently has to the at least one second wireless network, respectively;
maintaining, by the nodes in the first wireless network, a list of the access parameters of each access point in the first wireless network to the at least one second wireless network based on the advertised access parameters respectively transmitted from the access points;
determining, by at least one of the nodes in the first wireless network, whether data is to be transmitted to the second wireless network according to one of a first transmission mode and a second transmission mode based on the data to be transmitted, a priority of a payload of the data to be transmitted, and the list of access parameters maintained by that node;
in the first transmission mode, determining, by the at least one node, to transmit the data to a first one of the access points having a lowest cost between the node and the first one of the access points; and
in the second transmission mode, determining, by the at least one node, to transmit the data to a second one of the access points having fewer access restrictions to the second wireless network than the first one of the access points, based on the maintained list of access parameters of each access point to the at least one second wireless network.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, comprising:
determining, by the at least one of the nodes, whether data is to be transmitted to the second wireless network according to one of the first transmission mode and the second transmission mode based on the content of a payload of the data to be transmitted.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, comprising:
determining, by the at least one of the nodes, whether data is to be transmitted to the second wireless network according to one of the first transmission mode and the second transmission mode based on a latency requirement of a payload of the data to be transmitted.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the cost between the node and the first one of the access points is a path cost to the first one of the access points, and
wherein the path cost from the node to the first one of the access points is an aggregated cost of egress to each hop along a path from the node to the first one of the access points.

### Claim 11

A method of mitigating data restrictions for a plurality of nodes connected in a first wireless network, wherein a plurality of access points are connected to the first wireless network and to at least one second wireless network distinct from the first wireless network, the plurality of access points each respectively constituting an interface between the first wireless network and the at least one second wireless network, the method comprising:
advertising, by the access points, access parameters to the at least one second wireless network to the nodes in the first wireless network, the access parameters including an indication of access restrictions the corresponding access point currently has to the at least one second wireless network, respectively;
maintaining, by the nodes in the first wireless network, a list of the access parameters of each access point in the first wireless network to the at least one second wireless network based on the advertised access parameters respectively transmitted from the access points;
determining, by at least one of the nodes in the first wireless network, whether data is to be transmitted to the second wireless network according to one of a first transmission mode and a second transmission mode based on the data to be transmitted, a priority of a payload of the data to be transmitted, and the list of access parameters maintained by that node;
in the first transmission mode, determining, by the at least one node, to transmit the data to a first one of the access points having a lowest cost between the node and the first one of the access points; and
in the second transmission mode, determining, by the at least one node, to transmit the data to a second one of the access points having fewer access restrictions to the second wireless network than the first one of the access points, based on the maintained list of access parameters of each access point to the at least one second wireless network,
wherein the access parameters of the access points respectively comprise information including at least one of: (i) whether the corresponding access point is subject to access class barring, and (ii) whether the corresponding access point is subject to extended access barring.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the access parameters of the access points respectively further comprise information including at least one of: (iii) whether the corresponding access point is designated to have low access priority, and (iv) whether the corresponding access point is approaching or has exceeded a periodic data transfer allowance.

### Claim 13

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having a program tangibly stored thereon that, when executed by a processor of at least one node connected in a first wireless network, causes the at least one node to execute a method of mitigating data restrictions encountered by at least one access point among a plurality of access points connected to the first wireless network and to at least one second wireless network distinct from the first wireless network, the plurality of access points each respectively constituting an interface between the first wireless network and the at least one second wireless network, the method comprising:
receiving, from the access points, advertised access parameters to the at least one second wireless network to the nodes in the first wireless network, the access parameters including an indication of access restrictions the corresponding access point currently has to the at least one second wireless network, respectively;
maintaining a list of the access parameters of each access point in the first wireless network to the at least one second wireless network based on the advertised access parameters respectively transmitted from the access points;
determining whether data is to be transmitted to the second wireless network according to one of a first transmission mode and a second transmission mode based on the data to be transmitted, a priority of a payload of the data to be transmitted, and the list of access parameters maintained by the at least one node;
in the first transmission mode, determining to transmit the data to a first one of the access points having a lowest cost between the node and the first one of the access points; and
in the second transmission mode, determining to transmit the data to a second one of the access points having fewer access restrictions to the second wireless network than the first one of the access points, based on the maintained list of access parameters of each access point to the at least one second wireless network.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium of claim 13, wherein the method comprises:
determining whether data is to be transmitted to the second wireless network according to one of the first transmission mode and the second transmission mode based on the content of a payload of the data to be transmitted.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium of claim 13, wherein the method comprises:
determining whether data is to be transmitted to the second wireless network according to one of the first transmission mode and the second transmission mode based on a latency requirement of a payload of the data to be transmitted.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium of claim 13, wherein the cost between the node and the first one of the access points is a path cost to the first one of the access points, and
wherein the path cost from the node to the first one of the access points is an aggregated cost of egress to each hop along a path from the node to the first one of the access points.

### Claim 17

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having a program tangibly stored thereon that, when executed by a processor of at least one node connected in a first wireless network, causes the at least one node to execute a method of mitigating data restrictions encountered by at least one access point among a plurality of access points connected to the first wireless network and to at least one second wireless network distinct from the first wireless network, the plurality of access points each respectively constituting an interface between the first wireless network and the at least one second wireless network, the method comprising:
receiving, from the access points, advertised access parameters to the at least one second wireless network to the nodes in the first wireless network, the access parameters including an indication of access restrictions the corresponding access point currently has to the at least one second wireless network, respectively;
maintaining a list of the access parameters of each access point in the first wireless network to the at least one second wireless network based on the advertised access parameters respectively transmitted from the access points;
determining whether data is to be transmitted to the second wireless network according to one of a first transmission mode and a second transmission mode based on the data to be transmitted and the list of access parameters maintained by the at least one node;
in the first transmission mode, determining to transmit the data to a first one of the access points having a lowest cost between the node and the first one of the access points; and
in the second transmission mode, determining to transmit the data to a second one of the access points having fewer access restrictions to the second wireless network than the first one of the access points, based on the maintained list of access parameters of each access point to the at least one second wireless network,
wherein the access parameters of the access points respectively comprise information including at least one of: (i) whether the corresponding access point is subject to access class barring, and (ii) whether the corresponding access point is subject to extended access barring.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium of claim 17, wherein the access parameters of the access points respectively further comprise information including at least one of: (iii) whether the corresponding access point is designated to have low access priority, and (iv) whether the corresponding access point is approaching or has exceeded a periodic data transfer allowance.