AMI Meter Power Status Notification Mesh Aggregation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) networks face challenges in efficiently transmitting power status notifications during power outages and restorations, leading to potential network congestion and inefficiencies in data transmission.
Innovation Solution
A method and system where leaf meters transmit outage and restoration messages first within a mesh network, with parent meters adding identifiers to reduce message duplication, and a mesh gate aggregates these messages for transmission to a server over a wide area network, optimizing traffic flow and reducing congestion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all meters transmit power status notifications simultaneously, then complete outage information is captured, but network congestion occurs and transmission efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the mesh network into hierarchical levels (leaf meters, parent meters, mesh gate) and assigns different transmission roles to each segment. Leaf meters transmit first, followed by parent meters aggregating child meter identifiers, finally the mesh gate aggregates all identifiers before WAN transmission. This segmentation prevents simultaneous transmission conflicts while ensuring complete outage information is captured across all network segments.
2Loss of information
If each meter transmits individual notification messages, then detailed outage information is provided, but message volume increases causing network congestion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges individual meter notification messages into aggregated composite messages at multiple hierarchical levels. Parent meters combine outage information from multiple child meters into single messages with aggregated meter identifiers. The mesh gate further merges all regional outage information into one comprehensive notification before WAN transmission. This merging maintains complete outage information while dramatically reducing the quantity of transmitted messages.
3Quantity of substance
If parent meters wait for child meter messages before transmitting, then message aggregation is achieved, but transmission delay increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary hierarchical aggregation where parent meters are pre-configured to wait for and aggregate child meter notifications before transmitting their own messages. This preliminary action at the local mesh network level enables efficient message consolidation. The mesh gate similarly performs preliminary aggregation of all regional notifications before initiating WAN transmission, minimizing overall transmission time while achieving maximum aggregation efficiency.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and system are provided to transmit a meter power status. The method includes recognizing a power status change at a meter. The method includes, if the meter is scheduled to transmit first, transmitting a notification message to at least one neighboring meter towards a mesh gate, wherein the notification message includes a power status indicator and a meter identifier. The method includes, if the meter is not scheduled to transmit first, waiting a predetermined time period to receive a notification message from at least one neighboring meter. The method includes, responsive to receiving a notification message, adding a meter identifier to the received notification message before retransmitting the modified notification message to at least one neighboring meter. The method includes retransmitting the notification message.