Utility Meter Command Counters for Collision-Free Gateway Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless LPWAN networks, the delegation of link management responsibility from a network controller to a gateway can lead to double assignment and message collisions due to the Listen After Talk (LAT) approach, where multiple gateways may transmit commands to utility meters during the same reception window, causing unreliability.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a Command Message Counter (CMC) system in both the gateway and utility meter, with a Command Message Counter Limit (CMCL), to manage the number of commands transmitted, ensuring only one gateway effectively controls the utility meter by updating and synchronizing CMC values across the network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If link management responsibility is delegated from network controller to gateway, then management efficiency is improved, but double assignment and message collisions occur
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway performs preliminary actions by maintaining a local CMC (Command Message Counter) and comparing it with the CMC received in commands from the network controller before executing commands. This preliminary check prevents double assignment and message collisions by ensuring the gateway only processes commands that are current and valid, resolving the reliability issue while maintaining delegation efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback through the CMC mechanism where the gateway sends its local CMC value back to the network controller, and the network controller responds with updated CMC values in command messages. This feedback loop ensures synchronization between the network controller and gateway, preventing double assignment while maintaining efficient delegated management
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple gateways transmit commands simultaneously to utility meter, then command coverage is improved, but message collisions occur
Solution Approach 1:
The utility meter performs a preliminary check by comparing the CMC in received commands with its stored CMC value before executing commands. This preliminary validation ensures that only the most recent valid command is executed, preventing message collisions from simultaneous transmissions while maintaining network adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by having the utility meter reject commands with CMC values that do not match its stored value, effectively preventing the harmful effect of message collisions before they can impact system operation. This allows multiple gateways to transmit commands without causing reliability issues
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling wireless transmission of a command from a gateway to a utility meter. The utility meter comprises a wireless communication interface, a processor for executing commands received via the wireless communication interface, a first Command Message Counter, CMC, and a utility meter ID. The gateway comprises a wireless communication interface, a processor for generating data messages comprising commands, a second CMC associated with the utility meter ID of the utility meter and a Command Message Counter Limit, CMCL. The method includes determining in the gateway if the second CMC associated with the utility meter ID of the utility meter has reached the CMCL. If said second CMC has reached the CMCL refrain from transmitting the command to the utility meter. Otherwise generating in the gateway a data message comprising the command, the utility meter ID of the utility meter and a third CMC and transmitting the generated data message from the gateway to the utility meter. The utility meter will allow execution of the command if the value of the third CMC exceeds the value of the first CMC.