The present disclosure discloses a communication system and a power control unit included therein. The communication system comprises a signal source, one or more amplifiers, one or more terminators and leaky transmission lines. The signal source is configured to provide communication signals. The one or more amplifiers are configured to amplify incoming communication signals. The one or more terminators configured to terminate communication signals. The leaky transmission lines are disposed in correspondence with sections of a elongated area and connect the signal source to each of the one or more terminators via at least one of the amplifiers. The communication system further comprises sensors and the power control unit. Each of the sensors is positioned in correspondence with one of the amplifiers and the terminators and configured to sense whether a vehicle approaches said one of the amplifiers and the terminators. The power control unit is configured to receive sensing results from the sensors and to control each of the amplifiers to amplify its incoming communication signals to a normal power level P.sub.normal or a power level lower than P.sub.normal based on the received sensing results.

Given a node of a utility service distribution network, a topology of a subset of the distribution network having the given node as a root node and one or more child nodes branching from the given node is determined. The topology may be determined based on relationships or correlations of utility usage information between the given node and a plurality of potential nodes that are considered in the topology determination. Upon determining the topology associated with the given node, the determined topology may be used to detect fraud and leakage that may occur in the distribution network on a regular basis or upon request. If fraud or leakage is detected in the distribution network, the system may schedule a follow-up and/or field investigation to investigate and fix the fraud or the leakage in the distribution network.

Various embodiments of wireless ambient sensor unit are presented. The sensor unit may include a wireless transceiver configured to transmit sensor data and to receive instructions. The sensor unit may include a sensor configured to measure an ambient condition. The sensor unit may include a controller in communication with the wireless transceiver and the sensor. The controller may be configured to compare data measured about the ambient condition to a stored threshold while the wireless ambient sensor unit is functioning in a low-power mode. The controller may be configured to exit the low-power mode in response to the comparison of the data with the stored threshold. The controller may be configured to cause the data measured about the ambient condition to be transmitted by the wireless transceiver as one or more messages in response to the comparison to the stored threshold.

Systems and methods for identifying and targeting power outages are provided. Electric meters of a system receive electric power from power distribution equipment in a power distribution network and information that identifies the respective power distribution equipment from which the meters receive electric power. Communication nodes are associated with electric meters and receive, from neighboring communication nodes, information identifying each respective neighboring communication node and the information identifying the power distribution equipment from which respective electric meters, associated with neighboring communication nodes, receive electric power. A communication node of a particular electric meter can select a suitable communication node of a neighboring electric meter with which it can communicate. When the particular electric meter experiences a loss in power, it can then transmit an immediate regarding the loss in power to the selected communication node.

The invention relates to a system of consumption meters (2) arranged in a communication network, where program data of the consumption meters can be updated via the communication network. A data collector (3) is arranged for updating the program data of a group of consumption meters over the network. This is performed by establishing a dedicated update session to each consumption meter of the group of consumption meters, and transmitting addressed update program segments to consumption meters in session. During the update session with a given consumption meter, any other consumption meter which is within communication range (8) will, if it receives the update segment, store it even though the segment is addressed to another meter. In an update session of a next meter, only segments not already stored from a previous session to another consumption meter are transmitted to the next meter.

A wireless vibration sensor suitable for connection to a distributed industrial control system arranged with a wireless network for communication of process data or control information. The wireless vibration sensor includes at least one sensor, a wireless radio transmitter, and a base part for mounting it firmly on equipment or a structure. The wireless sensor is arranged with a battery and a power storage device. A method for powering up the wireless sensor during active cycles is also described.

Systems, devices and methods involving device identification are provided. In this regard, a representative system includes: a first device having a first power line and a first connector, the first connector being coupled to the first power line; and a second device having a second power line and a second connector, the second connector being coupled to the second power line and sized and shaped to mate with the first connector such that the first device electrically communicates with the second device; the first device being operative to modulate impedance exhibited at the first power line; the second device being operative to detect the modulated impedance and correlate the modulated impedance with an identification of the first device.

Systems, devices and methods involving device identification are provided. In this regard, a representative system includes: a first device having a first power line and a first connector, the first connector being coupled to the first power line; and a second device having a second power line and a second connector, the second connector being coupled to the second power line and sized and shaped to mate with the first connector such that the first device electrically communicates with the second device; the first device being operative to modulate impedance exhibited at the first power line; the second device being operative to detect the modulated impedance and correlate the modulated impedance with an identification of the first device.

A system, method, and circuit for determining signals. A bridge output is received from a Wheatstone bridge sensing a slow signal and a fast signal. A slow output associated with the slow signal and a fast output associated with the fast signal are determined from the bridge output utilizing a microcontroller. The microcontroller generates the offset signal in response to the slow output. Other systems, methods, and circuits are disclosed.