A mesh network topology assessment mechanism is provided. The mechanism includes a wireless router, coupled to other wireless routers over a multi-hop mesh network, responsive to a message having a link assessment mode, configured to introduce a unique delay into forwarding of the message to a next one of the other wireless routers in route to a destination device. The router has a store-and-forward controller, having a unique delay time corresponding to the unique delay, where the unique delay time is substantial and thus provides for creation of measurable latency in the message sent between an origination device and the destination device.

A computerized platform for monitoring the operation of an electric power distribution grid which includes in one form an accessory device operatively coupled with or comprised in an electronic protection relay of said electric power distribution grid, wherein said accessory device is configured to gather grid data and to transmit said grid data through the Internet; a publishing computerised unit capable of communicating with said accessory device through the Internet, said publishing computerised unit being configured to interact with said accessory device to acquire and store said grid data; an interface computerized unit capable of communicating with said accessory device and said publishing computerised unit through the Internet, said interface computerized unit being configured to provide interface services to manage the interaction of said accessory device with said publishing computerised unit.

Systems, methods, and other embodiments are disclosed for managing utility usage data in the event of a utility outage. In one embodiment, measured meter data is read representing utility usage data collected from multiple meters within a zone of a utility system and processed to identify valid and invalid usage data of the measured meter data. An estimation process is performed on the measured meter data to generate corrected meter data for the multiple meters. The corrected meter data is aggregated over a time span to generate an aggregate percentage value specifying a total percentage of data received for the time span. The aggregate percentage value is compared to a threshold value to detect a utility outage. The estimation process is suppressed for the multiple meters when the aggregate percentage value is below the threshold value, indicating a utility outage.

A method comprising interposing an interface device in communication with both a terminal and a meter; and using the interface device for, exchanging data with the terminal and the meter using a first protocol and a second protocol, respectively, at least one of which utilizes an RF field; identifying an originating device using the data from each of the terminal and the meter; and generating an output for use over the first protocol or the second protocol in response to the originating device.

Techniques for managing battery powered devices in a cellular network are described herein. In some instances, a receiving device, such as a data collector, may receive transmissions from a network endpoint, such as a utility meter. The messages may contain an indication of a power level used in the transmission. The receiving device may estimate a battery end-of-life date of the network endpoint, based at least in part on a known reporting schedule of the endpoint and the power level used in transmissions. The receiving device or the endpoint may revise the reporting schedule to modify the battery end-of-life date. In addition to modification of the reporting schedule, the endpoint power of transmission can be modified, based on RSSI and/or a transmission retry count.

A method includes periodically sending an Advanced Meter Reading (AMR) beacon from a node at a first regular time interval, the AMR beacon containing a register identification and a reading detected by the node, and periodically listening, at the node, for a communication such that instances of listening occur at a second regular time interval smaller than the first time interval. In one aspect of the disclosure, the communication is a mobile command from a mobile transceiver. In another aspect of the disclosure, the communication is a Network System Status Request or a parent assignment command from a stationary transceiver.

Following an explosion, fire, flood, water damage, or other event, consumption data of utility resources such as gas and water may be used to determine a cause of the event. For example, an interrogation may be used to read data logging data from a data collection device. The data logging data may include a record of consumption data for a resource spanning a time of an event. The data logging data may be analyzed to determine whether a utility providing the resource was responsible for the event.

In some implementations, an apparatus for testing an insulated glass unit is provided. The apparatus includes a housing and a port coupled to the housing, where the port is configured to couple with a pigtail of an insulated glass unit. The apparatus includes a battery housed within the housing, where the battery is configured to provide power to an insulated glass unit. The apparatus includes an input interface which is coupled to the housing, where the input interface is configured to receive. The apparatus includes a controller which is housed within the housing and is configured to receive the input from the input interface, send commands to an insulated glass unit, and receive data from the insulated glass unit. The apparatus also includes one or more indicators coupled with the housing, where the one or more indicators are configured to indicate a status of the insulated glass unit.

A utility meter has a multiprocessor architecture including (i) a microprocessing unit (MPU) for executing multiple software applications and (ii) another processing unit for performing core metrology functions in real time. For instance, the utility meter includes a metrology engine, an MPU, and one or more metrology applications. The metrology engine measures consumption of a resource and generates consumption data based on the consumption of the resource. The metrology engine includes a metrology processor, a dedicated memory, and a real-time operating system run by the metrology processor to enable the metrology engine to run time-critical metrology functions in real time. The MPU is coupled to the metrology processor and includes one or more processor cores. The MPU runs the one or more metrology applications over a primary operating system of the MPU, and the one or more metrology applications utilize the consumption data.

A communication converting apparatus for a pulse meter is provided, comprising: a pulse collection unit, configured to collect a pulse signal generated from the pulse meter; a storage unit, configured to store a reading of the pulse meter; a micro control unit, configured to control the pulse collection unit to collect the pulse signal, to read the reading stored in the storage unit, and to obtain an updated reading of the pulse meter according to the pulse signal and the reading stored in the storage unit; and a RS485 communication unit, configured to covert the updated reading of the pulse meter into a RS485 communication signal for outputting.