Systems and methods for efficiently allocating beacon slot among multiple nodes on multiple levels within a power line communication network are described. In various implementations, these systems and methods may be applicable to Power Line Communications (PLC). For example, a method may include performing, by a communications device, assigning beacon transmission times to nodes within the communication device's network. The assigned beacon transmission times comprise a beacon slot and frame pattern. The beacon slot and frame pattern ensure that each node does not transmit a beacon in a beacon slot that is adjacent to a beacon slot assigned to a parent or child node. A beacon transmission slot is reserved for a base node in every frame. The frames may be organized into thirty-two-frame superframes, wherein each frame comprises a base node beacon slot and four switch node beacon slots.

Systems and methods for setting a carrier-sensing mechanism in a PLC node are disclosed. In a PLC standard, coexistence is achieved by having the nodes detect a common preamble and backing off by a Coexistence InterFrame Space (cEIFS) time period to help the node to avoid interfering with the other technologies. In one embodiment, a PHY primitive is sent from the PHY to the MAC know that there has been a preamble detection. A two-level indication may be usedone indication after receiving the preamble and other indication after decoding the entire frame. The MAC sets the carrier-sensing mechanism based on the preamble detection.

The invention relates in particular to a method executed by a control device, for a mesh communication network, allowing selection of an optimum frequency band, the method comprising the steps of determining network quality information, if the quality information is below a first threshold, then: sending, to each device in the network, a message comprising an instruction to perform a frequency band quality test, collecting, at the end of the quality test, for each device, quality data for each frequency band, determining, for each frequency band, a quality indicator, and selecting a so-called optimum frequency band as being the frequency band associated with the best indicator, when the so-called optimum frequency band is different from the frequency band used, then sending, to each device, an instruction to use the so-called optimum frequency band.

Systems and methods for efficiently allocating beacon slot among multiple nodes on multiple levels within a power line communication network are described. In various implementations, these systems and methods may be applicable to Power Line Communications (PLC). For example, a method may include performing, by a communications device, assigning beacon transmission times to nodes within the communication device's network. The assigned beacon transmission times comprise a beacon slot and frame pattern. The beacon slot and frame pattern ensure that each node does not transmit a beacon in a beacon slot that is adjacent to a beacon slot assigned to a parent or child node. A beacon transmission slot is reserved for a base node in every frame. The frames may be organized into thirty-two-frame superframes, wherein each frame comprises a base node beacon slot and four switch node beacon slots.

Embodiments of methods and systems for supporting coexistence of multiple technologies in a Power Line Communication (PLC) network are disclosed. A long coexistence preamble sequence may be transmitted by a device that has been forced to back off the PLC channel multiple times. The long coexistence sequence provides a way for the device to request channel access from devices on the channel using other technology. The device may transmit a data packet after transmitting the long coexistence preamble sequence. A network duty cycle time may also be defined as a maximum allowed duration for nodes of the same network to access the channel. When the network duty cycle time occurs, all nodes will back off the channel for a duty cycle extended inter frame space before transmitting again. The long coexistence preamble sequence and the network duty cycle time may be used together.

A system and method for inferring schematic and topological properties of an electrical distribution grid is provided. The system may include Remote Hubs, Subordinate Remotes, a Substation Receiver, and an associated Computing Platform and Concentrator. At least one intelligent edge transmitter, called a Remote Hub Edge Transmitter, may transmit messages on the electrical distribution grid by injecting a modulated current into a power main that supplies an electric meter. The Subordinate Remotes, Remote Hubs, the Substation Receiver, and the associated Computing Platform and Concentrator may contain processing units which execute stored instructions allowing each node in the network to implement methods for organizing the on-grid network and transmitting and receiving messages on the network. The Substation Receiver, Computing Platform, and Concentrator may detect and infer schematic grid location attributes of the network and publish the detected and inferred attributes to other application systems including geospatial information systems.

A system and methods for managing a transformer area in an electrical distribution grid having at least one substation transformer and one service transformer are presented. At least one Remote Hub governed by a policy may be provided, which collects data about the transformer area. The Remote Hub may also execute a discovery procedure to inventory Remotes in the transformer area. The Remote Hub may use the collected data to detect events, such as exceptional conditions, configuration changes, or derived results, within the transformer area. Based on the collected data, the Remote Hub is able to transmit data about the transformer area via a Substation-to-Edge channel. A method and system for forming and establishing boundaries of Transformer Area Networks is also presented. Discovery procedures may be used to form Transformer Area Networks out of Remote Hubs and Remotes powered by the same phase of the service transformer.

Method for transporting LoRa frames over a first PLC communication network of a system for the automated management of meterings from a plurality of electricity meters, referred to as meters, said meters in the plurality being attached to at least one data concentrator via the first network, each data concentrator being connected to a server via a second network and serving as a relay between said meters and the server. The method is executed by a meter in the plurality and comprises: receiving (402) a LoRa frame, each LoRa frame received corresponding to the same LoRa frame sent by an endpoint; relaying a received LoRa frame, referred to as the first frame, corresponding to said sent frame, in the direction of the server, the first frame being selected (403) in accordance with a first predetermined criterion; when a plurality of LoRa frames corresponding to said sent LoRa frame are received, rejecting at least a subset of LoRa frames in the plurality of frames different from the first frame.

Aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward a system and apparatuses for calibrating metering circuitry. An example system includes a first adapter including a plurality of receptacles proximally arranged in a circular manner on a first surface of the first adapter, the plurality of receptacles configured and arranged to be connected to endpoint controlling circuitry configured and arranged to communicate over the power lines or by using a RF communication, characteristics related to power usage of an endpoint device in a PLC network. The system further includes a second adapter including a plurality of electrical contacts disposed on a first surface of the second adapter and a plurality of terminals disposed on a second surface of the second adapter opposite of the first surface. The plurality of terminals can be physically arranged so as to plug into corresponding inputs on meter calibration circuitry. Further, the system includes a housing fixedly securing the first adapter and the second adapter and enclosing circuitry configured, while in operation, to facilitate calibration of the endpoint controlling circuitry by the meter calibration circuitry.

Systems and methods for setting a carrier-sensing mechanism in a PLC node are disclosed. In a PLC standard, coexistence is achieved by having the nodes detect a common preamble and backing off by a Coexistence InterFrame Space (cEIFS) time period to help the node to avoid interfering with the other technologies. In one embodiment, a PHY primitive is sent from the PHY to the MAC know that there has been a preamble detection. A two-level indication may be usedone indication after receiving the preamble and other indication after decoding the entire frame. The MAC sets the carrier-sensing mechanism based on the preamble detection.