Patent ID: 7961740
Filing Date: 2011-06-14
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
1. A method of routing packets from a gateway to nodes in a wireless utility network, comprising: receiving a destination address associated with a node in a wireless utility network at a gateway in the wireless utility network, the gateway providing communication between the wireless utility network and at least one other network; receiving a packet for transmission to the destination address; determining a transmission route to the destination address according to node battery charge impact, link cost and path cost; and transmitting the packet to the destination address according to the determined transmission route, wherein the node battery charge impact is determined based upon node battery usage information for nodes associated with links along a given path in the wireless utility network, and wherein the determining of the transmission route comprises determining the transmission route based upon a prioritization of using constant powered nodes, which are powered by a load line of an electricity distribution grid at a corresponding location of the constant powered nodes, respectively, in favor of battery powered nodes.