Patent ID: 8054821
Filing Date: 2011-11-08
Classification: G01D,G08C,H01L,H04B,H04L,H04W,Y02B,Y04S

Abstract:
1. Methodology for an end device within an advanced metering system frequency hopping network to handle a synchronization request from another end device, comprising: providing a frequency hopping network including a plurality of end devices, at least some of which end devices comprise metrology devices; configuring the plurality of end devices for bi-directional communications with other end devices; receiving a synchronization request at a given end device from a neighboring unsynchronized end device; determining whether the given end device has received within a predetermined number of recent time slots a message from a father end device by which the given end device has been synchronized, and configuring the given end device to synchronize with a preferred network based on any collected information in accordance with predetermined criteria.