Patent ID: 8855279

Claim:
A method for a communication device operating within an active load management system to control transmission of at least one message over a fixed bandwidth communication link, the at least one message providing information relating to electric power consumption by power consuming devices located at a service point at which the communication device is located and fixedly positioned, the method comprising: receiving at least one control message from a central controller, the at least one control message including transmission time determination parameters, the transmission time determination parameters including (a) an identifier associated with the communication device, (b) a number representing a quantity of communication devices within the active load management system, (c) a number representing a quantity of transmission increments within a reporting period during which messages are to be transmitted by the plurality of communication devices, and (d) identification of a transmission increment assigned to a group of communication devices containing the communication device; and determining a transmission time for the at least one message based on the transmission time determination parameters; wherein the step of determining a transmission time for the at least one message comprises: determining a quantity of communication devices within the group containing the communication device based on (a) the number representing the quantity of communication devices within the active load management system and (b) the number representing the quantity of transmission increments within the reporting period; determining a duration of the transmission increment assigned to the group containing the communication device; and determining a transmission time for the at least one message based on (a) the identifier associated with the communication device, (b) the quantity of communication devices within the group containing the communication device, and (c) the duration of the transmission increment assigned to the group containing the communication device.