SELF-ORGANIZING NETWORK ARCHITECTURE

摘要

A method for forming a routing table for an automated meter reading system in which a plurality of meters are assigned to a primary concentrator that in turn forms part of a wide area network for transmitting data collected from the meters to a central location for further processing. An attempt is first made to transmit data from the primary concentrator to each meter assigned to the primary concentrator by starting at the minimum possible signal strength or a signal strength calculated based upon estimated distance. If the transmission is not successful, the signal strength is increased until the data is transmitted successfully to the meter or the signal strength can be increased no further. If the data is successfully transmitted to the meter, the meter is registered in the routing table with an indication that direct transmission between the primary concentrator and the meter is possible. If any meter remains unregistered after registration from the primary concentrator is attempted, then an attempt is made to register unregistered meters using a previously registered meter as a secondary concentrator. A meter registered using a secondary concentrator is listed in the routing table with an indication that the secondary concentrator acts as a relay for transmission of data between the primary concentrator and the meter. Registered meters may be selected as possible secondary concentrators based upon distance from the unregistered meter determined from GPS coordinates. Registered meters on or near a line extending from the primary concentrator to the unregistered meter may be avoided in the selection of possible secondary concentrators. The method may be applied to the selection of tertiary and deeper levels of concentrators, wherein more than one hop is used to transmit data between the primary concentrator and a meter.