The present invention relates to methodology for enabling outage notifications in an advanced metering system mesh network, comprising: establishing a network including a central facility and a plurality of end devices, at least some of which end devices comprise metrology devices; configuring the network for bi-directional communications between the central facility and each of the plurality of end devices; causing an end device experiencing power outage conditions to transmit a power outage message to neighbor end devices; and configuring the plurality of end devices so that neighbor end devices not experiencing a power outage respond to a power outage message for forwarding such power outage message to the central facility over the network, whereby power outage data is reported to the central facility via the network using end devices not experiencing power outage conditions, without requiring a direct communications link between the central facility and an end device experiencing power outage conditions. Likewise, the invention relates to an advanced metering system mesh network with power outage notification functionality.

Outage notification system

Methods, devices, and computer program products for synchronization of wireless devices in a peer-to-peer network are described herein. In one aspect, a method for synchronizing a wireless communication apparatus is provided. The method includes receiving one or more synchronization messages, each synchronization message having timing information and a cluster identifier, the timing information comprising anchor timing information, the cluster identifier being the same value as a cluster identifier of the apparatus. The method further includes determining whether a difference between a time value when a received synchronization message last received anchor timing information and a time value maintained for the apparatus is greater than a threshold. The method further includes discarding the received synchronization message if the difference exceeds the threshold.

Systems and methods for synchronization within a neighborhood aware network

Methods and systems are provided for synchronizing various time-stamped data streams. The data streams can be synchronized to another data stream or to a point of reference such as a reference clock. In one embodiment, synchronization processing takes place in association with a filter graph comprising multiple filters. The filter graph is configured to process multiple timestamped data streams for rendering the data streams in accordance with data stream timestamps. A synchronization module is provided and is associated with the filter graph queries individual filters of the filter graph to ascertain input timestamp-to-output timestamp mappings. The module computes adjustments that are to be made to output time stamps in order to synchronize the data streams, and then instructs queried filters to adjust their output timestamps in accordance with its adjustment computations.

Methods and systems for synchronizing data streams

A computer-implemented system and method for streaming video from a server to a client are described. For example, a method according to one embodiment comprises: receiving at the server a request for video content from the client; in response to the request, determining the hardware/software configuration of the client; generating and/or selecting a temporary decoder based on the hardware/software configuration of the client; transmitting the temporary decoder to the client, the client installing the temporary decoder; encoding and streaming the requested video content from the server to the client, the video content being encoded based on the capabilities of the temporary decoder, the video content being decoded by the temporary decoder and rendered on the client; detecting that the client has ended the session with the server; and in response to detecting that the client has ended the session, temporarily disabling and/or removing the temporary decoder from the client.

Temporary Decoder Apparatus and Method

A platform for an aerial lift enables unobstructed access to a work area adjacent the platform. The platform includes a floor structure (16) with front (18) and rear (20) sides and ends (22), and a safety rail (24) disposed along at least the front side. The safety rail includes an entry gate (26). A lift gate (28) is pivotably attached to the safety rail and pivotable between a closed position and an open position. The lift gate includes a gate rail (32) extending along the rear side of the floor structure and a pair of lift rails (34) connected between the gate rail and the safety rail. The gate rail is pivotable relative to the lift rails between an extended position and a refracted position. In this manner, the lift gate can be raised without the gate rail impacting the work surface.

Use of minimal propagation delay path to optimize a mesh network

Methods and apparatus for time synchronization using dynamic thresholds. A method for synchronizing network elements includes receiving at a network element a time synchronization message (102) sent from a master clock element. The network element includes an internal clock to be synchronized with a master clock of the master clock element. The method includes calculating a latency (104) of the time synchronization message. The method includes estimating an adjustment (106) that may be made to the internal clock in response to the time synchronization message. The method includes determining whether the latency calculated is less than the adjustment estimated (108). The method includes adjusting the internal clock (110) when the latency calculated is less than the adjustment estimated.

Time synchronization using dynamic thresholds

Methods, systems, and apparatus for reducing real time data traffic in a multi-layer network. One aspect of the present invention provides a method for reducing data traffic in a data collection network comprising a first network layer and a second network layer, the data traffic comprising a plurality of data packets capable of being transmitted from the first network layer to the second network layer. The method can include receiving a plurality of data packets from a first network layer. The method can also include storing a portion of the plurality of data packets in a data storage device capable of transmitting the plurality of data packets from the first network layer to a second network layer. Furthermore, the method can include receiving a new data packet from the first network layer. In addition, the method can include determining whether a portion of the new data packet is similar to a stored portion of at least one of the plurality of data packets. If the portion of the new data packet is not similar to a stored portion of at least one of the plurality of data packets, storing the portion of the new data packet in the data storage device and facilitating transmission of the new data packet to the second network layer. If the portion of the new data packet is similar to a stored portion of at least one of the plurality of data packets, the method can include omitting the portion of the new data packet from the data storage device and ceasing any further transmission of the new data packet to the second network layer.

Methods, systems, and apparatus for reducing real time data traffic in a multi-layer network

A method and apparatus for preventing pixel burn-in on a display screen (1) is disclosed. It is determined whether a static image has been displayed on the screen (1) for longer than a certain period. The smallest region (2) on the screen (1) within which said static image fits is found. The brightness level of pixels within said region (2) within which the static image fits are reduced.

Method and apparatus for preventing pixel burn-in

The invention relates to a method of stimulating plant growth, to a computer program, to a machine-readable storage unit and to the use of the method in at least one of domestic applications, such as in houses and/or in offices for growing a plant and/or for growing a plant propagule, in applications of generating light patterns configured for ambient light and/or for security light and in applications of industrial plant growing, such as in professional greenhouses The method comprises the steps: a) obtaining (501) a plant and/or a plant propagule; b) utilizing (502) a television comprising a light source for illuminating the plant and/or the plant propagule when the television is switched on; and c) illuminating (503) a growth area of the plant and/or the plant propagule with the light emitted from the light source, wherein the light comprises a plurality of light components that are dynamically varied according to a predetermined criterion In this way, plant growth is stimulated while keeping investment costs as low as possible, the method is easy to use while at the same time has a wide usage range

Using television to stimulate plant growth

A method of determining, for each of one or more elemental periods (such as 1 hour), a statistically representative parameter value (e.g. amount of electricity, water, gas or oil consumed) for an entity (e.g. is a building, part thereof, or some geographical unit or area) and associated with the respective elemental period, comprising: obtaining a plurality of parameter values in succession, each parameter value relating to each of a plurality of successive data read periods, the data read periods including a first data read period and a plurality of further data read periods; wherein the further data read periods are of equal length and the first data read period is longer than the further data read periods by said elemental period. The method preferably comprises: obtaining a reading at the start of the first data read period; obtaining a reading at the end of the first data read period; for each of the plurality of further data read periods, obtaining a reading at the end of the further data read period; for the or each elemental period, determining the parameter value associated therewith as the difference between the readings obtained for two successive data read periods. The parameter values or reading are suitably converted to digital form and transmitted over a wire-based or wireless network. A metering unit for performing the method is also disclosed. A data processing system for determining a parameter value associated with each of one or more elemental periods, for each of one or more remote entities, using such metering units, is also disclosed.

Metin Salt

Papers

Time synchronization using dynamic thresholds

Methods, systems, and apparatus for reducing real time data traffic in a multi-layer network

Method and apparatus for preventing pixel burn-in

Using television to stimulate plant growth

Method and system for remote data collection