Claims:1. A system (100) for real time clock (RTC) synchronization in mesh network, said system comprising:
a plurality of devices (102) configured in the mesh network (106), the plurality of devices (102) configured to transmit and receive information over the mesh network (106);
a RTC (104) operatively coupled to each of the plurality of devices (102) in the mesh network; and
a processor (108) operatively coupled to the plurality of devices (102), the processor (108) operatively coupled with a memory (110), said memory (110) storing instructions executable by the processor to:
activate, the plurality of devices (102), to monitor a set of values of the RTC (104) in predefined time interval; and
determine, from the set of values, a deviation of any of the determined set of values of the RTC (104) of the plurality of devices (102) based on comparison of the any of the set of values with corresponding desirable ranges for the set of values,
wherein, when the deviation is determined for any of the set of values of the RTC (104) of at least one device of the plurality of devices, the processor (108) configure to, operate said at least one device of the plurality of devices (102) to communicate with the other plurality of devices (102) in the mesh network (106) to recover the deviated set of values of said at least one device from the plurality of devices (102) in the mesh network (106), and wherein, the recovered set of values of the RTC (104) from the plurality of devices (102) in the mesh network (106) enable to counter the deviation.
2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of devices (192) is a combination of energy meters.
3. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein, the energy meters operable to measure any or a combination of energy consumption and power usage in a facility.
4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mesh network (106) is any or a combination of power line communication (PLC) network and low power radio (LPR) network.
5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mesh network (106) that performs data communication between the plurality of devices (102).
6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein deviation of any of the determined set of values of the RTC (104) is due to any or a combination of RTC corruption, and battery failure.
7. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein RTC synchronization is enabled without disturbing regular communication activity in the network.
8. The method (200) for real time clock (RTC) synchronization in mesh network, said method comprising:
activating (202), at a computing device, the plurality of devices, to monitor a set of values of a RTC in a predefined time interval, the plurality of devices configured in the mesh network, the RTC operatively coupled to each of the plurality of devices in the mesh network; and
determining (204), at the computing device, from the set of values, a deviation of any of the determined set of values of the RTC of the plurality of devices based on comparison of the any of the set of values with corresponding desirable ranges for the set of values,
wherein, when the deviation is determined (206) for any of the set of values of the RTC of at least one device of the plurality of devices, the processor configure to operate said at least one device of the plurality of devices to communicate with the other plurality of devices in the mesh network to recover the deviated set of values of said at least one device from the plurality of devices in the mesh network, and wherein, the recovered set of values of the RTC from the plurality of devices in the mesh network enable to counter the deviation.

Description:TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates, in general, to an energy metering system, and more specifically, relates to a system and method for real time clock (RTC) synchronization in a mesh network.

BACKGROUND
[0002] Typically, devices, for example, energy meters are read manually by meter readers who are employees or contractors of the various utility providers. Manual meter reading represents a significant cost to a typical utility provider. With the advent of wireless technology including mesh networking, utility providers have sought methods and systems for remote reading of energy meters. Mesh communication network is used for data communication purpose. The energy meters measure power usage, and utilizing information representing measured power usage would enable users to control energy usage and savings.
[0003] Real time clock (RTC) incorporated in each of the energy meters to manage various tasks of energy meters. When current is interrupted, a battery used to maintain time management for the duration of the interruption. However, RTC may lose its value due to battery drained or any other reason, which makes the meter non-functional. Existing technologies in the fields of energy meters, however, limit the levels of performance of such devices during RTC corruption or battery failure in one of the devices.
[0004] Therefore, there is a need in the art to provide a means that can quickly recover the RTC value during RTC corruption or battery failure without interrupting regular communication activity in the network.

OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE
[0005] An object of the present disclosure relates, in general, to an energy metering system, and more specifically, relates to a system and method for real time clock (RTC) synchronization in a mesh network.
[0006] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a system that can ensure RTC synchronization without interrupting regular communication activity in the mesh network.
[0007] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a system that can check the failure in the RTC value and recover the correct RTC value effectively in the mesh network.
[0008] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a system, which can ensure RTC recovery in case of RTC corruption and battery failure in one of the devices in the mesh network.
[0009] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a system that may transmit usage data wirelessly through mesh network, thereby the costs to the utility provider can be reduced.
[0010] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a system that can manage the time effectively.
[0011] Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a system that can improve the data transmission reliability.

SUMMARY
[0012] The present disclosure relates, in general, to an energy metering system, and more specifically, relates to a system and method for real time clock (RTC) synchronization in a mesh network. The system can recover the RTC value during RTC corruption or battery failure in the mesh network without disturbing regular communication activity in the network. The system may include one or more devices that are connected in the mesh network, all the devices in the network are either directly or through hopping connected to each other. Periodically and during power-on, the device can check any failure in RTC. If there is any failure, the device can communicate with other device in network, to get the right RTC value and correct its own RTC value.
[0013] In an aspect, the present disclosure provides a system for RTC synchronization in mesh network, the system including a plurality of devices configured in the mesh network, the plurality of devices configured to transmit and receive information over the mesh network, a RTC operatively coupled to each of the plurality of devices in the mesh network, and a processor operatively coupled to the plurality of devices, the processor operatively coupled with a memory, said memory storing instructions executable by the processor to activate, the plurality of devices, to monitor a set of values of the RTC in predefined time interval, and determine, from the set of values, a deviation of any of the determined set of values of the RTC of the plurality of devices based on comparison of the any of the set of values with corresponding desirable ranges for the set of values, wherein, when the deviation is determined for any of the set of values of the RTC of at least one device of the plurality of devices, the processor configured to, operate said at least one device of the plurality of devices to communicate with the other plurality of devices in the mesh network to recover the deviated set of values of said at least one device from the plurality of devices in the mesh network, and wherein, the recovered set of values of the RTC from the plurality of devices in the mesh network enable to counter the deviation.
[0014] In an embodiment, the plurality of devices may be a combination of energy meters.
[0015] In another embodiment, the energy meters operable to measure any or a combination of energy consumption and power usage in a facility.
[0016] In another embodiment, the mesh network may be any or a combination of power line communication (PLC) network and low power radio (LPR) network.
[0017] In another embodiment, the mesh network may perform data communication between the plurality of devices.
[0018] In another embodiment, the deviation of any of the determined set of values of the RTC may be caused due to any or a combination of RTC corruption, and battery failure.
[0019] In another embodiment, the RTC synchronization may be enabled without disturbing regular communication activity in the network.
[0020] In an aspect, the present disclosure provides a method for RTC synchronization in mesh network, the method including activating, at a computing device, the plurality of devices, to monitor a set of values of a RTC in a predefined time interval, the plurality of devices configured in the mesh network, the RTC operatively coupled to each of the plurality of devices in the mesh network, and determining, at the computing device, from the set of values, a deviation of any of the determined set of values of the RTC of the plurality of devices based on comparison of the any of the set of values with corresponding desirable ranges for the set of values, wherein, when the deviation is determined for any of the set of values of the RTC of at least one device of the plurality of devices, the processor configure to operate said at least one device of the plurality of devices to communicate with the other plurality of devices in the mesh network to recover the deviated set of values of said at least one device from the plurality of devices in the mesh network, and wherein, the recovered set of values of the RTC from the plurality of devices in the mesh network enable to counter the deviation.
[0021] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] The following drawings form part of the present specification and are included to further illustrate aspects of the present disclosure. The disclosure may be better understood by reference to the drawings in combination with the detailed description of the specific embodiments presented herein.
[0023] FIG. 1A illustrates an exemplary representation of a system for RTC synchronization in mesh network, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0024] FIG. 1B illustrates an exemplary functional component of the device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0025] FIG. 2 illustrate an exemplary flow diagram of a method for RTC synchronization in mesh network, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0026] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary computer system in which or with which embodiments of the present invention can be utilized in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0027] The following is a detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are in such detail as to clearly communicate the disclosure. If the specification states a component or feature “may”, “can”, “could”, or “might” be included or have a characteristic, that particular component or feature is not required to be included or have the characteristic.
[0028] As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[0029] The present disclosure relates, in general, to an energy metering system, and more specifically, relates to a system and method for real time clock (RTC) synchronization in a mesh network. The system can recover the RTC value during RTC corruption or battery failure in the mesh network without disturbing regular communication activity in the network. The system may include one or more devices that are connected in the mesh network, all the devices in the network are either directly or through hopping connected to each other devices. Periodically and during power-on, the device can check any failure in RTC. If there is any failure, the device can communicate with other device in network, to get the right RTC value and correct its own RTC value. The present disclosure can be described in enabling detail in the following examples, which may represent more than one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0030] FIG. 1A illustrates an exemplary representation of a system for RTC synchronization in mesh network, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 1A, system 100 may be configured to synchronize RTC value of one or more devices in a network. The system 100 may include one or more devices (e.g., 102-1 to 102-N (which are collectively referred to as devices 102, hereinafter)) that may be configured in the network 106, for example, mesh network. All the devices 102 in the network 106 are coupled either directly or through hopping means, where the one or more devices 102 may be configured to transmit and receive information over the mesh network 106. The RTC (e.g., 104-1 to 104-N (which are collectively referred to as RTC 104, hereinafter)) may be operatively coupled to each of the one or more devices 102, where the RTC can keep track of the current time. The RTC 104 may be operatively coupled to each of the one or more devices 102 in the mesh network 106, where the mesh network 102 is any or a combination of power line communication (PLC) mesh network and low power radio (LPR) mesh network.
[0032] In an exemplary embodiment, the one or more devices 102 as presented in the example may be energy meters. As can be appreciated, the present disclosure may not be limited to this configuration but may be extended to other configurations. The energy meters may be operable to measure energy consumption and/or power usage in a facility, such as a home, buildings and the like, to send and receive digital messages related thereto between devices 102 configured to communicate on the system 100. The energy meter may synchronize RTC 104 by fetching the RTC value from other meters in the network 106 with the help of mesh communication.
[0033] The mesh network technology is the routing capability of all the nodes in the network. The mesh network automatically routes the signal from one node to the next, thereby extending the range. The mesh network to get around obstacles by routing commands through other device-nodes in the network when required. Utility providers must periodically determine customer usage by taking meter readings. To facilitate this process and to reduce costs to the utility providers, energy meters in the present disclosure may transmit usage data wirelessly through the network, such as the mesh network.
[0034] In an embodiment, the system 100 can be configured for RTC 104 synchronization in mesh network 106, the system 100 may include one or more device 102 configured in the mesh network 106, where the one or more devices 102 configured to transmit and receive information over the mesh network 106. The RTC 104 may be operatively coupled to each of the one or more devices 104 in the mesh network 106. A processor 108 explained in FIG. 1B in detail below, operatively coupled to the one or more devices 102, the processor 108 operatively coupled with a memory 110 explained in FIG. 1B in detail below.
[0035] FIG. 1B illustrates an exemplary functional component of the device 102, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 1B, the devices 102 may include processor 108, where the processor 108 may be implemented as one or more microprocessors, microcomputers, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, central processing units, logic circuitries, and/or any devices that manipulate data based on operational instructions. Among other capabilities, the processor 108 are configured to fetch and execute computer-readable instructions stored in a memory 110 of the device 102. The memory 110 may store one or more computer-readable instructions or routines, which may be fetched and executed to create or share the data units over a network service. The memory 110 may comprise any non-transitory storage device including, for example, volatile memory such as RAM, or non-volatile memory such as EPROM, flash memory, and the like.
[0036] The device may also comprise an interface 112, which may include a variety of interfaces, for example, interfaces for data input and output devices, referred to as I/O devices, storage devices, and the like. The interface 112 may facilitate communication of the system 100. The RTC 104 coupled to the processor 108. A display 114 coupled to the processor 108, where the display 114 is utilized to provide an electronically generated human readable output of energy consumption.
[0037] In another embodiment, the processor 108 configured to activate, the one or more devices 102, to monitor a set of values of the RTC 104 in a predefined time interval. The processor 108 configured to determine, from the set of values, a deviation of any of the determined set of values of the RTC of the one or more devices based on comparison of the any of the set of values with corresponding desirable ranges for the set of values, where the deviation of any of the determined set of values of the RTC 104 may be caused due to any or a combination of RTC corruption, and battery failure.
[0038] When the deviation is determined for any of the set of values of the RTC 104 of at least one device of the one or more devices 104, the processor 108 configure to operate the at least one device of the one or more devices 102 to communicate with the other one or more devices 10 in the mesh network 106 to recover the deviated set of values of the at least one device from the one or more devices 102 in the mesh network 106, where the recovered set of values of the RTC 104 from the one or more devices 102 in the mesh network 106 enable to counter the deviation.
[0039] For example, the devices i.e., the energy meters are connected in the mesh network, all devices in the network are either directly or through hopping connected to other devices. Periodically and during power-on, the device may check any failure in RTC. If there is any failure, the device may communicate with another device in the network, to get the right RTC value and correct its own RTC value.
[0040] Therefore, RTC synchronization achieved without disturbing regular communication activity in the mesh network. The system 100 can check the failure in the RTC value and recover the correct RTC value effectively in the mesh network. The RTC recovery in case of RTC corruption and battery failure in one of the devices in mesh network can be achieved effectively. The energy meters in the present disclosure may transmit usage data wirelessly through the mesh network, thereby the costs to the utility provider can be reduced. The system 100 can further improve the data transmission reliability and can manage the time effectively.
[0041] FIG. 2 illustrate an exemplary flow diagram 200 of a method for RTC synchronization in mesh network, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0042] Referring to FIG. 2, method 200 provided for RTC synchronization in the mesh network. The method 200 can be implemented using a computing device, which can include one or more processors. At block 202, one or more devices may be operable to monitor the set of values of the RTC in the predefined time interval, where the one or more devices configured in the mesh network, the one or more devices configured to transmit and receive information over the mesh network, and the one or more devices operatively coupled to the computing device. The RTC operatively coupled to each of the one or more devices in the mesh network.
[0043] At block 204, the computing device may be configured to determine, from the set of values, deviation of any of the determined set of values of the RTC of the one or more devices based on comparison of the any of the set of values with corresponding desirable ranges for the set of values. At block 206, when the deviation is determined for any of the set of values of the RTC of at least one device of the one or more devices, the processor configured to operate the at least one device of the one or more devices to communicate with the other one or more devices in the mesh network to recover the deviated set of values of said at least one device from the one or more devices in the mesh network, and where, the recovered set of values of the RTC from the one or more devices in the mesh network enable to counter the deviation.
[0044] The computing device may include processor 108 that can be in communication with each of a memory 110, and input/output units 112. The processor 108 may include a microprocessor or other devices capable of being programmed or configured to perform computations and instruction processing in accordance with the disclosure. Such other devices may include microcontrollers, digital signal processors (DSP), complex programmable logic device (CPLD), field programmable gate arrays (FPGA), application-specific assimilated circuits (ASIC), discrete gate logic, and/or other assimilated circuits, hardware or firmware in lieu of or in addition to a microprocessor.
[0045] The memory 110 can include programmable software instructions that are executed by the processor. The processor 108 may be embodied as a single processor or a number of processors. The processor 108 and a memory 110 may each be, for example, located entirely within a single computer or other computing devices. The memory 110, which enables storage of data and programs, may include random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), flash memory and any other form of readable and writable storage medium.
[0046] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary computer system in which or with which embodiments of the present invention can be utilized in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0047] As shown in FIG. 3, computer system 300 includes an external storage device 310, a bus 320, a main memory 330, a read only memory 340, a mass storage device 350, communication port 360, and a processor 370. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that computer system may include more than one processor and communication ports. Examples of processor 370 include, but are not limited to, an Intel® Itanium® or Itanium 2 processor(s), or AMD® Opteron® or Athlon MP® processor(s), Motorola® lines of processors, FortiSOC™ system on a chip processors or other future processors. Processor 370 may include various modules associated with embodiments of the present invention. Communication port 360 can be any of an RS-232 port for use with a modem-based dialup connection, a 10/100 Ethernet port, a Gigabit or 10 Gigabit port using copper or fibre, a serial port, a parallel port, or other existing or future ports. Communication port 360 may be chosen depending on a network, such a Local Area Network (LAN), Wide Area Network (WAN), or any network to which computer system connects.
[0048] Memory 330 can be Random Access Memory (RAM), or any other dynamic storage device commonly known in the art. Read only memory 340 can be any static storage device(s) e.g., but not limited to, a Programmable Read Only Memory (PROM) chips for storing static information e.g., start-up or BIOS instructions for processor 370. Mass storage 350 may be any current or future mass storage solution, which can be used to store information and/or instructions. Exemplary mass storage solutions include, but are not limited to, Parallel Advanced Technology Attachment (PATA) or Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) hard disk drives or solid-state drives (internal or external, e.g., having Universal Serial Bus (USB) and/or Firewire interfaces), e.g. those available from Seagate (e.g., the Seagate Barracuda 7200 family) or Hitachi (e.g., the Hitachi Deskstar 7K1000), one or more optical discs, Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) storage, e.g. an array of disks (e.g., SATA arrays), available from various vendors including Dot Hill Systems Corp., LaCie, Nexsan Technologies, Inc. and Enhance Technology, Inc.
[0049] Bus 320 communicatively couples processor(s) 370 with the other memory, storage, and communication blocks. Bus 320 can be, e.g. a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) / PCI Extended (PCI-X) bus, Small Computer System Interface (SCSI), USB or the like, for connecting expansion cards, drives and other subsystems as well as other buses, such a front side bus (FSB), which connects processor 370 to software system.
[0050] Optionally, operator and administrative interfaces, e.g. a display, keyboard, and a cursor control device, may also be coupled to bus 320 to support direct operator interaction with computer system. Other operator and administrative interfaces can be provided through network connections connected through communication port 360. External storage device 310 can be any kind of external hard-drives, floppy drives, IOMEGA® Zip Drives, Compact Disc - Read Only Memory (CD-ROM), Compact Disc - Re-Writable (CD-RW), Digital Video Disk - Read Only Memory (DVD-ROM). Components described above are meant only to exemplify various possibilities. In no way should the aforementioned exemplary computer system limit the scope of the present disclosure.
[0051] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the system 100 of the disclosure may be provided using some or all of the mentioned features and components without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. While various embodiments of the present disclosure have been illustrated and described herein, it will be clear that the disclosure is not limited to these embodiments only. Numerous modifications, changes, variations, substitutions, and equivalents will be apparent to those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure, as described in the claims.

ADVANTAGES OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE
[0052] The present disclosure provides a system that can ensure RTC synchronization without interrupting regular communication activity in the mesh network.
[0053] The present disclosure provides a system that can check the failure in the RTC value and recover the correct RTC value effectively in the mesh network.
[0054] The present disclosure provides a system, which can ensure RTC recovery in case of RTC corruption and battery failure in one of the devices in the mesh network.
[0055] The present disclosure provides a system that may transmit usage data wirelessly through mesh network, thereby the costs to the utility providers can be reduced.
[0056] The present disclosure provides a system that can improve the data transmission reliability.
[0057] The present disclosure provides a system that can manage the time effectively.