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

1 . A method for decreasing data transfer traffic communicated in a data collection network, wherein the network comprises at least two network layers, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of data packets from a first network layer;

selecting a threshold capable of filtering redundant data packets received from the first network layer;

receiving a new data packet from the first network layer, wherein the new data packet comprises at least one characteristic; and

based in part on at least a comparison of the characteristic and the threshold, determining whether to transmit the new data packet from the first network layer to a second network layer.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

if a decision is made to transmit the new data packet, storing a portion of the new data packet in a data storage device and facilitating transmission of the new data packet to the second network layer.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one characteristic of the new data packet is based at least on one identifier.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the at least one identifier comprises at least one of: a meter module identifier, or a data packet identifier.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the new data packet comprises at least one of: meter collection data, utility consumption data, data based in part on time, or data based in part on usage of a utility.

6 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the data storage device comprises at least one of: a queue, a plurality of queues, a log queue, a plurality of log queues, a first in first out (FIFO) queue, a plurality of first in first out (FIFO) queues, a memory, a plurality of memories, RAM, a meter, a meter module, a router, a bridge, or a takeout device.

7 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the data storage device comprises a plurality of queues, wherein a grouping of data packets can be stored in a respective queue capable of receiving the grouping of data packets.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the grouping of data packets comprises at least one of: a data packet type, a data packet interval, a data packet sequential order from a particular meter module, a metering data packet group, or a status data packet group.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether to transmit the new data packet from the first network layer to a second network layer comprises:

determining a threshold based at least in part on a sequence number associated with at least one of the plurality of data packets; and

determining whether a sequence number associated with the new data packet meets or exceeds the threshold, wherein if the sequence number meets or exceeds the threshold, then determining that the new data packet is similar to at least one of the plurality of data packets.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the threshold comprises a sequence number difference threshold (SNDT).

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein determining whether to transmit the new data packet from the first network layer to a second network layer comprises:

determining a threshold based at least in part on a signal characteristic associated with at least one of the plurality of data packets; and

determining whether a signal characteristic associated with a new data packet meets or exceeds the threshold, wherein if the signal characteristic associated with the new data packet meets or exceeds the threshold, then determining that the new data packet is not similar to at least one of the plurality of data packets.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the signal characteristic associated with at least one of the plurality of data packets comprises at least one of: radio frequency (RF) link quality; signal strength; radio frequency (RF) signal strength indicator; or decaying average packet success rate.

13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein determining whether a newly received data packet is similar to at least one of the plurality of stored data packet to at least one of the plurality of data packets comprises:

determining a threshold based at least in part on a characteristic associated with at least one meter module; and

determining whether a characteristic associated with a particular meter module the new packet is associated with meets or exceeds the threshold, wherein if the threshold is not met or exceeded, then determining that the new data packet is similar to at least one of the plurality of data packets.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the characteristic associated with at least one meter module comprises at least one of: a decaying average packet success rate for a particular meter module.

15 . The method of claim 9 , wherein determining whether a newly received data packet is similar to at least one of the plurality of stored data packet to at least one of the plurality of data packets comprises:

determining a threshold based at least in part on a network-based characteristic; and

determining whether a network-based characteristic associated with the new data packet meets or exceeds the threshold, wherein if the threshold is not met or exceeded, then determining that the new data packet is similar to at least one of the plurality of data packets.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the network-based characteristic comprises at least one of the following: a network load associated with a network layer, a network load associated with a bridge, a network load associated with a takeout bridge, or a network load associated with a router.

17 . The method of claim 9 , wherein determining whether a newly received data packet is similar to at least one of the plurality of stored data packet to at least one of the plurality of data packets comprises:

determining a threshold based at least in part on a data packet-related characteristic; and

determining whether a data packet-related characteristic associated with the new data packet meets or exceeds the threshold, wherein if the threshold is not met or exceeded, then determining that the new data packet is similar to at least one of the plurality of data packets.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the threshold comprises at least one of the following: a normalized receive time difference threshold (NRTDT).

19 . 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 comprising:

receiving a plurality of data packets from a first network layer;

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;

receiving a new data packet from the first network layer;

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; and

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.

20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising:

if the portion of the new data packet is similar to a stored portion of at least one of the plurality of data packets, 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.

21 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the portion of the new data packet comprises at least one of: an identifier, a meter module identifier, or a data packet identifier.

22 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the new data packet comprises at least one of: meter collection data, utility consumption data, data based in part on time, or data based in part on usage of a utility.

23 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the data storage device comprises at least one of: a queue, a plurality of queues, a log queue, a plurality of log queues, a first in first out (FIFO) queue, a plurality of first in first out (FIFO) queues, a memory, a plurality of memories, RAM, a meter, a meter module, a router, a bridge, or a takeout device.

24 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the data storage device comprises a plurality of queues, wherein a grouping of data packets can be stored in a respective queue capable of receiving the grouping of data packets.

25 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the grouping of data packets comprises at least one of: a data packet type, a data packet interval, a data packet sequence order from a particular meter module, a metering data packet group, or a status data packet group.

26 . The method of claim 19 , wherein determining whether a portion of a new data packet is similar to a stored portion of at least one of the plurality of data packets comprises:

determining a threshold based at least in part on a sequence number associated with at least one of the plurality of data packets; and

determining whether a sequence number associated with the new data packet meets or exceeds the threshold, wherein if the sequence number meets or exceeds the threshold, then determining that the new data packet is similar.

27 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the threshold comprises a sequence number difference threshold (SNDT).

28 . The method of claim 19 , wherein determining whether a portion of a new data packet is similar to a stored portion of at least one of the plurality of data packets comprises:

determining a threshold based at least in part on a signal characteristic associated with at least one of the plurality of data packets; and

determining whether a signal characteristic associated with a new data packet meets or exceeds the threshold, wherein if the signal characteristic associated with the new data packet meets or exceeds the threshold, then determining that the new data packet is not similar.

29 . The method of claim 28 , wherein the signal characteristic associated with at least one of the plurality of data packets comprises at least one of: radio frequency (RF) link quality; signal strength; radio frequency (RF) signal strength indicator; or decaying average packet success rate.

30 . The method of claim 19 , wherein determining whether a newly received data packet is not similar to at least one of the plurality of stored data packets comprises:

determining a threshold based at least in part on a characteristic associated with at least one meter module; and

determining whether a characteristic associated with a particular meter module with which the new packet is associated with meets or exceeds the threshold, wherein if the threshold is not met or exceeded, then determining that the new data packet is similar.

31 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the characteristic associated with at least one meter module comprises: a decaying average packet success rate.

32 . The method of claim 19 , wherein determining whether a newly received data packet is not similar to at least one of the plurality of stored data packets comprises:

determining a threshold based at least in part on a network-based characteristic; and

determining whether a network-based characteristic associated with the new data packet meets or exceeds the threshold, wherein if the threshold is not met or exceeded, then determining that the new data packet is similar.

33 . The method of claim 32 , wherein the network-based characteristic comprises at least one of the following: a network load associated with a network layer, a network load associated with a bridge, a network load associated with a takeout bridge, or a network load associated with a router.

34 . The method of claim 19 , wherein determining whether a newly received data packet is similar to at least one of the plurality of stored data packets comprises:

determining a threshold based at least in part on a data packet-related characteristic; and

determining whether a data packet-related characteristic associated with the new data packet meets or exceeds the threshold, wherein if the threshold is not met or exceeded, then determining that the new data packet is similar.

35 . The method of claim 34 , wherein the threshold comprises at least one of the following: a normalized receive time difference threshold (NRTDT).

36 . A data collection system with a first network layer and a second network layer, the system comprising:

a plurality of meters adapted to collect data associated with consumption of a commodity;

a filtering engine adapted to reduce data traffic in the data collection system, the filtering engine capable of:

processing a plurality of data packets for transmission from a first network layer to a second network layer;

storing a portion of the plurality of data packets in a data storage device capable of transmitting at least some of the plurality of data packets from the first network layer to a second network layer;

determining whether a portion of a new data packet is similar to a stored portion of at least one of the plurality of data packets; and

if the portion of the new data packet is similar, 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.

37 . The system of claim 35 , wherein the filtering engine is further capable of:

if the portion of the new data packet is not similar, 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.

38 . A utility meter data collection system with at least two network layers, the system comprising:

a plurality of meter modules capable of transmitting utility data from a first network layer;

a filtering engine capable of:

processing a plurality of data packets received from the first network layer;

applying a threshold capable of filtering redundant data packets received from the first network layer;

processing a new data packet received from the first network layer, wherein the new data packet comprises at least one characteristic; and

based in part on at least a comparison of the characteristic and the threshold, determining whether to transmit the new data packet from the first network layer to a second network layer.

39 . The system of claim 38 , wherein the filtering engine is further capable of:

if a decision is made to transmit the new data packet, storing a portion of the new data packet in a data storage device and facilitating transmission of the new data packet to the second network layer.