Method and apparatus for reporting power down events in a network node without a backup energy storage device

1. A computer implemented method for reporting power down events in mesh nodes without a backup energy storage device comprising:

listening, by a powered node in a network, for a heartbeat of a neighboring node, wherein the neighboring node does not have a backup energy storage device;

pinging the neighboring node when a heartbeat is not heard within a predefined time period;

failing to receive a response to the ping from the neighboring node;

in response to failing to receive the response to the ping, determining a number of communication failures that are acceptable for the neighboring node before a true failure is declared;

continue pinging the neighboring node until the neighboring node responds or until the acceptable number of communication failures has been reached, wherein the acceptable number of communications failures is a preconfigured number specific to the neighboring node based on historic response times of the neighboring node;

determining the neighboring node has experienced a power down event when the acceptable number of communication failures has been reached and the neighboring node has failed to respond; and

sending, by the powered node, a message toward a head end server indicating a power down event of the neighboring node.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining by the powered node one or more neighboring nodes that do not have a backup energy storage device.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

monitoring the network, by the powered node for a disturbance on the network; and

pinging the neighboring node when a disturbance is detected.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein a disturbance is one of an indication of a power failure from a node on the network or a failure to receive an expected acknowledgement from a node on the network.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indication of whether a node has a power supply and the acceptable number of communication failures for a given node is maintained by the powered node in a table of neighboring nodes.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the acceptable number of communication failures for a node is based on previous response times for the node.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the powered node is one of a smart meter, an Internet of Things device, a Bluetooth device, or an Industrial Internet of Things device.

8. A system for reporting power down events in mesh nodes without a backup energy storage device, comprising:

a plurality of devices, wherein each device comprises:

a) at least one processor;

b) at least one input device; and

c) at least one storage device storing processor-executable instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, perform a method including:

listening, by a powered node in a network, for a heartbeat of a neighboring node, wherein the neighboring node does not have a backup energy storage device;

pinging the neighboring node when a heartbeat is not heard within a predefined time period;

failing to receive a response to the ping from the neighboring node;

in response to failing to receive the response to the ping, determining a number of communication failures that are acceptable for the neighboring node before a true failure is declared;

continue pinging the neighboring node until the neighboring node responds or until the acceptable number of communication failures has been reached;

determining the neighboring node has experienced a power down event when the acceptable number of communication failures has been reached and the neighboring node has failed to respond, wherein the acceptable number of communications failures is a preconfigured number specific to the neighboring node based on historic response times of the neighboring node; and

sending, by the powered node, a message toward a head end server indicating a power down event of the neighboring node.

9. The system of claim 8 , further comprising determining by the powered node one or more neighboring nodes that do not have a backup energy storage device.

10. The system of claim 8 , further comprising:

monitoring the network, by the powered node for a disturbance on the network; and

pinging the neighboring node when a disturbance is detected.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein a disturbance is one of an indication of a power failure from a node on the network or a failure to receive an expected acknowledgement from a node on the network.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the indication of whether a node has a power supply and the acceptable number of communication failures for a given node is maintained by the powered node in a table of neighboring nodes, and wherein the acceptable number of communication failures for a node is based on previous response times for the node.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the powered node is one of a smart meter, an Internet of Things device, a Bluetooth device, or an Industrial Internet of Things device.

14. A non-transitory computer readable medium for storing computer instructions that, when executed by at least one processor causes the at least one processor to perform a method for reporting power down events in mesh nodes without a backup energy storage device, comprising:

listening, by a powered node in a network, for a heartbeat of a neighboring node, wherein the neighboring node does not have a backup energy storage device;

pinging the neighboring node when a heartbeat is not heard within a predefined time period;

failing to receive a response to the ping from the neighboring node;

in response to failing to receive the response to the ping, determining a number of communication failures that are acceptable for the neighboring node before a true failure is declared, wherein the acceptable number of communications failures is a preconfigured number specific to the neighboring node based on historic response times of the neighboring node;

continue pinging the neighboring node until the neighboring node responds or until the acceptable number of communication failures has been reached;

determining the neighboring node has experienced a power down event when the acceptable number of communication failures has been reached and the neighboring node has failed to respond; and

sending, by the powered node, a message toward a head end server indicating a power down event of the neighboring node.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 , further comprising determining by the powered node one or more neighboring nodes that do not have a backup energy storage device.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 , further comprising:

monitoring the network, by the powered node for a disturbance on the network; and

pinging the neighboring node when a disturbance is detected.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16 , wherein a disturbance is one of an indication of a power failure from a node on the network or a failure to receive an expected acknowledgement from a node on the network.