Systems and methods for grouping mesh networks. Mesh networks enable energy data to be transferred from an energy sensing device to a destination device using various networks and reduces the need to install metering stations. Embodiments of the invention join or group mesh networks that otherwise are not able to communicate. The connections between the grouped mesh networks can be passive using directional antennas or passive antennas or active using higher power RF devices, solar repeaters, mobile mesh devices, etc. The energy data is routed in a smart manner, by performing load balancing at gateways, by monitoring the signal to noise ratio of available communication paths, etc. Mesh clusters can also be created to define low power clusters, address blocking clusters, and frequency based clusters. Grouping clusters facilitates the efficient transfer of energy data from an energy sensing device to a energy management station.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/892,837, entitled "Methods and Apparatus for Retrieving Energy Readings from an Energy Monitoring Device" and filed Jul. 16, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,089,089, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/488,700 filed Jul. 18, 2003 and entitled "A Wireless Communication Network and RF Devices for Non-Intrusive Energy Monitoring and Control". This application is also related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/083,909 entitled "Solar Powered Radio Frequency Device Within an Energy Sensor System" and filed Mar. 18, 2005, and to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/122,380, entitled "Data Integrity in a Mesh Network" and filed the same day as the present application. The foregoing applications are incorporated by reference in their entirety.
