mixing rf and plc technology for high-performance multi...
TRANSCRIPT
Mixing RF and PLC technology for high-performance multi-service smart metering, smart grid and IoT platforms Daniel POPA, PhD Itron Technology Center, CTO Office
WSPLC - September 2015
AGENDA
Summary
Itron presentation
Technology transformation
ACT RIVA technology: mixing RF & PLC for future proof IPv6 solutions
Open research areas
3
SUMMARY
Simplified deployment (low CAPEX)
Planning, Install & Initial field optimization (phase selection for PLC)
Low cost of operation (OPEX)
Self-healing: “fast” recovery from (router) failure w/o human intervention
Self-balancing: network load balancing
Self-optimization: best performance at any time
Assured connectivity (99%+) due to increased link diversity
There will always be weak PLC and/or RF links
Highest possible speed while maximizing network coverage
Multi-utility platform
RF links for gas, water, heat meters
IoT-ready platform
RF links to connect IP sensors to the network
Why RF and PLC mix is important for utilities (and beyond)?
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MESH NETWORKING TECHNOLOGY LANDSCAPE FOR MIXED RF AND PLC SOLUTIONS
IEEE 802.15.4/4e/4g (RF link) (2012)
IEEE 1901.2 (narrowband PLC) (2013)
IEEE 802.1x (for authentication - EAPOL)
IEEE 802.11 key management
IETF RPL routing protocol
IETF IPv6 networking protocols
IETF EAP-TLS
L1-L4 Interoperability profiles
WiSUN for RF interface
HomePlug Netricity for PLC interface
Everything is available for the foundation of smart city and IoT
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TECHNOLOGY LANDSCAPE FOR SMART GRID SOLUTIONS
ITRON PRESENTATION
INDUSTRY LEADER IN COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES & SOLUTIONS FOR ENERGY AND WATER UTILITIES
7
110mln COMMUNICATION
MODULES
(RF, PLC, Cellular)
8,000 + CUSTOMERS IN 130 COUNTRIES
8,000+ EMPLOYEES
2.2bn 2012 REVENUE USD
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFORMATION
THE MOBILE PHONE REVOLUTION Communications and Applications
2010
BASIC MOBILE PHONE & SMS
SMART PHONE: Eco-system for non-Telco-voice
applications – transact, navigate communicate share, device control, data access,
new business streams
INTERNET
Vs
4 years
2014
9
?
HOW TO REVOLUTIONISE SMART METERING ?
Yesterday
Vs
Today
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Communications and Applications
Itron Riva™ BASIC METERING
FUNCTIONS
SMART METER: Eco-system for smart metering, smart
grid, distributed intelligence & analytics, smart city and IoT
applications
IPv6
With communication infrastructure covering city/region/nation wide areas, utilities are well placed to be a key player in smart city & IoT market
ITRON RIVA ACT TECHNOLOGY
THE SYSTEM VIEW
MDM
Field Area Network (FAN)
Neighborhood area network (NAN)
Smart IPv6 Devices
WAN Backhaul
IPv6 RF/PLC Mesh
MDM Security Infrastructure
Security network infrastructure
Network Management System
Asset Visualization
Topology Discovery
Comm. Firmware Download
Diagnostics Outage and Restoration
Config. Management
Security Management
Perf.Metric Collection
Monitoring of Network status
AAA/ RADIUS
Security appliances
Grid Devices
Meters Distributed Generation and Storage
Electric Vehicles
In-Home Devices
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E2E NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE: FEATURES & SERVICES
IEEE link-layer cryptography
(encryption and authentication)
(RF&PLC)
IEEE link-layer cryptography
(encryption and authentication)
(RF & PLC)
IEEE link-layer cryptography
(encryption and authentication)
(RF & PLC)
Border Router
AS Router
AAA/RADIUS, DNS, DHCPv6
DB
NMS
DB
MDM
IPv6 traffic
IPv4/IPv6 Internet
Utility IT LAN, or hosted services, or Cloud
Field router
Field router
Field router
IPv6 (V)LAN
IPv6 mesh
Field router is not a data concentrator but a real IP router The reality check for true end-to-end IPv6 network is to run ICMPv6 ping/traceroute from any head-end IPv6 device
ADAPTIVE COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY An Intelligent Network
WHAT IS ADAPTATIVE COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ACT)?
One Self Optimizing
Zero-Touch Deployment
Network
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Multiple RF Modulations
IEEE 802.15.4g (DSSS, FSK, OFDM)
Multiple-PLC Modulations
IEEE 1901.2 (8PSK/QPSK/BPSK/ROBO)
Single chipset (software defined radio)
A REVOLUTIONARY APPROACH TO COMMUNICATIONS
RF Mesh AND Power Line Carrier (PLC) Mesh on every device and in the same chipset
Network dynamically self-selects best communication path
Assured connectivity at highest possible speed
Simplified zero-touch deployment and reduced infrastructure
Performance to support smart grid and smart cities applications
Lower cost of ownership
SOLVING KEY CONNECTIVITY CHALLENGES
Lowest cost path to maximum device coverage
Delivers assured network connectivity
Simplified deployments: Planning, Install, Optimization, Maintenance
Extended range modulations: addresses fringe and hard to reach devices
High speed links: increased capacity and lower latency
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FLEXIBILITY FOR FUTURE APPLICATIONS The Internet of Things (IoT) enabled by IPv6 Multi-Service and ACT
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EASE OF DEPLOYMENT
Cost of Deployment
10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Co
st /
Dif
ficu
lty
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Percentage Completion of Deployment
EASE OF DEPLOYMENT
10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Co
st /
Dif
ficu
lty
20
Percentage Completion of Deployment
Flattening the cost curve
Adaptive Communications Technology
TRADITIONAL PLC VS ACT APPROACH
Traditional PLC Infrastructure Meters will mesh (or not) amongst each other,
but all comms are limited by LV network under each distribution area
At least 1 concentrator/router is needed for each distribution area
Distribution Area 1
HEAD-END
SYSTEM Cisco NMS
IEE MDM
RF Mesh
PLC
PLC Concentrator DT
Distribution Area 2
PLC Concentrator DT
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WAN Backhaul
TRADITIONAL PLC VS ACT APPROACH
ACT Infrastructure Meters will mesh amongst each other, either via
PLC or RF, without LV limiting, as the RF signal can cross from one distribution area to another
1 FAR (Field Area Router) would be able to manage comms with up to thousands of end-points
Distribution Area 1
DT
Distribution Area 2
DT
FAR
WAN Backhaul
RF Mesh
PLC
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HEAD-END
SYSTEM
FAILURE RECOVERY
DT
NAN 1
WAN Backhaul
RF Mesh
PLC
Distribution Area 1
DT
Distribution Area 2
DT
NAN 2
Distribution Area 3
DT
Distribution Area 4
ACT Infrastructure In case 1 FAR is out all meters previously
belonging to its network would find another path (another network) to reach other FARs
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HEAD-END
SYSTEM
DT
NAN 1
WAN Backhaul
RF Mesh
PLC
Distribution Area 1
DT
Distribution Area 2
DT
NAN 2
Distribution Area 3
DT
Distribution Area 4
ACT Infrastructure In case 1 FAR is out all meters previously
belonging to its NAN would find another path (another NAN) to reach other FARs
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HEAD-END
SYSTEM
FAILURE RECOVERY
OPEN RESEARCH AREAS
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A FEW OPEN TOPICS FOR RESEARCH
TCP over mesh network (studied in the past, but still an open area for research)
expectation is to have open source implementations to be made available to industry
Traffic analysis and mathematical modelling for mesh networks carrying smart metering & smart grid and in the future IoT traffic
Analytical models for performance analysis of mixed RF/PLC mesh networks
Fail-over/hand-over algorithms between different technologies
Efficient multicast routing & forwarding in mesh networks
multicast is an key feature for scale
Link Quality and Routing metrics for PLC
multiple-data PLC bit rates
channel variability, etc.
Etc.
QUESTIONS ?