internet metering introduction

Internet Metering 29.04.2005 / 1

Internet MeteringIntroduction

Contents: Introduction Hopes Facts Obstacles Solutions Summary

Harold Hayes, Product ManagerI+C MetersLandis+Gyr Africa

Internet


Introduction

The mobile communication and the Internet are technologies and markets, which are determined through a high dynamic. The assembling of the two subjects causes even higher expectations. Not only new services and applications, but also complete new business areas will be developed over the next few years.

In the practise the fulfilment of the expectations has been seen as not unproblematic. The transmission in the wireless environment is determined through low bandwidth, higher delay times, fundamental smaller reliability and high security needs. According to the situation the technologies as TCP and Internet applications have to be adapted.


Hopes

Standard Internet technology is available and can be used for metering

GPRS/Ethernet: Is always connected and the technology is cheap

GPRS/Ethernet: Reduced communication costs

Faster read out times

New applications


Facts

GPRS and Ethernet offers low-cost access to the Internet via TCP

Internet technologies are supported by the utility‘s IT-departments

PSTN modem banks are supported by the meter reading department

Existing infrastructure (Central station, LAN, meters etc.) can be upgraded to Internet Metering

Online monitoring

Ethernet replaces telephone lines in I+C buildings

Enabler as world wide energy data provider


Communication CostsCalculation example

Typical application:

Daily read-out time of 6 energy load profiles, TM=15min

Typical system:

Typical system parameters:

GSM read out time: 72s (via dlms)

GPRS data size: 10kByte

GSM/GPRSNetwork

Central station Meter



Tariffication model:

Provider, Vodacom SAhttp://www.vodacom.co.za

GSM: R0.99/min

GPRS: R0.02/10kByte

Typical data size per day:

Data (HDLC) per day: 6.2kByte

TCP overhead per day: 2.8kByte

Heart beats (HDLC) for 5 hours: 1.0kByte

Total: 10kByte



GSM Fix cost per year:

= 12*R 1490/month talk 1000

Variable cost per year:R433 = 72s*R 0. 0165 /Sec *365days/year

GPRS Fix cost per year:

12*R 1490/month talk 1000

Variable cost per year:R 73 =10kByte*R 0.02 /10kByte *365days/year

Cost saving per meter per year:R 360.62

Communication cost = f (Tariffication model, Data size)

R 360.62 * 5000 meters R 1.8 million per year


Solution: Internet Meter Gateway

Solution set: Internet Meter Gateway, VPN, Data encryption

Obstacles

Addressing: The meter cannot be addressed from the Internet:Shortage of IP addresses, Security.

System integration: Existing data acquisition systems do not accept access from the internet: Security, Scheduler based processes.

Unauthorized meter access Unauthorized changes to parameters or software in the meter Virus attacks to meter Data fraud Technology Lifetime: Internet -> 3 years, Metering -> 15

years


The Internet Meter Gateway Solution 1/2

Central Station

COM1

COM2

...

PSTNNetworkInternet

Gateway

= Replacing the modem bank

Virtual Comports


The Internet Meter Gateway Solution 2/2

Central Station

COM1

COM2

...

PSTNNetworkInternet

= System Security

DMZ

Gateway

F i r

e w

a l l

F i r

e w

a l l

Meter gate guard

Internet Meter Gateway in combination with the communication unit controls and restricts the access to the meter


How does the system work?

GRPS

privateGSM-Network

(e.g. Swisscom)

Internet

Central

Internet Meter Gateway

Intranet

Fix IP Address

Virtual Com Port connectio

n

Ethernet

Dynamic IP Addressing

2. Dynamic IP

Addressing

3. Subscribe to iMEGA

Meter x

4. Dial (ATDT...) via ComPort Dial

Meter x5. Meter Connected to central

1. Login to Network Pre-Settings

Fix IP address connects central

to iMEGA

IP Address of iMEGA and

Identifier

Fix IP Address connects iMEGA to

LAN/Internet


System migrationat central side

Migration cases: Communication technology: GSM, PSTN GPRS,

Ethernet Call process: central calls meter meter calls central Processing: sequential processing parallel processing

Implementation task: Installation of virtual modems

(Existing physical modems may remain) Installation of an Internet Meter Gateway in DMZ

Central station requirement Support of high communication delay times

At central station no conception change needed.


Data acquisition timesSequential versus parallel

Sequential data acquisition by using PSTN/GSM technology

Parallel data acquisition by using GPRS/Ethernet technology

M1 M2 M3 M4 M5 Mn+1

M1

M2

M3

M4

M5

Mn

Time saving compared to PSTN/GSM technology


Security at meter sideData encryption

Internet

001011010001001001010010100101010010010100101010101010101010101010010101010101010100100101010101100101001010

001011010001001001010010100101010010010100101010101010101010101010010101010101010100100101010101100101001010

Metering Company

Market Participant

001011010001001001010010100101010010010100101010101010101010101010010101010101010100100101010101100101001010

Signature Algorithm:Elliptic Curve (ECDSA) ISO/IEC 5946-1/2/3, ISO/IEC 7816

Key Length:192 Bit corresponding to RSA 1280 Bits


SummaryOpportunities with Internet Metering

A wireless connection (GPRS) or a connection via LAN (Ethernet Local Area Network) to the Internet is conveniently possible with TCP/IP.

Existing infrastructures such as central stations, LAN, meters, etc. can continue in use. The installation and maintenance costs are reduced, however, since for example no further central station modems are required.

Parallel data acquisition results in shorter acquisition times. With TCP/IP the meters can be permanently connected to the

central station to permit continuous monitoring of the meters. Nevertheless the communication costs with GPRS are significantly lower than with normal GSM mobile communication.

Worldwide Internet access and lower communication costs (there are also no roaming costs for connections abroad) make new applications possible, e.g. worldwide energy data providers.

internet metering introduction

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