July 20091 Emerging Technology Solutions AMR/AMI Comes of Age.

July 2009 1

Emerging Technology Solutions

AMR/AMI Comes of Age

July 2009July 2009 Cordova AMR/ACordova AMR/AMI Coming of AgeMI Coming of Age

22

Outline Outline

Wireless Comes of AgeWireless Comes of Age Long Range two-way Tower Long Range two-way Tower

Gateway Base-stations Gateway Base-stations (TGBs)(TGBs)

TGB OptionsTGB Options Emerging TechnologyEmerging Technology Communications Options QoSCommunications Options QoS


33

Coming of AgeComing of Age

Human meter readers – were relatively cheap; quick Human meter readers – were relatively cheap; quick and easy to install; rugged and extremely reliable over and easy to install; rugged and extremely reliable over long periods of uselong periods of use

Multiple types of AMR techniques and technologies Multiple types of AMR techniques and technologies Wireless emerged- new problems including range Wireless emerged- new problems including range

limitations, spectrum interference and reliability limitations, spectrum interference and reliability issues issues

Financial concerns about future operational and Financial concerns about future operational and support costs support costs

Advanced AMR networks would provide the best Advanced AMR networks would provide the best solution to the “cash flow delay” – typically 30-90 days solution to the “cash flow delay” – typically 30-90 days

25% of water meters in the United States are now 25% of water meters in the United States are now equipped with AMR equipped with AMR


44

Long Range two-way Tower Long Range two-way Tower Gateway Base-stations Gateway Base-stations (TGBs)(TGBs) AMR fixed base networks typically need AMR fixed base networks typically need

hundreds (sometimes hundreds (sometimes thousands) of cellular ) of cellular pole-top, or meter-based data concentrators, pole-top, or meter-based data concentrators, collectors or repeaters collectors or repeaters

High infrastructure cost mostly from limited High infrastructure cost mostly from limited range of devicesrange of devices

TGB system delivers superior performance, TGB system delivers superior performance, lower infrastructure costs, minimizes lower infrastructure costs, minimizes maintenance overhead and reduce long-term maintenance overhead and reduce long-term deployment risksdeployment risks

Designed specifically to minimize infrastructure Designed specifically to minimize infrastructure while maximizing range and signal reliabilitywhile maximizing range and signal reliability


55

TGB Range CriteriaTGB Range Criteria

Use the tallest existing radio towers and efficient Use the tallest existing radio towers and efficient high-gain antennas capable of receiving very high-gain antennas capable of receiving very weak signalsweak signals

Acquire clear nationwide primary use licensed Acquire clear nationwide primary use licensed radio spectrum with a low noise floorradio spectrum with a low noise floor

Design high power endpoints (2 Watts) with Design high power endpoints (2 Watts) with state-of-the-art, all digital modulation techniquesstate-of-the-art, all digital modulation techniques

Design highly sensitive (-120 dBm to -130 dBm) Design highly sensitive (-120 dBm to -130 dBm) all DSP based receiver base stations all DSP based receiver base stations

Develop meter-to-meter “Buddy” relay mode for Develop meter-to-meter “Buddy” relay mode for hard to reach meters (those in basements, hard to reach meters (those in basements, behind line-of-sight barriers, mountainous behind line-of-sight barriers, mountainous regions, etc.)regions, etc.)


66

Existing Tower Existing Tower InfrastructureInfrastructure Over 4,000 existing tower sites covering over Over 4,000 existing tower sites covering over

90% of the population 90% of the population Integrate seamlessly with existing paging Integrate seamlessly with existing paging

equipment, which allows the sharing of power, equipment, which allows the sharing of power, antennae and data back-haul channelsantennae and data back-haul channels

Critical service real-time TGB tower monitoring Critical service real-time TGB tower monitoring and maintenance and maintenance

Patented technology, long-range radio Patented technology, long-range radio communications, low infrastructure cost, high communications, low infrastructure cost, high reliability and existing tall towers provide a reliability and existing tall towers provide a scalable fixed based network with high level of scalable fixed based network with high level of availabilityavailability

Mature and proven technologyMature and proven technology


77

Illustration of a LongIllustration of a Long Range Radio Network Range Radio Network

Backhaul connectivity

WiMax Mesh Topology

Backhaul Connectivity


88

Option-Licensed/Option-Licensed/Private FrequencyPrivate Frequency Licensed for a section of the radio spectrumLicensed for a section of the radio spectrum Tower based radio infrastructure placed 5-15 miles apartTower based radio infrastructure placed 5-15 miles apart Towers placed at a much lower density than data concentratorsTowers placed at a much lower density than data concentrators Each tower will have a modem to provide the backhaul Each tower will have a modem to provide the backhaul

connectivityconnectivity Speed of data transmission will depend on the frequency usedSpeed of data transmission will depend on the frequency used Sensus FlexNet solution is widely used in North America, Sensus FlexNet solution is widely used in North America,

particularly for one-way gas and water AMR servicesparticularly for one-way gas and water AMR services Britain uses this type of communication mainly by National Grid Britain uses this type of communication mainly by National Grid

as part of their SCADA systemsas part of their SCADA systems Sensus FlexNet solution provides 2 watts of broadcast power Sensus FlexNet solution provides 2 watts of broadcast power

from the meters and 20 year battery life for gas and water AMR from the meters and 20 year battery life for gas and water AMR meters for daily updatesmeters for daily updates

Municipal utilities in the US are utilizing existing metropolitan Municipal utilities in the US are utilizing existing metropolitan WiFi infrastructures for multi-utility metering services in cities WiFi infrastructures for multi-utility metering services in cities such as Lafayette, Burbank and Corpus Christisuch as Lafayette, Burbank and Corpus Christi

Anything wrong with this idea?Anything wrong with this idea?


99

Sensus Flexnet Sensus Flexnet Infrastructure IllustrationInfrastructure Illustration

TGB – Tower Gateway Base-stationRNI – Regional Network Interface


1010

Option-WiMaxOption-WiMax

Also known as 4G, WiMAX is a ‘last mile’ wireless Also known as 4G, WiMAX is a ‘last mile’ wireless solutuionsolutuion

Based upon a cellular antenna infrastructureBased upon a cellular antenna infrastructure Where Wi-Fi is viewed as a local technology, WiMAX Where Wi-Fi is viewed as a local technology, WiMAX

is a neighborhood/metropolitan technologyis a neighborhood/metropolitan technology Meter Hardware requires WiMAX chipsetMeter Hardware requires WiMAX chipset Requires the installation of antennas in a cellRequires the installation of antennas in a cell Structure with typical spacing of 3 to 10km, cost is Structure with typical spacing of 3 to 10km, cost is

fallingfalling Data speeds vary by distance of the endpoint from Data speeds vary by distance of the endpoint from

the antenna, and the number of endpoints using the the antenna, and the number of endpoints using the connection from that antennaconnection from that antenna

IEEE 802.16(x) defines the WiMAX standardIEEE 802.16(x) defines the WiMAX standard Power consumption of WiMAX hardware is highPower consumption of WiMAX hardware is high


1111

Emerging Emerging Wired/Wireless Wired/Wireless OptionsOptions

Femtocells are networks where low power Femtocells are networks where low power wireless access points operating in licensed radio wireless access points operating in licensed radio spectrums connect standard mobile devices to a spectrums connect standard mobile devices to a mobile operator’s network using broadband mobile operator’s network using broadband connectionsconnections

Could be applicable in the future of Metering Could be applicable in the future of Metering SystemsSystems


1212

Emerging Wired/Wireless Emerging Wired/Wireless Options, Options, cont’dcont’d

Active Line Access (ALA) is a model whereby a Active Line Access (ALA) is a model whereby a gateway within premises is provided to support gateway within premises is provided to support a range of servicesa range of services

Customer Premises Equipment is then installedCustomer Premises Equipment is then installed ALA discussions are still at a relatively early ALA discussions are still at a relatively early

stagestage• Could an emerging Service Provider with service Could an emerging Service Provider with service

strategies similar to Akamai have a place in strategies similar to Akamai have a place in AMR/AMI systems to prevent DDoS attacks, AMR/AMI systems to prevent DDoS attacks, provide alternate routing, remote availability, provide alternate routing, remote availability, security?security?


1313

Emerging Emerging Wired/Wireless Wired/Wireless Technologies, Technologies, cont’dcont’d

Previously discussed topicsPreviously discussed topics PLC - PLC - generally used for utility

applications, distribution and transmission operator SCADA systems, AMR, smart grid

Fixed Line – PSTN, xDSL – broadband, Cable

Wireless Solutions – cellular, low power radio (Zigbee, Mbus, Zwave),

Presentation Focus on Long Range Radio


1414

Communications QoSCommunications QoS

Varieties of individual types of physical media can Varieties of individual types of physical media can be used together to deliver connectivitybe used together to deliver connectivity

Any number of communications options could co-Any number of communications options could co-exist at any level of geographic granularityexist at any level of geographic granularity

Consideration on the effects of lawnmowers and Consideration on the effects of lawnmowers and power tools on Power Line Carrier servicespower tools on Power Line Carrier services

Consideration of microwaves or Digital Enhanced Consideration of microwaves or Digital Enhanced Cordless Technology DECT telephones on wireless Cordless Technology DECT telephones on wireless solutions – real world experience; dirtbikesolutions – real world experience; dirtbike

Consideration on the effects on Wi-Fi and ZigBee Consideration on the effects on Wi-Fi and ZigBee operating at 2.4GHz operating at 2.4GHz

There are many discussions dismissing these issues There are many discussions dismissing these issues as there are with those raising themas there are with those raising them


1515

ConclusionConclusion

TGBs have lowered operational and maintenance costs TGBs have lowered operational and maintenance costs while providing while providing – Operational improvementsOperational improvements– Supply side savingsSupply side savings– New revenue opportunitiesNew revenue opportunities– Customer Service ImprovementsCustomer Service Improvements

• Emerging solutions take advantage of existing Emerging solutions take advantage of existing infrastructures, Service Providers, municipal Wifi’s, etc. infrastructures, Service Providers, municipal Wifi’s, etc.

• Not all ideas and solutions have a place in AMR/AMINot all ideas and solutions have a place in AMR/AMI• Consideration of QoS must be investigated on emerging Consideration of QoS must be investigated on emerging

technology since normal home activities may affect some technology since normal home activities may affect some solutions (such as mowing the lawn, tuning up a dirt bike, solutions (such as mowing the lawn, tuning up a dirt bike, etc.) etc.)

• Questions?Questions?


1616

ReferencesReferences

http://www.nextgenpe.com/article/Issuhttp://www.nextgenpe.com/article/Issue-1/AMI-AND-Smart-Grid/Taking-AMRAe-1/AMI-AND-Smart-Grid/Taking-AMRAMI-to-New-Heights/MI-to-New-Heights/

http://www.energy-retail.org.uk/documhttp://www.energy-retail.org.uk/documents/BERRWANCommunicationsOptionents/BERRWANCommunicationsOptionsDefinition.pdfsDefinition.pdf

http://www.akamai.com/http://www.akamai.com/ http://www.wateramrresearch.com/http://www.wateramrresearch.com/

Date post:	21-Dec-2015
Category:	Documents
View:	216 times
Download:	1 times

July 20091 Emerging Technology Solutions AMR/AMI Comes of Age.

Documents