Page 423 - Unleashing the potenti al of the Internet of Things

Unleashing the potential of the Internet of Things 4

The basic characteristic of USN applications and services are gathering data by sensor networks and
data transmission to a remote server through communication networks. Also, control information is
transmitted to sensor networks from the remote server. Furthermore, if USN middleware is
deployed, the middleware can provide USN applications or sensor networks with various functions
such as data query, data mining, event processing, sensor network metadata directory service, data
filtering, context-aware rule processing and sensor network management.
These USN features can be applied to smart metering services. Sensor nodes in sensor networks
have the capabilities of metering and delivering metered information to a server at a utility control
centre. USN middleware can provide functions which are required by an on-demand remote meter
reading scenario and a demand response meter reading scenario.

A smart metering system can be implemented by sensor nodes and USN middleware as follows:
– Smart metering sensor nodes: Each sensor node may have smart metering capabilities,
therefore, sensor nodes can act as smart meters supporting the processing of smart metering
information for smart metering procedures, such as meter reading collection and tariff setting.
– Smart metering gateway: A sensor network gateway or a USN gateway is capable of
connecting a sensor network to another network with different architecture or protocols,
permitting information exchange between them. Therefore a sensor network gateway or a
USN gateway can be used as a smart metering gateway. A smart metering gateway is only
responsible for delivering information between the sensor nodes (smart meters) and
metering operators. In cases where a gateway has smart metering capabilities, it collects
meter reading data and then delivers it to the metering operator(s).
– USN middleware [ITU-T F.744]: USN middleware provides data filtering, data query, data
mining and context-aware rule processing, etc. These features of USN middleware satisfy
meter reading data processing requirements and can be applied to an on-demand remote
meter reading scenario and a demand response meter reading scenario.

a)
Servers
Smart metering operator

Transport network

a) USN gateway
USN gateway

Sensor node a)
(smart metering)
Sensor networks

Smart home
Smart building
a) F.747.1(12)_F03
USN middleware is optionally included

Figure 3 – Smart metering services based on USN

Rec. ITU-T Y.4251/F.747.1 (06/2012) 409