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AMR/AMI Comes of Age

AMR/AMI Comes of Age . Emerging Technology Solutions. Outline. Wireless Comes of Age Long Range two-way Tower Gateway Base-stations (TGBs) TGB Options Emerging Technology Communications Options QoS. Coming of Age.

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AMR/AMI Comes of Age

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  1. AMR/AMI Comes of Age Emerging Technology Solutions

  2. Outline • Wireless Comes of Age • Long Range two-way Tower Gateway Base-stations (TGBs) • TGB Options • Emerging Technology • Communications Options QoS Cordova AMR/AMI Coming of Age

  3. Coming of Age • Human meter readers – were relatively cheap; quick and easy to install; rugged and extremely reliable over long periods of use • Multiple types of AMR techniques and technologies • Wireless emerged- new problems including range limitations, spectrum interference and reliability issues • Financial concerns about future operational and support costs • Advanced AMR networks would provide the best solution to the “cash flow delay” – typically 30-90 days • 25% of water meters in the United States are now equipped with AMR Cordova AMR/AMI Coming of Age

  4. Long Range two-way Tower Gateway Base-stations (TGBs) • AMR fixed base networks typically need hundreds (sometimes thousands) of cellular pole-top, or meter-based data concentrators, collectors or repeaters • High infrastructure cost mostly from limited range of devices • TGB system delivers superior performance, lower infrastructure costs, minimizes maintenance overhead and reduce long-term deployment risks • Designed specifically to minimize infrastructure while maximizing range and signal reliability Cordova AMR/AMI Coming of Age

  5. TGB Range Criteria • Use the tallest existing radio towers and efficient high-gain antennas capable of receiving very weak signals • Acquire clear nationwide primary use licensed radio spectrum with a low noise floor • Design high power endpoints (2 Watts) with state-of-the-art, all digital modulation techniques • Design highly sensitive (-120 dBm to -130 dBm) all DSP based receiver base stations • Develop meter-to-meter “Buddy” relay mode for hard to reach meters (those in basements, behind line-of-sight barriers, mountainous regions, etc.) Cordova AMR/AMI Coming of Age

  6. Existing Tower Infrastructure • Over 4,000 existing tower sites covering over 90% of the population • Integrate seamlessly with existing paging equipment, which allows the sharing of power, antennae and data back-haul channels • Critical service real-time TGB tower monitoring and maintenance • Patented technology, long-range radio communications, low infrastructure cost, high reliability and existing tall towers provide a scalable fixed based network with high level of availability • Mature and proven technology Cordova AMR/AMI Coming of Age

  7. Illustration of a Long Range Radio Network Backhaul Connectivity Backhaul connectivity WiMax Mesh Topology Cordova AMR/AMI Coming of Age

  8. Option-Licensed/Private Frequency • Licensed for a section of the radio spectrum • Tower based radio infrastructure placed 5-15 miles apart • Towers placed at a much lower density than data concentrators • Each tower will have a modem to provide the backhaul connectivity • Speed of data transmission will depend on the frequency used • Sensus FlexNet solution is widely used in North America, particularly for one-way gas and water AMR services • Britain uses this type of communication mainly by National Grid as part of their SCADA systems • Sensus FlexNet solution provides 2 watts of broadcast power from the meters and 20 year battery life for gas and water AMR meters for daily updates • Municipal utilities in the US are utilizing existing metropolitan WiFi infrastructures for multi-utility metering services in cities such as Lafayette, Burbank and Corpus Christi • Anything wrong with this idea? Cordova AMR/AMI Coming of Age

  9. Sensus Flexnet Infrastructure Illustration TGB – Tower Gateway Base-station RNI – Regional Network Interface Cordova AMR/AMI Coming of Age

  10. Option-WiMax • Also known as 4G, WiMAX is a ‘last mile’ wireless solutuion • Based upon a cellular antenna infrastructure • Where Wi-Fi is viewed as a local technology, WiMAX is a neighborhood/metropolitan technology • Meter Hardware requires WiMAX chipset • Requires the installation of antennas in a cell • Structure with typical spacing of 3 to 10km, cost is falling • Data speeds vary by distance of the endpoint from the antenna, and the number of endpoints using the connection from that antenna • IEEE 802.16(x) defines the WiMAX standard • Power consumption of WiMAX hardware is high Cordova AMR/AMI Coming of Age

  11. Emerging Wired/Wireless Options • Femtocells are networks where low power wireless access points operating in licensed radio spectrums connect standard mobile devices to a mobile operator’s network using broadband connections • Could be applicable in the future of Metering Systems Cordova AMR/AMI Coming of Age

  12. Emerging Wired/Wireless Options, cont’d • Active Line Access (ALA) is a model whereby a gateway within premises is provided to support a range of services • Customer Premises Equipment is then installed • ALA discussions are still at a relatively early stage • Could an emerging Service Provider with service strategies similar to Akamai have a place in AMR/AMI systems to prevent DDoS attacks, provide alternate routing, remote availability, security? Cordova AMR/AMI Coming of Age

  13. Emerging Wired/Wireless Technologies, cont’d • Previously discussed topics • 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 Cordova AMR/AMI Coming of Age

  14. Communications QoS • Varieties of individual types of physical media can be used together to deliver connectivity • Any number of communications options could co-exist at any level of geographic granularity • Consideration on the effects of lawnmowers and power tools on Power Line Carrier services • Consideration of microwaves or Digital Enhanced Cordless Technology DECT telephones on wireless solutions – real world experience; dirtbike • Consideration on the effects on Wi-Fi and ZigBee operating at 2.4GHz • There are many discussions dismissing these issues as there are with those raising them Cordova AMR/AMI Coming of Age

  15. Conclusion • TGBs have lowered operational and maintenance costs while providing • Operational improvements • Supply side savings • New revenue opportunities • Customer Service Improvements • Emerging solutions take advantage of existing infrastructures, Service Providers, municipal Wifi’s, etc. • Not all ideas and solutions have a place in AMR/AMI • Consideration of QoS must be investigated on emerging technology since normal home activities may affect some solutions (such as mowing the lawn, tuning up a dirt bike, etc.) • Questions? Cordova AMR/AMI Coming of Age

  16. References • http://www.nextgenpe.com/article/Issue-1/AMI-AND-Smart-Grid/Taking-AMRAMI-to-New-Heights/ • http://www.energy-retail.org.uk/documents/BERRWANCommunicationsOptionsDefinition.pdf • http://www.akamai.com/ • http://www.wateramrresearch.com/ Cordova AMR/AMI Coming of Age

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