ICST 2011
Interconnecting ZigBee and 6LoWPAN
Wireless Sensor Networks
for Smart Grid Applications
Advisor: Quincy Wu
Speaker: Chia-Wen Lu
National Chi Nan University
Taiwan
Date: 2011/11/30
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Outline
 Internet of Things (IoT)
 Smart Grid
 Smart Grid-ZigBee
 Smart Grid-6LoWPAN
 ZigBee/6LoWPAN
 Problem
 Network management-SIP
 System architecture
 Conclusion and future work
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Internet of Things(IoT)
IoT
Fringe Internet
Home
Automation
Core
Internet
Smart
metering
01245012
Industrial
automation
Personal
Sensors
The Figure from:
http://6lowpan.net/
00000
Transportation
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IoT(cont.)
 In large scale IoT deployment there will be rich
combination of sensors and intelligent management schemes.
 Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) play a very
important role in IoT.
 WSNs are applied in many fields.
 This paper focus on the field of Smart Grid.
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Smart Grid
aggregation point
(translator)
Internet
00000
01245012
utility system
meter
Internet
ZigBee
The Figure from: Li-Wen Chen, “ZigBee/TCPIP Translators
in Smart Grid”, ICET2011
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Smart Grid-ZigBee
 IEEE 802.15.4 was proposed for wireless
personal area network communication.
 Physical layer and data link layer
 Characteristics: short distance transmission、low
power consumption、low cost
 ZigBee
 Based on IEEE 802.15.4
 Network layer and application layer
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Smart Grid-ZigBee(cont.)
 Local network and Internet
 ZigBee devices can communicate with each
other.
 ZigBee devices can not communicate with
servers directly on the Internet.
 An additional mechanism is required.
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Smart Grid-6LoWPAN
 6LoWPAN（IPv6 over Low-Power
Wireless Personal Area Networks）
 Based on IEEE 802.15.4
 Network layer – IPv6
 Compatible with Internet
 Do not need additional protocol translation.
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ZigBee/6LoWPAN
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Problem
 There is still no universal network management
protocol standard to manage two different types
of ZigBee and 6LoWPAN devices.
 This paper proposed Session Initiation Protocol
(SIP) application layer protocol to manage
ZigBee and 6LoWPAN WSNs.
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Network management-SIP
 Control communication protocol
 Point to point
 Multiple points
 Applications
 Voice over Internet Protocol(VoIP)
 Instant Message
 Network Management
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System Architecture
 IPv6 and SIP are added to the Smart Grid
management system.
 Smart Grid
 ZigBee-based
 6LoWPAN-based
 Hybrid
 SIP network management module
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ZigBee-based Smart Grid
system architecture
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6LoWPAN-based Smart Grid
system architecture
14
Hybrid Smart Grid
system architecture
6LoWPAN
ZigBee
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SIP network management module
Subscribe /
Notify
Instant Message
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Subscribe and Notify Module
 Servers can subscribe
data which it wants to
monitor from end
devices.
 Example:
 Electricity consumption
 Temperature of meter
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Instant Message Module
 Servers can send
commands to devices.
 Example:
 Shutting down or
starting devices
 Changing devices
settings
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Conclusion and future work
 This paper compared the communication
protocols between power plants and clients,
and suggested how network management
applications can be carried on these protocols.
 Two major network management protocols:
SNMP(Simple Network Management
Protocol)and SIP.
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Conclusion and future work (cont.)
 Comparing SNMP and SIP, especially analyzing
the transmission performance and the system
resources consumption on a device.
 This would allow administrators to manage
a smart grid with the best management protocol.
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