Smart Grid Communications: Overview of Research Challenges, Solutions, and Standardization Activities

Optimization of energy consumption in future intelligent energy networks (or Smart Grids) will be based on grid-integrated near-real-time communications between various grid elements in generation, transmission, distribution and loads. This paper discusses some of the challenges and opportunities of communications research in the areas of smart grid and smart metering. In particular, we focus on some of the key communications challenges for realizing interoperable and future-proof smart grid/metering networks, smart grid security and privacy, and how some of the existing networking technologies can be applied to energy management. Finally, we also discuss the coordinated standardization efforts in Europe to harmonize communications standards and protocols.Comment: To be published in IEEE Communications Surveys and Tutorial

A Delay-Optimal Packet Scheduler for M2M Uplink

In this paper, we present a delay-optimal packet scheduler for processing the M2M uplink traffic at the M2M application server (AS). Due to the delay-heterogeneity in uplink traffic, we classify it broadly into delay-tolerant and delay-sensitive traffic. We then map the diverse delay requirements of each class to sigmoidal functions of packet delay and formulate a utility-maximization problem that results in a proportionally fair delay-optimal scheduler. We note that solving this optimization problem is equivalent to solving for the optimal fraction of time each class is served with (preemptive) priority such that it maximizes the system utility. Using Monte-Carlo simulations for the queuing process at AS, we verify the correctness of the analytical result for optimal scheduler and show that it outperforms other state-of-the-art packet schedulers such as weighted round robin, max-weight scheduler, fair scheduler and priority scheduling. We also note that at higher traffic arrival rate, the proposed scheduler results in a near-minimal delay variance for the delay-sensitive traffic which is highly desirable. This comes at the expense of somewhat higher delay variance for delay-tolerant traffic which is usually acceptable due to its delay-tolerant nature.Comment: Accepted for publication in IEEE MILCOM 2016 (6 pages, 7 figures

Software Defined Networks based Smart Grid Communication: A Comprehensive Survey

The current power grid is no longer a feasible solution due to ever-increasing user demand of electricity, old infrastructure, and reliability issues and thus require transformation to a better grid a.k.a., smart grid (SG). The key features that distinguish SG from the conventional electrical power grid are its capability to perform two-way communication, demand side management, and real time pricing. Despite all these advantages that SG will bring, there are certain issues which are specific to SG communication system. For instance, network management of current SG systems is complex, time consuming, and done manually. Moreover, SG communication (SGC) system is built on different vendor specific devices and protocols. Therefore, the current SG systems are not protocol independent, thus leading to interoperability issue. Software defined network (SDN) has been proposed to monitor and manage the communication networks globally. This article serves as a comprehensive survey on SDN-based SGC. In this article, we first discuss taxonomy of advantages of SDNbased SGC.We then discuss SDN-based SGC architectures, along with case studies. Our article provides an in-depth discussion on routing schemes for SDN-based SGC. We also provide detailed survey of security and privacy schemes applied to SDN-based SGC. We furthermore present challenges, open issues, and future research directions related to SDN-based SGC.Comment: Accepte