Privacy-preserving Overgrid: Secure Data Collection for the Smart Grid

In this paper we present a privacy-preserving scheme for Overgrid, a fully distributed peer-to-peer (P2P) architecture designed to automatically control and implement distributed Demand Response (DR) schemes in a community of smart buildings with energy generation and storage capabilities. To monitor the power consumption of the buildings, while respecting the privacy of the users, we extend our previous Overgrid algorithms to provide privacy preserving data aggregation ( extit{PP-Overgrid}). This new technique combines a distributed data aggregation scheme with the Secure Multi-Party Computation paradigm. First, we use the energy profiles of hundreds of buildings, classifying the amount of ``flexible'' energy consumption, i.e. the quota which could be potentially exploited for DR programs. Second, we consider renewable energy sources and apply the DR scheme to match the flexible consumption with the available energy. Finally, to show the feasibility of our approach, we validate the PP-Overgrid algorithm in simulation for a large network of smart buildin

Blogging as a research and educational tool: a three years experience

Blogging can be also used to share knowledge in research and education. We have been using many blogs with the following purposes. One goal has been to raise awareness about research methods in the information technology _eld by supporting information exchange, collaboration, and cooperation between researchers. We have been using a common blog for 3 years to share inter- and intra disciplinary knowledge among us. We have also collected stories and interviewed colleagues and friends. An other goal is the use of blogs during our teaching experience as an instrument to support the exchange of knowledge with students. A comparison of the use of blogging is presented with positive and negative aspects that have been experienced