Network architecture for home energy management system

This paper describes a network architecture for home energy management system (HEMS). To realize HEMS, networked appliances with control/monitor capabilities and home network without new wiring are indispensable. However, appliances with no expansive functions and conventional power-line carrier communication deteriorated by its interference have made it difficult to built advanced HEMS. We propose network architecture to solve these problems. The network capability is divided to, minimum interface software embedded in appliance and a separated network adapter. This architecture gives appliances network-ready capabilities without increasing cost. Dispersed-tone power line communication (DTPLC) was also developed for no-new-wire network. DTPLC modem avoids narrow-band power line noise and co-exists with conventional narrow-band power line communication. Network adapter with DTPLC modem was implemented and the network architecture proved effective in the field evaluation of HEMS.