Trilliant Communications Hub

Trilliant Communications Hub

The Trilliant Communications Hub is the first generally available communications hub designed to support the initial deployment stage of smart meters and the first to address issues of multi-supplier and multi-device interoperability from the ground up. The Communications Hub is designed for European markets and offers both GPRS WAN and Zigbee Smart Energy Profile 1.1 HAN connectivity in a single, integrated package.  In addition to this, the hub supports the emerging dual protocol of DLMS over Zigbee, ensuring that interoperability with a multitude of Zigbee enabled devices is simple to achieve.  The roadmap includes introduction of other WAN and HAN communications technologies such as mesh and long range radio to ensure future proofed interoperability.

Benefits 

The Hub allows various retailers and energy suppliers to deliver their smart services into households, offering transparency to the consumer on energy cost and usage, and allows them to make smarter decisions about their energy use. It also allows multiple devices which contribute to home energy usage to be monitored, whilst also offering retailers the opportunity to provide value-added benefits which will increase customer satisfaction.

• Acts as a communications bridge, supporting both WAN and HAN connections for Smart Metering

• Connects electric meters, gas meters, in-home displays and other smart energy devices.

• Supports open standards including Zigbee SEP and SSWG extensions

• Completely secure, stand alone architecture means that supplier choice and interoperability is maintained

• Acts as trust centre for wide range of Zigbee enabled devices in the home.

• Supports DLMS over zigbee, meaning that end-to-end security is possible without translation for new device types in the future.

Technology

Using the ZigBee Smart Energy Profile (SEP), the Hub operates as a central point in a HAN of up to 16 Smart Energy devices.  The Hub compiles metering data from multiple devices and reports the data back to the Head-End Software as configured, typically during non-peak periods.  Communications via the WAN are minimized so that power consumption is very low even while maintaining connections with all associated HAN devices. 

WAN connectivity is supported by a quad-band GPRS radio.  The Hub employs standard IP protocols for communications to and from the Head-End Software and, additionally, SMS messaging is used to allow on-demand requests from the Head-End Software to the Hub.  The primary service provider and roaming network information are configurable, enabling communications wherever GPRS service is available.  The WAN antenna is internal, but an SMA connector supports an optional external antenna for installations in areas of poor cellular coverage.