Managing adapted packet network architectures for smart IP-based services

摘要

The deployment of a great number of "smart applications" in the power delivery system requires new IP- or Ethernet-based communication services. Many existing applications are also evolving into the same networking directions. Packet switched networking requirements are therefore increasing substantially and expected to continue in the coming years. The migration of the operational telecom network to packet technologies is however largely moderated by some implicit qualities of the existing circuit-mode communication systems used for the last couple of decades and hence assumed as invariant by power applications. These attributes constitute the basis of the deterministic behaviour of the network allowing controlled and secure exchange of information across the power system. This deterministic and controlled behaviour of the communication network relies upon two supporting foundations: how does the network employ shared communication resources for prompt forwarding of different information flows from source to destination (i.e. architecture and operation principles), and the manner the network can be supervised, maintained, modified and extended (i.e. network management). The emergence and growth of operational packet communication technologies in the power system is largely dependent upon the aptitude to provide this deterministic and controlled behaviour as well as the capability of providing a gradual and smooth migration path from the existing network to the target one. The present paper aims to analyse and explore adapted packet switched network architectures and corresponding management solutions allowing power system telecom planners to adopt an overall strategy for non-disruptive deployment of operational packet switched networks. After a preliminary description of performance requirements the paper continues with a brief analysis of adapted architectures and technologies for fulfilling them operationally and maintaining them across the network's life cycle. Manageability is an essential issue in this respect and the paper explores architectural complexity, domain partitioning and hierarchical structuring in terms of operational network management highlighting features which enable service delivery through current power utility operational telecom skill sets and processes.