Wi-SUN Alliance Announces Completion of ECHONET HAN Profile Specification

TOKYO, Japan and MORGAN HILL, Calif., Jan. 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Wi-SUN Alliance announced, today, completion of the ECHONET HAN profile specification.  This follows the success of the Wi-SUN Alliance Communications Profile for ECHONET Lite connection between Smart Meter and HEMS controller, adopted by TEPCO for its B Route Wireless.  ECHONET Lite, "Energy Conservation & Homecare Network", has been specified by the ECHONET consortium and selected by METI for use in the HAN, 'Home Area Network', to enable efficient energy usage in people's homes.

The completion of this specification is a major step forward in the move for standardization and interoperability as required by the Smart Utility, Smart City and Smart Home infrastructures.

Wi-Sun Alliance Chair, Phil Beecher states, "Our work in standards and certification at the Smart Utility level had direct impact on Smart City and Smart Home networks."  He adds, "The Home Area Network of ECHONET will allow standardization and interoperability from the utility to the home."  Indeed, the future will allow connectivity, interoperability and energy management of home HVAC units and appliances (cookers, refrigerators, thermostats, etc.). He also stated, "Wi-SUN is now working on an ECHONET HAN Communications Profile certification program, which we expect to announce in the very near future."

"The new Wi-SUN HAN ECHONET Profile is the most powerful, interoperable, and reliable low power wireless standard for Home Area Networks (HAN) that adopt ECHONET Lite based application," said Dr. Hiroshi Harada, Wi-SUN Alliance board co-chair and chair of the ECHONET WG. "Especially the Wi-SUN ECHONET 'HAN' Profile newly supports a multihop (relay) function and a group key operation function and it will be implemented to HEMS and home appliances and provide a complete solution for Home Area Networks."

Wi-SUN technology is an essential part of Smart Utility Networks around the world.  The smart grid promises a dramatic transformation of the world's electricity infrastructure.  Smart grid deployment has been taking place at a rapid pace for the electric utility industry.  Over 300 million smart meters have been deployed worldwide, with more than 50 million in North America. 

Wi-SUN Alliance members include international companies helping to build Smart Utility Network infrastructure on five continents.  The growth of Smart Grid markets in Australia, Europe, North and South America and the Asian region is driving the need for verification and certification of standards. 

About the Wi-SUN Alliance

The Wi-SUN Alliance is a global non-profit industry association of leading companies devoted to the proliferation of Wi-SUN technology across devices and market segments. With technology development, market building, and regulatory programs, the Wi-SUN Alliance has enabled widespread adoption of Wi-SUN worldwide.

The Wi-SUN CERTIFIED™ program was launched in January 2014.  It provides a widely-recognized designation of interoperability and quality, and it helps to ensure that Wi-SUN enabled products deliver the best user experience.  The Wi-SUN Alliance product certification program will encourage the expanded use of Wi-SUN products and services in new and established markets. 

Wi-SUN Alliance and the Wi-SUN Alliance logo are trademarks of the Wi-SUN Alliance.

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SOURCE Wi-SUN Alliance