Geographic-based Routing in Smart Grids Neighbor Area Networks

Abstract

Neighbor area network (NAN), also known as smart meter communication network, is one of the most importantsegments of smart grid communications network (SGCN). This paper studies the performance of greedy perimeter statelessrouting (GPSR), a representative implementation of geographic-based routing class, in the NAN scenario and investigatesthe feasibility of this routing protocol in supporting SG applications. Specifically, packet transmission delay and reliabilityof GPSR in an IEEE 802.15.4-based wireless mesh NAN with practical system parameters are measured by simulations. Theresults show that, at the data rate required for conventional SG applications including smart metering, real-time pricing anddemand response, the delay can always be maintained below 70 ms (in 95th-percentile perspective) while packet deliveryratio is higher than 90%. However, due to that fact that more advanced applications that require information exchangeat higher rates and more stringent delays are emerging in SG, the performance of GPSR in NAN scenarios using radiotechnologies that can support higher loads and/or larger network scales needs to be studied.