Manufacturing and Engineering

Wi-SUN Alliance completes verification of communications specification for ECHONET-Lite based Wireless Smart Utility Network Products

TOKYO, Aug. 26, 2013 –  The Wi-SUN(R) Alliance, a global ecosystem of organizations creating
interoperable wireless solutions for use in energy management, smart-utility
network applications, today announced completion of Wi-SUN ECHONET-Lite
specification and is now available for product development. The specification
provides for fully interoperable, multiple vendor implementations.

ECHONET Lite is the industry leading standard helping to create smarter
homes that enhance the comfort, convenience, security and energy management for
the Home and Building Automation. In January, 2013 Wi-SUN Alliance published
Wi-SUN profiles for ECHONET Lite version 1, a standard communication interface
for ECHONET Lite and the interface was selected as a TTC (Telecommunication
Technology Committee) standard, TTC JJ300.10. The newly published specification
(Wi-SUN profile for ECHONET Lite version 2) adds important new features that
ensure the seamless interoperability and easy network deployment, standardize
pairing of devices and simplifying installation and maintenance for consumers
and custom installers alike. Specifically, the new specification includes an
encryption and an authentication process between smart meter and home energy
management system (HEMS) and between HEMS and home electrical appliance. These
features have a significant impact on operational and device costs to service
providers and quality of service to the society.

The Wi-SUN ECHONET Lite specification and test plan supports enhanced
functionality in devices such as door locks, smoke sensors, window blinds,
air-conditioning, refrigerators and support for additional devices including
smart appliances and electrical measurement devices. The standard incorporates
new features resulting from collaboration between Wi-SUN Alliance and the
ECHONET initiative, a Japanese consortium of more than 100 companies, which
will benefit consumers by integrating new devices and raising consumer
awareness of energy usage without necessarily connecting to an electric utility.

“The Wi-SUN Specification for ECHONET Lite 2.0 is a major step forward in
creating an open and fully interoperable wireless Home Energy Management
platform,” said Phil Beecher, Chairman of the Wi-SUN Alliance. “For Service
Operators and CE companies, Wi-SUN ECHONET Lite will provide a technology
standard that removes much of the complexity from planning and deploying
advanced home services and reduces the amount of energy they consume.”

“The Wi-SUN Specification for ECHONET Lite 2.0 is the most robust, reliable
and scalable low power wireless standard for Home Energy Management Systems,
and the technology of choice for world-leading service providers, installers
and retailers,” said Hiroshi Harada, NICT, Wi-SUN Alliance board co-chair and
chair of the ECHONET WG.”

“We are very happy to contribute as Technical Editor to the ECHONET WG,”
said Tamiya Ochiai, Chief Specialist, TOSHIBA Corporation. “We believe the
Wi-SUN Specification for ECHONET Lite 2.0 delivers a standard that can make
every home a smarter, safer and more energy efficient environment for consumers
and families.”

About the Wi-SUN Alliance:  Wi-SUN: Seamless Connectivity

The Wi-SUN Alliance is an association of companies working together to
enable reliable, cost-effective, low-power, wireless Utility products based on
open global standard IEEE 802.15.4g. The Wi-SUN Alliance comprises solutions
from original equipment manufacturers worldwide.  Membership is open to all
corporations.  Additional information may be found on http://www.wi-sun.org

About ECHONET:

The ECHONET standards are globally applicable, international communication
standards for linking home appliances made by different manufacturers.  The
ECHONET Lite standard is endorsed as the Japanese Smart House Standard by the
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).

Contact Bhupender Virk,
MWG Chair:
+81-80-1137-5574,
bvirk@wi-sun.org

Original Source: ◎Wi-SUN AllianceがECHONET Lite規格を完成