powerline intelligent metering evolution (PLC) (PRIME)

PRIME(Powerline Intelligent Metering Evolution) is an alliance that standardizes Automated Meter Management(AMM) internationally to ensure interoperability between the products of different manufacturers. PRIME represents a general, open telecommunication architecture that supports future Automated Meter Management (AMM) functions in smart grids.

The procedures developed by PRIME, such as the modulation methods, coding, protocols and data formats, are not subject to any special rights and can be used without restriction. The specifications developed by PRIME are comprehensive and detailed and stand for interoperable solutions. The PRIME architecture defines the lower layers of the OSI reference model for powerline transmission in smart grids. This primarily involves data transmission in the "A" frequency band reserved for power utilities by the Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique( CENELEC) and Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex( OFDM).

The narrowband frequency range experiences an extension in the frequency range between 10 kHz and 490 kHz through the use of FCC bands. This extension allows the data rate to be increased from 140 kbit/s for narrowband transmissionto 1 Mbit/s.

In addition, a WAN working group is taking care of the communication between the Advanced Metering Infrastructure( AMI) and the utility's Meter Data Management System( MDMS). The aim of this working group is to develop an open and more secure solution for data transmission via web services over the Internet. Maxim's G3-PLC protocol represents a comparable solution.