Integrated Service Management and Energy Efficiency System Through Cloud Computing

Technology

Laura Davlea,Bogdan TeodorescuQuartz Matrix Ltd Iasi

Email: laura.davlea@quartzmatrix.ro

Abstract: The paper presents an integrated system for energy management provided through cloud computing.. The system includes also a network of autonomous addressable, distributed modules,for metering the energy consumption and a module for energy consumption prediction 1 OverviewThe system presented in this paper consists of an integrated system for energy management based on a cloud platform. The integrated service management and energy efficiency software applications also includes a network of autonomous addressable, distributed modules ,for metering energy consumption and for providing visual energy budget status to field clients. Developing an effective energy management and cloud services platform has the following advantages :- quick and easy access to the full version of the system, the guarantee of the updated versions;- running the application on a performance hardware ;- superior technologies for back-up and virus protection that provides data integrity and confidentiality;-role based access control for information confidentiality;

Bogdan teodorescuQuartz Matrix Ltd Iasi

Email: bogdan.teodorescu@quartzmatrix.ro

-high availability of the platform and rapid disaster recovery;- worldwide access with Internet browser;-quick system scalability without disruption of activity;-cloud Platform provides increased flexibility, ease of management and lower operating costs for IT systems to beneficiaries;-The system provides a dynamic , real-time image of energy consumption, consolidating a database that allows highlighting opportunities for intervention for energy efficiency and at the same time determine the consumption pattern and precise forecasting consumption which has a positive effect on the acquisition cost of energy;- Keeping tracking of the energy budget, in real time, combined with automatic alarm mechanism avoids penalties for non- compliancy with planned consumption and rapid detection of consumer issues with the possibility of rapid intervention;Our solution covers the functions of : physical parameters reading, consolidating databases evolutionary history of consumer consumption and technical parameters, data processing and generating real-time alarms and controls, providing reports (technical, commercial and managerial ) and data visualization, real-time calculation of energy intensities and operational costs, determining consumer forecasts. The software is delivered as a service from a cloud computing platform. The on-site part

Measurement block

Field deviceCentral Unit

Operator interface LCD, keypad, touchscreen

Power

Led Panel

FTP Server Backup Cloud Service

Application serverAplicatiiStorage Date

Router

UPS

LAN Local

Cloud Structure HW/SW

DataCenter

Monitored process

Column signaling

WAN Network, Ethernet or GPRS

Field autonomous unit with measurement and control hardware and software applications

24VCC or 240V CAData storage, primary analyzes information, real-time alerts, local interfaces and parameter information, data communications, access control

Consolidare date teren, rapoarteistorice consolidate, avertizari de sistem, prelucrarestatistica date, generaretendintesiprevizionate, securizare date siacces

Fig 1 Functional block structure

of the system is based on monitoring and management hardware modules that ensure recording of actual consumption to keep it within the limits of predicted and budgeted energy for consumption centers .

2. Architecture system The hierarchical system is on two levels : Field Level (on-site equipment). This level covers acquisition and initial processing unit data, display capabilities of real-time information. Central level . Data center cloud computing with implementation of hardware and software structure optimized for processing large volumes of data from multiple field devices located geographically extensive .Between the two levels the link is represented by data communication system for wide area. The system is IP address type, cable connection or wireless (cellular GPRS) .Functional block structure is shown in Figure 1.

For field devices ,the selected platform is based on ARM processor family , produced by Texas Instruments, packet on a small board with memory and communication interfaces. Using Embedded Linux platform allows re-use of communication library interface and archival data, such as Open Source.Not least, small size, fully static operation, no moving parts, provide higher availability and reliability.Data network WAN (Wide Area Network ) provides connection between field devices, distributed over a large geographical area, and the server application.WAN network must provide secure access to resources, unique addressing devices, flow data sufficiently to transfer information from the field on the server ( more than 115200 bauds), better availability of 99.9 % annually .

The system use field module equipped with communication capability (USB to serial ports - RS232 or RS485 - GPRS modem and local network Ethernet port UTP). Access to measuring and sensor is on a local bus RS485 cable, the network Zigbee frequency type hopping radio(long distance ) or radio network such as Bluetooth LE sensors at short distance(<20 m). Several data channels can be connected to the integrated module (embedded ) via a USB hub . For signaling and local control, field module uses a block of digital I / O and a serial port RS232/RS485 to an external device, an alphanumeric display. Connection to remote application server can be done via GPRS modem connected to USB port. The modem connects to the server via public or private network (VPN ). The WAN connection may also be done via the Ethernet port through a router(wired or wireless service GPRS ( 3G/4G ) ) .

3.Infrastructure virtualization of cloud system Cloud architecture installs the infrastructure for client access to databases of measurements and custom reports. The system should provide secure access through user authentication and grant access rights according to the hierarchy of roles established. Physical infrastructure elements used are: - Multiprocessor servers with large memory (to support the high performance virtualization services), redundant power systems (to ensure high availability of equipment and incident situations), multiple Ethernet adapters and high performance to ensure data traffic internally / externally. - Storage units (Storage), NAS (Network Attached Storage) with high speed disk transfer, dedicated operating system (Windows or Linux Server Storage custom editions), dual power, high speed multiple Ethernet adapters, implementation of a

RAID system to ensure data integrity without penalizing transfer speed (5/50/60). - L3 Ethernet Switch with speed on ports greater than 1 Gbps and dual redundant internal structure of the network - Internet Access Router allows Internet service provider interconnection, packet filtering. - Integrated security equipment data package, designed to ensure security at the hardware level with the possibility to control the Firewall and VPN structures. - Support Systems: • Power-• Air conditioning and heat removal • Physical support equipment - Rack • Secure perimeter intruder alarm and access control • Fire detection and extinguishing automatic start • Video Surveillance Physical infrastructure elements are interconnected at the control software level by the device software drivers, that need to be adapted to the operating system, virtualization and cloud service delivery. To the level of core services, cloud architecture must deliver services: - Centralized management of virtual machines. - Management of real and virtual data network and monitoring performance indicators for network traffic. - Control the storage and allocation of space users - Management of user accounts and monitoring data load actually used (memory / processor / storage space / capacity data traffic). - Provide authorization and authentication of users - Management of virtual image backup and functional continuity insurance in case of an incident. - Schedule automatic tasks and processes.

- Scheduling and monitoring service that runs in the background - User interfaces for local and remote clients

4.User roles structure design for control access to resources and applications

- Users are segmented in user groups (administrator / manager / user) that ap-plies cloud infrastructure security poli-cies and access control, based on secu-rity templates group. Rights are allo-cated based on the Strategy - bottom up that allows only what is needed (Needed only open up down). The strategy en-sures minimum vulnerability by blocking the default access to data and services and opening only explicit function of group and user role. Effective rights are defined at the application level based on username / password and result from the intersection of generic rights group with specific application ENEF rights. For some categories of users, rights are further restricted on their work area based on the name. Working procedure adopted allows:

- Fast generation user account templates based on tested and certified procedure for securing data access;

- Quick audit of the system of access rights by structuring roles;

- Monitoring users and unauthorized ac-cess attempts;

- Transfer of rights to other applications within the same cloud;

- Use of security mechanisms, access control and monitoring of cloud infra-structure (very safe) and relief of ENEF application level security mechanisms.

- The cloud infrastructure users have a unique mechanism of validation and control / monitoring access but within different applications can have different roles. Validate user access control fit into a certain group but in a group, de-

pending on the application access can perform different roles for the same user.

- Last restricting of rights and access ar-eas is done at the ENEF application level, based on template group, matrix roles and user affiliation to a consump-tion area.

- 5.Conclusion

Integrated system for energy management provided through cloud computing has as main advantages:-scalability, and flexibility by using intelligent field modules with local storage, information processing and communication through GPRS modem , local network Ethernet capabilities.-accessibility of reporting services through Internet.- Increased efficiency, reduced administration and lower costs. -the possibility of a monthly fee that includes all new versions of applications and thus more accessible to customers.