Universal Metering Interface
The Universal Metering Interface (UMI, pronounced 'you-me') is a proposed open standard interface for smart network devices developed by Cambridge Consultants. The UMI specification defines the interface at mechanical, electrical and protocol levels to establish communication between meters (electricity, gas, water, heat), displays, gateways and appliances, and their peripherals such as communication modules.
Overview
The aim of UMI is to provide a universal ultra-lower power interface between a smart metering device and one or more communication modules. A smart metering deice could be a:
- smart meter (gas, electricity, water, heat)
- hub (e.g. MUC (Multi Utility Communications))
- gateway (e.g. from LAN to WAN)
- display
- 'smart' or home automation appliances
Communication modules can developed for a number of wire and wireless communication standards, including but not exhaustively:
- M-Bus (Wired/Wireless)
- KNX
- Zigbee (at 2.4 GHz or 868 MHz)
- Bluetooth and Bluetooth Low Energy
- WiFi
- GSM
- Wavenis
- Z-wave
The UMI topology is a star network similar to USB but much lower power making it suitable for battery powered devices such as gas or water meters. The system comprises a host and up to 15 peripherals connected through the physical layer of a 10-pin ultra-low power IDC.
Smart Meter Roll-out
In 2009 the United Kingdom the Department of Energy and Climate Change announced its intention to have smart meters in every home (approximately 22 million gas and 26 million electricity meters) by 2020. Similar plans exist for many other European nations.
However, many of the communication standards within the 'smart network' are yet to be decided, due to fears that with any single standard there is not enough experience with regard to long-term stability, or uncertainty of its performance in mass applications, or open questions concerning battery life. This leads some to view "communications as the Achilles' heel of the entire system".
UMI provides a single, universal connector separating the function of the smart grid device and its communication modules. UMI allows for the development and mass production of smart meters and smart grid devices prior to the communication standards being set, with the relevant communication modules easily added or exchanged when they are. This would lower the risk of investing in the wrong standard and also permit a single product to be used globally even if regional communication standards vary.
Open Standard
UMI is an open standard and available without licensing fees. The responsibility of maintaining and publishing the UMI standard will be performed by a collection of companies grouped as the UMI Alliance. The yet-to-be established UMI Alliance will be formed as an independent, not-for-profit organisation funded by its members.
Current Licensees
Notable licnsees issuing their support so far include:
- Elster Group
- Telegesis
- InSys
- Digi International
- Cambridge Consultants
A full list can be found on the Cambridge Consultants website