QoS broker based management for heterogeneous Smart Electricity Networks

In this paper we present a QoS-aware solution to manage heterogeneous wireless and Broadband PLC communications infrastructures for Smart Electricity Networks (SENs). The proposal is related to the framework of the ITU Next Generation Network of the ITU and it is based on a QoS Broker architecture. This paper explains how QoS capabilities of different transport technologies are leveraged to attain end-to-end QoS and how it is used in the case of PLC plus IEEE 802.11e networks. This architecture will allow for better managing of the QoS in the SEN domains and it should facilitate the interoperability with other technologies.