Semantic management of Enterprise Integration Patterns: A use case in Smart Grids

Enterprise Integration Patterns are a set of design patterns for linking multiple systems using asynchronous messaging interfaces. This approach to system integration is increasingly popular due to its relatively simple loose coupling requirement. Implementations of these patterns are available in current integration frameworks but these are not semantic in nature. This paper introduces the concept of automatic management of messaging resources in an integration application via the use of a semantic representation of the Enterprise Integration Patterns. We have developed semantic representations of some of the commonly used integration patterns, which include a description of the expected resource requirements for each pattern. We then demonstrate this approach by considering the design of an application to connect mobile customers to Smart Power Grid companies (for the purpose of near real-time regulation of electricity usage). We illustrate potential savings in messaging resources and automatic lifecycle management using real-world sensor data collected in a Smart Grid project.