Remote access to power-line networked nodes: digging the tunnel

The topic of connecting field area networks to remote applications by means of wide area networks (WAN), which are typically built on the Internet protocol (IP), is usually solved by introducing a component like a gateway, responsible for establishing the necessary communication link. Concepts for the design of such a gateway range from plain packet forwarding to complete protocol translations. This paper compares two concepts in this area applied on a power-line network (currently under development) and existing remote applications: the application layer gateway, which completely separates field area protocols and WAN protocols on all layers, and the tunnelling access point, which preserves the application layer protocol and only alters the way of transportation between the communication partners. The field area network under consideration is a power-line communication network; the WAN is any IP-based network, but preferably a private IP-network.