scope:

This standard specifies a modular communications interface (MCI) to facilitate communications with residential devices for applications such as energy management. The MCI provides a standard interface for energy management signals and messages to reach devices. Such devices may include an energy management hub, an energy management controller, an energy management agent, a residential gateway, an energy services interface, a sensor, a thermostat, an appliance, or other consumer products.

The specific residential devices to use an MCI are not specified. For energy management the choice depends on the system and the network topology. If a hub topology is chosen, the MCI may be located on the hub. The connection between the hub and end devices such as appliances is not specified.

The MCI specifies a physical connection from a communication module to residential Smart Grid Devices and a communications protocol with OSI (Open System Interconnection) layer specifications including application layer messaging. An optional translation function is specified for connection to another communications medium. Examples include power line carrier or radio (RF), depending on the home area network installed or the connection to an energy management system access-network supplied by a service provider. This second medium is outside the scope of this standard. The MCI also specifies a pass-through mechanism through to allow for an alternate architecture in which the Smart Grid Device terminates the passed-through protocol (e.g., SEP, OpenADR, etc.).

CEA-2045 details the mechanical, electrical, and logical characteristics of a socket interface that allows communication devices (hereafter referred-to as UCMs - universal communication modules) to be separated from end devices (hereafter referred-to as SGDs - Smart Grid Devices). Although the potential applications of this technology are wide-ranging, it is intended at a minimum to provide a means by which residential products may be able to work with any load management system through user installable plug-in communication modules. Figure 1-1 illustrates the general concept.

CEA-2045 identifies the physical and data-link characteristics of the interface, along with certain higherlayer and application layer elements as needed to assure interoperability over a broad range of device capabilities. In addition, it defines a mechanism through which network, transport and application layer messages (pass-through; defined in other standards) may be passed across the interface.

The scope of this standard is limited to the socket interface between the UCM and the SGD. It does not address the technology or protocol associated with the communications system of which the UCM is part.

The scope of this specification does not include safety related construction, performance, marking or instruction requirements. UCM products should additionally comply with applicable product safety standard(s). Examples of such standards are noted in Informative Annex E.