WISEMEN: White Space for Smart Metering

In this paper we present a case for Smart Metering to be a prime application of TV White Spaces (TVWS) and investigate network architecture to enable smart metering communication in TVWS that ensures access reliability, primary user protection (if one exists) and efficient use of spectrum. We consider the communication access network connecting the smart meters to the concentrator as a wireless mesh network and propose using Radio Environment Maps (REMs) in conjunction with a geo-location database to manage the channel being used by the concentrator for communicating with the smart metering nodes. We also examine through emulation based experiments, the effect of primary user arrival interval on the packet delivery ratio of the smart meter nodes and the time it takes for the network to migrate to a vacant channel subsequent to detecting primary activity on the operating channel. Our findings suggest that it is feasible to realise smart metering communications in the TVWS and that the proposed mechanism shows good adaptive behaviour.