電力基礎建設攸關國家經濟、社會發展與民眾生活便利，因此，各國政府皆積極投入規劃與研究電力系統相關的革新，而其中被視為未來電力系統主流發展趨勢者即為智慧電網 (Smart Grid)。然而，為達成能源使用效率之監測及控制以達到節省能源之目的，無線感測網路 (Wireless Sensor Network; WSN)扮演了非常重要的角色。
無線感測網路是由複數個感測節點彼此經由無線傳輸的方式來溝通所形成的網路系統，由於是無線傳輸，所以比起有線網路來說，不需要考量額外的佈線成本。再者，無線感測網路具有低速、低耗電、低成本、支援大量網路節點的特性，這些特性恰好與智慧電網中家庭區域網路的硬體需求相符合。在通訊協定方面，IEEE802.15.4標準定義了無線感測網路實體層與媒體存取控制副層的運作，更使得智慧電網的通訊協定有明確規範可以使用。
在智慧電網的家庭區域網路中，智慧電表與智慧裝置彼此之間會互相傳遞訊息以交換各電器的用電情形、用電價目表以及開/關控制等資訊，為了使控制訊號及資料能夠及時到達目的端，智慧電網標準規範了其通訊系統中的訊號類型與服務品質要求，其中最重要的是各類型訊號的最大延遲時間，這是因為若訊號無法在標準所訂定的延遲時間內送達的話，其可能造成財產損失及人員的傷亡。然而IEEE 802.15.4標準中並沒有對傳輸服務品質 (Quality of Service; QoS)進行規範以至於無法滿足智慧電網中對通訊系統服務品質的要求。
因此，本論文將針對智慧電網家庭區域網路中的控制訊號及資料，提出一個新智慧電網訊號傳輸機制 (A Novel Signal Transmission Mechanism for HAN Smart Grid; NSTHS)。此傳輸機制是以智慧裝置與智慧電表所建構的星狀拓樸網路為基礎，輔以訊號優先等級分類，在滿足各類型訊號的最大可容忍的延遲時間前提下，將訊號即時傳送到目的端。為了確保此傳輸機制能滿足智慧電網的通訊服務品質要求，我們以產能、有效產能、平均傳輸延遲以及平均訊框丟棄率等項目來評估我們的系統效能。
模擬結果顯示本論文所提出的NSTHS機制不僅能夠將家庭區域網路間傳輸的電網訊號依照IEEE 2030標準所定義的訊號類別進行分類另外還能利用NSTHS機制來傳輸電網訊號，並符合IEEE 2030標準所訂定的延遲時間。

There has no change in the basic structure of the electrical power grid for 100 years. As time goes on, the demand for electricity has gradually increased. However, the convergence of electrical power control system, which is hierarchical and centrally controlled, is not suitable and lack of automated analysis, slow response times, poor visibility, lack of situational awareness, etc.
For the sake of solving these problems, a new concept of next generation electric power system, the Smart Grid, has emerged. The Smart Grid can be considered as a modern electric power grid infrastructure combining with information and communication technologies.
Based on the different communication scales, the Smart Grid communication network can be divided into three parts: HAN (Home Area Network), FAN (Field Area Network), and WAN (Wide Area Network). ZigBee is one of the wireless technologies can be implemented in the HAN. However, the IEEE 802.15.4 standard do not defined the QoS (Quality of Service) application, so it can’t sustain the transmission delay suggested in IEEE 2030 standard.
In this thesis, we propose NSTHS (A Novel Signal Transmission Mechanism for HAN Smart Grid) to add the QoS to provide different service for differently classified traffic of the Smart Grid. In addition, we use the NSTHS to transmit signal of the star topology HAN Smart Grid. Our simulation results show that the proposed mechanism can improve the delay, throughput, goodput, and drop ratio of low delay tolerance traffic, accordingly ensure the latency, reliability, and performance for monitoring and control data of a HAN Smart Grid system.

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