Reflection: an efficient technique for implementing an LTE based wireless network control system for smart grid and other applications

Wireless Network Control Systems (WNCSs) have been developed and deployed in many applications because of the flexibility afforded by the wireless communications medium in accommodating the control loop. In this paper, we examine a wide area WNCS using LTE as the wireless fabric. We introduce a novel concept known as 'reflection' which is a subscription model that allows an LTE eNodeB to inform certain nodes in a group about low level radio signalling from certain other nodes in the group before any application data has been sent. The mean Round Trip Time (RTT) for control in an LTE based wide area WNCS which is enhanced for reflection is reduced by at least 6ms compared to a standard LTE based wide area WNCS. This is demonstrated using an OPNET simulation model that compares a reflection based architecture with a reference architecture. The technique has applications in Smart Grid control applications (such as Fault Detection and Isolation) and in other vertical industries in which WNCSs may be relevant.