User's Manual

Bridges Hardware Guide Silver Spring Networks 29
Glossary
endpoint Meters, distribution controls, cap bank
switches, and other specialized network devices.
Many endpoints are assigned to nodes. See also
node.
energized See set.
energy \The use of power over time, expressed in
kilowatt-hours (kWh). See also demand and time of
use.
ESN Electronic Serial Number. A unique identifier
embedded on every cellular phone device by the
manufacturer. The ESN is transmitted with each cell
phone call and is used to authenticate the phone
with the cellular service the phone is attempting to
use.
exception polling A proactive outage detection tech-
nique where pings are sent to devices to see if they
are still alive. Devices that do not respond may sig-
nify an outage.
export Meter read data, for a specific date and time,
contained in a XML and HHF (Hand Held Format)
files for integration with business systems.
F
FCI Faulted Circuit Indicator. A device that, if tripped,
indicates a failed utility condition such as a power
failure.
FHSS Frequency-Hopping Spread Spectrum. Origi-
nally developed during the Second World War to
avoid jamming, FHSS is a method of sending radio
signals over several frequency channels. Unlike
DSSS, FHSS switches between channels in a pat-
tern known to both sender and receiver, thereby
avoiding interference in any one channel.
filter Band-pass filter, used to minimize out-of-band
interference issues.
firmware A computer program embedded in a hard-
ware device. See also image.
fresnel zone Refers to the elliptically shaped area
formed by RF waves between a transmitter and a
receiver.
FSU Field Service Unit. A portable NIC from Silver
Spring used to install, test, and send commands to
other SSN devices, including eBridges and sBridg-
es.
ftp File Transfer Protocol. A protocol for transferring
files over any network that supports TCP/IP.
G
gap Refers to a gap in the usage data collected from
a meter. AMM automatically detects and fills such
gaps. See also end gap and unfillable gap.
gas day A specific time of day when a gas meter be-
gins its 24-hour day. For many utilities, the gas day
is 9:00 AM, but this is not always the case.
generation capacity The maximum output (MW)
that generating equipment can supply to system
load.
grid operator The entity that oversees the delivery
of electricity over the grid to the customer, while as-
suring consistently high levels of reliability, and pub-
lic and worker safety. The grid operator potentially
could be independent of the utilities and suppliers.
GWh Gigawatt-hours One billion watt-hours.
H
hash value A block of data represented as a string of
bits. See also program seal.
Hata model A path loss estimation model based on
empirical research of various mophologies such as
Urban Core, Dense Urban, and Suburban.
HHF Files Hand Held Format file. Contains meter in-
terval read data. See also export.
Home Area Network (HAN) A data communications
system contained within the home.
hop When data is transmitted across a network, the
packet hops from device to device. A hop is a point
along a network route between the Access Point
and the meter. Though technically not a device, a
hop is always associated with a device, usually a
Relay or meter acting a a Relay. See also link and
route.
hosting location The physical location of an Access
Point or Relay.
I
IDR Interval Data Recorder. A solid-state electronic
device that measures consumption among high-us-