Glossary - Itron

Glossary

xx xx

ITRONGLOSSARY

February 3, 2022 Itron, Inc. of 167

Glossary

February 3, 2022

Copyright © 2022 Itron, Inc. All rights reserved.

Confidentiality Notice

Confidential Information of Itron®, Inc., provided under nondisclosure obligations. The information contained hereinis proprietary and confidential and is being provided subject to the condition that (i) it be held in confidence except tothe extent required otherwise by law and (ii) it will be used only for the purposes described herein. Any third partythat is given access to this information shall be similarly bound in writing.

Trademark Notice

Itron is a registered trademark of Itron, Inc.

All other product names and logos in this documentation are used for identification purposes only and may betrademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

For more information about Itron or Itron products, go towww.itron.com.

If you have questions or comments about a software or hardware product, contact Itron Technical Support Services.

Contact

Email: [email protected]

Itron Customer Center: customer.itron.com

Products and Documentation: products.itron.com

Telephone Itron Technical Support North America: 1-877-487-6602

For technical support contact information by region, go to www.itron.com and select your country and language.

For suggestions, questions, or other feedback concerning Itron product documentation, contact us at:[email protected]


https://www.itron.com/

mailto:[email protected]

https://customer.itron.com/

https://products.itron.com/

mailto:[email protected]


AAAASee authentication, authorization, and accounting(AAA).

AAACSee all aluminum alloy conductor (AAAC).

AAA serverSee Authentication Authorization Accounting (AAA)server.

AACSee all aluminum alloy conductor (AAAC).

AAE fileSee advanced AMR export (AAE) file.

ABC analysisAn inventory categorization method that groupsinventory items into three categories (A, B, and C).Categories are based on item value and estimatedimportance within an organization, with A itemsidentified as the most valuable and important, and Citems identified as least valuable and important.

ABESee AMI Billing Export (ABE).

abnormal peak day (APD)A statistical planning standard defined as thecoldest temperature that will be exceeded every 90years, on average.

Abstract Syntax Notation One (ASN.1)An international standard for classifying datastructures. It specifies 27 data types with tag valuesstarting with 1; for example, Boolean (1), integer (2),and bit string (3). ASN.1 uses additional rules todesignate physical data. The primary set is theBasic Encoding Rules (BER), which are oftenconsidered synonymous with ASN.1. ASN.1 iswidely used in ground and cellulartelecommunications as well as in aviation.

ACSee alternating current (AC).

accelerometerAmicroelectromechanical system (MEMS) used todetect and measure acceleration. Smart metersmay contain accelerometers to facilitate tamper andtheft detection.

access chargeA charge to an energy service provider (or itscustomer) for access to a utility’s transmission ordistribution system. Access charges are imposed onutilities by the entities who own the transmission ordistribution wires between the utility and thecustomer.

access controlMaps the identity of a user to a set of access rules toenforce the appropriate access rights. Itron prefersthe RBAC access control mechanism (role basedaccess control) because it tends to reduce thecomplexity and cost of security administration inlarge network applications.

access control list (ACL)A table that describes the access each user orgroup of users has to each system object. The listincludes data associated with a file, directory, orother network resource and defines the permissionsthat users, groups, processes, or devices have foraccessing it.

access control server (ACS)A Cisco® high-performance server that operates asa centralized Terminal Access Controller Access-Control System Plus (TACACS+) or RemoteAuthentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS)server. It extends access security by combiningauthentication, user access, and administratoraccess with policy control within a centralizedidentity networking solution.

Access Point (AP)A gateway device that performs the function ofcommunicating over both a wide area network


Glossary A

(WAN) and the neighborhood area network (NAN)and that provides advanced utility networkingservices, including addressing, routing/switching,health information, network time, security, andencryption.

See also alternate Access Point (AP), primaryAccess Point (AP), and secondary Access Point(AP).

access point name (APN)A virtual routing instance that connects a generalpacket radio service (GPRS) mobile network andanother computer network.

accountA contractual relationship between a residential orcommercial customer and the utility company wherethe customer agrees to purchase meteredresources from the utility.

Ace PilotA product name. ACE Pilot is the europeanequivalent of OpenWay® Tools. This tool is used tocreate configurations for Galvani meters. Theseconfigurations are then embedded as XML withinthe configuration of the FSM device.

ACKSee acknowledgment (ACK).

acknowledgment (ACK)Amessage sent between communicatingprocesses or computers to indicate that a block ofdata arrived at its destination without error.

ACLSee access control list (ACL).

ACSESee Association Control Service Element(s)(ACSE).

ACTSee Adaptive Communications Technology.

ACT coupler unit (ACU)Mounts outside the connected grid router (CGR)and couples the CGR ACT module (CAM) to thepower lines.

ACT PLC CouplerSee Adaptive Communications Technology PowerLine Carrier Coupler.

Action Manager (AM)A software application which enables customers tomanage the resolution of all types of AMI incidentsat scale. Examples of management features includethe ability to receive externally-detected exceptionsand, according to a set of priority rules, progressthose faults through a workflow to ensure theproblems are resolved.

activationThe process of enabling a cellular modem or SIMcard so that the associated device may transmit andreceive data over a cellular network.

Active Directory (AD)AMicrosoft® directory service that managesnetwork administration and security in a Windowsdomain network.

active keyThe variable value in a key pair that a systemactively uses for communication. The active keycannot normally be changed or rolled over. Onlyone key from a pair can be active. The other keyfrom the pair is in standby state and held in inactiveuntil needed. Then, it must be set to the active stateto be used by the system. See also standbykey.

active key statusOf the key types that are provided in pairs, thestatus of the key that is actively in use by the systemfor communications while the second key of the pairis held in standby until needed. Key statuses can betoggled between active and standby by the systemadministrator.

In OpenWay®, the key status (active or standby)has meaning only to the decryption and key update


Glossary A

server (DKUS). Key status means nothing to theOpenWay® Collection Engine or devices (cellrelays, meters, and others).

Active MonitorAn application used to test features of othercomponents to ensure they are up and working. It isbundled with Advanced Metering Manager (AMM).

Active Server Pages (ASP)AMicrosoft server-based script engine thatdynamically generates webpages. Also calledClassic ASP or ASP Classic. ASP.NET supersedesASP.

actual peak load reductionsThe actual reduction in annual peak load (inkilowatts) achieved by consumers in a utilitydemand side management (DSM) program such asHAN Communications Manager (HCM).

ACUSee ACT coupler unit (ACU).

ADSee Active Directory (AD).

ADAMStands for Active Directory (AD) application mode.

Adaptive Communications TechnologyA technology that incorporates both radio frequency(RF) and power-line carrier (PLC) onto one chip set.Adaptive Communications Technology (ACT)allows an endpoint to dynamically change itscommunication media and modulation to the fastestand most reliable available, based on its location,network operating conditions, and the criticality ofthe application data.

See also Adaptive Communications TechnologyPower Line Carrier Coupler.

Adaptive Communications TechnologyPower Line Carrier CouplerAn external unit that couples the Power Line Carrier(PLC) communication links between the 3-phase

mains and the OpenWay® Riva AdaptiveCommunications Module installed in the ConnectedGrid Router (CGR). Also known as ACT PLCCoupler.

Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA)A Cisco® appliance that provides user andapplication policy enforcement, multi-vector attackprotection, and secure connection services. Theappliance also provides integrated security andnetwork services for advanced application-awarefirewall services, voice-over-Internet protocol(VoIP), and multimedia applications.

ADCSee analog-to-digital converter.

add-inA third-party software component that can beinstalled with a host application to enablecustomizations and extended functionality.

ADESee AMI Data Export (ADE).

ADSLSee asymmetric digital subscriber line (ASDL).

advance shipping notice (ASN)A notification of pending deliveries (similar to apacking list) that is transmitted in electronic format.

advanced AMR export (AAE) fileA file containing completed route information thatthe Itron Host Processor (IHP) sends to thecustomer information system (CIS) or to the ItronEnterprise Edition™ (IEE) system.

Advanced Encryption Standard (AES)A National Institute of Standards and Technology(NIST)-standard cryptographic cipher that uses ablock length of 128 bits and key lengths of 128, 192,or 256 bits.

advanced meterAn electric meter that is capable of measuring andrecording usage data in time differentiated registers.


Glossary A

The meter allows electric consumers, suppliers, andservice providers to participate in price-baseddemand response (DR) programs and providesdata and functionality to address power qualityissues. Also known as a smart meter.

advanced meteringSee advanced meter.

advanced metering infrastructure (AMI)A utility metering and communications system thatleverages two-way communication between a utilitycompany and smart energy management devices,including smart meters, thermostats, and otherenergy management devices. AMI provides utilitycompanies real-time consumption data, andprovides customers detailed usage data. AMIsystems support capabilities such as load control,time-of-use and critical-peak pricing, and outageand restoration reporting.

An AMI system consists of the followingcomponents:■ Smart meters that collect and store interval

consumption data, interface with, and collectand store data from other devices, such asother meters. Smart meters can also initiate andrespond to two-way communications with theutility.

■ Home gateway devices that communicate withand control energy-using appliances throughoutthe home, and can communicate with the utility.

■ A network over which smart meters, homegateway devices, and other AMI componentsexecute two-way communications to transmitdata and commands between the utility and thehome.

■ Ameter data management (MDM) system towhich the collected data is delivered. MDMsystems can interface with other utility systems,such as customer information systems (CISs),outage management systems (OMSs), andworkforce management systems (WMSs).

Advanced Metering Manager (AMM)An advanced metering infrastructure (AMI)application that provides meter device lifecyclemanagement, which enables the collection of

advanced metering information. AMM is comprisedof the following components: Database (DB), GlobalMeter Reader (GMR), and Middle Tier (MT). AMM'sweb-based interface allows utility operators toconfigure groups, schedules, and exports across avariety of electricity and gas devices, which enablesthe collection, management, and analysis ofconsumption, time of use, interval data, powerquality measures, and status logs.

AMM is one of several components that make upUtilityIQ® software. See also MPC and FirmwareUpgrader (FWU).

Advanced Pressure ManagementSee AdvancedWater Management.

Advanced Water ManagementA solution which enables users to automatically andcontinuously optimise pressure across the network,based on the current demand patterns andoperating characteristics of that area of the network.The architecture of Itron Smart PressureManagement solutions is built around enterpriseclass software-based services, combined withhighly intelligent loggers and controllers in thenetwork to monitor network performance andcontrol assets such as PRVs (Pressure ReducingValves) and pumps. Also known as AdvancedPressure Management and Smart PressureManagement.

AEMOSee Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO).

AEP meter barcodeSee American Electric Power (AEP) meter barcode.

AESSee Advanced Encryption Standard (AES).

affiliateA company that is controlled by or has the sameowner as another company, such as a utility and anon- regulated energy services company owned bythe same holding company.


Glossary A

aggregationThe combining together of multiple load profiles intoa single load profile. The single load profilerepresents the total fluid use, in each of the timeintervals, in the load profiles included in theaggregation.

aggregation coefficientAmultiplication factor applied to load profile valuesbefore the values are combined with other loadprofiles in an aggregation.

Aggregation Services Router (ASR)A Cisco® edge router running the IOS® XEoperating system. This operating systemincorporates software virtualization that provideshigh availability for multiple services, such as afirewall, Internet Protocol Security (IPsec), andvirtual private network (VPN).

aggregatorAn entity in the energy marketplace that organizesresidential or business customers into a buyinggroup for purchasing energy. Depending upon thestatus of deregulation in a given state, an investor-owned utility, public power company, or ruralelectric cooperative may perform this function intoday’s energy market.

Other entities such as buyer cooperatives orbrokers may perform this function in a restructuredenergy market.

aggressive discoveryThe method by which nodes first discoverneighboring nodes. After selecting a time slot andchannel, each node goes into aggressive discoveryby sending a neighbor discovery packet as it cyclesthrough its epoch. See also neighbor table.

AHSee authentication header (AH).

AIBSee application information broker (AIB).

AJAXSee Asynchronous JavaScript and XML (AJAX).

alarmAmessage sent using an automatic data collectionsystem, indicating such conditions as abnormalusage, meter tampering, and power outages.

algorithmA step-by-step procedure for solving a problem.Algorithms are commonly associated with computeroperations.

all aluminum alloy conductor (AAAC)A type of high-capacity, high-strength strandedconductor, made from one or more strands ofaluminum alloy.

ALOHAA type of time division multiple access (TDMA)transmission system developed by the University ofHawaii, used for satellite and terrestrial radio links.In the traditional ALOHA system, packets aretransmitted as required, and like Ethernet'sCSMA/CDmethod, collisions can occur. A slottedALOHA system triggers transmission starts by aclock and reduces the number of collisions.

ALRSSee automatic loop restoration scheme (ALRS).

ALSSee automatic loop scheme (ALS).

alternate Access Point (AP)Another reliable Access Point (AP) that can be usedby the endpoint device.

alternating current (AC)A type of electrical current in which the electricalcharge alternates between positive and negative.The rate of change between polarities is measuredin Hertz (Hz), or cycles per second. Devicespowered by alternating current include threeelectrical wires of different polarities: negative,positive, and neutral (or ground).


Glossary A

Conversely, direct current (DC) implements a two-wire circuit where the electrical charge travels in onedirection. One wire is always negative and the otheris positive.

ambient temperatureThe atmospheric temperature surrounding a deviceor component.

AMCLSee appliance message client library (AMCL).

American Electric Power (AEP) meterbarcodeA 17-character meter label format that is a uniqueidentifier for every electric meter in the UnitedStates. Developed by American Electric Power(AEP), the AEP barcode follows ANSI C12.10requirements.

American National Standards Institute(ANSI)A standards organization that administers thestandardization and conformity assessment systemused in the U.S. and around the world. When ANSIadopts a standard, it disseminates a code to identifythe standard.

See also ANSI C12.18, ANSI C12.19, and ANSIC12.22.

American Wire Gauge (AWG)The standardized wire gauge system for thediameters of round, solid, nonferrous electrical wire.

AMISee advanced metering infrastructure (AMI).

AMI Billing Export (ABE)An Itron Enterprise Edition (IEE) MDUS subsystem.ABE is IEE’s high-volume billing export subsystem.

AMI Data Export (ADE)An Itron Enterprise Edition (IEE) high-volume exportprocess subsystem. ADE exports large volumes ofdata in a fast, proficient manner. ADE hosts aseparate Export Dispatcher application service, task

templates that can be used to run the export, agraphical user interface (GUI) for monitoring andworking with exports, and an ADE Trend Reportuser interface to view summary information aboutthe export.

AMI EndpointA wall-mount booster that can be connectedthrough three-wire cabling to Interpreter Register-enabled water meters, specifically those located inchallenging environments.

AMI Readings Import (ARI)An Itron Enterprise Edition (IEE) MDUS high-volume meter reading import subsystem. ARIprocesses collect meter readings for the previouscalendar day, then validates, estimates, and importsthose readings into IEE.

AMMSee Advanced Metering Manager (AMM).

AMMWSRouteAn Itron component that allows Advanced MeteringManager (AMM) users to route web service calls forAMM. It provides the public API and serves theWSDL and XSD files needed by integration toolingand routes public and legacy API calls. It is requiredby AMM.

ampacityThe current-carrying capacity of a conductor(expressed in amperes) under stated thermalconditions. Different materials have different limitsof ampacity, depending upon the temperature atwhich they are run, and those limits are set by theNational Electrical Code (NEC).

ampere (A)The practical unit of electric current. One ampere isthe current caused to flow through a resistance ofone ohm when one volt is impressed across theresistor.

ampere-hour (Ah)A current of one ampere flowing for one hour.


Glossary A

AMSee Action Manager (AM).

AMRSee automated meter reading (AMR).

AMTSee Assumed Meter Time (AMT).

analog-to-digital converterA device that performs the conversion from ananalog signal to a digital signal. Typically referring tovoltage, an ADC performs a process to change thecontinuous analog signal to a digital signal, or digitalnumber, that represents the signal's amplitude.

annunciatorA label or symbol on the meter display that identifiesparticular quantities displayed for a register. TheOpenWay® CENTRON®meter, for example, usesLCD annunciators to indicate phase-voltage foreach phase (VA, VB, VC), nominal voltage (120 and240), and load/direction.

anodeAn anode is an electrode through whichconventional current flows into a polarized electricaldevice. In a battery or galvanic cell, the anode is thenegative electrode from which electrons flow outtowards the external part of the circuit.

In electrochemistry, the anode is where oxidationoccurs and is the positive polarity contact in anelectrolytic cell. At the anode, anions, which arenegative ions, are forced by the electrical potentialto react chemically and give off electrons (oxidation)which then flow up and into the driving circuit.

ANSISee American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

ANSI C12.11The ANSI protocol for instrument transformers forrevenue metering—10 kV BIL (impulse insulationlevel) through 350 kV BIL. This standard coversgeneral requirements for metering accuracy,

thermal ratings, and transformer and inductivelycoupled transformer dimensions for revenuemetering, 10 kV basic lightning BIL through 350 kVBIL for 0.6 kV nominal system voltage through 69kV NSV.

ANSI C12.18The American National Standards Institute (ANSI)protocol used to transport data through the opticalports used on most North American electricitymeters.

ANSI C12.19The American National Standards Institute (ANSI)protocol that defines the table structure for utilityapplication data to be passed between an enddevice and a computer.

ANSI C12.22A subclass of the American National StandardsInstitute (ANSI) C12 family of meter communicationand data standards. The C12.22 application layerprotocol enables the transport of C12.19 data tablesover any network medium.

Itron OpenWay® systems use the C12.22 protocolfor meter-level communications at all levels belowthe IP cell relay.

ANSI classA rating assigned to electric meters by the AmericanNational Standards Institute (ANSI) to indicate ameter's ability to safely conduct electrical current.For example, an ANSI rating of 200 (written as CL200) represents the meter's capability of channeling200 amperes of continuous electrical currentwithout sustaining damage.

antennaAntennas improve the capacity of the meshnetwork. Itron has antenna models optimized towork in a variety of indoor or outdoor installations.Examples include rubber duck antenna, high gainfiberglass (stick antenna), and low-profile discantenna (hockey puck)

APSee Access Point (AP).


Glossary A

APASee application protocol adapter (APA).

Apache HTTP ServerFree public-domain web server software. Theoriginal version of Apache was written for UNIX, butthere are now versions that run under OS/2 andWindows.

APDSee abnormal peak day (APD).

APDUSee application protocol data unit (APDU).

APISee application programming interface (API).

APNSee access point name (APN).

apparent powerTotal power in an alternating current (AC) circuit,both dissipated and absorbed/returned. Apparentpower is symbolized by the letter S and is measuredin volt amps (VA). Apparent power is the vectorsummation of both true power and reactive power.

The following figure is called the Power Triangle.The Power Triangle relates true (P), reactive (Q),and apparent power (S) in trigonometric form.

applianceA security hardware device. Appliance is often usedin the phrase Certicom appliance or securityappliance. Appliance can have multiple meanings.When the term appliance appears as Certicomappliance or security appliance, the term does not

refer to a common household appliance such as aoven or refrigerator.

appliance message client library(AMCL)A Certicom AMI solution software component thatprovides simple application program interfaces(APIs) to encode and decode messages. TheOpenWay® Collection Engine (CE) uses AMCL toformat and deliver messages to the OpenWay®signing and encryption server (SES) and to thedecryption and key update server (DKUS).

AppServSee ApplicationServices (AppServ).

ApplicationServices (AppServ)A code package that operates alongside the meterfirmware on DI-capable meters. AppServ providesthe means of communication with DI agents usingsubscriptions and permissions.

application groupA user-defined meter category that enablessynchronized operations to be performed on allmeters in the group, rather than consecutiveoperations on each meter. Meters can be includedin up to six application groups, but are not requiredto be included in a group.

application information broker (AIB)An Itron software product with a set of programminginterfaces that allows multiple entities ordepartments to access and subscribe to collecteddata.

application layer securityThe protection of the application layer by means of asecure association between the applications andfield devices, allowing the applications to accessdata or execute a command against the device.Sometimes called V2 security at Itron after the firstversion of firmware that incorporated keykeep filesfor application layer security.


Glossary A

application programming interface(API)A source code-based specification used as aninterface by software components to communicatewith each other, similar to the way a user interfacefacilitates interaction between humans andcomputers. An API may include specifications forroutines, data structures, object classes, protocols,and variables. Itron software products implementAPIs to allow interaction with other software, whichuse the APIs to request services from or exercisefeatures of the Itron software.

Application Programming Interface(API) ManagerThe OpenWay® Collection Engine application thatsupports service requests from system programs.

application protocol adapter (APA)A package of compiled .NET assemblies that areused to construct commands to be sent to ItronSecurity Manager (ISM) before signing.

application protocol data unit (APDU)Amessage protocol used to transfer applicationinformation between two entities. Also calledapplication layer protocol data unit.

application protocol module (APM)daemonA Certicom application programming interface (API)component in the OpenWay® signing andencryption server (SES) that provides securecommunication between the SES and theOpenWay® Collection Engine (CE).

application title (ApTitle)The C12.22 network address for a cell relay, used toidentify the relay as the source or destination ofC12.22 messages.

approved supplier list (ASL)A list that many organizations maintain, used toidentify qualified suppliers of materials or services.Organizations often evaluate aspects of potential

suppliers' business, such as financial and qualityassurance practices, to determine eligibility. After asupplier is added to an organization's ASL, theorganization may often reevaluate the supplier'seligibility, as a part of supplier performancemanagement.

Also called approved vendor list (AVL).

approved vendor list (AVL)A list that many organizations maintain, used toidentify qualified suppliers of materials or services.Organizations often evaluate aspects of potentialsuppliers' business, such as financial and qualityassurance practices, to determine eligibility. After asupplier is added to an organization's approvedsupplier list (ASL), the organization may oftenreevaluate the supplier's eligibility, as a part ofsupplier performance management.

Also called approved supplier list (ASL).

ApTitleSee application title (ApTitle).

Arduino LibrariesArduino allows code to be placed in libraries. Alibrary is a set of C++ files located in a folder with thename of the library. The location of the library folderis usually called libraries and is located in theArduino folder.

Arduino SketchArduino software is typically know as a Sketch. Asketch is essentially a C++ file with the extension.ino. It has two main functions; setup() and loop().setup() is run once and loop() is run repeatedly bythe Arduino runtime core. The sketch typicallyresides in a folder called Arduino. There can be onlyone sketch per folder. However, Arduino allows formultiple header and C++ files to be co-located withthe sketch.

ARISee AMI Readings Import (ARI).

arrestorA protective device that limits power surges toelectrical equipment by discharging or diverting


Glossary A

them. Arrestors can be designed to limit powersurges from various sources. For example, spark,flame, and lightning arrestors can be used to protectthe power lines between the utility and thecustomer.

ASASee Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA).

ASCESee Association Control Service Element(s)(ACSE).

ASLSee approved supplier list (ASL).

ASNSee advance shipping notice (ASN).

ASN.1See Abstract Syntax Notation One (ASN.1).

ASPSee Active Server Pages (ASP).

See Average Selling Price (ASP).

ASP.NET®

AMicrosoft® framework for building dynamicwebsites, web applications, and web services.

ASRSee Aggregation Services Router (ASR).

assignmentA collection of work orders or meter data collectiontasks given to a specific user, field servicerepresentative (FSR), or other technician.

associateIn HAN Communications Manager (HCM), a verbmeaning to link a device with an Energy ServicesInterface (ESI) but without joining it. A device canbecome associated also if it is unjoined from an ESIor if a permit join has failed for the device. See alsojoin.

Association Control Service Element(s)(ACSE)The Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) methodfor establishing a call between two applicationprograms. ACSE checks the identities and contextsof the application entities, and can apply anauthentication security check.

ACSE is the message format (frame) used forExtended Protocol Specification for ElectricMetering (ESPEM) protocol messages that arecarried on OpenWay® radio-frequency local areanetworks (RFLANs).

Assumed Meter Time (AMT)A feature that allows OpenWay® CENTRON®Electricity Meters to continue operating despite adepleted battery. Meters go into AMT mode whenthey power up after an outage. Meters exit AMTmode and return to normal operation when theysynchronize with the network and attain networktime.

asymmetric digital subscriber line(ASDL)A technology for transmitting digital information at ahigh bandwidth on existing phone lines to homesand businesses. ADSL provides a continuouslyavailable connection. ADSL is asymmetric in that ituses the majority\ of the channel to transmitdownstream to the user and only a small part of thechannel to receive information from the user. ADSLsimultaneously accommodates analog and digitalinformation on the same line. ADSL is generallyoffered at downstream data rates from 512 Kbps toabout 6 Mbps. A form of ADSL, known as universalADSL or G.lite, has been approved as a standard bythe ITU-TS.

asymmetric key encryptionA cryptographic system that uses a key pair—apublic key and a mathematically related private key.The public key can be shared and is used to encryptthe data. The private key is known only to therecipient of the encrypted message and is used todecrypt it. This system enables users of unsecurednetworks to securely exchange data.


Glossary A

Also called public key encryption.

asynchronousOf or related to a process that operatesindependently of other processes. In asynchronouscommunication between computers, the computersdo not use timing to determine where transmissionsbegin and end.

Asynchronous JavaScript and XML(AJAX)A group of client-side web development techniquesfor creating asynchronous web applications. AJAXtechniques enable the exchange of data between awebpage and a server in the background withoutinterfering with the display or the behavior of thepage. This allows user interaction without the needto reload the entire page.

asynchronous signalA signal that occurs without a correspondingrequest for that signal. A Last Gasp (LG) from anelectricity meter is an example of an asynchronoussignal.

ATESee automatic test equipment (ATE).

atmospheric pressureMeasure of the weight of the air above the earth at agiven place on the earth's surface. At sea level,atmospheric pressure is approximately 101.325pascals.

ATPSee available-to-promise (ATP).

attenuationThe decrease in amplitude of a signal during itstransmission from one point to another.

attributeAmarkup construct that consists of a name/valuepair that exists within a start tag or an empty-element tag. An attribute is often referred to asmetadata that describes or defines a property of anelement.

For example, the following XML shows an elementcalled meter that has an attribute called type andanother attribute called active.

<meter type=”electric” active=”true”>

The type attribute value describes the type of meterthat is represented in the database by the meterelement. The active attribute value defines whetherthe meter is active or inactive within the meternetwork.

audit engineAn Itron Field Deployment Manager (FDM) softwarecomponent that automates selection of work ordersto be audited and generates the correspondingaudit work orders.

Australian Energy Market Operator(AEMO)An independent, member-based organization,which operates the National Electricity Market(NEM), retail, and wholesale gas markets insoutheastern Australia.

authenticationThe process of verifying the identity of a user,process, or device before releasing resources withinan information system. Implementation may requirebasic credentials (such as a username andpassword), smart cards, authentication servers, or apublic key infrastructure.

Authentication AuthorizationAccounting (AAA) serverThe network server used for access control in aCisco® RFMesh-based system. The AAA serveridentifies users (authentication), implementspolicies that determine which resources andservices a valid user can access (authorization),and keeps track of time and data resources used forbilling and analysis (accounting).

authentication header (AH)Amember of the Internet Protocol Security (IPsec)protocol suite that guarantees IP packetconnectionless integrity and data originauthentication. AH can utilize sliding window


Glossary A

techniques to protect against replay attacks and todiscard old packets.

authentication, authorization, andaccounting (AAA)A set of protocols that mediate network access. Forexample, an AAA server identifies users using aprocess which entails verifying evidence of a digitalidentity, such as a digital certificate (authentication),and implements policies that determine whichresources and services a valid user can access(authorization). Determined authorization is typicallyinherited during the authentication process, andrefers to deciding if an entity has access restrictions,such as encryption. Accounting usually refers tokeeping track of time and data resources used forbilling and analysis (accounting).

authorizationThe process of enabling the rights and abilities of anauthenticated user.

auto associateThe act in which a Field Service Unit (FSU)automatically initiates a secure association (SA)with the meters that it discovers.

auto teardownTo have the Field Service Unit (FSU) automaticallyterminate the secure associations after a meterfinishes testing. To improve network performancebetween the Secure FSU and tested meters, Itronrecommends automatically tearing down the secureassociation (SA) with each device after testing iscompleted.

automated meter reading (AMR)The collection of utility meter data through the use ofERT modules that are connected to the meters,eliminating the need for field service representativesto physically inspect and read the meters.Additionally, ERT modules monitor and recordrelated information such as meter tampering data.

Also called remote meter reading.

automatic loop restoration scheme(ALRS)A special feeder automation scheme that is used byutilities to improve distribution system reliability.Also called automatic loop scheme (ALS).

automatic loop scheme (ALS)A special feeder automation scheme that is used byutilities to improve distribution system reliability.Also called automatic loop restoration scheme(ALRS).

automatic meter reading (AMR)The collection of utility meter data through the use ofERT modules that are connected to the meters,eliminating the need for field service representativesto physically inspect and read the meters.Additionally, ERT modules monitor and recordrelated information such as meter tampering data.

Also called remote meter reading.

automatic remote interrogationRetrieval of data from meters at scheduled timesover a communication link.

automatic test equipment (ATE)One or more pieces of equipment that perform testson a device, using automation to quickly performmeasurements and evaluate the test results.

auto-refreshThe process by which a user interface automaticallyupdates itself at preset intervals.

auxiliary work orderAudit and service work orders that specify additionalwork to be performed in connection with a primarywork order.

available-to-promise (ATP)A business process used in supply-chainmanagement. ATP can be used to calculate productquantities, to provide responses to customerinquiries, and to coordinate the aspects of demand


Glossary B

and order promising and fulfillment, such as quantityand delivery due date.

average revenue per kilowatt hourCalculated as the total monthly revenue divided bythe total monthly sales for each sector (residential,commercial, or industrial) and geographic area(state, census division, or national).

Average Selling Price (ASP)The average price at which a particular product orcommodity is sold across channels or markets.

AVLSee approved vendor list (AVL).

AWGSee American Wire Gauge (AWG).

BB2BSee board-to-board connector (B2B).

back officeThe internal business operations of a company thatare not accessible or visible to the general public.

back office certificate authority (BOCA)A certificate issued by the back office of a utility,which chains back to the root certificate in an X.509digital certificate hierarchy. Also known as EBOCA.

Multiple BOCAs are used within the Itron system,including: Network Management Entity CA, whichsigns the network management entity certificates.There may be multiple CAs with different privilegesdepending on operator requirements. SeeCertificate Authority (CA).

backbone deviceA device that is required to communicate with partsof the network. These are typically Access Point(AP) and Relay, but could be electricity meters inspecial circumstances.

backhaulThe portion of a hierarchical telecommunicationsnetwork that is made up of intermediate linksbetween the core or backbone of the network andthe small subnetworks at its edge. For example, thelocal subnetwork connects a cell phone with a celltower and the backhaul includes all the connectionsbetween the cell tower and the cellular provider.Backhaul carries traffic back and forth.

The backhaul link provides the connection betweenthe Access Point (AP) and Itron applications and istypically the highest capacity data link in a network.In Itron Enterprise Edition (IEE) MDUS curtailmentprograms, backhaul refers to the process oftransmitting data beyond its normal destinationpoint and then back again to better utilize personnelor network equipment not located at the destinationlocation. It can also refer to transmitting from aremote site or network to a central or main site.

backupA copy of computer data, typically consisting ofdatabase content, log files, system files, andprograms, to facilitate recovery of data if necessary.Data is transferred from one location to another,such as to an external storage medium for archivaland retrieval purposes.

backup keyA key pair removed from the signing and encryptionserver (SES) and safely stored for later use. Thiskey pair is enabled when a security appliance or itsprivate keys are compromised. Also called areserve key. See also asymmetric key encryption.

BACTSee Battery-Powered Adaptive CommunicationsTechnology (BACT).

ball grid array (BGA)A type of surface-mount packaging used topermanently mount integrated circuits.

ballastA device used to control current in a streetlight. Thetwo types are magnetic and electronic. Magnetic


Glossary B

ballast technology predates electronic, and theelectronic type provides more functional optionsover the magnetic type.

bandwidthThe amount of data transmitted in a given amount oftime, usually measured in bits per second, kilobitsper second, or megabits per second.

bar codeAn identification code that can be read by an opticalscanner. A bar code contains binary informationabout the object to which it is affixed. There are twotypes of bar codes, linear (1D), and matrix (2D).Linear bar codes consist of a series of vertical barsand spaces of differing widths. Linear bar codesprovide a maximum data capacity of 20 characters.Matrix bar codes consist of geometric patterns ofvertical and horizontal shapes and spaces. Matrixbard codes provide a maximum data capacity of7,089 characters.

Itron affixes bar codes to many of its manufactureddevices, such as meters and endpoints. Many Itronsoftware products support the use of bar codes fortasks, including inventory management.

base load capacityThe generating equipment normally operated toserve loads on an around-the-clock basis.

base load plantA plant, usually housing high-efficiency steam-electric units, which is normally operated to take allor part of the minimum load of a system, and whichconsequently produces electricity at a constant rateas it runs continuously. These units are operated tomaximize system mechanical and thermal efficiencyand minimize system-operating costs.

base stationA land station in the land mobile service. Forexample, in cellular and personal communicationsuses, each cell has its own base station. Each basestation is interconnected with other base stationsand with the public switched network.

baseline, curtailmentA calculated value used to represent a customer'selectricity load or usage pattern over a period oftime, in the absence of their participation in acurtailment program. Baseline values are calculatedusing one of many available baseline algorithms.

baseloadThe average amount of electricity a homeowneruses just to “run” the home. The usage comes fromappliances that are always on, like refrigerators orelectric clocks, and items that are not turned on butare plugged in, like a computer or television. Seealso demand.

Basic Encoding Rules (BER)A set of encoding rules for Abstract Syntax NotationOne (ASN.1) notation, which is a method fordefining data structures.

basic securityThe level of security employed by Itron’s C endpointtypes before the introduction of enhanced securityin its 100 series endpoints and CENTRON® Bridgemeters. Basic security consists of such features astamper codes, Itron’s proprietary frequency-hoppingspread-spectrum (FHSS) protocol for radiofrequency communication, and Transport LayerSecurity/Secure Sockets Layer (TLS/SSL) protocolfor Fixed Network communications.

basic unitA unit used to measure a commodity type. Forexample, in Itron Enterprise Edition you can usekWh (the base unit) to measure electricity (thecommodity type).

battery backupAn option that allows Access Point (AP) and Relaysto operate during outages. See also InfrastructureBattery Pack (IBP).

battery electric vehicle (BEV)A vehicle that runs exclusively from on-boardbatteries.


Glossary B

battery powered device (BPD)A device on the mesh network that is powered by abattery and that communicates across the networkthrough a neighboring continuously powered device(CPD). Examples are:■ Gas Interface Management Unit (IMU)■ Milli™■ OpenWay® Riva 500G ERT®Module■ OpenWay® Riva 500W ERT® Module

To conserve power, BPD transmitters are usually in"sleep" mode. When a BPD first joins the network, itfinds the best neighboring CPD as its proxy. Undernormal operations, following a negotiated "listeningschedule", the BPD wakes up and exchanges data,messages, and firmware updates with the CPD.Commands issued to the BPD are sent to the CPD,which returns answers after the BPD's nextsuccessful "wake" cycle.

Battery-Powered AdaptiveCommunications Technology (BACT)Obsolete name for battery powered device (BPD).

baudA unit of measurement in digital ortelecommunications. Baud equals the number ofpulses or bits per second. Also see baud rate.

baud rateIn digital communications, the data transmissionrate in symbols per second. When measuring theline code transmission speed, the baud rate ismeasured in pulses per second.

beaconPackets of data typically sent by an access point tosynchronize a wireless network. An Itron telemetrymodule beacon provides packets of module statusinformation.

BERSee Basic Encoding Rules (BER).

BetaA version of a product released for evaluation andvalidation from a system functional and userperspective. Typically, the evaluation and validationis performed in a customer environment. The goal ofthe beta release is to have users exercise theproduct in a real operational environment, tovalidate that the release meets requirements, and touncover any issues not detected during internalproduct testing.

BEVSee battery electric vehicle (BEV).

BGASee ball grid array (BGA).

BGPSee Border Gateway Protocol (BGP).

bi-directional meteringAmetering functionality that supports the storage ofboth received and delivered data metrics. Utilitiescan collect this data to support green-creditelectricity programs for consumers who ownrenewable energy facilities or participate in vehicle-to-grid systems.

BIG-IP®

F5® Networks’ system of integrated applicationdelivery services. BIG-IP performs load balancing,access control, and application security.

bill of materials (BOM)A document that contains lists of all the materialsrequired to manufacture a shippable product, andinformation on how the parts that are required worktogether.

billing cycleDetermines how often bills are sent to utilitycustomers. In BMR, a billing cycle is a convenientway to verify that meters are being read with enoughlead time to generate bills.


Glossary B

billing determinantA calculation used to create rate charges based oninterval data used within a time-of-use (TOU)period. For example, you can create a summer peakbilling determinant that multiplies the per-kWhcharge by the total kWh of the summer peak TOU.The billing determinant calculation can also includeadjustments, such as a power factor (PF)adjustment.

billing read windowDetermines the period when a meter can besuccessfully read for billing purposes. This is theperiod in hours before and after midnight of the billgeneration date.

billing success rate (BSR)The percentage of meters for which a successfulread occurred between midnight and midnight. BSRis a metric for how well the data necessary togenerate bills can be gathered during off hours.Unlike RSR, BSR records the percentage of metersread during a given period, whereas RSR recordsthe percentage of successful meter reads perschedule run. See also message success rate(MSR) and read success rate (RSR).

binary large object (blob)A large file that will execute upon successful load toa device. It is often used to send a set ofconfiguration commands to a device.

birth certificateA digital identification, conforming to the X.509security standard, given to an Itron NIC at the timeof its manufacture. See also driver’s license.

blackout periodA period of time during a utility’s billing cycle whenfield service representatives (FSRs) are not to beassigned work orders, such as during holidays ormeter reading periods.

blade serverA rack-mounted server that consists of multiple thin,modular electronic circuit boards, called server

blades. Each server blade is essentially a server ona card, with its own CPU, memory, input/output (IO)ports, and so on. The blades share a commonpower supply, operating system, and managementmechanism.

blink phaseA phase registered by a meter. A blink phase isregistered when a voltage drop is sensed that wouldcause the meter module to shut down.

blobSee binary large object (blob).

blockA consumption tier that includes a price andoptionally a threshold. Customers are charged a perunit price for energy consumed within the block.When total consumption exceeds the definedthreshold, a new block is entered and a pricechange occurs.

block interval demandDemand based on intervals from 1 to 60 minutes. Allcalculations of demand are based on rollingdemand. To calculate block interval demand, youmust program the meter register to have onesubinterval of the same length as the demandinterval.

block rateBilling rate See also declining block rate andinclining block rate.

blurtA short, one-way message from metrology toregister through the board-to-board (B2B)connector.

BMRSee business management review (BMR).

board-to-board connector (B2B)Board-to-board connector that uses the ANSIC12.22 application protocol.


Glossary B

BOCASee back office certificate authority (BOCA).

BOMSee bill of materials (BOM).

Border Gateway Protocol (BGP)The protocol backing the core routing decisions onthe Internet. BGP maintains a table of IP networksor “prefixes” that designate network reachabilityamong autonomous systems. It does not usetraditional Interior Gateway Protocol (IGP) metrics,but makes routing decisions based on path, networkpolicies, and/or rule sets.

bounce diagramsDiagrams created by transmission line engineers toillustrate the transient waves bouncing back andforth on the transmission line.

box utilizationA feature of Itron’s Field Deployment Manager(FDM) software that enables users to track boxes ofinventory items and their contents. It facilitatesmanagement of inventory on a first-in, first-out basisand helps inventory managers trace list ormisplaced items.

BPDSee battery powered device (BPD).

BPLSee broadband over powerlines (BPL).

BPLCSee broadband over powerlines (BPL).

BridgeA communications device that provides high-performance, reliable, and secure DNP3 transportbetween remote terminal unit (RTU) and datacenters, Bridges are manufactured to perform oneof two roles: Master or Remote. A Master Bridgeprovides the connection or take-out point for theRemote Bridges to the SCADA system. The

Remote Bridges connect to the RTUs to provideconnectivity back to the Master.

The Bridge is so named because it connects(bridges) two networks. For example, Bridgesdeployed in a Distribution Automation solutionbridge the Itron RF network and the utility DPN3network.

There are Bridges for both the Itron Gen™4 networkand Gen™5 network. Both provide Ethernet andserial connectivity for simultaneous support ofDNP3 and management traffic. Bridge 5 alsoprovides APIs for maximum flexibility.

See also eBridge, and sBridge.

Bridge ConfiguratorAn Itron software tool that, in conjunction with aField Service Unit (FSU), is used for creatingnetworks of Bridges, remote terminal unit (RTU),and intelligent electronic device (IED). A number ofDA deployment scenarios and networkconfigurations are supported by this tool.

British thermal unit (BTU)A standard unit for measuring the quantity of heatenergy equal to the quantity of heat required to raisethe temperature of 1 pound of water by 1 degreeFahrenheit.

broadband over powerlines (BPL)A type of data transmission in which a single wirecan carry high-speed packet (internet) data. CableTV, for example, uses broadband transmission.Electricity providers can use BPL technology totransmit data over the power lines that they alreadyhave in place by using a system of signal injectors,repeaters, and extractors that bypass thedistribution transformer. The frequency of BPLsignals is much higher than that of traditional power-line carrier (PLC) systems.

broadband power line communications(BPLC)The transmission of data over power lines using asystem of signal injectors, repeaters, and extractorsthat avoid interference at the distributiontransformer. The frequency of the data signals ismuch higher than that of traditional power line


Glossary C

carrier systems, so the signals are unaffected by thepower carried across the line. Also called power linecommunications (see power-line carrier (PLC)).

broadcastThe mode of sending packets over a network so thatall devices receive them. Each device’s NIC thenevaluates the event and decides if it can run it. Seealso unicast.

broadcast messageAmessage destined for all nodes in a network.

brokerA firm that acts as an agent in the sale andpurchases of electricity, but never owns theelectricity and typically does not own generatingfacilities.

brownoutA controlled power reduction performed by theutility. The utility decreases voltage on the powerlines so customers receive weaker electric current.Typically used to reduce load when the total powerdemand exceeds the maximum available supply.

BSRSee billing success rate (BSR).

BTOSee build to order (BTO).

BTUSee British thermal unit (BTU).

BUSee business unit (BU).

Bubble UpA process using MQTT Broker to let applicationscollect readings from meters or sensors withoutsending explicit read commands; in other words, thedata "bubbles up" from the device. This is done bysending asynchronous messages to TrapMessaging Bridge (TMB), which will then sendthese messages to Gateway, which pushes them toan MQTT broker. The MQTT broker enables

applications to publish messages on various topicsor to subscribe to messages on particular topics.BMR or any other application can subscribe totopics to receive the traps.

bubble-up modeOne of two transmission modes (the other beingwake-up mode) by which most ERT modules can beprogrammed to transmit meter reading and tamperdata to data collection devices. In bubble-up mode,an ERT module periodically broadcasts its meterreading and tamper data at programmed intervals ina standard consumption message (SCM), whetheror not a data collection device is present. A datacollection device must be within receiving range ofthe ERT signal to read and record the SCM. Incontrast, an ERT module programmed to use wake-up mode waits until it receives a wake-up tone froma data collection device before transmitting its SCM.

build to order (BTO)Amanufacturing term for a production approachwhere products are built only when a confirmedorder for the product is received. This is a commonform of production for highly customized, high-value, or low-volume products.

Also called make to order.

bulk power marketAn energy market restricted to wholesale powersuppliers and resellers who acquire energy forresale elsewhere.

business management review (BMR)A format used to designate line items for invoicingand revenue recognition purposes.

business unit (BU)An organizational unit of a utility, typically based onfunction (gas, electric, water, cable) or geographiclocation.

CCAGRSee compounded annual growth rate (CAGR).


Glossary B

CAM3SSee OpenWay® Riva CGR ACT Module 3S.

CAM1See OpenWay® Riva CGR ACT Module 1.

C&ISee commercial & industrial (C&I).

C12.11See ANSI C12.11.



CASee Certificate Authority (CA).

CA ToolsSee Certificate Authority Tools (CA Tools).

CAASSee Central Authentication and AuthorizationService (CAAS).

cable armorA stainless steel coil that wraps around the endpointcable to protect the cable jacket.

CAIDISee Customer Average Interruption Duration Index(CAIDI).

CAIFISee Customer Average Interruption FrequencyIndex (CAIFI).

calculation delayWith demand limiting, the time after a connect that ameter waits to begin calculating demand. See alsocalculation period and demand limiting period.

calculation periodWith demand limiting, the interval between demandmeasurements during the demand limiting period.

calendar scheduleA schedule that determines items such as seasonalchanges, holidays, or daily patterns.

call frequencyThe period of time between scheduled automatedmeter reading (AMR) calls. In the Itron TelephoneAMR software system, this is the amount of time towait between AMR calls to the master station hostprocessor by the Siris or Metscan telephone AMRmeter modules.

Call Home ServerA component used with GridScape® that enablesnew Access Point (AP) or MicroAP®Module toobtain their configurations over the air. When newAPs or MicroAP® s connect with the Call HomeServer, GridScape® receives an “Unknown AP”alert to inform that an unknown AP or MicroAP isattempting to obtain configuration.

California Metering Exchange Protocol(CMEP) ExporterA transformation adapter that processes AdvancedMetering Manager (AMM)-produced meter readdata and generates CSV files which then conform tothe CMEP format.

calorific value (CV)Ameasure of the heating power of a substance,which depends on the composition of the substancethat is being burned. The quantity is usuallyexpressed in joules per kilogram.

According to National Grid, for gas, the CV isdependent on the composition of the gas and refersto the amount of energy released when a knownvolume of gas is completely combusted underspecified conditions. The CV of gas, which is dry,gross and measured at standard conditions oftemperature (15oC) and pressure (1013.25millibars), is usually quoted in Megajoules per cubicmetre (MJ/m3).


Glossary B

CAMSee Connected Grid Router (CGR) AdaptiveCommunications Technology (ACT) Module.

Canadian Standards Association (CSA)A standards-defining organization for industries thatinclude electronics, communications, andinformation technology.

canary pollingSee exception polling.

capabilityThe maximum load that a generating unit,generating station, or other electrical apparatus cancarry under specified conditions for a given periodwithout exceeding approved limits of temperatureand stress.

capacitorA device in an electric utility distribution system thatreduces energy losses in the system and thereforeimproves the efficiency of the flow of electricitythrough distribution lines. Capacitors are installed insubstations and on power poles.

Capacitor VoltageA value that represents a Remote Disconnectswitch capacitor's voltage.

capacityThe amount of electric power delivered or requiredfor which a generator, turbine, transformer,transmission circuit, station, or system is rated bythe manufacturer.

capacity chargeAn element in a two-part pricing method used incapacity transactions (energy charge is the otherelement). The capacity charge, sometimes calleddemandcharge, is assessed on the amount ofcapacity being purchased and expressed in$/kWmonth or $/MW-day.

carrier frequency, radioThe radio frequency used by a data collectiondevice to transmit a wake-up tone to anencoder/receiver/transmitter (ERT) module. ERTmodules that use wake-up tones wait until theyreceive a wake-up tone before transmitting theirmeter reading and tamper data in a standardconsumption message (SCM). To wake up an ERTmodule, a data collection device emits a utility-specific wake-up tone using a radio frequency of952 MHz or 956 MHz. Each ERT module canreceive a range of carrier frequencies but onlyresponds to the wake-up tone it is programmed torecognize. A utility must receive a license from theFederal Communications Commission (FCC) orIndustry Canada (IC) for a specific carrier radiofrequency to legally operate a data collection deviceat that frequency.

CASSee code access security (CAS).

CATSee CryptoServer Administration Tool (CAT)

CATT (Communications Tester)Internal nickname for Communications Tester.

category nodeAn item in the navigation pane tree that providesaccess to a category of Field Deployment Manager(FDM) database records, settings, properties,events, objects, or processes. The permissionsgranted to your user account determine whichnodes you have access to and which of theirfeatures you can use.

cathodic protection (CP)A technique used to control corrosion of a metalstructure or surface by introducing an anode tocreate an electrochemical cell in which the metalstructure or surface to be protected is rendered thecathode. There are two types of systems forcathodic protection: sacrificial anode systems andimpressed current systems. In each system, theanode possesses a lower electrochemical potentialthan the cathode (and is thus more corrodible),


Glossary B

prompting the corrosion-causing current to flowaway from the anode, rather than the cathode. Forexample, cathodic protection is used to controlcorrosion of boat hulls, underground storage tanks,home water heaters, and steel water and fuelpipelines. In some industries, governments requireregular testing and inspection of cathodic protectionsystems to ensure proper operation.

CBCSee cipher block chaining (CBC).

CBC-MACSee cipher block chaining message authenticationcode (CBC-MAC).

CBKESee certificate-based key establishment (CBKE).

CBWFQSee class-based weighted fair queuing (CBWFQ).

CCASee Collector Configuration Application.

CCFSee centum cubic feet (CCF).

CCUSee Cell Control Unit 100 (CCU 100).

CCUMSee Continuous Cumulative Demand Value(CCUM).

CCXSee Cisco® Compatible Extensions (CCX)program.

CDCSee change data capture (CDC).

CDDSee cooling degree day (CDD).

CDMASee code-division multiple access (CDMA).

CDPSee certificate distribution point (CDP).

CE■ See conditioning equipment (CE)■ See OpenWay® Collection Engine

CEFSee Common Events Format (CEF).

Cell Control Unit 100 (CCU 100)A neighborhood pole-mounted data collectiondevice that gathers meter readings and related datafrom encoder/receiver/transmitter endpoint (ERT)modules in Itron radio-based fixed network systems,including ChoiceConnect, Fixed Network, andWater SaveSource systems. The cell control unit(CCU) transfers the data to a host processor usingpublic, Internet Protocol (IP)-based, or privatecomputer networks.

cell IDThe identification number assigned to a radio-frequency local area network (RFLAN) cell. Eachcell consists of a group of meters (up to 1,000) andthe cell relay through which they communicate withthe OpenWay® Collection Engine (CE).

cell masterA level-one device in a cell that manages the meters(up to 1,000) within that cell.

cell relayAn OpenWay® communication device that routesmessages between the smart meters that make upits cell and the OpenWay® Collection Engine (CE).

cell relay under glass (CRUG)A socket-based cell relay installed inside the base ofan OpenWay® CENTRON®meter.


Glossary B

cell, RFLANA group of OpenWay® CENTRON®meters (up to1,000) and the cell relay through which theycommunicate over a radio-frequency local areanetwork (RFLAN) with the OpenWay® CollectionEngine (CE).

CellNICSee MicroAP®Module.

CellularAn end-to-end smart metering solution which offersremote meter data collection and metermanagement, field deployment and commissioning,AMI performance monitoring with a daily directaccess to the delivery points over an existing GPRSnetwork. This solution enables utilities to protecttheir revenue with remote fraud protection whilesimultaneously empowering consumers to conserveenergy.

cellular moduleA device integrated under the cover of a meterdesigned for data collection and networkcommunications using existing cellular datanetworks. The cellular module works in conjunctionwith an electric meter to become an intelligent clientto a head end system. The module supports allstandard metering functions and acts as thedatabase for the integrated device by storingmetering data in American National StandardsInstitute (ANSI) tables, executing scheduled tasks,and monitoring for power outages and other alarmconditions.

Central Authentication andAuthorization Service (CAAS)A software component that supports single sign-onand authentication for applications in the Itron backoffice. When users log into an application such asAdvanced Metering Manager (AMM) or any otherGUI-based application, they initially log into a CAASscreen. CAAS authenticates login credentialsagainst user role information stored in the CAASlocal database for the application in question. If thecredentials match a username with access, CAASreviews the user privileges for specific application

pages, then forwards that information to theapplication. The application then enforces the userprivileges to access particular webpages or to seecertain UI objects.

Central Management Software (CMS)Software used for management, control, andmonitoring of systems and devices (such asstreetlights, traffic signals, parking meters, and soon) by municipalities and utilities. See alsoStreetLight.Vision™ .

CENTRON® Bridge MeterAmeter which connects smart grid functionality andItron communication architectures that enable AMI.The meter’s adaptability allows it to be incorporatedalongside existing Itron electric meters with a mobilecollection system, delivering advanced meteringbenefits associated with interval data, remoteservice switch and demand reset. The meter can bemigrated to a full smart grid solution and supportsdemand response and distribution automation.

CENTRON® II MeterA solid-state, single-phase residential electricitymeter. Personality modules in the CENTRON® IImeter provide an array of communications andmeasurement options, and an optional serviceswitch allows for remote disconnect and reconnectactivities.

CENTRON® PolyphaseA solid-state, polyphase electricity meter for thecommercial and industrial (C&I) market. TheCENTRON® Polyphase meter can be integrated bylow- and mid-tier C&I customers into large-scaleautomated meter reading (AMR) systems.

CENTRON® Polyphase R400A solid-state, polyphase electricity meter for thecommercial and industrial (C&I) market. TheCENTRON® Polyphase meter can be integrated bylow- and mid-tier C&I customers into large-scaleautomated meter reading (AMR) systems.


Glossary B

CENTRON® Polyphase III Advanced(CP3SLV)An electricity meter built upon Itron’s existingCENTRON® III Polyphase meter. It is supported byprogramming package PC-PRO+® Advanced andField-Pro™ software.

As a standalone meter, there is no network to pullreadings. Utility employees must walk up to themeter and look at the display, or log into the meterwith Field-Pro using an optical probe.

Although this meter has "Polyphase" in its name,this is an autoranging meter. It can operate from 120to 480 volts, and it performs as whatever meterservice it is plugged into. For example, if it's pluggedinto a 2S residential socket, it performs like a 2SSinglephase meter.

CP3SLV stands for CENTRON Polyphase 3rdgeneration Socket Load profile Advanced.

CENTRON® R400A solid-state, single-phase residential electricitymeter.

centum cubic feet (CCF)One hundred cubic feet. Used in the utility industryto express quantities of natural gas.

Certicom™ AMIA third-party solution that uses a security platform toprovide data encryption and integrity to meter datacommunication and commands taking placebetween utility meters and utility companies’ meterdata management (MDM) systems.

certificateSee digital certificate.

Certificate Authority (CA)A trusted third-party entity within a network thatissues digital certificates and public-private keypairs used for message encryption. The CA verifiesthe identity of the certificate's owner. The relyingparty can then trust that the private key is acertificate related to the corresponding public keyfor that same certificate.

Each certificate authority (CA) has essentially thesame security requirements for its protection, buteach is capable of issuing certificates for a differentpurpose, and is operated according to its ownseparate security (issuance) policy. See alsocertificate roles.

Certificate Authority Tools (CA Tools)A suite of tools that allow operations personnel toperform the following network operator tasks withinthe public key infrastructure (PKI) hierarchy.

certificate distribution point (CDP)The path or protocol in a public key infrastructure(PKI) security certificate indicating where thecertificate revocation list (CRL) is located.

certificate revocation list (CRL)A list of subscribers and their digital certificatestatus, used to determine whether a server allows ordenies access based on the status. The CRLDistribution Tool allows revocation of the private keyand certificate of any device that suspected orknown to have been compromised through theft orloss. Requires a Certificate Revocation Listgenerated by the KeySafe administrator usingCertWeb.

certificate rolesRoles assigned to individuals dealing with the lifecycle or use of a certificate, and which are dictatedby a certificate policy.

certificate-based key establishment(CBKE)A key-establishment method based on public keystransported in signed certificates. The digitalcertificate binds the device identity with a public keyand is signed by a certificate authority (CA). A CApublic key is required to validate the devicecertificate.

CertWebUsed in connection with KeySafe for monitoringcertificate expiration dates and creation of acertificate revocation list (CRL).


Glossary B

cfSee cubic foot.

CFDSee computational fluid dynamics (CFD).

CFLSee compact fluorescent light (CFL).

CGSee Connected Grid (CG).

CGDMSee Connected Grid Device Manager (CGDM).

CGESee Cisco® Connected Grid Endpoint.

CG-NMSSee Cisco® Connected Grid Network ManagementSystem (CG-NMS).

CGRSee Connected Grid Router (CGR).

CGR ACT ModuleSee Connected Grid Router (CGR) AdaptiveCommunications Technology (ACT) Module.

CGSSee Cisco® Connected Grid Switch (CGS).

Challenge Handshake AuthenticationProtocol (CHAP)A protocol that enables secure, encryptedauthentication between local and remoteworkstations.

change data capture (CDC)A set of software design patterns used to determineand track data that has changed in a database ordata repository system, so that a second systemcan take action based on the changed data. CDCmechanisms most often are used in datawarehouse environments.

channelAny of 120 radio communication frequencies overwhich an endpoint transmits information to a fixednetwork or mobile data collection device. Onelectricity meters, each channel is associated with aspecific measurement. For example, Channel 1may measure kWh and Channel 2 may measurevoltage. This should not be confused with radiofrequency channels.

CHAPSee Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol(CHAP).

childIn an Itron network, a device that is subordinate toanother device. A meter that is associated with aRelay is a child of that Relay. Similarly, a Relay is achild of the Access Point to which it is associated. Ameter can also be a child of another meter when theparent meter is acting as a Relay.

child (RFLAN)In a radio-frequency local area network (RFLAN)cell, a meter that communicates with theOpenWay® Collection Engine through a cell relay oranother meter in the cell. A meter thatcommunicates with the Collection Engine through acell relay is the cell relay’s child, and the cell relay isthe meter’s parent. A meter that communicatesthrough another meter in the cell is a child of themeter it communicates through, which is the childmeter’s parent.

ChoiceConnect™ Fixed NetworkA utility meter data collection and managementnetwork consisting of:■ Endpoint-equipped electric, gas, or water

meters that measure and record consumptionby utility customers.

■ Collection and transmission devices called cellcontrol units (CCUs) and repeaters that retrievemeter data and upload it over the Internet to ahost system.

■ The host system, which receives the data and


Glossary B

stores it in a database for billing and analysispurposes.

ChoiceConnect™ NetworkItron’s comprehensive suite of ERT module-basedautomated meter reading (AMR) systems.ChoiceConnect™ includes walk-by, drive-by, andfixed network meter data collection solutions, allusing Itron’s 900-MHz endpoint technology.

churnRefers to endpoint devices recalculating the egressroute to their preferred Access Point on a frequentbasis. This is a sign of network instability becausean endpoint’s IP address may become stale,resulting in missed reads.

CIA triadAmodel for information security policydevelopment. Confidentiality, integrity, andavailability are the triad of basic principles that areused to identify problem areas and solutions tosecure information.

CIMSee Common Information Model (CIM).

CIPSee critical infrastructure protection (CIP).

cipherAn algorithm that converts plaintext to ciphertextusing a cipher key.

cipher block chaining (CBC)A cryptography operation that combines theciphertext of one block with the plaintext of the nextblock.

cipher block chaining messageauthentication code (CBC-MAC)A technique for constructing a messageauthentication code from a block cipher.Themessage is encrypted with some block cipheralgorithm in CBCmode to create a chain of blockssuch that each block depends on the proper

encryption of the previous block. Thisinterdependence ensures that a change to any ofthe plaintext bits will cause the final encrypted blockto change in a way that cannot be predicted orcounteracted without knowing the key to the blockcipher.

ciphertextData that is encrypted (encoded) for securitypurposes. Ciphertext contains all the information ofthe plaintext message from which it was encryptedbut is unreadable without the proper mechanism todecrypt it.

CIQSee CustomerIQ® Software.

circuitA conductor or a system of conductors throughwhich electric current flows. Also, a two-waycommunications path for the transmission ofsignals.

CISSee customer information system (CIS).

Cisco Secure Development Lifecycle(CSDL)A Cisco development standard designed to ensurecode security and resilience. It does this byidentifying and implementing specific processes ortools to enable engineers to detect, fix, mitigate, andprevent design and code weaknesses that couldbecome exploitable.

Cisco Secure Development Lifecycle(CSDL)A Cisco development standard designed to ensurecode security and resilience. It does this byidentifying and implementing specific processes ortools to enable engineers to detect, fix, mitigate, andprevent design and code weaknesses that couldbecome exploitable.


Glossary B

Cisco® Compatible Extensions (CCX)programA Cisco program that defines specifications formanufacturers of 802.11 wireless local areanetwork (LAN) chips to ensure compliance withCisco’s proprietary wireless LAN protocols. Forexample, Cisco’s Lightweight ExtensibleAuthentication Protocol (LEAP) and ExtensibleAuthentication Protocol-Flexible Authenticationusing Secure Tunneling (EAP-FAST) arecomponents of CCX.

Cisco® Connected Grid DeviceManager (CGDM)A tool in the Cisco® suite of smart gridcommunications solutions for utilities used by fieldtechnicians to troubleshoot Field Area Routers(FARs). The device manager stores the FARconfiguration information.

In OpenWay® the CGDM provides field staff accessConnected Grid Routers (CGRs) through Wi-Fi orEthernet.

Cisco® Connected Grid EndpointEnable devices to communicate on an IPv6network.

Cisco® Connected Grid NetworkManagement System (CG-NMS)A software application that provides centralizedmanagement of Cisco® Connected Grid Routers(CGRs), which in turn serve as data collectionpoints for OpenWay® 900MHz radio-frequency localarea networks (RFLANs).

Cisco® Connected Grid Router (CGR)A network router developed to serve as a datacollection point for the OpenWay® Field AreaNetwork.

Cisco® Connected Grid Switch (CGS)A Cisco® switch designed for use in energyinfrastructures.

Cisco® IoT Field Network DirectoryA software platform that manages a multi-servicenetwork and security infrastructure for Internet ofThings (IoT) applications, such as smart gridapplications, including Advanced MeteringInfrastructure (AMI), Distribution Automation (DA),distributed intelligence, and substation automation.For additional information about Cisco products,see cisco.com.

Cisco® IoT Device ManagerAn application used to troubleshoot a Cisco®Connected Grid Router (CGR) as well as testdevices connected to the CGR. The IoT DeviceManager reads CGR configuration information,displays data and manages individual FARs. Youcan connect to the IoT Device Manager using asecured Ethernet or Wi-Fi link for first-timedeployment or troubleshooting.

class-based weighted fair queuing(CBWFQ)A network router queuing method that allows trafficto share bandwidth equally after being grouped byclasses. The classes can be based upon a variety ofparameters, such as priority, interface, or originatingprogram.

clear text portSee legacy port.

CLISee command line interface (CLI).

ClickOnceAMicrosoft deployment technology that is used tocreate self-updating Windows-based applications. AClickOnce application is used to installed, run, andupdate applications with little or no user interaction.For more information and product specifications,see https://msdn.microsoft.com.

clientA computer or program that requests data, files, orservices or accesses shared network resourcesfrom a server computer or program. A client can befurther classified as a rich client, hybrid client, or thin

http://www.cisco.com/


Glossary B

client, based its level of reliance upon the server toperform data processing operations.

client-serverA type of computer network that consists of multipleclient computers connecting to a single, centralserver computer. The server is a host running oneor more server programs that share their resourceswith the clients. In contrast, peer-to-peer networksconsist of two or more computers that pool theirindividual resources such as disk drives, CD-ROMs,and printers. These shared resources are availableto every computer in the network, while each two ofthem communicate in a session.

CLOSee constant light output (CLO).

CLPUSee cold load pickup (CLPU).

clutterSurface features, such as structures and foliage,that impact on radio wave propagation.

CM■ See cell master.■ See contract manufacturer (CM).■ See OpenWay® Collection Manager (OWCM).

CMESee Customer and Market Experience (CME).

CMEP ExporterSee California Metering Exchange Protocol (CMEP)Exporter.

CMSSee Central Management Software (CMS).

CMUSee Communications Module Utility (CMU).

CoAPSee Constrained Application Protocol (CoAP).

CoAP ClientApplication code that implements the CoAP clientframework (which handles CoAP protocol) andsolution specific code. CoAP clients are typicallybuilt using CoAP core functionality (usually as alibrary) along with problem domain application code.

CoAp Simple Management Protocol(CSMP)A remote network management protocol intendedfor embedded networking devices running withinlarge- scale bandwidth-constrained networks.Connected Grid Endpoints (CGEs) implementCSMP for remote configuration, monitoring, andevent generation over the Internet Protocol version6 (IPv6) network.

code access security (CAS)A software mechanism in Microsoft .NETFramework that prevents untrusted code fromperforming privileged actions.

code floatThe process during which all non-seed NICsacquire a UtilOS® firmware firmware image fromthe NIC (seed NIC or non-seed) of a close networkneighbor that has it. “Close” is defined as reachablewithout going through any intervening hops. Seealso code push.

code pushThe act of sending code to a limited number of seedNICs. Pushing the image to a few seed NIC (about3%) and instructing the non-seeds to acquire theimage from their direct neighbors is much moreresource-efficient than pushing the image to allNICs. This way, network traffic associated with afirmware upgrade takes place between directneighbors and not along mission-critical routesbetween the data center and endpoints. Disruptionof normal network traffic, such as meteringschedules and events, is reduced as much aspossible.

code-division multiple access (CDMA)A digital cellular technology that uses a spreadspectrum method allowing multiple devices to share


Glossary B

bandwidth while communicating over a singletransmission channel. It is generally referred to asCDMA. In North America, CDMA is the cellulartechnology used by Verizon, Sprint, and BellCanada.

cogenerationThe process of capturing heat that is lost duringelectricity production and converting it into usefulthermal energy, usually in the form of hot water orsteam.

cogeneratorA generating facility that produces electricity andanother form of useful thermal energy (such as heator steam) used for industrial, commercial, heating,or cooling purposes.

coincidental demandTwo or more demands that occur at the same timeor coincidentally.

coincidental peak loadThe sum of two or more peak loads that occur in thesame time interval.

cold load pickup (CLPU)The increased currents that occur during the re-energization of a circuit or substation after anextended power outage during which there was aloss of load diversity. CLPU can also refer to thedelay between the end of a power outage (coldload) and the moment when a meter’s registerresumes (picks-up) calculation of demand.

Collection EngineSee OpenWay® Collection Engine.

Collection Manager (CM)See OpenWay® Collection Manager (OWCM).

collectorA neighborhood pole-mounted data collectiondevice that gathers meter readings and related datafrom encoder/receiver/transmitter endpoint (ERT)modules in Itron radio-based fixed network systems,including ChoiceConnect, Fixed Network, and

Water SaveSource systems. The transfers the datato a host processor using public, Internet Protocol(IP)-based, or private computer networks.

Collector Configuration ApplicationAn Itron Fixed Network application used toconfigure and manage cell control units (CCUs)individually and in groups.

combined meterA type of electric meter in which the meter andinterval data recorder (IDR) are combined in onedevice. The recorder identifier (ID), manufacturer,and model are the same as the meter's.

Also called recorder-under-glass (RUG).

command keyA system-wide elliptic curve cryptography (ECC)asymmetric key pair used to sign commandmessages sent from the OpenWay® CollectionEngine (CE) to the electric meters. Command keysensure that meter commands originate with the CE.Each meter includes four command keys: twoprimary keys (active and standby) and two backupkeys.

command line interface (CLI)A user interface to a computer's operating systemthat provides a means of interacting with a computerprogram. The user issues commands to theprogram in lines of text.

command securityA security level employed by C endpoints thatsupport enhanced security, such as Itron’s 100series endpoints. In command security mode anendpoint’s settings can be changed only through theuse of secure commands generated by the ItronSecurity Manager (ISM) server, but securecommands are not required for reading theendpoint’s data.

command-secured endpointAn Itron endpoint operating in C mode that has beenset to the command security state. In this state, anendpoint’s settings can be changed only inresponse to secure commands generated by the


Glossary B

Itron Security Manager (ISM) server, but securecommands are not required for reading its data.

comma-separated values (CSV)A plain-text representation of tabular data in whichthe cell values of a row are separated by commasand each row is on its own line.

comment codeA coded comment about a meter added by a fieldemployee to a work order or meter reading.

commercial & industrial (C&I)Refers to commercial and industrial energy andwater customers. C&I customers typically have over500 employees, demand of over 75-kW, aredemand metered, and most likely use buildingmanagement systems.

Examples of commercial customers are schools,hospitals, hotels, and strip malls.

Examples of industrial customers are manufacturingplants, mills, and heavy industry.

commercial and industrial (C&I) meterElectricity watt-hour meters that are used tomeasure energy flow in polyphase currents.Polyphase meters are typically used for commercialand industrial (C&I) service locations, which havehigher demand for power than the conventionalhome. Also called a polyphase meter.

committed reductionAn agreements between a utility company and theircustomer, in which the customer commits toreducing energy usage by a specified amountduring utility-defined events.

commodities■ ELE. Electricity■ WAH. Water■ GAS. Gas■ ALL. All■ EAW. Electric and Water

■ EAG. Electric and Gas■ GAW. Gas andWater

commodity typeThe goods and related services that a utilitycompany might supply to its customers. Markettypes can include (but are not limited to), water,natural gas, and electricity. See also commodities.

Commodity type is also called market type.

Common Events Format (CEF)An Itron-developed API that provides a commonformat for transferring event data between systems.

Common Information Model (CIM)A standard that allows application software toexchange information about an electrical network.The Common Information Model (CIM) is a standardbased on the Unified Modeling Language (UML).CIM defines common language for the electricpower industry that allows application software toexchange information about the configuration andstatus of an electrical network.

Common Reading Format (CRF)An XML file format developed by Itron to enablesoftware applications with different native fileformats to exchange meter route and energy usedata. Originally developed for the Itron EnterpriseEdition (IEE) software, CRF is used by Itron’s FieldDeployment Manager (FDM), Field CollectionSystem (FCS), MV-RS, and Premierplus4 mobilemeter reading systems and by its ChoiceConnect™Fixed Network 100 and OpenWay® network meterreading systems.

common readings file (CRF) formatAn extensible markup language (XML) file formatdeveloped by Itron to enable software applicationswith different native file formats to exchange meterroute and energy use data. Originally developed forthe Itron Enterprise Edition (IEE) software, CRF isused by Itron’s Field Deployment Manager (FDM),Field Collection System (FCS), MV-RS, andPremierplus4 mobile meter reading systems and byits ChoiceConnect™ Fixed Network 100 andOpenWay® network meter reading systems.


Glossary B

communication serverA server that manages communications betweenthe OpenWay® Collection Engine (CE) and a groupof cell relays. An OpenWay® solution can includemultiple communication servers, and each servercan communicate with up to 200 cell relays.

Communications ConfiguratorAn Itron software application that remotelyconfigures devices by automatically downloadingconfiguration parameters when the device ispowered up.

Communications ModuleObsolete term given to an Itron network interfacecard (NIC) when it was installed in a partnerproduct.

Communications Module Utility (CMU)An Itron software tool that, in conjunction with aField Service Unit (FSU), reads meter data fromItron enabled meters and uploads the meter readdata to Advanced Metering Manager (AMM). Theapplication can be used to read meters loaded intoAMM but never registered on the network or metersthat are unreachable on the Itron network.Additionally, CMU can be used for swapping ItronNICs in meters and performing Demand Resets.

Communications TesterAn Itron software tool that, in conjunction with aField Service Unit (FSU), is used for field and labtesting of devices equipped with Itron NICs thatcommunicate across the mesh network.Communications Tester enables engineers andtechnicians to transmit and receive messages toand from these devices, log the data, and analyzethe results. For example, operators can performregister reads, firmware upgrades, and they canread meter tables, check configuration options,collect radio frequency statistics data, and exerciseother troubleshooting features.

Communications Tester also supports user-createdcompound commands, session logging, and resultsexport.

community technology preview (CTP)AMicrosoft®-coined term for a major public beta-test software release.

compact fluorescent light (CFL)A fluorescent light bulb that uses less power than atraditional light bulb and has a longer rated life.

Companion Specification for EnergyMetering (COSEM)A data model that provides an interface to model thefunctionality of an electricity meter. Used with themessaging and transport capabilities of DeviceLanguage Message Specification (DLMS) as thestandard for utility meter data exchange forDLMS/COSEMmeters.

compensated cuFtUnit of measure for measuring gas consumption inmultichannel IMUs where a Mercury rotary correctoris installed. See also Gas Interface ManagementUnit (IMU).

competitive transaction charge (CTC)A financial fee placed on distribution or transmissionservices. This fee helps the electric utility to recoverthe costs incurred as a result of energy industryrestructuring. These are costs that are usuallyassociated with generation facilities and services,and not recoverable in other ways.

competitive transition chargeA financial fee placed on distribution or transmissionservices. This fee helps the electric utility to recoverthe costs incurred as a result of energy industryrestructuring. These are costs that are usuallyassociated with generation facilities and services,and not recoverable in other ways.

componentA part of a system or subsystem treated as a self-contained unit for the purposes of identification andchange control. This definition applies to the GlobalDevelopment Process (GDP).


Glossary B

compounded annual growth rate(CAGR)A business and investing specific term for thegeometric progression ratio that provides a constantrate of return over the time period.

compressibility factorIn gas measurement, volume decreases when thereis an increase in pressure. Also known ascompressibility factor (Z) is the variance ofthermodynamic properties of a real gas deviate fromthose of an ideal gas.

computational fluid dynamics (CFD)A branch of fluid mechanics that uses numericalanalysis and algorithms to solve and analyzeproblems that involve fluid flows. Computersanalyze gas or fluid flows by simulating theinteraction of liquids and gases with surfaces thatare defined by boundary conditions.

computer virusA hostile software program that interferes withnormal computer operation. A virus propagates toother computer systems by attaching a copy of itselfto other programs.

concentratorA device used for the collection of meter data, suchas a handheld computer, mobile collector, or cellcontrol unit (CCU).

Concentrator is a regional term used in Europe.

condition statementA list filter component that compares a field value,setting, property, or other item to a specifiedcomparison value. Most condition statementsconsist of the item to be compared, a comparisonvalue to compare the item to, and a comparisonoperator word or phrase that specifies the nature ofthe comparison to be made. A list filter may consistof one or multiple condition statements.

conditioning equipment (CE)Equipment modifications or adjustments necessaryto match transmission levels and impedances, and

which equalize transmission and delay to bringcircuit losses, levels, and distortion withinestablished standards.

conductorA type of material, usually in the form of a wire orcable, capable of carrying an electric current.

configuration groupA logical group of meters to which the OpenWay®Collection Engine (CE) assigns identical meterconfigurations. A configuration group allows the CEto manage multiple meters simultaneously toperform a variety of functions. Each meter in adeployment must belong to one configuration group.

configuration maintenanceA process for making changes to accountinformation in Itron Enterprise Edition (IEE). Theterm does not include modification of reading data,interval data, or billing determinants.

configuration tagAn encoded tag identifying the meter's associatedOpenWay® Collection Engine configuration group.Used to identify, monitor, and maintain theconfiguration (family and version) that determineshow the meter records and functions.

connectGas, water, or electricity is flowing and is beingdelivered to the customer.

Connected Grid (CG)The Cisco® suite of smart grid communicationssolutions for utilities.

Connected Grid Device Manager(CGDM)A tool in the Cisco® suite of smart gridcommunications solutions for utilities used by fieldtechnicians to troubleshoot Field Area Routers(FARs). The device manager stores the FARconfiguration information.


Glossary B

In OpenWay® the CGDM provides field staff accessConnected Grid Routers (CGRs) through Wi-Fi orEthernet.

Connected Grid Router (CGR)A Cisco® field area router (FAR) used as a networkrouter in OpenWay® systems. The CGR is anetwork router that serves as a data collection pointfor meters participating in the Cisco® radiofrequency (RF) Mesh.

Connected Grid Router (CGR) AdaptiveCommunications Technology (ACT)ModuleAmodule that enables meters and grid devicesequipped with Adaptive CommunicationsTechnology (ACT) to communicate with each otherwhile dynamically switching between radiofrequency (RF) and power line communication(PLC).

conservationReducing electric, gas or water usage for thepurpose of saving natural or scarce resources.Conservation can reduce the capacity requirementsfor infrastructure and equipment.

conservation pricingPricing that provides an incentive to reduce averageor peak use, or both.

Conservation Voltage Reduction (CVR)A technique for reducing the amount of energywaste or over provisioning on the distribution grid,and which reduces energy consumption resultingfrom a reduction of feeder voltage. This functionalityis provided through SensorIQ® Application.

constant light output (CLO)In streetlight Central Management Software (CMS)applications, the adjustment of light to allow fordegradation in brightness due to the age of thelamp.

The adjustment takes place using a lumendeprecation curve, which specifies how much thelamp should be dimmed. This is calculated in hours

as a percentage of the dimming level set byconfiguration or by the schedule based on the lampage.

The CLO algorithm takes into account the age of thebulb or lighting element. As the element ages, itdeteriorates, emitting less light for a given inputlevel. When the element is brand new, the NICfirmware sends a lower value to the control board.As the light ages, the value sent graduallyincreases. When the light is fully depreciated,firmware does not reduce the CMS requested value.The amount of reduction is defined by adepreciation curve, which defines the reductionfactor at various ages of the bulb.

contract manufacturer (CM)Amanufacturer that contracts with a firm forcomponents or products.

Constrained Application Protocol(CoAP)Used to communicate with constrained devices.CoAP is a UDP based network protocol that issimilar to HTTP with low protocol overhead. CoAP isloosely based on the REST protocol to provide afamiliar programming model for accessing deviceresources. See also CoAP Client.

consumable inventoryInventory items that are installed or used.Consumable items can be serialized (items withserial numbers, such as endpoints, meters, and leakdetectors) or non-serialized, (items without serialnumbers, such as screws and bolts that arepurchased in large quantities).

consumed inventory locationThe location to which FDM records an inventoryitem as having been moved when it is installedthrough work order completion. The consumedinventory item location is not an actual location butan abstract concept that FDM uses for record-keeping and reporting purposes.

consumptionThe amount of electricity, gas, or water used by acustomer during a specified period. Consumption is


Glossary B

usually expressed in kilowatt-hours (electricity),cubic feet or therms (gas), or cubic feet (water).

consumption (fuel)The amount of fuel used for gross generation,providing standby service, start-up, and/or flamestabilization.

consumption monitoringAn Application Information Broker (AIB) feature thatallows a utility to set high and low thresholds tomonitor usage at a device. If the usage falls belowor rises above the thresholds, a consumption alarmis generated.

consumption readAmeter functioning in consumption mode records ausage value to a single-register memory space.

Reading this value is referred to as a consumptionread. See also interval read.

contents paneOne of several panes that make up an application’smain window in some software user interfaces. Thecontents pane contains the records or other items tobe viewed or modified. It is one of two panes intowhich the display pane may be subdivided (theother is the details pane). For views that do notinclude a details pane, the contents pane issynonymous with the display pane.

contingency readA read that is performed on a meter or group ofmeters that failed an interrogation read. It can be asecondary means of collecting consumption data forbilling. If an interrogation (periodic) read fails to readany of the endpoints in a targeted group, acontingency read can be used to gather the missingdata from the missing meters. Contingency readresponses are sent to the subscriber of theOpenWay® Collection Engine data service, typicallyan MDM system.

Contingency ReaderReplaced by Communications Module Utility(CMU).

Continuous Cumulative Demand Value(CCUM)The sum of the maximum demand and thecumulative demand on a meter at any point in time.At the end of each demand interval, if a newmaximum demand is reached, continuouscumulative demand is adjusted to reflect the newmaximum demand value. A demand reset clears themaximum demand value, but does not affect thecontinuous cumulative demand. Continuouscumulative demand may be used for block, rolling,and thermal demand types.

continuously cumulative maximumdemandThe sum of the cumulative maximum demand andthe present period’s maximum demand (peakdemand).

continuously powered device (CPD)A device such as an electricity meter, Access Point(AP), Relay, or Bridge, all of which are powered upon a continuous basis. Gas Interface ManagementUnit (IMU) and Interpreter Register devices, forexample, use CPDs to store their data to conservebattery power.

control area loadThe total amount of electricity being used at a givenpoint in time by all consumers within a utility’sservice territory.

control nodeAn outdoor lighting controller (OLC) device thatresides in a streetlight used to control lights acrossthe Itron network. See also Smart Street Lighting.

control plane policing (CoPP)A Cisco® NX-OS security feature that allows you toconfigure the quality of service (QoS) filter tomanage and protect the Cisco IOS router andswitch control planes against reconnaissance anddenial-of-service (DoS) attacks.


Glossary B

control/logic blockAn ERT module component that gathers informationreceived from the module’s sensors andtransducers and uses the information to direct theoperation of the module’s functions.

conveyance lossWater that is lost during transit as a result of pipeleakage or evaporation.

cooling degree day (CDD)A unit of measure used to relate a day's temperatureto the energy demands to cool buildings. Calculatecooling degree days by subtracting 65 from a day'saverage temperature. For example, if the day's highis 90°F and the day's low is 70°F, the day's averageis 80°F. Subtract 65 from 80 to get 15 coolingdegree days.

cooperative electric utility (co-op)A company that is legally established to supply apublic utility, such as water or electricity, to thepeople who own it. Utility cooperatives generallyadhere to a set of operational principals called theRochdale Principles.

Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)The primary international time standard, where timeis divided into days, hours, minutes, and seconds.Each time zone around the world is expressed as apositive or negative offset from UTC. CoordinatedUniversal Time can be obtained from official InternetUTC servers and from satellite signals.

COP■ See Critical Operations Protector for Advanced

Metering Infrastructure (COP for AMI)■ See Critical Operations Protector for Demand

Response (COP for DR)

CoPPSee control plane policing (CoPP).

core dumpThe processes of copying raw data from a device'sRAM to a more permanent storage medium. For

smart meters, a dump is valuable for identifying anddebugging issues that may have caused a device tosuffer a fatal error.

core weightIn a transformer, the weight of the iron that makesup the transformer.

corrected readingA gas volume that has been measured by a gasmeter and has been adjusted by the pressure,temperature, energy, and/or supercompressibilityfactors that are necessary to calculate astandardized gas volume.

corrosionA chemical reaction with something in theenvironment that results in a gradual destruction ofmetal, stone, or other materials.

COSEMSee Companion Specification for Energy Metering(COSEM)

cost-based pricingAmethod of setting rates so that a utility can recoverthe costs of providing that particular service.

coverage areaThe geographical reach of a radio network orsystem.

coverage validationA process used to identify whether or not a cellular-enabled smart meter will successfully attach to andcommunicate via a cellular network. This processcan be used for troubleshooting cellular-enabledmeters demonstrating little or no communicationwith the collection engine.

CPSee cathodic protection (CP).

CP test stationA cathodic protection monitoring facility that allowsaccess to electrical connections to a buried pipeline


Glossary B

or structure and a buried reference electrode. Seealso cathodic protection (CP).

CPDSee continuously powered device (CPD).

CPESee customer premises equipment (CPE)

CPPSee critical peak pricing (CPP).

CP3SLVSee CENTRON® Polyphase III Advanced(CP3SLV).

CRSee cell relay.

cradleA hardware device that provides storage,communications, and battery charging for ahandheld data collector in an office or vehicle.

Also called a dock or docking station.

CRCSee cyclical redundancy check (CRC).

credentialEvidence, such as a username and password, thatverifies the right or authority to access specificresources.

creditsUsed to allow a predefined number of operations bythe Field Service Unit (FSU) before the unit must bereturned to an administrator for reactivation with anew set of credits. Once the credits allocation isexhausted, the FSUmust be configured with a newset of credits by the administrator.

creepA condition occurring in an electronic meter wheredata is gathered and stored, but no power is beingconsumed. Creep occurs when the meter discrotates continuously with applied power. Creep

affects the accuracy of the meter. Positive creep iswhen the meter registers more energy than isactually used. Negative creep is when the meterregisters less energy than is actually used.

crew dispatchThe dispatch of the same routes or work orders tomultiple field service representatives.

CRF■ See Common Reading Format (CRF)■ See common readings file (CRF) format

critical commandA command that can potentially affect energysupply or demand. This might be a load controlevent in the case of Critical Operations Protector forDemand Response (COP for DR), or a remotedisconnect command in the case of CriticalOperations Protector for Advanced MeteringInfrastructure (COP for AMI).

critical infrastructure protection (CIP)Preparation for and response to serious threats tovital systems and assets that could have adebilitating impact on national security, publichealth, or safety.

Critical Operations Protector forAdvanced Metering Infrastructure (COPfor AMI)A hardware-based security platform that ensuresthe stability of the power grid by limiting the numberof critical command that users can issue within agiven period of time. See also Critical OperationsProtector for Demand Response (COP for DR).

Critical Operations Protector forDemand Response (COP for DR)A hardware-based security platform that placeshardware-based limits on the maximum load shedallowed in the power grid based on permit issuanceand multi-party control of critical command. Seealso Critical Operations Protector for AdvancedMetering Infrastructure (COP for AMI).


Glossary B

Critical Operations Protector Permit CAA Certificate Authority (CA) that generates a permitkey pair for KeySafe or Critical Operations Protectorfor Advanced Metering Infrastructure (COP for AMI)/ Critical Operations Protector for DemandResponse (COP for DR).

critical peak periodA time period during which the demand forelectricity usage is expected by the utility to be veryhigh. In a critical peak pricing (CPP) rate structure,rates for power used during this period are muchhigher than for power used during non-critical peakperiods.

critical peak pricing (CPP)A hybrid of time-of-use (TOU) rate and real-timepricing. Utilities charge fixed time-of-use rates forpreset periods but might charge higher rates duringextreme supply conditions. Customers are notifiedin advance of the price change, allowing them timeto curtail demand.

CRLSee certificate revocation list (CRL).

CROCInternal name no longer associated withCommunications Module Utility (CMU).

CRUGSee cell relay under glass (CRUG).

CryptKeeperA grid management application that enablesmultiple operator certificates to be used in a singleenvironment. This component is part of SharedServices Components (SSC).

cryptographic keyA random selection of characters used with acryptographic algorithm to perform an operation,such as encryption, decryption, or verification. Apublic key is one example of a cryptographic key.

CryptoServer Administration Tool(CAT)Software that runs on the administrative console ina KeySafe and COP environment and is used toconfigure and manage HSMs.

CSSee communication server.

CSASee Canadian Standards Association (CSA).

CSDLSee Cisco Secure Development Lifecycle (CSDL).

CSMPSee CoAp Simple Management Protocol (CSMP)

CSVSee comma-separated values (CSV).

CTSee current transformer (CT).

Also an Internal term for Communications Tester.Not used as a product abbreviation.

CTAIDISee Customer Total Average Interruption DurationIndex (CTAIDI).

cubic footAn imperial and US customary unit of volume, usedin the United States and the United Kingdom. Thevolume of a cube with sides of one foot in length.Used in the utility industry to express quantities ofnatural gas.

CUMSee Cumulative Demand Value (CUM).

Cumulative Demand Value (CUM)The sum of all previous maximum demand valueson a meter after a demand reset condition. When ademand reset occurs, the maximum demand valuesare added to the existing corresponding cumulative


Glossary B

demand values, and the sums are saved as the newcumulative demand values. These values do notincrease until the next demand reset condition.Cumulative demand may be used for block, rolling,and thermal demand types.

cumulative maximum demandThe sum of the previous billing period’s maximumdemands. At the time of demand reset, themaximum demand (peak demand) of the previousbilling period is added to the previous accumulatedtotal of all maximum demands. See alsocontinuously cumulative maximum demand.

currentA flow of electrons in an electrical conductor. Thestrength or rate of movement of the electricity ismeasured in amperes.

current seasonA season schedule, programmed into a meter, thatdefines the present rate schedule.

current transformer (CT)A device for measuring electrical currents.

Metering style CTs are designed with smaller coresand VA capacities. This causes metering CTs tosaturate at lower secondary voltages savingsensitive connected metering devices fromdamaging large fault currents in the event of aprimary electrical fault.

CT meters are used for service points that requireelectrical current of more than 100 amps. This typeof meter takes a sample of the current to determineconsumption. Currents of greater than 100 ampsare not generally directed through a meter, due tothe risk of current overload.

current transformer (CT) ratioThe ratio of the incoming current to the stepped-down current to the meter. In North America, the CTratio is generally chosen so that the nominalsecondary current is 5 to 10 amps, regardless of theprimary current.

See also potential transformer (PT ratio).

current transformer ratio (CT ratio)The ratio of the incoming current to the stepped-down current to the meter. In North America, the CTratio is generally chosen so that the nominalsecondary current is 5 to 10 amps, regardless of theprimary current.

Also see potential transformer (PT).

current, electricalThe flow of electricity, normally measured inamperes (A).

curtailmentA practice that is enacted during periods of peakdemand. Electricity providers may ask consumersto reduce their energy usage. Some utilities offerincentives for voluntary curtailment of energy usageduring periods of peak demand.

curtailment baselineA calculated value used to represent a customer'selectricity load or usage pattern over a period oftime, in the absence of their participation in acurtailment program. Baseline values are calculatedusing one of many available baseline algorithms.

custom list filterA list filter created by a user to limit the display of listitems to those that meet one or more conditions orcriteria. In contrast, a standard filter is one that isalways available for use by all users and cannot bemodified except by users with the necessarypermission. You can create a custom filter fromscratch or by modifying an existing standard orcustom filter.

Customer and Market Experience(CME)The representation of and interaction between Itronand customers, including Direct, Indirect, andChannel partners.

customer average inA reliability index used by electric power utilities tocalculate the average number of minutes per yearthat customers experience power outages or to


Glossary B

calculate the average time required to restoreservice (power) to customers after a power outage.

Customer Average InterruptionDuration Index (CAIDI)Calculated by: sum of all customer interruptiondurations / total customer interruptions. See alsoCustomer Total Average Interruption Duration Index(CTAIDI) and Customer Average InterruptionFrequency Index (CAIFI).

Customer Average InterruptionFrequency Index (CAIFI)Calculation in which the number of customerinterruptions is divided by the number of customerswho have had at least one interruption. See alsoCustomer Average Interruption Duration Index(CAIDI) and Customer Total Average InterruptionDuration Index (CTAIDI).

customer classThe differentiation between users of energy orwater. The class is determined by usage patterns,usage levels, type of customer (commercial orresidential), or the conditions of service.

customer information system (CIS)Software used by a utility or other market participantfor maintaining customer and billing information.The CIS often includes a history of work performedfor each customer.

In Field Deployment Manager (FDM) systems, theCIS produces the data for all primary work ordersand receives all work order completion data fromFDM.

From the perspective of Advanced MeteringManager (AMM), an application system that storesmeter and customer data.

customer portalA web application used by utility customers to viewand manage their energy and water consumption.

customer premises equipment (CPE)Equipment owned by the customer or stored on thecustomer’s property (for example, cable modem,

router, or Access Point (AP).

customer recordA record in the utility customer information system(CIS) that contains pertinent customer accountinformation such as name, address, billing address,telephone number, meter ID, and so on.

Customer Total Average InterruptionDuration Index (CTAIDI)Calculation consisting of the sum of durations of allcustomer interruptions divided by customers whohad at least one interruption. See also CustomerAverage Interruption Duration Index (CAIDI) andCustomer Average Interruption Frequency Index(CAIFI).

CustomerIQ® SoftwareAn Itron interactive web portal intended for utilitycompany customers to help themmonitor andanalyze their energy use, receive important rate andsystem alerts, compare their energy use with similarneighbors, and learn how they might be able toreduce energy use and save money through energyefficiency, more appropriate rate plans, and shiftingenergy use to low-cost time periods. CustomerIQ®

is designed for use by residential, small andmedium business (SMB), and commercial &industrial (C&I) customers.

CustomerIQ® SolarA customer engagement application that providescomprehensive tools for residential, commercialand industrial solar customers to help themunderstand their solar production, electricity usageand estimate their net energy bills.

CustomerIQ® BackroomThe administration interface for CustomerIQ®Software.

CustomerIQ® Energy ReportsPrinted and mailed reports that extend the value ofonline tools and encourage smart meter customersto use their web portal and provide ongoing energyinsights and tips.


Glossary D

CustomerIQ® GasA customer engagement application that providesnatural gas and multi-service utilities with a suite ofcustomer engagement features for residential,commercial and industrial customers. TheCustomerIQ®Gas interactive dashboard deliversnear-real-time usage insights along with weeklyemail reports and messaging to in-home devices tohelp customers reduce consumption, save moneyand minimize their environmental impact.

CTSee current transformer (CT).

Internal nickname for Communications Tester.

CVRSee Conservation Voltage Reduction (CVR).

cycle billingThe process of reading only part of a system’smeters each day and then billing that portion of itscustomers. By the end of the cycle (usually a month)the customer is billed.

cyclical redundancy check (CRC)Amathematical formula applied to groups of databits sent over a communications link to determinewhether the data is accurately transmitted.

D.dwgA filename extension for computer-aided design(CAD) drawings; .dwg files are supported by TDS-Sketch and Draw mode.

DA/DASSee Distribution Automation (DA).

daily freeze time (DFT)The time each day when a water or electric modulereads and records demand, time-of-use (TOU), andconsumption interval data from the meter. The DFTmeter reading is the reading at the top of the hourequal to or before the DFT.

daily peakThe greatest amount of electricity used during acertain period in a day, such as an hour, half-hour,or quarter hour.

daily read time (DRT)The time each day when a telemetry module readsand transmits system information. For example, in acathodic protection system, this is the time when the100T-CP module reads the DC pipe-to-soil and ACvoltages.

DALISee Digital Addressable Lighting Interface (DALI).

dashboardAn interactive graphical user interface that displaysa summary of the site's functionality. Clicking itemson the dashboard employs filters that narrow theview from all to many or one. Can be the homepage.

In some Itron applications, the word dashboard issynonymous with domain or workbench. A group ofrelated views and functions within an application,accessible by clicking the applicable navigationpane button.

DASRSee direct access service request (DASR).

data blobA packet of telemetry module status informationsent in a daily bubble-up message. Statusinformation varies by telemetry module type.

data collection device, meterA computer used to record meter readings andrelated data. Data recordings can be done manuallyby a field worker or through an automated meterreading (AMR) or advanced metering infrastructure(AMI) system.

data collection, meterThe retrieval of meter readings, tamper data, statusinformation, or related information from electric,gas, or water meters.


Glossary D

data collector userA utility employee who performs work in the field,such as collecting data (meter reads), installingendpoints, performing service work, and so on.

Also called field worker, field employee, and meterreader.

Data Encryption Standard (DES)A symmetric-key algorithm for the encryption ofdigital data; a block cipher.

data loggerThe component of a time-of-use (TOU) meter thatrecords interval usage data.

data logging (noun), datalogging(adjective)Collection of gas or water consumption data atfrequent time intervals. Data is used to providefeedback on usage for billing dispute resolution,conservation efforts, and leak detection (wateronly). Itron endpoints that support data logging cancollect and store up to 40 days of hourly interval orpulse data. The data collected can be reported asinterval data, consumption reads (water only), orindex values (electric only).

Data Transfer Agent (DTA)Data Transfer Agent (DTA) provides routing andsecure transport capabilities for data exported fromItron applications. DTA can be configured toconsume data from JMS, File system or an HTTP/Sendpoint. DTA can be configured to route data tointermediate transformation adapters orimmediately send exported data to customerendpoints for ingestion into utility systems. Thisproduct was formerly bundled with SensorIQ®Application.

Database (DB)■ A collection of data, usually in digital form,

that is typically organized to model relevantaspects of reality. The data is defined sothat it can be reorganized and accessed ina number of different ways. The term

database is correctly applied to the dataand its supporting data structures, and notto the database management system(DBMS) that is used to create, maintain,and access the database.

■ A software component that—along withGlobal Meter Reader (GMR)Middle Tier(MT)—comprises Advanced MeteringManager (AMM). DB managescommunications to the Oracle database.

database administrator (DBA)A person responsible for the physical design andmanagement of a database and for the evaluation,selection, and implementation of the databasemanagement system. In most organizations, thedatabase administrator and data administrator arethe same person; however, when the tworesponsibilities are managed separately, thedatabase administrator's function is more technical.

database management system (DBMS)A software application for the creation,maintenance, and use of databases. A DBMScontrols data access, enforces data integrity,maintains database security, and provides databackup and restoration.

DataPower® ComponentA component of IBM®’s Websphere® EnterpriseService Bus (ESB).

day of flowThe day in which electricity deliveries are made,measured as the period beginning at midnight forthe hour ending 0100 and ending at exactly the endof the 24-hour day.

daylight saving time (DST)The practice of temporarily advancing clocks by onehour in the spring so afternoons have more daylightand mornings have less daylight.

dBSee decibel (dB).


Glossary D

DBSee Database (DB).

DBASee database administrator (DBA).

dBiDecibel isotropic. The forward gain of an antennacompared with the hypothetical isotropic antenna,which uniformly distributes energy in all directions.

dBm/dBmWA power ratio in decibels (dB) of the measuredpower referenced to one milliwatt (mW). It is used inradio, microwave, and fiber optic networks as aconvenient measure of absolute power because itcan express both very large and very small values ina short form. Some examples are: 0 dBm = 1 mW,10 dBm = 10 mW, 24 dBm = 250 mW, 30 dBm =1,000 mW (1Watt).

DBMSSee database management system (DBMS).

D-BusAmessage-oriented middleware mechanism thatallows communication between multiple processesrunning concurrently on the same machine.

DCSee direct current (DC).

dead areaLocation from which effective transmission cannotbe established because the transmitted signal isblocked by clutter. Also known as shadow.

debounceA device or software that ensures that only onedigital signal can be registered within the space of agiven time (usually milliseconds).

decibel (dB)A logarithmic unit of measurement that expressesthe magnitude of radio power.

decimal degreesA numerical way of expressing degrees, minutes,and seconds longitude from Greenwich, Englandand latitude from the equator: decimal degrees =degrees + (minutes / 60) + (seconds/ 3600)

Positive numbers indicate East longitude or Northlatitude. Negative numbers indicate West longitudeor South latitude. For example, W 122° 28’, 39.3”longitude by N 37° 49’, 11.2 latitude expressed indecimal degrees is: -122.477583 longitude by37.819778 latitude

deciwatt (dW)A unit of power equal to 10000 watts.

deciwatt hours (dWh)A unit of energy equivalent to one Deciwatt (1 dW)of power expended for one hour.

declining block rateAn electricity billing rate that decreases across tierswith the customer's energy use.

decodingA process of converting a meter consumption readfrom an ERT to a dial read. Decoding read dataprovides the granularity required for various usecases. Different use cases potentially require aslightly different unit of granularity. Decodingenables the responsible system component toaccomplish specific use cases.

decryptTo convert (decode) encrypted data (ciphertext)back into its original form (plaintext).

decryption and key update server(DKUS)The service and/or dedicated appliance responsiblefor managing keys and decrypting messages sentfrom the meters to the OpenWay® CollectionEngine (CE). The DKUS generates, stores, andprovides meter and system keys for meters uponregistration and authentication. It manages keystates for command, revocation, system, and meterkeys, and communicates with the signing and


Glossary D

encryption server (SES) using the DKUS daemon.The DKUS assigns multiple keys of each type to ameter: four meter keys and two of each other type ofkey. Only one key of each type (known as the activekey) is in use at any given time. All others keys arein stand-by until activated.

defaultA data field value, parameter, or setting that isautomatically selected by a software program.Typically, the user has the option to change defaultvalues.

DEHSee Distribution Equipment Hierarchy (DEH).

delivery pressureThe gas pressure provided to the customer, whichdetermines the customer’s piping and equipmentsizes.

DEMSee distributed energy management.

demandThe highest requirement for power; that is, theamount of power required to satisfy the demand.There is no time element involved, and the highestrequirement for power can occur in an instant. Inpractice, most demand meters measure theaverage peak demand over the 15 or 30 minuteperiod. This definition of demand differs from thedefinition of energy in that energy is the usage ofpower over time whereas there is no time element inmeasuring demand. Demand is measured inkilowatts (kW) and energy is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh).

For example, a demand for 100 kW continuous foran hour equals 100 kWh. If the demand rose to 400kW continuously for the next hour, the demand forthat hour equals 400 kWh. For the two hour period,the demand is 400 kW because that is the highestrequirement for power. The energy used is 500 kWhbecause that is the actual usage of power over time.

See also:

■ continuously cumulative maximum demand■ cumulative maximum demand■ energy■ maximum demand (peak demand)■ minimum demand, previous demand■ projected demand

demand chargeSee capacity charge.

demand intervalThe specified time over which demand is calculated.

demand limiting periodA configurable period during which demand for aspecified electricity meter is limited to using aconfigurable amount of electricity. See alsocalculation delay and calculation period.

demand resetThe process of setting demand electricity meterpeak demand registers to 0 (zero). Normally, abutton on the meter is used for resetting. Itroncustomers can also use Advanced MeteringManager (AMM) or Communications Module Utility(CMU) with a Field Service Unit (FSU) to reset themeters wirelessly.

demand response (DR)A customer-side reduction in electricityconsumption, used to modify the timing and/orquantity of demand on the power grid during peakusage times. Examples of demand response (DR)range from time of use (TOU) price rates forresidential customers, to on-site power generationfor those commercial & industrial (C&I) customerswhom have the ability. Some uses of DR include,but are not limited to: avoiding brownouts; balancinga power grid's electricity consumption/productionrelationship; and lowering electricity prices duringpeak demand.

Refers to a set of time-dependent activities thatreduce electricity use to improve grid reliability,manage costs, and encourage load shedding during


Glossary D

times when the electric grid is near capacity orprices are high.

Fully automated demand response is initiated at ahome, building, or facility through receipt of anexternal signal. The receipt of the signal initiatespre-programmed shedding strategies. Facility staffat each site pre-program the control systems toreceive the signals.

Demand Response Enrollment (DRE)PortalA web-based enrollment portal for utilities to enrolltheir customers in Demand Response programs.The site checks customers' eligibility, schedulesinstallation appointments (when required), andsynchronizes with the utility customer informationsystem (CIS) application.

demand response eventA specific period when the demand responseprogram administrator (ISO, utility) calls for loadcurtailment from its program participants.

demand response management system(DRMS)A system used by utility companies to manage theirdemand response (DR) programs includingcommunications with smart meters, demand-sidesmart devices (such as HAN devices), Direct-to-Grid load control switches, and so on.

Demand Response Manager (DRM)A software application that allows utilities to monitorand manage power consumption with the goal ofreducing demand, particularly during peak periods.This application has been replaced by HANCommunications Manager (HCM).

demand response notification (DRN)Used to alert customers (through an in-homedisplay, or electronic notification) about pending orcurrent peak rate periods.

demand response/load control (DRLC)Refers to specific load reduction actions that utilitiescan take to reduce demand during peak periods.

Demand response can also use pricing incentives toaccomplish these goals.

demand sheddingAny means to reduce energy consumption duringcritical peak periods or to reschedule demand toalternative non-peak times, such as during thenight. When demand is moved to non-peak times,this is also known as demand shifting.

demand shiftingSee demand shedding.

demand side management (DSM)An industry term that refers to controlling energyusage on the customer/demand side of the meter,particularly to shift customer use away from periodsof high electrical demand. Demand sidemanagement can include a broad array of systemsand programs used by utilities to control acustomer’s energy consumption, for example,fluorescent lighting, load control and smartthermostats. These fall into the general categoriesof conservation, load management, and fuelsubstitution.

demand subintervalThe smaller blocks of time that are used in rollingdemand calculations.

demand thresholdA configured value that, when exceeded bycalculated demand, initiates a contact closure, a logentry, or a phone home on event.

demand thresholdThe number of kW used as a threshold in demandlimiting.

demand-side management (DSM)Refers to any means for electricity consumers toreduce their use, particularly during peak-loadperiods.

Examples of DSM include communications withutility-company customers (such as thoserecommending that they offset use during upcomingpeak-price events to save money) and enabling


Glossary D

hardware and software. Itron supports, for example,programmable communicating thermostat(PCT),electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE),and load control switch (LCS) products that utilitycompany customers can use as part of their DSMsolutions.

Department of Energy (DOE)The United States federal agency that announcesenergy policies and acts as a principal advisor to thePresident of the United States on energy matters.The DOEmanages research and developmentprograms, the commercialization of energytechnologies, and the associated environmental,regulatory, and defense programs.

deprovisionSee unjoin.

DERSee distributed energy resources (DER).

DERMSee distributed energy resource management(DERM).

deregulationThe elimination of regulation from a previouslyregulated industry or sector of an industry.

DESSee Data Encryption Standard (DES).

desk dockA hardware device that provides storage,communications, and battery charging for ahandheld data collection device in an officeenvironment. Also called a cradle.

desktop userA utility employee who performs work in the officeand works directly with the application software tocreate routes, work orders, and assignments.Desktop users are responsible for creating dailyassignments, assigning work orders and routes,and exporting information to collectors. They may

also work with reports. Roles could include those ofa supervisory and/or dispatcher capacity.

details paneOne of several panes that make up an application’smain window in some software user interfaces. Thedetails pane contains the data fields, settings, orother information contained in the record or otheritem selected in the contentspane.

deviceHardware containing a network interface card (NIC).Meters can be electric, gas, or water.

device classA configuration parameter that defines the type ofmeter type, such as OpenWay® CENTRON®Advanced Polyphase.

device command logAn XML-formatted file used by the FDMmobileapplication to record all information sent to andreceived from the endpoint. Recorded data includesthe date and time of each endpoint operation, theoperation duration, the ID of the FSR whoperformed the operation and the mobile device thatwas used.

device IDA unique identifier that is programmed into a deviceand used by the device to identify itself to a system.Programming options must be configured to promptyou to enter the device ID when initialized.

Device Language MessageSpecification (DLMS)An application layer protocol for a messaging andtransportation method that communicates betweenthe meter and Itron applications. Used with the datamodeling provided by Companion Specification forEnergy Metering (COSEM) as a standard for utilitymeter data exchange for DLMS/COSEMmeters.

Device Management Service (DMS)A software component used for sharing informationbetween applications. A central repository of criticaldevice data, DMS enables deployment of non-


Glossary D

metering applications without needing to rely on theItron application database.

device statesDevice status. The states that apply to devices in anItron network are of two types: administrative statesand operational states. Administrative states resultfrom user or system input, including provisioningdevice data, installing new devices on the network,removing a device, or editing device details in Itronapplications. Advanced Metering Managerdetermines operational states from data gatheredfrom the device and stored in the relationaldatabase management system (RDBMS).

device typeA unique identifier for the type of device used in thefield.

device under test (DUT)Amanufactured item undergoing testing todetermine whether it will function adequately. Alsocalled unit under test (UUT).

DFTSee daily freeze time (DFT).

D-HSee Diffie-Hellman (D-H) key exchange.

DHCPSee Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP).

DISee distributed intelligence (DI).

dialogic cardA part of each Itron Telephone Solutions MasterStation. The dialogic card answers the phone whenthe Siris device calls and takes the DTMF tones thatare sent by the device over the phone line andcommunicates them in a way that the computersoftware can interpret. The software then uses thedialogic board to send its commands back to thedevice (in the form of tones).

Diffie-Hellman (D-H) key exchangeA cryptographic key exchange method that enablestwo agents at each end of a communicationexchange to derive a shared, secret key withoutsending it to the other. Using a common number,both agents use a different random number as apower to raise the common number. After theresults are exchanged, the receiving agent raisesthe received number to the same random powerthey used before, and the results are the same forboth.

diffractionThe radio path between transmitter and receiver,obstructed by surfaces with sharp irregular edges.Waves bend around the obstacle. See alsoreflection.

Digital Addressable Lighting Interface(DALI)A lighting technology protocol managed under IECstandard 62386. DALI enables intelligentmanagement of lighting equipment and isincorporated into Smart Street Lightingtechnologies.

digital certificateAn electronic document that uses public keyinfrastructure (PKI) to allow an entity to exchangeinformation securely over the Internet. Thecertificate is signed by a trusted party, therebybinding the key to the entity. Data contained in acertificate can include (but is not limited to) thecertificate's serial number, a signature algorithm,credentials that identify the certificate user, thecertificate validation and expiration dates, and thepublic key.

digital line protection (DLP)A digital protective relay system that providesdistance protection for transmission lines.

digital signature algorithm (DSA)A United States Federal Government standard fordigital signatures. DSA is a patented, royalty-free,two- phase key generation method. In the firstphase, algorithm parameters are chosen. In the


Glossary D

second phase, public keys and private keys arecomputed.

digital subscriber line (DSL)A communications technology used to provide high-bandwidth Internet access to homes and smallbusinesses over copper telephone lines.

digital subscriber line accessmultiplexer (DLSAM)A network device, usually located in telephoneexchanges, that receives signals from multiplecustomer digital subscriber line (DSL) connectionsand puts the signals on a high-speed digitalcommunications channel using multiplexingtechniques. Depending on the product, DSLAMmultiplexers connect DSL lines with somecombination of asynchronous transfer mode (ATM),frame relay, or Internet Protocol networks.

DIN railAmetal rail of a standard type widely used formounting circuit breakers and industrial controlequipment inside equipment racks. The termapplies to multiple similar standards and wasstandardized by the Deutsches Institut für Normung(DIN), the German national standards organization.

DINASee Distributed Intelligence Network Adapter(DINA).

direct accessThe ability of a retail customer to purchasecommodity electricity directly from the wholesalemarket rather than through a local distribution utility.

direct access service request (DASR)In deregulated energy markets, a request for a finalmeter reading before the customer switches energysuppliers. The final reading determines the finalconsumption and billing from the previous supplier.

direct current (DC)A type of electrical current in which, of the two wiresleading to electrical devices, one side of the circuit isalways negative and sending electricity while the

other side is always positive or neutral. Conversely,in alternating current (AC), the electrical chargealternates between positive and negative. Devicespowered by alternating current include threeelectrical wires of different polarities: negative,positive, and neutral (or ground).

direct load control (DLC)The ability of a utility to turn off appliances (such asair conditioners) in a HAN CommunicationsManager (HCM) network remotely to reduce loadduring peak periods.

direct sequence spread spectrum(DSSS)Direct sequence spread spectrum systems transmiton a single selected frequency but on a very wideband. Only a small portion of that band is used forspecially encoded information. Direct sequencespread spectrum offers an increase of processinggain for significant improvements in range. See alsofrequency-hopping spread spectrum (FHSS).

Direct-to-GridMethod of communications that provides demandresponse (DR) solutions though a Smart StreetLighting integrated into devices such as a loadcontrol switch (LCS) or electric vehicle supplyequipment (EVSE). This allows these devices tocommunicate directly through the mesh networkwithout going through an Energy Services Interface(ESI).

disaster recoveryThe process, policies, and procedures related topreparing for recovery or continuation of technologyinfrastructure critical to an organization after adisaster.

disconnectGas, water, or electricity is not flowing nor beingdelivered to the customer. Also see connect.

dispatch strategyA system setting that determines how FDMorganizes and manages work order dispatch. Youcan configure FDM for either of two dispatch


Glossary D

strategies: Route supports the organization anddispatch of work orders by route, and Districtsupports the organization and dispatch of workorders by district. Selecting this strategy removes allroute-related screens and data from the FDM userinterface.

dispatchable work orderA work order that is ready for a field servicerepresentative (FSR) to complete. There are noreasons keeping the FSR from going to the meterlocation to perform the work.

display paneOne of several panes that make up an application’smain window in some software user interfaces.When you select a node in the navigation pane, thecorresponding view opens in the display pane. Insome cases the display pane may be subdividedinto two sub-panes, a contents pane and a detailspane.

disqualifying exceptionA work order exception that makes the work orderineligible for export to a utility’s customerinformation system (CIS).

distributed energy managementSee distributed energy resource management(DERM).

distributed energy resourcemanagement (DERM)A platform on which distribution system operatorsrun distributed energy resources-based grids.

distributed energy resources (DER)A power-generation system that typically generatesbetween five kilowatts (kW) and ten megawatts(MW) of electrical energy and consists of modulartechnologies located at or near the point of energyconsumption to reduce the need for the inefficienttransport of energy from remote locations overpower lines. DER technologies can be used to workwith load-management and energy-storagesystems to improve the reliability of the electricity

grid. Types of DER include but are not limited tophotovoltaics, cogeneration, and wind turbines.

distributed generationA distributed generation system that involves smallamounts of generation or pieces of generationequipment applied to a utility’s distribution systemfor the purpose of meeting local peak loads and/ordisplacing the need to build additional infrastructure.Distributed generation may be in the form of gas orpropane generators, fuel cells, or solar.

distributed intelligence (DI)A system designed to process granular data onedge devices before sending statistics and resultsof complex analytics (outcomes) across the networkto head end systems and applications. The appsprovide a user interface where utilities can view,analyze, compare, and forecast their meteringconditions based on the outcome data.

See also distributed intelligence (DI) applications.

distributed intelligence (DI) appplatformA component of the DI platform that supports theimport, storage, and presentation of DI outcomesdata.

distributed intelligence(DI) applicationsAn outcome available to DI customers that isinstalled on DI-capable meters as two parts: anagent and license. DI applications are licensed,deployed, and managed in Itron EnterpriseApplication Center (EAC). Outcome data from DIapplications is viewed in UIs in the DI App Platform.

See also distributed intelligence (DI).

distributed intelligence (DI) cloudservicesA set of DI-supporting services that includes DISubscription Service (DSS), ConfigurationManagement Service (CMS), EndpointManagement Service (EMS), Group ManagementService (GMS), and Application ManagementService (AMS).


Glossary D

Distributed Intelligence NetworkAdapter (DINA)A software application that delivers metering datafrom applications that run on Itron Gen™5 Rivaelectricity meters. The DINA user interface providesthe ability to create and manage data-collection jobsfor supported Itron Gen™5 Riva devices.

Distributed Network Protocol (DNP orDNP3)An open, standards-based set of communicationprotocols that enables interoperability betweencomponents in process automation systems. Itsmain use is in the electric utility industry processesthat exist between substations, outstations, andmaster stations. Widely used in Supervisory ControlAnd Data Acquisition (SCADA) networks forcommunications between a master station andremote terminal unit (RTU)s or intelligent electronicdevice (IED)s.

Distribution Automation (DA)The automatic monitoring and control of a utility’sdistribution feeders and equipment such asswitches, reclosers, and capacitor bank controllers.See also Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition(SCADA).

Distribution Equipment Hierarchy(DEH)An Itron-developed API that defines how servicepoints and other system equipment are electricallyconnected. Generally, DEH indicates which servicepoints connect to which transformers, whichtransformers are in which feeder sections, whichsections make up a feeder, and which feeders areon a substation.

distribution feederAn electrical supply line in the electric utilitydistribution system, either overhead orunderground, which carries power from thesubstation, through various paths, to the consumer.

distribution lineA power line or system for distributing power from atransmission system to a customer.

distribution management system (DMS)Systems that consist of a distribution automationsystem, and which can include a superiordispatching automation system, productionmanagement system, GIS, marketing managementsystem, 95598 customer service system, and so on.

distribution powerA packaged power unit located at the point ofdemand. While the technology is still evolving,examples include fuel cells and photovoltaic cells.

Distribution Transformer Monitor (DTM)A hardware device deployed in electric distributionsystems to improve grid management, balanceloads, and detect outages, power losses, and theft.

districtAn organizational or geographical subdivision of autility.

Diversion DetectionItron's Active Smart Grid Analytics (ASA) userinterface that leverages SAP Business Intelligenceanalytics applications to employ a variety ofmethods for utilities to analyze meter alerts, energyand voltage measurements, energy balancing andhistoric usage patterns to identify energy diversionand meter tampering on a system-wide scale.

DKUSSee decryption and key update server (DKUS).

DKUS daemonA program that uses a transport layer security (TLS)connection to manage communications betweenthe OpenWay®decryption and key update server(DKUS) and the OpenWay® Collection Engine (CE).

DKUSDdecryption and key update server daemon


Glossary D

A program that uses a transport layer security (TLS)connection to manage communications betweenthe OpenWay® decryption and key update server(DKUS) and the OpenWay® Collection Engine (CE).

DLCSee direct load control (DLC).

DLCASee Driver’s License Certificate Authority (DLCA).

DLLSee dynamic link library (DLL).

DLMSSee Device Language Message Specification(DLMS).

DLPSee digital line protection (DLP).

DMSSee Device Management Service (DMS).

See distribution management system (DMS).

DNPSee Distributed Network Protocol (DNP or DNP3).

DNP3See Distributed Network Protocol (DNP or DNP3).

DNSSee domain name system (DNS).

dockA hardware device that provides storage,communications, and battery charging for ahandheld data collector in an office or vehicle.

Also called a cradle.

DOESee Department of Energy (DOE).

domainA subject area or area of activity that is addressedby a software application. Each domain providesaccess to the views, functions, and data necessaryto perform the tasks associated with that domain. InFDM the permissions granted to your user accountdetermine which application domains you haveaccess to and which domain features you can use.

Also called a workbench or dashboard.

domain name system (DNS)An Internet service that translates alphanumericdomain names into numeric IP addresses. Forexample, the alphanumeric domain translated to itsIP address through DNS is 192.124.249.65.

domain, databaseA description of an attribute’s allowed values. Allpossible values for a particular field for all records inthe database.

domain, InternetA group of computers whose Internet Protocol (IP)addresses share the same domain name. Thedomain name is the last part of the address; forexample, .com, .org, .ca, .au.

domain, networkA group of computers and devices on a network thatshare a common communications address, can beaccessed and administered with a common set ofrules, and are under the control of one securitydatabase. Permissions that grant access to networkresources are maintained in one or more serverscalled domain controllers. Users are only required tolog on to a domain to gain access to its resources.

downstream / upstreamRefers to the relationship between devices alongthe route. Downstream refers to moving toward ameter. Upstreammeans moving toward an AccessPoint. See also child and path.

DRSee demand response (DR).


Glossary D

DRESee Demand Response Enrollment (DRE) Portal.

driftA slow change of a metrological characteristic of ameasuring instrument.

drive dog, ERT moduleAmechanical component of a gas module driven bythe meter drive dog which rotates as gas passesthrough the meter. The meter drive dog turns theERT module wriggler and shaft. The wriggler andshaft turns the module's drive dog. The module’smicroprocessor (counter) interprets the rotatingshaft/wriggler/module drive dog as a measure ofgas consumption.

drive dog, meterThe rotating, mechanical interface on a gas meterthat directly engages an index or ERT modulewriggler. As gas passes through the meter, the drivedog rotates. The drive dog’s rotation turns the indexdials or the ERT module's wriggler, whichincrements the index dials or ERT module to recordgas consumption.

drive-byAmethod of reading an electric, gas, or water meterusing a radio that is mounted in a vehicle. Themeters are read when the vehicle passes in thevicinity of a meter that is equipped with an ERT®module.

driver’s licenseA digital identification given to an Itron NIC thatcertifies that the node is in a System Trusted stateand is allowed to join the network. See also birthcertificate and Operator certificate.

Driver’s License Certificate Authority(DLCA)A program located in the back office of a utility thatissues a certificate (called a driver’s license), whichallows a network node to become a member of thatnetwork. DLCA is a requirement for link layersecurity, and is part of

DRLCSee demand response/load control (DRLC).

DRMSee Demand Response Manager (DRM).

DRMSSee demand response management system(DRMS).

DRNSee demand response notification (DRN).

DRTSee daily read time (DRT).

DSASee digital signature algorithm (DSA).

DSLSee digital subscriber line (DSL).

DSLAMSee digital subscriber line access multiplexer(DLSAM).

DSMSee demand-side management (DSM).

DSSSSee direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS).

DSTSee daylight saving time (DST).

DTASee Data Transfer Agent (DTA).

DTMSee Distribution Transformer Monitor (DTM).

dual-band antenna (oil filter)A low profile omnidirectional antenna that can beused as a NAN or WAN antenna. The dual-band


Glossary E

antenna is designed for outdoor wireless networksoperating in either the cellular band or 2.4 GHzfrequency range.

dual-band body mount antennaAn external, wireless antenna that operates in both900 MHz and 2.4 GHz.

dual-band dipole antennaA 3 dBi omnidirectional antenna that can be used inISM bands to maximize the coverage radius.

DUTSee device under test (DUT).

duty cycleThe ratio of active time to total time in electricalsystems (such as motors, refrigerators, and airconditioners). Modifications to heating, ventilating,and air conditioning (HVAC) system duty cycles canbe made through demand response applicationssuch as HAN Communications Manager (HCM) toreduce load at one or more customer premises.

dWSee deciwatt (dW).

dWhSee deciwatt hours (dWh).

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol(DHCP)An automatic configuration protocol used on IPnetworks.

dynamic link library (DLL)An executable programmodule in Microsoft®Windows® operating systems that performs one ormore functions when executed by the operatingsystem. A DLL may be called by an executableprogram or another DLL.

EEACSee Itron Enterprise Application Center (EAC).

EAISee Enterprise Application Integration (EAI).

eBridgeA device that uses Ethernet and serial connectivityto provide robust, two-way RF standards-basedcommunications to support Distribution Automationapplications such as asset management, Volt/VARcontrol, self-healing circuits, FCI communications,and distributed generation. See also Bridge.

ECBOCASee back office certificate authority (BOCA).

ECCSee elliptic curve cryptography (ECC).

ECDSASee elliptic curve digital signature algorithm(ECDSA).

ECIESSee elliptic curve integrated encryption scheme(ECIES).

ECMTSee Electricity Communications Module Tester(ECMT).

ECNSee engineering change notice (ECN).

ECOSee engineering change order (ECO).

EDFSee endpoint definition file (EDF).

Edge ExplorerA web-based user interface for Itron EnterpriseEdition (IEE) Meter Data Management version 10or later.


Glossary E

Edge GatewayA highly-secure edge computing platform thatfeatures Itron's Gen5 Mesh, LTE and PLTEcommunications to the BOS, and providesadvanced distributed intelligence for a wide range ofinfrastructure applications, including Industrial IoT,Distribution Automation (DA), distributed energyresource management (DERM), and Smart Cities.

The Edge Gateway can connect, monitor andmanage clusters of new and existing devices usingmultiple interfaces including Mesh, Ethernet, Wi-Fi,Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Serial and USB.

EDISee electronic data interchange (EDI).

EEPROMSee electrically erasable programmable read-onlymemory (EEPROM).

effective isotropic radiated power(EIRP)The output power when a signal is concentrated intoa smaller area by the antenna.

EIRPSee effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP).

EkaNetA functionality that allows you to obtain multiplereadings and perform a reset demand when readinga meter using Itron’s Mobile Collector and EkaNetendpoints.

EKSFSee electronic key shipment file (EKSF).

ELDSee Extended Life Device (ELD).

electric vehicle (EV)A vehicle that uses one or more electric motors ortraction motors for propulsion. An electric vehiclemay be powered through a collector system byelectricity from off-vehicle sources, or may be self-

contained with a battery, solar panels, fuel cells oran electric generator to convert fuel to electricity.EVs include, but are not limited to, road and railvehicles, surface and underwater vessels, electricaircraft and electric spacecraft.

electric vehicle supply equipment(EVSE)Charging devices designed specifically forrecharging electric vehicles.

electrically erasable programmableread-only memory (EEPROM)Non-volatile computer (or electronic device)memory that retains its data when power isremoved.

Electricity Communications ModuleTester (ECMT)A radio frequency (RF) software tool for testing theoperational status of electricity meters equippedwith NICs. ECMT runs pre‐defined test scripts totest electricity meters. When combined with anymethod of powering an electricity meter, such as ameter test board, ECMT enables utility companymeter shops to conduct quality sample testing ofinbound meters and to assess field return meters.Formerly called MANTIS.

Electricity OEM ConfiguratorThe Electricity OEM Configurator (formerly knownas MUTT) programs, tests, and storesprogrammatic information used in deviceprovisioning for Itron NICs, electricity meter originalequipment manufacturer (OEM) models specifiedfor a given Itron NIC, and supported Load ControlSwitch (LCS) devices.

electronic authentication, E-authenticationThe process of establishing confidence in useridentities that are electronically presented to aninformation system.


Glossary E

electronic credentialsDigital documents used in authentication that bindan identity or an attribute to a subscriber’s token.

electronic data interchange (EDI)The concept of businesses electronicallycommunicating information that was traditionallycommunicated on paper, such as purchase ordersand invoices. Technical standards for EDI exist tofacilitate parties transacting such instrumentswithout having to make special arrangements.

electronic detentA programming method, or meter option, thatprevents received energy from accumulating in themeter's delivered energy register. When the detentfeature is enabled, the received energy isaccumulated in a separate register.

electronic key shipment file (EKSF)A file format intended for the secure transmission ofdevice keys.

electronic meter reading (EMR)The collection, storage, and transmission of meterreading data using a handheld computer or otherelectronic meter reading device.

electronic security perimeter (ESP)The logical border that surrounds an access-controlled network or network group with associatedcyber assets that are essential to network operation.

electronic serial number (ESN)The unique International Organization for Standards(ISO) object identification number assigned to amobile or other electronic device by themanufacturer. The ESN consists of the numberissued to the manufacturer (called the arc), which isthe same for all devices from that manufacturer,followed by a unique number for the device itself.

The OpenWay® Collection Engine (CE) uses theESN identifier to identify each electric meter itcommunicates with. The CE displays the ESN astext with a decimal point separator in all interfaces,messages, and data sent to the utility application.

elementA node that describes and organizes data within anXML file. Database entities can be mapped to XMLelements so that data can be transferred betweenapplications, even if those applications use differentdatabase schemas. APIs use elements to classifydata in the XML document. Elements aresometimes referred to as tags or XML tags. An APIelement uses an opening tag and a closing tag todefine where the element begins and ends. Anelement can contain attributes, values, and otherelements.

ELFSee endpoint location file (ELF).

Elliptic curve cryptographyAn approach to public-key cryptography based onthe algebraic structure of elliptic curves over infinitefields.

elliptic curve cryptography (ECC)A highly secure public-key cryptography methodbased on the algebraic structure of elliptic curvesover finite fields. ECC provides fast decryption anddigital signature processing.

elliptic curve digital signature algorithm(ECDSA)A digital signature algorithm (DSA) that uses ellipticcurve cryptography. Digital signature that themeters use to verify that the messages came fromthe collection engine and not a malicious source.

elliptic curve integrated encryptionscheme (ECIES)A type of asymmetric encryption.

embedded services processor (ESP)A processor in some Cisco® routers that isresponsible for data-plane processing tasks and allnetwork traffic. ESPs are also responsible for someadvanced services such as firewall protection,flexible packet matching, and network-basedapplication recognition.


Glossary E

embedded services processor (ESP)A processor in some Cisco® routers that isresponsible for data-plane processing tasks and allnetwork traffic. ESPs are also responsible for someadvanced services such as firewall protection,flexible packet matching, and network-basedapplication recognition.

emergency supply capacity control(ESCC)A function reserved for use during supplyemergencies to ration power and avoid or minimizepower outages.

EMRSee electronic meter reading (EMR).

encapsulating security payload (ESP)An Internet protocol that provides confidentiality,authentication, and integrity through encryption toprotect against IP packet tampering.

encoded register-type ERT® moduleAn ERT module that gets consumption data from ameter by reading messages sent by a meter indexcontaining the data. In contrast, a pulser-type ERTmodule calculates consumption by counting a meterregister’s pulses or switch closures.

encryptionThe process of changing plaintext into ciphertext, byuse of an algorithm for the purpose of security orprivacy.

end device (ED)A network component or device that is either thesource or the destination of a message. Forexample: a computer, printer, web camera, ERTmodule, or meter.

end gapA gap in the usage data existing between the lasttime the meter was read and the time usage datawas last collected for the same meter. This is notproblematic. See also gap.

end of billing (EOB)The closing date of a billing cycle. Energy providescharge customers for energy consumption over adefined period. For example, a billing cycle can starton the fifteenth day of the month and end on thefourteenth day of the next month. In this example,the EOB is the end of day on the fourteenth of themonth.

End of Extended Support (EOES)A date in Itron's product life-cycle which indicatesthat technical support and other types of supportservices that have been negotiated past originalsupport services for the product are no longerprovided.

See also End of New Sales (EONS), End of Support(EOS), and End of Life (EOL).

end of interval (EOI)End of a demand interval or subinterval.

End of New Sales (EONS)A date in Itron's product life-cycle when the productis no longer available for purchase by newcustomers but is supported for customers who havepurchased it prior to the EONS date.

See also End of Extended Support (EOES), End ofSupport (EOS), and End of Life (EOL).

End of Support (EOS)A date in Itron's product life-cycle when technicalsupport and other types of support services are nolonger provided after the date stated. After a productreaches an EOS date, it may be possible to obtaincontinued support based on mutual agreementbetween Itron and customer.

See also End of Extended Support (EOES), End ofNew Sales (EONS), and End of Life (EOL).

end of transmission (EOT)A transmission control character used intelecommunications to indicate the conclusion of atransmission.


Glossary E

End of Life (EOL)A date in Itron's product life-cycle when a product isno longer offered/sold or supported after the statedEOL date.

See also End of Extended Support (EOES), End ofNew Sales (EONS), and End of Support (EOS).

endpointMeters, electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE),FCIs, and HAN devices (such as load controlswitches, and streetlight controllers), distributioncontrols, cap bank switches, and other specializednetwork devices. Many endpoints are assigned tonodes. The term may refer to:■ An ERT module that is attached to a meter. ERT

modules collect usage and related data frommeters and transmit it to data collection devicesand systems.

■ Ameter that is equipped with a built-incommunication module with which it transmitsusage and related data to data collectiondevices and systems.

endpoint configurationA set of configuration parameters (such as deviceclass, time zone, security parameters, registeroperation parameters, communication parameters,load profile parameters, and so on) that are definedin the OpenWay® Collection Engine (CE) andassigned to a group of meters.

Also called a meter configuration.

endpoint definition file (EDF)An XML-formatted file listing the electronic serialnumbers (ESNs) and device classes of metersshipped from the Itron manufacturing facility. TheOpenWay® Collection Engine (CE) imports theinformation from the file, adding the meters to theOpenWay® system and enabling the listed metersto register with cell relays in the field.

endpoint IDThe identification number assigned to eachendpoint at the time of manufacture that uniquelydistinguishes it from all other endpoints.

endpoint location file (ELF)A comma-separated values (.CSV) file containingeither the latitudinal and longitudinal coordinates, orthe complete street address that is associated witha specific endpoint ID. ELFs can containcoordinates/addresses for one or more endpointIDs.

endpoint serial number (EPSN)Unique identifier for ERT endpoints that use acombination of ERT ID and market type (gas,electric, or water). Identifying ERTs by ID/markettype combination, rather than by ID alone, enablesItron to assign duplicate IDs to ERTs of differentERT/market types.

Endpoint ToolsA collection of standard workflows that is includedwith Itron’s Field Deployment Manager software forreading and programming Itron endpoints and formodifying and configuring features that are specificto particular endpoint types.

endpoint typeA 4-bit numeric value contained in all messagestransmitted by Itron endpoints. It indicates theclassification of the transmitting device and the kindof message or category of messages transmitted.Endpoint types use values 0 to 15. For example, a100G endpoint has an endpoint type of 12.

energizedSee set.

energyThe use of power over time, expressed in kilowatt-hours (kWh). See also demand and time of use(TOU).

energy chargeAn element in a two-part pricing method used incapacity transactions (capacity charge is the otherelement). This is the charge for the electricity usedby an electric customer during the billing period,measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh).


Glossary E

energy diversionThe theft and/or unauthorized use of an energyservice such as gas, water, or electricity.

energy only metersMeters that do not have their own programs(including meters running in EOmode) and rely onGMI (a generic meter interface software componentof UtilOS® firmware) to provide load profilefunctionality.

energy service provider (ESP)A non-utility supplier of electricity to a competitiveenergy marketplace.

Energy Services Interface (ESI)The meter Smart Street Lighting when the HANradio is activated. An active ESI enablescommunication to and from HAN devices in thecustomer location. The ESI can support Zigbee, inwhich case it functions as a portal andcommunicates with ZigBee HAN devices. The ESIcan also support a custom direct load control (DLC)protocol; in this case, the ESI is embedded inside adevice— such as a load control switch (LCS) orelectric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE)— andcan control some of its functions.

engineering change notice (ECN)A document that describes and authorizesengineering changes to a product and itscorresponding documentation. Also calledengineering change order (ECO).

engineering change order (ECO)A document that describes and authorizesengineering changes to a product and itscorresponding documentation. Also calledengineering change notice (ECN).

Enterprise Application Integration (EAI)A framework consisting of services andtechnologies the enterprise uses, and which acts asmiddleware enabling system and applicationintegration across the enterprise.

Enterprise on Demand (EOD)An AT&T program for customers with large datadeployments, such as utility companies. EODcustomers can purchase SIM cards and activatethem in their devices at a later time.

enterprise resource planning (ERP)The integrated management of main businessprocesses, often in real time and mediated bysoftware and technology.

enterprise service bus (ESB)A software architecture model used for integratingapplications and allowing them to communicatewithout excessive dependencies on each other.

entityA single person, place, or thing about which datacan be stored. For example, each node in adatabase is called an entity. Service points,customers, and meters are all entities. The XMLAPIs use elements and attributes to define theproperties of each database entity.

Environmental Protection Agency(EPA)A United States federal government agency thatwrites and enforces laws, regulations, and nationalstandards that are designed to protect humanhealth and the environment.

EOSee energy only meters.

EOBSee end of billing (EOB).

EODSee Enterprise on Demand (EOD).

EOESSee End of Extended Support (EOES).

EOISee end of interval (EOI)


Glossary E

EOLSee End of Life (EOL).

EONSSee End of New Sales (EONS).

EOTSee end of transmission (EOT).

EOSSee End of Support (EOS).

EPASee Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ephemeral keyA relatively short-lived private key generated foreach execution of a key establishment process.

epochThe time it takes a node to traverse all the channeltime slots in its hopping sequence. See alsohopping sequence.

EPSNSee endpoint serial number (EPSN).

Equipment Outage APIA JSON file web service that provides astandardized API transport. It also provides image-based tiles for map visualization. Two main servicesare provided by the API:■ Query services: For generic queries based on

time range and other filters.■ Identify services: For specific queries based on

map-click locations.

ERPSee enterprise resource planning (ERP).

error codeA coded message that corresponds to a fault in themeter's operation. In OpenWay®meters, the errorcodes are categorized in severity as non-fatal orfatal faults.

ERT® InstallAn Itron software application used at metermanufacturing plants and utility meter shops toprogram large numbers of ERT modules before theyare installed in the field.

ERT® Moduleencoder/receiver/transmitter module

A radio frequency device that attaches to anelectricity, gas, or water meter and collects usageand related data. An ERT module encodes the dataand transmits it to Itron data collection devices andsystems such as handheld computers, (HHCs),mobile automated meter reading (MAMR) devices,and fixed networks.

Also called an ERT, endpoint, ERT endpoint,communication module, or meter interface unit(MIU). ERT module is the official term.

ESBSee enterprise service bus (ESB).

ESCCSee emergency supply capacity control (ESCC).

ESISee Energy Services Interface (ESI).

ESNSee electronic serial number (ESN).

ESPSee encapsulating security payload (ESP).

EthernetA specification for local communication networksthat interconnects different kinds of computers,information processing products, and officeequipment.

ETLSee extract, transform, and load (ETL).

EVSee electric vehicle (EV).


Glossary E

EVDOSee Evolution-Data Optimized (EVDO).

eventAn occurrence that happens as a result of an action.In Itron product documentation we refer to meterevents, device events, billing events,communication events and more. There are manyevent types for example, alarms, clock error, lowbattery warning, diagnostics, calibrations, activationand deactivation.

eventIn Advanced Metering Manager (AMM) and otherItron applications, an action that occurs on anydevice in the network, including device configurationchanges, schedule deployments, and errors. Inmeters and Access Points, events can beassociated both with the device and with the ItronNIC. All events have a severity level: Informational,Warning, or Error.

Event Notification ApplicationAn optional MV-90™ xi application that sendsemails or produces a file when specific meter or MV-90 xi events occur.

Evolution-Data Optimized (EVDO)A 3G high-speed cellular data service that usesCDMA technology.

EVSESee electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE).

exceptionAn error or condition that is not part of the normalprocessing flow.

exception pollingA proactive outage detection technique where pingsare sent to devices to see if they are still alive.Devices that do not respond may signify an outage.

exhaustiveAmethod by which objects are added to a set or aload profile aggregation through dynamic selection,

using logical expressions defined in the SaturneAdministration Console. For example, all servicepoints with a particular attribute set and all loadprofiles with a particular name.

exportMeter read data, for a specific date and time,contained in XML, OUSM (Ontario Utility SmartMetering), IEE (Institution of Electrical Engineers),Loadstar, or HHF (hand held format) files forintegration with business systems.

ExpressLinkA direct file transfer method used between FieldCollection System (FCS) and Mobile CollectionSystem (MC). Using a network connection andshared folders, import and export route files can bedirectly transfered between FCS and MC. Thiseliminates the use of removable media for filetransfer purposes.

extended dataData interrogated on a conditional basis from theOpenWay® Collection Engine. The types ofinterrogated data include current register data, priorextended self-read data, extended load profile data,and instrumentation profile data.

extended endpoint typeAn 8-bit numeric value contained in all messagestransmitted from Itron endpoints that are capable oftransmitting eight bits. The first four bits indicate theendpoint type, and the last four bits further definethe type of endpoint. Extended endpoint types usevalues 0–255.

Extended Last GaspAn increased period of time in which anasynchronous message from an electricity metercan indicate the meter has lost power. Extended lastgasps increase the likelihood of the last gaspreaching the back office, and are currently onlyavailable for secure electricity meters. See also LastGasp (LG) and Extended Life Device (ELD).

Extended Life Device (ELD)Hardware that supports Extended Last Gasp.Currently, only secure electricity meters support


Glossary F

Extended Last Gasp. ELDs differ from otherelectricity meters in the following ways:■ ELDs wait 300 ms before sending the Last

Gasp. This allows non-ELDs time to transmitfirst.

■ ELDs provide up to 16 seconds of power inwhich the NIC can send a Last Gasp. Non-ELDdevices have up to 300 ms.

■ ELDs bundle Last Gasps received from otherdevices exactly like battery backed devices, butonly for the 16 seconds of their extended power.

■ ELD bundling can be turned off, in which casethe ELD sends its own and forwards individualLast Gasps.

■ Exception polling is not performed on ELDdevices.

Extensible Authentication Protocol(EAP)An authentication framework frequently used inwireless networks and Point-to-Point connections.

Extensible Markup Language (XML)A standard, structured file format for exchangingbusiness data over networks. Itron exports intervaldata to XML files, which can then be imported intoback-end business systems.

external tokenRefers to an external hardware device, such as asmart card or hardware security module (HSM).

extract, transform, and load (ETL)A single process made up of three databasefunctions used to migrate data between databases,form data marts, convert databases from one formatto another, and so on. The ETL process involvesextracting data from a source database,transforming the data to fit operational needs, andthen loading the data into the target, usually anotherdatabase or a data warehouse.

extranetA private network that is controlled by a hostorganization that manages site administration andrestricted content for the purpose of supporting

business-to-business functions. The hostorganization allows access to their restrictedcontent through a secure, web-based sign-in forauthorized external users. Authorized externalusers might include vendors, partners, customers,and so on, who require access to the organization’srestricted information.

FFANSee field area network (FAN).

FARSee field area router (FAR).

Fast Fourier Transform (FFT)A representative measure of the spectral energypresent in a given radio frequency channel. FFT is aspecific family of algorithms that provide acomputationally efficient way to calculate DiscreteFourier Transform (DFT).

fatherA description of a meter relationship. Similar to arelational database that uses the terms parent andchild to describe the hierarchical relationship of thetables. The term father is used in establishing meterrelationships.

fault location isolation and servicerestoration (FLISR)In intelligent line switching (ILS), a standard andsometimes automated process for detecting faultedfeeder segments and restoring service to thoseutility customers who have lost power.

faulted circuit indicator (FCI)A device that, if tripped, indicates a failed utilitycondition such as a power failure.

FCCSee Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

FCISee faulted circuit indicator (FCI).


Glossary E

FCSSee Field Collection System (FCS).

FDMSee Field Deployment Manager (FDM).

FDM ToolsSee Field Deployment Management Tools.

Federal Communications Commission(FCC)The United States federal governing body thatissues radio-frequency usage licenses. The FCCalso certifies radio and other equipment againststandards of operation and performance.

Federal Energy RegulatoryCommission (FERC)The regulatory agency in the United StatesDepartment of Energy (DOE) that has jurisdictionover interstate electricity sales and wholesale rates.FERC regulates the price, terms, and conditions ofpower sold in interstate commerce and alltransmission services. FERC is the federalcounterpart to state utility regulatory commissions.

Federal Information ProcessingStandards (FIPS)Guidelines and specifications issued by the UnitedStates National Institute of Standards andTechnology (NIST) for federal computer systemsused by all non-military government agencies andgovernment contractors. The standards cover dataencryption and decryption; user identityauthentication via digital signatures, and private keymanagement.

federation, software federation,federatedA group of computing or network providers agreeingupon standards of operation in a collective fashion.The term may be used when describing the inter-operation of two distinct, formally disconnected,networks that may have different internal structures.In networking systems, to be federated means

users can send messages from one network to theother. The term federated cloud refers to facilitatingthe interconnection of two or more geographicallyseparate computing clouds.

FERCSee Federal Energy Regulatory Commission(FERC).

FFTSee Fast Fourier Transform (FFT).

FHSSSee frequency.

field area network (FAN)A Smart Grid communications networkinfrastructure that combines neighborhood areanetwork (NAN) and wide area network (WAN)components. A FAN can serve as a backhaulnetwork for a variety of electric grid control devices,multi-tenant services (gas and water meters), anddata exchanges to home area network (HAN)devices, all connected through a variety of wirelessor wired line technologies.

field area router (FAR)A network router that serves as a data collectionpoint for meters participating in the Cisco RF Mesh.Several thousand meters may communicate to asingle FAR. The FAR links the meters to thebackhaul.

Field Collection System (FCS)A data collection engine for handheld and mobileAMR systems. FCS collects data from multiplemeter types and provides accurate, reliable meterdata to meter data management and customerbilling applications.

Field Deployment Management ToolsOne of the Field Deployment Manager suite ofproducts which enables field service employees toinstall and validate Itron AMR and AMI meters,ERTs and modules. Using Itron radio technologiesand mobile computing devices such as laptops andtablets, FDM Tools enables users to program,


Glossary E

check and validate Itron endpoints in the field foruse in mobile or fixed network collectionenvironments.

Field Deployment Manager (FDM)An installation management solution for quicklyinstalling and gathering data around newdeployments of Itron OpenWay® Riva and Gen™5ERTs. FDM enables field service employees toinstall and validate Itron AMR and AMI meters,ERTs and modules. Using Itron radio technologiesand mobile computing devices such as laptops andtablets, FDM allows users to program, check andvalidate Itron endpoints in the field for use in mobileor fixed network collection environments.

Field Installation and Support HandheldA software tool that, in conjunction with a FieldService Unit (FSU), runs on a portable handheldcomputer and is used to pair Gas IMUs with gasmeters and configure the IMUs for operation overthe Itron mesh network.

Field Pairing Service (FPS)A service that allows customers to install or swapItron NICs into meters in the field without any fieldtools. The back office manages the processesrequired to complete the provisioning with minimaluser intervention.

field service representative (FSR)A utility company technician or contractor whoinstalls, programs, or maintains meters andendpoints on customers’ premises. The term is alsoapplied to technicians who audit the quality of otherFSRs’ work.

Field Service Unit (FSU)A portable tool used by field technicians tocommunicate with devices equipped with a SmartStreet Lighting or NIC for configuration,troubleshooting, and other operations. It can also beused in a laboratory or meter shop to test andpreconfigure devices before installation at customersites. See also FSU Personalization.

Field ToolsAn ERT® installation and validation tool built for useon Android and iOS smartphones and tablets. FieldTools is a mobile app built on the Itron Mobilefoundation of code to work with North American gasand water ERTs. Using an Itron Mobile Radio(IMR1/IMR2/IMR-FT), a field worker can easilyRead, Check and Program 40G, 100G and 100WERTs, with additional ERT® and meter support inthe future.

file snapshotA password-encrypted XML file containingendpoint, meter, and associated settings for use bymeter manufacturers in programming endpoints atthe factory.

file transfer protocol (FTP)A client-server protocol that lets a user on onecomputer transfer files to and from anothercomputer over a Transmission ControlProtocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) network. Theterm may also refer to the client program that theuser executes to transfer files.

filter, band-passA device that allows frequencies within a certainrange and rejects frequencies beyond that range.

filter, list filterA feature of some lists that enables you to limit thenumber of list items displayed at any one time tothose that meet one or more conditions or criteria.Some filters consist of predefined lists of conditionsfrom which you can select the one to apply. Othersincorporate filter editors that you can use to defineyour own set of conditions.

FIPSSee Federal Information Processing Standards(FIPS).

firewallA gateway that limits access between networks inaccordance with the local security policy.


Glossary E

firmwareA computer program embedded in a hardwaredevice. See also image.

firmware multicast groupAn application group that is capable of containingmeters from different configuration groups anddevice classes. It differs from conventionalapplication groups in that it uses a single multicastaddress for each security code rather than differentmulticast addresses for different configurations anddevice classes. A firmware multicast group ignoresdevice classes and configuration settings.

Firmware Upgrader (FWU)An Itron application that manages the delivery, float,and activation of firmware over the Itron network,and provides image management, audits ofupgrades, project management, and alerts relatedto the firmware update process. FWU can alsoperform audit jobs to make sure devices are runninga specified firmware image and can automaticallyrun an upgrade job based on audit results.

Fixed Network 100A network system which relies on a combination ofwired connection and data management software tocollect and manage frequent consumption andusage meter data.

Fixed Network 2.0A utility meter data collection and managementnetwork consisting of:■ Endpoint-equipped electric, gas, or water

meters that measure and record consumptionby utility customers.

■ Collection and transmission devices called cellcontrol units (CCUs) and repeaters that retrievemeter data and upload it over the Internet to ahost system.

■ The host system, which receives the data andstores it in a database for billing and analysispurposes.

Fixed Network Administration Client(FNAC)A component of Itron’s ChoiceConnect™ FixedNetwork that manages network devices, generatesreports, and performs various services.

Fixed Network Application Server(FNAS)A component of Itron’s ChoiceConnect™ FixedNetwork that is used to gather and process meterreadings. Also called the head end or collectionengine.

500M ModuleA sub-GHz wireless communications moduleoptimized for battery-powered devices. It enablesconnectivity to a broad range of IoT sensors anddevices for critical infrastructure applications and isequipped with a pre-certified and integrateddaughter card.

500W ERT® ModuleAn automatic meter reading (AMR) device thatattaches to a water meter register from which itcollects consumption usage and tamper data that ittransmits to a data collection device.

550G ERT® ModuleA gas module nearly identical to the 500G ERT®module. It is specifically designed for the New YorkState Gas AMI and AMRmarkets. The 550G comesin Gen™5 and OpenWay® Riva variations and eachvariation can be read by legacy C handheld ormobile readers.

flash memoryA nonvolatile data storage technology that supportsreprogramming in units of memory called blocks.

flat rateA fixed billing rate for power consumers that doesnot vary during the day.

FLISRSee fault location isolation and service restoration(FLISR).


Glossary E

FNACSee Fixed Network Administration Client (FNAC).

FNASSee Fixed Network Application Server (FNAS).

forecastA predicted or anticipated demand for energy.electricity or gas. Forecasting is the basis on whichpower purchases are made. A forecast may includepeak demand, energy, reactive power, or demandprofile. A forecast may be made for total systemdemand, transmission loading, substation/feederloading, individual customer demand, or appliancedemand. Short-term forecasts (minutes, hours,days) are used for system operation purposes orreal time pricing. Long-term forecasting (years) isfor power generation and grid planning purposes.

FPS See Field Pairing Service (FPS).

4cA four-core cable. This term is typically used inAustralia.

FQDNSee fully qualified domain name (FQDN).

frequencyElectromagnetic waves used to carry informationover radio. For example, the selected radio stationin your car is a frequency, which brings in theinformation you want.

frequency-hopping spread spectrum(FHSS)Originally developed during the SecondWorld Warto avoid jamming, FHSS is a method of sendingradio signals over several frequency channels.Unlike direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS),FHSS switches between channels in a patternknown to both sender and receiver, therebyavoiding interference in any one channel.

Fresnel zoneThe elliptically shaped area formed by radiofrequency waves between a transmitter and areceiver.

from-host fileA file produced by a utility company’s customerinformation system (CIS) containing work orderinformation to be passed to a workforcemanagement system.

fronthaulContains utility-specific customer information andbilling systems that are integrated into the Itronapplication. The fronthaul link provides theconnection between the utility data center and Itronapplications.

FSUSee Field Service Unit (FSU).

FSU Certificate Authority (FSU CA)A certificate authority that signs and issues FieldService Unit (FSU)smart card certificates.

FSU-Secure Access Manager (FSU-SAM)A software component used in conjunction with anField Service Unit (FSU) that protects an FSU frommisuse by allowing an administrator to limit thenumber of secure maintenance link s an FSU canissue within a specified amount of time.

FSU PersonalizationBy personalizing a Field Service Unit (FSU), theadministrator adds security credentials and initialcredits to the FSU that identify it uniquely as part ofthe utility's Itron system. This authorizes the FSU toconnect to the mesh network of the utility. Theprivate key permits the creation of a securemaintenance link that allows the configuredcredentials to execute commands for a specificduration.

FTPSee file transfer protocol (FTP).


Glossary G

full securityA security level employed by C endpoints or metersthat support enhanced security, such as Itron’s 100series endpoints or the CENTRON® Bridge meter.In full security, secure commands and reading keysfrom the Itron Security Manager (ISM) server arerequired for performing all functions involving thereading of endpoint data or the modification ofendpoint or meter settings.

fully qualified domain name (FQDN)Sometimes referred to as an absolute domainname. A domain name that specifies its exactlocation in the tree hierarchy of the DNP3. An FQDNis specified with a trailing dot, for example:somehost.example.com.

fully secured endpointAn Itron C endpoint or meter that has the ItronSecurity Manager (ISM) security level set to fullsecurity. An endpoint or meter set to full securityrequires secure commands and reading keys fromthe ISM server for performing all functions.

FWUSee Firmware Upgrader (FWU).

GgapA hiatus in the usage data collected from a meter.

gap fill interrogation (GFI)A set of multiple services that work together toidentify gaps in reading data that can occur duringthe reading import process. GFI attempts to fillthose gaps that meet size eligibility by requestingthe missing readings from the meter through thecollection engine web service interface.

gas dayA specific time of day when a gas meter begins its24-hour day. For many utilities, the gas day is 9:00AM, but this is not always the case.

gas day take (GDT)The time each day when a gas ERT module readsand records demand, time-of-use (TOU), andconsumption interval data from the gas meter. TheGDT meter reading is closest to but not after theGDT.

Gas IMUA two-way radio with metrology capabilities that canbe installed on diaphragm, rotary, and turbine gasmeters. The Gas IMU allows remote meter reading,and provides asynchronous alerts for leaks, metertampering, and other critical events, and it can beremotely configured. There are multiple generationsof the Gas IMU, including the Gas IMU 200, 300,and 300A.

Gas IMU 200See Gas IMU.

Gas IMU 300See Gas IMU.

Gas IMU 300ASee Gas IMU.

Gas IMU 500TA communications module that connects electronicvolume correctors (EVCs) to a utility network. Itprovides a solution for collecting temperature andpressure telemetry data, events and alarms,corrected and uncorrected consumption, andinterval data reads from EVCs and then backhaulingthat data to the head end system. Once the dataarrives at the head end, it is made available forpresentation in the user interface and for export toother systems, such as an MDMS or analyticspackage.

Gas IMU ConfiguratorA software tool that, in conjunction with a FieldService Unit (FSU), allows users to configure andtest Itron Gas IMUs. Supported tasks allow joiningand unjoining Gas IMUs to gas meters, validatingmeter reading values with a check read, andgenerating configuration reports for specified GasIMUs. After executing tasks, the Gas IMU


Glossary G

Configurator produces results files which describein detail what was loaded by the Gas IMUConfigurator and the processing results. Theprimary use case for this tool is provisioning GasIMUs in a utility's gas meter shop or in a gas meterOEM facility. See also join and unjoin.

Gas Interface Management Unit (IMU)A two-way radio with an integrated gas meterregister that can be installed on diaphragm, rotary,and turbine gas meters. The IMU allows remotemeter reading, and provides asynchronous alertsfor leaks, meter tampering, and other critical events,and it can be remotely configured.

gatewayA device that handles communications between theutility and the customer's devices such asthermostats, water heaters, and pool pumps.Gateways offer two-way communications, and oftenprovide the customer with the ability to override theutility’s load reduction control signal. Gatewaysovercome the limitations of one-way load control bysending confirmation signals back to the utility.Web-based software allows customers to see thestatus and effects of load control actions.

GatewayA common interface to the Itron mesh network andperforms the following key functions within theControl Platform architecture:■ Weighted prioritization of multiple classes of

traffic destined for the mesh network■ Adaptive bandwidth management to prevent

overutilization of the mesh networkinfrastructure and to minimize timeout

■ CoAP (Constrained Application Protocol) proxyservices to facilitate communications betweenclient applications and Milli™ 5-based deviceson the mesh network

By metering traffic and queuing traffic based onconfigurable priorities, Gateway provides essentialQuality of Service (QoS) for client applications whileat the same time regulating traffic to each AP. AnAdaptive Rate Limiter and Packets in Flight (PIF)Limiter automatically adjust the amount of trafficsent to each AP based on traffic indicators such as

the round-trip time and the number of successfulpackets versus failed packets.

Gateway additionally provides insightful networkperformance statistics on the application'sdashboard. The dashboard displays several charts,each of which presents a different set of statisticaldata. This data provides visibility into networkactivity and performance such as the number ofpackets in flight (PIF), the number of packetsqueued for transmission, device availability, and thenumber of timeouts.

Gaussian frequency shift keyingA type of frequency shift keying modulation thatutilizes a Gaussian filter to smooth positive /negative frequency deviations.

GDPSee global development process (GDP).

GDTSee gas day take (GDT).

gear shiftingAn innovation within the Gen™4 technology thatlets a 300 kbps-capable device not only adjust datarates for backward compatibility but also todynamically optimize between performance andrange. With devices supported by Gen™5technology, both modulation and speed changescan be made through gear shifting. Earlier Gen 2devices were limited to 100kbps.

GECKOInternal name no longer associated with GasInterface Management Unit (IMU).

general packet radio service (GPRS)A packet-based wireless communication servicethat provides continuous connection to the Internetover second generation (2G) and third generation(3G) networks. GPRS transmits data in packets anddoes not support voice communications. Multipledevices are able to share the same connectionchannel to transmit data packets upstream anddownstream within a network.


Glossary G

generation capacityThe maximum output (MW) that generatingequipment can supply to a system load.

Generic Meter Interface (GMI)A software component of UtilOS® firmware. GMI isthe metering interface to electricity meters operatingin energy-only mode and IMUs. GMI provides meterreads and data logs and event logs of the meterdata stored on the Itron NIC. See also Smart StreetLighting.

GEN5-EGMSee Gen™5 Routing Node ERT Gateway Mesh(Gen5-EGM).

Gen™4 technologyA networking technology integrated into Itrondevices that provides support for new transports,Micromesh® Technology, faster data rates, gearshifting, and increased memory. For coverage inany type of territory, the modular architecture ofGen4 enables customers to add support forcellular/mobile transport along with RF mesh andsupport for other transports in the future. Theincreased data rates support up to 300 kbpsperformance with lower latency, and the ability togear-shift to lower data rates supports not onlybackward compatibility with earlier generations ofItron devices, but also dynamic optimizationbetween performance and range. Increasedmemory enables Gen4 to support the broadeningrange of new device types coming onto the smartgrid. Gen4 technology provides support for Gen4versions of the Access Point (AP), Bridge,MicroAP®Module, and Relays.

Gen™5 500G ERT® ModuleA gas module which provides gas meter reading,high flow alarms, interval data and remote firmwaredownload to improve safety and gas operations. It isdesigned to be read under I Itron Gen™5 industrialIoT networks, or by legacy ChoiceConnect™handheld or mobile readers.

Gen™5 500W ERT® ModuleA water module featuring a compact design andindustry-leading battery life. It is designed to deliveradvanced functionality on Itron's Gen™5 industrialIoT network. The module can also be read underlegacy meter reading applications, enablingcustomer flexibility and choice.

Gen™5 CENTRON® IIA solid-state single-phase residential electricitymeter which is compatible with the Itron Gen™5industrial IoT (IIoT) network.

Gen™5 CENTRON® Polyphase IIIA solid-state polyphase electricity meter which iscompatible with the Gen™5 network.

Gen™5 Communications HubAllows access to the Gen5 communication solution,that provides scalable high performance, reliable,secure DNP3 transport and inter operable head endsoftware and advanced Radio Frequency (RF)Mesh technology. Additionally permits using theUtilityIQ software suite, that acts as the centralizedhub between the metering system and utilityprocesses via the modem.

Gen™5 Riva Electricity OEMConfiguratorA software suite designed for provisioningcommunication modules, electric meter models,and Itron Load Control Switch (LCS) devices.Formerly known as Manufacturing Utility Test Tool(MUTT).

Gen™5 Riva MeterAn electricity meter which combines robust smartmetering functionality with high-performancecommunications capabilities and a distributedintelligence platform to deliver differentiatingcapabilities and new approaches to meter-to-gridapplications using Gen5 Riva communicationsolution. Designed to ANSI standards for U.S.markets.


Glossary G

Gen™5 Riva Polyphase ElectricityMeterAn electricity meter which combines robust smartmetering functionality with high-performancecommunications capabilities and a distributedintelligence platform to deliver differentiatingcapabilities and new approaches to meter-to-gridapplications using Gen5 Riva communicationsolution. Designed to ANSI standards for U.S.markets.

Gen™5 Riva SinglePhase ElectricityMeterAn electricity meter which combines robust smartmetering functionality with high-performancecommunications capabilities and a distributedintelligence platform to deliver differentiatingcapabilities and new approaches to meter-to-gridapplications using Gen5 Riva communicationsolution. Designed to ANSI standards for U.S.markets.

Gen™5 Routing Node ERT GatewayMesh (Gen5-EGM)A device that operates as an additional node to builddensity or extend the perimeter of an existing meshwithin the GenX network. A Gen5 ERT GatewayMesh improves read rates and connectivity ingeographic areas where network coverage is notoptimal. The Gen5 ERT Gateway Mesh receivesdata from devices within the network. The Gen5ERT Gateway Mesh supports both RF and PLClinks within a GenX mesh network. Also known asGen5-EGM.

Gen™5 SL7000A smart meter which can process, analyze,communicate, and react to grid conditions andbusiness requirements in real-time. The meter,when connected to the optional Gen™5Communications Hub, is capable of using the Gen5communications solution, that provides scalablehigh performance, reliable, secure DNP3 transportand inter operable head end software and advancedRadio Frequency (RF) Mesh technology. Thisproduct also permits using the UtilityIQ® softwaresuite, that acts as the centralized hub between the

metering system and utility processes via themodem. Designed to IEC standards for non U.S.markets.

Gen™5 technologyA networking technology that provides thebreakthrough capabilities to enable more value tobe unlocked from critical infrastructure across newbattery-powered devices, new applications poweredby distributed intelligence, and enhancedperformance supporting mission-criticalprocesses—all while being fully backwardscompatible with previous generations. Gen5technology provides support for Gen5 versions ofthe Access Point (AP), Bridge, MicroAP®Module,Relays, Milli™, network interface card (NIC),SocketAP 5, and more, which, in turn, support thehigh data capacity of the network with data rates upto 2.4 Mbps.

Gen™X technologyA networking technology that refers to allgenerations of the core network technology. TheGen™5 Network Platform specifically refers to thecurrent generation of the network platformtechnology. For example, customers that havemultiple generations of network devices deployedare Gen™X customers, while a new customerwould be referred to as a Gen™5 customer.

General Data Protection Regulation(GDPR)A regulation in EU law on data protection andprivacy in the European Union and the EuropeanEconomic Area. It also addresses the transfer ofpersonal data outside the EU and EEA areas.

geocodingA process of associating geographic coordinates(latitude and longitude) from other geographic data,such as street addresses or postal codes.

geoendpointAn ERT module that communicates with the fixednetwork it belongs to through an intermediary ERTmodule called its georelay.


Glossary G

geoendpoint candidateA device with less than optimal read quality that hasnot been programmed for geomode.

geographic information system (GIS)A system of hardware, software, and data designedto capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, anddisplay geographic information in the form of maps,globes, reports, and charts.

geomodeA communication mode in which one ERT module,the georelay, passes messages back and forthbetween another ERT module, the geoendpoint,and the fixed network to which the modules belong.By acting as an intermediary, the georelay enablesthe geoendpoint to communicate with the network,which environmental conditions would otherwiseprevent it from doing.

georelayAn ERT module that functions as an intermediaryfor another ERT module (the geoendpoint) thatcannot communicate directly with the fixed networkthe two modules belong to. The georelay passesmessages back and forth between the geoendpointand the network.

georelay candidateA device with good read quality that may serve asan intermediary ERT module to assist ageoendpoint in communicating with the fixednetwork it belongs to.

GET VPNSee Group Encrypted Transport VPN (GET VPN).

GFISee gap fill interrogation (GFI).

GFSKSee Gaussian frequency shift keying.

GHzSee gigahertz (GHz).

GHzSee gigahertz (GHz).

gigahertz (GHz)Ameasure of frequency, one billion cycles persecond, or one billion hertz (Hz). Gigahertz is mostcommonly used to measure computer processingspeed.

gigawatt (GW)A unit of power equal to 1 billion watts, 1 millionkilowatts, or 1,000 megawatts.

gigawatt hours (GWh)A unit or measure of electricity supply orconsumption equal to one billion watt hours (Wh).

GISSee geographic information system (GIS).

global development process (GDP)Deprecated term. The GDP process was replacedwith the new development process (NDP ).

Global Meter Reader (GMR)A software component that—along with Database(DB) and Middle Tier (MT)—is part of AdvancedMetering Manager (AMM) and is responsible formanaging network related jobs including meterreading, ping, and meter programs. On startup, theGMR reads meter information from the masterdatabase and then manages all of the meter relatedjobs through NICNAC commands that interrogateand configure the NICs.

Global Positioning System (GPS)A satellite-based system that provides positioningand navigation information. By triangulation ofsignals from three of the satellites, a receiving unitcan pinpoint its current location anywhere on earthto within a few meters. Use of at least threesatellites is necessary to calculate a two-dimensional position (latitude and longitude) andtrack movement. Four or more satellites are neededto determine a three-dimensional position (latitude,longitude, and altitude). GPS uses the World


Glossary G

Geodetic System (WGS 84) as its referencecoordinate system.

Global R&D Metrics (GRDM)An internal Itron toolset that provides dashboardsand reports of various project performance metricsfor executives. GRDM is integrated with ProjectWeb App (PWA) and project sites to govern andmanage the R&D project developmentdocumentation approval process and lifecyclestages.

Global System for MobileCommunications (GSM)Originally Groupe Spécial Mobile. A standard setdeveloped by the European TelecommunicationsStandards Institute to describe protocols for secondgeneration digital cellular networks used by mobilephones. Developed in the 1980s, GSM was firstdeployed in seven European countries in 1992.Operating in the 900 MHz and 1.8 GHz bands inEurope and the 1.9 GHz PCS band in the UnitedStates, GSM defines the entire cellular system, notjust the air interface.

globally unique identifier (GUID)An alphanumeric string of characters, usually 128-bits long, that is used in software applications toprovide a unique identifier for files, names,resources, unique primary keys in databases, andso on.

GMISee Generic Meter Interface (GMI).

GMRSee Global Meter Reader (GMR).

good intervalAn interval that is used to replace missing or badintervals during the reading validation andestimation (VE) process. Good intervals cannothave an estimated (EST) or power outage (PO)status, cannot have been collected on a utility-defined holiday, and generally represent the sametime frame as the bad or missing interval theyreplace.

GPRSSee general packet radio service (GPRS).

GPSSee Global Positioning System (GPS).

GRDMSee Global R&DMetrics (GRDM).

GRDM Project NamesNaming conventions applied to GRDM projects arecategorized by the following systems and businesslines.

grid operatorThe entity that oversees the delivery of electricityover the grid to the customer, while assuringconsistently high levels of reliability and public andworker safety. The grid operator potentially could beindependent of the utilities and suppliers.

GridScape® ApplicationA web-based network management application thatruns from the utility back-office for remote, secureconfiguration and management of the ItronDistribution Automation (DA) communicationnetworks.

GridScape® Configuration ServerAn application used for configuring Access Points(APs) and MicroAPs in Itron networks. Unlike theGridScape® application, the GridScapeConfiguration Server does not collect statisticaldata.

gross generationThe total amount of electric energy produced by thegenerating units at a generating station or stations,measured at the generator terminals.

Group Encrypted Transport VPN (GETVPN)A Cisco®-proprietary virtual private network (VPN)that is designed to simplify VPNmanagement andprovisioning.


Glossary H

GSMSee Global System for Mobile Communications(GSM).

GUIDSee globally unique identifier (GUID).

GWSee gigawatt (GW).

GWhSee gigawatt hours (GWh).

HHASee high availability (HA).

Haiku™An Itron service plan that allows delivery of 5000messages x 16 bytes per month for free to ItronInternet of Things (IoT) customers. The plan isintended for customers with relatively small datarequirements.

HANSee home area network (HAN).

HAN Communications Manager (HCM)An Itron application that enables utility companies tomanage home area network (HAN) devices(including Zigbee and Direct-to-Grid devices), utilitycompany rate plans, and to create and managedemand response (DR) programs.

HAN devicesDevices that are used in the home or small andmedium business (SMB) to help customers controland monitor their electricity use and, in some cases,to respond to demand response (DR)price signals.

Examples of HAN devices are the programmablecommunicating thermostat (PCT), load controlswitch (LCS) and similar devices, and in-premisesdisplay.

HAN moduleA radio-based module that enables home devices(like thermostats, information displays, and smartappliances) to communicate with the OpenWay®Collection Engine through a Zigbee-enhancedmeter.

HAN Test KitAn Itron application that, in conjunction with the ItronField Service Unit (FSU), enables home areanetwork (HAN) device vendors to test their HANdevices with Itron equipment and the Zigbee SmartEnergy Profile (SEP) implementation to confirmcorrect interoperation. The tests go beyond what thebase ZigBee SEP standards specify, as ZigBeeallows room for interpretation in a number of areas.

handheld (HH)/handheld computer(HHC)A portable data collection device with labeled keysand a display screen used by utility employees (forexample, field service representatives) to collectmeter readings and related meter data. Itron’shandheld computers include the FC200 and FC300and the older FS/2, FS3, Genesis PortableComputer (GPC), TRx (Japan), and G5.

hand-held file (HHF) formatA file format consisting of multiple 256-byte recordsthat is produced by third-party and Itron softwareapplications running on hand-held data collectors.The format allows data (such as register data, andmeter event or history log information) from multipledevices to be stored in the same file.

handheld keyA shared elliptic curve cryptography key that can beused to authenticate commands from handheldcomputers.

hardware security module (HSM)An appliance that stores sensitive credentials orprivate keys in hardware-protected memory. AnHSM is FIPS-140-2 level 3-compliant, withprovisions for tamper evidence and tamperprevention. It also provides hardware-basedacceleration for cryptographic operations such as


Glossary H

signing, and encryption. It is used with Itronproducts such as Critical Operations Protector forAdvanced Metering Infrastructure (COP for AMI).

harmonic distortionAn effect that causes the true sinewave ofalternating voltages and currents to be distorted.

hash functionAn algorithm that turns a variable-sized amount oftext into a fixed-sized output (hash value). Hashfunctions are used in creating digital signatures,hash tables, and short text condensations foranalysis purposes. Also called cryptographic hashfunction.

hash tableA lookup table that is designed to efficiently storenon-contiguous keys. Hash tables are created byusing an algorithm to hash the keys into hashbuckets. Each bucket is a list of key value pairs.When an item is looked up, its key is hashed to findthe appropriate bucket. Then, the bucket issearched for the right key-value pair.

hash valueA block of data represented as a string of bits. Seealso program seal.

hash-based message authenticationcode (HMAC)Calculations to construct a message authenticationcode (MAC) that involve cryptographic hashfunctions in combination with a secret key. HMACscan be used to verify the data integrity andauthenticity of messages.

HCMSee HAN Communications Manager (HCM).

HCMWSRouteAn Itron component that allows HANCommunications Manager (HCM) users to routeweb service calls through Mule. It provides thepublic API and serves the WSDL and XSD filesneeded by integration tooling and routes public andlegacy API calls. It is required by HCM.

HDDSee heating degree day (HDD).

HDL fileSee host download file (HDL).

HDLCSee High-Level Data Link Control (HDLC).

HE BridgeSee High Efficiency Bridge.

head endThe starting point in a communications system.

head end system (HES)A software application that receives the stream ofmeter data brought back to the utility by anAMR/AMI system. Head end systems may performa limited amount of data validation before eithermaking the data available for other systems torequest or before pushing the data out to othersystems. Head end systems may also perform alimited set of data management functions for suchactivities as route management, outage detection,and on-demand reads.

head end router (HER)A router that directs communications to and frommultiple field area routers (FARs).

The Cisco®Aggregation Services Router (ASR) isthe HERmodel used in OpenWay® systems.

heating degree day (HDD)A unit of measure used to relate a day’stemperature to the energy demands to heatbuildings. Calculate heating degree days bysubtracting a day's average temperature from 65.For example, if the day's high is 60°F and the day'slow is 40°F, the day's average is 50°F. Subtract 50from 65 to get 15 heating degree days.

HERSee head end router (HER).


Glossary H

HERMES SoftLab (HSL)An international company that provides IT solutionsand software engineering services to high-techvendors, telecommunication service providers,financial institutions, and the public sector.

hertz (Hz)Ameasure of frequency, one cycle per second. Theunit may be applied to any periodic event—forexample, a clock might be said to tick at 1 Hz, or ahuman heart might be said to beat at 1.2 Hz.

HESSee head end system (HES).

HH/HHCSee handheld (HH)/handheld computer (HHC).

HHFSee hand-held file (HHF) format

HIDSee high-intensity discharge (HID).

high availability (HA)A system design approach and associated serviceimplementation that ensures that a prearrangedlevel of operational performance will be met during acontractual measurement period.

High Efficiency BridgeA waterproof DA communication platform thatsupports connectivity to underground endpointdevices. This device can withstand flood water, oil,and extreme weather environments. It is standard touse the HE Bridge to connect to subterraneousNetwork Protectors through both RS-485 orEthernet interface.

high gain fiberglass (stick antenna)An omnidirectional stick antenna designed for 800MHz and 900 MHz ISM bands. It is suited formultipoint, non line of sight (NLOS), and mobileapplications where high gain and wide coverage isrequired.

High Speed (Downlink/Uplink) PacketAccess (HSPA/HSDPA/HSUPA)A combination of two mobile telephony protocols,High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) andHigh Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA), whichextend and improve the performance of existingWideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA)protocols. HSPA supports increased peak datarates of up to 14 Mbit/s in the downlink and 5.8Mbit/s in the uplink. It also reduces latency andprovides up to five times more system capacity inthe downlink and up to twice as much systemcapacity in the uplink, reducing the production costper bit compared to original WCDMA protocols.

high-intensity discharge (HID)A type of lighting technology commonly used forstreetlights where light is produced by an electricarc generated between tungsten electrodes that arecontained within a fused alumina or quartz tube.

High-Level Data Link Control (HDLC)A general purpose protocol that operates at the datalink layer of the Open Systems Interconnection(OSI) reference model. The protocol uses theservices of a physical layer and provides either abest effort or reliable communications path betweenthe transmitter and receiver.

high-pressure sodium (HPS)A common type of streetlight technology thatpredates light-emitting diode (LED) development forstreetlights.

high-strength KeySafeA version of KeySafe that enables key-wrappingwithout degrading client application performance.

HiveMQPluginsSee MQTT Broker.

HiveMQSSNCfgSee MQTT Broker.


Glossary H

HMACSee hash-based message authentication code(HMAC).

HMACSee hash-based message authentication code(HMAC).

hockey puck antennaSee low-profile disc antenna (hockey puck).

home area network (HAN)A data communications system contained within thehome or small and medium business (SMB).

hopA point along a network route between the AccessPoint (AP) and the meter. Though not itself a device,a hop is always associated with a device, usually aRelay or meter acting as a Relay. When data istransmitted across a network, the packet hops fromdevice to device. See also link and route.

hop (RFLAN)The movement of a data packet in communicationsbetween two adjacent meters or between a meterand the cell relay in an RFLAN cell.

hopping sequenceThe selection by a node of a random start channeland seed to reduce the amount of interference withother nodes within range.

host download file (HDL)A proprietary file format (default file name:download.HDL) developed by Itron to downloadmeter reading requests from a utility company’scustomer information system (CIS) into Itron’s MV-RS™meter data management system. MV-RS, inturn, sends the information to handheld and/ormobile meter data collection devices. HDL filescontain cycle, route, customer, meter, and readingdata. Itron’s Field Collection System (FCS) employsthe HDL file format to import data from utilitycustomer information systems. Itron's FieldDeployment Manager (FDM) downloads route

information to HDL files for meter read validation byFCS and MV-RS.

host upload file (HUL)A proprietary file format (default file name:upload.HUL) developed by Itron to upload meterreading data collected by Itron’s MV-RS™meterdata management system to a utility company’scustomer information system (CIS). Itron’s FieldCollection System (FCS) also employs the HUL fileformat to export FCS data to customer informationsystems.

hosting locationThe physical location of an Access Point or Relay.

hotfixA single, cumulative package of one or more filesused to correct specific issues and problems in aprevious release of a software product.

HPSSee high-pressure sodium (HPS).

HSLSee HERMES SoftLab (HSL).

HSMSee hardware security module (HSM).

HSPA/HSDPA/HSUPASee High Speed (Downlink/Uplink) Packet Access(HSPA/HSDPA/HSUPA).

HTTPSee Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP).

HULSee host download file (HDL).

hybrid clientA computer or program that requests data, files, orservices or accesses shared network resourcesfrom a server computer or program. Of the clientclasses, thin client, hybrid, client, and rich client, ahybrid client is a mixture of the thin and rich clients.


Glossary I

A hybrid client executes data processing locally, likea rich client, but relies upon the server for datastorage, like a thin client.

Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)A networking protocol or set of rules for transferringfiles (text, graphic images, sound, video, and othermultimedia files) in distributed, collaborative,hypermedia information systems. HTTP is thefoundation of data communication for the web.

HzSee hertz (Hz).

IIaaSSee Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS).

IBPSee Infrastructure Battery Pack (IBP).

ICANNSee Internet Corporation for Assigned Names andNumbers (ICANN).

ICC IDSee integrated circuit card identifier (ICC ID).

ICRSee inbound communications router (ICR).

ICSSee initial collector setup (ICS).

ICSPSee Itron Cloud Services Platform (ICSP).

identificationThe process of verifying the identity of a user,process, or device, usually as a prerequisite forgranting access to resources in an informationtechnology (IT) system.

IDMSee interval data message (IDM).

IDRSee interval data recorder (IDR).

IDSSee intrusion detection system (IDS).

IECSee International Electrotechnical Commission(IEC).

IEDSee intelligent electronic device (IED).

IEE■ See Itron Enterprise Edition (IEE) Meter Data

Management■ See Itron Enterprise Edition (IEE) MDUS

IEE common readings XML file (CRF)formatAn extensible markup language (XML) file formatdeveloped by Itron to enable software applicationswith different native file formats to exchange meterroute and energy use data. Originally developed forItron Enterprise Edition (IEE) MDUS, CRF is usedby Field Deployment Manager (FDM), FieldCollection System (FCS), and MV-RS.

IEEESee Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers(IEEE).

IETFSee Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF).

IHCSee Itron Hybrid Connector (IHC).

IHDSee in-premises display.

IHPSee Itron Security Manager (ISM).


Glossary I

IISSee Internet Information Services (IIS).

IKESee Internet Key Exchange (IKE).

IMA■ See interpreter between meter and application

(IMA)■ See interrogation meter adapter (IMA) manager

imageFirmware or software programming code that canbe copied to multiple programmable chips in one ormore devices, such as Itron NICs or electricitymeters. See also code float.

IMMSee Itron Meter Manager (IMM).

impedanceIn alternating current (AC) circuits, the measure ofthe opposition that an electrical circuit presents tothe passage of a current when a voltage is applied.Impedance is represented by the letter "Z" and ismeasured in ohms.

IMRSee Itron Mobile Radio (IMR).

IMSSee Integration Management Service (IMS) .

IMUSee Gas Interface Management Unit (IMU).

IMU Accuracy TesterHardware and software solution that, in conjunctionwith a Field Service Unit (FSU)s and to log testresults. Testing covers counting accuracy, radiofrequency links, and event logging.

inactive accountA utility customer account that is no longer in use.

in-band interferersTransmitters in the same ISM band that are not partof Itron’s transmitters.

inbound communications router (ICR)An OpenWay® Collection Engine software servicethat receives information from cell relays or otherinternet protocol (IP)-connected devices in anOpenWay® network. This service pieces messagesegments together, passes the messages throughthe security layer to handle inbound trafficdecryption, and places the messages onto theCollection Engine’s message bus, targeted for themeter communication host (MCH) assigned to theend device that generated the traffic.

inclining block rateAn electricity billing rate that increases across tierswith the customer's energy use.

independent power producer (IPP)A private entity or entrepreneur who develops,owns, or operates electric power plants fueled byalternative energy sources such as small hydro,wind facilities, cogeneration, or waste-to-energyfacilities.

independent system operator (ISO)In a deregulated marketplace, an independent,federally regulated entity responsible for the reliableoperation of the transmission grid, the provision ofopen transmission access to all market participantson a non- discriminatory basis, and the safety andreliability of the electric system.

info success rateThe percentage of data packets that succeed whena process sends a poll to a specific node andreceives an acknowledgment. Calculated by:

(successes / (successes + failures)) * 100

info1/info2Inquiries sent to cell relays within Short MessageService (SMS) messages. The info1 and info2responses contain information about the cell relayand its operation.


Glossary I

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)Online services that provide high-level APIs used todereference various low-level details of underlyingnetwork infrastructure like physical computingresources, location, data partitioning, scaling,security, backup etc.

Infrastructure Battery Pack (IBP)A battery pack that uses sealed lead-acid batterytechnology, which delivers energy over the -40 to+85° C temperature range. Itron operates theInfrastructure Battery Pack on a '’float” (that is, theusage model is defined as long periods of topped-off charge states followed by sporadic deepdischarge events (outage events).

in-home display (IHD)See in-premises display.

initial collector setup (ICS)The process for installing a new software versionand the utility's specific configuration parametersonto a partition of the cell control unit's (CCU)Secure Digital (SD) card. After ICS completes, theSD card becomes the active root file system.

initializationThe initial set of operations that a system or systemcomponent performs after electrical power to thesystem is switched on or when the system is reset.In the case of an electric meter, initializationincludes the operations that are performed duringthe process of bringing up the meter on the network.

in-networkThe status assigned to an endpoint that is meant tobe included in project metrics and reports.

in-premises displayA device that shows consumers their electricityusage. Often, the in-premise display and smartthermostat are housed in the same physical unit.Also called in-home display (IHD).

Installer PortalAn Itron software tool used by utilities and third-party installers for installing HAN devices. With the

Installer Portal, installers can provision HANdevices in the field, and administrators can set andmanage application user permissions.

instantaneous voltageThe voltage between two points at a particularmoment in time.

Institute of Electrical and ElectronicEngineers (IEEE)A non-profit professional association dedicated toadvancing technological innovation and excellence.IEEE is one of the leading standards-makingorganizations in the world. IEEE standards affect awide range of industries including power andenergy, biomedical and health care, informationtechnology, telecommunications, transportation,nanotechnology, information assurance, and manymore.

integrated circuit card identifier (ICC ID)The serial number of a subscriber identity module(SIM) card.

Integration Management Service (IMS) A software component that performs transformationand brokering of data between applications, for bothItron and third-party applications. Its main purpose itto provide a central point of integration fromcustomer systems into the suite of Itron applicationsto reduce integration costs for utilities. It also allowsItron to support new standard integration formatswithout needing to add that support to each andevery application.

Intelis™ Gas MeterA solid state ultrasonic smart gas meter thatincludes a safety shutoff valve and integrated RFcommunications offering:■ Automatic high flow shutoff■ Automatic high temperature shutoff■ Built in temperature compensation with TC and

NTC consumption■ Ability to be read under legacy AMRmeter


Glossary I

reading applications and OpenWay® Riva andGen5 networks

Intelis™ Water MeterA fully electronic, static water meter designed with astandard encoder protocol. The meter is based onthe ultrasonic measurement principle, which meansthere are no moving parts.

intelligent electronic device (IED)Any of the remote controller units that function aspart of the utility network and which can bemanaged in the smart grid. Capacitor banks,reclosers, and switches are types of IEDs.Transformers are typically not IEDs because theyare not intelligent devices.

Itron smart grid infrastructure devices, such asBridges, communicate with IEDs.

Utility companies also refer to IEDs as DistributionAutomation (DA) devices, Field Device Controller(FDC), programmable communicating thermostat(PCT), Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition(SCADA) device, or remote terminal unit (RTU),which, unlike an IED, is not typically an intelligentdevice.

IntelliSOURCE® EnterpriseA demand response management system (DRMS)which provides integrated modules to manageenergy efficiency programs and distributed energyresources. Every phase of demand response andenergy efficiency programs is automated. Utilitiesare provided a single operational view into all oftheir residential, small business and commercialand industrial demand energy managementinitiatives.

interactive readA human-initiated, two-way, instantaneous, andasynchronous communication from the head endsystem (HES) or meter data management (MDM)system over the network infrastructure to obtainconsumption, status, or programming data fromgas, water, or electric endpoints. In Itron EnterpriseEdition (IEE), an interactive read request is primarilyintended to test a specific meter or endpoint'sinteroperability with the AMI network and to returnreadings data. The results of an interactive read are

generally not permanently stored. Also called an on-demand read (ODR).

Interface Description KitDescribes hardware interface and interoperabilityrequirements to support consistent technicalimplementation of smart grid technologies overInternet Protocol (IP)-based networks.

interferersSee in-band interferers.

International ElectrotechnicalCommission (IEC)A non-profit, non-governmental internationalstandards organization that prepares and publishesinternational standards for all electrical, electronic,and related technologies. IEC standards cover avast range of technologies from power generation,transmission and distribution to home appliancesand office equipment, semiconductors, fiber optics,batteries, solar energy, nanotechnology, marineenergy, and many others.

International Organization forStandardization (ISO)An international standard-setting body composed ofrepresentatives from various national standardsorganizations. The ISO promulgates worldwideproprietary, industrial, and commercial standards.

Internet Assigned Numbers Authority(IANA)The organization that oversees global InternetProtocol (IP) address allocation, autonomoussystem number allocation, root zone managementin the Domain Name System (DNS), media types,and other Internet Protocol-related symbols andnumbers. IANA is a department operated by theInternet Corporation for Assigned Names andNumbers (ICANN).

Internet Corporation for AssignedNames and Numbers (ICANN)A private, nonprofit corporation with authority foradministering Internet Protocol (IP) addresses,


Glossary I

domain names, and root servers and for otherInternet-related matters.

Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF)An international community of network designers,operators, vendors, and researchers concernedwith the evolution of Internet architecture and thesmooth operation of the Internet. It is open to anyinterested individual. Its mission is “to make theInternet work better by producing high-quality,relevant technical documents that influence the waypeople design, use, and manage the Internet.” Itdevelops and promotes Internet standards,cooperating closely with the Web Consortium(W3C), International Organization forStandardization (ISO), and InternationalElectrotechnical Commission (IEC) standardsbodies and dealing in particular with standards ofthe TCP/IP and Internet Protocol (IP) suite.

Internet Information Services (IIS)AMicrosoft®Windows® web server softwareapplication and extension modules.

Internet Key Exchange (IKE)A protocol used to set up a secure association (SA)between the network and the NIC.

Internet of Things (IoT)Refers to any software, hardware, or firmware thatenables communications to and from a variety ofend devices across an Internet-connected network.

Devices can be, for example, traffic signals, parkingmeters, bicycle-rental kiosks, digital signs, videocameras, and motion and environmental sensors.Refers also to the network and services that supportthis software, hardware, or firmware.

Internet Protocol (IP)The rules or standards by which data is sent fromone computer to another on the Internet.

Internet Protocol Address ResolutionMap (IPARM)Specifies how addresses on Remote Bridges areadvertised to the Master Bridge for routingpurposes.

Internet Protocol Security (IPsec)A security protocol suite developed and maintainedby the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) toprotect Internet Protocol (IP, see Internet Protocol(IP)) traffic by encrypting packets and by providingend-to-end authentication. IPsec is most commonlyused in so-called tunnel mode with a virtual privatenetwork (virtual private network (VPN)).

GridScape® Configuration Server and BridgeConfigurator support IPsec tunnels as a firewallfeature.

Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6)An internet communications protocol that routestraffic across the Internet. It is intended to replaceIPv4.

Internet service provider (ISP)A company that provides Internet access andrelated services, such as website building andvirtual hosting.

Internet socketThe method of directing data to the appropriateapplication in a Transmission ControlProtocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) network. Thecombination of the IP address of the station and aport number compose a socket.

interpreter between meter andapplication (IMA)A customized component of the OpenWay®Collection Engine that handles device-specificactions in the system for meters, cell relays, or otherAmerican National Standards Institute (ANSI)C12.19-compliant devices.

Interpreter RegisterTwo-way radios integrated with Master Meter watermeters that enable communications across the Itronmesh network and that can be used for remotemeter reading and remote configuration, and forgenerating asynchronous alerts for leaks, metertampering, and other critical events.


Glossary I

interrogation meter adapter (IMA)managerA component installed on the communication serverthat manages the interface drivers enabling differentmeter types and brands to communicate with theOpenWay® Collection Engine.

interrogation readA read performed on a preconfigured set of meterson a configurable schedule. Often referred to as aperiodic read, an interrogation read is primarily usedto collect consumption data for billing. A utility'smeter data management (MDM) application wouldnormally perform an interrogation read on the entiremeter population on a repeating cycle (periodically).The OpenWay® Collection Engine sendsinterrogation read responses to an MDM applicationor other subscriber systems.

interruptible capacityAn interstate pipeline, with backbone transmissionor storage capacity, which may be available fromtime to time, but cannot be assured under alloperating conditions.

interruptible loadRefers to program activities that, in accordance withcontractual arrangements, can interrupt consumerload at times of seasonal peak load by direct controlof the utility system operator or by action of theconsumer at the direct request of the systemoperator. Interruptible load activities usually involvecommercial and industrial consumers.

interruptible powerPower that can be interrupted or curtailed by thesupplier, usually under the agreed-upon guidelinesof the parties involved.

interruptible rateA special utility rate given to certain industrialcustomers who have a agreement with their electricprovider to have their service reduced or temporarilystopped.

interval data message (IDM)Amessage sent by someencoder/receiver/transmitter modules (ERT) to Itronfixed networks at programmed intervals, in additionto the standard consumption message (SCM). TheIDM contains kWh read, tamper, and intervalrecording data from which the network can calculatesuch things as demand, time-of-use (TOU), peakenergy consumption periods, and load profilinginformation.

interval data recorder (IDR)A solid-state electronic device that measuresconsumption among high-usage commercial andindustrial accounts. The data collected is used by autility to determine peak demand times and adjustits distribution system accordingly.

interval data/interval readsElectricity, gas, or water consumption data that iscollected at frequent time intervals. Interval datahelps measure usage for billing dispute resolution,conservation efforts, and leak detection (wateronly). Interval data also helps determine blockdemand or load profiles. Interval reads measureand store energy usage in regularly measured 15-,30-, 60-, or 120-minute interval time periods.Interval reads can also be measured in a 1440-minute interval, which represents a 24-hour or dailytime period.

interval frequencyThe time period that lapses between regularlyscheduled interval data/interval reads that measureand store energy usage. Typically, intervaldata/interval reads can be measured in 15, 30, 60,or 120-minute interval time periods. Interval readscan also be measured in a 1440-minute interval,which represents a 24-hour, daily, time period.

Interval frequency is also called interval length.

interval lengthThe time period that lapses between regularlyscheduled interval data/interval reads that measureand store energy usage. Typically, intervaldata/interval reads can be measured in 15, 30, 60,or 120-minute interval time periods. Interval reads


Glossary I

can also be measured in a 1440-minute interval,which represents a 24-hour, daily, time period.

Interval length is also called interval frequency.

interval readAmeter recording usage data on a periodic basis(for example, every 15 or 60 minutes) is known asan interval or load-profilemeter. An interval read isthe act of reading the interval values stored in themeter. The interval values are stored in channels.See also consumption read.

intrusion detection system (IDS)A network and system-monitoring device orsoftware application that evaluates activities,identifies malicious threats and policy violations,and produces reports for a management station.

intrusion prevention system (IPS)A network-monitoring and system-monitoringdevice or software application that evaluatesactivities, identifies malicious threats and policyviolations, produces reports to a managementstation, and actively blocks detected intrusions.

inventory transferThe movement of inventory items from onewarehouse (the from-warehouse) to another (the to-warehouse).

investor-owned utility (IOU)An electric or gas utility that is owned by a group ofinvestors whose shares of stock are traded onpublic stock markets.

IoTSee Internet of Things (IoT).

IoT Edge RouterA hardware device that enables customers tosecurely connect a variety of city and utilitydevices—including those that require legacy-protocol support— across a common RF meshnetwork infrastructure using proven open standardsand interfaces and networking protocol support.Support includes a secure and standards-basedarchitecture for both IPv4 and IPv6 communications

with Linux-based network-edge computingcapability.

IOUSee investor-owned utility (IOU).

IPSee Internet Protocol (IP).

IPARMSee Internet Protocol Address Resolution Map(IPARM).

IPL■ See Itron Presentation Layer (IPL)■ See Itron Private Profile (IPP)

IPP■ See independent power producer (IPP)■ See Itron Private Profile (IPP)

IPSSee intrusion prevention system (IPS).

IPSecSee Internet Protocol Security (IPsec).

IPSO AllianceA non-profit association with members from leadingtechnology, communications and energycompanies. This alliance promotes Smart Objectsand provides an avenue for industry adoption of anIPSO Smart Object Registry. The IPSO Allianceworks towards and promotes a understanding ofidentity and privacy. The IPSO Alliance is theprimary advocate for Internet Protocol (IP)networked devices for use in energy, consumer,healthcare, and industrial applications.

IPv6See Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6).

ISMSee Itron Security Manager (ISM).


Glossary I

ISM bandIndustrial, Scientific, and Medical band. ISM bandsare defined by the ITU-R in 5.138, 5.150, and 5.280of the Radio Regulations. For the United States, the902-928 MHz band is an unlicensed frequency bandgoverned by FCC, Part 15. For the European Union,Dubai, and other locations, 865–880 MHz is used,and in Europe and some countries outside ofEurope, ETSI is responsible for ISM bandregulation.

ISO■ See independent system operator (ISO)■ See International Organization for

Standardization (ISO)

ISPSee Internet service provider (ISP).

Itron AccessThe former name for Itron Customer Center.

Itron AnalyticsSoftware that manages, stores, analyzes data fromany of Itron’s data collection systems. ItronAnalytics’ web-based interface allows utility users toview dashboards designed to highlight notabledevices or accounts based on metering data, eventdata, and more. See also distributed intelligence(DI) app platform.

Itron Analytics PlatformIntegration adapters, staging tables, a Master DataManagement database, extract, transform, and load(ETL) processes, Analytics DataMarts, and webservices that are used to feed information to a set ofAnalytic Modules.

Itron App StoreThe former name for Itron Enterprise ApplicationCenter (EAC).

Itron ApplianceAn all-in-one stack of hardware for hosting Itronapplications. The Appliance contains all of the

computing, storage, and networking infrastructureneeded for standard Itron applications deployments.

Itron Cellular 500G ModuleAn open-standards gas module designed to operateon Itron’s multi-purpose OpenWay® Riva IoTnetwork. The module features both cellular and RFcapability making it one of Itron’s most flexible AMIreading solutions and is designed with industry-leading battery life, over the air configuration andfirmware download support and next generationtechnology designed to adapt and grow with yourbusiness.

Itron Cellular 500W ModuleAn open-standards IoT water module designed tooperate on Itron’s multi-purpose OpenWay® Rivanetwork. The module supports both cellular and RFcapability making it one of Itron’s most flexible AMIreading solutions and features a compact design,over the air configuration and firmware downloadsupport and legacy application reading.

Itron Cloud Services Platform (ICSP)A solution including all necessary computersystems which is installed and maintained by Itronon the behalf of the customer.

Itron Customer CenterThe online portal (https://customer.itron.com/)where Itron customers can access product-relatedresources, including software, documentation,service requests, return forms, and so on.

Itron Data PlatformThe Itron Data Platform enables an open ecosystemof applications. The platform automatically ingestsdevice data, normalizes and enriches the data, andmakes it secure and accessible to utilities and thirdparties through standard APIs. The Itron DataPlatform includes the following:■ Data Archive: An application that enables long-

term retention of data. Longer data historysupports deeper analysis and new use-casesand analytics.

■ Data Visualizations: An application thatprovides custom data visualizations through

https://customer.itron.com/


Glossary I

native integration with Tableau and support forother business intelligence tools.

■ Time Series API: An API that presents time-series data from devices.

■ Device Metadata API: An API that presentsmetadata on devices including device types andlocations.

■ SensorIQ® ApplicationAdvanced MeteringManager (AMM)

■ SensorIQ® Application

Itron Device Configuration ManagerA centralized configuration management systemused to create meter and endpoint configurationsfor Itron products running on the GenX network.

Itron Enterprise Application Center(EAC)A component of the distributed intelligence (DI)platform that provides DI application, applicationversion, and application/version-to-metermanagement. The EAC's web-based interfaceallows utility users to view available DI applicationsand versions, maintain DI application licenses,install licensed DI applications on compatibleelectric endpoints, track application/version-to-meter relationships, and more.

Itron Enterprise Edition (IEE) MeterData ManagementA data management solution for residential gas,water and electric meters, C&I meters and IoTsensors. For the larger IOU market, IEE MDMS is ahighly scalable enterprise application thatcentralizes the collection, processing, storage andcomplex analysis of smart device data, deviceevents and alarms. For the municipal andcooperative market, IEE Essentials providescustomers with the focused capabilities of our IEEMDMS to address needs without sacrificing featuresor capabilities of the standard IEE offering.

See also Edge Explorer and Itron Enterprise Edition(IEE) MDUS.

Itron Enterprise Edition (IEE) MDUSAmeter data management system for use withSAP® for Utilities solutions and is an SAP-qualifiedbusiness solution for MDUS (Meter Data Unificationand Synchronization). This software, integrated withSAP solutions, provides utilities with an end-to-endbusiness process and delivers a unified smart gridplatform to utility customers.

Itron Host Processor (IHP)In Premierplus4, the computer that functions as theinterface between the utility’s mainframe and itshandheld data collection devices. The IHP consistsof a computer (with keyboard, mouse, monitor, harddisk, and printer), network, and applicationprocesses for the Premierplus4 system. It storesand processes meterreading data and generatessystem reports.

Itron Hybrid Connector (IHC)Itron's hybrid cloud and on-premises solution. TheIHC consists of two services, a cloud microserviceand an on-premises Windows service. Theseservices communicate with each other using eitherAzure Service Bus or Azure Event Hubs, dependingon the scale of data being transmitted.

Itron Meter Manager (IMM)A software tool used jointly with ACEVision and theACEPilot software tool to handle securitypasswords and keys for data communication withElectricity C&I meters

Itron MobileA tool kit for collecting data and performing otherfield activities. The Itron Mobile app runs on smartphones, tablets and laptops. It is available forAndroid, Apple iOS andWindows 10. Itron Mobilecombines walk-by and drive-by features in a singleapp and leverages mobile technology to delivervaluable new outcomes. Itron Mobile includes a newhandheld radio called the Itron Mobile Radio thatcan be used with any mobile device equipped withBluetooth Low Energy. The MC3 radio can be usedwith the Itron Mobile app running on aWindows 10laptop or tablet.


Glossary J

Itron Mobile Radio (IMR)An all-purpose, walk-by reader and programmer foruse with Itron’s Smart meters and endpoints. Thislightweight, portable device utilizes Itron’s provenSRead technology in a two-way 900 MHz radio forcommunicating with electric, gas, water andtelemetry endpoints using Itron’s Mobile applicationor Field Deployment Manager. The Itron MobileRadio has been designed to handle environmentalelements and each unit is tested to ensure integrityas it relates to dust, rain and drop conditions.

Itron Partner CenterThe online portal (https://partner.itron.com/) whereItron partners can access product-relatedresources, including software, documentation,service requests, return forms, and so on.

Itron Presentation Layer (IPL)A common development platform for Itron web-based applications.

Itron Private Profile (IPP)A low-power communication standard developed byItron for its OpenWay® 2.4GZ gas modules. IPPenables wireless communication between utilitycompanies and common household devices. Laterversions of the 2.4GZ have been updated to use theZigbee Smart Energy Profile (SEP), a publicstandard, instead of IPP.

Itron Security Manager (ISM)A security software application that enables securecommunications and data privacy betweenendpoints and authorized data collection systems.Based on industry-standard encryption technology,ISM employs cryptography to authenticate andencrypt two-way communications, providing thedata confidentiality, integrity and authenticity criticalfor system security. ISM acts as the centralized keymanager. It manages the security keys, securitystate and security level for each of the endpoints. Italso manages the import and export of security keyfiles. If an endpoint security level is changed, ISMwill generate additional keys for meter readingapplications to update devices in the field. Finally,ISM allows keys to be updated, as required by the

utility’s security policies, thus mitigating the risk ofdata theft and manipulation.

Itron ServicesServices Itron provides to customers, includingbusiness system integration, customer support,hosting choices, installation support, mesh design,and training.

JJEFSee Job Execution Framework (JEF).

JMSee job manager (JM).

JMS BridgeA Java application that forwards messages fromItron internal message queues to customermessage queues.

jobIn Advanced Metering Manager (AMM) and otherItron applications, a job is a running or scheduledprocess, including but not limited to meteringschedules, imports, exports, and reports. Incommon usage, the term schedule is reserved forjobs that read meters over the network.

Job Execution Framework (JEF)An Itron component used by Power Monitor. JEFprovides quartz job scheduling, job monitoring, andpersistence. Job management and monitoring areaccomplished with a set of web service callsbetween JEF and the Power Monitor or EnergyIQ®

task framework.

job manager (JM)An OpenWay® Collection Engine software servicethat sends and receives job-related information (forexample, requests for action, status, and others) toand from the Collection Engine’s message bus.

jobs interfaceThe web services application programminginterface (API) used to run and manage jobs.

https://partner.itron.com/


Glossary K

joinAn Itron NIC and its meter are said to be joinedwhen they have been assembled, configured,tested, and communicating together as designed.

With Gas IMU Configurator, join means connectinga gas IMU to a gas meter so it wakes up andtransmits read results to a proxy device on thenetwork. The proxy device sends the read results onto the back office.

With HAN Communications Manager (HCM), joinmeans that a device has been associated with anEnergy Services Interface (ESI), and anauthorization has successfully completed or ajoined device deprovision has failed.

Join is also referred to as provision. See also unjoin.

J-pole antennaAn end-fed omnidirectional, half-wave dipoleantenna used with Itron Relays and Access Points.

KkbpsKilobyte per second.

KerberosA computer network authentication protocol built onsymmetric key cryptography. Kerberos is a trustedthird party that operates as a key distribution center(KDC) and consists of an authentication server anda ticket- granting server that allows nodes tocommunicate over a non-secure network. Kerberosprovides mutual authentication to each node, witheach node verifying the other’s identity.

keyA value used to control cryptographic operations,such as decryption, encryption, signaturegeneration, or signature verification.

key exchangeThe process in which users exchange cryptographickeys, allowing the use of cryptographic algorithmsto establish secure communications. Key exchangecan mean either the exchange of the samesymmetric key in the case of a symmetric key

cipher, or the exchange of each other’s public keysin the case of asymmetric key cipher.

key exchange commandA secure command that is issued to modify orupdate the security state of a device.

key generator client library (KGCL)A component of the OpenWay® key generatorserver (KGS). The Itron manufacturing plant fetchesfrom the KGCL the asymmetric key pairs that itprograms into OpenWay® CENTRON®meters atthe time of manufacture.

key generator server (KGS)The security appliance that generates meterrecovery key pairs, which are programmed into theOpenWay® CENTRON®meter during themanufacturing process. Meter recovery key pairsare generated using elliptic curve cryptography(ECC).

key generator server daemon (KGSD)A Linux daemon that handles key pair generationrequests by listening for incoming transport layersecurity (TLS) connections from the key generatorclient library (KGCL) in the key generator server(KGS).

key labelThe name assigned to elliptic curve cryptography(ECC) key pairs when they are generated in thehardware security module (HSM). The decryptionand key update server (DKUS) uses key labels to tieparticular key slots to particular keys.

key pairThe combination of a public key and a private keyused in asymmetric key encryption. One key of thepair is used to encrypt the message and the otherused to decrypt it.

key slotAn entry in the C12.19 key table that is usedconsistently across the OpenWay® system. Thedecryption and key update server (DKUS) databasestores and reports on key states by key slot ID.


Glossary K

key typeIn cryptography, key types specify the particularmethod used to transform plaintext into ciphertext orciphertext into plaintext during message encryptionand decryption. Key types vary in bit size,mathematical structure, and the way in which thekey is randomly generated. Different key typesprovide varying degrees of security.

OpenWay uses asymmetric key types andsymmetric key types to provide message securityacross its network.

keykeepAn Itron software keystore that contains certificatesand keys for a given application, and is stored onthe application server. The keykeep is in the form ofa file named keykeep.store. It provides application-layer security for customers who do not use ahardware security module (HSM) or KeySafe.

KeySafeAn Itron hardware and software solution thatprotects private keys and certificates. It consists of afirmware module and a collection of command lineinterface (CLI) tools that reside on a piece ofhardware called a hardware security module (HSM).The protected memory of the HSM stores theprivate keys and certificates needed by variousapplications to securely perform specific functions inthe network.

keystoreA repository of security certificates, typicallyidentified as keykeep.store or by the file extensionjks (Java keystore). See also keykeep.

KGCLSee key generator client library (KGCL)

KGSSee key generator server (KGS).

KGSDSee key generator server daemon (KGSD).

kHzSee kilohertz (kHz).

kilohertz (kHz)A unit of frequency measurement equaling 1,000cycles per second.

kilovolt ampere (kVA)A unit of measurement equating to 1000 volt-amperes (VA).

kilovolt ampere hours (kVAh)The standard power measurement used byelectricity service utility companies. kVAh measuresapparent power used for engineering design criteriabecause equipment must be designed according tomaximum voltage and current criteria, not accordingto usable power. kVAh is the total power supplied,made up of real power (kWh) and reactive power(kVARh).

kilovolt-ampere reactive (kVAR)The amount of power lost due to the reactiveproperties of the network equipment. Reactivepower exists in an AC circuit when the current andvoltage do not change at the same time.

kilovolt-ampere reactive hours (kVARh)A unit used to measure reactive power in an ACelectric power system. kVARh is the amount ofpower lost in the systemmultiplied by the number ofintervals per hour. Reactive power exists in an ACcircuit when the current and voltage do not changeat the same time.

kilowatt (kW)The electrical unit of power equal to 1,000 watts, orto the energy consumption at a rate of 1000 joulesper second.

kilowatt hour (kWh)The electricity equal to one kilowatt of powersupplied to or taken from an electric circuit for onehour. kWh is a measurement of power and timeused by utilities for billing purposes.

kilowatt hours delivered (kWh d)Energy flow from the power grid to the customer thatis measured at the meter.


Glossary L

kilowatt hours received (kWh r)Energy flow from customer to the power grid that ismeasured at the meter.

kVASee kilovolt ampere (kVA).

kVA RatingThe kiloVoltAmp rating of a transformer.

kVAhSee kilovolt-ampere reactive hours (kVARh).

kVARSee kilovolt-ampere reactive (kVAR).

kVAR lagThe inductive reactance, or how much the voltagelags the current, of the circuit. See also reactivepower.

kVAR leadThe capacitive reactance, or how much the voltageleads the current, of the circuit. See also reactivepower.

kVARhSee kilovolt-ampere reactive hours (kVARh).

kWSee kilowatt (kW).

kWhSee kilowatt hour (kWh).

kWh dSee kilowatt hours delivered (kWh d).

kWh rSee kilowatt hours received (kWh r).

LlagUsed in the context of time. Lag is to fall behind.Often used in conjunction with lead. Lead meaningto go first and lag meaning to trail behind. See alsokVAR lag.

LANSee local area network (LAN).

Last Gasp (LG)An asynchronous message from an electricity meterthat indicates the meter has lost power. Also knownas a power out message. Last gasps can resultwhen the loss-of-power PIN becomes active, whenzero crossing events are missed, or when atransition from utility power to battery power occurs.There is no guarantee that a last gasp will bereceived by any other device in the network. Seealso Extended Last Gasp.

last known good (LKG)Reference to the firmware image stored on the NICthat is designated to be booted if the device reboots.

last read pointer (LRP)A sequence number that indicates reads that havealready been recorded in Itron applications. Forinterval reads, reads can start at the LRP so only thedata available since the last time the meter wassuccessfully read is included in the read and readreport.

last time buyA notice from a component manufacturer instructingits clients to estimate and purchase the quantity of asoon-to-be obsolete component that is required forthe remaining life of the clients’ products that usethe component.

LBSee load balancer (LB).

LCSee load control (LC).


Glossary K

LCCSee Load Control Configurator (LCC).

LCDSee liquid crystal display (LCD).

LCSSee load control switch (LCS).

LDAPSee Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP).

LDCSee local distribution company (LDC).

leadUsed in the context of time. Lead is to go first. Oftenused in conjunction with lag. Lead meaning to gofirst and lag meaning to trail behind. See also kVARlead.

leak detectionTechnology that includes software and hardwareused to identify leaks in a utility’s distributionsystem. This term typically applies to a flagavailable on Itron endpoints that indicates possibleleaks at the point of service.

Leak SensorAn acoustic water leak sensor that listens for leaksin the distribution system of a water network. WithItron water leak sensors, utilities can locate andrepair leaks in their distribution system before theybecome catastrophic main breaks.

learning management system (LMS)A software application used to schedule, deliver,and track learning events. Learning events caninclude, but are not limited to trainings,certifications, and self assessments.

Least Significant Bit (LSB)The bit position in a binary integer giving the unitsvalue, that is, determining whether the number iseven or odd. The LSB is sometimes referred to asthe right-most bit due to the convention in positional

notation of writing less significant digits further to theright.

leaving and enteringThe state of an endpoint when it is leaving onegroup and entering a new group.

LEDSee light-emitting diode (LED).

legacy portA nonsecure port on the NIC. Also called the cleartext port because clear text is sent through the portinstead of encrypted data. Itron has an internal toolcalled Legacy Port Off (LPO) that forces any datasource, including an FSU, to instead send datathrough the secure port 648 to reach the Itron NIC inan endpoint.

level one deviceThe top device in a hierarchical network structure.

level, RFLANThe number of communication hops between ameter in an RFLAN cell and its cell relay, plus one. Acell relay's level is 1. The meters that communicatewith it directly, called its children, have a level of 2.The meters that communicate with it through itschildren have a level of 3, and so on. A meter that isnot currently a member of a cell is assigned a levelof 0.

LGSee Last Gasp (LG).

licensed customerAny person or entity who, with express authorizationfrom Itron, purchases, leases, licenses, subscribesto or uses any licensed product only for suchperson’s or entity’s own use and not for the purposeof providing the licensed product or any service to athird party.

lidA removable or hinged cover for the top of acontainer.


Glossary K

LIDSee logical identifier (LID).

light-emitting diode (LED)A type of lighting technology increasingly used forstreetlights, in particular to replace existing high-pressure sodium (HPS) streetlights.

Lightweight Directory Access Protocol(LDAP)An application protocol for accessing andmaintaining distributed directory informationservices over an Internet Protocol (IP) network.LDAP support is implemented in web browsers andemail programs, which can query an LDAP-compliant directory.

line of sightCommunications through free-air with no obstacles.

line sensorSee sensor.

linkA connection between devices in a network. Seealso hop and route.

link budgetThe total amount of radio frequency power availableto establish a link between the transmitter andreceiver, expressed mathematically:

PLinkBudget = PTx - PTxLoss + PTxAntenna +PRxAntenna - PRxLoss - PRxSensitivity

link layerA physical and logical network component thatconnects devices in a network. Sometimes calledthe data link layer or L2. See also mesh network.

link layer securityA security solution that protects RF mesh traffic andreduces the threat of denial-of-service attacks bypreventing a device’s access to a network unlessthat device can be authenticated.

link qualityThe overall radio frequency quality of a link betweena transmitter and receiver. Often expressed in termsof message success rate (MSR).

liquid crystal display (LCD)A flat-panel display or other electronicallymodulated optical device that uses the light-modulating properties of liquid crystals combinedwith polarizers. Liquid crystals do not emit lightdirectly, instead using a backlight or reflector toproduce images in color or monochrome.

list paneA contents pane that displays a list of records orother items.

literA unit of measure for volume that is the equal to onethousand (1,000) cubic centimeters.

LKGSee last known good (LKG).

LMSSee learning management system (LMS).

loadThe electric power used by devices connected to anelectrical generating system. This encompasses theamount of electric power required to meetcustomers’ use in a given period and the amount ofelectric power delivered or required at any specificpoint or points on a system. The power requirementoriginates at the customers’ energy-consumingequipment.

load aggregationAn aggregation of energy consumption fromfacilities that are geographically separate from eachother. Used for acquiring and billing utility services.

load balancer (LB)A smart router that tracks and routescommunications between servers and applications


Glossary K

to distribute workload, avoid overload, and improveavailability.

The OpenWay® Collection Engine employs BIG-IP®Local Traffic Manager™ for load balancing.

load balancingThe even distribution of processing or servicerequests across multiple servers in a computernetwork to avoid overloading any one server.Because load balancing distributes requests basedon the actual load at each server, it ensuresavailability while defending against denial of serviceattacks. A network’s load balancing service isusually provided by dedicated software orhardware, such as a multilayer switch or a domainname system (DNS) server.

load control (LC)Shifting use of electricity from periods of highdemand to periods of lower demand, when the costof electricity usually is lower. Also calledloadmanagement.

Load Control Configurator (LCC)A software tool that, in conjunction with a FieldService Unit (FSU), is used for verifying Direct-to-Grid load control switch installation, configuration,upgrades, and for field troubleshooting and repair.The tool provides the core functionality forconfiguring the switch, validates networkconnectivity to the switch, tests its ability to shedload, and troubleshoots potential issues during orafter initial installation.

Direct-to-Grid load control switch (LCS) installerscan use LCC to: Apply a configuration profile to aswitch based on how it was installed and the typesof devices connected (for example, conventional ACversus heat pump systems), verify switchoperations (for example, ensuing that it can turnload on and off), and record additional informationabout loads connected to the switch (such as typeand size of the HVAC compressor).

load control eventA HAN Communications Manager (HCM) event thatis generated if the total load is above a certainthreshold.

load control switch (LCS)A switch that utilities or consumers can useremotely to temporarily turn off devices that areconnected to the network. Itron supports bothZigbee and Direct-to-Grid LCS implementations forthese devices. See also physical relays and virtualrelays.

load factorThe average power divided by the peak power forsome period of time.

load forecastAn estimation of electricity or natural gas demand,or energy consumption, at some future time.Forecasts are used to predict energy demandminutes ahead to years into the future.

load managementSee load control (LC).

load profileA graphical representation of electricity load overtime. A measurement of a customer’s electricityusage over a period shows how much and when acustomer uses electricity. Load profiles can be usedby transmission system operators to forecastelectricity supply.

load profile dataElectricity consumption data collected at frequenttime intervals to provide feedback for determiningload profiles. Interval reads measure and storeenergy usage in regularly measured 15-minute, 30-minute, 60-minute, or 120-minute interval timeperiods. Also called interval data.

load sheddingThe process of a utility company deliberatelyremoving (either manually or automatically) pre-selected customer demand from a power system.Load shedding is generally engaged in response toan abnormal condition (such as that when powerdemand exceeds power supply) to maintain theintegrity of the system and minimize overallcustomer outages.


Glossary K

load-profile meterA load-profile electricity meter records load(electricity usage) in hourly, 15-minute, or otherintervals. See also interval read.

load-sheddingThe process of deliberately removing preselectedcustomer demand from a power system in responseto an abnormal condition to maintain the integrity ofthe system and minimize overall customer outages.

local area network (LAN)A data communications system in a limitedgeographic area and that has a specific user group.A LAN is restricted to a relatively small areas, suchas a room, building, or small neighborhood. Within amesh-based AMI system, a LAN connects meters tocollection points.

local distribution company (LDC)The local utility entity that constructs and maintainsthe distribution wires or pipes that are used todeliver energy or water to the end customer.

Local Traffic Manager™ (LTM)BIG-IP®’s application delivery networking system,which the OpenWay® Collection Engine (CE) usesfor load balancing and traffic management.

localeDetermines the language in which the user interfacedisplays. Typically the prefered language of theuser.

locationA service point specified by premises + market (E,G, W) + index. There may be more than one locationat a customer’s premises.

logical identifier (LID)A unique name used to identify a data value, suchas the current voltage or serial number, that iscollected within an electricity meter.

logical unit number (LUN)In computer storage, a logical unit number or LUN isa number used to identify a logical unit, which is adevice addressed by the SCSI (Small ComputerSystem Interface) protocol or similar protocols suchas Fibre Channel or iSCSI. LUNs are most oftenused to refer to a logical disk as created on astorage area network (SAN).

Long-Term Evolution (LTE)A standard for wireless broadband communicationfor mobile devices and data terminals, based on theGSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA technologies. Itincreases the capacity and speed using a differentradio interface together with core networkimprovements.

low power wide area network (LPWAN)A type of wireless network supporting long-rangecommunications at a low bit rate. LPWAN isintended for wireless battery powered devices.

low-profile disc antenna (hockey puck)A flat “hockey puck” style antenna for use with pad-mounted transformers and other applications thatneed a flat antenna.

LPOSee legacy port.

LPWANSee low power wide area network (LPWAN).

LRPSee last read pointer (LRP).

LSBSee Least Significant Bit (LSB)

LTESee logical identifier (LID).

LTMSee Local Traffic Manager™ (LTM).


Glossary M

luminaireAny apparatus that distributes, filters, or transformslight transmitted from one or more lamps and whichincludes, besides the lamps themselves, all partsnecessary for fixing and protecting the lamps and,where necessary, circuit auxiliaries together withthe means for connecting them to the electricsupply.

LUNSee logical unit number (LUN).

MM2MSee machine to machine (M2M).

M2CSee meter to cash (M2C).

MAC■ See Mandatory Access Control (MAC)■ See Media Access Control (MAC) address■ See message authentication code (MAC)

MAC addressSee Media Access Control (MAC) address.

machine to machine (M2M)Direct communication between devices using wiredand/or wireless communications channels. Caninclude devices which enable a sensor or meter tocommunicate the information it records toapplication software that can use it. Applies totypical communication paths for Internet of Things(IoT) sensors and devices.

magnet swipeUse of a magnet to activate the programming modeof a 60WP ERT module, an 80W-i ERT module, a2.4GZ OpenWay®Gas Module, or a 2.4ZROpenWay® Range Extender.

MAIFISee Momentary Average Interruption FrequencyIndex (MAIFI).

maintenance factorIn streetlight Central Management Software (CMS)applications, the factor used to take into accounthow long it has been since the fixture has beencleaned. When the light has just been cleaned, theNIC firmware reduces the value by a maximumamount. The value sent to the control boardgradually increases until the maintenance periodhas passed, at which point there is no reduction bythe firmware.

malicious codeSoftware or firmware that is intended to perform anunauthorized process to create an adverse impacton the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of aninformation system. Examples include, but are notlimited to, viruses, worms, Trojan horses, and othercode-based entities that infect a host.

malwareA program that is inserted into a system, usuallycovertly, with the intent to compromise theconfidentiality, integrity, or availability of the victim’sdata, applications, or operating system or tootherwise annoy or disrupt the victim.

MAMRSee mobile.

MANSee metropolitan area network (MAN).

Manage Meter Keys (MMK)A decryption and key update server (DKUS)application used to manage individual meter keys.

Manage System Keys (MSK)A decryption and key update server (DKUS)application used to manage system-wide symmetricand asymmetric keys.

Managed ApplianceSee Itron Appliance.


Glossary M

management information base (MIB)A virtual database used for managing entities in acommunications network. Most often associatedwith the Simple Network Management Protocol(SNMP), the term is also used more generically incontexts such as in the Open SystemsInterconnection/International Organization forStandardization (OSI/ISO) network managementmodel.

Mandatory Access Control (MAC)An access control mechanism that defines useraccess rights.

MANTISInternal name no longer associated with ElectricityCommunications Module Tester (ECMT).

manufacturing station certificateOne of three credentials embedded in NIC firmwareat the time of manufacture. This is the certificate inthe chain between the birth certificate and SSNRoot.

Market Transaction Suite (MTS)A software system designed for the Australianelectricity market. MTS receives and sends markettransactions to various market participants,including the Australian Energy Market Operator(AEMO). MTS interfaces to IEE MDM (ItronEnterprise Edition Meter Data Management). MTSis an AEMO-compliant product and supports theAustralian rules, validations, files formats, andprotocols.

market typeThe goods and related services that a utilitycompany might supply to its customers. Markettypes can include (but are not limited to), water,natural gas, and electricity. Also called commoditytype.

marriedA term used to describe an ERT module that isphysically connected to and configured for use witha particular meter.

Master Data Import (MDI)The MDI configuration file defines the deviceinformation. Use the configuration file to performconfiguration maintenance tasks such as updatingaccount and meter information. This file containsaccount-specific information from your CIS system.The Configuration file is required for installationlocations where the work order has been completedand an endpoint has been installed. It is one file withdifferent attributes for each system. This file must bemaintained and updated when any associatedaccount, meter, endpoint, etc. information changes.

master deviceA device that controls a remote device. A masterdevice is typically deployed as a core device and aremote device is typically deployed as an edgenetwork device.

Master Failover Protocol (MFP)Enables high availability (HA) and load-balancing ofDistribution Automation (DA) connections throughmultiple Master Bridges.

master production schedule (MPS)A company’s manufacturing schedule that identifiesand quantifies products to be assembled or made,the materials and staffing required to produce them,and the time frame in which they will be produced.

Master Relay (MR)An OpenWay® Collection Engine software servicethat registers processes within the C12.22architecture, provides device registration andApTitles assignments (which function as networkaddresses similar to Internet addresses), andincludes an integral C12.22 authentication host forauthorizing participation on the C12.22 network,though it also supports external C12.22authentication hosts.

material requirements planning (MRP)A computerized production planning, scheduling,and inventory control system used to forecast andorder materials used in a manufacturing process.


Glossary M

material review board (MRB)A committee in a manufacturing company thatdetermines what to do with unusable or non-conforming materials. This may include reworking it,scrapping it, or returning it to the vendor.

maximum demand (peak demand)The highest demand measured over a selectedperiod of time (typically within a billing period).

See also cumulative maximum demand.

MC3See Mobile Collections System (MC3).

MC4See Mobile Collection Systems (MC4).

McfA unit of measure for volume that is equal to 1,000cubic feet. Mcf is commonly used in the utilityindustry to measure volumetric quantities of naturalgas.

MCHSee meter communication host (MCH).

MD5See message digest number 5 (MD5).

MDAPISee multi-device application programming interface(MDAPI).

MDISee Master Data Import (MDI).

MDMSee meter data management (MDM).

MDMASee meter demand management agent (MDMA).

MDMSSee meter data management system (MDMS).

measurable outage or measurabledurationAn outage that can be measured, that is, one thathas a duration of longer than n, where n isconfigurable in UtilOS® firmware.

mediaPhysical devices or writing surfaces including, butnot limited to, magnetic tapes, optical disks,magnetic disks, LSI memory chips, printouts (butnot including display media) onto which informationis recorded, stored, or printed within an informationsystem.

Media Access Control (MAC) addressA unique number assigned to a network device bythe manufacturer to identify the device’s InternetProtocol (IP) network adapter. A MAC address is 48bits long and is usually represented by a 16-digithexadecimal number. The first few digits of a MACaddress typically identify the manufacturer. Theremaining digits uniquely identify the device’sspecific interface.

The last ten digits are displayed below a bar codeon the faceplate of the OpenWay® CENTRON®meter.

megahertz (MHz)Ameasure of frequency equal to one million cyclesper second.

megawatt (MW)A unit of power equal to one million watts.

megawatt-hour (MWh)One thousand kilowatt-hours (kWh) or one million-watt hours (Wh).

memberA device that is logically bundled as part of a groupof related devices. For instance, an endpoint is amember of a group of related endpoints.

mesh deviceA device that contains a commmodule compatiblewith the IPv6-based network. Mesh devices include


Glossary M

device type ITRD (OpenWay® CENTRON®Singlephase) meters.

mesh networkA local area network (LAN) of continuouslyconnected meter end nodes, Access Point (AP),and Relays that connect to and communicate withadjacent nodes via multiple hops. In a meshnetwork, devices collaborate to propagate the datain the network.

message authentication code (MAC)An authentication tag that applies a secret key andan authentication scheme to a message to prove amessage's integrity. MACs are both verified andcomputed using the same secret key. Sometimescalled a keyed (cryptographic) hash function.

message digestA condensed text string distilled from the content ofa text message. The message digest value isderived using a one-way hash function. Themessage digest is used to create a digital signature.

message digest number 5 (MD5)A cryptographic hash algorithm used to create a128-bit message digest used in securityapplications and to check data integrity.

message success rate (MSR)The percentage of packets that are transmitted (bythe AP) and also acknowledged (by the meter).

The MSR is derived from successful packettransmission during scheduled reads, on-demandread (ODR), and segment retries. MSR is a metricfor packet transmission and how well the APcommunicates with a meter. See also billingsuccess rate (BSR), read (meter read), and one-time schedule.

meterA device used to measure and record one or morequantities at a meter point. Meters can store themeasured and recorded quantities eitherelectromechanically (in the form of physical dialsand needles) or in an electronic memory, or both.For meters that store recorded and measured

quantities electromechanically, the meter's physicalcharacteristics determine the numbers and types ofquantities it can store. For meters that storerecorded and measured quantities electronically,the meter's programming determines the numbersand types of quantities it can store.

Meter Access Program (MAP)A feature of Itron’s Field Deployment Manager(FDM) software that enables a project manager totrack the number of attempts made to complete awork order in fulfillment of contractual obligationsbefore returning it to the utility. MAP automaticallymaintains a running record of all attempts tocomplete work orders. It can also be configured toautomatically export return-to-utility (RTU) workorders for which the contractual requirements havebeen met.

meter badgeA label on a gas meter that includes the meter IDand meter capacity.

meter baseA receptacle for an electric power meter. It containsa wiring chamber with conduit entrances and exits,matching jaws to accommodate the blades of adetachable watt-hour meter, and a base for propersupport and positioning.

Also called a meter socket.

meter capacity■ Electricity meters: The class rating of the meter.

A typical residential meter may have a classvalue of 200, meaning it can pass 200 amps.

■ Gas meters: The nominal rating of the metervolume. Meter manufacturers typically size thisin terms of cubic feet per hour. For example, a250 cfh meter has a capacity of 250 cubic ft perhr.

■ Water meters: Water meters typically measureand display total usage in cubic feet (ft.3), cubicmeters (m3), or US gallons.

meter communication host (MCH)An OpenWay® Collection Engine software servicethat processes job requests, generates and sends


Glossary M

system messages to the meter network, updates jobstatuses, and publishes read and event informationto external consumers.

meter configurationA set of configuration parameters, such as deviceclass, time zone, security parameters, registeroperation parameters, communication parameters,load profile parameters, and so on, that are definedin the OpenWay® Collection Engine (CE) andassigned to a group of meters.

Also called an endpoint configuration.

meter data collectionThe retrieval of meter readings, tamper data, statusinformation, or related information from electric,gas, or water meters.

meter data collection deviceA computer used to record meter readings andrelated data. Data recordings can be done manuallyby a field worker or through an automated meterreading (AMR) or advanced metering infrastructure(AMI) system.

meter data management (MDM)The collection, processing, storage, and analysis ofutility meter data.

meter data management system(MDMS)A system that performs long term data storage andmanagement for the large quantity of data deliveredby smart metering systems. The MDMS imports themeter data and validates and processes it so it canbe used for billing and analysis.

meter demand management agent(MDMA)In a deregulated energy market, an entity that iscertified to collect and distribute meteringinformation on behalf of utilities, energy serviceproviders, or end customers.

meter eventAn occurrence, alarm, or exception that is logged inthe meter Event/History Log.

meter IDUnique identifier associated or programmed into anelectric, gas, or water meter. See also device ID.

meter indexThe dials or LCD on the front of a meter whichindicate the volume of gas that has passed throughthe meter.

meter keyAmeter-specific advanced encryption standard-based (AES) key used for encrypted data submittedby the OpenWay® CENTRON®meter to theCollection Engine (CE).

Meter Patch Antenna Coupler (MPAC)A passive microstrip antenna and coaxial cable forconnecting a meter equipped with an Itron NIC to aremotely mounted antenna. This hardware isintended for meters that are located in hard-to-reachlocations, such as meter rooms and metalenclosures. The antenna coupler boosts the RFsignal, so the signal can get to the hard-to-reachmeters.

Meter PluginsSoftware that Itron provides for each metermanufacturer and standard. For example, there isone Plugin for ItronC12.19 meters and another forall Itron Device Language Message Specification(DLMS)/Companion Specification for EnergyMetering (COSEM) meters. All meteringfunctionality particular to the meter is contained inits Plugin.

meter programA program that utilities deploy on the meter thatspecifies how the meter functions.

Meter Program Configurator (MPC)An Itron application that remotely programs andconfigures both energy-only and advanced digitalelectricity meters on a mass scale. This is one of


Glossary M

several components which makes up the UtilityIQ®software suite.

meter reading export (MRE) fileA file that contains completed meter reading routeinformation that is transmitted from the meterreading host processor back to the utility’s customerinformation system (CIS).

meter reading import (MRI) fileA file containing meter reading route informationthat is transmitted from a utility’s customerinformation system (CIS) to the meter reading hostprocessor. This file contains work order and meterinput records for each account to be processed.

meter recordA record that is associated with a customer recordand that contains meter reading and billing data,high / low checks, and survey information.

meter service provider (MSP)In a deregulated energy market, an entity that iscertified to purchase, install, and maintain meters.

meter socketA receptacle for an electric power meter. It containsa wiring chamber with conduit entrances and exits,matching jaws to accommodate the blades of adetachable watt-hour meter, and a base for propersupport and positioning.

Also called a meter base.

meter to cash (M2C)A day to day process for energy and utilitycompanies with core emphasis on optimization ofutility's business process.

metricsTools designed to facilitate decision-making andimprove performance and accountability throughcollection, analysis, and reporting of relevantperformance-related data.

metrologyA general term used to describe the basicmeasurement functionalities of utility meters.

metrology boardIn a solid-state meter, the electronic board thatmeasures energy consumption. A metrology boardinterfaces with the power system, converts analogvoltage and current (v&I) signals to digital data,calculates energy quantities, and communicatesthis information to the meter’s register/display aspulses or digital data.

metropolitan area network (MAN)A data communications system that lies within anintermediate-sized geographic area (usually a cityor a large campus) and has a specific user group.

MFPSee Master Failover Protocol (MFP).

MHzSee megahertz (MHz).

MIBSee management information base (MIB).

MicroAP®ModuleAn Itron NIC that includes a cellular modem that canbe configured to act as a self-contained AccessPoint (AP). This is especially useful to connectisolated or hard-to-hear devices.

Micromesh® TechnologyThe Itron technology used when aWAN-enabledItron NIC connects to nearby grid devices via an RFmesh and acts as their take-out point for the WAN.This option allows utilities to adapt the number ofcellular connections needed based on such factorsas topology, coverage, density, bandwidthrequirements, and the pace of deployment.

Microsoft Message Queuing (MSMQ)AMicrosoft technology that enables applicationsrunning at different times to communicate acrossheterogeneous networks and systems that may betemporarily offline. Applications send messages toqueues and read messages from queues. MessageQueuing provides guaranteed message delivery,efficient routing, security, and priority-basedmessaging.


Glossary M

Middle Tier (MT)A software component that—along with GlobalMeter Reader (GMR) and Database (DB)—comprises Advanced Metering Manager (AMM). MTprovides user interface functionality and webservices.

Milli™ Developer KitA collection of hardware components designed toprovide IoT developers with the tools necessary todevelop continuously powered data capture andcontrol devices.

Milli™ Manufacturing ToolA software application designed to integreate withMilli™ modules and enable customer configurationand troubleshooting.

Milli™A low-cost, small-form-factor Itron communicationsmodule used in battery-powered devices.

milliwatt (mW)A unit of power equal to one thousandth of a watt.

MIMOSee move in/move out (MIMO).

minimum demandThe lowest demand measured over a selectedperiod of time.

mirroringMirroring meter data allows the NIC to supportbattery-backed and Zigbee-enabled gas and watermeters that only activate for short periods toconserve energy.

MIVSSee momentary interruption/voltage sag.

MLOGAn application which integrates with MLOG sensorsand creates a leak index for each one each night.

MlogonlineA software tool which enables users to: Detectemerging and existing leaksTrack new and historicleaksTrack noisesPrioritize and rank potential leaksfor field investigationProvide a mappingvisualization tool of where potential leaks existwithin the water system Using mlogonline andItron’s leak sensors provides a targeted andsystematic approach to optimize a utility's fieldworkforce for maximum return on investment.mlogonline is the first permanent proactive tool forcontinuous assessment of pipeline integrity.

MMKSee Manage Meter Keys (MMK).

mobileDevice or technology that goes where the usergoes.

mobile automated meter reading(MAMR)Automated meter reading (AMR) in which radiotransceivers that are installed in vehicles read ERTmodule- equipped electricity, gas, or water metersusing radio frequency technology.

Mobile Collection Systems (MC4)A device powered by Itron SRead™ radio whichenables drive-by data collection for Itron’sChoiceConnect™ advanced data collection suite. Itcomes in 3 configurations: MC4Max, MC4Pro andMC4Core. This product provides better readingsensitivity than MC3 family and addressesobsolescence of the High Power Wake-Uptransmitter needed to read 40G ERT. MC4 replacesMC3/MC3 Lite.

Mobile Collections System (MC3)A device powered by Itron SRead™ radio whichenables drive-by data collection for Itron’sChoiceConnect™ advanced data collection suite.

Mobile CollectorOne of two data collection devices used in Itron'slegacy Mobile Collection systems. The MobileCollector houses the transmitters, receivers, and


Glossary M

other electronics required to communicate withradio-based endpoints. One version is designed foruse with the GoBook MAXMobile Collection laptop,the other is designed for use with the GoBook IIIMobile Collection laptop.

Mobile Collector LiteA portable drive-by & meter data colllection solutionthat uses the Itron FC300 handheld with an externalradio to gather consumption and tamper data fromelectricity, gas and water radio-based endpoints.

modemThe device used to connect data equipment to acommunication line. Modems are commonly used toconnect computer equipment to telephone lines.

Momentary Average InterruptionFrequency Index (MAIFI)A reliability indicator used by electric power utilities.MAIFI is the average number of momentaryinterruptions that a customer would experienceduring a given period, which is typically a year.

momentary interruption/voltage sagAmeter event that occurs when the voltage dropsfrom normal voltage by a user-defined percentage(10 to 50%) for longer than three cycles. This eventis declared when a programmable number of MIVS(1 to 10) occurs within a specified time (within 60minutes).

momentary outageAn outage that cannot be measured, that is, onethat has a duration of less than n, where n isconfigurable in UtilOS® firmware.

monitoring dataNon-revenue register or interval data that is notintended to be stored but rather normalized andsent to a reading XML file for import by an externalsystem.

monitoring data programA program used to define monitoring data quantitiesthat are not intended to be stored but rathernormalized and saved to a reading XML file for

import by an external system. Monitoring dataprograms link temporally to meter instances.

months supply on hand (MSOH)The amount of a product or commodity available ininventory, expressed as the number of months itcan be expected to last based on anticipated usage.

morning of adjustment factorThe ratio of the average load for the first three offour hours before a demand response event to theaverage load for the same hours from the previousten similar days.

morphologyThe combination of terrain and surface clutter.

Most Significant Bit (MSB)The bit in a multiple-bit binary number with thelargest value. This is usually the bit farthest to theleft, or the bit transmitted first in a sequence. TheMSB is sometimes referred to as the left-most bitdue to the convention in positional notation ofwriting more significant digits further to the left.

mounting equipmentHardware equipment for mounting Access Pointsand Battery Backups to a range of utility assets.Mounting kits are offered in several formatsincluding:■ Utility pole kits(wood/concrete)■ Light-pole/lamp-armkits■ Wallkits■ Pad-mounted enclosurekits

move in/move out (MIMO)A single consumption (historical) read for a singledate and time interval, using local standard time.Called a MIMO because it is often used when acustomer is moving in or moving out of a residence.

MPACSee Meter Patch Antenna Coupler (MPAC).


Glossary M

MP-BGPSee Multi-Protocol Border Gateway Protocol (MP-BGP).

MPCSee Meter Program Configurator (MPC).

MPLSSee multiprotocol label switching (MPLS).

MPSSee master production schedule (MPS).

MQTT BrokerIn combination with the Gateway, MQTT Brokerenables Milli™-based devices to asynchronouslypublish traps to topics and client applications tosubscribe to particular topics. Applications canthereby collect readings from meters or sensorswithout the need for explicit read commands.

MRSee Master Relay (MR).

MRBSee material review board (MRB).

MRE fileSee meter reading export (MRE) file.

MRI fileSee meter reading import (MRI) file.

MRPSee material requirements planning (MRP).

MSBSee Most Significant Bit (MSB)

MSIASee MultiSpeak® Interoperability Adapter (MSIA).

MSKSee Manage System Keys (MSK).

MSMQSee Microsoft Message Queuing (MSMQ).

MSOHSee months supply on hand (MSOH).

MSPSee meter service provider (MSP).

MSRSee message success rate (MSR).

MTSee Middle Tier (MT).

MTSSee Market Transaction Suite (MTS).

multi vendor (MV)Denoting technology products or services frommore than one supplier.

multicastA group communication method where informationis addressed to a group of destination computerssimultaneously. Multicast supports one-to-many ormany-to-many distribution.

multicast addressAn address used to target a group of meters. Bybroadcasting to a multicast address, the CollectionEngine can simultaneously send firmware updates,messages, jobs, or configuration data to all metersin the multicast group. The Collection Engine buildsmulticast addresses dynamically, by appending agroup number to a cell relay or Connected GridRouter broadcast port.

multi-device application programminginterface (MDAPI)An application programming interface (API) thatenables a software application to communicate withmultiple Itron radios and endpoints.


Glossary M

multi-dockA hardware device that provides storage,communications, and battery charging for up to five(FC300) or six (FC200) handhelds in an officeenvironment.

multi-dropAmeter installation configuration in which morethan one meter is connected to a communicationdevice such as a line-sharing device, data switch, ormodem splitter in a radial configuration.Communication takes place via RS-232, RS-485, orthe optical port connection.

multihomedFor Itron devices, describes IP addresses that areassigned to multiple port interfaces.

Multi-Protocol Border GatewayProtocol (MP-BGP)An enhanced Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) thatcarries routing information for multiple network layerprotocol address families. All BGP commands androuting policy capabilities can be used with MP-BGP.

multiprotocol label switching (MPLS)Amechanism in high-performancetelecommunications networks that directs data fromone network node to the next based on short pathlabels rather than long network addresses. Thissaves the time needed for a router to look up theaddress of the next node to forward the packet to.MPLS is called multiprotocol because it works withthe Internet Protocol (IP), Asynchronous TransportMode (ATM), and frame relay network protocols.

Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions(MIME)An extension that defines content type, and istypically referred to as MIME type. The extensionclassifies file types so that internet programs cantransfer duplicate file types in the same way.

multi-role certificateIn UtilOS® firmware 2.0.2 and later, certificates canhave multiple roles encoded in them. Each role ismapped to a set of commands that the authorizedcertificate holder can perform.

MultiSpeak®

A specification that defines standardized interfacesfor software applications that support commonelectric utility processes, including demandresponse (DR) and home area networks (HAN).MultiSpeak enables vendors and utilities to developXML-based interfaces between systems withoutrequiring extensive customization.

MultiSpeak® Interoperability Adapter(MSIA)A software that supports the MultiSpeak web-services-based integration specification. Thespecification includes transactions for mostapplications within a utility systems environment.The Itron implementation supports meterprovisioning and reading and meter readingnotification, Disconnect/Reconnect, integration withan external system for full synchronization ofservice locations, and Outage Detection andNotification. The MultiSpeak standard provides thebasis of the Itron MultiSpeak InteroperabilityAdapter implementation.

MSIA is made up of two components:■ AMMMultispeak■ MSIAWSRoute

municipal, muniA utility that is owned and operated by a city orcounty, often having access to low-cost power fromfederal hydroelectric projects exempt from incomeand other taxes at the federal and state levels.

MVSee multi vendor (MV).

MV-90™ xiA solution for interval data collection, managementand analysis. MV-90™ xi can be used as a data


Glossary M

collection engine that interfaces to existing datamanagement and analysis tools, or as an end-to-end interval data collection and managementsolution.

MV-90™ xi Billing Determinants ExportPackageAn optional MV-90™ xi module that calculatesbilling determinant values derived from the intervaldata. If a time-of-use schedule is specified for acustomer, the billing determinants are calculated foron-peak, mid- peak, and off-peak periods.

MV-90™ xi DST PackageAn optional MV-90™ xi module that adjusts thetimes on interval data from load profile meters thatare programmed with the pre-2007 daylight savingtime (DST) schedule. The adjustment is performedon interval data entering MV-90™ xi through remoteinterrogation and handheld files imports, includingHHF imports from non-Itron systems.

MV-90™ xi Event Notification PackageAn optional MV-90™ xi module that enables nearreal-time notification of meter events or alarms andsystem events in the MV-90™ xi system. The typesof events can include failed tasks and rejectedvalidations.

MV-90™ xi MonitorAn MV-90™ xi program that manages scheduledtasks to be performed by MV-90™ xi. Monitorperiodically scans the scheduled task list andinitiates tasks using Time Due and Priorityindicators.

MV-90™ xi OpenWay® CENTRON® TOUProgramA feature of the MV-90™ xi application that allowsthe MV 90 xi user to create Time-Of-Use (TOU)seasons to be uploaded as the “pending TOUseason” to OWCENTRON®meters. These TOUseasons define the rates and daily patterns for theOWCENTRON®meter’s TOU billing registers andare uploaded to the meter prior to the season’s startdate. Once the season’s start date arrives, thedevice moves the pending TOU season to the

current TOU season table and a new pendingseason can be uploaded.

MV-90™ xi TCP/IP PackageAn optional MV-90™ xi module that can be used fornetwork-based meter communications. The TCP/IPpackage establishes a host-initiated TCP/IP sessionwith a meter that has a network interface. After theTCP/IP session is established, the TIM moduletakes over communication with the meter.

MVLT xiAmulti-vendor laptop data collection software foruse in conjunction with Itron's MV-90™ xi or ItronEnterprise Edition™ (IEE) products. It is used todownload load profile data from C&I meters that donot have a remote communication interface or forwhich the remote interface is not available. MVLT xican read meters in the field through an optical orserial RS-232 interface or using telephone and IPcommunications.

MV-NotifyAn MV-90™ xi program that runs in the system trayfor MV-90™ xi client machines that are running theEvent Notification package. It provides thenotifications and file output processing for thesystem.

MV-PBSThe MV-PBS Complex Billing System offers energyproviders a cost-effective solution for billing andfinancial settlement. MV-PBS integrates thecomplex billing function with upstream anddownstream systems to meet the specific needs ofcommercial, industrial and wholesale energy usersunder a variety of complex rates, supply contracts,and schedules.

MV-RSA PC-based meter reading software solution fordata collection and route management for Itronhandheld computers, mobile collection systems,optical probes, and touch probes.

MV-WEBAn online tool that provides commercial andindustrial customers secure and reliable access to


Glossary N

their load profile data. MV-WEB also providesaccess to customer load data for accountrepresentatives, load research and generationpersonnel, engineers, management, and otherinternal staff who don't have direct access to MV-90™ xi.

mWSee milliwatt (mW).

MWSee megawatt (MW).

MWhSee megawatt-hour (MWh).

NNaaSSee Network as a Service (NaaS).

NAASee Network Administration Application (NAA).

NAC■ See network access control (NAC).■ See network admission control (NAC).

namespaceAn XML element used by web services that enablesclient applications to distinguish between data typesthat are named the same but defined differently.Unique namespaces allow an XML parser tointerpret XML files correctly when multipleapplications are using the same web service tocommunicate with one another.

NANSee neighborhood area network (NAN).

Narrow Band Internet of Things (NB-IoT)A Low Power Wide Area Network radio technologystandard developed by 3GPP to enable a widerange of cellular devices and services.

NASPISee North American SynchroPhaser Initiative.

NATSee network address translation (NAT).

National Electrical ManufacturersAssociation (NEMA)the largest trade association of electrical equipmentmanufacturers in the United States. Founded in1926, it advocates for the industry, and publishesstandards for electrical products.

National Electricity Market (NEM)The Australian wholesale electricity market and theassociated synchronous electricity transmissiongrid, which meets the demand of more than eightmillion Australian consumers annually. The NEMuses pool arrangements to exchange electricitybetween energy consumers and energy producers.

National Institute of Standards andTechnology (NIST)The federal technology agency that works withindustry to develop and apply technology,measurements, and standards.

navigation paneOne of several panes that make up an application’smain window in some software user interfaces. Thenavigation pane consists of workbench buttons atthe bottom of the navigation pane. Each workbenchbutton provides access to a group of related viewsand functions called a workbench. A navigation treethat consists of a series of nodes—usually arrangedin a tree structure—makes up the selectedworkbench. Each node opens a view, report, form,commands, procedures, or other items to which theworkbench provides access.

NB-IoTSee Narrow Band Internet of Things (NB-IoT).

NCESee Network Collection Engine (NCE).


Glossary N

NCNRSee non-cancelable non-returnable (NCNR).

NECSee Network Event Collector (NEC).

neighbor tableAmemory structure within each Itron NIC to storedata about its neighboring NIC-enabled devices.

neighborhood area network (NAN)A wireless community that provides wireless deviceusers anonymous and quick access to the Internet.A NAN is built around one or more access pointscovering a small geographic area (theneighborhood). The coverage can be up to 1kilometer in radius, if the owner of the access pointis using an omni-directional antenna. Neighborsparticipating in the NAN use directional antennaspointing toward the access point.

NEM■ See National Electricity Market (NEM).■ See net energy metering (NEM).■ See Network Element Manager (NEM).

NEMASee National Electrical Manufacturers Association(NEMA).

NERCSee North American Energy Reliability Council(NERC).

net energy metering (NEM)Billing program serving consumers who produceand feed energy into the grid and use energy whenneeded. For example, a consumer with solar panelson their home may produce more energy than theycan use. They feed the excess energy into the gridand use energy from the utility when their solarpanels do not produce sufficient energy to meettheir demand. The energy produced, less theenergy consumed equals net energy.

Net Manager (net_mgr)A stand-alone, server-based Linux command-lineutility that is available to Itron customers on an asneeded basis. Using the version of Net Managerspecific to your UtilOS® firmware version, you areable to communicate with devices connected to theItron mesh network.

Net Manager Secure (net_mgrs)A wrapper for Net Manager (net_mgr) that addsencryption, integrity, and authentication to NetManager operations through the use of secureassociations. The creation and use of secureassociations requires a shared secret, which isprotected by and uses a keystore, Itron KeySafe, orhigh-strength KeySafe. In addition to the creation ofsecure associations, Net Manger Secureautomatically performs other secure associationmanagement functions, such as renewing expiredassociations.

net meteringThe final result of applying power generated againstpower purchased for customers who both generateand purchase power. A net register calculatesenergy to be billed by subtracting power receivedfrom the customer from the power delivered to thecustomer.

network access control (NAC)A computer network security approach that enablesand enforces role-based network access by forcinguser or machine authentication before allowingaccess to the network. Access is based on anassessment of the user or machine’s securitystatus, such as the presence of anti-virus softwareand personal firewalls. Several major networkingvendors provide proprietary NAC products.

network address translation (NAT)The process of modifying global IP addresses intointernal IP packet header addresses, so thatmultiple hosts with private IP addresses share asingle external IP address while remainingprotected by firewalls. A NAT converts the addressof each LAN node into one IP address. It can alsoprovide security by hiding individual IP addressesfrom the outside world.


Glossary N

Network Administration Application(NAA)The primary user interface for Fixed Network thatprovides features and functionality for monitoring,maintaining, and reporting on network operationsand endpoint operations within the system.

Network as a Service (NaaS)Services for network transport connectivity. NaaSinvolves the optimization of resource allocations byconsidering network and computing resources as aunified whole.

network admission control (NAC)Cisco®-proprietary version of network accesscontrol (NAC). A computer network securityapproach that enables and enforces role-basednetwork access by forcing user or machineauthentication before allowing access to thenetwork. Access is based on an assessment of theuser or machine’s security status, such as thepresence of anti-virus software and personalfirewalls.

Network CenterA network management application that providesadvanced network management capabilities suchas fault management and performancemanagement.

Network Center ESA customized version of Elasticsearch searchsoftware used by Network Center.

Network Collection Engine (NCE)The non-user interface components of Itron’s FixedNetwork software.

network discoveryWhen a new node is first energized, it broadcasts adiscovery message. The discovery message isreceived by all Itron NICs that share the sameBridge Master.

Network Element Manager (NEM)An Itron application that provides fault managementthrough asynchronous notifications to alertoperators of potential issues at a remote nodewithout waiting for a polling schedule to requeststatus.

NEM receives notifications, including electricitymeter last gasps, forwarded by neighbor nodesacting as proxies for the node emitting the last gasp.When an electricity meter loses power, its NIC canemit a last gasp message. Neighbor nodes forwardall last gasps they receive.

Network Event Collector (NEC)A centralized NIC and application event collectionand repository for Itron and third-party applications.NEC reads new events from NICs and load controlswitch (LCS) devices at a scheduled interval or ondemand, and sends them to applications through aJMS queue. You can use the JMX console toschedule the job with a cron expression. Anapplication may also schedule on-demand jobsthrough a web service API.

Network IDA two-byte (16-bit) value that provides logicalseparation of overlapping networks by limitingneighbor discovery to devices with a matchingnetwork ID. Its primary function is to logicallyseparate adjoining customer networks from eachother.

network interface card (NIC)The module installed in meters and Itron devicesthat communicates across the Itron mesh network.Supports AMI use cases such as remote servicemanagement and demand response (DR).

Network LibraryA library of commands for running jobs on thenetwork.

Network Management System (NMS)The head end of an AMI system that manages theAMI communications network.


Glossary N

Network ManagerSee Net Manager (net_mgr).

Network Manager Entity (NM Entity)certificatesCertificates used in the certificate chain, based onthe Net Manager protocol proprietary to Itron. Thesecertificates are issued to the programs that managethe smart grid.

Network Manager Entity CertificateAuthoritySigner of the Network Manager Entity (NM Entity)certificates. There may be multiple CertificateAuthorities with different privileges, depending onoperator requirements.

network operations center (NOC)One or more locations from which control over acomputer network or telecommunications network isexercised. NOCs monitor the network for alarmsand conditions that require attention to maintain thenetwork’s performance, and mitigate thoseconditions when they occur.

Network Operations Manager (NOM)A system component responsible for the operationand management of network communications.NOMmanages communication of the Point-to-Point(PP3) network interface to gateways(communication devices), and the Point-to-Multipoint (PM1) network interface to remotedevices (meters).

Network Performance Application(NPA)The component of Itron's Fixed Network softwarethat monitors network deployment and operations.NPA includes an interactive dashboard andextensive reporting functionality.

Network Time Protocol (NTP)An internet protocol used to synchronize the clocktimes between computer systems or networkdevices to within a few milliseconds of CoordinatedUniversal Time (UTC). NTP typically coordinates

the time between network devices communicatingthrough packet switching or a variable-latency datanetwork.

network time protocol (NTP) serverA server in a client-server model, that is attached orsynchronized to a high-precision timekeepingdevice, such as an atomic clock or GPS clock. TheNTP server sends time stamps to its NTP clientsusing networking communications such as,broadcasting, multicasting, or User Data Protocol(UDP). The NTP client synchronizes the time clocksof all participating devices within its network towithin a few milliseconds of Coordinated UniversalTime (UTC).

Network Web Application (NWA)An Itron Fixed Network web-based user interfaceused primarily by customer service representatives(CSRs) to capture daily, hourly, or on-demandendpoint reads.

new product introduction (NPI)The process that takes an idea from an initialworking prototype to a thoroughly refined andreproducible final product.

new serviceA new, not previously registered, customer accountor meter.

NICSee network interface card (NIC).

NICNACThe secure communications library Itron uses tocommunicate securely with devices.

NISTSee National Institute of Standards and Technology(NIST).

NMEntity (Network Manager Entity)See Network Manager Entity (NM Entity)certificates.


Glossary N

NMSSee Network Management System (NMS).

NOCSee network operations center (NOC).

nodeA network device. Examples include electricitymeters, Relays, and IMUs. In SensorIQ®Application, refers to a single instance of theapplication, and SensorIQ can run in a cluster thatdistributes load among nodes for increased overallprocessing power.

node queueSee nodeq.

node, networkA cell relay, meter, or server.

nodeqA list of all neighboring nodes which are currently inthe active state – meaning that links to each havebeen established and are currently beingmaintained. Also known as node queue. See alsoneighbor table.

NodeSimAn Itron application for simulating meter endpointson the network for use in development and testenvironments. NodeSim is used primarily for large-scale testing (hundreds to millions of Itron smartdevices), testing features that cannot easily bereproduced on real meters, such as generatingcertain event logs or setting status flags, and fordevelopment and troubleshooting in a controlledand reproducible environment.

NOMSee Network Operations Manager (NOM).

non line of sight (NLOS)When the path between a transmitter and a receiveris completely or partially obscured by houses, trees,and other objects.

non-cancelable non-returnable (NCNR)A term applied to a product order indicating that thepurchaser cannot cancel the order, reduce innumber the products ordered, or return the orderexcept in case of a product defect.

nonceAn arbitrary number used in cryptographiccommunications that is generated for securitypurposes. A nonce is generated and used only onetime in any security session—during theauthentication challenge when a meter registers orwhen it re-authenticates.

non-consumable inventoryInventory items that do not get installed or used up.Non-consumable items can be serialized (items withserial numbers, such as data collection devices andcell phones) or non-serialized, such as screwdriversand other hand tools.

non-repudiationAssurance that the validity of data being transmittedcannot be denied or rejected. A common applicationof non-repudiation is signature verification and trust.

non-revenue water (NRW)The amount of water in a system that cannot beaccounted for and therefore cannot be billed. Mostcommon sources for non-revenue water are theft,under-performing water meters, system designflaws, and leaks.

Also called unaccounted-for water.

non-route dataData that is imported or collected, but is not part ofthe data collection route. This data includes anynew or revised code information, system messages,and parameter information.

non-serialized inventoryInventory items without serial numbers. Non-serialized items can be consumable—those that getinstalled or used up, such as door hangers andscrews—or non-consumable, such as hand toolsused to perform installations or maintenance.


Glossary N

nontechnical lossPower system losses attributed to factors externalto power transmission and distribution that are notnaturally occurring or expected. Common causesfor these losses are deliberate tampering with thesystem, component malfunctions ormisconfigurations, billing errors. Nontechnicallosses between 1 and 2% are typical, but theselosses can be much higher depending on the regionand other factors. See also technical losses.

non-value-added (NVA)Contributing nothing to a product or service andgenerating a zero or negative return on theinvestment of resources; waste.

normalizationTranslation of data from specific data formatsreceived from various meters (DLMS/COSEM,C12.22) to the standard XML data contractOpenWay® uses to publish out its meter data. Thistranslation process includes unpacking the meterdata from the raw message, converting the valuesto the base quantity (for example, convertingkilowatt hour to watt hour), translating any device-specific events to an internal OpenWay® event list,and translating any device specific reading codes(status codes) to an internal OpenWay® list.

North American Energy ReliabilityCouncil (NERC)An organization formed by the electric utility industryin 1968 to promote the reliability and adequacy ofbulk power supplies in North American utilitysystems.

North American SynchroPhaserInitiativeA collaborative effort involving the United StatesDepartment of Energy (DOE), the North AmericanElectric Reliability Corporation (NERC), and NorthAmerican electric utilities, vendors, consultants, andfederal and private researchers and academics.NASPI ’s mission is to improve power systemreliability and visibility through wide areameasurement and control. Its activities are funded

by DOE and NERC, and by the voluntary efforts ofindustry members and experts.

not registeredThe status of an endpoint when it has either notregistered or has deregistered.

not validated (NV)Common readings file (CRF) validation attributevalue meaning that the data is not validated (NV).

not yet registeredThe state of a device that has not yet been definedas an authorized member of the network.

NPASee Network Performance Application (NPA).

NPISee new product introduction (NPI).

NRWSee non-revenue water (NRW).

n-tier data applicationData applications that have clear separationsbetween the tiers that make up the application. Tiersmay communicate through services such as webservices. Examples of tiers typically include apresentation tier, a middle tier, and a data tier.Separating the components into tiers providesmaintainability and scalability of the application. N-tier applications typically store sensitive informationin a middle tier to maintain isolation from thepresentation tier. N-tier data applications aresometimes called n-layer applications or distributedapplications.

NTPSee Network Time Protocol (NTP).

NVASee non-value-added (NVA).

NWASee Network Web Application (NWA).


Glossary O

OO&MSee Operations & Maintenance (O&M).

object identification system (OBIS)A system of coding the Companion Specification forEnergy Metering (COSEM) model objects.

obligation to serveA utility’s obligation to provide service to anycustomer who seeks that service, and is willing topay the rates for that service.

OCOGSSee operating cost of goods sold.

ODRSee on-demand read (ODR).

ODSSee Outage Detection System (ODS).

ODSWSRouteAn Itron component that allows Outage DetectionSystem (ODS) users to route web service calls forODS. It provides the public API and serves theWSDL and XSD files needed by integration toolingand routes public and legacy API calls. It is requiredby ODS.

OEMSee original equipment manufacturer (OEM).

OFDMSee orthogonal frequency division multiplexing(OFDM).

off-cycle readsMeter reads recorded outside of the normal readingschedule, such as reads required when customersmove out or reads required for billing investigations.

off-peakPeriods of relatively low demand during whichenergy may be offered at a reduced rate.

off-site meter reading (OMR)The use of radio-equipped handheld computers toread encoder/receiver/transmitter endpoint (ERT)module- equipped electric, gas, or water meters.OMR reduces the need to directly access meters.

OHSSee On-Premises Hybrid Service (OHS).

OLCSee outdoor lighting controller (OLC).

OMRSee off-site meter reading (OMR).

OMS (OM)See outage management system (OMS or OM).

on-demand read (ODR)A human-initiated, two-way, instantaneous, andasynchronous communication from the head endsystem (HES) or meter data management (MDM)system over the network infrastructure to obtainconsumption, status, or programming data fromgas, water, or electric endpoints.

In Itron Fixed Network, an on-demand read requestis initiated either at the Network Web Application(NWA) or the Network Administration Application.The read request is communicated over theadvanced metering infrastructure (AMI) network toan encoder/receiver/transmitter (ERT) module, cellcontrol unit (CCU), or database to obtain the mostrecent read that does not exceed staleness factorlimitations.

one-time scheduleA schedule with a frequency of a single instance.

on-peakRelated to electricity use during periods of timewhen prices tend to be highest due to increaseddemand.


Glossary O

On-Premises Hybrid Service (OHS)AWindows service installed on the customernetwork to access an on-premises data source,such as the OpenWay® Collection Manager on anOpenWay® Riva network or the Advanced MeteringManager (AMM) on a Riva Gen™5 network. OHSacts as a bridge between the Itron cloudenvironments and an on-premises data center.

OO (Operations Optimizer)Internal nickname for Operations Optimizer®software.

Open Shortest Path First (OSPF)An adaptive routing protocol for Internet Protocol(IP) networks that lets routers dynamically learnroutes from other routers and to advertise routes toother routers. It lets routers select routes based onthe current state of the network, rather than on astatic picture of how routers are connected. It alsoincludes such advanced features as support for ahierarchical topology and automatic load sharingamong routes.

Open Smart City Protocol (OSCP)A protocol standard defined by a group ofindependent companies used for connecting smartcity devices from any supplier to Control andMonitoring Software.

Open Systems Interconnection (OSI)A standard model developed by the InternationalOrganization for Standardization (ISO) thatspecifies how messages should be transmittedbetween points in a telecommunications network.The model organizes the communication processso that similar communication functions groupedinto each of seven logical layers.

OpenWay®

Itron’s network and solution platform that comprisessmart meters and grid devices communicationsnetwork infrastructure and data collection software,with a standards-based, multi-application networkbased on IPv6 architecture jointly developed byItron and Cisco.

OpenWay® CENTRONA smart meter used to collect, process and transmitenergy information to utility systems. Calculationsand usage data are calculated within the meteritself.

OpenWay® CENTRON® PolyphaseMeterA smart grid device for use in most commercial andindustrial (C&I) applications. It is compliant with theANSI C12.19 and C12.22 standards for storage andtransport of register data over a network.

OpenWay® Collection EngineAn advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) head-end application used to register, communicate with,and manage utility devices. The Collection Engine isa C12.22-compliant software application thatcollects meter data and manages, upgrades, and insome cases connects and disconnects metersthrough remote two-way communications. TheCollection Engine passes collected meter data tothe meter data management (MDM) system forstorage and manipulation at the utility. It storesinformation related to registered meterconfigurations, such as cell relay data,communication paths, group assignments, andfirmware versions.

OpenWay® Collection Manager (OWCM)A software designed to securely manage two-waycommunications to millions of meters for intervaldata collection. Collection Manager acts as thecentralized AMI hub between the field network andthe utility back office systems and manages high-volume, secure communications to the meterpopulation to perform tasks such as remote meterreading, operating the disconnect switch, updatingfirmware and updating the state and behavior ofdevices within the distribution network. It managescommunications and data collection processes tosupport meter data management, billing, outagemanagement, distribution automation, and loadcontrol.


Glossary O

OpenWay® ControlA software product based on the Tropos Controlnetwork management software. It providesfunctionality required to manage the smart gridwireless networks as a system, including ItronOpenWay® Cell Relays, OpenWay® Cell Routers,and Tropos routers.

OpenWay® Gas ModuleA radio-frequency (RF) gas meter module used withthe OpenWay® advanced metering system. The2.4GZ is built upon the foundation of the Itron 40-series gas ERT®module. The 2.4GZ uses open-architecture Zigbee wireless networking for theultimate interoperable solution for combination gasand electric utilities.

OpenWay® Integrated Cell RouterA two-way communications device which supportssmart meters and smart grid applications.

OpenWay® NetworkSee OpenWay®.

OpenWay® Range ExtenderA device that increases the reliability of the RFLANmesh in geographically sparse regions.

OpenWay® RivaAn IoT-based technology developed by Itron thatenhances the capability of the OpenWay® solution.OpenWay® Riva combines RF wireless andpowerline carrier communications on the samechipset in the same device.

OpenWay® Riva 500G ERT® ModuleAn IPv6 open-standards based gas module thatoffers a flexible RF reading option. It is designed tobe read under Itron’s OpenWay® Riva multi-purpose Internet of Things (IoT) network, or bylegacy ChoiceConnect™ handheld or mobilereaders.

OpenWay® Riva 500W ERT® ModuleAn IPv6 open-standards based water module thatoffers a flexible RF reading option. It is designed tobe read under Itron’s OpenWay® Riva multi-

purpose Internet of Things (IoT) network, or bylegacy ChoiceConnect™ handheld, mobile andfixed network readers.

OpenWay® Riva CENTRON® MeterAn electricity meter which combines robust smartmetering functionality with high-performancecommunications capabilities and a distributedintelligence platform to deliver differentiatingcapabilities and new approaches to meter-to-gridapplications. Designed to ANSI standards for U.S.markets. Also known as OpenWay® RivaCENTRON Singlephase Meter.

OpenWay® Riva CENTRON® PolyphaseMeterAn electricity meter which combines robust smartmetering functionality with high-performancecommunications capabilities and a distributedintelligence platform to deliver differentiatingcapabilities and new approaches to meter-to-gridapplications. Designed to ANSI standards for U.S.markets.

OpenWay® Riva CGR ACT Module 1Amodule which is installed in the Cisco ConnectedGrid Router and is designed to provide adaptivecommunications within the network, seamlesslyrouting packets of information from meters andother grid devices within the mesh network to thehead end. This integrated multi-link module enablesassured connectivity at lower cost by dynamicallyrouting traffic over Radio Frequency (RF) or PowerLine Carrier (PLC) based on connection strengthand use case.

OpenWay® Riva CGR ACT Module 3SA plug-In module for the Cisco CGR CGR ACTModule 3 for Star deployments.

OpenWay® Riva Electricity MeterA smart meter which can process, analyze,communicate, and react to grid conditions andbusiness requirements in real-time. The meter iscapable of switching between Radio Frequency(RF) and Power Line Carrier (PLC) to ensure themost reliable path. Designed to IEC standards fornon U.S. markets.


Glossary O

OpenWay® Riva Gas DisconnectA device that gives gas utilities the power to shutoffgas remotely as needed. With the optional floodsensor it can automatically shutoff gas when a floodis detected. It is designed to be read under Itron’sOpenWay® Riva multi-purpose Internet of Things(IoT) network.

OpenWay® Riva NetworkA standard in grid communications and edgeintelligence for smart meters. It is the latestalternative to OpenWay®, and includes AdaptiveCommunications Technology (ACT) andintelligence to devices at the edge of the networkand beyond.

This is Itron's preferred term for referring toswitching from mobile mode to the OpenWay® RivaNetwork. Do not use the generic term networkmode. For example, 500s devices are capable ofoperating in mobile mode or on the OpenWay® RivaNetwork.

OpenWay® Riva Pole Mount RouterA device that provides dual mesh networkcommunications for both RFLAN and OpenWay®Riva.

OpenWay® Riva Polyphase ElectricityMeter (CPC Protocol)A smart meter which can process, analyze,communicate, and react to grid conditions andbusiness requirements in real-time. The meter iscapable of switching between Radio Frequency(RF) and Power Line Carrier (PLC) to ensure themost reliable path. Designed to IEC standards fornon U.S. markets.

OpenWay® Riva Routing Node - ERT®

Gateway StarA device that reads 100g and 100w devices on anIPv6 RIVA network.

OpenWay® Riva Routing Node - MeshNode BaseA device that provides for the addition of a meshnode within an OpenWay®mesh deployment to

address network connectivity challenges. The MeshNode Base supports both Radio Frequency (RF)and Power Line Carrier (PLC) links.

OpenWay Riva®

CENTRON Singlephase MeterSee OpenWay® Riva CENTRON®Meter.

OpenWay® Riva Smart NetworkInterface CardA universal, smart, communications module withintegrated Adaptive Communications Technology(ACT) designed to be used with third party metervendors. Also referred to as Smart NIC.

OpenWay® Riva Socket-Based RouterA device that provides dual mesh networkcommunications for both RFLAN and OpenWay®Riva to add advanced functionality to the network.

OpenWay® ToolsAn application used to interrogate meter data and todiagnose potential meter issues. It contains all ofthe intuitive means of setting up meter program filesand diagnosing field problems OpenWay® Toolsincludes a group of applications that are used toprogram, read, and diagnose Itron OpenWay®CENTRON®meters.

operating cost of goods soldThe direct costs involved in the production of acompany's products and services

operating currentThe maximum electrical current a device orconductor can carry without being damaged.

operating current (OC)The maximum electrical current a device orconductor can carry without being damaged.

operational technology (OT)A category of computing and communicationsystems to manage, monitor, and control industrialoperations with a focus on the physical devices andprocesses they use. OT computer systems are


Glossary O

typically deployed in critical infrastructure industriessuch as power, water, and manufacturing, and areused to control the physical aspects of networkeddevices. For example, controlling valves, andregulating temperature, flow, and pressure. OTsystems use technologies for hardware design andcommunications protocols that are unique fromthose used in informational technology (IT)environments.

Operations & Maintenance (O&M)The functions, duties and labor associated with thedaily activities and normal repairs, replacement ofparts and structural components, and otheractivities needed to preserve an asset so that itcontinues to provide acceptable services andachieves its expected life.

Operations Optimizer® softwareA customer care and outreach, grid management,and network management application. OperationsOptimizer® software is composed of individuallylicensed programs that produce valuable insightsbased on a variety of utility and third-party data. Thisanalytical output is made available to users througha web interface consisting of list information andgeospatial representations.

Operator certificateA private key issued under the SSN Root andunique for each customer. The Operator certificateis used to sign all certificates under it in the PKIhierarchy.

Operator keySee Operator certificate.

OpsGuardA service provided to Itron licensed customers thatallows them to better monitor their system, and alsoallows Itron to view the system for troubleshootingpurposes.

optical portAn infrared port on some types of electricity metersthat allows network access for meter reads, meterprogram changes, and other communication.

optical probeA type of equipment, such as a wand with an opticalinterface, that is attached to the handheld datacollector. An optical probe can be attached to theserial port of a mobile meter data collection device.This probe enables the device to gather data fromelectric meters that have a special optical port forthis probe.

original equipment manufacturer (OEM)A company that produces parts and equipment thatmay be marketed by another manufacturer.

orphaned orderA work order that was dispatched to a mobile deviceand then manually returned (set to the Returnedstate) on the Field Deployment Manager (FDM)server. The order remains on the mobile device untilthe next time the device is synchronized with theserver.

orthogonal frequency divisionmultiplexing (OFDM)a type of digital transmission and a method ofencoding digital data on multiple carrier frequencies

OSCPSee Open Smart City Protocol (OSCP).

OSISee Open Systems Interconnection (OSI).

OSPFSee Open Shortest Path First (OSPF).

OTSee operational technology (OT)

OTASee over-the-air.

outageA period of time during which power is lost. Aninterruption or failure in the supply of power.


Glossary P

outage detection and restorationA process of learning that power is lost and re-enabling the power. Outages can be detecteddirectly with equipment that notifies the utility thatthe meter or network collector has lost power.

Outages can also be inferred by software analyzingdata. Inferred outage detection, is the ability toreceive and analyze data returned from meterreading systems to determine that a power outagehas occurred.

Outage restoration can be signaled different ways.The meter can send a specific signal stating that thepower has been restored, or the utility head end caninfer that the power has returned when the head endreceives a signal from the meter.

Outage Detection System (ODS)An Itron application that manages outage-relatedmessages from electricity meters, including lastgasp and power restore messages.

outage management system (OMS orOM)A centralized system that manages the identificationof all outage events and the restoration of service ina utility grid. An OMS system usually is tightlyintegrated with a work order management system(WOMS).

outdoor lighting controller (OLC)Any device used to control streetlights. Can beeither a control node, photocell or street lightcontroller. See also Smart Street Lighting.

out-of-band interferersTransmissions operating below 902 MHz or above928 MHz that may interfere with transmissionsbetween 902 and 928 MHz. See also in-bandinterferers.

out-of-networkThe status assigned to endpoints that are to beexcluded for any reason from the contract.

out-of-route readAmeter reading that was collected, but the accountfor that reading was not part of the read-route.

over voltage / under voltage (OV/UV)Over voltage occurs when the voltage is at least10% higher than the standard voltage. Undervoltage occurs when the voltage is at least 10% lessthan the standard voltage.

oversamplingThe process of increasing the sampling frequencyby generating new digital samples based on thevalues of known samples. In cases where power isrestored after an outage but the Smart StreetLighting is temporarily unable to reach an AP tosynchronize its clock, UtilOS® firmware beginsoversampling data and storing it in temporary flashmemory. Once the Itron NIC is able to synchronizeits clock, it allocates the stored data into theappropriate intervals and flags those intervals asCONVERTED_INTERVAL.

over-the-airWireless communications between devices.Sometimes used to refer to the programming ofdevices through wireless communications.

OWSee OpenWay®.

OWCMSee OpenWay® Collection Manager (OWCM).

OWRSee OpenWay® Riva.

PPaaSSee Platform as a Service (PaaS).

packetA unit of data that consists of a header, whichcontains data such as destination address, and a


Glossary O

payload, which contains application data such asinterval read results. See also ping.

packets in flightThe number of simultaneous packets beingtransferred between a sender and a receiver. Apacket in flight is a packet that the sender has sentbut the receiver has not yet acknowledged asreceived.

pad-mounted transformer mounting kitAmounting kit for installing APs or Relays with aremotely mounted NAN antenna in a secure,fiberglass or plastic, pedestal-type enclosure.

PAPISee Provisioning API (PAPI).

parametersSystem settings that determine the way thatfeatures function. By changing parameter settings,you can adjust, and optimize the way that thefunctionality works to adhere to the businessrequirements of a utility company. For example, thelogging parameters enables you specify the locationwhere and the length of time that log files areretained. The utility can change the loggingparameter to comply with their internal dataretention policy.

parentA network device to which other devices areregistered.

In a radio-frequency local area network (RFLAN)cell, a cell relay or meter through which a childmeter communicates with the OpenWay® CollectionEngine. A meter that communicates with theCollection Engine through a cell relay is the cellrelay’s child, and the cell relay is the meter’s parent.A meter that communicates through another meterin the cell is a child of the meter it communicatesthrough, which is the child meter’s parent.

passphraseA sequence of characters or text used to controlaccess to data, programs, or computer systems.Passphrases can also be used to control access to

cryptographic programs, and some systems usepassphrases as encryption keys. Passphrases aresimilar to password in usage but generally longer foradded security.

passwordA string of characters (letters, numbers, and othersymbols) used to authenticate an identity or to verifyaccess authorization.

password-protectionRestricting access to files by requiring users to entera password.

patchA software fix developed to resolve a critical issuethat would stop business operations in a productionenvironment. A patch can be delivered separatelyfrom a scheduled release.

pathRefers to how cells, nodes, and endpoints areconnected together. For example, the path from cellA to endpoint Z runs through node B. See alsoroute.

path costa calculation that helps network administrators andsystems determine optimal paths forcommunications across the mesh network. Ingeneral, high information success rates, like highhop-count numbers, translate into lower route costs.

path lossTotal amount of power lost in the propagation of theRF signal from the transmitter to the receiver.

payloadThe part of a packet that is not the header. Payloadsconsist of application data such as interval readresults. In the case of an on-demand read (ODR)ping, the user can set the payload size to increaseor decrease the size of the packet. In RF networks,small packet can traverse the network moresuccessfully than larger packets. When performingan On Demand ping, users can configure thepayload up to 255 bytes.


Glossary O

PBUSee product business unit (PBU).

PC CardSee Personal Computer (PC) card.

PCASee Permit Certificate Authority (PCA).

PCBASee printed circuit board assembly (PCBA).

PCISee peripheral component interconnect (PCI).

PCMCIA cardSee Personal Computer (PC) card.

PCOMPSee pressure compensation multiplier (PCOMP).

PCOMP factorSee pressure compensation (PCOMP) factor.

PC-PRO+® AdvancedA software suite that enables users to directlycommunicate with devices via an opticalconnection. The intended use ranges from themanagement of user settings, creation of deviceprograms, meter shop testing, and performing localmeter operations.

PCTSee programmable communicating thermostat(PCT).

peak demandA period (day, month, year) when electrical power isexpected to be provided for a sustained period at asignificantly higher than average supply level.

peak shavingReduction of load during peak periods or events.Participating utilities want to reduce peaks and fillvalleys so that power plants and infrastructure are

more efficiently used. Participating customers aretypically commercial & industrial (C&I) customersthat receive rebates for reducing load during peakperiods or events.

time of use (TOU) rates are used to encourageindividual customers to reduce load during peakusage periods for that geographical area. Alsoknown as peak shaving, this decreases the need torun or build extra power plants simply to supportthese peaks.

peaking capacityCapacity of generating equipment normallyreserved for operation during the hours of highestdaily, weekly, or seasonal loads.

peaking plantA power plant that normally operates only duringpeak load periods.

peeringAn agreement among network providers to connectone another's internet traffic without having to payfor third-party services to transfer data packets.

peer-to-peer (P2P)A type of computer network that consists of two ormore computers that pool their individual resourcessuch as disk drives, CD-ROMs, and printers. Theseshared resources are available to every computer inthe network, while each two of them communicate ina session.

In contrast, a client-server network consists ofmultiple client computers connecting to a single,central server computer. The server is a hostrunning one or more server programs that sharetheir resources with the clients.

Performance Manager (PM)A software application that enables customers tomanage and operate an AMI system at scale.Examples of management features include theability to report with integrated visualization, SLAtracking, fault detection and exceptionmanagement.


Glossary O

peripheral component interconnect(PCI)A local 64-bit bus standard developed by Intel®Corporation. Most personal computers (PCs) andsome Macintosh computers include a PCI.

permitIn Itron cryptographic practice, an additionalsecurity check within the X.509 digital certificatehierarchy that is used to implement rate limitation oncritical command. A permit must be signed by theprivate key of the certificate authority with privilegesassociated with the issued command.

Permit Certificate Authority (PCA)The authority that signs Itron application permitcertificates.

permit signerThe private key.

Personal Computer (PC) cardA plug-in module device used to add functionality(such as wireless network access and additionalRAM) to laptop computers and, less commonly,desktop computers. There are three types of PCCards: type I, II, and III.

PC Card types vary by physical thickness, datapath, data rate, and voltage. Type I PC Cards areavailable as a 16-bit interface, while type II and typeIII PC Cards are available as a 16-bit or 32-bitinterface. The PC Card was superseded by theExpressCard in 2003. PC Card was previouslyknown as Personal Computer Memory CardInternational Association (PCMCIA) card.

Personal Computer Memory CardInternational Association (PCMCIA)An industry group organized in 1989 to promotestandards for a credit card-size memory or I/Odevice that would fit into a personal computer,usually a notebook or laptop computer.

Personal Computer Memory CardInternational Association (PCMCIA)

cardAn obsolete term for Personal Computer (PC) card.

personal identification number (PIN)An alphabetic, numeric, or alphanumeric code orpassword used to authenticate an identity.

personality module, CENTRON®

The component of the CENTRON®meter thatcontains the meter display, register functionality,and communication capabilities. Each version of themeter is distinguished by the personality modulethat is mounted on the standard meter metrologybase. Available personality modules include:■ Energy only■ Demand■ Time-of-use (TOU) with demand■ Load profile with TOU and demand■ Energy only with radio-frequency automated

meter reading (AMR)■ Cellnet fixed network■ Energy plus demand with radio-frequency AMR

PersonalizationSee FSU Personalization.

PEVSee plug-in electric vehicle (PEV).

PFSee power factor (PF).

PHEVSee plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV).

PHMSASee Pipeline and Hazardous Materials SafetyAdministration (PHMSA).

PHMSA 49 CFR 192A Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) standard forthe transportation of natural and other gas by


Glossary O

pipeline. The code was created by the Pipeline andHazardous Materials Safety Administration(PHMSA).

photocellAn outdoor lighting controller (OLC)device mountedto a streetlight luminaire that detects how muchsunlight is available, and switches the light on or offin response. The Itron NIC used for communicationsacross the mesh network can be installed instreetlight photocells. See also Smart StreetLighting.

photovoltaics (PV)A semiconductor technology for generatingelectrical power by converting solar radiation intodirect current (DC) electricity. PV power generationrequires solar panels composed of solar cellscontaining photovoltaic materials.

Phy FrameA data unit that is transported across the physicallayer.

physical relaysUsed to physically control and connect one or moreassets through a Direct-to-Gridload control switch(LCS). Typical assets are HVACs, water heaters,and pool pumps. Each relay allows control signalsto turn the asset behind the switch on or off.

An HVAC, for example, could include multiplecomponents (such as a first stage compressor,second stage compressor, fan, and heat strip), eachof which is connected to and controlled by aseparate physical relay.

When sending a DRLC event, you might want tocontrol only certain components. For example, theutility might want to turn off the compressors butkeep the fan on. The switches accomplish thisthrough virtual relays, each of which is associatedwith multiple physical relays.

Pick to Order (PTO)A stocking strategy implemented in Oracleplatforms which does not involve manufacturing.Can indicate either a configuration model or a kit. Inboth cases, PTO implies that multiple items are

picked based on one line item on a sales order. Theoptions for picked items are based on a selectionfrom a variety of finished products from a relativelysmall number of sub-assemblies and components.Because there is no manufacturing involved, PTOmodels or PTO kits can be shipped as soon as theyare ordered, depending on the availability of therequired items. When the pick list is generated forthese items, the individual items that were selected(in the case of a PTOmodel) or that were part of thestandard PTO kit are printed in the pick list, whichcan then be picked and shipped.

A PTO kit consists of:■ Standard bill of material with mandatory

included items■ Pick slip used to kit included items

A PTO configuration consists of:■ Pick-to-Order models with optional Assemble-

to-Order items■ Pick-to-Order model containing Assemble-to-

Order model

PIM-SMSee Protocol Independent Multicast – Sparse Mode(PIM-SM) protocol.

PINSee personal identification number (PIN).

pingA program that tests the reachability of devices on anetwork. The ping program sends a packet to thenamed device and returns data indicating how long,in milliseconds, the packet took to reach the deviceand return (also known as round trip time). See alsoreachable and traceroute.

PingFederate® (PingFed)A product offering of Ping Identity®, PingFed is anenterprise federation server that enables userauthentication and standards-based single sign-on(SSO) for employee, partner, and customer identitytypes.


Glossary O

Pipeline and Hazardous MaterialsSafety Administration (PHMSA)A U.S. Department of Transportation agency thatcreates and enforces regulations for the careful,consistent, and environmentally sound operation ofthe nation’s pipeline transportation system. Theagency is also responsible for monitoring hazardousmaterial shipments by air, land, and sea. Theagency consists of the Office of Pipeline Safety andthe Office of Hazardous Materials safety.

pipe-to-soil potentialThe voltage potential generated between a metalpipe and a standard reference electrode in thesurrounding soil. Most utilities use a copper-coppersulfate electrode as the standard reference cell topredict electrolytic corrosion.

pit setA water meter that is installed underground in a pitor vault.

PKCSSee public key cryptography standards (PKCS).

PKCS #11A standard set of APIs and shared libraries thatisolate an application from the details of thecryptographic device. This enables the applicationto provide a unified interface for PKCS #11-compliant cryptographic devices.

PKISee Public Key Infrastructure (PKI).

Platform as a Service (PaaS)A category of cloud computing services thatprovides a platform allowing customers to develop,run, and manage applications without thecomplexity of building and maintaining theinfrastructure typically associated with developingand launching an app.

PLCSee power-line carrier (PLC).

PLGSee power light gradient (PLG).

plug sensorSee smart plug.

plug-in electric vehicle (PEV)Any vehicle that can be recharged from an externalsource of electricity, such as wall sockets, and theelectricity stored in the rechargeable battery packsdrives or contributes to drive the wheels. PEV is asubset of electric vehicles that includes all-electric,or battery electric vehicles (BEVs), and plug-inhybrid electric vehicle (PHEV).

plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV)An automobile which combines a gasoline or dieselengine with an electric motor and a largerechargeable battery. Unlike conventional hybrids,PHEVS can be plugged-in and recharged from anoutlet, allowing them to drive extended distancesusing just electricity.

PMSee Performance Manager (PM).

PMCRSee pole-mounted cell relay (PMCR).

PN sequenceSee pseudo-noise (PN) sequence.

PoESee Power over Ethernet (PoE).

Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP)A protocol used across physical networks (forexample, cellular networks, fiber-optic networks,phone-line networks, and broadband Internetnetworks) that use different network layer protocolsto establish direct connection and enable networkoperation on the same communication link. PPPcan also provide connection authentication andmessage transmission encryption andcompression.


Glossary O

OpenWay uses PPP in the interface between theConnected Grid Mesh Communications Module(CG-Mesh) and the Application Module in theOpenWay® CENTRON®meter.

poleA column or post where to mount conductors andequipment in a power system. Also known as autility pole.

pole numberThe numerical identifier of the utility pole associatedwith a meter.

Pole SensorA device that, when mounted to utility poles, allowscustomers to monitor pole characteristics such astilt, orientation, and shock/impact from hazardousweather and other events.

pole-mounted cell relay (PMCR)An Itron OpenWay® cell relay that is mounted on autility or light pole. The cell relay contains the cellrelay and cell master components within onehousing. The PMCR is designed to achieve betterradio-frequency local area network (RFLAN)performance by mounting the device at higherelevations on utility poles or other assets. ThePMCR has four antennas that support wide areanetwork (WAN), RFLAN, and Zigbee (2)communications. There are two external connectorsthat are used for power and Ethernet. The externalconnectors are weather-proof when used with Itron-specified cables.

policyThe rules regarding what types of commands arerate-limited, including what privileges certificatespossess. See also rate limitation.

POLRSee provider of last resort (POLR).

polyphaseConsisting of more than one phase.

polyphase meterElectricity watt-hour meters that are used tomeasure energy flow in polyphase currents.Polyphase meters are typically used for commercialand industrial (C&I) service locations, which havehigher demand for power than the conventionalhome. Also called commercial and industrial (C&I)meter.

PONSee positive outage notification (PON).

See power outage notification (PON).

portIn networking, a port is used in conjunction with acomputer address that specifies a process runningon the destination computer.

Portable Operating System Interface(POSIX™)A family of standards, specified by the Institute ofElectrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), tomaintain compatibility among operating systems.POSIX defines a standard operating systeminterface and environment, including a commandinterpreter, or “shell”, and common utility programsto support applications portability at the source codelevel.

positive outage notification (PON)Amessage sent by a device saying it has lostelectric power. PON is a component of Itron’s FixedNetwork technology that enables utilities to detectand locate outages within two minutes, often aheadof customer calls.

POSIX™

See Portable Operating System Interface(POSIX™)

potable waterWater that is of acceptable quality for drinking.

potential transformer (PT ratio)Potential transformers, also known as voltagetransformers (VT), are used to convert high voltages


Glossary O

to safe levels before the high voltages or currentsreach the transformers or meters. The PT ratio isthe voltage ratio between the primary andsecondary windings. The primary winding has agreater number of turns than the secondarywinding. In North America the PT ratio is typicallychosen so that the nominal secondary voltage is120 volts.

powerThe energy transfer rate, typically measured inwatts.

power factor (PF)The ratio of real power (kW) actually used in anelectrical circuit to apparent power (kVA), that is, thepower being drawn from the power source.

power light gradient (PLG)A factor used to address the fact that a 50%dimming level on a light does not necessarilycorrespond to a 50% lamp power output. InCommunications Tester, this is expressed as anattribute for the lamp type and calculated as theratio of change in light level divided by change inpower level. The value is likely to vary for each lightmanufacturer/model. If the value is not known, it isassumed to be 1.

Power MonitorAn Itron application that provides real-time alerts forvoltage sags and swells on monitored endpoints. Toenable monitored endpoints, you create voltageprofiles. A voltage profile establishes high and lowthresholds for line voltage that, if violated, sends atrap to Advanced Metering Manager (AMM) which isforwarded through Java Messaging Service (JMS)to external applications, including voltageoptimization systems. This product has beenimproved and released as SensorIQ® Application.

power out messageSee Last Gasp (LG).

power outage notification (PON)An alert that is sent over the network when a meterloses power. When a meter loses power, it is nolonger able to forward messages from other meters.

In the case of a widespread outage in a radiofrequency (RF) Mesh system, meters that can beheard by the cell relay (at levels 2, 3 and sometimes4) will report loss of power upstream. The metersends three short PONmessages, powered by theenergy stored in the meter's capacitors.

Power Over EnergyAn energy literacy initiative Itron participates infocused on educating, empowering, and motivatingpeople to make smart decisions about howelectricity is used.

Power over Ethernet (PoE)An IEEE 802.3af standard that allows Ethernetcables to supply the power for network deviceswhile they are transmitting data.

power poolTwo or more interconnected utilities that coordinateoperations and resources to meet the utilities'combined load in the most economical and efficientway.

power qualityThe metrics associated with powering andgrounding electronic equipment in a manner that isappropriate for that equipment and compatible withthe service location's wiring system and otherconnected components.

Many polyphase meters are capable of detectingand measuring power quality issues, such as sags,surges, and harmonics.

Power Quality Monitoring (PQM)A technique to monitor sags and swells in real-timeand take action before they result in power qualityviolations or equipment overload. This functionalityis provided through Power Monitor or SensorIQ®Application.

power supply blockAn encoder/receiver/transmitter endpoint (ERT)module component that provides electricity to themodule’s electronic components.


Glossary O

power supply unit (PSU), computerA computer component that converts alternatingpower (AC) electricity to low-voltage regulateddirect current (DC) for the computers electronicparts.

power-line carrier (PLC)A communication system that transmits databetween devices over power lines. Also known aspower-line communications.

PPPSee Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP).

PPVSee purchase price variance (PPV).

PQMSee Power Quality Monitoring (PQM).

preferred Access PointSee primary Access Point (AP).

Preferred Roaming List (PRL)A database residing in a code division multipleaccess (CDMA) device that contains the informationthe device needs to obtain service outside of thedevice's home network. Information in the PRLincludes but is not limited to, service provideridentifiers and the radio frequency bands over whichthe device scans for alternative service providers. InItron cell relays, the activation process updates thePRL after the cell relay is installed or relocated.

premise IDA unique numeric service address identifier,including the apartment or suite.

premises / premiseA physical location, such as a building, complex, orstreet address where metering equipment isinstalled. A customer’s premises may have one ormore service points. However, the term premisesrefers to a physical location, whereas service pointrefers to the service delivery location. In most billing

systems, premises acts as a constant identifier for aphysical location, unchanging over time.

The term premise is incorrectly used throughoutItron. The correct term is premises, which is alwaysplural. Suggested alternative terms are, premises,location, or site.

prepaid meteringUtility metering business model that requiresadvance payment to the utility by the customerbefore the utility can be used. Requires a prepaidmeter (sometimes called a prepayment meter) to beinstalled at the service location.

prepayment meteringUtility metering business model that requiresadvance payment to the utility by the customerbefore the utility can be used. Requires a prepaidmeter (sometimes called a prepayment meter) to beinstalled at the service location.

pre-shared key (PSK)A key that has previously been shared between twoparties over a secure channel.

pressure compensation (PCOMP) factorA value programmed into an endpoint tocompensate for the effect of atmospheric pressureon recorded consumption.

pressure compensation multiplier(PCOMP)A static multiplier value applied to the result of(pulse count * count rate) and is delivered in units of1/10000 of an engineering unit. There are a fewdifferent uses of PCOMP in various endpoints.Sometimes PCOMP is a static pressurecompensation value applied to families of metersand/or meter locations within a service territory.PCOMP is applied to compensate for a generalizedpressure of the commodity within the distributionline. Sometimes PCOMP is an error correctionmultiplier used to compensate for a knowndifference between pulse count and actualconsumed volume.

This should not be confused with Fixed Factorbilling where pressure is recorded or defined for


Glossary O

certain customers and is applied to the indexconsumption reading in the customer informationsystem (CIS). The rate is factored into the multiplierthat the end customer would see on an invoice.

pressure regulatorA device that maintains a level of pressure in a fluidflow line, regardless of the rate of flow in the line orthe change in upstream pressure.

previous demandThe maximum demand (peak demand) from themost recently completed interval. See also demand.

price capA level above which regulated prices may not rise.

price responseThe reduction of electrical consumption at thecustomer level in response to wholesale electricityprice signals.

price signalsAs managed by Itron through the HANCommunications Manager (HCM) application, pricesignals indicate to customers, typically through HANdevices, changes in their utility's rates for electricity.This helps customers to know about or respond torate changes, so they can limit expenses byreducing or shifting their use during high-costperiods.

price transparencyMarket prices to generate and transmit service tothe public. This allows customers to know howmuch they will pay for power supply andtransportation in a deregulated market.

pricecastAmessage used to send price and other informationto thermostats, which allows utilities to call specialpricing events and have thermostats react in anautomated fashion to help save customers money,and reduce peak usage for the utility. Customersare offered lower off peak rates in exchange forinstalling these connected thermostats. Pricecastruns at least once daily throughout the year, as

prices can change even during peak/winter seasonsdue to block raterate plans are affected, or VPPevent, which affects only customers on VPP rateplans. VPP events indicate periods of the day thatdo not have off-peak pricing set, and they can beLow, Standard, High, or Critical.

primary Access Point (AP)The best performing, most reliable Access Point asdetermined by the endpoint device. Also known asthe preferred Access Point. See also secondaryAccess Point (AP).

printed circuit board assembly (PCBA)The process of joining the wirings on a printedcircuit board with electronic parts.

private keyThe unpublished key in a cryptographic system thatuses two keys for encryption and decryption. Whenencryption keys must be negotiated, key agreementtakes place by combining one public key with aprivate key from another key pair over a secureassociation. See also root key.

PRLSee Preferred Roaming List (PRL).

processedIndicates whether the specific functionality hasreached its completion.

product business unit (PBU)Itron's product business units include:■ Devices■ Networks■ Outcomes

Product Security Incident ResponseTeam (PSIRT)A team dedicated to Cisco® security intelligenceoperations. PSIRT manages the receipt,investigation, and public reporting of securityvulnerability information related to Cisco productsand networks.


Glossary O

programA group of related projects and activities managedin a coordinated way to achieve a single set ofsystem-level requirements. Programs may alsoinclude elements of related work outside the scopeof the discrete projects in the program.

program sealA hash value of the meter program used to uniquelyidentify meter programs. Any change detected inthe seal indicates a legitimate re-programming ofthe meter, tampering, or damage.

programmable communicatingthermostat (PCT)A thermostat that can be programmed by the user torespond to user time and temperature preferencesand can communicate with the utility. It can also beprogrammed to respond to control heating,ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC)components based on utility-determined grid-levelsystem emergencies, demand response programs,and pricing events to modify demand during peaktimes.

projectA standalone endeavor with a definite beginningand end undertaken to create a complete product,service, or requirement set. Projects within aProgram are related through the common outcomeor collective capability to fulfil a single set of system-level requirements. A project may or may not be partof a program but a program will always haveprojects. If the relationship between projects is onlythat of a shared client, seller, technology, orresource, the effort should be managed as acollection of projects rather than as a program.

projected demandThe estimated maximum demand (peak demand)that a meter will accumulate by the end of thecurrent interval. See also demand.

promiscuous network IDA network node that uses the promiscuous networkID can join any other network and accept packetsfrom any other node. Similarly, any node can accept

packets from a node using the promiscuous networkID.

propagationThe motion of waves through or along a medium.

protocolAn agreed upon format for transmitting databetween two devices. Protocols have rules thatgovern the syntax, semantics, and synchronizationof communication. Protocols may be implementedby hardware, software, or a combination of both.

Protocol for Access, Configuration andTransfer (PACT)A specification for transporting data betweendifferent electricity meter types and the host tariff(billing) system.

Protocol Independent Multicast –Sparse Mode (PIM-SM) protocolA protocol for efficiently routing Internet Protocol(IP) packets to multicast groups that may spanwide-area and inter-domain Internets. The protocolis called “protocol independent” because it is notdependent on any particular unicast routing protocolfor topology discovery, and sparse-mode because itis suitable for groups where a very low percentageof the nodes (and their routers) will subscribe to themulticast session.

Protocol Specification for ElectricityMeters (PSEM)A protocol commonly used with North Americanmeters as the interface between the meter andautomatic meter reading (AMR) communicationsadd-ons. PSEM is part of the C12.18 ANSI standardfor electricity meters. Also known as ProtocolStandards for Electricity Meters.

Protocol Specification for ElectricityMeters X (PSEMX)A variation of the PSEM protocol that allows for thelogon, security, and read/write services to beencrypted and authenticated to removing thepossibility of simple packet tampering and replay.


Glossary O

This authentication allows the meter to verify thathighly important messages such as servicedisconnect originate from the back office. See alsoProtocol Specification for Electricity Meters (PSEM).

provider of last resort (POLR)A utility that is legally designated to provide serviceto a customer that other suppliers have declined toserve.

provisionSee join.

provisioned [OW]The state of a device that has been authenticated tocommunicate with the OpenWay® CollectionEngine over an OpenWay® network.

provisioningIn Field Deployment Manager (FDM), the process ofinstalling, configuring, or updating the mobilesoftware application.

provisioningIn OpenWay, the process of preparing meters fordeployment into an OpenWay® radio frequency(RF) Mesh network. Meters that have completed theprovisioning process have embedded security keys,certificates, and an assigned service set identifier(SSID).

Provisioning API (PAPI)An Itron component used with Street Light Adapter(SLA) that enables device provisioning to supportadditions, moves, and changes to devices in thefield through Central Management Software (CMS)applications.

PSEMSee Protocol Specification for Electricity Meters(PSEM).

PSEMXSee Protocol Specification for Electricity Meters X(PSEMX).

pseudo-noise (PN) sequenceA preamble or introductory bit sequence transmittedto an endpoint in a wake-up tone, allowing theendpoint to predict when it should turn on itsreceiver.

PSIRTSee Product Security Incident Response Team(PSIRT).

PSKSee pre-shared key (PSK).

PSUSee power supply unit (PSU), computer.

PTOSee Pick to Order (PTO).

P2PSee peer-to-peer (P2P).

public (asymmetric) key encryptionA cryptographic system that uses a key pair—apublic key and a mathematically related private key.The public key can be shared and is used to encryptthe data. The private key is known only to therecipient of the encrypted message and is used todecrypt it. This system enables users of unsecurednetworks to securely exchange data.

Also called asymmetric key encryption.

public keyA key that is bound into a digital certificate or otherdigitally signed object. It is often the public part of anasymmetric key pair that is typically used to verifysignatures or encrypt data. The public key may bewidely distributed. Data encrypted with the publickey can only be decrypted with the correspondingprivate key. Public keys are bound into X.509 digitalcertificates in a predefined hierarchy. See alsoprivate key.


Glossary O

public key cryptography standards(PKCS)Standards that are devised and published by RSALaboratories and which relate to RSA asymmetrickey algorithms, to promote and facilitate the use ofpublic key techniques.

public key hash valueA value used in a public key algorithm to encryptmessages by turning a variable-sized amount of textinto a fixed-sized output (hash value). Hashfunctions are used in creating digital signatures,hash tables, and short text condensations foranalysis purposes.

One example of a public key hash value is the digitalsignature that is created through the SHA-256algorithm (called a hash function) and used to verifythe correct six public keys are installed in anOpenWay® CENTRON®meter.

Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)A framework for creating a secure method forexchanging information based on public keycryptography. The foundation of PKI is theCertificate Authority (CA), which issues digitalcertificates that authenticate the identity oforganizations and individuals over a public system.The certificates are also used to sign messages,which ensures that messages have not beentampered with.

Public Utilities Commission (PUC)A state regulatory agency that establishes andoversees policy guidelines and provides direction topublic utilities.

publishingThe method that HAN Communications Manager(HCM) uses to push new energy rates to an EnergyServices Interface (ESI).

PUCSee Public Utilities Commission (PUC).

pulseThe raw units electricity meters record. Pulses areconverted into watthours.

pulse multiplication factorSee Secure Copy (SCP).

pulse weightThe number of cubic feet of gas per rotation of thegas meter wriggler, or per signal from the pulser.

pulser-type ERT® moduleAn encoder/receiver/transmitter (ERT) module thatcalculates consumption by counting a meterregister’s pulses or switch closures. In contrast, anencoded register-type ERT module getsconsumption data from a meter by readingmessages sent by a meter index containing thedata.

purchase price variance (PPV)The difference between the standard or budgetedprice per unit of an item or service and the amountactually paid multiplied by the number of unitsbought.

PuTTYA free and open-source terminal emulation softwareprogram and network file transfer application.Microsoft Windows users use PuTTY to securelyconnect to remote computers over the Internet,using Telnet and Secure Shell (SSH) networkprotocols. In Itron OpenWay® solutions, PuTTY isused to open a command-line interface tocommunicate with cell relays. In Itron radio-basedfixed network solutions, PuTTY is used to open acommand-line interface to communicate with cellcontrol units (CCUs).

PVSee photovoltaics (PV).

PV inverterAn electrical power converter that transforms thevariable direct current (DC) output of a photovoltaic(PV) solar panel into an alternating current (AC) that


Glossary Q

can be used in an off-grid system or fed into anelectrical grid.

QQASee quality assurance (QA).

QCSee quality control (QC).

QoSSee Quality of Service (QoS).

quality assurance (QA)The maintenance of a desired level of quality in aservice or product, especially by means of attentionto every stage of the process of delivery orproduction.

quality control (QC)A system of maintaining standards in manufacturedproducts by testing a sample of the output againstthe specification.

Quality of Service (QoS)■ The description or measurement of the overall

performance of a service, such as a computernetwork or a cloud computing service,particularly the performance seen by the usersof the network.

■ Amethod of prioritizing network traffic. TheCisco radio frequency (RF) Mesh network usesstandard Internet Protocol (IP)-based QoS tosupport multiple types of data traffic flows. Datapackets are marked and prioritized enablingmission critical applications to be prioritizedover data collection or firmware downloads. Inthe OpenWay® SR 5.0 solution, anadministrator uses QoS to set traffic priorityduring installation of the OpenWay® CollectionEngine.

queueA list. In Advanced Metering Manager (AMM), a listof meters associated with a schedule is referred to

as a queue. In general computing, a queue can be alist of commands to execute one by one.

R

RabbitMQ™ SoftwareA lightweight open-source message broker softwarethat implements the Advanced Message QueuingProtocol (AMQP) and other protocols.

RACSee real application clustering (RAC).

radio access network (RAN)The part of a mobile telecommunication system thatconnects a device such as a mobile phone,computer, or any remotely controlled machine to acore network via a radio connection.

In Itron’s Fixed Network, the communicationnetwork connecting cell control units (CCUs) toendpoints is a RAN.

radio carrier frequencyThe radio frequency used by a data collectiondevice to transmit a wake-up tone to anencoder/receiver/transmitter (ERT) module. ERTmodules that use wake-up tones wait until theyreceive a wake-up tone before transmitting theirmeter reading and tamper data in a standardconsumption message (SCM). To wake up an ERTmodule, a data collection device emits a utility-specific wake-up tone using a radio frequency of952 MHz or 956 MHz. Each ERT module canreceive a range of carrier frequencies but onlyresponds to the wake-up tone it is programmed torecognize. A utility must receive a license from theFederal Communications Commission (FCC) orIndustry Canada (IC) for a specific carrier radiofrequency to legally operate a data collection deviceat that frequency.

radio frequency (RF)The rate of oscillation of transmitting waves of agiven radio message or broadcast. RF is theelectromagnetic field generated by AC current thatis suitable for wireless communications.


Glossary Q

radio-frequency communications blockAn encoder/receiver/transmitter (ERT) modulecomponent that receives a wake-up signal from andtransmits data to a data collection device.

Radio-Frequency Configuration Tool(RFCT)The configuration tool used by Itron international RFdevices to configure them. It is used to read,configure and check radio devices like: AnyQUestCyble, EverBlu Cyble, Cyble 5, RF Option Board,and Intelis™Water Meter.

radio-frequency local area network(RFLAN)An Itron-proprietary local area network (LAN)consisting of an OpenWay® cell relay and theCENTRON®meters that communicate with itthrough radio frequency connections. Each cellrelay can support up to 2000 meters. Connectivitybetween a meter and a cell relay can be direct,through another smart meter, or through multiplelayers of smart meters. The RFLAN network isdynamic and self-healing. If the connection betweena meter and a cell relay is broken or blocked, themeter locates another connection path through thenetwork mesh to the cell relay.

RADIUSSee Remote Authentication Dial-in User Service(RADIUS).

RAIDSee redundant array of independent disks (RAID).

RAMSee random access memory (RAM).

RANSee radio access network (RAN).

random access memory (RAM)A type of computer memory, usually in the form ofsemi-conductor chips, that the central processingunit (CPU) and other devices write information toand read information from. Information in RAM can

be accessed randomly, in any order, without regardto the order in which it is stored. RAM normallyholds data only while the computer is turned on andloses it when the computer is turned off.

Random phase multiple access (RPMA)A combination of technologies owned by Ingenuwhich are designed for wireless machine-to-machine communication.

Range ExtenderAn additional node in a network that builds densityor extends the perimeter of the existing network.

rate baseThe value of assets and property on which a utility ispermitted to earn a specific rate of return. Rate baseis usually established for a utility by a regulatorybody such as the Public Utilities Commission(PUC).

rate limitationRefers to a limitation of the number of criticalcommand that can be issued within a configuredlength of time to protect the security of the powergrid. Disconnect and connect are examples ofcritical commands that can only be issued byindividuals authorized to do so.

rate planSee regulated price plan (RPP).

rate structureThe various rates charged by a utility for itsservices.

rate thresholdA sliding window of time during which permits canbe issued and, correspondingly, users can issue avalid critical command, such as a disconnection ofservice. After this time limit has expired, nopermitissued.

raw materials inventory (RMI)The total cost of all product components in stockthat have not been and are not yet being used tomanufacture the product.


Glossary Q

RBACSee role based access control (RBAC)

RDBMSSee relational database management system(RDBMS).

reachableThe ability to send and receive data to and from ameter. A reachable meter is usually readable.However, a meter may be reachable with smallpacket sizes, but may not be readable with thelarger packet sizes necessary for a successful read.

reactive energyThe electrical energy produced, flowing, or suppliedby an electric circuit during a time interval,measured in units of kilovolt-ampere reactive hours(kVARh) or standard multiples thereof. It is theintegral of reactive power with respect to time.

reactive powerThe dissipated power resulting from inductive andcapacitive loads measured involt-amperes reactive(VAR) and symbolized by the letter Q.

In electrical grid systems, the power that flows backfrom a destination toward the grid in an alternatingcurrent scenario. In a direct current system, thevoltage and load is static, and the direction ofenergy is "one way," but in alternating current, thereare different phases.

For sinusoidal quantities in a two-wire circuit,reactive power is the product of the voltage, thecurrent, and the sine of the phase angle betweenthem with the current taken as reverence. In apolyphase circuit, it is the sum of the reactivepowers of the individual phases.

The following figure is the Power Triangle. ThePower Triangle relates true (P), reactive (Q), andapparent power (S) in trigonometric form.

Reactive power is also known as phantom power orwattless power. See also kVAR lead.

read (meter read)The collection of usage data from a meter.Collections of meter reads are referred to as readdata.

read schedulesDefined time periods within which meter readingsare collected.

read success rate (RSR)Percentage of meter reads saved to the relationaldatabase management system (RDBMS) during a24 hour period. For example, the default intervalschedule reads meters every two hours or 12 timesper day. If a meter is read 11 times, the RSR is 92%.

The RSR is a useful metric for determining thereachability of a meter during various times of day.This data determines at what times of day meterreachability declines so administrators can planschedules accordingly. Unlike BSR, which is ametric for successfully completed, intact meterreads that correspond to a business rule (completedreads from midnight to midnight), RSR is a metricfor meter reads per schedule. See also billingsuccess rate (BSR) and message success rate(MSR).

readerA cell control unit (CCU or collector) or repeater inan Itron Fixed Network system.

ready to secureA security level employed by ChoiceConnect™endpoints that support enhanced security, such asItron’s 100 series endpoints. In ready-to-securemode enhanced security is not enabled and the


Glossary Q

endpoint employs only the kind of basic securityfeatures supported by Itron’s earlier endpoint types.

real application clustering (RAC)A shared disk clustering technology that is used torun multiple databases instances against shareddata files. over multiple hardware systems. UsingRAC, multiple hardware systems in the clusterappear as a single database to the application. Mostoften refers to Oracle RAC, which is Oracle'spremier disk clustering technology.

real time pricing (RTP)Enables frequent price adjustments based on real-time market conditions. Prices may change hourly,with one-hour or one-day notice, and are based onactual wholesale prices or on statistical models thatforecast wholesale prices. Customers are notified inadvance of the price change, allowing them time tocurtail demand. See also critical peak pricing (CPP)and time of use (TOU).

real-time clock (RTC)A computer clock, usually an integrated circuit, thatkeeps track of the current time.

real-time dataReal-time or near-real-time data collection is theability to collect data automatically on demand, andhave the data analyzed immediately to effectmonitoring and control decisions. This can be datadirectly collected from the meter (real-time) orlogically derived from data in the database (near-real-time). Real-time or near-real- time datacollection is a key component of Smart GridTechnology.

real-time pricingElectricity rates that reflect the actual moment-by-moment cost of providing electricity.

reboot counterThis counter, which resides within the Last Gasp(LG) trap having preceded it, due to the LG traphaving been lost.

received signal strength indicator(RSSI)A circuit that measures and indicates the strength ofan incoming (received) signal in a receiver. Acommon example is the signal strength indicator ona cell phone.

reclosureIn an electric utility distribution system, functionalityexecuted by a recloser, which automatically opensand closes a circuit in response to a temporaryinterruption, such as a lightening strike, so that thefuse does not have to be replaced.

Recommended Standard 232 (RS-232)A series of telecommunications standards for theelectrical characteristics of data terminal equipmentconnectors, such as computers; and remotedevices such as modems, printers, and displayscreens.

Characteristics defined in the standards includeserial binary single-ended data and control signaltiming, connector pinout meaning and signaldirection, and the number of pinouts and theirphysical size and arrangement on the connector.

reconfigurationIn the context of a system, device, orapplication: rearranging elements and settings.

In the context of OpenWay, specified variablesbeing written to the meter. Items not specified arenot set to empty or written from program data.

recorderA device that records a metered quantity, such asan ERT® (encoder-receiver-transmitter radio-basedmodule) or an interval data recorder. A meter canhave multiple internal or external recording devices.

Recorders are devices that log load profile data.Other terms for recorders are loggers, data loggers,data recorders, or recording devices. Recorders canoften be called, or will initiate a call, remotelythrough a modem or other communicationstechnology.


Glossary Q

recorder-under-glass (RUG)A type of electric meter in which the meter andinterval data recorder (IDR) are combined in onedevice. The recorder identifier (ID), manufacturer,and model are the same as the meter's.

Recorder-under-glass (RUG) is also called acombined meter.

recovery keyAn asymmetric, elliptic curve cryptography (ECC)key that consists of a public and a privatecomponent and is unique to each OpenWay®CENTRON®meter. A recovery key is placed ineach meter during manufacturing and used to provethe meter’s authenticity to the OpenWay® CollectionEngine (CE) when the meter attempts to register.Recovery keys are also used to encrypt messagessent to meters containing other types of keys.

recovery point objective (RPO)An amount of time, as determined by the utility, thatdefines the point in time to which data must berecovered after an outage. The number of minutesthat an energy provider determines is an acceptableloss of data. For example, if the utility determinesthat their RPO is 15 minutes, then after the systemrecovers from a failure, data must to be restored towithin 15 minutes of the beginning of the failure. Thedata must be restored to within 15 minutes of thebeginning of the failure, even if it took longer than 15minutes for the system to be restored. The RPO isnot how long the system can be down, but theacceptable amount of data that can be forfeitedduring the down-time.

redundancyThe number of readers that reported for a repeateror endpoint on a given day. For example, if two cellcontrol units (CCUs) and one repeater reported foran endpoint during the reporting day, the endpointhas a redundancy of three.

redundant array of independent disks(RAID)Amethod of storing the same data in differentplaces (thus, redundantly) on multiple hard disks.

reference electrodeAn electrical conductor with a stable and well-knownelectrode potential. The high stability of theelectrode potential results from a redox system withconstant concentrations of each component of theredox reaction. A reference electrode is used as ahalf cell to build an electrochemical cell.

reflectionWhen a propagating wave impinges on an objectwhich is large compared to its wavelength andbounces off.

regional transmission organization(RTO)An independent organization that coordinates,controls, and monitors the operation of the electricalpower system and supply in a particular geographicarea; similar to an independent system operator.

registerThe component of an electricity, gas, or water meterthat records consumption. There are five registertypes in the OpenWay®meter: Energy, Demand,Instantaneous, Self-Read, and Information.

registerA readable device within a meter. For example, thedemand or usage register read to calculate billing.

register multiplierA programmable value used by a meter to calculatethe energy and demand readings it displays or usesas a custom multiplier for special billing systemrequirements. For the OpenWay® CENTRON, theregister multiplier is set to 1.00 and cannot be editedin the Collection Engine.

register readRefers to a meter’s register information beingtransmitted across the network for use in the utilityback office. For example, for billing purposes.

register settingsConfigurable parameters that define intervallengths, power outage recognition time, cold load


Glossary Q

pickup time, and other settings. An endpoint mustregister with the OpenWay® Collection Enginebefore communications can begin. See also registeroperation parameters.

registeredThe state of a device or user authorized to accessprogram resources. The device or user mustprovide credentials to authenticate identity.

RegistrarA software component and Dynamic domain namesystem (DNS) server with a primary purpose tocollect network registration and update notices fromNIC-enabled devices sent using the DDNS protocoland to handle look-up requests per the DNS RFC(RFC1035). Its secondary purpose is to collectstatistics from activity of the devices and to providethose statistics through a Representational StateTransfer (REST) web service interface. See alsoRepresentational State Transfer (REST).

regulated price plan (RPP)An electricity pricing plan that provides stable andpredictable electricity pricing, encouragesconservation and ensures that the price consumerspay for electricity best reflects the price paid togenerators.

relational database managementsystem (RDBMS)A program that allows you to create, update, andadminister a relational database. Most relationaldatabase management systems use the SQLlanguage to access the database and data isorganized into tables. Oracle is an example of anRDBMS.

RelayA device on a network used to extend the reach of anetwork. Relays are typically placed high for bestline-of-sight to meters, and can be plugged intophotocell sockets on light poles. Normally, severalmeters are associated with each Relay and severalRelays are associated with an Access Point (AP).

Meters can also act as a Relay. Referred to asrepeaters in utility and other networks. See alsoreachable.

Remote Authentication Dial-in UserService (RADIUS)A distributed client/server protocol and softwareproviding centralized authentication, authorization,and accounting (AAA) management to securenetworks against unauthorized access.

remote CHAP passwordSee Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol(CHAP).

remote deviceA device controlled by a master device. A remotedevice is typically deployed as an edge networkdevice, while a master device is typically deployedas a core device. Previously known as a slavedevice.

remote disconnectDisconnecting a device from the back office (insteadof at the psychical site location of the device)

remote provisioningSee remote service management (RSM).

remote service management (RSM)Refers to any job that acts on the remotedisconnect, remote service, load control, or auxiliaryswitches.

remote terminal unit (RTU)A device that interfaces objects in the physical worldto a distributed control system or SupervisoryControl And Data Acquisition (SCADA) bytransmitting telemetry data to the system and/oraltering the state of connected objects based oncontrol messages received from the system. Seealso intelligent electronic device (IED).

Repeater 100A component of Itron ChoiceConnect™ systemsthat continuously forwards meter data from nearbyendpoints to a ChoiceConnect™ Cell Control Unit


Glossary Q

100 (CCU 100). The CCU, in turn, sends theinformation to fixed network or mobile collectionapplication software. Repeaters communicate withgas and electric endpoints and the CCU in the 900MHz radio band.

replay attackA form of a network attack in which a valid datatransmission is maliciously repeated or delayed. Forexample, repeatedly sending a fraudulent messageto another meter to attempt to retrieve informationfrom that meter.

report listThe list of devices for which a cell control unit (CCU)or repeater is configured to relay reads. If a CCU orrepeater has a report list, it filters out readings for alldevices not on the list.

reporting dayThe 24-hour period from midnight to midnight, UTC.

Representational State Transfer (REST)A style of software architecture for distributedhypermedia systems such as the web.

re-queueWhen Advanced Metering Manager (AMM), orrequeues it, and polls the next meter in the queue.

When the schedule reaches the end of the queue, itstarts again with re-queued meters. See alsoretries.

reserve marginThe amount of unused available capability of anelectric power system at peak demand for a utilitysystem, expressed as a percentage of totalcapability.

residential inclining block (RIB)A rate schedule for residential utility customersunder which a higher rate is charged forconsumption over a specified amount per billingperiod. It is intended to encourage conservation.

residential meterA watt-hour meter used to measure energy flow in asingle phase of multiple currents fluctuating inunison. Single-phase meters are typically used forresidential and light commercial service locations.Also called single-phase meter.

RESTSee Representational State Transfer (REST).

restore time objective (RTO)During a period when data is being recovered,measures the amount of time that an organizationwill not have access to a category of data.

result setData in tabular form displayed on the screen. Forexample, if a user performs a search for all metersof a particular model, all the meters that displayconstitute the result set.

retriesWhen a schedule is unable to read a meter on thefirst try, all subsequent attempts to read the meterare retries.

return materials authorization (RMA)Part of the process that allows a customer to returna material, product, or goods to the manufacturer fora refund, replacement, or repair. The RMA providesthe customer and the manufacturer with a trackableauthorization number for the return. Also calledreturn merchandise authorization and returnmerchandise agreement.

return-to-utility (RTU) work orderA work order with a problem or issue that prevents afield service representative (FSR) from completing itand which therefore requires attention by personnelat the utility’s main office.

reverse flowOccurs when a meter runs backwards. Either themeter was installed backward, which would result ina consistently decrementing read, or flow is actuallybeing generated into the meter. Reverse flowconditions could indicate a stuck or defective meter


Glossary Q

or register. Electric and water endpoints may becapable of reporting reverse flow.

reverse power flowWhen power flows in the opposite direction from itsusual flow.

RFSee radio frequency (RF).

RFCTSee Radio-Frequency Configuration Tool (RFCT).

RF MeshA dynamic and self-healing Cisco® proprietarymesh network consisting of a cell relay and thesmart meters that communicate with it through radiofrequency connections.

RF2NetAn Itron technology research project, completed in2004, to develop a two-way communicationsnetwork that is self-forming, self-healing, andscalable.

RFLANSee radio-frequency local area network (RFLAN).

RFLAN processorAn OpenWay® CENTRON®meter’s processor formanaging its interface to the radio-frequency localarea network (RFLAN).

RIBSee residential inclining block (RIB).

rich clientA computer or program that requests data, files, orservices or accesses shared network resourcesfrom a server computer or program. Of the clientclasses, rich client, hybrid client, and thin client, arich client relies upon the server for little to no dataprocessing. Most rich client functions can beperformed without a connection to the server.

rightsizingAnalysis of consumption data recorded by a meterto determine if the meter is of the correct capacity tomeasure that level of consumption.

Rivest-Shamir-Adleman (RSA)An algorithm for public-key cryptography that can beused for both encryption and signing.

RMASee return materials authorization (RMA).

RMISee raw materials inventory (RMI).

RMSSee root mean square (RMS).

Robot ToolkitA Java-based framework that offers scripts thatremediate a variety of application-layer networkproblems by examining and acting on theCommunication Module (NIC) of an endpoint. Robotallows users to run batches of network librarycommands against a list of meters.

roleRoles define functional security within a softwareapplication, controlling what actions a user can take.For example, you might assign some users to view-only roles for reports, while other users can alsocreate and schedule reports.

role based access control (RBAC)An access control mechanism where accesspermissions apply to groups of individuals that havebeen assigned the same role. Typical roles areadministrator, user, and operator.

rolling demand intervalAmethod of measuring power or other quantities bytaking measurements within fixed intervals of thedemand period.


Glossary Q

root keyThe top-level public key/private key pair of theCertificate Authority (CA). If the private part of theroot key is ever discovered, all the certificatesissued under that key pair are compromised.

root mean square (RMS)A statistical measure of the magnitude of an ACsignal or peak modulation.

rotations per minute (RPM)For gas meters, the number of rotations per minuteof the wriggler, or per signal from the pulser.

round-robin DNSA load-balancing method in which multiple serverstake turns responding to network requests. A round-robin domain name server (DNS) algorithmcontinuously directs network traffic to the servernext in line, regardless of the number ofconnections.

routeThe route from an endpoint to an egress device,usually an Access Point (AP) or a Bridge Master.Routes are discovered dynamically. However, whenperforming an On Demand ping in AdvancedMetering Manager (AMM), users can specify a one-time route that is discarded after use.

route costSee path cost.

route IDAmeter reading route identification numberincluding area number, route number, and cyclenumber.

Router RulesAn installable set of routing rules for each Itronapplication that uses them. Routing rules determinewhether a trap is published to a JMS queue.

rpmSee rotations per minute (RPM).

RPMASee Random phase multiple access (RPMA).

RPOSee recovery point objective (RPO).

RPPSee regulated price plan (RPP).

RS-232See Recommended Standard 232 (RS-232).

RSASee Rivest-Shamir-Adleman (RSA).

RSMSee remote service management (RSM).

RSRSee read success rate (RSR).

RSSISee received signal strength indicator (RSSI).

RTCSee real-time clock (RTC).

RTO■ See regional transmission organization (RTO)■ See restore time objective (RTO)

RTPSee real time pricing (RTP).

RTUSee remote terminal unit (RTU).

See return-to-utility (RTU) work order.

RTU work orderSee return-to-utility (RTU) work order.


Glossary S

rubber duck antennaAn antenna designed for indoor use and testingpurposes only in conjunction with an Itron Bridge. Itis suited for 900MHz ISM band applications, as wellas 900MHz cellular applications. The rubber duckantenna has a tilt-and-swivel SMA-male connector,allowing it to be aligned at any angle.

RUGSee recorder-under-glass (RUG).

ruleA user-defined limit that allows or denies permits forload-shedding events and critical command.

runA schedule run consists of the initial attempt and allretries of all meters associated with the schedule,plus the initial attempt and all retries of requeuedmeters.

rural electric cooperativeA nonprofit, customer-owned electric utility thatdistributes power in a rural area.

SSASee secure association (SA).

SaaSSee Software as a Service (SaaS).

SaaS Detection and Response(SaaSDR)A product offering of Qualys®, SaaSDR is a securityand compliance platform used to give anorganization continuous visibility into alltheirSoftware as a Service (SaaS) applications andfix security and compliance issues.

SACSee signing application core (SAC).

SACUSee signing application core utility (SACU).

sag and swellWhen voltage increases or decreases.

SAIDISee System Average Interruption Duration Index(SAIDI)

SAIFISee System Average Interruption Frequency Index(SAIFI).

Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP)An integrated business management processthrough which the executive/leadership teamcontinually achieves focus, alignment andsynchronization among all functions of theorganization.

salt shaker antennaAn antenna that works with Access Point (AP)s andMeter Antenna Couplers for both GSM and CDMAnetworks to ensure uninterrupted video and datatransmissions in urban canyons and rural drop-offareas.

SAMSee FSU-Secure Access Manager (FSU-SAM).

SAMLSee security assertion markup language (SAML).

SANSee storage area network (SAN).

S&OPSee Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP).

Satellite Access Point (AP)An device ID that enables Itron to read smart metersin areas where cellular service is not available.

SaturneA solution which enables utilities to collect andmanage a wide range of residential and C&I meterdata. It is an enterprise solution build on openstandards and designed to provide a secure, highly


Glossary S

scalable and flexible platform for advanced meterdata collection. Saturne collects and analyzes dataincluding load profile, multi-tariff billing registers,meter status information, events and alarms forreporting and export.

SBR PMR Management Tool (SPMT)A software tool that performs update functions onSocket Based Routers (SBRs) and Pole MountRouters (PMRs).

sBridgeA device that uses multiple serial connections toprovide robust, two-way RF standards-basedcommunications to support Distribution Automation(DA).

SCADASee Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition(SCADA).

scalabilityThe ability, ease, and cost effectiveness with whicha solution, network, or process can increaseworkload with its existing architecture, cloudresources, and hardware resources.

scale factorIn Advanced Metering Manager (AMM), convertsthe value read from the meter (such as deciwatthours) to engineering units (such as kWh).

SCEPSee Simple Certificate Enrollment Protocol (SCEP).

scheduleDetermines what meters are read and when. Aschedule consists of a start date and time, anoptional end date and time, and a list of devices thatwill be read when the schedule executes. See alsorun and billing cycle.

SCM/SCM+See standard consumption message (SCM/SCM+).

SCPSee Secure Copy (SCP).

SCTSee standard completion time (SCT).

SDEESee Security Device Event Exchange (SDEE)Protocol .

SDKSee software development kit (SDK).

seasonA configurable amount of time that a rate scheduleis in effect. In OpenWay, season start dates areconfigured in the format MM/DD (Month/Day).

secondary Access Point (AP)The next best performing, most reliable device ID.

seconds since last reboot (SSLR)Seconds since last reboot. This is how long the NIChad been running at the time of the event thatcaused it to reboot.

securable deviceAn endpoint or network component that supportssecurity, regardless of whether it is secured or not.This includes devices such as the 100W ERTmodule, for which earlier phases do not supportsecurity but current phases do.

Secure Access ManagerSee FSU-Secure Access Manager (FSU-SAM).

secure association (SA)A session that conveys a critical command from theback office over the Secure Network Manager portof the NIC firmware in a meter. The firmwareperforms a verification that the command has asigned permit and meets other criteria. Secureassociations use Elliptical Curve (EC) keys forauthentication. Expiration period is configurable inthe back office. See also secure maintenance link .

secure commandA command sent to a secure device that has beenauthenticated and encrypted for that device.


Glossary S

Secure Copy (SCP)Transfers files between local and remote hostsusing the Secure Shell Protocol. See also filetransfer protocol (FTP).

Secure DNSSecure DNS protects the domain name system(DNS) infrastructure. It prevents denial of serviceand rogue actors from changing the DNS.

Secure DNSmay be deployed in two basic modes:■ Static Secure DNS implements the protection

measures using a symmetric secret key that isshared across theenvironment.

■ Dynamic Secure DNS uses the key exchangecapabilities of Itron devices to generate auniqueSecure DNS key for each deviceautomatically.

secure hash algorithm (SHA)An algorithm that turns a variable-sized amount ofdata into a fixed-sized output (hash value) to createdigital signatures. SHA employs cryptographic hashfunctions designed by the United States NationalSecurity Agency (NSA) and published by theNational Institute of Standards and Technology(NIST) as a Federal Information ProcessingStandard. There are three types of SHA algorithms,SHA-0, SHA-1, and SHA-2.

Secure Key Generator (SKG)A software component of the Itron Security Manager(ISM) suite that resides at Itron manufacturingfacilities. The SKG provides cryptographicallysound and randomly generated keys that are placedin Itron's enhanced security-capable devices at themanufacturing facility.

secure key transfer file (SKTF)A secure file used to transfer device keys betweenexternal systems.

The Itron factory generates an SKTF containingsecurity key information for each secured or ready-to-secure C securable device. The SKTF isimported into the destination utility’s Itron SecurityManager (ISM).

secure maintenance linkSimilar to a secure association, but, it differs in thefollowing ways: a) used to send a command fromthe FSU to an endpoint; b) the FSU cannot issue acommand to an endpoint not in the immediatevicinity (for instance, an FSU in Sacramento cannotsend a command to an endpoint in Bakersfield); c) asecure maintenance link expires in one hour unlessthe FSU is idle, in which case, it expires in fiveminutes; d) they use RSA keys, not Elliptical Curve(EC) keys, for authentication. See also secureassociation (SA).

secure network address translation(SecureNAT, SNAT)An extension of the Microsoft®Windows® networkaddress translation (NAT) feature. NAT involvesrewriting the addresses of Internet Protocol (IP)packets as they pass through a router or firewall,substituting a global IP address for the internal IPaddresses. Because the global IP address is validon the Internet, this process lets multiple hosts withprivate IP addresses share a single public IPaddress, while remaining protected by the firewall.

Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)The Internet security protocol used to validate theidentity of a website and create an encryptedconnection for secure data transmission. SSL usesa public key to encrypt data transferred over theSSL connection.

secured endpointAmeter or encoder/receiver/transmitter (ERT)module configured to respond only to secure, orsigned, commands issued by the Itron SecurityManager (ISM).

SecureNAT, SNATSee secure network address translation(SecureNAT, SNAT).

security assertion markup language(SAML)An XML-based format established by theOrganization for the Advancement of Structured


Glossary S

Information Standards (OASIS) for the exchange ofsecurity information between security domains.

security certificateA digital document containing a data set thatuniquely identifies an entity. The certificate is signedby a trusted party, thereby binding the key to theentity. Data contained in a certificate can include(but is not limited to) the certificate's serial number,a signature algorithm, credentials that identify thecertificate user, the certificate validation andexpiration dates, and the public key.

Security Device Event Exchange(SDEE) ProtocolStandard proposed by the International ComputerSecurity Association (ICSA) to specify messagecommunication formats for events that aregenerated by security devices.

security event manager (SEM)A dedicated appliance that tracks, stores, andanalyzes security event data that is generated byother software within the network.

Security Hash Algorithm (SHA)A cryptographic hash function often used to securegovernment agencies. SHA employs cryptographichash functions designed by the United StatesNational Security Agency (NSA) and published bythe National Institute of Standards and Technology(NIST) as a Federal Information ProcessingStandard. There are three types of SHA algorithms,SHA-0, SHA-1, and SHA-2. The most commonlyused version is SHA-1, which is a FederalInformation Processing Standard. See also hashvalue.

security identifier (SID)A unique alphanumeric value of variable length thatis assigned to users and user groups in Windows®operating systems. Access control lists (ACLs) useSIDs to identify these users and user groups and tothen permit or deny actions based on the user anduser group privilege level.

security information and eventmanagement (SIEM)Collection of log data from a network’s hardwareand applications and presentation of a real-timeanalysis of security alerts in a single interface.Through the SIEM interface, the user can organizedata, log security data, respond to attacks, andgenerate reports for compliance purposes.

security levelAny of four security configurations (no enhancedsecurity, ready to secure, command security, or fullsecurity) to which an Itron C enhanced securitycapable device can be set.

security managerThe person responsible for managing a utility’sendpoint security configurations, securecommands, and key exchange commands on theItron Security Manager (ISM) server.

Security Monitoring Tool (SMT)Monitors the application layer of the network forproblems with secure associations andconfiguration settings. System administratorsmonitoring for security anomalies can monitor forthings like the status of sensitive ports; privileges forhard coding devices; and device security levels.

security serverA term used to describe one computer containingboth the OpenWay® decryption and key updateserver (DKUS) and the signing and encryptionserver (SES), usually in smaller OpenWay®deployments.

security stateAny of four security configurations (no enhancedsecurity, ready to secure, command security, or fullsecurity) to which an Itron C enhanced securitycapable device can be set. Also called securitylevel.

security tokenMarkup language representations of claims.Examples of claims include, but are not limited to,names, passwords, identities, certificates, groups,


Glossary S

and privileges. Security token services issuesecurity tokens to clients and are presented byclients to services as part of authentication.

OpenWayWeb Services security provides ageneral-purpose mechanism to associate securitytokens from the OpenWay® Collection Engine (CE)with messages for single-message authentication.

security token service (STS)A service that brokers authentication between aweb service and a client by validating the client’scredentials. After the STS validates the client’scredentials, it issues a security token to the client.When the client then requests direct communicationwith the web service, the web service validates thesecurity token and establishes a security context forthe client.

seed NICNIC on which a new firmware image is uploaded.Each NIC can store two complete images. During afirmware upgrade, the old unused one is deleted tomake space for the new one. The new image isuploaded to about three percent of all NICS. A codefloat enables all non-seed NICs to acquire theimage from any directly neighboring NIC, seed ornon-seed, that has the image. See also code push.

self-readIn electricity meters, when the meter performs a selfread and transfers usage data from ST23 to ST25.A periodic read by a meter of register values which itstores in non-volatile memory for later retrieval bythe OpenWay® Collection Engine or by a meterprogramming and reading application such asItron’s Field-Pro.

SEMSee security event manager (SEM).

sensorA feature that can be enabled on the Itron networkinterface card (NIC) to monitor one or multiple datapoints on the attached device (for example, a meteror load control switch) to facilitate the collection ofdata. This feature is used by SensorIQ®Application. The supported Sensors may varydepending on the device vendor or model.

Available sensor bundles are:■ Rapid DR Telemetry: Supports demand

response at all times of the year with up-to-the-minute data collected on demand response(DR) event performance for all DR customers,and facilitates integration of distributed energyresources

■ Electricity Bundle: Includes voltage,temperature, current, usage, power, and powerfactor Sensors

Sensor NetworkAn Itron open-standards software solution designedto collect and use data from networked sensordevices such as usage, voltage, theft, and energy-audit sensors. The solution enables utilities toaggregate and organize these devices, and toanalyze smart grid data quickly and cost effectively,which is particularly applicable for mission-criticaloperations and for customer engagement. Thesolution can be configured for broad integration andaccess by utility and consumer applications, utilitybusiness systems (such as meter datamanagement (MDM), customer information system(CIS), and billing and operations systems), andthrough Itron networks, home area networks, third-party networks, and legacy systems.

SensorIQ® ApplicationA back-office application for collecting data fromItron-enabled electricity meters, direct-to-griddevices, load control switches, and Zigbee loadcontrol switches that communicate with Itron-enabled devices. The SensorIQ server cluster cancollect sampled data from NICs at regular intervals.SensorIQ provides a critical part of increasinglyimportant utility solutions such as grid-side energyefficiency applications, power quality monitoring,polyphase meter support, and high-frequency datasampling.

Also bundled with SensorIQ is SensorIQWSRoute,the web services routing application used bySensorIQ. Older versions of SensorIQ include DataTransfer Agent (DTA). See also Power Monitor.


Glossary S

SensorIQWSRouteAn Itron component that allows SensorIQ®Application users to route web service calls forSensorIQ. It provides the public API and serves theWSDL and XSD files needed by integration toolingand routes public and legacy API calls. It is requiredby SensorIQ.

SENTINEL®MeterA solid-state, polyphase meter. This self-containedor transformer-rated meter is designed for use withhigh-end commercial and industrial (C&I)customers, including large industrial sites andsubstations.

SEPSee Smart Energy Profile (SEP).

serialized inventoryInventory items that have serial numbers. Serializeditems can be consumable—those that get installedor used, such as endpoints, meters, and leakdetectors—or non-consumable, such as datacollection devices and cell phones.

serverA computer or program that responds to commandsor fills requests for data, files, services, or sharednetwork resources from one or more clientcomputers or programs.

service addressThe mailing address of a meter location.

service-level agreement (SLA)A critical component of technology contractsbetween service providers and customers in whichthe services provided are described, expectationsand metrics for measuring reliability are defined,and issue resolution response times are agreedupon, among other things.

service packRefers to a cumulative set of all hotfixes, securityupdates, updates, and critical updates that addressproblems found in all components of a product sinceits original release. See also hotfix and patch.

service pointA unique identifier associated with a premise ID.There can be multiple service points associated witha premise ID.

The point where a utility service such as electricity,water, or gas physically connects to a servicelocation.

service point IDSee service point.

service set identifier (SSID)A 32-character alphanumeric sequence thatuniquely identifies a wireless local area network(WLAN). For the devices on aWLAN tocommunicate with one another, they must allemploy the same SSID.

service-oriented architecture (SOA)A set of methods and principles for designing anddeveloping software and computer systemarchitecture so that the services are interoperable.SOA services can be distributed over a network tobe combined and reused to create businessapplications.

SESSee signing and encryption server (SES).

SESAASee signing and encryption server authorizationagent (SESAA).

setWhen a device is physically installed and connectedto electricity. Also known as energized.

SHASee Security Hash Algorithm (SHA).

SHA-1The most widely-used cryptographic hash functionof three secure hash algorithms (SHAs) designedby the National Security Agency (NSA) andpublished by the United States National Institute of


Glossary S

Standards and Technology (NIST) as a FederalInformation Processing Standard.

shadowSee dead area.

Shared Services Components (SSC)A set of packaged applications and utilities thatprovide common services to Itron applications.Refer to theGen™X Compatibility andRequirements Matrix for a full list ofSSC components.

SIDSee security identifier (SID).

SIEMSee security information and event management(SIEM).

signing and encryption server (SES)The dedicated appliance responsible for signingcommand messages sent by the OpenWay®Collection Engine (CE) to meters. The SES includesa hardware security module to provide protection forthe signing keys.

signing and encryption serverauthorization agent (SESAA)Signing and encryption server (SES) softwarecomponent that determines whether signingoperations should be performed or denied forsignature requests received from the OpenWay®Collection Engine (CE).

signing application core (SAC)Software component of the Certicom® APIcontained in the OpenWay® signing and encryptionserver (SES) that receives signature requests fromthe application protocol module daemon (APMD) toperform signatures and optionally encryptresponses, which it then sends back to the APMD.

signing application core utility (SACU)A command line configuration utility component inthe OpenWay® signing and encryption server (SES)that provides the interface for configuring the

signing application core (SAC) and providescommands for user administration, key pairoperations, SACmaintenance, and othercommands.

SIM cardA removable integrated circuit that stores data forGSM cellular devices. A subscriber identity module(SIM) card stores device or user information, phonenumber, security keys, and encryption data. Itron'scellular- enabled electricity meters that use theAT&T and Rogers cellular networks contain SIMcards.

Simple Certificate Enrollment Protocol(SCEP)An Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) protocolthat is designed to simplify the issuing andrevocation of digital certificates to make usage morescalable.

simple metering clusterProvides a means to retrieve energy useinformation for individual HAN devices (for example,HAN-enabled meters and load control switches)through Zigbee-based communications. This isused, for example, by HAN CommunicationsManager (HCM) to obtain information not providedthrough standard meter reads. See also home areanetwork (HAN).

Simple Network Management Protocol(SNMP)An Internet standard protocol based on themanager/agent mode that is used for managing andcontrolling devices on Internet Protocol (IP)networks.

Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP)A protocol based on Extensible Markup Language(XML) for the exchange of structured information inthe implementation of web services in computernetworks. Soap can be used over any transportprotocol, such as Hypertext Transfer Protocol(HTTP), HTTP Secure (HTTPS), Simple MailTransfer Protocol (SMTP), and so on.

https://itron.sharepoint.com/sites/product-catalog/Product Documents/GenXCompatibilityRequirementsMatrix.pdf?web=1




Glossary S

single sign-onA session or user authentication process thatpermits a user to enter one name and password toaccess multiple applications.

singlephaseConsisting of only one phase.

singlephase meterA watt-hour meter used to measure energy flow in asingle phase of multiple currents fluctuating inunison. Singlephase meters are typically used forresidential and light commercial service locations.Also called residential meter.

6LoWPANInternet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) over low powerwide area network (LPWAN).

SKGSee Secure Key Generator (SKG).

SKTFSee secure key transfer file (SKTF).

SLASee service-level agreement (SLA).

SLA-AMMA version of Advanced Metering Manager (AMM)developed explicitly for Street Light Adapter (SLA).Its configurations control the interval at which andthe number of times Middle Tier (MT) retriesprogram reads on devices that are initializing.

sleepyA term used to describe home area network (HAN)devices. These devices are inactive (asleep) mostof the time and active (awake) only for short periodswhen sending data or event information up to themeter.

small and medium business (SMB)Refers to small and medium business energy andwater customers. SMB customers typically havefewer than 500 employees, demand of less than 75-

kW, are energy-only metered, and do not usebuilding management systems. Examples of SMBcustomers are restaurants, coffee shops, and start-up companies.

smart cardAmagnetic card with an embedded authenticationchip.

Smart Energy PlatformThe Itron platform based on open Internet Protocol(IP) standards, allowing continuous, two-waycommunication between the utility and devices onthe grid.

Smart Energy Profile (SEP)A low-power public communication standarddeveloped by the Zigbee Alliance that provides thenecessary tools to allow wireless communicationbetween utility companies and common householddevices.

smart gridRefers to technologies that enable a highlycommunicative, predictive, and self-healing utilitygrid.

Smart Grid Sales and Partner SupportAbbreviation of an internal Itron team name.

smart meterAn electric meter that is capable of measuring andrecording usage data in time differentiated registers.The meter allows electric consumers, suppliers, andservice providers to participate in price-baseddemand response (DR) programs and providesdata and functionality to address power qualityissues. Also known as an advanced meter.

Smart Metering Integration Profile(SMIP)Supports the consistent technical implementation ofsmart grid technologies over Internet Protocol (IP)-based networks, which leverage Institute ofElectrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE)-standardcommunication technologies.


Glossary S

Smart NICA universal, smart, communications module withintegrated Adaptive Communications Technology(ACT) designed to be used with third party metervendors.

smart plugAn electrical outlet that can be plugged into astandard wall outlet to turn off or on any connectedelectrical appliance or device. When used inconjunction with a power monitoring softwareapplication, utility consumption of the connecteddevices can be viewed and managed.

Smart Pressure ManagementSee AdvancedWater Management.

Smart Street LightingA solution that allows utilities and municipalities tomanage, control, and monitor, and provide analysisfor streetlights across the Itron mesh network. ItronNICs are installed in streetlight control devices(such as in control nodes in luminaires andcontrollers in cabinets) and communicate throughStreet Light Adapter (SLA) to Central ManagementSoftware (CMS) applications and AdvancedMetering Manager (AMM) for integration with otherItron applications. See also photocell and street lightcontroller.

SMBSee small and medium business (SMB).

SMIPSee Smart Metering Integration Profile (SMIP).

SMTSee Security Monitoring Tool (SMT).

SNATSee secure network address translation(SecureNAT, SNAT).

SNMPSee Simple Network Management Protocol(SNMP).

SNTPSee Simple Network Management Protocol(SNMP).

SOASee service-oriented architecture (SOA).

SOAPSee Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP).

SoapUIAn open-source software suite used for testinginteroperable applications in service-orientedarchitecture (SOA) environments. SoapUI isinstrumental in the development of MultiSpeakmethods for utility system interfaces.

SoCSee System On a Chip (SOC)

See State of Charge (SoC).

SoCSee State of Charge (SoC).

SOCSee System On a Chip (SOC).

SocketAP 5An Itron Access Point (AP) that provides the centralnetwork resource for delivering data generated byendpoint devices at the network edge and IT/OTsystems—enabling high performance applications,network control and monitoring. Its flexiblecommunication features extend the reach andcoverage of the network to hundreds of customersites, and its support for up to 250 endpoints perSocketAP dramatically lowers costs. The SocketAP5 offers multiple paths to each endpoint devicethrough sophisticated mesh network routing thatensures greater reliability and redundancy.

software (SW)Computer programs, which include operatingsystems, applications, networking programs, andcomputer language programs.


Glossary S

Software as a Service (SaaS)A software licensing and delivery model inwhich software is licensed on a subscription basisand is centrally hosted.

software development kit (SDK)A collection of common developer tools presentedin one installable package to facilitate the creation ofapplications. Common tools might include acompiler, debugger, application programminginterfaces (APIs), sample software, documentation,and tutorials. SDKs are normally specific to ahardware platform and operating systemcombination.

Solar Battery Access Point (AP)A device that provides a lower cost backhaul forgas-only and water-only deployments. The devicecommunicates using EFC+ with a limited number ofgas and water meters, and then backhauls the dataover a cellular network. See also Access Point (AP).

solar disconnect switchA switch designed to disconnect a solar array from aservice location that is also connected to the grid.The switch is located between a solar meter and abuilding with an installed utility meter. It is used todisconnect solar power for utility maintenance orother electrical work.

solid state meterAn electronic, multiple-function electric or gas meterthat relies on solid-state circuitry, rather thanmechanical and electromechanical technology, tomeasure energy usage and generate metering datamore accurately and reliably. Solid state meters canmeasure advanced metering functions includingkWh, demand, kVA, and kVAR.

solutionA collection of systems, subsystems or componentsenabled to work together to fulfill the needs of aparticular customer or set of customers, but notnecessarily a single set of requirements. Thisdefinition applies to the Global DevelopmentProcess (GDP).

SOPSee standard operating procedure (SOP).

source selectCorresponds to a measurement channel configuredon an electricity meter. Each channel measures aparticular source, such as energy delivered in dWh.

SPANSee Switch Port Analyzer (SPAN).

sparse deploymentA range-limited deployment where relatively fewendpoints operate at minimum signal strength. Seealso spot deployment.

SPCSSee State Plane Coordinate System (SPCS).

spectral inspectionA spectrum analyzer can be used to determinepotential sources for out-of-band interferers.

spectrum analyzerA device used to measure the spectral compositionof some electrical, acoustic, or optical waveform.

spinning reserveReserve generating capacity running at zero load.

spot deploymentDeployments to read a small number of relativelycontained endpoints, such as in an office park. Seealso sparse deployment.

spot readAmeter read, which is not within the collectionroute, is collected because the data collectorhappened to be in a specific location (on the spot).The utility company can request spot reads whilethe data collector is out in the field. Spot reads canbe used for off-cycle reads such as move-in reads,move-out reads, and billing verification.

SPMTSee SBR PMRManagement Tool (SPMT).


Glossary S

spywareSoftware that is secretly or surreptitiously installedinto an information system to gather information onindividuals or organizations without theirknowledge; a type of malicious code.

SQLSee Structured Query Language (SQL).

SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS)A component of Microsoft® SQL Server® thatenables extraction, transformation, and loading oflarge amounts of data into and out of a database.

SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS)AMicrosoft® SQL Server® component that letsusers guild and view reports containing data in aSQL Server database.

SRead™ technologyItron’s 80-channel 2-way radio technology designedto communicate with Itron ERTs using mobile radios(FC200SR, FC300SR, MC3, MC4, IMR) and Cnetworked units. The technology is also used in allERT gateways. Using SRead technology, mobileand stationary devices are able to support a fullcomplement of advanced AMR capabilities.

SRT RALThe Itron Routing Route Accept List. The Itronrouting table’s list of accepted routes.

SSCSee Shared Services Components (SSC).

SSIDSee service set identifier (SSID).

SSISSee SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS).

SSLSee Secure Sockets Layer (SSL).

SSLRSee seconds since last reboot (SSLR).

SSN Export Format Processor(SSNEFP)An application which provides multi-tenant exportfile splitting, enabling the Data Transfer Agent(DTA) application to transport SSN Export Formatdata to SSN-EFP, consume data it generates, andtransport it to a receiving endpoint.

SSN RootThe top-level private key in the PKI chain,maintained by Itron.

SSNEFPSee SSN Export Format Processor (SSNEFP).

SSNIAgentAn Itron component that runs as a daemon andprovides a secure gateway to a subset of webservices for Itron applications such as AdvancedMetering Manager (AMM) and HANCommunications Manager (HCM). The applicationalso provides fast and secure data transfer from acustomer environment to the Data Platform whenused with related components SSNIAgentForwarder and TransferAgent.

SSNIAgentForwarderSee SSNIAgent.

SSRSSee SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS).

stack versionThe Zigbee stack version used in either the electricmeter or HAN Device. Both the electric meter andthe HAN device can request the stack version fromeach other.

standard completion time (SCT)The amount of time typically required to completean order type. The SCT equals the average ofcompletion times for all job codes in the order typeplus the standard travel time for the area in whichthe job site is located.


Glossary S

standard consumption message(SCM/SCM+)Amessage containing the current meter readingand tamper/status indicators that is sent by an Itronencoder/receiver/transmitter (ERT) module to ameter data collection device.

standard loadA list of consumable inventory items used bywarehouse employees in stocking FSRs’ vehicles.Knowing the standard load and the vehicle assignedto a particular FSR enables a warehouse employeeto make sure the vehicle contains the items neededby that FSR to perform his or her job.

standard operating procedure (SOP)A clearly defined procedure or set of proceduresfollowed when completing tasks or assignments.SOPs are typically designed and used to achieve adesired level of quality and efficiency.

standard tablesTables in electricity meters that conform to ANSIStandard C12.19.

standby facilityA facility that supports a utility system and isgenerally running under no-load. It is available toreplace or supplement a facility normally in service.

standby keyOf security key types that are provided in pairs, thekey that is not being used by the system forcommunications. Only one key from a pair can beactive (in a state actively usable by the system); theother key from the pair is held in standby untilneeded.

Note In OpenWay® systems, the key status (activeor standby) has meaning only to the decryption andkey update (DKUS) server. Key status meansnothing to the OpenWay® Collection Engine (CE) ordevices (cell relays, meters, and others). The keystatus can be toggled between active and standbyby the system administrator.

standby serviceSupport service that is available as needed tosupplement a consumer, a utility system, or toanother utility if a schedule or an agreementauthorizes the transaction. The service is notregularly used.

start wordA two-byte sequence in the Gen™X PHY frameused by the system to identify the start of a frame, ordata unit. The start word’s value is set according tothe regulatory region-specific default value in allproduction environments. The start work isdetermined and programmed during themanufacturing of or installation of a device in thenetwork. It is not altered in the field. You can locateyour start word by logging into Network Center andexecuting the startword_get command.

State of Charge (SoC)The percentage of usable battery power availablefrom an electric vehicle battery. For example, 75%SoC describes a battery that has 3/4 of its powerremaining.

State Plane Coordinate System (SPCS)A coordinate system (N-S and E-W lines areperpendicular) in which each individual state hasfrom one to six zones, depending on the state’s sizeand shape.

stock-keeping unit (SKU)A number or code used to identify each uniqueproduct or item for sale in a store or other business,enabling the company to systematically track itsinventory or product availability, such as inwarehouses and retail outlets.

In Itron’s Field Deployment Management (FDM)software, each inventory item type is uniquelyidentified by a SKU.

storage area network (SAN)A high-speed special-purpose network orsubnetwork that interconnects different kinds ofdata storage devices with associated data serverson behalf of a network of users.


Glossary S

stored procedureIn database management systems (DBMSs), suchas SQL Server and Oracle, a set of StructuredQuery Language (SQL) statements that arecompiled and stored in the database data dictionaryfor use by other applications that access the thesame relational database. Stored procedures canbe used for many reasons, for example, as a way tocontrol access to data, ensure that the applicationsthat call upon them leverage data in a consistentmanner, and to simplify processing that is otherwisecomplex.

Street Light Adapter (SLA)An Itron application that provides a standardinterface for Central Management Software (CMS)applications—such as StreetLight.Vision™—tointeract with streetlight devices on the Itron meshnetwork, and provides a TALQ-specificationinterface between the CMS and the devices. UsingStreet Light Adapter, the CMS application canperform configuration management, lighting control,and monitoring of street light devices. The StreetLight Adapter application includes SLA-AMM, TALQBridge, and Provisioning API (PAPI).

street light controllerAn outdoor lighting controller (OLC)device thatresides in a streetlight control cabinet or otherlocation separate from the streetlight luminaire andused to control lights across the Itron mesh network.See also Smart Street Lighting.

StreetlightsSee Smart Street Lighting.

StreetLight.Vision™An Itron Central Management Software (CMS)application used to interact with streetlight deviceson the Itron mesh networks. See also Street LightAdapter (SLA).

Structured Query Language (SQL)A standard syntax which allows most relationaldatabase management system (RDBMS) users toextract and manipulate data.

STSSee security token service (STS).

subintervalBasic unit of a demand interval.

submeteringIndividually metering all the apartments in anapartment complex or strip mall rather than usingone master meter to determine usage for the entirecomplex.

substationA facility in an electricity distribution system used forswitching and / or changing or regulating the voltageof electricity. A substation is the location where highvoltage transmission lines connect to switchgearand step-down transformers to produce lowervoltages at lower power levels for local distributionnetworks.

subsystemA set of components that work together to fulfil a setof requirements that are a subset of the full set ofsystem requirements or lower level requirements.This definition applies to the Global DevelopmentProcess (GDP).

supercapacitorAn energy-storage component used in devices thatrequire relatively little current and low voltage. Thiscomponent is used in cellular smart meters,enabling them to send last-gasp power outagenotifications, even in very low temperatures (whereconventional batteries may fail).

Also known as an ultracapacitor.

SuperRaptorA nickname commonly used to refer to SRead™technology.

Supervisory Control And DataAcquisition (SCADA)A process control application that collects data fromsensors and machines on the shop floor or in


Glossary S

remote locations and sends them to a centralcomputer for management and control.

SWSee software (SW).

Switch Port Analyzer (SPAN)Cisco® Systems’ port mirroring feature. Portmirroring (also called port monitoring) is used onnetwork switches to send a copy of network packetsseen on one switch port to a network monitoringconnection on another switch port. This iscommonly used for network appliances that requiremonitoring of network traffic, such as an intrusion-detection system. Network administrators use portmirroring to analyze and debug data or diagnoseerrors on a network. It helps the administrator keepa close eye on network performance and generatesan alert when problems occur.

Switch Status ApplicationAn Itron component that can be used to generatedaily reports—in comma-separated values (CSV)format— to utilities by email to provide load controlswitch status data. Data for these reports is drawnfrom the utility’s HAN Communications Manager(HCM) database. The component also sendscommands to the meters to set up a trap listenerprocess.

switching stationFacility equipment used to tie together two or moreelectric circuits through switches. The switches areselectively arranged to permit a circuit to bedisconnected, or to change the electric connectionbetween the circuits.

symbol rateIn digital communications, the data transmissionrate in symbols per second. When measuring theline code transmission speed, the baud rate ismeasured in pulses per second.

symmetric encryption algorithmAn encryption algorithm that uses the same secretkey for encryption and decryption.

symmetric keyA key that is used to both encrypt and decrypt thesame data. Unlike asymmetric keys, both partieshave a copy of the same key. Also called a secretkey.

synchronizationThe process by which the Itron Field DeploymentManager (FDM) server sends to a handheld orlaptop computer any work orders assigned to thefield service representative (FSR) for completionand retrieves any completed work orders. Duringsynchronization the server also performs routinemaintenance tasks, which may include updating theFDM endpoint and meter configuration information,upgrading the FDMmobile application whennecessary, and, if applicable, upgrading thehandheld’s operating system.

systemA combination of integrated or interdependentelements/components/subsystems organized tocollectively achieve a common set of requirements.This definition applies to the Global DevelopmentProcess (GDP).

system administratorA person who manages the technical aspects of acomputer system.

System Average Interruption DurationIndex (SAIDI)The average customer-minutes of serviceinterruption (outages) or the average length of timeof interruption of all customers. The SAIDI iscommonly used as a reliability indicator by electricpower utilities.

System Average InterruptionFrequency Index (SAIFI)The average number of interruptions (poweroutages) for all customers. SAIFI is commonly usedas a reliability indicator by electric power utilities.


Glossary T

system integrityA system’s ability to perform its intended function inan unimpaired manner, free from unauthorizedmanipulation of the system, whether intentional oraccidental.

system keyA system-wide Advanced Encryption Standard(AES)-based key that can be used to provideconfidentiality for command messages. EachOpenWay® CENTRON®meter has two systemkeys. These keys are used to encrypt commandmessages sent from the OpenWay® CollectionEngine (CE) to meters on a system-wide basis.

system management modeAn internal operating mode for handling powermanagement of the handheld data collector.

system of recordThe authoritative or master data storage system fora given entity that overrides other sources for thesame data. Advanced Metering Manager (AMM)can be configured as the system of record for theutility.

System On a Chip (SOC)The SOC (Intelligent Processor System On a Chip)is the part of the Smart Street Lighting that includesan embedded security engine for key management,link layer authentication, and packet encryption.

The SOC supports network communications, GE I-210+, I-210+c, and kV2c electricity meters, andother Itron field tools such as ElectricityCommunications Module Tester (ECMT) andCommunications Tester.

TTACAS+See Terminal Access Controller Access-ControlSystem Plus (TACAS+).

TADSee technical architecture design (TAD).

TAMSee total available market (TAM).

TALQAn interoperability standard for the control andmanagement of outdoor lighting and for interfacingoutdoor lighting networks (OLN) with CentralManagement Software (CMS) applications. TALQ isused by Street Light Adapter (SLA) for streetlightcommunications between the CMS and Itronapplications.

TALQ BridgeAn implementation of the TALQ Specificationenabling TALQ-based messages to be passedbetween Central Management Software (CMS)applications and Outdoor Lighting Networks(OLNs). See also street light controller.

tamper counterAn ERT module component that incrementswhenever a tamper event occurs, such as a meterremoval, cut cable, meter inversion, or reverse diskrotation. The types of tamper events that aredetected depends on the ERT type.

Also called a tamper indicator.

tamper debounceThe amount of time, in milliseconds, required for themechanical contact on a meter’s tilt switch to settlebefore a signal from the switch is considered to bevalid an the ERT module. This parameter is used toadjust the sensitivity of the meter removal tamperindicator.

tamper detectorAn ERT module component that senses when ameter has been tampered with. The types of tamperevents that are detected vary according to the typeof ERT module, and each detector detects aparticular type of tamper. Examples of tamperevents include meter removal, a cut cable, meterinversion, and reverse disk rotation.

Also called a tamper sensor.


Glossary T

tamper event codeAny alarms (including outage and restore) andtamper flags currently recorded by the meter andoutput as an event or alarm to the collection system.Events are typically delivered to the meter datamanagement software as part of a response to ascheduled read request. Alarms are typicallydelivered as they occur.

tamper indicatorAn ERT module component that incrementswhenever a tamper event occurs, such as a meterremoval, cut cable, meter inversion, or reverse diskrotation. The types of tamper events that aredetected depends on the ERT type.

Also called a tamper counter.

tamper sensorAn ERT module component that senses when ameter has been tampered with. The types of tamperevents that are detected vary according to the typeof ERT module, and each detector detects aparticular type of tamper. Examples of tamperevents include meter removal, a cut cable, meterinversion, and reverse disk rotation.

Also called a tamper detector.

tariffAmeter program on Secure Meters, Ltd meters.

tariff time sliceSeveral interlinked sub-elements including timeslice intervals, day profiles, profile definitions, andallocation of day profiles that define the season andtime of use (day/time). A tariff time slice defineswhich day profile to use on each day of each timeslice interval.

TCOSee total cost of ownership (TCO).

TCP/IPSee Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) / InternetProtocol (TCP/IP).

TCXOSee temperature-compensated crystal oscillator(TCXO).

TDEA Block CipherSee Triple Data Encryption Algorithm (TDEA) BlockCipher.

TDMASee time division multiple access (TDMA).

technical architecture design (TAD)An artifact from a solution requirements workshopthat contains the customer-specific hardwarerequirements. The technical architecture design(TAD) outlines the overall solution architecturedesigns for the proposed environment and providesa recommendation for hardware sizing. It alsoincludes a diagram of the solution.

technical lossesElectricity losses due to expected loss between thegeneration source and the customer location meter.These can be due to normal losses throughtransmission and distribution, equipment failures,and non-optimized transmission loads and voltage.

Technical losses between 6 to 8% are considerednormal. See also nontechnical loss.

telemetry moduleA low-power radio frequency device that attaches toa third-party device (for example, a rotary meter, acathodic protection system, or gas line) to collectdata. Itron telemetry modules allow remotemeasurement and reporting of utility system datanot directly related to meter reading and billing andtransmit it to Itron data collection devices andsystems.

TemetraA cloud-based mobile meter data collection andmanagement solution. All data is securely stored onservers that meet the ISO 27001 informationsecurity standard.


Glossary T

Temetra MobileThe Temtra software in an application format. Thisformat is compatible with all Android-based mobiledevices (V 4.4 or higher).

temperature compensation meterA gas meter in which the measurement of gasvolume is automatically corrected for the variation ingas temperature.

temperature-compensated crystaloscillator (TCXO)A component of the SRead™ radio board used inItron handheld computers and belt-clip radios. Itsupplies local oscillator and digital timing signalsthroughout the radio's components.

Tenant MangementAn identity service that provides user authenticationand authorization for platform applications andprovides a single location for managing tenants,applications, users, and roles. The service identifiesauthenticated users, applications, and tenants(utilities) and can determine the level of authoritygranted to a user or group of users. The serviceintegrates with Azure Active Directory (AAD),allowing administrators to centrally manageaccounts for an organization's users and to controluser authentication with policies and other AADconfiguration settings.

Terminal Access Controller Access-Control System Plus (TACAS+)A scalable, open-standard, Cisco security protocolthat uses Transmission Control Protocol (TCP).This protocol separates the authorizationfunctionality and provides granular access controls,which allows system administrators to specify whatcommands can be run on devices and who can runthe commands. TACAS+ also encrypts the contentof each packet. For more information, see tacas.netor cisco.com.

ThSee therm.

theft detectionAn indicator that a meter was tampered with and apotential energy theft has occurred.

thermThe metered unit of natural gas energy. 1 thermequals 100,000 BTUs.

time to live (TTL)Amechanism, implemented as a counter or timestamp attached to or embedded in data, used tolimit the lifespan of data on a network or within acaching system. When the prescribed event count isreached or timespan elapsed, the data is discardedor revalidated. Prescribing a TTL policy to dataprevents the data from circulating indefinitely.

thin clientA computer or program that requests data, files, orservices or accesses shared network resourcesfrom a server computer or program. Of the clientclasses, thin client, hybrid client, and rich client, athin client relies upon the server the most heavily,for both data processing and data storage.

3DESSee Triple Data Encryption Algorithm (TDEA) BlockCipher.

3GPPSee Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP).

3GPP2See Third Generation Partnership Project 2(3GPP2).

Third Generation Partnership Project(3GPP)A collaboration between groups oftelecommunications associations to standardize 3G(third generation) mobile phone systemspecifications. The specifications are thoseestablished by the Universal MobileTelecommunications System (UMTS).

3GPP should not be confused with Third GenerationPartnership Project 2 (3GPP2).


Glossary T

Third Generation Partnership Project 2(3GPP2)A collaboration between groups oftelecommunications associations to standardize 3G(third generation) mobile phone systemspecifications. The specifications are thoseestablished by the CDMA2000 family of standards.

3GPP2 is the standard body behind the competing3G standard CDMA2000 that is the 3G upgrade tonetworks used mostly in the United States (and tosome extent also in Japan, China, Canada, SouthKorea and India). 3GPP2 should not be confusedwith Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP).

TIBCO Conf filesConfiguration files used with TIBCO EMS thatcontain a list of all Itron queues. WhenTIBCO EMS is started, it reads these files andinitializes the queues.

TIBCO EMSA third-party software component customizedavailable with Itron software to provide JMSfunctions for a number of Itron applications.

tierUnder tiered rate plans, the customer's cost perkilowatt hour (kWh) changes as more electricity isused within a billing period. Depending on your priceplan, this cost can either go up or down at highertiers.

tiltA change in the direction or incline of a meter. Atamper tilt indicates that the meter has been illegallymoved.

TIMSee translation interface module (TIM) .

time division multiple access (TDMA)A digital wireless communication transmissiontechnology that allows many users to access asingle radio frequency channel without interference.Each signal is divided into different time slots, whichare uniquely assigned to users. With each user

transmitting in rapid succession using their own timeslot, multiple stations can share the sametransmission medium while using only part of itsfrequency channel capacity.

time driftThe number of seconds a meters time is differentfrom the network time.

time of use (TOU)An electricity billing rate where the rate varies bytime. TOUmetering divides the day into periods,such as 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM, 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM,and 4:00 PM to 8:00 AM. Each period has acorresponding rate, expressed in terms of $/kWh,where $ is the currency type configured for your rateplans (for example, $0.05/kWh). The rate is usuallybased on expected average cost (where prices areusually higher during peak periods) and is generallyfixed for several months in advance. Rates can alsochange seasonally. HAN Communications Manager(HCM) supports 24 tiers per day.

time sliceThe amount of processing time allocated to eachuser in a multi-user system. Also see tariff timeslice.

time synchronizationTo assure the proper operation of network devices,the calculation and storage of usage data, utilitycustomer

service, and accurate billing calculations, the meterclock synchronizes to the NIC clock and reportsdiscrepancies to the Advanced Metering Manager(AMM)resolve to the time on the Access Point.

time-of-use (TOU) rateA rate with different unit prices for usage duringdifferent blocks of time, usually for a 24-hour period.TOU rates reflect the average cost of generatingand delivering power during those time periods.Daily pricing blocks might include an on-peak, mid-peak, and off-peak price. In a time-of-use ratestructure, higher prices are charged during utilitypeak-load times. Such rates can provide anincentive for consumers to curb power use duringpeak times.


Glossary T

TLSSee transport layer security (TLS).

TLVSee type-length-value (TLV).

TMBSee Trap Messaging Bridge (TMB).

TMCSee total manufacturing cost (TMC).

TNSSee transparent network substrate (TNS).

tnsnames.oraA file containing client side network configurationparameters that are used by an Oracle client toconnect to an Oracle server.

to-host fileA file produced by a workforce management systemcontaining updated work order information to bepassed to a utility company’s customer informationsystem (CIS).

In the context of Field Deployment Manager (FDM),this is a file containing work order informationexported from a workforce management applicationother than Field Deployment Manager (FDM), suchas Itron’s Endpoint-Link Pro, in a format that allowsFDM to import the information into its database.

to-host fileA file containing work order information exportedfrom a workforce management application otherthan Field Deployment Manager (FDM), such asItron’s Endpoint-Link Pro, in a format that allowsFDM to import the information into its database.

tokenA hardware or software device that performscryptographic functions and stores public-keycertificates, cryptographic keys, and other data. Seealso private key and public key.

topologyThe physical layout of a distribution networkinfrastructure with specific hierarchical identificationof all components.

total available market (TAM)The total market demand for a product or service,calculated in annual revenue or unit sales if 100% ofthe available market is achieved.

total cost of ownership (TCO)A financial estimate intended to help buyers andowners determine the direct and indirect costs of aproduct or service. It is a management accountingconcept that can be used in full cost accounting oreven ecological economics where it includessocial costs.

total manufacturing cost (TMC)The total material, labor, overhead, and otherexpenses associated with the fabrication, assembly,and testing of a product.

TOUSee time of use (TOU).

tracerouteA networking utility to track the routes taken bypackets across a network. See also ping.

transfer requestA request generated by an inventory manager atone warehouse (the to-warehouse) for transfer of aninventory item from another warehouse (the from-warehouse).

transfer, inventoryThe movement of inventory items to one warehouse(the to-warehouse) from another warehouse (thefrom- warehouse).

TransferAgentSee SSNIAgent.


Glossary T

transformerA device in electric utility distribution systems thatreceives electricity from a feeder and changes thevoltage of alternating current (AC) before deliveringelectricity to the customer’s premises.

Transformer Load ManagementA user interface within Itron's Active Smart GridAnalytics (ASA) that leverages SAP BusinessIntelligence analytics applications to continuallymonitor and identify under-utilized, over-utilized,and at-risk transformers throughout the distributionsystem. The kit evaluates kVA utilization, percentloss of life, and top oil and hot spot temperatures,increasing the visibility and management of thisutility asset.

transitioningIn the context of OpenWay®, the state of anendpoint when it is entering a new version of thesame group of which it is a member. An endpoint intransition is tracked to prevent it from beingincorrectly counted multiple times.

translation interface module (TIM)Itron software used to collect time-of-use (TOU) andinterval data recorder (IDR) data from meters. Oncedata is gathered, TIM decode pairs are used todecode designated chunks of that data—per user-defined read item lists—for billing purposes.

Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) /Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)A transport layer protocol within the TransmissionControl Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) protocolsuite. TCP uses retransmission strategy to ensurethat data is sent accurately and completely across anetwork, and that the data is not lost intransmission. Major Internet applications such asthe web, email, and File Transfer Protocol (FTP).

transmission modeThe communication method by which an ERTmodule transmits meter reading and related data toa data collection device. ERT modules may beconfigured to operate in either of two modes—wake-up mode or bubble-up mode.

transparent network substrate (TNS)A set of Oracle networking architecture servicesused to facilitate peer-to-peer communicationbetween Oracle components where no machine-level connectivity can occur.

transport layer security (TLS)An authentication and security protocol widelyimplemented in browsers and web servers. TLS isbased on the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) 3.0protocol. It uses digital certificates to authenticateboth the user and the network. The TLS client usesthe public key from the server to encrypt a randomnumber and send it back to the server. The randomnumber, combined with additional random numberspreviously sent to each other, is used to generate asecret session key to encrypt the subsequentmessage exchange.

trapAn asynchronous message sent from a device inthe field. Unlike most events, it does not require anapplication to send a request for data. Rather, thedevice sends it, as the metaphor suggests, becauseof specific conditions on the device. An example of atrap is a Last Gasp (LG).

Trap ForwarderAn obsolete name for Trap Messaging Bridge(TMB).

Trap Messaging Bridge (TMB)An Itron software component that asynchronouslycaptures, displays, and logs traps from networkdevices, and allows users to instantaneously viewalert notifications from any network device thatsupports SNMP. Trap Forwarder contains an NMR_Listener feature to capture and forward allcommunication between applications and theneighborhood area network (NAN) through theAccess Point (AP). Trap Forwarder was previouslycalled Trap Receiver. See also Trap Router.

Trap RouterAn Itron component used by Trap Messaging Bridge(TMB) to enable routing configuration for traps.


Glossary U

Triple Data Encryption Algorithm(TDEA) Block CipherA symmetric block cipher that uses three 64-bit-longkeys to encrypt data in three passes. Data isencrypted with the first key, decrypted with thesecond key, and encrypted again with the third key.Also called Triple Data Encryption Standard, TripleDES, and 3DES.

Triple Data Encryption Standard,(3DES)See Triple Data Encryption Algorithm (TDEA) BlockCipher.

tri-state checkboxA type of checkbox employed by the user interfaceof some applications that indicates an indeterminatestate in addition to the two (selected and cleared)provided by a standard checkbox. This third stateappears as a square or dash in the checkbox andindicates that its state is neither selected norcleared.

trouble codeA utility-defined code that a field servicerepresentative (FSR) or meter reader uses toindicate a problem encountered while reading ameter or completing a work order. For example, autility might define a particular code to indicate thepresence of a vicious dog on the premises or alocked door that prevents access to the meter.

true powerPower dissipated and used by a load. True power issymbolized by the letter P and is measured in watts(W).

The following figure is the Power Triangle. ThePower Triangle relates true (P), reactive (Q), andapparent power (S) in trigonometric form.

trust center link keyA 128-bit key used by a Zigbee network to applyencryption to radio frequency (RF) packets beingsent between a network trust center device and aZigbee device being added to the network. The keycan be either pre-installed in the Zigbee device orgenerated and distributed by the trust center device.

TTLSee time to live (TTL).

tunnelIn networking, a tunnel allows the encapsulation ofthe data of one protocol within another protocol. Byusing a tunnel, the system passes the encapsulateddata over an incompatible network or providessecurity for transferring data over an untrustednetwork.

24-hour time notationA convention in which the time of day is written in24-hour notation using the format hh:mm orhh:mm:ss, and there is no usage of a.m. and p.m.Days run from midnight to midnight and are dividedinto 24 hours; for example, 00:00 indicatesmidnight, 12:00 indicates noon, and 23:59:59indicates one second before midnight. A 24-hourtime notation is the international standard for time ofday notation as outlined by the InternationalOrganization for Standardization (ISO).

2cA two-core cable. This term is typically used inAustralia.

type-length-value (TLV)Within data communication protocols, optionalinformation may be encoded as a type-length-valueor TLV element inside a protocol. TLV is also knownas tag-length-value.

UUARTSee universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter(UART).


Glossary T

uAP/ųAPSee MicroAP®Module.

UDPSee User Datagram Protocol (UDP).

UIDSee utility ID (UID).

UIQ™Trademarked term for UtilityIQ® software. Not usedas a product abbreviation.

ultracapacitorAn energy-storage component used in devices thatrequire relatively little current and low voltage. Thiscomponent is used in cellular smart meters,enabling them to send last-gasp power outagenotifications, even in very low temperatures (whereconventional batteries may fail).

Also known as a supercapacitor.

UMTSSee Universal Mobile Telecommunications System(UMTS).

unassociatedWith HAN Communications Manager (HCM). Theunassociated state is established by importing anew device through device import or by removing adevice from an ESI.

UNCSee Universal Naming Convention or UniformNaming Convention (UNC).

Underground AP and RelayAn Access Point (AP) and Relay optimized for usein subterranean utility vaults in dense urban areaswhere pole top or pad mount infrastructure is notavailable.

unfillable gapAn instance of discontiguous meter data that cannotbe filled. Unfillable gaps can occur for several

reasons: the meter never recorded the data, themeter was reprogrammed, the meter’s flashmemory was corrupted, time shifts, physicaldamage, and so on.

See also end gap.

unicastThe sending of packets over a network to a singledevice. The bulk of packets in Advanced MeteringManager (AMM).

uniform resource identifier (URI)A string of characters used to identify a networkresource, such as an electronic document, orimage. A URI can be further classified as a uniformresource locator (URL), uniform resource name(URN), or both.

unit under test (UUT)Amanufactured item undergoing testing todetermine whether it will function adequately. Alsocalled device under test (DUT). Used in the IMUAccuracy Tester software to refer to the gas IMUbeing tested.

universal asynchronousreceiver/transmitter (UART)An interface for serial communication betweendevices. Itron Communications Tester UARTcommands set and show serial communicationinformation.

Universal Mobile TelecommunicationsSystem (UMTS)The Global System for Mobile Communications(GSM) implementation of the 3G wireless phonesystem. Part of the IMT-2000 standards for mobiletelecommunications services, UMTS providesservice in the 2 GHz band and offers global roamingand personalized features. Also called 3GSM.

Universal Naming Convention orUniform Naming Convention (UNC)A standard system for identifying servers, files,folders, printers, and other resources on a local areanetwork (LAN). The basic UNC format is


Glossary T

\\servername\sharename, where servername is thehost name or IP address of a network file server andsharename is the name of a shared directory on theserver.

Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM)A system that divides the globe into 60 North-Southzones, each measuring six degrees wide inlongitude. Zones are numbered consecutively fromWest to East.

Positions on the globe are given by zonecoordinates, then the number of meters East(easting) or West (westing) from the center of thezone, and finally by the number of meters North(northing) or South (southing) from the center of thezone. UTM coordinates for the Golden Gate Bridgeare zone 10 S, 545980m E. 4185742m N.

unjoinTo remove or separate an Itron NIC from its meteras part of a troubleshooting operation. Gas InterfaceManagement Unit (IMU)s that are to be retrofitted inthe field to their corresponding gas and watermeters are said to be unjoined up until the time theyare joined.

With HAN Communications Manager (HCM), unjoinmeans to move a device from the join to theassociated state. Also known as deprovision.

See also join.

unreachable meterAmeter transitions to this state if a route exists but ifthe device has not been read for a configurableperiod. See also reachable.

unread meterSchedules attempt to read meters in two passes.Each pass consists of several read attempts. Afterthe first round of attempts, the schedule places themeter in a requeue list and makes another, laterpass. After the second set of retries, the meter isflagged for inclusion

in the recovery schedule. Depending on the context,it may appear in the UI as an unread meter. Seealso remote terminal unit (RTU).

unsigned dataData included in an authentication token, in additionto a digital signature.

UptimeAmetric that represents the percentage of time thathardware, a network, or a device is operational andavailable. It refers to when a system is working,opposed to downtime, which refers to when asystem is not working.

URISee uniform resource identifier (URI).

use caseA list of actions or steps that define the interactionsbetween a role and a system to achieve a goal. Inthe Unified Modeling Language (UML), a role isknown as an actor. The actor or role can be ahuman, an external system, external hardware, orother similar subjects.

user account typeEither of two categories of users of Itron’s FieldDeployment Management (FDM) software in abusiness unit—server user accounts and mobileuser accounts. Server user accounts only haveaccess to the FDM server software. Mobile useraccounts only have access to the FDMmobileapplication software. User accounts may also bedesignated as both server and user account types,which have access to both the server and themobile software.

User Datagram Protocol (UDP)A protocol that allows computer applications to sendmessages (datagrams) to other hosts on an InternetProtocol network without previously setting uptransmission channels or data paths.

UTCSee Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).

utility enrollment groupDefined groups within HAN CommunicationsManager (HCM) that can be selected to participatein demand reduction programs a utility provides.


Glossary V

utility ID (UID)A utility-specific, one byte, numerical identifier from0 to 255, that is programmed by Itron into all ERTmodules, meters, and cell relays that itmanufactures for a specific utility. The utility IDfunctions as a security code that prevents anotherutility and other unauthorized persons fromperforming certain functions on the ERT module,meter, or cell relay, and prevents two or moreutilities with adjoining service areas from accessingeach others' ERT modules, meters, or cell relays.

UtilityIQ® softwareA head end software suite that includes applicationsdesigned to help utility operators collect andmanage AMI meter consumption data. Theseapplications, which include Advanced MeteringManager (AMM), Meter Program Configurator(MPC), Firmware Upgrader (FWU), and MeterPlugins, are secure and scalable solutions whichsupport meter reading, management, and analysisfor power quality, meter status, peak pricing andmore.

UtilOS® firmwareThe open standards-based network operatingsystem for devices equipped with Itron NICs. UtilOSprovides a suite of utility networking services,including network discovery, addressing, routingand switching, health, network time, security, andencryption.

UtilOS includes a metering interface that providesload profile functionality for electricity meters andwater and gas IMUs. It records usage data andallocates it to the appropriate intervals so that it canbe processed by back-end systems.

UTMSee Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM).

UUTSee unit under test (UUT).

VVASee volt-amperes (VA).

value analysis and value engineering(VAVE)Value analysis is the process of identifying aproduct or service's function and making it availableat the lowest cost. Value engineering refers to asystematic method to improve the "value" of theproduct or service by examining its function. Anexample of value engineering is using lessexpensive parts to manufacture a product withoutdecreasing the quality of the product.

vampireElectronic devices that, when turned off, can remainon in “standby mode” and can represent as much as10 percent of a consumer’s total electricityconsumption.

VARSee volt-amperes reactive (VAR).

var-hours deliveredThe total (integral+fractional) of the aggregate var-hours delivered.

var-hours receivedThe total (integral+fractional) of the aggregate var-hours received.

variable peak pricing (VPP)A power billing structure whereby rates can varythroughout the day depending on system loadconditions.

VAVESee value analysis and value engineering (VAVE).

VEEValidation, Estimation, and Editing. Software toolsthat manage data collected from endpoints.

vehicle dockA hardware device installed in a vehicle thatprovides mounting, storage, communications, andbattery charging for a handheld data collectiondevice.


Glossary V

vendor-managed inventory (VMI)Amethod of inventory management in which asupplier or manufacturer of goods takesresponsibility for monitoring and maintaining acustomer’s or buyer’s inventory levels of thosegoods.

verified single outage (VSO)A Last Gasp (LG).

viewThe contents of the display pane in the userinterface of some software applications.

virtual inventory locationAn physical location within a warehouse that is setaside for inventory items of a designated status,such as return materials authorization (RMA) items,quarantined items awaiting inspection, items thatare newly received from the manufacturer, and soon.

virtual light output (VLO)VLO allows a user to set the light output percentagethat will be considered to be 100%. For example, if a100-watt light is deployed in the field, and the userwants it to run at a maximum of 80 watts, they wouldset the VLO value to 80%. As an exampleapplication, with this value set, a calendar orprogram that indicates the light should turn on at100% at 7 PM will actually turn the light on at 80%after applying the VLO value. If the programindicates that the light should dim to 50% atmidnight, the light will actually be set to 40% afterthe VLO value is applied.

virtual local area network (VLAN)A VLAN enables devices on different physical localarea network (LAN) segments to communicate as ifthey are on the same LAN segment.

virtual machine (VM)A computer resource, typically called an image, thatbehaves like an actual computer but uses softwareinstead of a physical computer to run programs anddeploy applications.

virtual private network (VPN)A computer network that uses a publictelecommunication infrastructure such as theInternet to provide remote offices or individual userswith secure access to their organization’s network. Itis established, at the application layer of the OpenSystems Interconnection (OSI) model over anexisting physical network.

VPNs aim to avoid expensive systems of owned orleased lines that can only be used by a singleorganization. A VPN typically does not include everynode present on the physical network.

virtual relaysUsed through physical relays in a Direct-to-Gridloadcontrol switch (LCS) to physically control andconnect one or more assets, which can be, forexample, HVACs, water heaters, and pool pumps.Each physical relay allows control signals to turn theasset behind the switch on or off.

An HVAC, for example, could include multiplecomponents (such as a first stage compressor,second stage compressor, fan, and heat strip), eachof which is connected to and controlled by aseparate physical relay.

When sending a DRLC event, you might want tocontrol only certain components. For example, theutility might want to turn off the compressors butkeep the fan on. The switches accomplish thisthrough the virtual relays, each of which isassociated with multiple physical relays.

virusAmalicious, self-replicating program that spreadsby modifying other programs or files.

VLANSee virtual local area network (VLAN).

VLOSee virtual light output (VLO).

VMSee virtual machine (VM)


Glossary V

VMISee vendor-managed inventory (VMI).

volt (V)The practical unit of electromotive force, or potentialdifference. One volt causes one ampere to flowwhen impressed across a one-ohm resistor.

voltageThe electrical pressure that exists between twopoints, measured in volts. In the circuit of anelectrical system, voltage is generally a nominalrating based on the maximum normal effectivedifference of potential between any two conductorsin that circuit.

Voltage OptimizerAn Itron application that provides utilities with aturnkey solution for maximizing voltage savingsbased on sophisticated EPRI-validated methodswhile maintaining compliance with regulatorysettings. The software combines voltage alerts,polling, and sophisticated algorithms to provide up-to-date voltage optimization.

The solution leverages real-time alerts from PowerMonitorto create a holistic understanding of voltagelevels throughout the distribution network. A third-party product (EDGE from Dominion Voltage Inc.)then analyzes that data, looking for areas where itcan tune DA device settings to optimize voltagelevels.

voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR)The ratio of maximum to minimum voltage. When atransmission line is terminated by an impedancethat does not match the characteristic impedance ofthe transmission line, not all of the power isabsorbed by the termination. Part of the power isreflected back down the transmission line. Theforward (or incident) signal mixes with the reverse(or reflected) signal to cause a voltage standingwave pattern on the transmission line.

volt-amperes (VA)The unit of electrical measurement equal to voltagetimes the current feeding an electrical load.

volt-amperes reactive (VAR)In an alternating current (AC) electric power system,the unit used to measure the reactive power (Q) in acircuit.

volts root mean squared (Vrms)Ameasurement of the magnitude of an AC signal orpeak modulation. See also kVARh.

Volt-VAR Optimization (VVO)A technique for reducing the amount of energywaste or over provisioning on the distribution grid.VVO is a process used to actively manage voltagelevels and reactive power on distribution circuits inorder to reduce energy losses, improve reliability,and power quality. VVO is typically achievedthrough the use of real-time information andcontrols that activate capacitor banks, voltageregulators, and transformer load-tap changers, and,in some cases, distributed generation to adjustvoltage and VAR levels on the primary andsecondary distribution circuits.

VPNSee virtual private network (VPN).

VPPSee variable peak pricing (VPP).

VrmsSee volts root mean squared (Vrms).

VSOSee verified single outage (VSO).

VSWRSee voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR).

VTA device that measures a proportion of the voltageon a conductor. Where a voltage in excess of x voltsis supplied to a site, it is not possible to pass all ofthe voltage to a meter. VTs are used to measure aproportion of the voltage supplied.


Glossary W

V2 securitySee application layer security.

vulnerabilityWeakness in an information system, systemsecurity procedures, internal controls, orimplementation that could be exploited or triggeredby a threat source.

VVOSee Volt-VAR Optimization (VVO).

WwakeupAn indication for a device to turn itself on.

wake-up modeOne of two transmission modes (the other beingbubble-up mode) used by Itron endpoints totransmit meter reading and tamper data to datacollection devices. In wake-up mode, an endpointwaits until it receives a wake-up tone from a datacollection device before transmitting its meterreading and tamper data in a standard consumptionmessage (SCM).

walk-byThe process of collecting meter data by using aradio-equipped handheld collector. When the meteris equipped with an ERT the utility companyrepresentative can walk by to read module-equipped electric, gas, or water meters without theneed to access the meter or customer premises.Previously called off-site meter reading (OMR).

wall-mount boosterSee AMI Endpoint.

WANSee wide area network (WAN).

WAN boardA circuit board in an OpenWay® cell relay,connected to the main board, that adapts the cellrelay to a particular WAN technology.

Also called a WAN personality module (WPM).

WAN personality module (WPM)A circuit board in an OpenWay® cell relay,connected to the main board, that adapts the cellrelay to a particular WAN technology.

WAN processorAn OpenWay® CENTRON®meter’s processor formanaging its interface to the wide area network(WAN).

WAN-enabled Itron NICSee MicroAP®Module.

Warehouse AdapterA productized component adapter between ItronEnterprise Edition™MDM (IEE MDM) and the ItronAnalytics (IA) Data Warehouse. The IA WarehouseAdapter employs a change data capture (CDC)mechanism to keep the two systems in sync withoutthe risks associated with developing ad hoc customdata update processes. The Warehouse Adaptercan be configured to import other enterprise data,enabling more analytics.

Water ERT® moduleAn obsolete term for the 500W ERT®Module.

Water ModuleA two-way radio integrated with water meters thatprovides consumption reads and that can beremotely configured. Zigbee-based water modulesare typically installed above ground to enabletransmission on the 2.4 GHz frequency.

watt (W)Standard unit of power equal to one joule persecond, and is used to measure the rate of energyconversion.

watt-hour (Wh)The practical unit of electric energy that is expendedin one hour when the average power during the houris one watt. The watt-hour is not a standard unit inany formal system, however, it is commonly used inelectrical applications.


Glossary W

watt-hours deliveredThe total of the aggregate watt-hours delivered. It isprimary or secondary rated depending on themultiplier chosen.

watt-hours receivedThe total (integral+fractional) of the aggregate watt-hours received. It is primary or secondary rateddepending on the multiplier chosen.

watt-hours uni-directionalThe sum of watt-hours delivered and watt-hoursreceived.

WCFSeeWindows® Communication Foundation (WCF).

Weather Data APIAn Itron-developed API that provides weather datato various Itron applications. Itron applications thatuse weather data may only utilize some of the datatypes, such as temperature or humidity. Weatherdata is provided in CSV (comma-separated values)file format, which is described in this guide. Dailyweather files are the preferred frequency of deliverybecause they provide coverage if there is a problemwith the weather feed from Itron's weather provider.Historic hourly weather data is available for NorthAmerican sites and most international sites. Basicdata includes temperature, dew point, andbarometric pressure and is generally updatedhourly. Optional weather data is available for somelocations and includes wind speed and direction,gusts, sky, ceiling, visibility, heat index, wind chill,snow depth, 6-hour and 24-hour maximum andminimum temperatures, and 3-hour, 6-hour, and 24-hour precipitation amounts. For many stations.forecast data is also available, including dailymaximum and minimum temperatures for the nexttwo days.

Web servicesA set of programming standards used to supportcommunication between different types of softwareand machines over a network, without the need forhuman interaction. Web services share three typesof computer programming: Extensible Markup

Language (XML), Standard Object Access Protocol(SOAP), and Web Services Definition Language(WSDL).

Web Services Description Language(WSDL)An XML-based language document used todescribe a web service, and to specify the servicelocation and operations the service exposes.

A WSDL is used to describe the protocols andformats used by Itron products including OpenWay®Collection Engine web services and Itron EnterpriseEdition web services.

web services security (WSS)Standards approved by Organization for theAdvancement of Structured Information Standards(OASIS) that build upon existing securitytechnologies such as XML digital signature, XMLencryption, and X.509 certificates to secure webservices message exchanges.

WFMSee workforce management system (WFM).

WhSee watt-hour (Wh).

WhatsUp® GoldA network management tool marketed byIpswitch™, Inc. The tool provides visibility into thestatus and performance of applications, networkdevices and servers in the cloud or on-premises.

wide area network (WAN)A geographically dispersed communicationsnetwork with a specific user group; that is, anynetwork that links across metropolitan, regional, ornational boundaries. A WANmay be privatelyowned or rented, but the term usually implies theinclusion of public (shared user) networks.

wide area synchronous gridA power grid operating at a synchronized frequencythat is made up of electrically connected regional (orgreater) power grids. In North America, this is called


Glossary W

an interconnection. North Americaninterconnections operate at 60Hz, European widearea synchronous grids operate at 50Hz.

Windows Management Instrumentation(WMI)A non-proprietary infrastructure for managementdata and operations on Microsoft®Windows®-based operating systems. WMI defines a set ofenvironment-independent specifications that allowmanagement applications to share managementinformation.

In OpenWay® systems, WMI is used tocommunicate with the OpenWay®OperationalReporting System (ORS).

Windows® Communication Foundation(WCF)A set of Microsoft®Windows .NET® technologiesfor building and running connected systems. WCF isbuilt around the web services architecture.

wirelessCommunications service transmitted via cellular,PCS, satellite, or other means.

Wireless M-BusSeeWireless Meter Bus (wM-Bus).

Wireless Meter Bus (wM-Bus)An open standard developed for power-efficientsmart metering and Advanced MeteringInfrastructure (AMI) applications. This standard isquickly spreading in Europefor electricity, gas, water and heat metering.

Wi-SUN AllianceAn association of companies working together toenable reliable, cost-effective, low-power, wirelessutility products based on the open global standardInstitute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers(IEEE) 802.15.4g. The Wi-SUN Alliance certificationregimen helps ensure conformance of andinteroperability between IEEE 802.15.4gimplementations. Itron has completed certificationstarting with the Gen™4 technology portfolio.

wM-BusSeeWireless Meter Bus (wM-Bus).

WMISeeWindows Management Instrumentation (WMI).

WOMSSee work order management system (WOMS).

work order management system(WOMS)In the utility industry, a software application used todispatch work crews to perform repairs. Such asystem is often integrated with an outagemanagement system (OMS or OM).

work setThe term used internally by the Field CollectionSystem (FCS) for a route.

work typeA code that is assigned to a work order in Itron’sField Deployment Manager that describes thecategory of work required to complete the order. Awork type is typically associated with specific kindsof work orders and market types.

workbenchA group of related views and functions within anapplication, accessible by clicking the applicablenavigation pane button. Also called a domain ordashboard.

workflowA sequence of screens that the Itron FieldDeployment Manger mobile application displays toguide an FSR through the steps necessary tocomplete a work order. FDM’s Endpoint Tools are acollection of standard workflows for reading andprogramming Itron ERT modules (endpoints) andfor modifying and configuring features that arespecific to particular endpoint types. Customworkflows are workflows that Itron designs to meetthe specific requirements of a particular utility’s workorders.


Glossary X

workforce management system (WFM)A sub-category of Itron products. WFMs combinehardware and software with wireless, web-basedcommunications and automated field servicedispatching solutions to streamline utility daily fieldoperations.

WPMSeeWAN personality module (WPM).

wrigglerA rotating mechanical component of a gas ERTmodule. As gas passes through the meter, themeter’s drive dog rotates, turning the ERT modulewriggler and shaft. The ERT module’smicroprocessor (counter) interprets the turning ofthe shaft as a measure of gas consumption.

WSDLSeeWeb Services Description Language (WSDL).

WSSSee web services security (WSS).

WUGSeeWhatsUp® Gold.

XX.509A cryptographic ITU-T standard for a Public KeyInfrastructure (PKI) for single sign-on (SSO) andPrivilege Management Infrastructure (PMI). X.509specifies, among other things, standard formats forpublic key certificates, certificate revocation lists,attribute certificates, and a certification pathvalidation algorithm.

xiCOMMAn MV-90™ xi software application that works withcommunications hardware on MV-90™ xiworkstations to gather data from remote devices.

xinetdExtended Internet daemon. An open-source super-server network daemon that runs on many Unix-like

systems and manages Internet- based connectivity.

XMLSee Extensible Markup Language (XML).

XML Schema Definition (XSD)An XML-based language that is used to describethe structure and syntax of XML elements andattributes in other XML documents. An XSD file canbe used to validate XML files against the structureand syntax defined in the XSD. For example, if youare using an XML API to import data into anapplication, the XSD describes how to structure theincoming XML file so that the API can process thedata. The API can compare the incoming XML to theXSD to verify that the incoming file is valid.

XSDSee XML Schema Definition (XSD).

ZZCU ToolSee Zigbee Certificate Updater Tool (ZCU Tool).

zero crossingThe event of standard AC line voltage crossing thezero volt, or reference level, from positive tonegative or negative to positive. An electricity metermonitors its zero crossings and interprets theirabsence as a loss of power.

Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP)ZTP is a RESTful API for storing and retrievinginformation about Milli™-based devices, and itenables application clients to register these devicesand their associated meta data to the DeviceManagement Service (DMS) repository.

Zigbee Certificate Updater Tool (ZCUTool)A tool that allows customers using Zigbee devicesto apply Zigbee HAN device certificates (that theyorder from Itron) over the air to their intended meterNICS. Any meter with a Zigbee radio requires one ofthese certificate to connect with other Zigbee SEP


Glossary X

1.0 (ECC) devices. Currently, Itron does not applyZigbee HAN device certificates and private keys aspart of the manufacturing process, so the ZCU toolis used for this purpose instead.

ZigbeeA specification for a suite of high-levelcommunication protocols using small, low-powerdigital radios. A wireless network used for home,building and industrial control. It operates in the 2.4GHz (ISM) radio band. The specification supportsdata transmission rates of up to 250 kbps at a rangeof up to 30 meters.For Itron metering purposes, it isthe application chosen to run home area networks(HANs). Each OpenWay® CENTRON®metercomes factory-equipped with a Zigbee radio chip toenable in-home communication for purposes ofcustomer communication, data presentment, loadcontrol, and demand response. Zigbee technologyis a registered trademark of the Zigbee Alliance.

ZTPSee Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP).

Glossary - Itron

Documents

Transcript of Glossary - Itron