An intelligent QoS management framework for actual PLC networks

Usage of Power Line Communication is highly increasing in several field of telecommunications: one of the most promising aim for it is to provide solutions for the smart grid panorama. At the same time, an increasing trend in usage of the IPv6 is emerging, protocol which perfectly couples with the smart grid scenario due to a number of reasons, among which reduced header size and, in particular, integrated QoS capabilities. The conjunction of the benefits of both IPv6 and QoS for PLC networks could enormously improve performances and interoperability among smart grid applications: in this scenario, the DLC+VIT4IP project aims at realizing a so called “Convergence Layer” which will be able to provide IPv6 communication with integrated advanced functionalities, among which a particular attention to QoS is given.