IEC 62056-21 (DLMS/COSEM)

 IEC 62056-21 is an international standard that defines the data exchange protocol for meter reading, tariff, and load control, and consumer information in electricity metering systems. It is part of the DLMS/COSEM (Device Language Message Specification/Companion Specification for Energy Metering) suite of standards developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

The standard specifies the physical layer services and protocols for asynchronous data transmission between electricity meters and data collection devices. This enables interoperability between equipment from different manufacturers, ensuring seamless communication and data exchange in electricity metering systems.

Key features of IEC 62056-21 include:

• Communication protocol: The standard defines a three-layer connection-oriented profile for asynchronous data transmission, which enables reliable and secure communication between meters and data collection devices.
• Data models: The standard defines a set of data objects and attributes to represent metering and energy-related information consistently across different systems.
• Security: IEC 62056-21 supports encryption and authentication mechanisms to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the exchanged data.
• Scalability: The standard allows for flexible configuration and adaptation to various system requirements, making it suitable for a wide range of applications in the electricity metering domain.

Some other names or related standards within the DLMS/COSEM suite include:

• IEC 62056-46: This part of the standard specifies the physical layer services and protocols for twisted pair communication in COSEM networks.
• IEC 62056-47: This part specifies the application layer services and protocols for COSEM networks, providing a comprehensive framework for data exchange and management.
• IEC 62056-53: This part defines the COSEM application layer protocol for local bus data exchange, focusing on low-level communication between devices in a local network.

Overall, IEC 62056-21 plays a crucial role in standardizing data exchange and communication in electricity metering systems, facilitating interoperability, security, and efficient data management.