Code-Hopping Based Communication Network Using Orthogonal Complementary Codes for Advanced Metering Infrastructure in Smart Grid

Smart grids are next-generation grids, which would provide a reliable, efficient, secure and cost-effective energy management system for any modern communication infrastructure. Communication infrastructure using efficient wireless access systems play a vital part in supporting information exchange in a smart grid. In this paper, the usage of wireless access for an Advanced Metering Communication Infrastructure (AMCI) is discussed in order to address the main challenges existing in a smart grid, namely, security and multipath interference (MPI). The challenges resulting due to security is achieved through the use of code-hopping multiple access (CHMA) for an AMCI, which has been analyzed using Orthogonal Complementary Codes (OCC). On the other hand, receiver diversity techniques such as Maximal Ratio Combining (MRC), which improves the performance of power user signals affected by MPI and noise is also discussed. Performance analysis using bit error rates (BER) are shown for the spread data model with respect to an AMCI system under Rayleigh fading channel for different system parameters.