Echelon also makes technologies for smart energy meters, which haven't caught on in the United States as in Europe. North Carolina-based Duke Energy is the first U.S. utility to embrace the systems.
Shown in Echelon's testing labs, the meters on the left represent those in the United States. Those on the right would be found in Europe. Encrypted communications could enable several hundred meters to connect to a concentrator via broadband power line. The concentrators can communicate to network service centers via General Packet Radio Service, Wi-Fi, Wi-Max, or a broadband power line.
Security is also important at Echelon's headquarters. The network is protected so that data can't be fed into the buildings' security or elevator systems.
Photo by Elsa Wenzel/CNET Networks
Caption by
Elsa Wenzel
