A Multi-Layer Security Architecture for Wireless Cognitive Sensor Networks in Smart Grids

Abstract

Wireless sensor networks have been extensively deployed in the electric power systems for sensing, transmission and control, which provide more opportunities for wireless low power radios to operate. As the next generation electricity system, the smart grid should possess the capability to transmit reliable and real-time information to the control centers of the utilities. In order to solve the issues such as heterogeneous coexistence, spectrum scarcity, tremendous data processing and Security guarantees, revolutionary communication architecture is urgently demanded. In this paper, after analyzing the hierarchical structure of smart grid and illustrating the principle of WCSN in smart grids, we propose the security architecture of wireless sensor networks based on cognitive radio for smart grids, which can be used as a reference to design and develop the Wireless Cognitive Sensor Network (WCSN) security schemes in the electric power systems.