The following table explains some terms and abbreviations which you may encounter in the user interface or in the general context of using the ZENNER Datahub.
| Term/Abbreviation | Explanation |
|---|---|
| ADR | Adaptive data rate refers to a mechanism with which devices can independently adjust their data rate and the spreading factor if they achieve consistently good reception values. This principle offers the advantage that devices operating in areas with good network coverage can transmit more efficiently, but also harbors the risk that packets will no longer arrive if a gateway fails due to a spreading factor that is too low. If there is no confirmation for confirmed packages, the device increases its spreading factor again. |
| AES | The Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) is a symmetric encryption method, i.e. the encryption and decryption keys are identical. AES offers a very high level of security; the first theoretically interesting but practically irrelevant attack was only found more than ten years after its standardization. |
| AES Key | The AES key is used in the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) encryption method, to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information sent from an NB-IoT device. When transferring data in an NB-IoT network, the AES key is used to encrypt and decrypt sensitive data and is typically a randomly generated bit sequence with a length of 128, 192, or 256 bits. |
| AppKey | The AppKey is the key for encrypting messages between the device and the server. This key must be unique for each sensor. Hexadecimal string with 32 digits. |
| Backhaul | Transmission of LoRa packets from the gateways to the LNS. No longer transmitted via LoRa but via mobile radio or Ethernet, for example |
| Datastore | The Datastore is the central storage location for measured values and sensor data. |
| DevEUI | 64-bit globally unique identifier assigned to a LoRaWAN device, used to uniquely identify the device on the network. |
| Downlink | Message sent from the server to a device via the gateways |
| Gateways | Receiving stations that can receive and send LoRa packets. Communication with the LNS takes place via the gateways. “Modems for the sensors and devices” |
| Device classes | LoRa devices can be divided into different device classes that describe the transmission and reception behavior of devices Class A: Transmit at any time, receive after transmission at fixed intervals Class B: In addition to A, further time intervals in which reception is possible Class C: Can receive downlinks at any time, except during transmission |
| GWA | Gateway Administrator |
| HKS | HAN communication scenario, HKS3 is currently supported. HAN communication scenarios 4 and 5 are currently under development. |
| HSM | The term hardware security module (HSM) refers to an internal or external peripheral device for the efficient and secure execution of cryptographic operations or applications. |
| IDU | Indoor Unit |
| IFTTT | IFTTT (the abbreviation of If This Then That) is a service provider for the individual linking of web applications. |
| IoT | Internet of Things |
| Joins | Devices join the LoRa network. Device makes join request → Gateway receives the request and forwards it to the LNS → LNS checks the request and, if it matches, sends the join accept back to the device in the same way |
| JSON | JavaScript Object Notation, or JSON for short, is a compact data format in an easy-to-read text form for the purpose of data exchange between applications. |
| LDAP | The Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) is a network protocol for querying and changing information from distributed directory services. |
| LNS | LoRaWAN network server – part of the ZENNER Datahub when using LoRa-based deployment scenarios. |
| LoRa frequency range | LoRa works with different frequency ranges depending on the continent. E.g. EU: 868MHz USA: 915MHz Asia: 923MH |
| LoRaWAN | Long Range Wide Area Network (LoRaWAN) is a low-power wireless network protocol. The LoRaWAN specification is defined by the LoRa Alliance, is freely available and uses the proprietary “LoRa” chirp spread spectrum modulation technology from Semtech Corporation. It is asymmetrically geared towards the energy efficiency of IoT devices and achieves long ranges (>10 km) for uplink communication, i.e. transmission from the IoT device to the network. The data transmission rate ranges between 292 bit/s and 50 kilobit/s. Various operating levels up to quasi-continuous downlink communication are possible, although the latter comes at the expense of energy efficiency. |
| MAC address | Unique device number in hexadecimal notation that is permanently assigned to the respective device. Consists partly of the manufacturer ID and partly of the respective device number. |
| Tenants | The LoRaWAN network of the Brunata Minol ZENNER Group is divided into areas that are assigned to specific customers. These are called tenants. Logins are created for each tenant and the logged-in users then only have access to this tenant. |
| M-Bus | The M-Bus, short for meter bus, is a technical standard whose rules can be used, for example in electricity meters, to transmit the consumption of electricity as measurement data. The consumption of gas, heat or water can also be measured and transmitted by meters with M-Bus. |
| MNK | Multi-jet wet rotor cold water |
| MQTT | Message Queue Telemetry Transport (MQTT) is an open message protocol for machine-to-machine (M2M) communication that enables the transmission of telemetry data in the form of messages between devices, despite high delays or limited networks. Corresponding devices range from sensors and actuators, cell phones, embedded systems in vehicles or laptops to fully developed computers. |
| OAUTH | OAuth (Open Authorization) is an open protocol that allows standardized, secure API authorization for desktop, web and mobile applications. |
| OMS | The Open Metering System (OMS) stands for a cross-manufacturer and cross-sector communication architecture for intelligent meters based on the M-Bus as part of smart metering. It is the only system definition in the world that integrates all media (electricity, gas, heat and water including submetering) into one system. |
| On-Premises | On-premises refers to a usage and licensing model for server-based computer programs (software). |
| OTAA | Over-the-air activation A procedure in which the application key (AppKey) is stored in the LNS before a device is activated. This allows the LNS to generate the necessary keys and exchange them with the device. The AppKey is never transmitted via LoRa. During the join request, the device transmits its information to the network and “asks” the network for access. The LNS then checks whether the stored information matches and, if it does, sends a Join Accept to the device. |
| Parser | “Translator” that translates the payload from the packets into human-readable values and displays them accordingly |
| Payload | Data content of the LoRa packet in hexadecimal notation |
| Provisioning / Deprovisioning | Provisioning or deprovisioning sensors means that they are assigned to or removed from a specific tenant |
| RLM | Recording power measurement (RLM), also known as recording load profile measurement, describes a measurement process by energy suppliers for customers with an annual consumption of more than 100 MWh of electrical energy or more than 1.5 GWh of gas. The measuring device records an average power value per measuring period (15 minutes for electricity, 60 minutes for gas). |
| RSRP | Referenced Signal Received Power The RSRP value is a factor for the signal strength. The closer the value is to 0, the better. The typical value range here is between -50 and -140. -50 is a good value here. The normal range is -70 to -95. Reception is significantly impaired from -100. |
| RSRQ | Referenced Signal Received Quality The RSRQ value is a factor for the quality of the signal. This quality can be calculated from the other factors (RSSI and RSRP). Good values are between -5 and -8. -9 to -11 can still be received well. From -12 and below, reception can sometimes be severely impaired. |
| RSSI | Received Signal Strength Indicator – factor for reception quality Good values (0 to -100) – poor values (-110 to -140) |
| RTK | Ring-necked plover |
| SaaS | Software as a Service (SaaS) is a sub-sector of cloud computing. The SaaS model is based on the principle that the software and IT infrastructure are operated by an external IT service provider and used by the customer as a service. |
| Sharding | A distinction is made between horizontal and vertical fragmentation. In horizontal fragmentation (sharding), the entirety of all data records of a relation is divided into several tables. If these tables are located on the same server, this is usually partitioning. Horizontal fragmentation does not create redundancy of the stored data, but of the structures. If a relation needs to be changed, then not only one table needs to be changed, but all tables across which the data from the relation in question is distributed need to be changed. |
| SNR | Signal-to-noise ratio – factor for reception quality Good values (+20 to -4) – poor values (-11 to -20) |
| Spreading factor | LoRa packets can be sent using six different spreading factors (SF7 to SF12). Increasing the spreading factor significantly increases the range at which a packet can be received, but at the expense of the data rate and therefore also the transmission speed. |
| Submetering | Submetering comprises the consumption-based recording and billing of heating and water costs in buildings as well as the provision of the necessary measuring equipment such as heat cost allocators or heat and water meters. Each tenant receives a bill for their individual energy consumption, regardless of whether it is for heating or hot water. The landlord receives the total bill for the residential building. |
| UAA | Service to which almost all directory services can be connected, e.g. LDAP or Active Directory |
| UAS | User Authentication Server – module of the ZENNER Datahub for user and access management |
| Unique Identifier | Unique identification number of an NB-IoT device. Specific alphanumeric or numeric code This also corresponds to the serial number normally printed on the device. |
| UDP | The User Datagram Protocol, UDP for short, is a minimal, connectionless network protocol that belongs to the transport layer of the Internet protocol family. UDP enables applications to send datagrams in IP-based computer networks. |
| Uplink | Message sent from the device to the server via a gateway |
| wMBus | See ‘OMS’ above |
| wMSB | Competitive metering point operator |