Science & Technology
Science and Technology
Science and Technology
Wed, December 3, 2008 Echelon Announces ISO/IEC Standardization of LonWorks Control Networks
SAN JOSE, Calif.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Echelon Corporation (NASDAQ: ELON) today announced that the technologies underlying Echelon's LonWorks platform have been approved as a global control standard by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). Tens of millions of LonWorks based devices have been installed in a wide variety of applications worldwide – in buildings, factories, trains, electric utilities, coal mines, and homes around the world.
ISO/IEC standardization represents the highest level of standardization attainable and reflects the tremendous market support and adoption of the LonWorks platform by thousands of companies worldwide. The acceptance of the protocol and key signaling technologies underlying LonWorks networks as ISO/IEC standards helps assure continued adoption of the platform, especially in the growing market for energy demand management in commercial buildings and homes.
Ken Oshman, Echelon's CEO and chairman, said, "Many of us are unaware that we experience LonWorks control applications every day, as they are largely invisible. They provide improved safety, convenience, and comfort while improving energy efficiency." Oshman continued, "Achieving ISO/IEC standardization is a validation of what the market has already discovered – the LonWorks platform is the most cost effective, flexible, and efficient means for creating control solutions whether they are used for enhancing safety and convenience, or creating energy aware networks."
Some of the world's most notable energy and control applications are built using the LonWorks platform including:
- The world's first and largest advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) system of over 27 million homes in Italy;
- McDonald's Corporation's "Kitchen of the Future";
- New York City Schools building control systems;
- City of Oslo's managed street lighting system that reduces lighting energy use by 40%;
- Duke Energy's "Utility of the Future" AMI pilot.
ISO and IEC have granted the communications protocol, twisted pair signaling technology, power line signaling technology, and Internet Protocol (IP) compatibility standard numbers ISO/IEC 14908-1, -2, -3, and -4 in the realm of building automation, control and building management.
Previously these technologies were standardized in Europe as EN 14908-1, 2, 3, and 4, in China as GB/T 20299.4-2006 and GB/Z 20177.1, 2, 3, 4-2006, and in the United States as ANSI/CEA 709.1, .2, and .3 and ANSI/CEA-852.
Since 1999, the underlying protocol, twisted pair, and power line signaling technology for the LonWorks control networking platform have been known collectively as the ANSI/CEA 709 -family of standards. Subsequently, ANSI/CEA-852 was ratified to add the use of the Internet Protocol (IP) as a transport medium for the LonWorks platform. The LonWorks platform has been ratified in numerous national and international standards for control and communications:
- IEEE for train controls
- EN 14908 for building controls in Europe
- AAR for electro-pneumatic train braking systems
- SEMI for semiconductor manufacturing equipment
- BACnet for heating, venting and air-conditioning equipment (transport layer)
- IFSF for European petrol stations
- GB/T for intelligent communities in China
- GB/Z for building automation in China
Some of the world's leading companies have adopted the LonWorks platform as the basis for global product offerings including, Samsung Electronics, Honeywell, Siemens, Philips, TAC, Groupe Schneider, Trane Company, and Johnson Controls.
Additional information about standards utilizing the technology of the LonWorks platform can be found at [ http://www.echelon.com/company/press/2008/ISO_IEC_QA.htm. ]
About Echelon Corporation
Echelon Corporation (NASDAQ: ELON) is leading the worldwide transformation of the electricity grid into a smart, communicating energy network, connecting utilities to their customers, and providing customers with energy aware homes and businesses that react to conditions on the grid.
Echelon's NES System – the backbone for the smart grid – is used by utilities to replace existing stand-alone electricity meters with a network infrastructure that is open, inexpensive, reliable, and proven. The NES System helps utilities compete more effectively, reduce operating costs, provide expanded services and help energy users manage and reduce overall energy use. Echelon's LonWorks® Infrastructure products extend the smart grid, powering tens of millions of energy aware, everyday devices made by thousands of companies – connecting them to each other and the grid. LonWorks based products work together to monitor and save energy; lower costs; improve productivity; and enhance service, quality, safety, and convenience in utility, municipal, building, industrial, transportation, and home area networks.
More information about Echelon can be found at [ http://www.echelon.com ].
Echelon, LonWorks and the Echelon logo are registered trademarks of Echelon Corporation registered in the United States and other countries. Other product or service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.
This press release may contain statements relating to future plans, events or performance. Such statements may involve risks and uncertainties, including risks associated with uncertainties pertaining to market acceptance of Echelon products and services and the timing and level of customer orders; risks that Echelon offerings do not perform as designed and that liability may accrue as a result; the growth of the LonWorks industry; and other risks identified in Echelon's SEC filings. Actual results, events and performance may differ materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Echelon undertakes no obligation to release publicly the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
