Tokyo, May 15, 2012
Fujitsu today announced the immediate release of SSPF v01 ("smart sensing platform"), software that facilitates the construction of energy-management systems for homes and shops by simplifying the operation of network controls for power-related devices, such as appliances and solar panels, that are connected in a network.
This software uses a proprietary architecture developed at Fujitsu that efficiently ties together numerous network standards involved in collecting data from the home or building, such as power-usage levels, and controlling household appliances, solar panels and other power-related equipment, even though their specifications often vary from vendor to vendor. The result is a process of developing energy-management systems for the smart-home and smart-community market that is dramatically more efficient.
In recent years, a variety of low-energy devices, such as smart appliances that control power consumption, and energy-storage devices, such as solar panels, fuel cells, and fixed storage batteries, have become increasingly common in homes and shops as well as other buildings in the community. Tying together these devices and ICT would promote the aim of energy conservation with the expansion of the smart home market. Residences would be able to visualize their power usage volumes, which can guide behavior to conserve energy, and it is envisioned that new services would emerge to optimize control over energy usage and improve the comfort of living spaces.
To optimally control these appliances and power-related devices, it is essential that they be connected in a network and that the network can be used to control their operation. To enable remote control of these appliances and devices, however, it is necessary to thoroughly deal with all of the different industry standards and communications specifications in an integrated way, including the industry standards for each different type of appliance or device, the communications standards for home networks, and communications standards for wide-area networks, such as the Internet. The complexity of the designed network that would be needed has been an obstacle preventing service providers and device makers from quickly building management systems.
Fujitsu developed SSPF v01, which is being released today, to solve this problem, with the goal of dramatically improving the efficiency of building management systems for smart homes and smart communities.
Product Features
1. Proprietary architecture ties together different vendor-specific device networking standards
SSPF v01 comprehensively processes the many home-networking communications protocols and industry standards, which vary from one vendor to another, as well as wide-area networks, such as the Internet, in a IoT/M2M approach(1). This proprietary architecture converts control information and status information (such as temperature and heat) into commonly used, easily understood data, and enables remote operational control via the Internet, so that a full range of services can be made available, even in a mixed-vendor environment.
2. Uses plug-and-play platform that can handle mixed proprietary specifications and evolving functionality
Devices used in the home often have short replacement cycles, may have functions that only conform with certain communications protocols that do not allow networked control, or often simply cannot be connected to a network.
SSPF v01 uses OSCi technology(2) for a plug-and-play platform that allows for required functionality to be added flexibly by modules, so that the system can respond quickly to evolving functionality and new products.
3. Advance support for the HEMS standard promulgated by the JSCA Smart House Standardization Study Group
The consequences of the Tohoku earthquake have heightened the importance of establishing technologies that are optimized for low power usage. The JSCA Smart House Standardization Study Group(3) is studying standardization on smart meters and HEMS(4), which would accelerate adoption and promote reduced energy use and new industries.
SSPF v01 provides advance support for standardized communications protocols between smart meters and HEMS, and between HEMS and appliances or energy-related devices, with standard functions included.
Pricing and Availability
Pricing and Availability
| Product name |
Standard price (excl tax) |
Release date |
Shipment |
| SSPF Center (software for centers) |
| SSPF Center Media Pack v01 |
JPY 20,000 |
May 15, 2012 |
June 1, 2012 |
| SSPF Center Basic License |
JPY 6 million |
May 15, 2012 |
June 1, 2012 |
| SSPF Center Gateway Connection License |
JPY 6,000 |
May 15, 2012 |
June 1, 2012 |
| SSPF Center Add-on Device Connection License |
JPY 2,000 |
May 15, 2012 |
June 1, 2012 |
Note: software running on gateways will vary depending on hardware; any required hardware integration will be quoted separately
Sales Target
JPY 5 billion in revenues by 2015 for systems, including peripheral devices.
