LiveData SmartGrid Manager Integrates Information from Electric Utility Network, Assessing the Health of “Smart Grid” in One View

Single Console Simplifies Complex Distributed Systems Based on ICCP, DNP, and other Smart Grid Protocols

Cambridge, Mass, October 20, 2009— LiveData, Inc. (www.LiveData.com), an innovator of real-time integration and data visualization technology, today introduced SmartGrid Manager, a data integration and visualization system that verifies the health of systems that run the electric power grid. LiveData SmartGrid Manager integrates data from diverse sensors, devices and systems to deliver one global, real time system health view of the next-generation electric utility services network, which the U.S.Department of Energy refers to as the “Smart Grid.”

Although other products can monitor the performance of individual pieces of equipment, only LiveData SmartGrid Manager integrates widespread sources and diverse types of information in one easy-to-deploy application. LiveData’s single console simplifies complex distributed systems based on ICCP, DNP, and other Smart Grid communication protocols. Thus, the operator of a distributed system of generation assets or distribution SCADA can refer to a single screen to verify the health of the entire system and, where necessary, issue alerts enabling rapid response to incidents or outages.

LiveData SmartGrid Manager interfaces with critical components of the Distribution Smart Grid, including AMI (Automated Meter Infrastructure) and DRR (Demand Response Reserve). This is especially important because, while both provide the means to manage power flow and energy on the demand side, neither provides a way to geographically report power or telemetry loss or help on the supply side. With LiveData SmartGrid Manager, organizations have a system for pinpointing trouble locations and problem type, dispatching crews, and relaying event-based messages to outage management and other systems in real-time.

In addition to overall system health, SmartGrid Manager’s uniquely consolidated views allow important “make vs. buy” decisions for participants in the evolving real-time marketplace for power. These views give the necessary flexibility and control to power suppliers to transact effectively and safely in a more fluid demand-side Smart Grid, where incentives and smart meters can cause demand to fluctuate even more than it has in the past.

"As an important yet still evolving concept, the Smart Grid currently means different things to different people; that's the very essence of innovation," said Jeffrey Robbins, LiveData CEO. "While the Smart Grid doesn't yet have an overall software architecture, Microsoft's Smart Energy Reference Architecture, published last week, is an excellent step in the right direction. With our 18 years of protocol integration experience, LiveData is uniquely positioned to extend the reach of control systems and bring our time-tested technology to the Smart Grid.”

A combination of software and services, SmartGrid Manager is based on LiveData RTI Server, a robust, centralized system for managing real-time communication among intelligent devices, applications, and IT systems. SmartGrid Manager is packaged with all interfaces and protocols necessary for ensuring seamless bi-directional data flow. Information is always instantly available for analysis, storage, reporting, and monitoring; complex, real-time data management becomes “point and click” configurable.

"Cybersecurity is one of the keys to success, and right now, the Smart Grid is an unmanaged entity, rife with safety risks,” said Robbins. “It’s not just about SCADA and other devices or concepts, it’s about oversight. Smart Grid management brings efficiency to consumers and ratepayers, and security to the utility."

LiveData solutions are the trusted real-time middleware of choice for hundreds of electric power utilities across the world. The company’s products continuously monitor, synthesize and respond to highly complex multi-faceted processes in real-time, spanning a broad mix of distributed devices, diverse vendors’ systems, protocols and databases. LiveData technology understands the applications that monitor and control operations—SCADA, DCS, EMS, OMS; and how to flow data to and between them, across all major public and proprietary protocols, such as: ICCP/TASE.2, OPC, DNP3, IEC 61850, Modbus, Allen-Bradley, OPC, and PG&E. It supports all major SCADA architectures, including hot failover, and other high availability architectures

About LiveData

LiveData, Inc. is the leading innovator of real-time integration and data visualization technology. LiveData solutions continuously monitor, synthesize, and respond to highly complex, multi-faceted processes in real time, spanning a broad mix of distributed devices, diverse vendors’ systems, protocols, and databases. LiveData OR-Dashboard system has been installed and is fully operational in the CIMIT / MGH Operating Room of the Future, and at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, in its 21 new operating rooms. Founded in 1991, LiveData serves customers in healthcare, electric power and utilities, and manufacturing industries, as well as state and local governments. For more information, visit www.livedata.com

For more information:
Contact Edward Bride, 413-442-7718 [ This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ]