CALL FOR PAPERS 

IEEE Communications Magazine
Feature Topic Issue on Communication Protocols and Algorithms for the Smart Grid

Electric power regulation and privatization is creating new challenges on high voltage transmission and energy distribution systems. The existing electrical infrastructures must be updated in order to meet the needs of the digital society. Smart Grid describes a next-generation electrical power system that creates an increased use of communications and information technology in generation, delivery and consumption of electrical energy.
New communication protocols must be provided in order to improve the energy distribution, and to be more flexible, reliable, efficient and cost effective. They should be deployed in order to provide an accessible and secure connection to all network users, particularly for RES (Regenerative Energy Sources). 
The aim of this feature topic issue is to encourage the researchers to submit works related to communication protocols and algorithms for the modernization and optimization of the power grid. Their aim should be focused on enhancing the Smart Grid related technologies and power line automation schemes. These could support distributed information systems and provide intelligence in the electric system. Control communications algorithms could make extensive use of stochastic models and criteria for safety and reliability. Moreover, intelligent control communication protocols could utilize effectively the transmission capacity of the network and make efficient use of distributed energy resources in the system allowing efficient actions against failures.

Scope of the issue

The objective of this IEEE Communications Magazine feature topic issue is also to bring together the state-of-the-art research results and industrial applications of communication protocols and algorithms for Smart Grids. 
We target original survey and tutorial articles, including theoretical, analytical and implementation perspectives, previously not published and are not currently under review by another journal. There is special interest in application-oriented contributions dealing with practical system designs. 
The contributions for this feature topic issue should include, but not limited to, the following areas:

- Cognitive protocols for Smart Grid
- Wired and Wireless Sensor and actuator protocols for Smart Grid
- Powerline communication protocols
- Energy-efficient communication protocols for Smart Grid infrastructures
- Smart Grid Specific Protocols (DNP3, ICCP,...)
- Service-oriented protocols for Smart Grid
- Transport layer protocols and algorithms for Smart Grid
- Multicast and secure multicast for Smart Grid
- Precision time synchronization protocols for Smart Grid
- Quality of service, latency and reliability in Smart Grid
- Security and privacy in Smart Grid
- Intelligent status monitoring protocols in Smart Grid
- Fault tolerance and disaster recovery protocols and algorithms in Smart Grid
- Load balancing protocols in Smart Grid


Submission Guidelines

Articles should be tutorial in nature and written in a style comprehensible to readers outside the specialty of the article. Authors must follow the IEEE Communications Magazine’s guidelines for preparation of the manuscript. Complete guidelines for prospective authors can be found at http://dl.comsoc.org/livepubs/ci1/info/pub_guidelines.html. It is very important to note that the IEEE Communications Magazine strongly limits mathematical content, and the number of figures and tables. Paper length should not exceed 4,500 words. All articles to be considered for publication must be submitted through the IEEE Manuscript Central (http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/commag-ieee) by the deadline.


Important Dates

Manuscript Submission Due: August 1, 2011 (Extended)
Acceptance Notification: December 1, 2011
Final Manuscript Due: March 1, 2012
Publication: May 2012


Guest Editors

Jaime Lloret
Polytechnic University of Valencia, Spain
[log in to unmask]

Pascal Lorenz
University of Haute Alsace, France
[log in to unmask]

Abbas Jamalipour
University of Sydney, Australia
[log in to unmask]