IngSoft InterWatt Edge:
The remote data collector for the field

Software-based data logger for energy management

Energy management thrives on data. This often comes from the real world, i.e. from meters, PV systems, charging stations, production facilities and much more. In order to be able to utilise this data, it must first find its way into the company's own IT infrastructure. However, IT systems cannot access data from the field at will. There are various reasons for this, such as a lack of network access, communication protocols that cannot be read or different time requirements of the systems for data processing. This is precisely where IngSoft InterWatt Edge comes in.

IngSoft InterWatt Edge - the link between Operational Technology (OT) & IT infrastructure

IngSoft InterWatt Edge enables you to reliably record and process real-time data from a wide variety of systems and meters and make it available for your energy management system (EnMS) or for neighbouring systems such as MES or ERP - without the need for a physical data logger. It is a purely software-based solution that connects to the sensors and devices in the field (OT) on the network side, reads the data and makes it available to higher-level systems such as IngSoft InterWatt for analysis and, if required, for control.

How IngSoft InterWatt Edge works

Multi-protocol gateway

IngSoft InterWatt Edge is a so-called "multi-protocol gateway", i.e. it mediates between systems that use different communication protocols. It therefore serves as a bridge for data exchange between the physical systems or meters in the field and the respective IT target systems.

Connectivity of devices and systems

The universal connectivity of IngSoft InterWatt Edge enables a manufacturer and device-independent connection of your systems in the field on the OT side. On the IT side, the application can be seamlessly integrated into IngSoft InterWatt or other third-party systems.

On the OT side, the application supports the following protocols, among others:

• Modbus TCP
• OPC UA
• BACnet
• MQTT

On the IT side, data can be provided in the following ways:

• File-based: Email, (S)FTP, FTPS, Fileshare (SMB)
• Message-based: MQTT
  

Intelligent data processing & forwarding

In the simplest use case, IngSoft InterWatt Edge forwards the raw data from the field to the overarching IT systems. However, more complex sequences of data operations can also be carried out.
Possible data operations:

• Raw data forwarding: Forwarding of raw values
  (e.g. current power consumption [kW], amperage)
• Aggregation: Aggregation of instantaneous values to period values
  (e.g. power consumption [kW] in 15 min. work [kWh])
• Conversion: Conversion of values based on defined specifications
  (e.g. signal transmitter 0...20 mA to temperature scale)
• Combination: Combination of different output values
  (e.g. power consumption x variable scale from device)
• Data sink: Transfer of measured values "to the outside"
  (e.g. via FTP to IngSoft InterWatt or MQTT to Dashboard)

Data transfer with IngSoft InterWatt Edge is possible in two directions. From OT to IT, but also from IT to OT.

Data processing with real-time values

IngSoft InterWatt Edge offers maximum flexibility in terms of processing speed. The application can be surrounded by real-time data in second intervals, but also with summarised interval data (e.g. 15 minute values or greater). The data is therefore provided according to the requirements of your target system.

IngSoft InterWatt Edge is a modular extension of IngSoft InterWatt that can be purchased as an add-on.