Digi 推出基於業界首批支持 ZigBee Smart Energy模塊的ZigBee Smart Energy 認證 ESP 網關

明尼蘇達州明尼通卡2009年6月30日電 /美通社亞洲/ — Digi International (Nasdaq: DGII) 今天推出一套全面的 Smart Energy（智能能源）產品系列，包括業界最先支持ZigBee Smart Energy的模塊和基於這些模塊認證的Energy Service Portal（能源服務門戶，簡稱 ESP）網關。ZigBee Smart Energy 公用規格對一系列設備如何在同一網絡內實現協作做出規定，使公用事業能夠智能化地管理能源負荷、監測能源利用情況並優化能耗。作為美國能源部 (U.S. Department of Energy) 根據其最初智能電網 (Smart Grid) 開發標準框架而選定的家庭區域網絡 (HAN) 設備通訊標準，ZigBee Smart Energy 是解決未來美國能源管理需求的一項關鍵技術。隨著支持 ZigBee Smart Energy 的模塊和網關的推出，Digi 將使這項技術更為普及。

Digi 最新推出的 ZigBee Smart Energy 產品系列包括 XBee(R) 和 XBee-PRO(R) SE ZigBee 模塊以及 ConnectPort(TM) X2 ESP 認證網關。基於現有的 XBee 和 XBee-PRO ZB，新的 XBee 和 XBee-PRO SE 模塊所採用的固件能夠簡化 ZigBee Smart Energy 設備的開發和認證工作。ConnectPort X2 ESP 網關通過寬帶或蜂窩連接消費者的 HAN 和能源服務供應商。

Residential Control Systems總裁 Michael Kuhlmann 表示：「我們利用 XBee SE 模塊開發出一種新型可編程、可調節的溫控器。XBee SE 模塊實現了簡易開發流程，並使我們領先業界產品的開發時間縮短近一半。」

Digi International 首席執行官 Joe Dunsmore 表示：「Digi 正引領智能電網的創建。我們3月份推出的 iDigi Energy 使無線能源管理應用程序的創建變得令人難以置信地簡便。現在隨著 Smart Energy 的推出，我們的原始設備製造商 (OEM) 客戶能夠快速創造出實現智能電網所需的互操作式溫控器、家庭式能源顯示器、計量裝置和負荷控制器。」

Digi 的 ZigBee Smart Energy 產品同時還擴展了最近推出的iDigi Energy 無線機器對機器 (M2M) 解決方案集，該解決方案集採用了迅速而輕鬆地實現智能電網設備整合所需的硬件、托管軟件和服務。iDigi 現包括支持 Smart Energy 的硬件以及通過 iDigi 平台實現的 Smart Energy 軟件支持，該平台是一種平台即服務 (PaaS) 產品，可將遠程設備與客戶的應用相連接。

ZigBee Alliance 市場部副總裁 Benno Ritter 表示：「ZigBee Smart Energy 規格是智能電網應用程序的標準。隨著Digi 這新產品系列的推出，該公司將使原始設備製造商能夠更容易地開發出 ZigBee Smart Energy 設備，從而推動能源產業向前發展。」

XBee 和 XBee-PRO ZB ZigBee 模塊採用了支持 ZigBee Smart Energy 的固件，為 ZigBee Smart Energy 公共應用規格所規定的8種設備執行提供全面支持。這些設備包括 ESPs、計量裝置、預裝顯示設備、可編程通信溫控器 (PCT)、負荷控制器、增距器、智能家電和預付終端設備。製造這些設備的開發商現在可以使用 Digi 的 Smart Energy 產品和 iDigi Energy 解決方案集來大大降低生產 ZigBee Smart Energy 產品所需的開發和認證時間，以及專業知識的整體要求。

此外，XBee 和 XBee-PRO ZB ZigBee 模塊具有聯網、連接、驗證以及密鑰建立功能，並通過 XBee 應用編程接口 (API) 提供簡單的網絡和模塊配置。客戶還能免費使用 Smart Energy 固件對其現有的 XBee 和 XBee-PRO ZB 模塊進行升級。

借助 ConnectPort X2 ESP，能源服務供應商能夠通過寬帶或蜂窩連接部署完全由 Digi 網關管理的 HAN 設備，這樣便能在 Smart Metering 網絡沒有覆蓋到的區域部署智能電網服務。一旦安裝 Smart Meter，網關便能接入該網絡，通過公共網絡在家庭和次級通信路徑中提供可編程的能源服務，從而提升能源服務質量。ConnectPort X2 ESP 已經通過National Technical Systems(NTS) 的 ZigBee Smart Energy (SE) Test Harness 測試及認證。

Digi 已經為有意立即使用這些產品的人士推出了一個開發計劃。欲瞭解有關此項計劃的更多訊息並開發Smart Energy工作，請瀏覽：http://www.digi.com/smart-energy 。欲垂詢 iDigi Energy 詳情，請瀏覽：http://www.idigi.com/ 。

Digi International 簡介

Digi International 通過開發可靠的產品和解決方案，幫助客戶實現了通過網絡或環球網進行本地或遠程電子裝置的連接及安全管理，使無線 M2M（機器對機器）通訊變得簡捷。Digi 提供具備出色性能、靈活性和高品質的產品，並擁有一個遍及全球的產品營銷網，包括各地分銷和代理商、系統集成商以及原始設備製造商 (OEM)。欲瞭解更多信息，請瀏覽Digi網站http://www.digi.com　或致電 +852-2833-1008。

RCS 簡介

RCS 為能源管理和控制器市場開發創新型產品。20年來，該公司一直是為市場提供各種通訊溫控器以及 HVAC 控制產品（包括區域控制器和阻尼器）的領導者。RCS 已經開發出先進的新一代溫控器產品，它們可與公用儀表相連接，並支持需求側管理 (DSM) 項目，從而為終端用戶節能，並為公用事業公司確保電網可靠性。RCS 還提供用於監測和主動控制能源消耗的系統級解決方案。這些產品包括能源管理控制器以及諸如通信電表和水表之類的監測設備。欲垂詢 RCS 詳情，請瀏覽：http://www.resconsys.com 。

ZigBee：控制你的世界

ZigBee 是一種全球無線語言，能夠將截然不同的設備連接起來協同運作，並改善日常生活。ZigBee Alliance 是一個擁有300多家會員公司的非營利性協會，其推動著 ZigBee 無線技術的發展。該協會將 ZigBee 作為消費電子、能源、醫療、住宅、商業和工業領域領先的無線聯網、傳感和控制標準，在全球各地進行推廣。欲垂詢詳情，請瀏覽：http://www.zigbee.org 。

NTS 簡介

National Technical Systems, Inc. 是為國防、航天、電訊、汽車和高科技市場提供工程服務的領導廠商。通過遍佈全球的資源網絡，NTS 提供全面的產品生命週期支持，並提供世界一流的設計工程、合規、測試、認證、質量註冊和項目管理服務。欲垂詢 NTS 詳情，請瀏覽該公司網站 http://www.ntscorp.com/ ，或致電800-270-2516。

Digi Announces ZigBee Smart Energy Certified ESP Gateway Built upon Industry’s First ZigBee Smart Energy-Ready Module
MINNETONKA, Minn., June 30 /PRNewswire-Asia/ — Digi International (Nasdaq: DGII) today introduced a comprehensive Smart Energy product family, including the industry’s first ZigBee Smart Energy ready modules and certified Energy Service Portal (ESP) gateways built on these modules. The ZigBee Smart Energy public profile defines how a collection of devices works cooperatively within a network, enabling utilities to intelligently manage energy loads, monitor energy use and optimize consumption. As a device communication standard for home area networks (HANs) selected by the U.S. Department of Energy in their initial standards framework for Smart Grid development, ZigBee Smart Energy is a key technology for addressing America’s energy management needs in the future. With the release of ZigBee Smart Energy ready modules and gateways, Digi is making this technology more accessible than ever before.

Digi’s new ZigBee Smart Energy product family includes the XBee(R) and XBee-PRO(R) SE ZigBee modules and ConnectPort(TM) X2 ESP certified gateway. Built upon the existing XBee and XBee-PRO ZB, the new XBee and XBee-PRO SE modules feature firmware that simplifies the development work required to develop and certify a ZigBee Smart Energy device. The ConnectPort X2 ESP gateway provides the connection between a consumer’s HAN and an energy service provider over a broadband or cellular connection.

“We developed a new programmable and controllable thermostat using the XBee SE module,” said Michael Kuhlmann, president, Residential Control Systems. “The XBee SE module made the development process easy and reduced development time of our industry-leading product by almost half.”

“Digi is taking a leadership role in creating the Smart Grid,” said Joe Dunsmore, CEO, Digi International. “Our March launch of iDigi Energy makes creating wireless energy management applications incredibly easy. And now with this Smart Energy launch, our OEM customers can quickly create the interoperable thermostats, in-home energy displays, metering devices and load controllers needed to make the Smart Grid a reality.”

Digi ZigBee Smart Energy products also expand the recently launched iDigi Energy wireless M2M solutions bundle, which features the hardware, hosted software and services necessary to quickly and easily integrate Smart Grid devices. iDigi now includes Smart Energy ready hardware as well as Smart Energy software support through the iDigi platform, a Platform as a Service (PaaS) that connects remote assets to a customer’s applications.

“The ZigBee Smart Energy profile is the standard for Smart Grid applications,” said Benno Ritter, vice president of marketing at the ZigBee Alliance. “With the release of Digi’s new product family, the company is driving the energy industry forward by making it easier for OEMs to develop ZigBee Smart Energy devices.”

XBee and XBee-PRO ZB ZigBee modules feature ZigBee Smart Energy-ready firmware for supporting the implementation of each of the eight devices defined in the ZigBee Smart Energy public application profile. These include ESPs, metering devices, in-premise display devices, programmable communicating thermostats (PCTs), load controllers, range extenders, smart appliances and prepayment terminals. Developers making these devices can now use Digi’s Smart Energy products and iDigi Energy bundle to dramatically reduce the development and certification time, and overall expertise required, to produce a ZigBee Smart Energy product.

Additionally, XBee and XBee-PRO ZB ZigBee modules handle networking, joining, authentication and key establishment functions, and provide simple network and module configuration via the XBee Application Programming Interface (API). Customers can also upgrade their existing XBee and XBee-PRO ZB modules with Smart Energy firmware free of charge.

The ConnectPort X2 ESP enables energy service providers to deploy HAN devices that are completely managed by the Digi gateway over a broadband or cellular connection, allowing Smart Grid services to be deployed in areas not covered by Smart Metering networks. Once a Smart Meter is installed, the gateway can join that network providing programmable energy services in the home and secondary communication paths over public networks for enhanced energy service offerings. The ConnectPort X2 ESP was tested and certified using National Technical Systems’ (NTS) ZigBee Smart Energy (SE)Test Harness.

Digi has launched a development program for those interested in leveraging these products immediately. For more information on this program, and to get started developing around Smart Energy today, visit http://www.digi.com/smart-energy . For more information about iDigi Energy, visit http://www.idigi.com .

About Digi International

Digi International is making wireless M2M easy by developing reliable products and solutions to connect and securely manage local or remote electronic devices over the network or via the Web. Digi offers the highest levels of performance, flexibility and quality, and markets its products through a global network of distributors and resellers, systems integrators and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). For more information, visit Digi’s Web site at http://www.digi.com , or call +852-2833-1008.

About RCS

RCS creates innovative products for the energy management and controls market. For 20 years, it has been a leader in providing this market with a wide range of communicating thermostats and HVAC control products, including zone controls and dampers. RCS has developed advanced, next generation thermostat products that communicate with Utility Meters and support Demand Side Management (DSM) programs providing energy savings to the end users and grid reliability to the Utilities. RCS also provides system level solutions for monitoring and actively controlling energy consumption. These products include energy manager controllers and monitoring devices like communicating electric and water meters. For more information about RCS, visit http://www.resconsys.com .

ZigBee: Control your world

ZigBee is the global wireless language connecting dramatically different devices to work together and enhance everyday life. The ZigBee Alliance is a non-profit association of more than 300 member companies driving development of ZigBee wireless technology. The Alliance promotes world-wide adoption of ZigBee as the leading wirelessly networked, sensing and control standard for use in consumer electronics, energy, health care, home, commercial and industrial areas. For more information, visit: http://www.zigbee.org .

About NTS

National Technical Systems, Inc. is a leading provider of engineering services to the defense, aerospace, telecommunications, automotive and high technology markets. Through a world-wide network of resources, NTS provides full product life-cycle support, offering world class design engineering, compliance, testing, certification, quality registration and program management. For additional information about NTS, visit website at http://www.ntscorp.com , or call 800-270-2516.

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