An Overview of the Architecture of Home Energy Management System as Microgrids, Automation Systems, Communication Protocols, Security, and Cyber Challenges

Abstract

Today, the role of smart machines in our lives is valuable. With the advancement of digital technologies, such as the internet of things (IoT), many embedded systems have been developed for various applications. In homes, all daily activities and even security depend on machines. Therefore, implementing IoT-based smart homes has become a prominent research field. Also, since we are in the era of endless growth of the IoT and its applications, the topic of home automation systems is becoming more popular due to its countless advantages. In general, most home automation systems focus on one function: the ability to control home appliances remotely. In the world of information technology, the creation of rules and standards should always be done in the early stages of development because, after the work is done, incompatibilities between devices are created, which is a severe challenge and limits the use of technology. Therefore, the research on IoT technology has led to the formation of various protocols; this article gives an overview of seven essential protocols. Also, in this review article, energy consumption management, and privacy and security issues are discussed, and smart homes are introduced as critical requirements for the evolution of smart cities.