The IEC 61850 standard specifies an expandable data model and services for

substation automation (standard parts 7-x). The standard does not specify any

protection or control functions, but specifies how the functions expose their

information to a communication network.

The standard supports free allocation of functions to devices. With efficient

communication facilities, the functions can be located anywhere in the system, that

is, an interlocking function can reside in the IED or on the station level.

Additionally, the standard is open for different system implementations, that is,

different integration levels and allocation of functions to different devices is

supported.

The standard also defines an XML description language for substation automation

systems. The language facilitates efficient integration of devices into systems in an

automated fashion. Additionally the standard supports a comprehensive and

consistent system definition and engineering, which makes not only the devices,

but also their tools and systems interoperable (standard part 6).