This part of IEC 62056 specifies the DLMS/COSEM application layer in terms of structure, services and protocols for COSEM clients and servers, and defines how to use the DLMS/COSEM application layer in various communication profiles.

It defines services for establishing and releasing application associations, and data communication services for accessing the methods and attributes of COSEM interface objects, defined in IEC 62056‑6‑2:2016, using either logical name (LN) or short name (SN) referencing.

Annex A (normative) defines how to use the COSEM application layer in various communication profiles. It specifies how various communication profiles can be constructed for exchanging data with metering equipment using the COSEM interface model, and what are the necessary elements to specify in each communication profile. The actual, media-specific communication profiles are specified in separate parts of the IEC 62056 series.

Annex B (normative) specifies the SMS short wrapper.

Annex C, Annex D and Annex E (informative) include encoding examples for APDUs.

Annex F (informative) provides an overview of cryptography.

Annex G (informative) lists the main technical changes in this edition of the standard.