Using the IEC 61850 standard in distribution automation can improve the interoperability of intelligent electronic devices(IEDs)

and reduce the work of communication configuration and installation. In view of the characteristics of distribution automation communication network

such as complex network structure and large number of power distribution terminal equipment

this paper proposes a method of transmitting the IEC 61850 information model data and real-time data by the extensible messaging and presence protocol(XMPP)

the basic XMPP network structure and the address of a communication entity are presented. Then

based on the analysis of three types of XMPP message stanzas

an application method of the message stanzas is put forward. The method of IEC 61850 mapping to XMPP is proposed

including the expression and transmission methods of information model accessing services

real-time supervisory data

and presentation data by extensible markup language(XML)message. By using Openfire and Gloox

a prototype system is developed. The solution of IEC 61850 mapping to XMPP is verified by the prototype system

the result showing that the method is able to meet the requirement of distribution automation.