Remote Meter Activation via Cryptographic Proximity Verification
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Utilities face challenges in securely confirming the presence and identity of customers at locations where electrical supply is to be manipulated remotely, as existing methods are inconvenient and lack assurance of authenticity and proximity.
Innovation Solution
A system using public and private key pairs for authentication and location verification is implemented, where a request for acknowledgement is sent to a customer device, verified using public and private keys, and the device's location is determined to ensure proximity to the meter before manipulating the electrical supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If remote activation of electricity is implemented without customer presence confirmation, then productivity and convenience are improved, but security and reliability deteriorate due to inability to verify customer identity and presence
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical presence verification (mechanical system of customer manually confirming at location) with electronic authentication using public key infrastructure. The system uses cryptographic signatures and digital certificates to verify customer identity and authorization remotely, eliminating the need for physical presence while maintaining security.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a third-party authentication system (certificate authority and public key infrastructure) as an intermediary between the utility and customer. This intermediary verifies customer identity and authorization before allowing remote activation, ensuring security without requiring direct customer presence at the utility's system.
2Reliability
If traditional customer presence confirmation methods are used, then security is improved, but ease of operation and time consumption worsen due to manual verification requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables customers to perform self-verification of their identity and authorization status through the electronic authentication system. Customers can prove their identity and authorization remotely without requiring manual intervention from utility staff, making the process more convenient while maintaining security.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs customer authentication and verification before the remote activation operation occurs. By verifying customer identity and authorization in advance through the public key infrastructure, the system ensures security is established beforehand, allowing the actual activation to proceed efficiently without repeated manual verification.
3Reliability
If location verification is added to remote activation process, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and system requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a multi-functional electronic authentication system that handles multiple verification tasks simultaneously: customer identity verification, authorization validation, and location/proximity confirmation. By combining these functions into a single integrated system using public key infrastructure, the patent avoids the complexity of separate verification systems while maintaining comprehensive reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A request for an acknowledgement using a private key may be generated and transmitting to a customer device. The acknowledgement may be received from the customer device and verified using a public key associated with a customer operating the customer device. A request for a current location of the customer device may be transmitted and the current location may be received. A determination that the current location is proximate to a meter may be made, and, in response to determining that the current location is proximate to the meter, the meter may be manipulated.