Meter Reading Device Using Mobile Phone Intermediary for Secure Data Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing meter reading systems are costly, energy-intensive, and lack direct consumer access to updated meter data, while also compromising data security and privacy.
Innovation Solution
A meter reading device that uses existing mobile phone communication infrastructure to enable direct consumer access to decrypted meter data while maintaining end-to-end encryption for billing purposes, reducing energy consumption, and minimizing dedicated infrastructure requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If dedicated meter reading infrastructure (AMR/AMI systems) is established to enable remote meter reading and monitoring, then the efficiency and accuracy of collecting readings is improved, but the cost of communication infrastructure and manpower investment increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mobile phone as an intermediary device between the utility meter and the consumer. The mobile phone receives encrypted data packets from the meter via RF communication and forwards decrypted data to the consumer through existing cellular networks, eliminating the need for dedicated AMR/AMI infrastructure while maintaining efficient data collection
Solution Approach 2:
The solution leverages the universal mobile phone infrastructure that consumers already possess and the existing cellular communication networks. This multi-functional approach allows the same infrastructure to serve both personal communication purposes and utility meter reading, significantly reducing infrastructure investment
2Loss of time
If data is transmitted frequently via cellular communication network to enable direct consumer access, then the data latency is reduced, but the power consumption in the utility meter increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic data transmission where the mobile phone periodically polls the utility meter for data. This approach balances data freshness with energy conservation by transmitting data at regular intervals rather than continuously, reducing the power consumption burden on battery-operated meters while still providing timely data to consumers
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile phone acts as an intermediary that handles the power-intensive communication tasks. Instead of the meter directly transmitting data frequently via cellular network, the mobile phone periodically retrieves data from the meter using low-power RF communication and then transmits it to the consumer through the cellular network, shifting the energy burden from the meter to the mobile phone
3Reliability
If data encryption mechanisms are implemented to protect consumption data during transmission, then the security and privacy of consumer data is improved, but the complexity of granting consumer access and the risk of compromising security increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data transmission process into two distinct channels: an encrypted channel for billing data transmission from meter to utility system, and a decrypted consumer-accessible channel from mobile phone to consumer. This segmentation allows different security levels for different purposes, simplifying the access control mechanism while maintaining high security for billing purposes
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile phone serves as a trusted intermediary that receives encrypted data from the meter, decrypts it using stored encryption keys, and then provides access to the consumer. This intermediary approach simplifies consumer access by centralizing the decryption function in the mobile phone while maintaining security through the encrypted transmission channel to the utility system
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure is directed to a meter reading device for reading a utility meter. The meter reading device comprises a first communication interface for wireless communication with a utility meter, a second communication interface for wireless communication with a mobile phone, a microcontroller for controlling the communication interfaces and for processing data packets and a key extraction module. The meter reading device receives from the utility meter via the first communication interface, a data packet comprising a payload being encrypted by use of a data encryption key. From the mobile phone is via the second communication interface an access code comprising the data encryption key embedded in the access code received and the data encryption key is extracted from the access code by inputting the access code into the key extraction module. The received payload is decrypted using the data encryption key extracted from the access code. Further, an encrypted connection to the mobile phone is established via the second communication interface and the decrypted payload is send to the mobile phone via the encrypted connection and the received data packet including the encrypted payload is send to the mobile phone via the second communication interface.