Smart Meter Autonomous Supplier Selection via Blockchain
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of commodities like electricity and natural gas face challenges in manually selecting the best supplier from multiple options due to rapidly changing market conditions and varying consumption habits, requiring frequent reviews of offers.
Innovation Solution
A commodity-measuring device, such as a smart meter, autonomously selects a commodity supplier by using a microcontroller unit, communication module, and transaction manager to retrieve supplier data from a blockchain distributed database, determining the best match based on consumption data and supplier parameters, and sending transactions to associate with the chosen supplier.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users manually review offers from multiple commodity suppliers to select the best supplier, then users can make informed decisions based on their needs, but this process requires significant time and effort, especially since offers change frequently and consumption habits may vary
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables autonomous self-service by allowing the commodity-measuring device to automatically select suppliers, compare offers, and execute transactions without user intervention. The device autonomously monitors consumption data, retrieves supplier offers from the blockchain database, evaluates them against consumption patterns, and automatically establishes supplier relationships, freeing users from manual review processes
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring the autonomous selection mechanism within the commodity-measuring device. The device is pre-programmed with evaluation criteria, consumption pattern analysis algorithms, and automated transaction capabilities, enabling it to proactively manage supplier selection before users would need to manually intervene
2Loss of information
If users feed consumption data to third parties for checking commodity tariffs, then users can obtain tailored recommendations, but this introduces additional complexity and potential security risks involving third-party access to personal data
Solution Approach 1:
The blockchain distributed database serves as a trusted intermediary between users and commodity suppliers. Instead of users directly sharing consumption data with third parties or suppliers, the blockchain acts as an impartial mediator that stores supplier offers and enables automated matching based on consumption patterns, eliminating the need for third-party data brokers while maintaining data privacy and security
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the mechanical process of manual data feeding to third parties with an automated electronic system. The commodity-measuring device automatically extracts consumption data, the blockchain database automatically retrieves and matches supplier offers, and smart contracts automatically execute transactions, substituting manual third-party intervention with automated algorithmic processes
3Productivity
If offers on the marketplace change quickly and users need to frequently review them, then users can find better deals, but this requires repeated manual intervention and increases the burden on users
Solution Approach 1:
The system ensures continuity of useful action by implementing persistent automated monitoring and evaluation. The commodity-measuring device continuously retrieves updated supplier offers from the blockchain database, automatically compares them against consumption patterns, and maintains optimal supplier relationships without interruption, ensuring that beneficial actions continue uninterrupted despite market changes
Solution Approach 2:
The system embraces dynamics by automatically adapting to changing market conditions and consumption patterns. The autonomous selection mechanism dynamically adjusts supplier evaluations based on real-time offer changes and updated consumption data, allowing the system to flexibly respond to market volatility without requiring user re-intervention
Data Source
AI summary
A commodity-measuring device for autonomously selecting a commodity supplier among a plurality of commodity suppliers being specified within a blockchain distributed database is provided. A microcontroller unit is configured to provide commodity consumption data to the transaction manager. A storage is configured to store a private key, and a communication module is configured to retrieve a commodity supplier file stored in the blockchain distributed database, and the commodity supplier file includes parameters of a commodity supplier and a program. A transaction manager is configured to determine autonomously, based on the commodity consumption data and parameters in the commodity supplier file, whether to select the commodity supplier; and if the determination is positive, the transaction manager is configured to, using the private key, send a transaction to the blockchain distributed database calling a function in the program to associate the commodity supplier file with the identifier.