Smart Meter Instruction Patching Without Restart or Full Update

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing smart meter software updates are cumbersome, consume network resources, and have a significant impact on battery life, particularly in water and gas meters, and cause service interruptions.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for applying corrections to smart meter instructions on the fly by using a debugging module to stop execution at predefined points, generate interrupts, and apply corrections in non-volatile and random access memory without restarting the meter, allowing for efficient and minimal network resource consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a complete new set of instructions (software update) is supplied to each smart meter, then anomalies in executed instructions can be corrected and operations can be enhanced, but network resource consumption increases significantly and battery life is greatly impacted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecorrection of anomalies in instructionsVSAvoidbattery life

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the necessary correction data from a complete software update. Instead of transmitting entire new instruction sets, the system identifies and transmits only the specific correction instructions needed to fix anomalies, significantly reducing data transmission volume and energy consumption while maintaining the ability to correct instruction errors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the software update process into identification, transmission, and application phases. The correction data is divided into targeted segments rather than transmitting complete software packages. This segmentation allows the system to apply minimal necessary corrections without the energy cost of full software updates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If a complete new set of instructions is supplied to each smart meter, then anomalies in executed instructions can be corrected and operations can be enhanced, but network resource consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecorrection of anomalies in instructionsVSAvoidnetwork resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts and transmits only the essential correction data rather than complete software packages. This extraction approach reduces network traffic by transmitting only the minimal necessary information to correct anomalies, preserving network resources while achieving the correction objective.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If the smart meter is restarted to execute a new set of instructions, then the correction can be applied, but service interruption occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication of correctionVSAvoidservice interruption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic correction application where the smart meter can apply corrections in real-time without static restart requirements. The system dynamically loads and applies correction instructions during operation, allowing service to continue uninterrupted while the correction is implemented, thus eliminating service interruption while maintaining correction effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Adaptability or versatility

If a complete new set of instructions is transmitted to smart meters, then software updates can be implemented, but the impact on battery life is great

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesoftware update capabilityVSAvoidbattery life

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts only the necessary correction portions from complete software updates. This selective extraction maintains the adaptability to update software while dramatically reducing the energy consumption associated with transmitting and processing large software packages, thereby preserving battery life.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of performing complete software updates, the system applies partial corrections that are sufficient to address specific anomalies. This partial action approach maintains software update capability while minimizing energy expenditure, avoiding the excessive energy consumption of full updates when only minor corrections are needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS12560456B2Method for applying correction to smart-meter instructions

Publication Date: 2026.02.24 SAGEMCOM ENERGY & TELECOM SAS

AI summary

Provided is a controller of a smart meter that includes a processor incorporating a debugging module configured to stop execution of instructions when a stop point is reached and to generate an associated hardware interrupt. For applying a correction to a set of instructions, the controller: receives a new-correction message that supplies the correction to be applied and a point of stopping application of the correction in the set of instructions executed by the controller; records correction instructions in non-volatile memory for future restarting of the smart meter, and in random access memory for the purpose of taking into account without restarting the smart meter; configures the debugging module with the point of stopping application of the correction; and applies on the fly the correction instructions of which are recorded in random access memory, when detecting a hardware interrupt associated with the point of stopping application of the correction.