Smart Meter Data Obfuscation via Disposable Masking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Smart meter data transmission raises confidentiality issues due to potential interception or theft by unauthorized parties, with existing cryptographic methods being computationally intensive and lacking effective protection against physical access and pattern inference.
Innovation Solution
A system and method using a mask, generated by the electric utility, escrow service, or user, to conceal power usage data by applying it to the smart meter data, creating augmented data that deceives attackers and maintains confidentiality during transmission and storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cryptographic methods (AES, RSA, Elliptic Curve) are used to protect metered data, then data confidentiality is improved, but computational complexity and processing time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses disposable one-time pads (random masks) that are generated, used once, and then discarded. Each mask is a random bit sequence that is applied to encrypt metered data once, then destroyed. This eliminates the need for complex cryptographic algorithms while maintaining security, as the mask cannot be reused or reverse-engineered to reveal the original data or future masks.
2Reliability
If traditional encryption is used, then data protection is improved, but vulnerability to physical access attacks and pattern inference remains
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary encryption of metered data with a random mask before the data leaves the smart meter. This preliminary action ensures that even if an attacker gains physical access to the meter or intercepts transmitted data, they only encounter already-encrypted information. The mask is generated and applied in advance, eliminating the window of vulnerability during data processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The random mask acts as an intermediary between the original metered data and the encrypted transmitted data. Instead of directly encrypting sensitive information with complex algorithms, the system introduces a random mask as an intermediate layer that obscures the original data patterns and makes reverse engineering impossible without the specific mask.
3Measurement precision
If detailed metered data is transmitted for billing accuracy, then billing precision is improved, but user privacy and behavior pattern exposure worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different quality levels of data protection to different aspects of metered data. The encryption mask is applied selectively to protect specific sensitive patterns while allowing billing-relevant information to remain accurate. The mask can be configured to preserve certain data characteristics needed for billing while obscuring behavioral patterns, achieving local optimization of both accuracy and privacy.
Data Source
AI summary
A technique allows a smart meter to receive a mask. The smart meter may receive the mask from a utility company or an escrow service. The smart meter may apply the mask to original metered data on a continuous schedule, on a periodic schedule, or on a determined schedule, or on a randomized schedule to conceal the original metered data. The smart meter may apply different masks at different times. The smart meter transmits the concealed metered data as augmented metered data remotely to an electric utility via a communication network.