Smart Meter Data Transmission via Mobile Intermediary
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Solution Overview
Problem
Smart meters face challenges in providing easy and secure access to meter data for consumers, with display means being expensive and prone to moisture issues, making it difficult for consumers to access current consumption information.
Innovation Solution
A method for transmitting meter data to a mobile device involves receiving a request, obtaining meter data, generating a hashcode from a serial number and data pair, encrypting it with a private key, and transmitting it with a signature, allowing secure access and potentially dispensing with on-meter displays.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If display means (LCD screen) are equipped on smart meters, then consumers can view current consumption data directly, but the cost increases and sensitivity to external moisture worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mobile device as an intermediary between the smart meter and the consumer. The mobile device retrieves data from the meter via communication protocols and displays it to the user, eliminating the need for a physical display on the meter itself. This mediator approach allows consumers to access consumption data without exposing the meter to moisture through an on-meter LCD screen.
2Ease of operation
If display means are equipped on smart meters, then consumers can check consumption data directly, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a digital copy of the meter data on the consumer's mobile device rather than requiring a physical display copy on the meter. The mobile application reproduces the consumption information, statistics, and visualizations on the user's personal device, eliminating the need for expensive display hardware on each meter while still providing direct access to consumers.
3Reliability
If cryptographic verification is implemented, then data authenticity and security are improved, but the processing time and computational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-computing and storing cryptographic hashes of meter data in the meter's secure memory. When a consumer requests data, the meter generates a new hash of the requested data and compares it with the pre-stored hash. This preliminary preparation of cryptographic verification data significantly reduces the real-time processing time required during data access operations.
4Loss of information
If smart meters transmit data regularly, then data availability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by allowing consumers to choose their preferred data retrieval frequency (daily, weekly, monthly) and only transmitting data at these scheduled intervals rather than continuously. The system also enables on-demand retrieval where data is transmitted only when the consumer actively requests it, significantly reducing unnecessary energy consumption while maintaining data availability when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for transmitting meter data by a meter to a mobile device, the method including the following steps performed by the meter: receiving a request demanding meter data; obtaining meter data; generating a hashcode from at least one data pair including a serial number of the meter and the meter data obtained; encrypting the hashcode with a private key known solely to the meter, the encrypted hashcode being a signature; and transmitting to the mobile device, a frame including the meter data obtained and the signature.