Smart Meter P2P Network Decentralized Billing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing supply systems rely on central servers for managing and billing, which incur high transaction costs and face security challenges in protecting customer data from unauthorized access, leading to increased safety efforts and costs.
Innovation Solution
A meter with a measuring module and a peer-to-peer module that communicates within a peer-to-peer network, eliminating the need for a central server by using a decentralized framework for secure data transmission and verification, reducing transaction costs and enhancing security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a central server is used to manage and bill supply medium transactions, then centralized control and billing are achieved, but transaction costs increase and security risks arise from protecting customer data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the centralized billing and verification functions into distributed smart contracts deployed across multiple nodes in a blockchain network. Each node independently validates transactions and maintains a copy of the ledger, eliminating the single-point-of-failure central server while improving security through decentralization. The metering function remains at the edge (smart meter), while the trust function is distributed to the network.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a blockchain-based intermediary layer that mediates between the smart meter and the supply medium provider. This intermediary uses cryptographic protocols and consensus mechanisms to verify transactions without requiring a central authority, thereby reducing security risks associated with centralized data storage while maintaining transaction integrity.
2Productivity
If a central server manages supply medium transactions, then billing control is centralized, but transaction costs and safety efforts increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the smart meter to autonomously execute billing and verification functions through locally deployed smart contracts. The meter automatically measures consumption, calculates charges based on pre-agreed terms, and records transactions on the blockchain without requiring manual intervention or centralized processing. This self-service capability eliminates intermediary fees and reduces transaction costs while improving efficiency.
3Loss of time
If manual meter reading is used, then device complexity is low, but time consumption and labor costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/manual meter reading process with an automated electronic system. The smart meter continuously measures supply medium consumption and automatically transmits data to the blockchain network for verification and billing. This substitution of manual operations with automated electronic measurement and cryptographic verification dramatically reduces time consumption and labor costs, justifying the increased device complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a meter (204, 304) of a supply system (200, 500, 600), comprising at least one measuring module (209, 309.1, 309.2) configured to measure at least one quantity parameter of a supply medium flowing through a supply channel (210, 310) wherein the meter (204, 304) comprises at least one peer-to-peer module (220, 320) configured to communicate with a peer-to-peer application (224, 424) of a peer-to-peer network (222, 522, 622), wherein the measuring module (209, 309.1, 309.2) is configured to provide the measured quantity parameter of the supply medium to the peer-to-peer module (220, 320) via a communication connection (207, 307) arranged between the measuring module (209, 309.1, 309.2) and the peer-to-peer module (220, 320), wherein the peer-to-peer module (220, 320) is configured to provide at least the measured quantity parameter to the peer-to-peer application (224, 424).