Smart Meter Relay Pairing for Secure Shared Data Collection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing smart meter systems face challenges in ensuring the non-repudiation and efficient collection of consumption data, particularly when different operators share the same data collection infrastructure, leading to potential disputes and inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

A method involving asymmetric and symmetric encryption is employed to establish secure links between smart meters and information systems, with a relay smart meter optimizing battery life and data collection, ensuring non-repudiation and efficient data transmission across shared networks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If remote data collection is implemented without operator intervention, then operational costs and time are reduced, but ensuring non-repudiation of consumption data becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperator travel timeVSAvoidnon-repudiation of consumption data

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a relay smart meter as an intermediary device between the secondary smart meter and the information system. The relay meter establishes a secure link with the information system and forwards data from secondary meters, ensuring that data collection can be performed remotely without operator intervention while maintaining non-repudiation through cryptographic security mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical approach of operator physical presence at the meter with electronic secure links using asymmetric and symmetric encryption. This substitution eliminates the need for operator travel while ensuring data authenticity and non-repudiation through cryptographic protocols.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple information systems share the same data collection infrastructure, then system expansion is facilitated, but data security and operator control over consumption data may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinfrastructure expansion capabilityVSAvoiddata security and operator control

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the data collection system into independent secure links between each smart meter and its designated information system. Each relay smart meter establishes separate secure connections with different information systems, allowing multiple operators to share the infrastructure while maintaining independent control and security for each data stream.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements local security measures by establishing dedicated secure links between each smart meter and its specific information system. This ensures that data security and operator control are maintained at the local level for each meter-information system pair, even while sharing the broader data collection infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If battery-powered smart meters are used to reduce installation complexity, then ease of installation is improved, but battery life management becomes more challenging

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation complexityVSAvoidbattery life

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by having the relay smart meter program the wake-up times of secondary battery-powered smart meters before data collection occurs. This allows secondary meters to enter low-power sleep mode and wake only when needed for data transmission, significantly extending battery life while maintaining the simplicity of battery-powered deployment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs periodic action through scheduled wake-up cycles where battery-powered smart meters remain in sleep mode and wake periodically at programmed intervals to transmit consumption data. This periodic operation pattern reduces energy consumption and extends battery life compared to continuous operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP4564744B1Method and system for collecting consumption data measured by smart meters

Publication Date: 2026.03.11 SAGEMCOM ENERGY & TELECOM SAS

Figure 1A~1B
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Figure 4~5

AI summary

An automated management system (100) comprises a first information system (110a) and a second information system (110b). The automated management system (100) also comprises smart meters of a first type (150a) and smart meters of a second type (150b). Pairing is carried out between each smart meter of a second type and a said smart meter of the first type, so as to serve as a relay for collecting consumption data. A first secure link is established between each smart meter of the first type (150a) and the first information system (110a), using asymmetric encryption to collect first consumption data.A second secure link is established between each smart meter of the second type (150b) and the second information system (110b), using asymmetric encryption to collect consumption data using the paired smart meter of the first type (150a) as a relay.