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Utility meter for metering a utility consumption and optimizing upstream communications and method for managing these communications

  • US 10,250,575 B2
  • Filed: 04/26/2017
  • Issued: 04/02/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2011
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A device comprising:

  • a data collection module configured to collect device data; and

    a communication circuit configured to exchange encrypted messages with a plurality of remote utility management centers;

    said encrypted messages including downstream messages received from said utility management centers and upstream messages transmitted to said utility management centers;

    said device being configured to;

    split said upstream messages into control messages and payload messages comprising the device data collected by the data collection module,encrypt the device data of each of said payload messages as first cryptograms using a payload key shared with said remote utility management centers, andencrypt each of said control messages as second cryptograms by encrypting the payload key using a first key specific to a single one of the plurality of remote utility management centers; and

    said communication circuit being further configured to;

    transmit said second cryptograms to a respective one of the remote utility management centers, andtransmit said first cryptograms to at least one of the plurality of remote utility management centers.

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