Utility meter for metering a utility consumption and optimizing upstream communications and method for managing these communications
First Claim
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, the encrypted messages including downstream messages received from the plurality of remote utility management centers and upstream messages transmitted to plurality of the remote utility management centers,the device being configured toencrypt the device data with a payload key,generate a payload message comprising the encrypted device data,transmit the payload message to the plurality of the remote utility management centers,encrypt the payload key with a first key specific to a single one of the plurality of remote utility management centers,generate a control message comprising the encrypted payload key, andtransmit the control message to the single one of the plurality of remote utility management centers.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A utility meter and method for metering consumption of at least one utility including: a metering unit, a communication unit for sending/receiving messages to/from a management center, a memory to store a unique identifier pertaining to the utility meter and a first key, an encryption unit for encrypting the utility consumption as a first cryptogram, a message generator for generating a utility message containing the first cryptogram, a key generator for generating a payload key to be used by the encryption unit for encrypting the utility consumption, a second cryptogram generated by the encryption unit by encrypting the payload key with the first key, the second cryptogram being intended to be included, by the message generator, at least once into the utility message to be sent to the remote management center.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A device comprising:
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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, the encrypted messages including downstream messages received from the plurality of remote utility management centers and upstream messages transmitted to plurality of the remote utility management centers, the device being configured to encrypt the device data with a payload key, generate a payload message comprising the encrypted device data, transmit the payload message to the plurality of the remote utility management centers, encrypt the payload key with a first key specific to a single one of the plurality of remote utility management centers, generate a control message comprising the encrypted payload key, and transmit the control message to the single one of the plurality of remote utility management centers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for exchanging encrypted messages between a device configured to collect device data, and a plurality of remote utility management centers configured to process the device data, the encrypted messages including downstream messages received from the plurality of remote utility management centers and upstream messages transmitted to the plurality of remote utility management centers, the method comprising:
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encrypting the device data with a payload key; generating a payload message comprising the encrypted device data; transmitting the payload message to the plurality of the remote utility management centers; encrypting the payload key with a first key specific to a single one of the plurality of remote utility management centers; generating a control message comprising the encrypted payload key; and transmitting the control message to the single one of the plurality of remote utility management centers. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A device comprising:
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circuitry configured to collect device data, and exchange encrypted messages with a plurality of remote utility management centers, the encrypted messages including downstream messages received from the plurality of remote utility management centers and upstream messages transmitted to plurality of the remote utility management centers, wherein the circuitry is further configured to encrypt the device data with a payload key, generate a payload message comprising the encrypted device data, transmit the payload message to the plurality of the remote utility management centers, encrypt the payload key with a first key specific to a single one of the plurality of remote utility management centers, generate a control message comprising the encrypted payload key, and transmit the control message to the single one of the plurality of remote utility management centers.
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Specification