Transferable meter licenses using smartcard technology

• US 20040034603A1
• Filed: 08/14/2002
• Published: 02/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Inventors: Hastings, Mark Alan, Mannis, Ralph
• Granted Patent: US 7,216,108 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/63
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/002 Remote reading of utility meters
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/105 Arrangements for software license management or administration, e.g. for managing licenses at corporate level
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/34 involving the use of external additional devices, e.g. dongles or smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/346 Cards serving only as information carrier of service
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/018 Certifying business or products
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/00 Coin-freed apparatus with meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

A metering system is provided including a smartcard reader and peripheral computer in communication with a metering apparatus. A smartcard with memory, microprocessor, and license counter may then be engaged with a smartcard reader in the metering system to effect meter license transactions. The license transactions may be purchased by a user either to enable enhanced functional meter features via a meter upgrade process or to disable functional meter features via a meter downgrade process. Such features are typically enabled or disabled by respectively either providing or restricting access to selected portions of the meter firmware. Since both upgrades and downgrades can be effected at a utility meter, the smartcards provide transferable meter licenses. Advantages of the disclosed smartcard technology facilitate secure and reliable license transactions. Such advantages more particularly result from data encryption techniques when communicating with a smartcard and a random communication protocol implemented between smartcard and utility meter modules.

Claims

1. A method of enabling enhanced utility meter functionality via smartcard transaction, said method comprising the following steps:

providing a smartcard reader interfaced with a utility meter and with a peripheral computer (PC);

engaging a smartcard into the smartcard reader and activating a PC-based transfer application on the PC;

performing external authentication between the smartcard and the PC;

communicating between the PC and the meter to enable selected enhanced functional meter features; and

decrementing a license counter provided in conjunction with the smartcard.

2. A method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of selecting specific features to be added to the utility meter, wherein said selecting step occurs before said communicating step.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein said performing step comprises the following substeps:

(i) sending a PIN from the PC to the smartcard;

(ii) sending a cryptogram from the smartcard to the PC;

(iii) decrypting the cryptogram; and

(iv) verifying proper decryption in step (iii).

4. A method as in claim 3, wherein the PC associated with the PC-based application performs substep (iii) and the smartcard performs substep (iv).

5. A method as in claim 3, wherein the cryptogram comprises an encrypted random data string.

6. A method as in claim 5, wherein said step of decrypting the cryptogram is implemented via Data Encryption Services (DES) protocols.

7. A method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of interrogating the utility meter to determine what type of meter is interfaced to the smartcard reader and to a PC associated with the PC-based application.

8. A method as in claim 2, wherein said communicating step comprises the following substeps:

(i) starting a timer and monitoring the timer to ensure that the communicating step occurs within a predetermined amount of time;

(ii) generating a first random number;

(iii) retrieving selected smartcard information based on the first random number;

(iv) generating a second random number;

(v) retrieving data from the meter based on the second random number; and

(vi) enabling the selected functional meter features to the utility meter.

9. A method as in claim 8, further comprising the step of verifying the enablement of features in substep (vi).

10. A method as in claim 8, further comprising the step of ensuring a proper license count at the smartcard.

11. A method as in claim 8, wherein if an error occurs during any portion of said communicating step, the transaction is halted.

12. A method of disabling enhanced utility meter functionality via smartcard transaction, said method comprising the following steps:

providing a smartcard reader interfaced with a utility meter and with a peripheral computer (PC);

engaging a smartcard into the smartcard reader and activating a PC-based transfer application on the PC;

performing external authentication between the smartcard and the PC;

communicating between the PC and the meter to disable selected enhanced functional meter features; and

incrementing a license counter provided in conjunction with the smartcard.

13. A method as in claim 12, further comprising the step of selecting specific features to be removed from the utility meter, wherein said selecting step occurs before said communicating step.

14. A method as in claim 12, wherein said performing step comprises the following substeps:

(i) sending a PIN from the PC to the smartcard;

(ii) sending a cryptogram from the smartcard to the PC;

(iii) decrypting the cryptogram; and

(iv) verifying proper decryption in substep (iii).

15. A method as in claim 14, wherein the PC associated with the PC-based application performs substep (iii) and the smartcard performs substep (iv).

16. A method as in claim 14, wherein the cryptogram comprises an encrypted random data string.

17. A method as in claim 16, wherein said step of decrypting the cryptogram is implemented via Data Encryption Services (DES) protocols.

18. A method as in claim 12, further comprising the step of interrogating the utility meter to determine what type of meter is interfaced to the smartcard reader and to a PC associated with the PC-based application.

19. A method as in claim 13, wherein said communicating step comprises the following substeps:

(i) starting a timer and monitoring the timer to ensure that the communicating step occurs within a predetermined amount of time;

(ii) generating a first random number;

(iii) retrieving selected smartcard information based on the first random number;

(iv) generating a second random number;

(v) retrieving data from the meter based on the second random number; and

(vi) disabling the selected functional meter features to the utility meter.

20. A method as in claim 17, further comprising the step of verifying the disablement of features in substep (vi).

21. A method as in claim 19, further comprising the step of ensuring a proper license count at the smartcard.

22. A method as in claim 19, wherein if an error occurs during any portion of said communicating step, the transaction is halted.

23. A method of utilizing a smartcard to transfer a functionality license to a utility meter, said method comprising the following steps:

interfacing a smartcard with a utility meter;

interrogating a license counter on the smartcard to ensure a proper license count exists before transferring the desired functionality;

providing a secure communication path between the smartcard and the utility meter; and

transferring information between the smartcard and the utility meter to enable or disable selected utility meter functions.

24. A method as in claim 23, wherein upgraded features are enabled at the utility meter and thus a proper license count corresponds to greater than or equal to one.

25. A method as in claim 24, further comprising the step of decrementing the license count on the smartcard.

26. A method as in claim 23, wherein features are disabled at the utility meter and thus a proper license count corresponds to one that is at least one less than the maximum count value.

27. A method as in claim 26, further comprising the step of incrementing the license count on the smartcard.

28. A method as in claim 23, wherein the smartcard is interfaced with the utility meter via a smartcard reader and peripheral computer combination in communication with a data port of the utility meter.

29. A method as in claim 28, wherein the utility meter data port comprises a port selected from the group consisting of a serial port, a USB port, a PCMCIA port, a modem port, an RF link, and an optical port.

30. A method as in claim 23, wherein said step of providing a secure communication path comprises transferring PIN information between the smartcard and an interfaced PC.

31. A smartcard for use with utility meter license transfers, said smartcard comprising:

memory configured to store files with information corresponding to license transactions;

a microprocessor configured to process data transferred to and from said smartcard;

an interface port configured to connect and communicate with a smartcard reader; and

an enclosure for housing said memory and said microprocessor in a modular configuration.

32. A smartcard as in claim 31, wherein said memory stores a file corresponding to the cardholder'"'"'s PIN.

33. A smartcard as in claim 31, wherein said memory stores a file corresponding to a unique serial number identifier.

34. A smartcard as in claim 31, wherein said memory stores a file corresponding to each type of license capable of transfer to a utility meter.

35. A smartcard as in claim 31, wherein said memory stores respective information corresponding to the cardholder'"'"'s PIN, a unique serial number identifier, and each type of license capable of transfer to a utility meter.

36. A smartcard as in claim 31, wherein said interface port comprises a multi-pin contact area for mating with a corresponding multi-pin contact area of a smartcard reader.

37. A smartcard as in claim 31, wherein said smartcard further comprises a license counter configured to maintain a number of licenses available to be upgraded to or downgraded from selected utility meters.

38. A smartcard as in claim 31, wherein said smartcard is capable of sending an encrypted data string to an interfaced PC.

39. A smartcard as in claim 38, wherein said smartcard is further capable of verifying proper decryption of the encrypted data string by the PC.

40. A smartcard reader configured to interface with a utility meter such that meter license transactions can be effected, said smartcard reader comprising:

a first interface port configured to connect and communicate with a smartcard; and

a second interface port configured to communicate with a utility meter.

41. A smartcard reader as in claim 40, wherein said first interface port comprises a multi-pin contract area for mating with a corresponding multi-pin contract area of a smartcard.

42. A smartcard reader as in claim 40, wherein said smartcard reader is configured to receive a smartcard with meter upgrade licenses such that enhanced meter functionality can be transferred between the smartcard and a utility meter.

43. A smartcard reader as in claim 42, wherein meter functionality is enabled at a utility meter, thus using a meter license provided on the smartcard with which said smartcard reader is interfaced.

44. A smartcard reader as in claim 42, wherein meter functionality is disabled at a utility meter, thus adding a meter license to the smartcard with which said smartcard reader is interfaced.

45. A smartcard reader as in claim 40, wherein said second interface port communicates indirectly with the utility meter via a PC and PC-based application.

46. A smartcard reader as in claim 45, wherein said smartcard reader is a separate peripheral device from the PC such that said second interface port is connected to the PC and the PC is then provided in communication with the utility meter.

47. A smartcard reader as in claim 45, wherein said smartcard reader is an integral component of a PC that is interfaced with the utility meter such that said second interface port enables a communication path between the utility meter and the smartcard reader/PC integrated combination.

48. A metering system capable of providing upgraded or downgraded functionality, wherein the metering system functionality is enabled or disabled via meter functionality licenses, said metering system comprising:

a metering apparatus for electronically measuring or distributing a utility product;

at least one communications port provided in conjunction with said metering apparatus such that communication with processing components of the metering apparatus is enabled;

a peripheral computer configured to communicate with said metering apparatus via said at least one communication port; and

a smartcard reader connected to and in communication with said peripheral computer, said smartcard reader configured to receive a smartcard such that meter system functionality can be enabled or disabled.

49. A metering system as in claim 48, wherein the utility product measured or distributed by said metering apparatus comprises electrical energy.

50. A metering system as in claim 48, wherein said at least one communication port is selected from the group consisting of a serial port, a USB port, a PCMCIA port, an RF link, a modem connection, and an optical port.

51. A metering system as in claim 48, further comprising an additional communication port such that direct communication between said metering apparatus and said smartcard reader is enabled.

52. A metering system as in claim 51, wherein each said communication port is selected from the group consisting of a serial port, a USB port, a PCMCIA port, an RF link, a modem connection, and an optical port.

53. A metering system as in claim 48, wherein said smartcard reader is an integrated component of said peripheral computer.

54. A metering system as in claim 48, further comprising a smartcard engaged in said smartcard reader, said smartcard containing meter functionality license information for enabling or disabling functionality of the metering apparatus.

55. A metering system as in claim 48, wherein said peripheral computer is outfitted with a software-based license transfer application with which a user can interact to effect functionality upgrading or downgrading.

56. A metering system as in claim 55, wherein the software-based license transfer application comprises user-selectable options including at least one selected from the group consisting of accessing log files, accessing a smartcard summary, upgrading meter functionality, downgrading meter functionality, and accessing a user help menu.