Method and apparatus for providing upgrades in electricity meters
First Claim
1. A method of providing upgrades in an electronic electricity meter, the method comprising the steps of:
- (1) pre-storing an upgrade in a memory of the meter, said upgrade requiring activation to allow use thereof,(2) pre-storing a first password in a memory of the meter, said memory being external-read protected, and said first password being generated by processing a first software key and a serial number of said meter with a first authentication algorithm by a processor external to said meter,(3) pre-storing said serial number in said memory of the meter, and,(4) activating said upgrade to allow use thereof, said step of activating said upgrade comprising the steps of,a. reading said serial number from said memory of the meter with an external processor,b. reading a second software key from an external hardware device connected to said external processor, said second software key being the same as said first software key,c. generating a second password with said external processor, by processing said second software key and said read serial number with a second authentication algorithm stored in a memory of said external processor, said second authentication algorithm being the same as said first authentication algorithm,d. presenting said second password and an upgrade command stored in said memory of said external processor to the meter, ande. comparing said first and second passwords in an internal processor of the meter, and in response to said upgrade command, activating said upgrade if said first and second passwords match.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electricity meter having a protected enabling scheme for activating meter options and upgrades is presented. The meter has a unique serial number, which includes bit-flags indicating which options have already been enabled, stored in the non-volatile RAM. Each option which is not enabled must be requested and a password verified before it can be utilized. At least one password is stored in a read protected location in the non-volatile RAM. The meter is in communication with a computer, e.g., a desktop or laptop type of computer. The password is generated by processing a secret software key and the unique serial number of the meter with an authentication algorithm. The computer is loaded with an upgrade software program, which includes the authentication algorithm. A hardware key which stores a secret software key is attached to a parallel port of the computer. The upgrade software program reads the serial number from the non-volatile RAM in the meter and reads the secret software key from the hardware key, then processes the read secret software key and the read unique serial number of the meter with the stored authentication algorithm to generate at least one password. The password along with an upgrade command are presented to the meter where they are compared to the read-protected password in the meter, and, if there is a match, then the upgrade command initiates codes in the meter to implement one or more stored options or upgrades.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of providing upgrades in an electronic electricity meter, the method comprising the steps of:
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(1) pre-storing an upgrade in a memory of the meter, said upgrade requiring activation to allow use thereof, (2) pre-storing a first password in a memory of the meter, said memory being external-read protected, and said first password being generated by processing a first software key and a serial number of said meter with a first authentication algorithm by a processor external to said meter, (3) pre-storing said serial number in said memory of the meter, and, (4) activating said upgrade to allow use thereof, said step of activating said upgrade comprising the steps of, a. reading said serial number from said memory of the meter with an external processor, b. reading a second software key from an external hardware device connected to said external processor, said second software key being the same as said first software key, c. generating a second password with said external processor, by processing said second software key and said read serial number with a second authentication algorithm stored in a memory of said external processor, said second authentication algorithm being the same as said first authentication algorithm, d. presenting said second password and an upgrade command stored in said memory of said external processor to the meter, and e. comparing said first and second passwords in an internal processor of the meter, and in response to said upgrade command, activating said upgrade if said first and second passwords match. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of authentication comprising the steps of:
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initializing an array of bytes with a software key and a serial number to provide an initialized array, said serial number including an option byte; cycling said initialized array to provide a password; and using said password for authentication. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. An electricity meter comprising:
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(1) electricity measuring circuitry for generating measured signals indicative of electricity being metered; (2) a processor for responsive to said measured signals, and having a memory for storing; signals including program signals defining a first executable algorithm for calculating electricity usage, upgrade signals defining a second executable algorithm for performing an upgrade feature, serial number signals indicative of a serial number of the meter, and password signals used to allow activation of said upgrade feature, said password signals being external read protected, said password signals being generated by a processor with an authentication algorithm external to said meter by processing a software key and said serial number; and (3) a port for communications with an external device. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus for providing upgrades comprising:
an electricity meter comprising, (1) electricity measuring circuitry for generating measured signals indicative of electricity being metered, (2) a first processor responsive to said measured signals, having a first memory for storing first signals including first program signals defining a first executable algorithm for calculating electricity usage, storing second program signals defining a second executable algorithm for performing an upgrade feature, storing serial number signals indicative of a serial number of the meter, and storing first password signals indicative of a password, said first password signals being external read protected, said first password signals indicative of a password determined by processing a software key and said serial number with an authentication algorithm, and (3) a port for communications; upgrade apparatus external to said electricity meter comprising, a. a second processor connected to said port of said meter for communicating with said meter to read said serial number therefrom b. a hardware key having a second memory for storing software key signals indicative of said software key, said second processor having said hardware key connected thereto for communicating with said hardware key to read said software key therefrom, said processor having a third memory for storing second signals including third program signals defining a third executable algorithm for processing said read software key and said read serial number with said authentication algorithm to generate second password signals indicative of said password, said third memory for storing upgrade command signals, said second processor for communicating with said meter to present said second password signals and said upgrade command signals thereto; and
said first processor of said meter for communicating with said upgrade apparatus to read said second password signals and said upgrade command signals presented thereto, said first memory of said first processor for storing fourth program signals defining a fourth executable algorithm for comparing said first password signals with said second password signals, and applying said upgrade command signals to said second executable algorithm to activate said upgrade feature.- View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
Specification