Data communication method and data communication system

• US 8,429,732 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2010
• Issued: 04/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Ando, Nobuyoshi, Nagano, Maki, Kasahara, Mika, Yoshikawa, Yoshihito
• Primary Examiner(s): Pwu, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): AMORIN, CARLOS E
• Application Number:
  US12/827,280
• Publication Number:
  US 20110016517A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,028 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 726/7
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/002 Remote reading of utility meters
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/18 using different networks or channels, e.g. using out of band channels cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving distinctive intermediate devices or communication paths H04L9/0827; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for authentication using a plurality of channels H04L9/3215
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/20 Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security

Abstract

A first server in a system includes confirmation requesting unit 110 that receives an authentication request from a predetermined apparatus 400 coupled through a public line and that sends a user confirmation request to a second server in the case where user authentication is successful. A second server includes a user facility identifying unit 210 that receives the user confirmation request from the first server and identifies location information of the user facility of the user and a confirmation result notifying unit 211 that receives a utilization request from a measuring apparatus linked through a dedicated line and identifies disposition location information of the measuring apparatus and that sends a notification of success of user confirmation including the identification information of the user to the first server 100 if the disposition location information of the measuring apparatus is identical to the user facility location information.

Claims

1. An information processing method using a first server including

a first storage unit having stored thereon a user information database that stores identification information and authentication information of a user, and

a communicating unit that communicates with another apparatus, and a second server including

a second storage unit having stored thereon an electric power consumer database that stores and correlates identification information of a user, location information of a user facility, and identification information of a measuring apparatus fixed to the user facility to measure an amount of a commercial product or service provided to the user and a meter information database that correlates the identification information of the measuring apparatus with disposition location information thereof and

a communicating unit that communicates with another apparatus, the information processing method comprising:

receiving by the first server an authentication request including authentication information of a user with the communicating unit from a predetermined apparatus of a user existing facility coupled through a public line to the first server, checking by the first server the authentication information included in the authentication request against the authentication information in the user information database and performing user authentication, and sending by the first server a user confirmation request including the identification information of the user to the second server in a case where the user authentication is successful, and

transmitting by the first server predetermined data for utilizing a predetermined commercial product or service to the predetermined apparatus in the user existing facility in a case where a notification of success of user confirmation is received from the second server in response to the user confirmation request;

receiving by the second server the user confirmation request from the first server, checking by the second server identification information of the user included in the user confirmation request against the electric power consumer database, and identifying by the second server location information of the user facility of the user, and

receiving with the communicating unit of the second server a utilization request for a commercial product or service including the identification information of the measuring apparatus from the measuring apparatus disposed in the user existing facility linked through a dedicated line with the second server, checking the identification information of the measuring apparatus included in the utilization request against the meter information database and identifying by the second server disposition location information of the measuring apparatus, and sending a notification of success of user confirmation including the identification information of the user to the first server in a case where the identified disposition location information of the measuring apparatus is checked against the user facility location information identified based on the user confirmation request and both are identical, wherein

the first server stores predetermined data for utilizing either one of a predetermined commercial product and service in the first storage unit where the predetermined data is divided as divided data A, which is an internet key, and divided data B, which is a smart meter network key, having a data size equal to or smaller than the divided data A, which are acquired by dividing data making up the predetermined commercial product or data for providing the predetermined service, and

in the case where a notification of success of the user confirmation is received from the second server in response to the user confirmation request, the first server executes a process of transmitting the divided data A via a public line to the predetermined apparatus in the user existing facility and transmitting the divided data B via a dedicated line to the predetermined apparatus in the user existing facility, wherein

the predetermined apparatus in the user existing facility executes a process of receiving the divided data A via the public line from the first server, receiving the divided data B via the dedicated line from the first server, combining the divided data A and the divided data B and generating the data making up the predetermined commercial product or the data for providing the predetermined service, and outputting the generated data to an output unit.

2. The information processing method of claim 1, wherein

the first server stores as predetermined data for utilizing either one of a predetermined commercial product and service in the first storage unit either one of encrypted data of data making up the predetermined commercial product and encrypted data of data for providing the predetermined service, and

the first server executes a process of transmitting the encrypted data in advance via a public line to the predetermined apparatus in the user existing facility and a process of transmitting decrypting data of the encrypted data via the dedicated line or via the public line to the predetermined apparatus in the user existing facility in a case where a notification of success of the user confirmation is received from the second server in response to the user confirmation request, wherein

the predetermined apparatus in the user existing facility has a third storage unit and executes a process of receiving and storing the encrypted data via the public line from the first server into the third storage unit in advance, receiving the decrypting data via either one of the dedicated line and the public line from the first server, decrypting the encrypted data in the third storage unit with the decrypting data to generate the data making up the predetermined commercial product or the data for providing the predetermined service, and outputting the generated data to an output unit.

3. The information processing method of claim 1, wherein

the second server receives with the communicating unit a utilization request for either one of a commercial product and service including identification information of the measuring apparatus transmitted for a plurality of times from the measuring apparatus linked through the dedicated line, checks the identification information of the measuring apparatus included in the utilization request received at a certain time point against the meter information database and identifies disposition location information of the measuring apparatus, checks the identification information of the measuring apparatus included in the utilization request received at a later time against the meter information database, after the identified disposition location information of the measuring apparatus is checked against the user facility location information identified based on the user confirmation request and both are identical, and identifies the disposition location information of the measuring apparatus, and sends an instruction for retransmission of the authentication request to the predetermined apparatus in the user existing facility by determining that the user has moved from the user facility in a case where the identified disposition location information of the measuring apparatus is checked against the user facility location information identified based on the user confirmation request and both are not identical.

4. The information processing method of claim 1, wherein

the second server receives with the communicating unit a utilization request for either one of a commercial product and service including identification information of the measuring apparatus transmitted from the measuring apparatus linked through the dedicated line, checks the identification information of the measuring apparatus included in the received utilization request against the meter information database and identifies disposition location information of the measuring apparatus, transmits a message for inquiring location of either one of the user facility and disposition location of the measuring apparatus to the predetermined apparatus in the user existing facility by determining that the user is accessing from other than the user facility in a case where the identified disposition location information of the measuring apparatus is checked against the user facility location information identified based on the user confirmation request and both are not identical, checks an answer about the location of the user facility returned from the predetermined apparatus against data about the user in the electric power consumer database or checks an answer about the disposition location of the measuring apparatus against data about the user in the meter information database and performs identity confirmation of the user, and executes the process same as the case that the disposition location information of the measuring apparatus is identical to the location information of the user facility identified based on the user confirmation request in a case where the identity confirmation is successful.

5. The information processing method of claim 1, wherein

the measuring apparatus is coupled to an authenticating apparatus in a wired or wireless manner, and wherein

the predetermined data is created from information of a utilizing apparatus coupled to the authenticating apparatus.

6. The information processing method of claim 5, wherein

the utilizing apparatus is any one of a sensor device, a solar power generation device, a fuel cell, an accumulator battery, a power conditioner, a home electric appliance, and a household equipment, and wherein the predetermined data is created from utilization information of the utilizing apparatus.

7. An information processing method using a first server including

a first storage unit having stored thereon a user information database that stores identification information and authentication information of a user and

a communicating unit that communicates with another apparatus, and a second server including

a second storage unit having stored thereon an electric power consumer database that stores and correlates identification information of a user, location information of a user facility, and identification information of a measuring apparatus fixed to the user facility to measure an amount of a commercial product or service provided to the user and a meter information database that correlates the identification information of the measuring apparatus with disposition location information thereof and

a communicating unit that communicates with another apparatus, the second server, the information processing method comprising:

receiving by the first server an authentication request including authentication information of a user with the communicating unit from a predetermined apparatus of a user existing facility coupled through a public line to the first server, checking by the first server the authentication information included in the authentication request against the authentication information in the user information database and performing by the first server user authentication, and sending by the first server a user confirmation request including the identification information of the user to the second server in a case where the user authentication is successful;

receiving by the second server the user confirmation request from the first server, checking by the second server identification information of the user included in the user confirmation request against the electric power consumer database and identifying location information of the user facility of the user;

, and

receiving with the communicating unit of the second server a utilization request for either one of a commercial product and service including the identification information of the measuring apparatus from the measuring apparatus disposed in the user existing facility linked through a dedicated line with the second server, checking by the second server the identification information of the measuring apparatus included in the utilization request against the meter information database and identifying by the second server disposition location information of the measuring apparatus, and transmitting by the second server predetermined data for utilizing either one of a predetermined commercial product and service to the predetermined apparatus in the user existing facility in a case where the identified disposition location information of the measuring apparatus is checked against the user facility location information identified based on the user confirmation request and both are identical,

wherein the second server stores predetermined data for utilizing either one of a predetermined commercial product and service in the second storage unit where the predetermined data is divided as divided data A, which is an internet key, and divided data B, which is a smart meter network key, having a data size equal to or smaller than the divided data A, which are acquired by dividing either one of data making up the predetermined commercial product and data for providing the predetermined service, and

in the case where the identified disposition location information of the measuring apparatus is checked against the user facility location information identified based on the user confirmation request and both are identical, the second server executes a process of transmitting the divided data A via a public line to the predetermined apparatus in the user existing facility and transmitting the divided data B via a dedicated line to the predetermined apparatus in the user existing facility, wherein

the predetermined apparatus in the user existing facility executes a process of receiving the divided data A via the public line from the second server, receiving the divided data B via the dedicated line from the second server, combining the divided data A and the divided data B and generating either one of the data making up the predetermined commercial product and the data for providing the predetermined service, and outputting the generated data to an output unit.

8. The information processing method of claim 7, wherein

the first server stores as predetermined data for utilizing either one of a predetermined commercial product and service in the first storage unit either one of encrypted data of data making up the predetermined commercial product and encrypted data of data for providing the predetermined service, and

the first server executes a process of transmitting the encrypted data in advance via a public line to the predetermined apparatus in the user existing facility, wherein

in the case where the identified disposition location information of the measuring apparatus is checked against the user facility location information identified based on the user confirmation request and both are identical, the second server executes a process of transmitting decrypting data of the encrypted data via either one of the dedicated line and the public line to the predetermined apparatus in the user existing facility, and wherein

the predetermined apparatus in the user existing facility has a third storage unit and executes a process of receiving and storing the encrypted data via the public line from the first server into the third storage unit in advance, receiving the decrypting data via either one of the dedicated line and the public line from the second server, decrypting the encrypted data in the third storage unit with the decrypting data and generating either one of the data making up the predetermined commercial product and the data for providing the predetermined service, and outputting the generated data to the output unit.

9. An information processing system comprising:

a first server including

a first storage unit having stored thereon a user information database that stores identification information and authentication information of a user,

a communicating unit that communicates with another apparatus,

a confirmation requesting unit that receives an authentication request including authentication information of a user with the communicating unit from a predetermined apparatus of a user existing facility coupled through a public line, that checks the authentication information included in the authentication request against the authentication information in the user information database and performs user authentication, and that sends a user confirmation request including the identification information of the user to a second server in a case where the user authentication is successful, and

a service data transmitting unit that transmits predetermined data for utilizing either one of a predetermined commercial product and service to the predetermined apparatus in the user existing facility in a case where a notification of success of user confirmation is received from the second server in response to the user confirmation request; and

a second server including

a second storage unit having stored thereon an electric power consumer database that stores and correlates identification information of a user, location information of a user facility, and identification information of a measuring apparatus fixed to the user facility to measure an amount of either one of a commercial product and service provided to the user and a meter information database that correlates the identification information of the measuring apparatus with disposition location information thereof,

a communicating unit that communicates with another apparatus,

a user facility identifying unit that receives the user confirmation request from the first server and that checks identification information of the user included in the user confirmation request against the electric power consumer database to identify location information of the user facility of the user, and

a confirmation result notifying unit that receives with the communicating unit a utilization request for either one of a commercial product and service including the identification information of the measuring apparatus from the measuring apparatus disposed in the user existing facility linked through a dedicated line, that checks the identification information of the measuring apparatus included in the utilization request against the meter information database and identifies disposition location information of the measuring apparatus, and that sends a notification of success of user confirmation including the identification information of the user to the first server in a case where the identified disposition location information of the measuring apparatus is checked against the user facility location information identified based on the user confirmation request and both are identical, wherein

the first server stores the predetermined data for utilizing either one of a predetermined commercial product and service in the first storage unit where the predetermined data is divided as divided data A, which is an internet key, and divided data B, which is a smart meter network key, having a data size equal to or smaller than the divided data A, which are acquired by dividing data making up the predetermined commercial product or data for providing the predetermined service, and

in the case where a notification of success of the user confirmation is received from the second server in response to the user confirmation request, the service data transmitting unit transmits the divided data A via a public line to the predetermined apparatus in the user existing facility and transmits the divided data B via a dedicated line to the predetermined apparatus in the user existing facility, wherein

the predetermined apparatus in the user existing facility executes a process of receiving the divided data A via the public line from the first server, receiving the divided data B via the dedicated line from the first server, combining the divided data A and the divided data B and generating the data making up the predetermined commercial product or the data for providing the predetermined service, and outputting the generated data to an output unit.

10. An information processing system comprising:

a first server including

a first storage unit having stored thereon a user information database that stores identification information and authentication information of a user,

a communicating unit that communicates with another apparatus,

a confirmation requesting unit that receives an authentication request including authentication information of a user with the communicating unit from a predetermined apparatus of a user existing facility coupled through a public line, that checks the authentication information included in the authentication request against the authentication information in the user information database and performs user authentication, and that sends a user confirmation request including the identification information of the user to a second server if the user authentication is successful; and

the second server including

a second storage unit having stored thereon an electric power consumer database that stores and correlates identification information of a user, location information of a user facility, and identification information of a measuring apparatus fixed to the user facility to measure an amount of either one of a commercial product and service provided to the user and a meter information database that correlates the identification information of the measuring apparatus with disposition location information thereof,

a communicating unit that communicates with another apparatus,

a user facility identifying unit that receives the user confirmation request from the first server and that checks identification information of the user included in the user confirmation request against the electric power consumer database and identifies location information of the user facility of the user, and

a service data transmitting unit that receives with the communicating unit a utilization request for either one of a commercial product and service including the identification information of the measuring apparatus from the measuring apparatus disposed in the user existing facility linked through a dedicated line, that checks the identification information of the measuring apparatus included in the utilization request against the meter information database and identifies disposition location information of the measuring apparatus, and that transmits predetermined data for utilizing either one of a predetermined commercial product and service to the predetermined apparatus in the user existing facility in a case where the identified disposition location information of the measuring apparatus is checked against the user facility location information identified based on the user confirmation request and both are identical, wherein

the second server stores the predetermined data for utilizing either one of a predetermined commercial product and service in the second storage unit where the predetermined data is divided as divided data A, which is an internet key, and divided data B, which is a smart meter network key, having a data size equal to or smaller than the divided data A, which are acquired by dividing either one of data making up the predetermined commercial product and data for providing the predetermined service, and

in the case where the identified disposition location information of the measuring apparatus is checked against the user facility location information identified based on the user confirmation request and both are identical, the service data transmitting unit transmits the divided data A via a public line to the predetermined apparatus in the user existing facility and transmits the divided data B via a dedicated line to the predetermined apparatus in the user existing facility, wherein

the predetermined apparatus in the user existing facility executes a process of receiving the divided data A via the public line from the second server, receiving the divided data B via the dedicated line from the second server, combining the divided data A and the divided data B and generating either one of the data making up the predetermined commercial product and the data for providing the predetermined service, and outputting the generated data to an output unit.