Transmission of data from a management entity to a smart electricity meter

A method for transmitting data from a management entity in a communication system comprising at least one data concentrator device to which a smart electricity meter is attached via a first powerline communication network, the smart electricity meter comprising a wireless communication interface adapted to communicate via a third wireless local communication network with a residential gateway connected to the management entity via a fourth communication network, each data concentrator device being connected to the management entity via a second communication network, wherein the first, second, third and fourth communication networks are all networks separate from each other, the method comprising:

• in order to transmit data from the management entity to the smart electricity meter, receiving, by the smart electricity meter via the first powerline communication network, a message coming from the management entity and indicating that a data transfer is pending with the management entity;
• in response to receiving of the message via the first powerline communication network indicating that the data transfer is pending with the management entity, the smart electricity meter performs:
• determining whether the smart electricity meter has a connection and thus a route of transfer for the data, via the third wireless local communication network, with the residential gateway enabling it to communicate with the management entity by means thereof;
• when the data can be obtained via either the third wireless local communication network or the first powerline communication network but in response to determining that the data should be downloaded using the third wireless local communication network instead of the first powerline communication network:
• obtaining the data from the management entity via the third wireless local communication network with the residential gateway, using the wireless communication interface of the smart electricity meter;
• and
• when the smart electricity meter does not have a connection with the third wireless local communication network:
• obtaining the data from the management entity via the first powerline communication network.