Consumer access device

A method of linking at least first and second consumer access devices located at separate premises in a smart energy system so that, after linking, their respective consumers can interact via their respective consumer access devices, each of the first and second consumer access devices comprising a processor, first memory for storing at least one application, second memory for secure storage of secure utility data representing utility usage, a first transceiver configured to connect to a respective smart energy meter or Current Transformer (CT) clamp to receive the secure utility data from the respective smart meter or CT clamp, and a second transceiver configured to communicate with at least one server, the processor being programmed to store the secure utility data received via the first transceiver in the second memory, the processor also being programmed to execute at least one application stored in the first memory, the processor further being programmed to request that the at least one server establish a link with another consumer access device, the processor additionally being programmed to respond to a request from the server to establish a link with the another consumer access device, to accept the request, the method performed by the server and comprising:

• receiving, from the first consumer access device or a first user device associated with the first consumer access device, an indication of the identity of another consumer,
• confirming that the another consumer has the second consumer access device,
• sending an invitation to the second consumer access device or to a second user device associated with the second consumer access device, the invitation identifying the consumer associated with the first consumer access device, and
• in response to a positive reply from the second consumer access device or from the second user device associated with the second consumer access device, storing data identifying that the first and second consumer access devices are linked and communicating link data to the first and second consumer access devices to enable the first and second consumer access devices to link to each other and to interact with each other after linking.

A method of communicating first data to both a first consumer access device and a second consumer access device, each of the first and second consumer access devices comprising a processor, first memory for storing at least one application, second memory for secure storage of data representing utility usage, a first transceiver configured to communicate with a domestic smart meter or Current Transformer (CT) clamp to receive second data comprising secure utility data representing utility usage from the domestic smart meter or CT clamp, and a second transceiver configured to communicate with at least one server, the processor being programmed to store the second data received via the first transceiver in the second memory, the processor also being programmed to execute at least one application stored in the first memory, the processor further being programmed to request that the server establish a link with another consumer access device, the processor additionally being programmed to respond to a request from a server to establish a link with at least one further consumer access device, to accept the request, the method comprising:

• receiving, at a server, a request from the first consumer access device or a first user device associated with the first consumer access device to communicate first data to the first and second consumer access devices,
• confirming that the first and second consumer access devices comprise linked consumer access devices, and
• communicating the first data to the first and second consumer access devices.

A method of communicating data between a first consumer access device and a second consumer access device, each of the first and second consumer access devices comprising a processor, first memory for storing at least one application, second memory for secure storage of second data comprising secure utility data representing utility usage, a first transceiver configured to communicate with a domestic smart meter or Current Transformer (CT) clamp to receive the second data from the domestic smart meter or CT clamp, and a second transceiver configured to communicate with at least one server, the processor being programmed to store the second data received via the first transceiver in the second memory, the processor also being programmed to execute at least one application stored in the first memory, the processor further being programmed to request that the server establish a link with another consumer access device, the processor additionally being programmed to respond to a request from a server to establish a link with at least one further consumer access device, to accept the request, the method comprising:

• receiving, at a server, a request from the first consumer access device to communicate first data to the second consumer access device,
• confirming that the first and second consumer access devices comprise linked consumer access devices, and
• sending the first data to the second consumer access device.