System and method to enforce utility meter security
AssigneeNagravision S.A.
InventorsCorinne Le Buhan, Christophe Nicolas, Joël Conus
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a system, and method for enforcing utility usage and metering functions by a utility meter associated with a utility consumer end user, connected to a remote utility management center by a communication network. The present invention proposes a utility meter for controlling and metering a least one utility consumption.
Claims15
A utility meter for controlling and metering a least one utility consumption comprising:
- at least one metering device provided with at least a first main counter for counting said utility consumption,
- a transmission unit for receiving messages from a remote management center and for sending at least one report message to the remote management center,
- a memory for storing data,
- a switch for switching the operating of the utility meter from a normal operating mode to a disrupted operating mode,
- a validity counter for incrementing/decrementing a validity value,
- a processor for processing functions of said utility meter, characterized in that it comprises:
- a transmission control unit for verifying if an acknowledgment message has been received from the remote management center in response to the report message, in the positive event the transmission control unit delivers a positive signal, in the negative event the transmission control unit delivers a negative signal,
- a validity unit for checking the validity of a renewal message received from the remote management center and reloading the validity counter in case where the renewal message is valid,
- an activating unit for maintaining said switch into the normal operating mode in accordance with the status of said signal and said validity counter.
Method for enforcing utility usages and metering functions of a utility meter switchable between a normal operating mode and a disrupted operating mode and used for controlling and metering a least one utility consumption by means of at least one metering device provided with at least a first main counter for counting said utility consumption, the utility meter being further provided with a validity counter for incrementing/decrementing a validity value, comprising the steps of:
- sending a report message from the utility meter to a remote management center
- verifying if an acknowledgement message has been received by the utility meter from the remote management center in response to the report message, in the positive event, delivering a positive signal, whereas in the negative event delivering a negative signal,
- checking, by the utility meter, the validity of a renewal message sent from the remote management center and reloading the validity counter with a new validity value in case where the renewal message is valid,
- maintaining the utility meter into the normal operating mode in accordance with the status of said signal and said validity counter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.