Methods and apparatus for retrieving energy readings from an energy monitoring device

An energy monitoring device for securely reporting energy consumption, comprising:

• current interface circuitry operative to sense current flow in at least one power line and generate a first analog signal indicative thereof;
• voltage interface circuitry operative to sense voltage in said at least one power line and generate a second analog signal indicative thereof;
• at least one analog to digital converter coupled with said current and voltage interface circuitry and operative to convert said first and second analog signals to a digital representation of said sensed voltage and current flow;
• a processor coupled with said at least one analog to digital converter and operative to calculate at least one measure of energy consumption based on at least said digital representation;
• a cover enclosing said current interface circuitry, voltage interface circuitry, at least one analog to digital converter and processor;
• a memory register coupled with said processor and operative to store a private key;
• wherein said processor is further operative to generate a digital signature based on at least said private key and said at least one measure of energy consumption;
• a public key accessible from the outside of said cover, said public key associated with said private key;
• and
• a communications interface coupled with said processor and operative to transmit data comprising said measure of energy consumption and said digital signature to a remote device.

An energy monitoring device for securely reporting energy consumption, comprising:

• current interface circuitry operative to sense current flow in at least one power line and generate a first analog signal indicative thereof;
• voltage interface circuitry operative to sense voltage in said at least one power line and generate a second analog signal indicative thereof;
• at least one analog to digital converter coupled to said current and voltage interface circuitry and operative to convert said first and second analog signals to a digital representation of said sensed voltage and current flow;
• a processor coupled to said at least one analog to digital converter and operative to calculate at least one measure of energy consumption;
• a cover enclosing said current interface circuitry, voltage interface circuitry, at least one analog to digital converter and processor;
• a memory register coupled to said processor and operative to store a private key;
• a second memory register coupled to said processor and operative to store said at least one measure of energy consumption;
• a third memory register coupled to said processor;
• said processor operative to store a hash of said private key and said at least one measure of energy consumption in said third memory register;
• and a communications interface coupled with said processor and operative to transmit
• data comprising at least the contents of said second memory register and said third memory register.

A method of securely reporting energy consumption, said method comprising:

• sensing current flow in at least one power line and generating a first analog signal indicative thereof;
• converting said first analog signal to a digital representation of said sensed current flow;
• calculating at least one measure of energy consumption based on said digital representation and storing said calculated at least one measure of energy consumption as at least one energy consumption message;
• storing a private key;
• generating a digital signature based on said at least one energy consumption message and said private key and signing said at least one energy consumption message utilizing said digital signature;
• and
• transmitting via radio frequency said signed at least one energy consumption message, via at least a second and a third energy monitoring device, to a remote device.

A method of securely reporting energy consumption, comprising:

• sensing, by current interface circuitry, current flow in at least one power line and generating a first analog signal indicative thereof;
• sensing, by voltage interface circuitry, voltage in said at least one power line and generating a second analog signal indicative thereof;
• converting, by at least one analog to digital converter, said first and second analog signals to a digital representation of said sensed voltage and current flow;
• calculating, by a processor, at least one measure of energy consumption based on at least said digital representation;
• enclosing said current interface circuitry, voltage interface circuitry, at least one analog to digital converter and processor within a cover;
• storing a private key;
• generating a digital signature based on at least said private key and said at least one measure of energy consumption;
• providing a public key accessible from the outside of said cover, said public key associated with said private key;
• and
• transmitting data comprising said measure of energy consumption and said digital signature to a remote device.

An energy monitoring device for securely reporting energy consumption, comprising:

• means for sensing current flow in at least one power line and generating a first analog signal indicative thereof;
• means for converting said first analog signal to a digital representation of said sensed current flow;
• means for calculating at least one measure of energy consumption based on said digital representation and storing said calculated at least one measure of energy consumption as at least one energy consumption message;
• means for storing a private key;
• means for generating a digital signature based on said at least one energy consumption message and said private key and signing said at least one energy consumption message utilizing said digital signature;
• and
• means for transmitting via radio frequency said signed at least one energy consumption message, via at least a second and a third energy monitoring device, to a remote device.

An energy monitoring device for securely reporting energy consumption, comprising:

• means for sensing current flow in at least one power line and generating a first analog signal indicative thereof;
• means for sensing voltage in said at least one power line and generating a second analog signal indicative thereof;
• means for converting said first and second analog signals to a digital representation of said sensed voltage and current flow;
• means for calculating at least one measure of energy consumption based on at least said digital representation;
• means for enclosing said means for sensing current flow, means for sensing voltage, means for converting and means for calculating;
• means for storing a private key;
• means for generating a digital signature based on at least said private key and said at least one measure of energy consumption;
• means for providing a public key accessible from the outside of said means for enclosing, said public key associated with said private key;
• and
• means for transmitting data comprising said measure of energy consumption and said digital signature to a remote device.