Itron Gmbh

Other

Bret Gregory Holmdahl

Christopher Lloyd Osterloh

James Patrick Ogle

Isaiah Michael Weber

Keith W Barnes

Mark K Cornwall

Holger Hildebrandt

Jim Ogle

Eric Lambert

A metrology device may include a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations. The operations may include generating a challenge message, the challenge message including a challenge; issuing the challenge message in a scannable undirected advertising message; receiving from the field tool a response solution to the challenge message, the response solution being calculated based at least in part on the challenge and a challenge key associated with the challenge, and verifying the response solution based at least in part on a secure hash algorithm (SHA). The challenge key may include a fixed value specific to a manufacturer of the metrology device and known to the field tool and the metrology device.

Bluetooth low energy (BLE) advertising packet security

Secure pairing of computing devices, such as a field tool and a battery-powered device (BPD), may include generating by the BPD a challenge message including a randomly-generated challenge, and receiving at the field tool a challenge message from the BPD via a Bluetooth low-energy (BLE) advertisement message. The challenge message can include a randomly-generated challenge and can be issued in a scannable undirected advertising message. The challenge key can be calculated via a secure hash algorithm (SHA) to obtain a response solution. The response solution can be sent by the field tool to the advertising device in response to the challenge message. The response solution can be verified by the BPD using a cryptographic message authentication code such as an HMAC, and the BPD sends a confirmation message to the field tool indicating that the response solution is verified as correct.

Techniques are discussed for performing a demand reset in a wireless meter reading environment, in a manner such that demand data may not be lost. In response to receiving a command from a mobile device of a requester, a meter may store demand value(s) in a log, reset register(s) that store the demand value(s) and wirelessly provide the demand value(s) to the mobile device of the requester. Due to the lack of reliability associated with wireless communications between the meter and a requestor, the requestor may not actually receive the demand value(s). Upon receiving a subsequent command for the demand value(s), the meter may determine that the command is a replay, and provide the demand value(s) without resetting the register(s). Techniques are also discussed for generating the commands, securing the commands, and providing the commands to mobile devices in route packages.

Performing demand reset in a secure mobile network environment

Collection of resource consumption data may be coordinated by designating, for each endpoint in a utility communication network, a single data collector to be responsible for reporting resource consumption data of the respective endpoints to a head-end computing device. If the head-end computing device does not receive resource consumption data from one or more endpoints, the head-end computing device may request the missing resource consumption data from one or more secondary or tertiary data collectors that receive resource consumption data from the one or more endpoints. Additionally, if a data collector is missing resource consumption data from an endpoint during a reporting period, upon receiving resource consumption data from the endpoint during a subsequent reporting period, the data collector may request the missing resource consumption data.

Coordinated collection of metering data

A utility company may schedule when and how endpoints report resource consumption data based on relative priorities of endpoints or the customers associated therewith. By associating endpoints with one of multiple different quality of service (QoS) levels, and sending each endpoint a reporting schedule based on its respective QoS level, the utility company may configure prioritized reporting of resource consumption data by endpoints of an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) with automatic meter reading (AMR).

Prioritized reporting of metering data

Synchronization methods, apparatus and systems are disclosed. An example method includes storing, in memory of a device, schedule information indicating times at which the device is to listen for a sequential series of data frames, the schedule information further indicating a reference time at which transmission of the sequential series of data frames to the device is to be initiated; initiating a listening session at a first time of the schedule information according to a native clock of the device; identifying which of the data frames of the sequential series is received first during the listening session; and adjusting the native clock of the device based on the identified data frame.

Synchronization methods and apparatus

Techniques for reconfiguring utility meters from a mobile mode to a network mode are discussed. A utility meter may be configured for operation in a mobile mode environment, wherein it transmits data using radio frequency (RF) transmissions, such as by 'bubbling-up' a 'standard consumption message' at intervals. However, a switchover from mobile mode to network mode may be scheduled. The switchover may involve a plurality of endpoints (i.e., metering devices together with associated mobile mode and network mode functionality) transitioning from mobile mode functionality to network mode functionality. In one example, processors on an endpoint using a first &#x201c;image&#x201d; including executable software providing mobile mode functions may reboot to use a second image providing fixed network mode functions (e.g., mesh or star network operability). Following the transition, the endpoints may discover adjacent or nearby endpoints, and a fixed network having network mode functionality may be configured.

Automated reconfiguration of utility meters

Techniques for limited data messaging with standards compliance are described herein. A network may be configured as an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) for automatic meter reading (AMR). A plurality of endpoints (EP) may each be associated with a meter configured to measure consumption of a resource, such as electricity or natural gas. The plurality of EPs may communicate consumption data to a data collector (DC), which transfers the data to a central office. In one example, network traffic and battery power consumption of the EPs may be reduced if each endpoint packages data as a compact array, having minimal data formatting and tagging. A class object associated with each EP and stored at the DC allows the DC to interpret the compact array. Based on this interpretation, the DC is able to reformulate the data as a COSEM (or other standards-based object) for transmission to the central office.

Limited data messaging with standards compliance

Techniques for injecting encryption keys into a meter as a part of a manufacturing process are discussed. Since various encryption keys injected into meters may be specific to each individual meter, a utility company customer may require a copy of the injected encryption keys associated with each individual meter. The techniques may include providing a copy of keys injected into each meter to a utility company customer. In some instances, the meter manufacturer may not store or persist various encryption keys that are injected into the meters during the manufacturing process.

Zero configuration of security for smart meters

Radio messages may be transmitted by endpoints delivering utility consumption data. A portable unit may traverse a route among the endpoints and obtain the consumption data. If the endpoints are sufficiently grouped, communication between the portable unit and a plurality of endpoints may be possible in a same power cycle to a radio of the portable unit while the portable unit is at a single location. In a two-way communication environment, the portable unit may send commands to a plurality of endpoints during a single power cycle, which may result in responses from the plurality of endpoints during the same power cycle. Such communications may be performed with endpoints that are ahead of a current endpoint on the route being traversed, and may constitute read-ahead data. Read-ahead data reduces power cycles to the radio, because when the portable unit reaches an endpoint on the route whose data has previously been read, a power cycle is not required.

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Greenacres, WA, United States of America

Bret Gregory Holmdahl