System and method for securely communicating with electronic meters

摘要

An infrastructure for securely communicating with electronic meters is described, which enables secure communication between a utility and a meter located at a customer, over a communication link or connection such as via a network. This enables messages to be sent from the utility to the meter and vice versa in a secure manner. The network provides a communication medium for communicating via the C12.22 protocol for secure metering. A cryptographic backend is used to cryptographically process messages to be sent to the meter and to similarly cryptographically process messages sent from the meter. By providing appropriate cryptographic measures such as key management, confidentiality and authentication, the meter can only interpret and process messages from a legitimate utility and the utility can ensure that the messages it receives are from a legitimate meter and contain legitimate information.

主权项

1. A method for securely communicating with electronic meters, said electronic meters being communicatively connectable to an intermediary server controlled by a utility, said utility providing a service associated with said electronic meters, said method comprising:
a cryptographic backend system comprising one or more cryptographic servers provisioning an electronic meter with at least one cryptographic key to enable said electronic meter to cryptographically process messages sent thereto by said utility, said messages being cryptographically processed by said cryptographic backend system on behalf of said utility; the cryptographic backend system receiving a first request from said intermediary server to cryptographically process a first message to be sent to an electronic meter; said cryptographic backend system cryptographically processing said first message to generate a first protected message according to requirements associated with said first message and using one or more cryptographic keys corresponding to said at least one cryptographic key provisioned for said electronic meter; said cryptographic backend system returning said first protected message to said intermediary server for providing said protected message to said electronic meter; said cryptographic backend system receiving a second protected message from said intermediary server, said second protected message having been generated by said electronic meter cryptographically processing a second message using said at least one cryptographic key, and having been sent by said electronic meter to said intermediary server; said cryptographic backend system determining one or more cryptographic keys corresponding to said at least one cryptographic key provisioned for said electronic meter; said cryptographic backend system cryptographically processing said second protected message to obtain said second message; and said cryptographic backend system returning said second message to said intermediary server to enable said intermediary server to interpret said second message from said electronic meter.