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EP-4742637-A2 - COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD

EP4742637A2EP 4742637 A2EP4742637 A2EP 4742637A2EP-4742637-A2

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a communication system comprising at least one metering communication adapter, the metering communication adapter comprising a local meter interface configured to communicatively couple to a metering element, and to receive metering data from the metering element, and comprising a first communication interface configured to output the metering data received from the metering element.

Inventors

  • MARCHL, Julian

Assignees

  • Marchl Metering GmbH

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20241213

Claims (15)

  1. Communication system (100, 2400, 2500) comprising: at least one metering communication adapter (101, 201, 401, 701, 801, 1701, 2401-1, 2401-2, 2401-3, 2501-1, 2501-2, 2601), the metering communication adapter (101, 201, 401, 701, 801, 1701, 2401-1, 2401-2, 2401-3, 2501-1, 2501-2, 2601) comprising a local meter interface (102, 202, 402, 602, 702, 802, 1202, 1702, 2402-1, 2402-2, 2402-3, 2602-1, 2602-2) configured to communicatively couple to a metering element (199, 299, 799, 899, 1799, 2499-1, 2499-2, 2499-3), and to receive metering data (103, 203, 303, 603, 703, 803, 1203, 1703, 1803, 1903, 2003, 2103, 2203, 2303, 2403-1, 2403-2, 2403-3, 2503) from the metering element (199, 299, 799, 899, 1799, 2499-1, 2499-2, 2499-3), and comprising a first communication interface (104, 204, 404, 504, 704, 804, 1704, 2604) configured to output the metering data (103, 203, 303, 603, 703, 803, 1203, 1703, 1803, 1903, 2003, 2103, 2203, 2303, 2403-1, 2403-2, 2403-3, 2503) received from the metering element (199, 299, 799, 899, 1799, 2499-1, 2499-2, 2499-3); wherein the at least one metering communication adapter (101, 201, 401, 701, 801, 1701, 2401-1, 2401-2, 2401-3, 2501-1, 2501-2, 2601) further comprises a first cryptographic module (215, 415, 715, 815, 1715) coupled between the local meter interface (102, 202, 402, 602, 702, 802, 1202, 1702, 2402-1, 2402-2, 2402-3, 2602-1, 2602-2) and the first communication interface (104, 204, 404, 504, 704, 804, 1704, 2604); wherein the first cryptographic module (215, 415, 715, 815, 1715) is configured to cryptographically encrypt the received metering data (103, 203, 303, 603, 703, 803, 1203, 1703, 1803, 1903, 2003, 2103, 2203, 2303, 2403-1, 2403-2, 2403-3, 2503) and provide the cryptographically encrypted metering data (216, 316, 1716, 1816, 2516) to the first communication interface (104, 204, 404, 504, 704, 804, 1704, 2604) for transmission to a concentrator unit (107, 307, 1107, 1807, 1907, 2007, 2107, 2207, 2307, 2407); and wherein the first cryptographic module (215, 415, 715, 815, 1715) further comprises a key memory (1780, 1880) that comprises a plurality of cryptographic keys (1781, 1881) with respective validity data (1782, 1882), wherein the first cryptographic module (215, 415, 715, 815, 1715) is configured to only use cryptographic keys (1781, 1881) with positively verified validity data (1782, 1882); wherein the local meter interface (102, 202, 402, 602, 702, 802, 1202, 1702, 2402-1, 2402-2, 2402-3, 2602-1, 2602-2) comprises an optical, or wired or wireless interface; and wherein the first communication interface (104, 204, 404, 504, 704, 804, 1704, 2604) comprises a long range radio interface.
  2. Communication system (100, 2400, 2500 ) according to claim 1, further comprising a concentrator unit (107, 307, 1107, 1807, 1907, 2007, 2107, 2207, 2307, 2407) comprising a second communication interface (108, 308, 1108, 1308, 1808, 1908, 2008, 2108, 2208, 2308) configured to receive the metering data (103, 203, 303, 603, 703, 803, 1203, 1703, 1803, 1903, 2003, 2103, 2203, 2303, 2403-1, 2403-2, 2403-3, 2503) output by the at least one metering communication adapter (101, 201, 401, 701, 801, 1701, 2401-1, 2401-2, 2401-3, 2501-1, 2501-2, 2601), and comprising a local interface (109, 309, 1109, 1209, 1809, 1909, 2009, 2109, 2209, 2309-1, 2309-2) configured to output the received metering data (103, 203, 303, 603, 703, 803, 1203, 1703, 1803, 1903, 2003, 2103, 2203, 2303, 2403-1, 2403-2, 2403-3, 2503); wherein the second communication interface (108, 308, 1108, 1308, 1808, 1908, 2008, 2108, 2208, 2308) comprises a long range radio interface.
  3. Communication system (100, 2400, 2500 ) according to claim 1, wherein the local meter interface (102, 202, 402, 602, 702, 802, 1202, 1702, 2402-1, 2402-2, 2402-3, 2602-1, 2602-2) is configured to receive data packages (220, 1520, 1620) comprising meta data (221-1, 221-2, 1521-1, 1521-2, 1522-3, 1721-2, 1722-3) and measurement data (222-1, 222-2, 1522-1, 1522-2, 1522-3, 1722-2, 1722-3); and wherein the first cryptographic module (215, 415, 715, 815, 1715) is configured to at least one of: perform a single encryption of the measurement data (222-1, 222-2, 1522-1, 1522-2, 1522-3, 1722-2, 1722-3) and the meta data (221-1, 221-2, 1521-1, 1521-2, 1522-3, 1721-2, 1722-3); and perform a first encryption of the measurement data (222-1, 222-2, 1522-1, 1522-2, 1522-3, 1722-2, 1722-3) , and a second encryption of the encrypted measurement data (222-1, 222-2, 1522-1, 1522-2, 1522-3, 1722-2, 1722-3) and the meta data (221-1, 221-2, 1521-1, 1521-2, 1522-3, 1721-2, 1722-3).
  4. Communication system (100, 2400, 2500) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first cryptographic module (215, 415, 715, 815, 1715) is further configured to perform a key exchange based on a symmetrical encryption method for exchanging encryption keys for an asymmetrical encryption method, and encrypt the received metering data (103, 203, 303, 603, 703, 803, 1203, 1703, 1803, 1903, 2003, 2103, 2203, 2303, 2403-1, 2403-2, 2403-3, 2503) with an asymmetrical encryption method based on the exchanged encryption keys.
  5. Communication system (100, 2400, 2500) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the local meter interface (102, 202, 402, 602, 702, 802, 1202, 1702, 2402-1, 2402-2, 2402-3, 2602-1, 2602-2), the first communication interface (104, 204, 404, 504, 704, 804, 1704, 2604), comprise bi-directional interfaces; wherein the first communication interface (104, 204, 404, 504, 704, 804, 1704, 2604) is configured to transmit received configuration and control data to the local meter interface (102, 202, 402, 602, 702, 802, 1202, 1702, 2402-1, 2402-2, 2402-3, 2602-1, 2602-2); and wherein the local meter interface (102, 202, 402, 602, 702, 802, 1202, 1702, 2402-1, 2402-2, 2402-3, 2602-1, 2602-2) is configured to output the received configuration and control data.
  6. Communication system (100, 2400, 2500) according to the preceding claims 1 and 5, wherein the first cryptographic module (215, 415, 715, 815, 1715) is configured to cryptographically decode the received configuration and control data and to provide the cryptographically decoded configuration and control data to the local meter interface (102, 202, 402, 602, 702, 802, 1202, 1702, 2402-1, 2402-2, 2402-3, 2602-1, 2602-2); and wherein the local meter interface (102, 202, 402, 602, 702, 802, 1202, 1702, 2402-1, 2402-2, 2402-3, 2602-1, 2602-2) is configured to output the cryptographically decoded configuration and control data.
  7. Communication system (100, 2400, 2500) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one metering communication adapter (101, 201, 401, 701, 801, 1701, 2401-1, 2401-2, 2401-3, 2501-1, 2501-2, 2601) comprises: a first module (430, 630, 930, 1030) comprising the local meter interface (102, 202, 402, 602, 702, 802, 1202, 1702, 2402-1, 2402-2, 2402-3, 2602-1, 2602-2) and a first coupling interface (431, 631) coupled to the local meter interface (102, 202, 402, 602, 702, 802, 1202, 1702, 2402-1, 2402-2, 2402-3, 2602-1, 2602-2); and a second module (432, 532) comprising a second coupling interface (433, 533) coupled to the first communication interface (104, 204, 404, 504, 704, 804, 1704, 2604); wherein the first coupling interface (431, 631) is configured to couple to the second coupling interface (433, 533).
  8. Communication system (100, 2400, 2500) according to the preceding claims, wherein the first cryptographic module (215, 415, 715, 815, 1715) is arranged: between the local meter interface (102, 202, 402, 602, 702, 802, 1202, 1702, 2402-1, 2402-2, 2402-3, 2602-1, 2602-2), and the first coupling interface (431, 631); or between the second coupling interface (433, 533), and the first communication interface (104, 204, 404, 504, 704, 804, 1704, 2604).
  9. Communication system (100, 2400, 2500) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein in an initialization mode the at least one metering communication adapter (101, 201, 401, 701, 801, 1701, 2401-1, 2401-2, 2401-3, 2501-1, 2501-2, 2601) is configured to at least one of: perform a registration procedure with the concentrator unit (107, 307, 1107, 1807, 1907, 2007, 2107, 2207, 2307, 2407); automatically acquire an identification from the metering element (199, 299, 799, 899, 1799, 2499-1, 2499-2, 2499-3); receive an identification of the metering element (199, 299, 799, 899, 1799, 2499-1, 2499-2, 2499-3) from the concentrator unit (107, 307, 1107, 1807, 1907, 2007, 2107, 2207, 2307, 2407); and output the identification of the metering element (199, 299, 799, 899, 1799, 2499-1, 2499-2, 2499-3) and an internal identification of the at least one metering communication adapter (101, 201, 401, 701, 801, 1701, 2401-1, 2401-2, 2401-3, 2501-1, 2501-2, 2601).
  10. Data communication method comprising: receiving (S1401) metering data (103, 203, 303, 603, 703, 803, 1203, 1703, 1803, 1903, 2003, 2103, 2203, 2303, 2403-1, 2403-2, 2403-3, 2503) from at least one metering element (199, 299, 799, 899, 1799, 2499-1, 2499-2, 2499-3) via a local meter interface (102, 202, 402, 602, 702, 802, 1202, 1702, 2402-1, 2402-2, 2402-3, 2602-1, 2602-2); cryptographically encrypting the received metering data (103, 203, 303, 603, 703, 803, 1203, 1703, 1803, 1903, 2003, 2103, 2203, 2303, 2403-1, 2403-2, 2403-3, 2503) and providing the cryptographically encrypted metering data (216, 316, 1716, 1816, 2516) to the first communication interface (104, 204, 404, 504, 704, 804, 1704, 2604) for transmission to a second communication interface (108, 308, 1108, 1308, 1808, 1908, 2008, 2108, 2208, 2308), wherein encrypting is performed with one of a plurality of cryptographic keys (1781, 1881) with positively verified validity data (1782, 1882); outputting (S1402) the metering data (103, 203, 303, 603, 703, 803, 1203, 1703, 1803, 1903, 2003, 2103, 2203, 2303, 2403-1, 2403-2, 2403-3, 2503) received from the metering element (199, 299, 799, 899, 1799, 2499-1, 2499-2, 2499-3) via a first communication interface (104, 204, 404, 504, 704, 804, 1704, 2604).
  11. Data communication method according to claim 10, wherein the local meter interface (102, 202, 402, 602, 702, 802, 1202, 1702, 2402-1, 2402-2, 2402-3, 2602-1, 2602-2) comprises at least one of: an optical interface; an infrared optical interface; a character-based optical interface; a reed-switch-based interface; a wired interface; and a wireless interface; and/or wherein the first communication interface (104, 204, 404, 504, 704, 804, 1704, 2604) comprises at least one of: a wired data interface; a wireless data interface; a LoRaWAN interface; a mioty interface; a wireless sub-GHz interface; a WIFI interface; and a Bluetooth interface.
  12. Data communication method according any one of claims 10 and 11, wherein the metering data (103, 203, 303, 603, 703, 803, 1203, 1703, 1803, 1903, 2003, 2103, 2203, 2303, 2403-1, 2403-2, 2403-3, 2503) comprises data packages (220, 1520, 1620) comprising meta data (221-1, 221-2, 1521-1, 1521-2, 1522-3, 1721-2, 1722-3) and measurement data (222-1, 222-2, 1522-1, 1522-2, 1522-3, 1722-2, 1722-3); the method further comprising at least one of: performing a single encryption of the measurement data (222-1, 222-2, 1522-1, 1522-2, 1522-3, 1722-2, 1722-3) and the meta data (221-1, 221-2, 1521-1, 1521-2, 1522-3, 1721-2, 1722-3); and performing a first encryption of the measurement data (222-1, 222-2, 1522-1, 1522-2, 1522-3, 1722-2, 1722-3), and a second encryption of the encrypted measurement data (222-1, 222-2, 1522-1, 1522-2, 1522-3, 1722-2, 1722-3) and the meta data (221-1, 221-2, 1521-1, 1521-2, 1522-3, 1721-2, 1722-3).
  13. Data communication method according to any one of the preceding method-based claims, further comprising cryptographically decoding received configuration and control data and providing the cryptographically decoded configuration and control data to the local meter interface (102, 202, 402, 602, 702, 802, 1202, 1702, 2402-1, 2402-2, 2402-3, 2602-1, 2602-2) for outputting the decoded configuration and control data.
  14. Data communication method according to any one of the preceding method-based claims, further comprising in an initialization mode of at least one metering communication adapter (101, 201, 401, 701, 801, 1701, 2401-1, 2401-2, 2401-3, 2501-1, 2501-2, 2601): performing a registration procedure of the at least one metering communication adapter (101, 201, 401, 701, 801, 1701, 2401-1, 2401-2, 2401-3, 2501-1, 2501-2, 2601) with the concentrator unit (107, 307, 1107, 1807, 1907, 2007, 2107, 2207, 2307, 2407); automatically acquiring an identification from the metering element (199, 299, 799, 899, 1799, 2499-1, 2499-2, 2499-3) in the at least one metering communication adapter (101, 201, 401, 701, 801, 1701, 2401-1, 2401-2, 2401-3, 2501-1, 2501-2, 2601); receiving an identification of the metering element (199, 299, 799, 899, 1799, 2499-1, 2499-2, 2499-3) from the concentrator unit (107, 307, 1107, 1807, 1907, 2007, 2107, 2207, 2307, 2407) with the at least one metering communication adapter (101, 201, 401, 701, 801, 1701, 2401-1, 2401-2, 2401-3, 2501-1, 2501-2, 2601); outputting the identification of the metering element (199, 299, 799, 899, 1799, 2499-1, 2499-2, 2499-3) and an internal identification of the at least one metering communication adapter (101, 201, 401, 701, 801, 1701, 2401-1, 2401-2, 2401-3, 2501-1, 2501-2, 2601) with the at least one metering communication adapter (101, 201, 401, 701, 801, 1701, 2401-1, 2401-2, 2401-3, 2501-1, 2501-2, 2601).
  15. Non-transitory data carrier comprising instructions that when executed by a processor, especially a processor of a metering communication adapter (101, 201, 401, 701, 801, 1701, 2401-1, 2401-2, 2401-3, 2501-1, 2501-2, 2601) in a communication system (100, 2400, 2500) according to any one of claims 1 to 23, cause the processor to perform the functions of the metering communication adapter (101, 201, 401, 701, 801, 1701, 2401-1, 2401-2, 2401-3, 2501-1, 2501-2, 2601).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The disclosure relates to a communication system and a respective method. BACKGROUND Although applicable to any type of metering system, the present disclosure will mainly be described in conjunction with electrical power metering devices. Electrical power consumption of electrical installations in industrial or residential buildings may be measured or metered locally and may then be documented by employees of electricity providers. Alternatively, the local power meters may transmit the measured power consumption to a central server electronically via a respective network connection. However, such electronic data transmission makes strong security measures mandatory to prevent data falsification during the transmission of the measured power consumption to the central server. Such communication networks are consequently difficult to set up. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved metering system. SUMMARY The above-stated problem is solved by the features of the independent claims. It is understood, that independent claims of a claim category may be formed in analogy to the dependent claims of another claim category. The present disclosure is based on the finding that local legal requirements may force electricity providers to install a secure communication device locally at every single power meter. For example, the German legal requirements require a so-called smart meter gateway, SMGw, to be installed at every single power meter (so-called mME, moderne Messeinrichtung) if the power meter readings are to be transmitted electronically to the electricity providers, e.g., for performing the invoicing. However, installing a single SMGw for every power meter increases the costs for the electricity providers. Such costs may not always be passed on to the customers. German regulations regarding SMGws are, for example, provided in the standard document "Smart Meter Gateway PTB-A 50.8". The BSI guidelines are specified for smart meter gateways (SMGw) as the central interface to the Internet. (BSI TR-03109[-1]) Further, mMEs send data telegrams with values for instantaneous power, energy consumption, etc. at periodic intervals via a serial interface. Two interfaces are specified for this purpose: The INFO-DSS, which is accessible to the end customer (consumer), and the MSB-DSS. The MSB-DSS also serves as a configuration interface for configuring the mME. This interface is not specified for all manufacturers, meaning that a separate communication adapter is required for each meter type in order to be able to communicate with the mME. The INFO-DSS, on the other hand, is standardized across manufacturers and is always implemented on the front of the device, for example. Currently, only the MSB interface is used for billing by the metering point operator, as the data provided by the mME in this way is already encrypted. In order to be able to transmit the data to an SMGw or another radio base station, the data transmitted by the interface of the mME must be translated into an LMN-compatible protocol in a so-called communication adapter. This communication adapter is specified in [PTB-A 50.8 of December 2014] and thus enables the connection of an mME to a local LMN. This means, for example, that all mMEs in an apartment building can be connected wirelessly to an SMGw. However, due to the short range of an LMN-compatible radio standard (e.g. 10m for wM-Bus), the number of mMEs that can be connected to an SMGw is severely limited. This means that e.g., only all mMEs on one floor can be connected to one SMGw. However, since the connection and installation costs of an SMGw (or a radio base station in general) are very high, it should be possible to connect as many mMEs as possible to an SMGw in order to keep the costs for operation and meter reading low. However, this is not possible with the current technology. The present disclosure, therefore, provides the communication system that may serve as a kind of intermediary between multiple power meters and a single SMGw. To this end, the communication system comprises at least one, especially multiple, metering communication adapters that communicate with a single concentrator unit. Each one of the metering communication adapters comprises a local meter interface. The local meter interface serves for communicatively coupling the respective metering communication adapter to a metering element. The metering element may be any kind of metering element, for example, a power meter. Other meters, like water meters or heat meters, are also possible. In addition, each one of the metering communication adapters comprises a first communication interface that communicatively couples the metering communication adapters to the concentrator unit that comprises a respective second communication interface. The number of metering communication adapters supported by the communication system is only limited by the capacity of the concentrator unit and the SMGw, and the communi