Application US20200005264

Operating smart utility meters using distributed ledgers
[+] Show Details

US20200005264

1. A method implemented by a broker node, the method comprising: (5) (4)

receiving a transmission from a master node;

determining that the transmission indicates an update to a distributed ledger associated with the broker node, the update to the distributed ledger including an activity instruction;

based at least in part on receiving the transmission, updating the distributed ledger that is local to the broker node;

sending, to a smart utility meter, a transmission indicating an update to the distributed ledger that is local to the broker node.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the activity instruction comprises a rate contract having an address representing a location in the distributed ledger, at least one payee, and at least one payer. (1) (0)

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the rate contract specifies a bill rate based on at least one of: (0) (7)

a time of day;

a forward consumption of a resource;

a reverse consumption of a resource;

a peak demand;

a power factor;

a class of customer; or

a type of payee.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the activity instruction includes meter configuration data configured to cause the smart utility meter to perform at least one of: (0) (6)

updating software on the smart utility meter;

setting a channel hopping sequence;

setting a data rate used by the smart utility meter;

changing metrology channels collected by the smart utility meter;

setting a signal strength used by the smart utility meter; or

setting a communication protocol used by the smart utility meter.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the activity instruction comprises an instruction to transfer funds from an account associated with a user and to update a balance associated with the smart utility meter. (0)

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: (2) (2)

receiving, from the smart utility meter, a transmission indicating that the smart utility meter performed an RFID tag validation scan and that the validation scan failed; and

updating the distributed ledger that is local to the broker node to indicate that the RFID tag validation scan failed.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising sending, to the master node, a transmission indicating that the smart utility meter performed the RFID tag validation scan and that the validation scan failed. (0)

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising: (1) (2)

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising: (0) (2)

11. A broker node comprising: (6) (6)

at least one processor; and

a memory storing instructions that cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving a transmission from a master node;

determining that the transmission indicates an update to a distributed ledger associated with the broker node, the update to the distributed ledger including an activity instruction;

based at least in part on receiving the transmission, updating the distributed ledger that is local to the broker node;

sending, to a smart utility meter, a transmission indicating an update to the distributed ledger that is local to the broker node.

12. The broker node of claim 11, wherein the activity instruction comprises a rate contract having an address representing a location in the distributed ledger, at least one payee, and at least one payer. (1) (0)

13. The broker node of claim 12, wherein the rate contract specifies a bill rate based on at least one of: (0) (7)

a time of day;

a forward consumption of a resource;

a reverse consumption of a resource;

a peak demand;

a power factor;

a class of customer; or

a type of payee.

14. The broker node of claim 11, wherein the activity instruction includes meter configuration data configured to cause the smart utility meter to perform at least one of: (0) (6)

updating software on the smart utility meter;

setting a channel hopping sequence;

setting a data rate used by the smart utility meter;

changing metrology channels collected by the smart utility meter;

setting a signal strength used by the smart utility meter; or

setting a communication protocol used by the smart utility meter.

15. The broker node of claim 11, wherein the activity instruction comprises an instruction to transfer funds from an account associated with a user and to update a balance associated with the smart utility meter. (0)

16. The broker node of claim 11, the operations further comprising: (1) (2)

18. The broker node of claim 11, the operations further comprising: (1) (2)

20. The broker node of claim 11, wherein sending the transmission to the smart utility meter causes the smart utility meter to update an instance of a portion of the distributed ledger that is local to the smart utility meter. (0)

View Abstract and Specification Size

PDF with Images and Document Face >

Full Text Publication >

Application US20200005264

Operating smart utility meters using distributed ledgers

Patent Matrix® Search