WO2024243667A1 - System and method for pairing an electric meter with a remote display module - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for pairing an electric meter (105-0..n) with a remote display module (110-0..n). The method comprises sending, to the remote display module, a pairing packet signed using a public supply service private key of a public supply service asymmetric key pair, the pairing packet comprising an electric meter public key of an electric meter asymmetric key pair. The method comprises authentication, by the remote display module, of the pairing packet using a public supply service public key of the public supply service asymmetric key pair, the public supply service public key being stored in the remote display module. The method comprises storing the electric meter public key in the remote display module. The invention also relates to a system for pairing an electric meter with a remote display module.

Description

Descriptive Report of the Invention Patent for: "SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PAIRING AN ELECTRIC METER WITH A REMOTE DISPLAY MODULE"

Field of Invention

[ 001 ] The present disclosure is in the field of electric meters operable with remote display modules and relates particularly to a system for pairing an electric meter with a display module and an associated method of pairing an electric meter with a display module.

Fundamentals of the Invention

[ 002 ] Centralized electricity meters may be implemented to combat energy theft in high-risk areas. In a centralized electricity meter, one or more electricity meters for measuring electrical energy consumption in a facility may be arranged within a secure cabinet, which may be located outside the facility.

[ 003 ] In one example , such a secure enclosure may be mounted on a utility pole and may be generally out of convenient reach of vandals or thieves , which may minimize the likelihood of tampering and/or theft . In other examples , a secure enclosure may be located at ground level .

[ 004 ] The electricity meters inside the cabinet may be in wireless communication with the corresponding remote display modules located in the premises to which the electricity is supplied. As such, the electricity consumption information may be relayed to the remote display modules of the corresponding electricity meters.

[005] In this way, an electricity meter itself does not need to be placed on the premises, minimizing the likelihood of tampering with the electricity meter.

[006] Even with these centralized electricity metering systems, electricity meters can be prone to vandalism and fraudulent actions, e.g. electricity theft. To better combat this, the enclosure housing the electricity meters can be made extremely secure and robust.

[007] Additionally, to further minimize errors and/or fraud, remote display modules associated with electric meters may be required to only accept radio packets from an authorized meter. Such authorization may require a secure means to pair an electric meter with an associated remote display module.

[008] It is important that an end user, for example in an installation with a remote display module, is able to verify the power consumption on the remote display module and have confidence that the power consumption data displayed are accurate, have not been tampered with, and are associated with a correct electric meter.

[009] It is also desirable that such a system of remote display modules and electric meters be configurable and maintainable. For example, it may be desirable to re-pair an electric meter with a remote display module, such as in the case of device replacement, maintenance, or reconfiguration. However, existing meters and/or remote display modules, or the communication between such resources, may be subject to fraudulent activity and/or tampering during any reconfiguration.

[0010] Therefore, it is desirable to provide a low-cost, low-complexity, highly reliable and secure means for pairing remote display modules with electrical meters. It is also desirable that such means be, at least to some extent, suitable for replacement, maintenance or reconfiguration without compromising safety and reliability.

[0011] Therefore, it is an objective of at least one embodiment of at least one aspect of the present disclosure to eliminate or at least mitigate at least one of the above identified deficiencies of the prior art.

Summary of the invention

[0012] The present description is in the field of electrical meters operable with remote display modules and if particularly relates to a system for pairing an electric meter with a display module and an associated method of pairing an electric meter with a display module.

[0013] According to a first aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a method of pairing an electric meter with a remote display module. The method comprises communicating, to the remote display module, a pairing packet signed using a utility private key of a utility asymmetric key pair, wherein the pairing packet comprises an electric meter public key of a utility asymmetric key pair. The method comprises authenticating, by the remote display module, the pairing packet using a utility public key of the utility asymmetric key pair, wherein the utility public key is stored in the remote display module. The method comprises storing the electric meter public key in the remote display module.

[ 0014 ] Advantageously, such a method provides a secure way to pair an electric meter with a remote display module, wherein the remote display module is configurable to accept radio packets only from one authorized electric meter.

[ 0015 ] That is, the electric meter public key is transported securely by having the electric meter public key in a package signed using the utility's private key. Furthermore, the method described is suitable for use if an association between an electric meter and a remote display module needs to be changed, e.g., re-paired. Advantageously, the method described provides a means for distributing the electric meter public key to the remote display modules in a secure manner and without requiring the use of a digital certificate.

[ 0016 ] The electric meter may be a meter for measuring a current and or voltage of at least one phase of an electric power supply, such as an electric power supply for a domestic, residential or commercial installation. The electric meter may be a meter for measuring a consumption of electric energy.

[0017] In one example, the electric meter may be disposed in a housing, such as a secure cabinet, which may be physically distant from an electric power-consuming load. In such examples, the housing may comprise a plurality of electric meters, wherein each electric meter may be paired with a single remote display module. [ 0018 ] The term "public supply service" will be understood as corresponding, in some examples, to an entity such as a public supply service provider, for example, a provider of electrical energy, from an electrical distribution means. An example of such an electrical distribution means may be known in the art as "the grid" or "electrical network".

[ 0019 ] The asymmetric key can be generated using known asymmetric key generation techniques, such as using cryptographic hash functions, elliptic curve cryptography, or the like.

[0020] Signing the pairing packet may comprise the use of a Digital Signature Algorithm. In a non-limiting example, signing the pairing packet may comprise the use of an Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA), such as ECDSA with Curve P-256 applied to the hash.

[0021] The utility public key may be stored in the electric meter. In example embodiments, the utility public key may be stored in the electric meter prior to installation or during manufacture of the electric meter.

[ 0022 ] The public key of the public service provisioning can be stored in the remote display module. In In example embodiments, the utility service public key may be stored in the remote display module prior to installation or during manufacturing of the remote display module.

[ 0023 ] As such , the remote display module and the electric meter can be configured to verify the pairing packet using the utility public key , as described in more detail below .

[0024] In a non-limiting example, a party such as the utility service provider may generate a first pair of asymmetric keys, hereinafter referred to as the utility service asymmetric keys comprising the utility service private key and the corresponding utility service public key. The utility service provider may use a software product running on a device, such as a server or the like, to generate the utility service asymmetric keys. An example of such a software product may be known in the art as an "AMI Head End System". The described software product running on the device is generally referred to hereinafter as a "remote device".

[ 0025 ] Continuing with this example, the provider The utility provider may provide the utility public key to a manufacturer/installer/programmer of the electric meter and remote display module. The utility provider may keep the utility private key secret. As such, the utility provider may represent a trusted root of the system described in this document.

[ 0026 ] In one example , the utility public key may be provided to the manufacturer / installer / developer as a data packet signed using the utility private key .

[ 0027 ] The manufacturer/installer/programmer of the electric meter and remote display module may store the utility public key in each of the electric meters and remote display module, such as by programming the utility public key into a non-volatile memory of each device.

[0028] The electric meter may be configurable to generate a pair of asymmetric keys, hereinafter referred to as the electric meter asymmetric keys comprising the electric meter private key and the corresponding electric meter public key.

[ 0029 ] The method may comprise a step of provision, such as by the manufacturer/installer/programmer of the electric meter and remote display module and to the utility service provider, data, a list or a database comprising data that identifies the electric meter and correlates the electric meter with the meter's public key. In one example, the data corresponding to each electric meter in said data, list or database may be signed using the respective electric meter's private key.

[ 0030 ] Storing the electric meter public key in the remote display module may comprise overwriting and/or replacing an existing electric meter public key in a memory of the remote display module.

[ 0031 ] That is, in the field, the described secure pairing process may be used to update an electric meter public key stored in the remote display module for purposes of changing an association between an electric meter and a remote display module.

[0032] The pairing packet may further comprise one or more identifiers, such as unique identifiers, for identifying the remote display module. As a non-limiting example, the pairing packet may comprise a LAN ID of the remote display module. As a further non-limiting example, the pairing packet may additionally or alternatively comprise a serial number of the electric meter. The pairing packet may further comprise a hash of one or more identifiers and the electric meter public key. In an example embodiment, the pairing packet may further comprise a hash of the LAN ID, the serial number and the electric meter public key. The pairing packet may further comprise a signature of the hash, generated using the utility's private key.

[ 0033 ] The method may comprise a step, e.g., a prior step, of transmitting, by a pairing tool and to a remote device, a request for a pairing packet, wherein the request comprises data identifying the electric meter and the remote display module.

[0034] In one example, the pairing tool may be a tool used by an installation/maintenance technician or qualified operator or the like during a process of pairing or re-pairing the remote display module with the electric meter. The pairing tool may be a software product, e.g., installed on a computer or smart device used by a field technician or qualified operator or the like during a process of installing or maintaining a remote display module and/or meter. electrical. An example of such a pairing tool may be generally referred to as a "field tool", an example of which may be known in the art as a "TechStudio".

[ 0035 ] The method may comprise a step of receiving, by the pairing tool and from the remote device in response to the request, the pairing packet comprising the electric meter public key.

[0036] Although the method described herein is described in terms of pairing (or re-pairing) a single remote display module with a single electric meter, it will be understood that a plurality of remote display modules may be paired with an electric meter. That is, in some examples, the request may comprise a list of remote display modules to be paired with electric meters.

[ 0037 ] The method may comprise communicating, to the electric meter and the pairing tool, the pairing packet.

[ 0038 ] The pairing packet can be signed using the public provisioning service private key.

[ 0039 ] The method may comprise authenticating, by the electric meter, the pairing packet using the utility public key stored in the electric meter. [0040] The method may comprise a step, e.g., a subsequent step, of signing the authenticated pairing packet with an electric meter signature generated using an electric meter private key of the electric meter asymmetric key pair. The electric meter may optionally be configured to include timestamp and/or sequence number in the pairing packet.

[ 0041 ] Advantageously , the inclusion of timestamps and / or sequence numbers in the pairing packet can mitigate the risk of a replay attack , for example , an attack that involves capturing information transmitted between the electric meter and the remote display module .

[ 0042 ] The method may comprise a step of communicating the pairing packet signed with the electric meter private key to the remote display module.

[ 0043 ] Authenticating the pairing packet by the remote display module may further comprise using the electric meter public key to verify the signature of the electric meter.

[0044] The remote device, for example, the above-described software product known in the art as the "AMI Head End System", may comprise, or may be configured to access, a database that correlates data identifying the electric meter with the electric meter's public key. [0045] According to a second aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a method of using an electric meter and a remote display module paired according to the first aspect. The method may comprise communicating to the remote display module, by the electric meter, a data packet signed using a meter private key stored in the electric meter. The method may comprise authenticating, using the electric meter public key and by the remote display module, the data packet. The method may comprise displaying, by the remote display module, information based on data from the data packet.

[0046] According to a third aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a system for pairing an electric meter with a remote display module. The system comprises the remote display module and the electric meter. The remote display module is configured to receive, from the electric meter, a pairing packet signed using a utility private key of a utility asymmetric key pair, wherein the module pairing packet comprises an electric meter public key of a utility asymmetric key pair. The remote display module is configured to authenticate the pairing packet using a utility public key of the utility asymmetric key pair public , where the public key of the utility service is stored in the remote display module . The remote display module is configured to store the public key of the electric meter . The public key of the utility service can be stored in the electric meter .

[0047] The system may comprise a pairing tool. The pairing tool may be configured to transmit to a remote device a request for a pairing packet, wherein the request comprises data identifying the electric meter and the remote display module.

[ 0048 ] The pairing tool may be configured to receive, from the remote device in response to the request, the pairing packet comprising the electric meter public key.

[ 0049 ] The pairing tool can be configured to communicate the pairing packet to the electric meter.

[ 0050 ] The electric meter may be configured to authenticate the pairing packet using the utility's public key stored in the electric meter.

[ 0051 ] The system can understand the remote device.

[ 0052 ] The remote device may understand, or may be configured to access a database that correlates data identifying the electric meter with the electric meter public key.

[0053] The above summary is intended to be merely exemplary and not limiting. The description includes one or more corresponding aspects, embodiments or features alone or in various combinations whether or not specifically stated (including claimed) in such combination or in isolation. It is to be understood that the features defined above in accordance with any aspect of the present description or below in relation to any specific embodiment of the description may be used, alone or in combination with any other feature defined, in any other aspect or embodiment or to form a further aspect or embodiment of the description.

Brief description of the drawings

[0054] These and other aspects of the present disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 represents a block diagram of an exemplary system for pairing an electric meter with a remote display module, in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure; Figure 2 represents a sequence diagram of a method of preparing a remote device for providing pairing packages, according to an embodiment of the description; Figure 3 represents a sequence diagram of a method of pairing an electric meter with a remote display module, according to an embodiment of the description; and Figure 4 represents a method of pairing an electric meter with a remote display module, according to an embodiment of the description.

Detailed description of the drawings

[0055] Figure 1 depicts a block diagram of an exemplary system 100 for pairing an electric meter with a remote display module, in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure.

[0056] The example system 100 comprises a metering apparatus 120 comprising a plurality of electric meters 105-0..n. In use, each electric meter 105-0..n is paired with a corresponding remote display module 110-0..n. For example, the first electric meter 105-0 is paired with a first remote display module 110-0, using a pairing method described in more detail below. In use, each electric meter 105-0..n may be configured to measure electricity consumption by a load at an associated facility. That is, each electric meter 105-0..n may be configured to measure a current and/or voltage of at least one phase of an electrical power supply, such as an electrical power supply for a domestic, residential or commercial installation. Each electric meter 105-0.. n can be used to measure electrical energy consumption.

[0057] In a non-limiting example, the measuring apparatus 120 comprises a box 115. The plurality of electric meters 105-0..n are provided within the box 115. The box 115 may be provided as a robust and secure enclosure, such as a lockable enclosure, e.g., a meter cabinet. In one example use case, the box 115 may be mounted on a pole, such as a utility pole that may be used to support overhead power lines. In other examples, the box 115 may be mounted at ground level, such as on a pedestal.

[0058] Although the described system and method of pairing are described with reference to the exemplary embodiment of Figure 1, it will be appreciated that the description is not limited to an arrangement of electrical meters within such a box 115.

[0059] In still other examples, the electric meters 105-0..n may be arranged in groups, such as in groups of twelve or more electric meters, each group mounted on a corresponding chassis (not shown). [0060] In the simplified exemplary embodiment of Figure 1, a motherboard 125, denoted "CPU", is communicatively coupled to each electric meter 105-0..n. The motherboard 125 couples the electric meters 105-0..n to a communications module 130, denoted NIC. In an exemplary embodiment, the communications module 130 comprises a Network Interface Card.

[0061] Also depicted is an antenna 135. The antenna is for providing RE communications between the communications module 130 and each remote display module 110-0..n. Although only a single antenna 135 is depicted, it will be appreciated that in other embodiments of the disclosure, more than one antenna 135 may be implemented.

[0062] Each remote display module 110-0..n also comprises a respective antenna for receiving communications from antenna 135 of measuring apparatus 120.

[0063] In some embodiments, each remote display module 110-0..n may be configured only as a receiver and may not be configured for data transmission.

[0064] As described above, in use, each electric meter 105-0..n is paired with a corresponding remote display module 110-0..n. That is, each remote display module 110-0..n may be configured to only accept radio packets from an authorized paired electric meter 105-0..n. In use, each electric meter 105-0..n signs data packets using its own electric meter private key, so that a paired remote display module 110-0..n can verify the signature of that data using a corresponding electric meter public key. A method of pairing each electric meter 105-0..n with a corresponding remote display module 110-0..n is described in more detail below with reference to Figures 2 through 4.

[0065] Also depicted in Figure 1 is a pairing tool 150, denoted "Field Tool". The pairing tool 150 may be a tool used by an installation/maintenance technician or qualified operator or the like during a process of pairing or re-pairing each remote display module 110-0..n with each electric meter 105-0..n. The pairing tool may be (or may comprise) a software product, e.g., a program installed on a computer or smart device used by a field engineer during a process of installing or maintaining a remote display module 110-0..n and/or electric meter 105-0..n.

[0066] The pairing tool 150 may be configured to be communicatively coupled to each remote display module 110-0..n and each electric meter 105-0..n, for example, by RF communications and through the communications module 130 and the motherboard 125.

[0067] Also depicted is a remote device 155, denoted “AMI Head End System.” Remote device 155 may, for example, be a server or cloud-based device. As described in more detail below, remote device 155 may be communicatively coupled to pairing tool 150 and may be configured to provide pairing packets to pairing tool 150.

[0068] In one example, the pairing tool 150 may communicate with the remote device 155 via wireless communications, the internet, or the like.

[0069] A method of pairing each electric meter 105-0..n with each remote display module 110-0..n is now described with reference to Figures 2 through 4.

[0070] Figure 2 depicts a sequence diagram of a method of preparing the remote device 155 to provide pairing packets, in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure.

[0071] In the exemplary embodiment of Figure 2, a utility service provider is denoted as "Utility Service." A manufacturer/installer/programmer of electric meters 105-0..n and remote display modules 110-0..n is denoted as "Manufacturer." [0072] In an optional first step, denoted "Install an HE instance", the manufacturer provides the Utility with a configurable software program for generating pairing packets. In Figure 2, the software program is denoted as "HE" and may refer to the "AMI Head End System" described above.

[ 0073 ] The Utility may install the software program on the remote device 155 , which may , for example , be a server or cloud - based device .

[ 0074 ] Once the software program is installed on the remote device 155 , the software program may be configured to generate a pair of asymmetric utility keys comprising a utility public key and a utility private key .

[ 0075 ] In a next step, the public provisioning service provides the public provisioning service public key to the manufacturer.

[ 0076 ] In one example , the public service provider may provide the public service provider public key to the manufacturer as a data packet . In some examples , the data packet may optionally be signed using the public service provider private key . As a non - limiting example , such a data packet may have the following format :

[0077] A "Network Id" field may also be included, where the "Network Id" field may be associated with a particular utility service provider.

[0078] It will be appreciated that the above data packet format is for exemplary purposes only, and other formats may fall within the scope of the description. Furthermore, in embodiments, the utility public key may be smaller or larger than 64 bytes.

[0079] The utility service public key may be stored in each remote display module 110-0..n and each electric meter 105-0..n, such as by the manufacturer during a manufacturing/installation/programming process of each remote display module 110-0..n and each electric meter 105-0..n. That is, as depicted in Figure 2, the utility service public key is injected into (e.g., programmed into an internal memory of) each remote display module

110-0.. ne each electric meter 105-0.. n. [0080] Although the sequence diagram of Figure 2 depicts the manufacture of each remote display module 110-0..n and each electric meter 105-0..n after the manufacturer's receipt of the data packet comprising the utility public key, it will be appreciated that in other embodiments the manufacture of each remote display module 110-0..n and each electric meter 105-0..n may precede the manufacturer's receipt of the data packet comprising the utility public key.

[0081] The manufacturer may then configure each electric meter 105-0..n to generate a pair of asymmetric electric meter keys, each pair comprising a respective electric meter private key and an electric meter public key.

[0082] For example, each electric meter 105-0..n may comprise processing circuitry configured to execute instructions to generate said electric meter asymmetric key pair.

[0083] Each electric meter 105-0..n may be associated with data that identifies the electric meter. Such data that identifies the electric meter may be a serial number associated with the electric meter during a manufacturing process. In some examples, such data that identifies the electric meter may be stored within a internal memory of electric meter 105-0.. n.

[0084] The manufacturer may then prepare a file comprising each electric meter public key and associated data identifying each respective electric meter.

[0085] As a non-limiting example, such a file may comprise data for each electric meter 105-0..n having the following format:

[0086] In the above example, "MeterNumber" may be a serial number, identifier, electric meter module number, or the like that may be unique to each electric meter. For each electric meter 105-0..n, the respective "MeterNumber" and "MeterPublicKey" fields may be signed using the electric meter private key.

[0087] The "Network Id" field may also be included, wherein, as described above, the "Network Id" field may be associated with a particular service provider. public supply.

[0088] The file comprising each electric meter public key and associated data identifying each respective electric meter may be transmitted by the manufacturer to the remote device 155. As such, the "AMI Head End System" software program executed by the remote device 155 may be configured to transit pairing packets comprising the meter public key(s) and signed using the utility's private key, as described in more detail below with reference to Figure 3.

[0089] Figure 3 depicts a sequence diagram of a method of pairing an electric meter, such as electric meter 105-0..n, with a remote display module, such as remote display module 110-0..n, in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure.

[0090] The depicted method may comprise a prior step of transmitting, by a pairing tool 150 and to a remote device 155, a request for a pairing packet, wherein the request comprises data identifying the electric meter 105-0..n and the remote display module 110-0..n.

[0091] The pairing tool 150 may receive, from the remote device 155, in response to the request, a pairing packet comprising the public key of electric meter.

[0092] A non-limiting example of a pairing packet format is as follows:

[0093] As described above, the use of the LAN ID and serial number is for exemplary purposes only. It will be appreciated that the pairing packet may comprise one or more identifiers, such as unique identifiers, to identify the remote display module and that a LAN ID and serial number are provided for exemplary purposes only.

[0094] That is, the remote device 155 provides, for the pairing tool 150, the pairing package signed using a utility private key of the utility asymmetric key pair, wherein the pairing package comprises the electric meter public key.

[0095] The pairing tool 150 may transmit the pairing packet (or a packet based on or comprising the pairing packet) to the electric meter 105-0 to be paired with the remote display device, e.g., remote display device 110-0. In one example, the pairing tool 150 may transmit the pairing packet to the communication module 130 (denoted NIC in Figure 3) in a step 305. The communication module 130 may transfer the pairing packet (or data from or based on the pairing packet) to the motherboard 125 (denoted CPU in Figure 3) in a step 310. The motherboard 125 may transfer the pairing packet (or data from or based on the pairing packet) to the electric meter 105-0 in a step 315.

[0096] The electric meter 105-0 may verify the signature in the pairing packet using the utility public key. That is, the electric meter 105-0 may authenticate the pairing packet using the utility public key. stored in electric meter 105-0.

[0097] The electric meter 105-0 may be configured to sign the authenticated pairing packet with an electric meter signature generated using the electric meter private key. In some embodiments, the electric meter may optionally include timestamp and/or sequence number in the pairing packet.

[0098] The pairing packet (or a packet based on or comprising the pairing packet) signed with the electric meter private key may then be communicated to the remote display module 110-0. In one example, the electric meter 105-0 may transmit the pairing packet to the motherboard 125 (denoted CPU in Figure 3) in a step 320. The motherboard 125 may transfer the pairing packet (or data from or based on the pairing packet) to the communication module 130 (denoted NIC in Figure 3) in a step 325. The communication module 130 may then transmit the pairing packet (or data from or based on the pairing packet) to the remote display module 110-0 in a step 330.

[0099] The remote display module 110-0 may be configured to authenticate the pairing packet using the public provisioning service public key wherein, as described above, the public provisioning service public key is stored in the display module remote display module 110-0 and the electric meter. In embodiments, the authentication of the pairing packet by the remote display module 110-0 may further comprise using the electric meter public key to verify the signature of the electric meter.

[00100] That is, in some examples, the remote display module 110-0 may be configured to verify both hashes and both signatures. That is, the remote display module 110-0 may be configured to verify the signature of the pairing packet using the utility public key and also the electric meter signature (with optional timestamp or sequence number included) using the electric meter public key received in the pairing packet.

[00101] The remote display module 110-0 may be configured to store the electric meter public key in the remote display module 110-0, such as in a non-volatile memory. In some examples, such as during a re-pairing process, storing the electric meter public key in the remote display module 110-0 comprises overwriting an existing electric meter public key in a memory of the remote display module 110-0.

[00102] Although the invention has been exemplified by describing an embodiment in which the pairing between a or more electric meters 105-0..n and remote display modules 110-0..n is done in the field, it will be appreciated that in other embodiments falling within the scope of the disclosure, such pairing may be done during a manufacturing process. For example, a direct connection to each remote display module 110-0..n via a serial port or the like may allow a pairing packet or data that may be stored in a pairing packet to be loaded directly into each remote display module 110-0..n.

[00103] An example use of an electric meter and a remote display module paired according to any of the methods described above, according to claim 1, may comprise: communicating to the remote display module 110-0..n, by the paired electric meter 105-0..n, a data packet signed using a meter private key stored in the electric meter 105-0..n; authenticating, using the electric meter public key and by the remote display module 110-0..n, the data packet; and displaying, by the remote display module 110-0..n, information based on data from the data packet.

[00104] Figure 4 depicts a method of pairing an electric meter 105-0..n with a remote display module 110-0..n, according to one embodiment of the disclosure. In a first step 405, the display module The remote display module 110 receives a pairing packet signed using a utility private key from a utility asymmetric key pair, wherein the pairing packet comprises an electric meter public key from a utility asymmetric key pair. In a second step 410, the remote display module authenticates/verifies the pairing packet using a utility public key from the utility asymmetric key pair, wherein the utility public key is stored in the remote display module and the electric meter. In a third step 415, the electric meter public key is stored in the remote display module 110-0. . n.

[00105] Although the description has been described in terms of particular embodiments as set forth above, it should be understood that these embodiments are illustrative only and that the claims are not limited to these embodiments. Those skilled in the art will be able to make modifications and alternatives in view of the description, which are contemplated as being within the scope of the appended claims. Each feature described or illustrated in this specification may be incorporated into any embodiment, alone or in any appropriate combination with any other feature described or illustrated. illustrated in this document.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[00106] 100 system

105-0.. n electric meters

110-0.. n remote display modules

115 box

120 measuring device

125 motherboard

130 communications module

135 antenna

150 pairing tool

155 remote device

305 stage

310 stage

315 stage

320 stage

325 stage

330 stage

405 first stage

410 second stage

415 third stage

Claims

1. A method of pairing an electric meter (105-0..n) with a remote display module (110-0..n), the method comprising: communicating to the remote display module a signed pairing packet using a utility private key of a utility asymmetric key pair, wherein the pairing packet comprises an electric meter public key of a utility asymmetric key pair; authenticating by the remote display module the pairing packet using a utility public key of the utility asymmetric key pair, wherein the utility public key is stored in the remote display module; and storing the electric meter public key in the remote display module. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein: the public utility key is stored in the electric meter (105-0..n) prior to installation or during manufacture of the electric meter; and the public utility key is stored in the remote display module (110-0..n) prior to installation. installation or during manufacturing of the remote display module. 3. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that storing the electric meter public key in the remote display module (110-0..n) comprises overwriting an existing electric meter public key in a memory of the remote display module. 4. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pairing package additionally comprises: one or more unique identifiers of the remote display module (110-0..n); a hash of one or more unique identifiers and the electric meter public key; and a signature of the hash, generated using the public supply service private key. 5. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises the preceding steps of: transmitting, by a pairing tool (150) and to a remote device (155), a request for a pairing packet, wherein the request comprises data identifying the electric meter (105-0..n) and the remote display module (110-0..n); and receive, by the pairing tool and from the remote device in response to the request, the pairing packet comprising the electric meter public key. 6. Method, according to claim 5, characterized by the fact that it comprises: communicating, to the electric meter (105-0..n) and the pairing tool (150), the pairing packet; and authenticating, by the electric meter, the pairing packet using the public key of the public supply service stored in the electric meter. 7. The method of claim 6, comprising a subsequent step of: signing the authenticated pairing packet with an electric meter signature generated using an electric meter private key of the electric meter asymmetric key pair, wherein the electric meter (105-0..n) is optionally configured to include a timestamp in the pairing packet; and communicating the pairing packet signed with the electric meter private key to the remote display module (110-0..n). 8. The method of claim 7, characterized by the fact that the authentication of the pairing packet by the remote display module (110-0..n) further comprises the use of the electric meter public key to verify the electric meter signature. 9. Method according to any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the remote device (155) comprises, or is configured to access, a database that correlates data identifying the electric meter (105-0..n) with the electric meter public key. 10. A method of using an electric meter and a remote display module paired according to the method as defined in claim 1, characterized in that it comprises: communicating (405) to the remote display module (110—0..n), by the electric meter (105—0..n), a data packet signed using a meter private key stored in the electric meter; authenticating (410), using the electric meter public key and by the remote display module, the data packet; and displaying (415), by the remote display module, information based on data from the data packet. 11. System (100) for pairing an electric meter (105-0.. n) with a remote display module (110-0.. n), the a system comprising: the remote display module; and the electric meter, wherein the remote display module is configured to: receive, from the electric meter, a pairing packet signed using a utility private key of a utility asymmetric key pair, wherein the pairing packet comprises an electric meter public key of a utility asymmetric key pair; and authenticate the pairing packet using a utility public key of the utility asymmetric key pair, wherein the utility public key is stored in the remote display module; and store the electric meter public key. 12. The system (100) of claim 11, comprising a pairing tool (150), wherein the pairing tool is configured to: transmit to a remote device (155) a request for a pairing packet, wherein the request comprises data identifying the electric meter (105-0. .n) and the remote display module (110-0. .n); and receive, from the remote device, in response to the request, the pairing packet comprising the electric meter public key. 13. The system (100) of claim 12, wherein: the pairing tool (150) is configured to communicate the pairing packet to the electric meter (105-0. .n); and the electric meter is configured to authenticate the pairing packet using the utility service public key stored in the electric meter. 14. System (100) according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that it comprises the remote device (155). 15. System (100), according to claim 14, characterized by the fact that the remote device (155) comprises, or is configured to access, a database that correlates the data that identifies the electric meter with the electric meter public key.