GB2606715A

GB2606715A - Communication technique

Info

Publication number: GB2606715A
Application number: GB2106898.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Walton Joe; Murray Lachlan; Copeland Jamie
Original assignee: Simple Energy Ltd
Current assignee: Simple Energy Ltd
Priority date: 2021-05-14
Filing date: 2021-05-14
Publication date: 2022-11-23
Also published as: GB202106898D0

Abstract

A method of communicating with a smart meter 104, comprising: transmitting, by a user device 101, a user message to an energy supplier system 102; generating, by the energy supplier system, a secure network user message in dependence on the received user message; transmitting, by the energy supplier system, the secure network user message to a data communications company 103; transmitting, by the data communications company, the secure network user message to a smart meter 104 over a secure network; wherein the user message is a command for controlling a user appliance 105. The secure network may be a smart meter network and the smart meter controls the user appliance in dependence on the received user message, wherein the user message is generated by an App on the user device. The smart meter may comprise a switch, such as an auxiliary load control switch ALCS to switch on and off the power supply to the user appliance 105. The household/domestic user appliance may be an electric vehicle EV charger, a washing machine, heater, air conditioner, etc.

Description

Communication Technique

Field

The invention relates to improving the control of user appliances.

Background

It is known for user appliances to be connectable to the Internet Examples of user appliances that may be connected to the Internet include electric vehicle chargers, washing machines, heaters, air conditioners, fridges, heat pumps, batteries and many other devices. A user may operate a user device, such a smart phone, to remotely control a user appliance from anywhere that the user has an Internet connection.

There is a general need to improve the control of user appliances

Summary

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of communicating with a smart meter, the method comprising: transmitting, by a user device, a user message to an energy supplier system; receiving, by the energy supplier system, the user message; generating, by the energy supplier system, a secure network user message in dependence on the received user message; transmitting, by the energy supplier system, the secure network user message to a data communications company; transmitting, by the data communications company, the secure network user message to a smart meter over a secure network; wherein the user message is a command for controlling a user appliance.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a system comprising: a user device; an energy supplier system; a data communications company; and a smart meter; wherein the system is configured to implement method according to the first aspect.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a user device for use in the system according to the second aspect.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided an energy supplier system for use in the system according to the second aspect.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided a data communications company for use in the system according to the second aspect.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, there is provided a smart meter for use in the system according to the second aspect.

According to a seventh aspect of the invention, there is provided an electric vehicle charger comprising the smart meter according to the sixth aspect List of Figures Figure 1 shows a communication system according to an embodiment.

Description of Embodiments

It is known for a user device and a user appliance to communicate. The communication may be over any network that is shared by both the user device and the user appliance, such as the Internet. User appliances are typically localised to a user's home and may therefore always be connected to a standard local area network, within the home, while also being connected via a router to a wide area network such as the Internet. When the user is at home, a user device, that may be the user's mobile telephone, may be connected to the same local area network. User appliances and/or user devices may also communicate via different network connections. For example, they may communicate over the Internet with the user device connected to a mobile telephone network.

A problem with known techniques for supporting the communication between a user device arid a user appliance is that the communications are not secure. In particular, there may be many potential vulnerabilities in standard communications over the Internet. There is therefore a risk that a malicious party may hack into the communications in order to cause damage and/or to steal personal data. The consequences of such a security breach may be very serious. For example, if a malicious party could take control over the operation of a large number of high power appliances, such as electric vehicle chargers, then the actions of the malicious party may destabali se a power supply grid.

Embodiments of the invention improve the security of the communication between a user device and a user appliance. Embodiments achieve this by allowing a user device to control a user appliance over a secure network that has a high security standard The secure network may be a private network.

Some user appliances, such as electric vehicle chargers and heaters, may be configured to be controlled by, and/or communicate with, a smart meter. Smart meters monitor electricity and/or gas consumption. Smart meters operate on a smart meter network that supports communication between the smart meters and a data communications company. An energy supplier system can communicate with a smart meter via the data communications company. The smart meter network is an example of a private secure network with a very high security standard. The data communications company may be operated by, or closely associated with, a government security organisation. The communication protocols for the communications between the data communications company and the smart meter are very secure. The smart meter network is an example of a private wide area network Smart meter communication and use is described by at least: https://assets.publishing.service.gov. uk/govemment/uploads/system/uploads/attachment d ata/file/579774/291116 -Smart meters Demand Side Response leaflet -DR -FINAL.PDF (as viewed on 9 May 2021).

A data communications company for supporting communications over the smart meter network is described by at least: https://www.smartdcc.co.uk/about/ (as viewed on 10 May 2021).

The communications over the smart meter network are highly secure due to the privacy of the network and the protocols that are used. In particular, all communications occur through the data communications company and the data communications company maintains very high security standards.

The only known purposes of communications over the smart meter network are for improving the accuracy of billing for energy usage, and also for assisting energy suppliers in the control of loads on a network.

It is known for an energy supplier system to communicate with a smart meter in order to frequently obtain updated information on energy usage. This allows more accurate billing information for a user (i.e. customer of the energy supplier) to be generated. It is also known for an energy supplier system to use the smart meter network to send instructions to a smart meter to switch on, or switch off a user appliance. This may be required to help balance the load on the energy network However, in known systems, communications for supporting the user control of a user appliance are not over the smart meter network Known user control communications are instead performed over a standard network connection, such as an Internet connection with Wi Fi or another local area network. A user appliance is therefore configured with two independent communication techniques A first communication technique, that is required for the billing and load balancing by the energy supplier system, is performed over the smart meter network. A second communication technique, that is required for user control, is performed over an insecure network connection Embodiments advantageously allow the smart meter network to support at least some aspects of the control of a user appliance by a user device.

Figure 1 schematically depicts a communication system according to an embodiment. The communications system comprises a user device 101, an energy supplier system 102, a data communications company 103, a smart meter 104, and a user appliance 105 The smart meter 104 may comprise a switch, such as an auxiliary load control switch (ALCS). An ALCS allows the smart meter 104 to switch on and off the power supply to the user appliance 105. The switch comprised by the smart meter 104 may be a hard switch or a soft switch. A hard switch may directly control a power supply of a user appliance 105, with the power supply flowing through the smart meter's 104 ALCS. A soft switch may control a power supply of a user appliance 105 by sending an instruction to a power supply controller of the user appliance 105.

The smart meter 104 and user appliance 105 may be provided together as a combined unit 106. However, embodiments also include the smart meter 104 and user appliance 105 being separate units.

The user device 101 may send messages, such as commands and requests for controlling the user appliance 105, to the energy supplier system 102. The messages sent between the user device 101 and the energy supplier system 102 may be sent by standard Internet communication or other techniques. A message sent from the user device 101 may be a command for controlling the operation of the smart meter 104. The smart meter 104 may be arranged to control/communicate with the user appliance 105 in response to receiving the command.

In response to receiving a message from the user device 101, the energy supplier system 102 may generate a corresponding message that is in an appropriate format for communicating over the smart meter network. The corresponding message may be referred to as a smart network message or a smart network user message. When generating the smart network message, the energy supplier system 102 may obtain and include in the smart network message, or provide associated with the smart network message, any further information that may be required for the delivery and/or eventual execution of the smart network message. For example, the message received from the user device 101 may not comprise the identification data of the smart meter 104 and/or user appliance 105 that is the target of the message. The energy supplier system 102 may use their own databases of user information to determine the identification data of the smart meter 104 and/or user appliance 105. The identification data of the smart meter 104 and/or user appliance 105 may then be included in the generated smart network message, or provided as additional data associated with the smart network message. The energy supplier system 102 may then send the generated smart network message to the data communications company 103. The smart network message may be sent together with any other data associated with the smart network message, as may be required for the delivery and/or execution of the smart network message.

Transmitting messages for user control between the energy supplier system 102 and the data communications company 103 is new. However, the way that the data is communicated between the energy supplier system 102 and the data communications company 103 may be according to known techniques in communication between an energy supplier system 102 and a smart meter 104. For example, the energy supplier system 102 and data communications company 103 may communicate over the Internet.

In response to receiving a smart network message from the energy supplier system 102, the data communications company 103 may determine the smart meter 104 that the smart network message should be sent to and proceed to send the smart network message to the smart meter 104 over the smart meter network.

Transmitting messages for user control between the data communications company 103 and the smart meter 104 is new. However, the way that data is communicated between the data communications company 103 and the smart meter 104 may be according to known techniques for communicating between a data communications company 103 and a smart meter 104.

In response to receiving the smart network message from the data communications company 103, the smart meter 104 may perform an action in dependence on the smart network message. For example, the smart network message may be a command from a user to turn off the power to the user appliance 105. The smart meter 104 may then control a switch in the smart meter 104 to switch off the power supply in response to the command.

Accordingly, embodiments allow a user appliance 105 to be controlled by one or more messages that are sent from a user device 101 via a smart meter network.

The user devices 101 of embodiments may include any devices that allow a user to send a command to an energy supplier system 102. A user device 101 may be, for example, any of a smart phone, mobile telephone, tablet, laptop, personal computer, smart watch and other devices. Each user device 101 may download an App from the energy supplier system 102, or other App source. The messages that are transmitted from the user device 101 to the energy supplier system 102 may have been generated within the App.

The messages that may be sent from a user device 101 may be any messages for allowing user control of a user appliance 105. Examples of messages according to embodiments include a command to turn on a user appliance 105, a command to turn off a user appliance 105, a command for proportional power control (e.g. a command for changing a power supply level, a power level or charging rate, by 10%), a schedule for defining when the user appliance 105 should be turned on or off, and a request for performance data, usage data, or other data, about the user device 101. The performance data and/or usage data may include any of fault data, energy usage data, status data of the smart meter 104 and/or user appliance 105, charging status data and security data.

The messages that may be sent from a user device 101 may also be messages for changing the operational mode of the user appliance 105 For example, the user appliance 105 may be put into a maintenance mode, or into a mode in which it sends diagnostic data to the energy supplier system 102.

The messages that may be sent from a user device 101 may also be messages for commissioning and/or decommissioning the smart meter 104, upgrading the smart meter 104, and upgrading a user appliance 105 The energy supplier system 102 may be any computing system that is able to support communications with both the user device 101 and the data communications company 103 The energy supplier system 102 may comprise a computing platform for supporting communications with the user devices 101 of all of the energy supplier's customers.

Although not shown in Figure 1, the energy supplier system 102 may comprise two separate systems. In particular, a first system may perform all of the processes for generating a smart network message, and any associated data, for transmitting to the data communications company 103 and then send these to a second system. The second system may then send the received smart network message, and any associated data, to the data communications company 103. The second system may be referred to as a data communications company adaptor and be a company that specialises in communication with a data communications company 103. The use of a data communications company adaptor relieves an energy supplier of the task of communication with the data communications company 103.

The communications between the data communications company 103 and the energy supplier system 102 may be performed using a secure HTTP protocol The smart meter 104 may be any device that is capable of communicating over the smart meter network. The smart meter may be, for example: ntrYc 1/WWW Can' k'.1-1 c (as viewed on 12 May 2021) The user appliances 105 of embodiments may include any appliances that may communicate with a smart meter 104. A user appliance 105 may be, for example, any of an electric vehicle charger, washing machine, heater, air conditioner, fridge, heat pump, battery, a vehicle to grid charger, a household appliance, an electric water heater, an electric home heating system, an energy generator, an energy storage device or other devices.

The user appliance may be, for example: hifpc,'// xismiA oc,/ 0 a / °ad slrkir 0107/11 I f F B1RD73 00 nil (as viewed on 12 May 2021) Embodiments also include the smart meter network supporting two way communication between a user device 101 and a smart meter 104 and/or user appliance 105 In particular, a smart meter 104 may send a message to the data communications company 103 over the smart meter network. The message may comprise data within the smart meter 104, such as energy usage. Embodiments also include the message alternatively, or additionally, comprising data obtained from the user appliance 105, such as performance data.

The data communications company 103 may transmit the received message from the smart meter 104 to the energy supplier system 102. The energy supplier system 102 may transmit the received message to the user device 101. Oh/

The data communications company 103 and energy supplier system 102 may re-format, add data to, and/or otherwise change the message from the smart meter 104 as appropriate for the communication and/or enhancement of the message.

The communication of data from a smart meter 104 and/or user appliance 105 to the user device 101 provides more information to a user and thereby improves the user's control of the user appliance 105.

Embodiments allow a user device 101 to control a user appliance 105 through the sending and receiving of messages over a smart meter network. Advantageously, the control of the user appliance 105 is more secure than with known techniques. The protocols used within the smart meter network are more secure than those for standard Internet communication. The data communications company 103 is also in control of the user messages sent to user appliances 105. Advantageously, the data communications company 103 may override messages from user devices if it determines that the messages may destabalise an energy network. For example, the data communications company 103 may be configured to monitor all of the messages that are communicated through it and to determine if any of the messages may cause harm, damage, pose a security risk or are otherwise undesirable. Any such messages that are detected may be blocked, or changed, by the data communications company 103 to prevent damage or other undesired effects.

Similarly, the energy supplier system 102 may also override messages from user devices if it determines that the messages may destabalise an energy network. For example, the energy supplier system 102 may be configured to monitor all of the messages that are communicated through it and to determine if any of the messages may cause harm, damage, pose a security risk or are otherwise undesirable. Any such messages that are detected may be blocked, or changed, by the energy supplier system 102 to prevent damage or other undesired effects.

Another advantage is that all of the communication between the user device 101 and the smart meter 104 occurs via the data communications company 103. The data communications company 103 may apply a common standard to the communication with the smart meter 104. This may provide the additional benefit of making it easier for users to switch energy suppliers because the communications between the data communications company 103 and the smart meter 104 may remain substantially unchanged if the user changes to a different energy supplier, and therefore communicates with a different energy supplier system 102.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the user appliance 105 is a charger for an electric vehicle. The charger comprises a smart meter 104 with a switch, that may be a soft switch, for controlling the power supply of the charger Embodiments allow a user device 101 to control the operation of the charger by sending requests, commands and other messages over the smart meter network. The charger may be configured so that it is not controllable over a standard Internet connection. Advantageously, the communication with the charger is more secure than known techniques.

Embodiments include a number of modifications and variations to the above-described techniques.

For example, the smart meter 104 is not restricted to controlling a single user appliance 105. The smart meter 104 may be in communication with a plurality of user appliances 105. The user device 101 may send messages to the smart meter 104 for controlling one or more of the plurality of user appliances 105.

Embodiments have been described with reference to a data communications company 103. Embodiments more generally include the data communications company 103 being the computing system of any organisation that is responsible for communication, over a smart meter network, with a smart meter 104. More generally still, embodiments include the data communications company 103 being the computing system of any organisation that is responsible for communication over a secure network with a secure device.

Embodiments have been described with reference to an energy supplier system 102. Embodiments more generally include the energy supplier system 102 being the computing system of any organisation that receives messages from a user device 101 and arranges for the content of the messages to be communicated to a smart meter 104 over a smart meter network. More generally still, embodiments include the energy supplier system 102 being the computing system of any organisation that receives messages from a user device 101 and arranges for the content of the messages to be communicated to a secure device over a secure network.

Embodiments have been described with reference to a smart meter network. Embodiments more generally include the smart meter network being any type of secure network. The secure network may be a private wide area network.

Embodiments have been described with reference to a smart meters 104 that communicate over a smart meter network Embodiments more generally include the use of any type of secure device that is configured to communicate over a secure network.

Embodiments have been described with reference to user appliances 105 that communicate with smart meters. Embodiments more generally include the use of any type of user appliance 105 that is configured to communicate with a secure device The flow charts and descriptions thereof herein should not be understood to prescribe a fixed order of performing the method steps described therein. Rather, the method steps may be performed in any order that is practicable. Although the present invention has been described in connection with specific exemplary embodiments, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations apparent to those skilled in the art can be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Methods and processes described herein can be embodied as code (e.g., software code) and/or data Such code and data can be stored on one or more computer-readable media, which may include any device or medium that can store code and/or data for use by a computer system. When a computer system reads and executes the code and/or data stored on a computer-readable medium, the computer system performs the methods and processes embodied as data structures and code stored within the computer-readable storage medium. In certain embodiments, one or more of the steps of the methods and processes described herein can be performed by a processor (e.g., a processor of a computer system or data storage system). It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that computer-readable media include removable and non-removable structures/devices that can be used for storage of information, such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, and other data used by a computing system/environment. A computer-readable medium includes, but is not limited to, volatile memory such as random access memories (RAM, DRAM, SRAM); and non-volatile memory such as flash memory, various read-only-memories (ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM), magnetic and ferromagnetic/ferroelectric memories (MRAM, FeRAM), phase-change memory and magnetic and optical storage devices (hard drives, magnetic tape, CDs, DVDs), network devices; or other media now known or later developed that is capable of storing computer-readable information/data Computer-readable media should not be construed or interpreted to include any propagating signals.

Claims

Claims I. A method of communicating with a smart meter, the method comprising: transmitting, by a user device, a user message to an energy supplier system; receiving, by the energy supplier system, the user message; generating, by the energy supplier system, a secure network user message in dependence on the received user message; transmitting, by the energy supplier system, the secure network user message to a data communications company; transmitting, by the data communications company,the secure network user message to a smart meter over a secure network, wherein the user message is a command for controlling a user appliance.
2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the smart meter controlling the user appliance in dependence on the received user message.
3. The method according to any preceding claim, wherein: the user message is a command for controlling the state of a power supply switch for the user appliance in the smart meter; the user message is a command that causes the smart meter to send, to a power supply controller of the user appliance, an instruction to change the state of the power supply of the user appliance; the user message is a command for proportional control of the power supply, power level, and/or charging of the user appliance; the user message is a message for changing the operating mode of the user appliance; the user message is a message for commissioning or decommissioning the smart meter, or the user message is a message for upgrading the smart meter and/or user appliance 4 The method according to any preceding claim, wherein the user message is a request for usage, state and/or performance data of the smart meter and/or the user appliance.The method according to claim 4, wherein the usage, state and/or performance data comprises one or more of fault data, energy usage data, status data of the smart meter 104 and/or user appliance 105, charging status data and operational data 6 The method according to any preceding claim, further comprising the smart meter sending a message to the user device via the data communications company and energy supplier system.7 The method according to any preceding claim, further comprising the energy supplier system and/or the data communications company blocking one or more secure network user messages such that they are not transmitted to the smart meter, and/or changing one or more secure network user messages before they are transmitted to the smart meter.8 The method according to claim 7, wherein the energy supplier system and/or the data communications company blocks and/or changes one or more secure network user messages in dependence on a determination that the one or more secure network user messages may cause damage, harm and/or pose a security risk.9 The method according to claim 7 or 8, further comprising the energy supplier system and/or the data communications company monitoring secure network user messages; and determining if any of the secure network user messages may cause damage, harm and/or pose a security risk in dependence on the monitoring.10. The method according to any preceding claim, wherein the communication between the data communications company and the energy supplier system is performed using a secure HTTP protocol.I I. The method according to any preceding claim, wherein the secure network is a smart meter network 12. The method according to any preceding claim, wherein the user message is generated by an App on the user device.13 The method according to any preceding claim, wherein the user device is a smart phone, a mobile telephone, a tablet, a laptop, a personal computer or a smart watch.14 The method according to any preceding claim, wherein the smart meter communicates with a user appliance that is an electric vehicle charger, a washing machine, a heater, an air conditioner, a fridge, a heat pump, a battery, a vehicle to grid charger, a household appliance, an electric water heater, an electric home heating system, an energy generator, or an energy storage device.15. The method according to any preceding claim, wherein the smart meter is comprised by an electric vehicle charger; and the smart meter starts and/or stops the charging of an electric vehicle by the electric vehicle charger in dependence on one or more received secure network user messages.16. A system comprising: a user device; an energy supplier system; a data communications company; and a smart meter; wherein the system is configured to implement method according to any preceding claim 17. A user device for use in the system according to claim 16.18. An energy supplier system for use in the system according to claim 16.19. A data communications company for use in the system according to claim 16.20. A smart meter for use in the system according to claim 16.21. An electric vehicle charger comprising the smart meter according to claim 20.