Patent ID: 9648400
Date: 2017-05-09
CPC Classifications: G06F,H04Q

Claim:
1. A system comprising a plurality of consumption meters each arranged for measuring consumption data of a supplied utility, and a data collector for collecting the consumption data, the consumption meters and the data collector being arranged in a communication network, wherein each consumption meter comprises a processor for operating the consumption meter based on program data or by use of program data; wherein the data collector is arranged for updating the program data of a group of consumption meters over the network by transmitting update program data as a series of update program segments from a distributor unit to each consumption meter of the group of consumption meters; wherein the data collector establishes a dedicated update to each consumption meter of the group of consumption meters, and wherein segments addressed to the consumption meter in session, are transmitted, and possibly retransmitted, until the consumption meter in session acknowledges receipt of all segments; wherein, during the update session, a consumption meter to which an update program segment is not addressed, upon receipt of the segment, accepts the segment for storage; wherein, during the update session only segments not already stored from a previous session to another consumption meter are transmitted to the consumption meter in session, and wherein each update program segment further comprises a storage identifier, which carries information relating to the storage of the segment by a consumption meter to which an update program segment is not addressed, the storage identifier carrying information a) allowing a first consumption meter to which the update program segment is not addressed to store the update program segment and b) forbidding a second consumption meter to which the update program segment is not addressed from storing the update program segment.