Method, in particular carried out by an apparatus , comprising: - Collecting control information indicative of at least one external meter value, an initialisation vector and activation code information , wherein the activation code information comprises encrypted information; - Checking the external meter value , comparing the external meter value with a locally stored meter value; - in case the locally stored meter value is smaller than the external meter value: - Decrypting the activation code information based at least in part on the initialisation vector ; - Determining verification information based at least in part on identification information of the device, the external meter value, and service recognition information indicative of an action requested and to be performed by the device in accordance with the collected control information, wherein the service recognition information is determined taking into account the port through which the control information was acquired; and - Comparing the determined verification information with the activation code information ; and - Saving the external meter value as a new locally stored meter value so that this saved meter value is used to check a next detected meter value. - Collecting control information indicative of at least one external meter value, an initialisation vector and activation code information , wherein the activation code information comprises encrypted information; - Checking the external meter value , comparing the external meter value with a locally stored meter value; - in case the locally stored meter value is smaller than the external meter value: - Decrypting the activation code information based at least in part on the initialisation vector ; - Determining verification information based at least in part on identification information of the device, the external meter value, and service recognition information indicative of an action requested and to be performed by the device in accordance with the collected control information, wherein the service recognition information is determined taking into account the port through which the control information was acquired; and - Comparing the determined verification information with the activation code information ; and - Saving the external meter value as a new locally stored meter value so that this saved meter value is used to check a next detected meter value. - Decrypting the activation code information based at least in part on the initialisation vector ; - Determining verification information based at least in part on identification information of the device, the external meter value, and service recognition information indicative of an action requested and to be performed by the device in accordance with the collected control information, wherein the service recognition information is determined taking into account the port through which the control information was acquired; and - Comparing the determined verification information with the activation code information ; and - Saving the external meter value as a new locally stored meter value so that this saved meter value is used to check a next detected meter value. <EOS>