GB/T 46715-2025 Electricity metering equipment - Embedded software - General requirements English, Anglais, Englisch, Inglés, えいご
This is a draft translation for reference among interesting stakeholders. The finalized translation (passing through draft translation, self-check, revision and verification) will be delivered upon being ordered.
ICS 13.220.10
CCS H 57
National Standard of the People's Republic of China
GB/T 46715-2025
Electricity metering equipment - Embedded software - General requirements
电能测量设备 嵌入式软件 通用要求
Issue date: 2025-10-31 Implementation date: 2026-05-01
Issued by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People's Republic of China
the Standardization Administration of the People's Republic of China
Contents
Foreword
1 Scope
2 Normative References
3 Terms and Definitions
4 Software Composition
5 Technical Requirements
6 Verification Methods
Appendix A (Informative) Example of Meter Software Architecture
Appendix B (Normative) Software Identification
Appendix C (Normative) Device-Specific Parameters
Appendix D (Informative) Software Upgrade Flowchart
Appendix E (Normative) Verification Items
Appendix F (Informative) Software Comparison Methods
References
1 Scope
This document specifies the software composition and technical requirements for embedded software in electrical energy measurement equipment, and describes the corresponding verification methods.
This document is applicable to activities such as the design, development, maintenance, upgrade, and testing of embedded software in electrical energy measurement equipment (hereinafter referred to as "meter software").
This document does not apply to:
— Electrical energy measurement equipment testing devices;
— Measurement systems composed of multiple physically separated devices;
— Portable electrical energy measurement equipment.
2 Normative References
The contents of the following documents constitute indispensable provisions of this document through normative references in the text. For dated references, only the edition corresponding to that date applies. For undated references, the latest edition (including all amendments) applies.
GB/T 11457 Information Technology — Software Engineering Terminology
GB/T 17215.3 (all parts) Electricity Metering Equipment — Particular Requirements
GB/T 42555-2023 General Requirements for Software Controlled by Measuring
Instruments
3 Terms and Definitions
The terms and definitions given in GB/T 11457 and the following apply to this document.
3.1
Embedded Software
Software embedded in hardware devices in the form of micro-instructions for execution.
3.2
User Interface
An interface medium through which information is transferred between an operator and a measuring instrument or its hardware or software components.
Note: Examples include switches, keyboards, mice, displays, monitors, printers, touch screens, and software windows on screens (including the software that generates the windows).
[Source: GB/T 42555—2023, 3.58]
3.3
Protective Interface
A software module that prevents unauthorized influence on software parts and control data flows related to legal metrology management.
[Source: GB/T 42555—2023, 3.41]
3.4
Software Module
A relatively independent program unit within an overall system, where each unit accomplishes and implements a relatively independent software function.
Note 1: Includes entities such as programs, subprograms, libraries, and objects, including their data areas, which are interrelated.
Note 2: The control software of a measuring instrument consists of one or more software modules.
[Source: GB/T 42555—2023, 3.48, modified]
3.5
Software Separation
The division of software within a measuring instrument, electronic device, or component into legally relevant and legally non-relevant parts.
Note: Communication between these parts occurs via software interfaces.
[Source: GB/T 42555—2023, 3.50, modified]
3.6
Software Identification
A readable character string closely associated with the software or software module of concern.
Note 1: Checked during the operation of the measuring instrument.
Note 2: Examples of software identification include version numbers and checksums.
[Source: GB/T 42555—2023, 3.46, modified]
3.7
Message Authentication Code (MAC)
A data item derived from a message using symmetric cryptographic techniques with a key as a parameter.
Note 1: Any entity holding this key can use the MAC to verify the integrity and origin of the message.
Note 2: A MAC is sometimes referred to as a cryptographic check value.
[Source: GB/T 15852.1—2020, 3.10, modified]
3.8
Device-Specific Parameter
Parameters within a measuring instrument that are relevant to legal metrology.
Note: Device-specific parameters include adjustable parameters (e.g., display items, event recording thresholds) and configuration parameters (e.g., pulse constant, accuracy class).
[Source: GB/T 42555—2023, 3.10, modified]
3.9
Software Upgrade
Operations such as loading, installing, and activating software modules on electrical energy measurement equipment.
3.10
Software Comparison
The process of comparing archived software with the operational software on electrical energy measurement equipment.
3.11
Embedded Secure Access Module
A module embedded within equipment that implements security control functions such as secure storage, data encryption/decryption, two-way authentication, access control, and encrypted line transmission.
4 Software Composition
Based on the functions implemented by the meter software, it is divided into legally relevant software and legally non-relevant software, including related software modules, data, and interfaces. An example software architecture is provided in Appendix A.
Legally relevant software includes: