Patent classifications
G01D2204/24
Differentiating between multiple overlapping water events
A system is provided for differentiating between overlapping water events in a distributed water infrastructure including a plurality of water appliances. The system may comprise at least one processor. The system may repeatedly measure at least one overall water usage indicator of the distributed water infrastructure, the at least one water usage indicator including at least one of an overall flow rate and an overall flow volume in the distributed water infrastructure. The system may detect, in the repeated measurements, a first sustained increase. The system may store in memory a first indicator of the first sustained increase. The system may attribute in memory the first sustained increase to a first water event in the distributed water infrastructure. The system may, during the first sustained increase, detect in the overall measurements a second sustained increase. The system may store in memory a second indicator of the second sustained increase. The system may attribute, in memory, the second sustained increase to a second water event in the distributed water infrastructure. The system may detect, following initiation of the first sustained increase and the second sustained increase, in the repeated measurements a decrease in the overall water usage indicator. The system may attribute to the decrease a third indicator. The system may compare the third indicator with at least one of the first indicator and the second indicator stored in memory to determine a substantial match and determine a cessation of at least one of the first water event and the second water event. The system may initiate an action based on the cessation determination.
Position Sensing Modules and Related Devices and Methods
Position sensing modules associated with a device are provided. The position sensing modules are configured to receive electrical characteristics associated with one or more switches of a device over a predetermined period of time, the one or more switches being configured to connect service to or disconnect service from a customer; calculate a match indicator for each phase of the device including the one or more switches, the match indicator indicating whether an electrical characteristic on a load-side of the device matches a same electrical characteristic on a line-side of the device for each phase of the device; and determine a position of the one or more switches based on the received electrical characteristics and the calculated match indicator for each phase of the device.
Flow rate measurement device
Flow rate measurement device includes flow rate measurement unit that measures a flow rate of gas at a prescribed time interval, and arithmetic unit that calculates a characteristic flow rate from the flow rates measured within a predetermined period, and calculates a ratio of each flow rate measured at multiple times within the predetermined period with respect to the characteristic flow rate. In addition, flow rate measurement device includes appliance characteristic extraction unit that extracts an appliance characteristic quantity which indicates a characteristic of a flow rate change in currently using gas appliances within the predetermined period, the appliance characteristic quantity being the ratio or information obtained from the ratio, and appliance inherent characteristic information holding unit that holds an appliance inherent characteristic quantity indicating a characteristic flow rate state of a specific gas appliance. Furthermore, flow rate measurement device includes appliance discrimination unit that discriminates the currently using gas appliance by comparing the appliance characteristic quantity with the appliance inherent characteristic quantity.
Health and lifestyle prediction
A detection system is provided for a distributed water infrastructure to determine a human health or lifestyle state from detected water usage patterns. The system receives signals indicative of water usage from at least one sensor upstream of a plurality of appliances, and determines from the signals a current water usage pattern. The system accesses a database of a plurality of stored water usage patterns, associated with a human health or lifestyle state, compares the pattern with stored water usage patterns and, based on the comparison, identifies a human health or lifestyle condition reflected by the current water usage pattern.
GAS APPLIANCE MONITORING SYSTEM
Gas meter and center device are provided. Gas meter includes flow rate measurer that measures a flow rate of gas in time series. Center device receives and analyzes flow rate data from gas meter, and monitors states of use of gas appliances. Gas meter detects the start of operation of gas appliances, and transmits flow rate data during predetermined periods before and after the start of operation in accordance with a request from center device. Center device monitors the states of use of gas appliances based on the received flow rate data.
System and method for detecting theft of electricity using meter data disaggregation
A system for detecting theft of electricity from a utility includes a controller configured to receive electricity readings from a metering device configured to sense electricity flowing therethrough to a primary load, disaggregate the electricity readings from the metering device into electricity readings for sub-loads identified within the primary load, and compare the disaggregated electricity readings for the identified sub-loads to expected electricity readings for each identified sub-load. The controller is also configured to calculate a level of interference with an electrical path through the metering device based on an extent that the disaggregated electricity readings deviate from the expected electricity readings and output to the utility the level of interference with the electrical path.
SYSTEMS FOR AND METHODS OF MONITORING WATER CONSUMPTION
A system for and methods of monitoring and reporting water consumption is provided. The system includes a sensor for detecting field fluctuations associated with a water meter of a water system. The system detects, tracks, and analyzes fluctuations so as to correlate one or more water event with its source(s), such as by determining a start time, end time, volume, and/or cadence associated with the water event. Information associated with the field fluctuations is parsed out to identify fingerprints associated with a variety of water events. The system includes a decisioning engine for determining one or more course of action following identification of one or more water event. Courses of action include triggering or invoking a variety of system functions, including: providing an alert or other notification; flagging or otherwise reporting information, including budget and/or consumption information; updating a budget; aggregating information; or the like.
Low flow detection during period of no flow
A system is provided for detecting abnormal consumption in a distributed water infrastructure. The system may comprise at least one processor. The system may receive from at least one sensor associated with the distributed water infrastructure indications of regular water usage, wherein the distributed water infrastructure includes a plurality of water appliances. The system may determine from the indications received over a time period, at least one recurring time period of expected diminished water usage. The system may determine for the at least one recurring time period of expected diminished water usage at least one expected diminished water usage profile. The system may receive from the at least one sensor during a current time period of expected diminished water usage, real time indications of water usage, which may constitute a current water usage profile. The system may compare the current water usage profile during the expected period of diminished water usage with the at least one expected diminished water usage profile. The system may, based on the comparison, determine that water usage in the current water usage profile materially exceeds water usage in the at least one expected water usage profile. The system may execute a remedial action when, based on the comparison, the current water usage profile materially exceeds the at least one expected water usage profile.
Systems and Methods for Resource Consumption Analytics
The systems and methods described herein are directed to resource monitoring and resource consumption analytics. Resource usage is tracked through a gateway device monitoring resources using remote input sensors, and usage data is transmitted to a central processing unit whereby the data is interpreted and compared with usage over time and site conditions such as weather. For example, incoming usage data is compared with resource signatures in a signature library representing an ideal usage or historical usage for given site condition. This data is interpreted into simple command displays with alerts, alarms, thereby reporting and alerting to an end-user via multiple delivery mechanisms, of potential sources of resource waste or loss. Further, the alerts or alarms can include easily interpreted recommendations to allow a non-skilled worker to take corrective procedures to maximize efficient use of the consumable resources.
Graphical user interfaces for resource consumption analytics
The systems and methods described herein are directed to graphical user interfaces presenting resource consumption analytics. Resource usage is provided in a graphical user interface indicating current resource consumption and/or historical resource consumption. Weather data and a cumulative running total can be provided along with the resource consumption data to clearly provide a deep understanding of resource usage and operating conditions. Further, resource consumption information from multiple monitoring locations may be juxtaposed and/or presented simultaneously to provide an indication of outlying usage consumption among similarly situated monitoring locations. The graphical user interfaces may be provided with alerts, alarms, thereby reporting and alerting to an end-user via multiple delivery mechanisms, of potential sources of resource waste or loss. Further, the alerts or alarms can include easily interpreted recommendations to allow a non-skilled worker to take corrective procedures to maximize efficient use of the consumable resources.