Abstract
The invention relates to a method for determining liquid consumptions of a plurality of liquid consumers (1, 2, 3), comprising at least the following steps: a) Detecting at least one liquid consumption process (4) on a liquid line (5), by means of which a liquid can be supplied to the plurality of liquid consumers (1, 2, 3); b) Recording at least one piece of information about the at least one liquid consumption process (4), c) Assigning the at least one liquid consumption process (4) to at least one liquid consumer class by means of a machine-learned algorithm, which determines the at least one liquid consumer class as a function of the at least one piece of information recorded and under consideration of information about previously detected liquid consumption processes (4).
Claims
1. Method for determining liquid consumptions of a plurality of liquid consumers (1, 2, 3), comprising at least the following steps: a) Detecting at least one liquid consumption process (4) on a liquid line (5), by means of which a liquid can be supplied to the plurality of liquid consumers (1, 2, 3); b) Recording at least one piece of information about the at least one liquid consumption process (4), c) Assigning the at least one liquid consumption process (4) to at least one liquid consumer class by means of a machine-learned algorithm, which determines the at least one liquid consumer class as a function of the at least one piece of information recorded and under consideration of information about previously detected liquid consumption processes (4).
2. Method according to claim 1, wherein at least one piece of information describes a volumetric flow or flow duration of the liquid through the liquid line (5).
3. Method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one piece of information describes a liquid pressure of the liquid flowing in the liquid line (5).
4. Method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one piece of information describes an increase in the liquid pressure of the liquid flowing in the liquid line (5).
5. Method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one piece of information describes a fluctuation in the liquid pressure of the liquid flowing in the liquid line (5).
6. Method according to claim 1, wherein the algorithm outputs, in addition to the assignment, a piece of information on the precision of the assignment.
7. Training method for a machine-learnable algorithm which can assign the at least one liquid consumption process (4) to at least one liquid consumer class, in that it determines the at least one liquid consumer class as a function of the at least one piece of information about the at least one liquid consumption process (4), comprising the following steps: i) Reading in training input data for the algorithm, which comprises information about a large number of liquid consumption processes (4), ii) Reading in training output data, which comprise the liquid consumer classes on the read-in training input data, iii) Adapting elements of the algorithm, in order to map the read-in training input data as precisely as possible to the read-in training output data.
8. Data processing system (8), comprising a processor (9) which is configured such that it executes a method according to claim 1.
9. Computer program for performing a method according to claim 1.
10. Machine-readable storage medium on which the computer program according to claim 9 is stored.
Description
[0037] The invention and the technical environment are explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. It should be noted that the figures show particularly preferred embodiment variants of the invention, but is not limited thereto. In this case, identical components are given the same reference signs in the figures. Shown as examples and diagrams:
[0038] FIG. 1: an apparatus arranged on a liquid line;
[0039] FIG. 2: a first diagram with liquid consumption processes;
[0040] FIG. 3: a second diagram with liquid consumption processes; and
[0041] FIG. 4: a third diagram with liquid consumption processes.
[0042] FIG. 1 shows a measuring apparatus 10, which is arranged on a liquid line 5. With the liquid line 5, a liquid can be conducted from a liquid source (not shown) to a first liquid consumer 1, a second liquid consumer 2, and a third liquid consumer 3. The liquid consumers 1, 2, 3 are arranged in the same supply unit 11 and each form a liquid consumer class. By means of the measuring apparatus 10 (according to step a), liquid consumption processes 4 shown in FIG. 2 can be detected which are triggered by a use of the liquid consumer 1, 2, 3. Moreover, a liquid consumption may be determined during the individual liquid consumption processes by the measuring apparatus 10. The liquid consumption processes of the first liquid consumer 1, second liquid consumer 2 and third liquid consumer 3 comprise characteristic parameters 6, 7 (cf. FIG. 2) for the respective liquid consumer 1, 2, 3. These parameters 6, 7 may also be determined using a measuring apparatus 10. The measuring apparatus 10 is connected by way of a data connection 12 to a data processing system 8, which comprises a processor 9. By way of the data connection 12, the liquid consumptions of the individual consumption processes and the parameters 6, 7 of the individual consumption processes can be transferred by the measuring apparatus 10 to the data processing system 8. The data processing system 8 can evaluate or analyze the parameters 6, 7 of the liquid consumption processes and thereby establish by which liquid consumer 1, 2, 3 or by which liquid consumer class the respective liquid consumption process 4 was triggered. The liquid consumptions of the individual liquid consumption processes 4 may thus be assigned to the individual liquid consumers 1, 2, 3 or the respective liquid consumer classes by the data processing system 8 using the parameters 6, 7. The totaled liquid consumptions of the individual consumers 1, 2, 3 or the individual liquid consumer classes may be retrieved by a user for example by way of a user interface.
[0043] The recorded parameters 6, 7 described here may represent an example of the (according to step b) at least one piece of information recorded about the at least one liquid consumption process (4). The described assignment of the at least one liquid consumption process 4 to at least one liquid consumer class takes place by means of a machine-learned algorithm, which determines the at least one liquid consumer class as a function of the at least one piece of information recorded and under consideration of information about previously detected liquid consumption processes 4. Through the use of the algorithm, comparatively large quantities of data may be processed and/or patterns recognized in an advantageous manner, which in particular also may contribute to the determinability of liquid consumptions in case of complex liquid consumption processes.
[0044] FIG. 2 shows a first diagram 13 with a large number of liquid consumption processes 4, which are illustrated in the first diagram 13 as points. The positions of the individual liquid consumption processes 4 are established in the first diagram 13 for each liquid consumption process 4 by the flow duration of the liquid in seconds as first parameter 6 (horizontal x-axis) and the volumetric flow of the liquid in liters per minute as second parameter 7 (vertical y-axis). The flow duration and the volumetric flow of the liquid flowing during the individual liquid consumption processes 4 through the liquid line 5 shown in FIG. 1 to the respective liquid consumers 1, 2, 3 may be determined using the measuring apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1. Through the position of the individual liquid consumption processes 4 in the first diagram 13, the liquid consumptions of the respective liquid consumption processes 4 may be classified by the data processing system 8 shown in FIG. 1, which executes, by way of example, the algorithm described here, and may be assigned to a liquid consumer 1, 2, 3 or one of the liquid consumer classes. In this case, the data processing system 8 may assign for example all liquid consumptions of those liquid consumption processes 4 to the first liquid consumer 1 or a first liquid consumer class, which are located in the first diagram 13 in the first region 14. Furthermore, the data processing system 8 may assign for example all liquid consumers of those liquid consumption processes 4 to the first liquid consumer 2 or a second liquid consumer class, which are located in the first diagram 13 in the second region 15. The first region 14 comprises those regions of the first parameter 6 and second parameter 7 which are characteristic in a liquid consumption process 4 for the first liquid consumer 1. The second region 15 accordingly comprises those regions of the first parameter 6 and second parameter 7 which are characteristic in a liquid consumption process 4 for the second liquid consumer 2. The first diagram 13 may comprise further regions in accordance with the number of liquid consumers 1, 2, 3 or the number of liquid consumer classes, which for the sake of clarity are not shown in FIG. 2. Moreover, the data processing system 8 can be configured to independently define further regions or the regions 14, 15, when for example further liquid consumers are connected to the liquid line 5 illustrated in FIG. 1 or one of the liquid consumers 1, 2, 3 are replaced.
[0045] Furthermore, there are use cases in which an unambiguous assignment of the liquid consumption of a liquid consumption process 4 to one of the liquid consumers 1, 2, 3 is not possible, because the regions 14, 15 partially overlap, for example. In this case, the data processing system 8 can take into consideration further parameters or information about the liquid consumption processes 4 in the assignment or classification and/or refer back to previously learned patterns or contexts. Examples of this are illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.
[0046] FIG. 3 shows a second diagram 16 in which a first graph 17 illustrates a volumetric flow of the liquid and a second graph 18 illustrates a curve of a liquid pressure of the liquid flowing in the liquid line 5 during a first liquid consumption process 4 of the first liquid consumer 1. Moreover, FIG. 4 shows a third diagram 19 in which the first graph 17 illustrates the curve of the volumetric flow of the liquid and a second graph 18 illustrates a curve of a liquid pressure of the liquid flowing in the liquid line 5 during a second liquid consumption process 4 of the second liquid consumer 2 (shown on the left) and a third liquid consumption process 4 of the third liquid consumer 3 (shown on the right). In the second diagram 16 and the third diagram 19, the flow duration of the liquid is plotted in seconds on the horizontal x-axis, and the volumetric flow and the liquid pressure of the liquid are plotted on the vertical y-axis. The curve of the volumetric flow and the curve of the liquid pressure of the liquid in the liquid line 5 may also be determined using the measuring apparatus 10. It can be seen inter alia in the second diagram 16 and third diagram 19 that the increase or the fall in the liquid pressure deviate from one another at the beginning and/or at the end of the individual liquid consumption processes 4 of the liquid consumers 1, 2, 3 and that the fluctuations in the volumetric flow and/or the liquid pressure during the individual liquid consumption processes 4 of the liquid consumers 1, 2, 3 are different. These may therefore be used by the data processing system 8 as additional parameters or information to identify the liquid consumers 1, 2, 3 or to assign the liquid consumption of the individual liquid consumption processes 4 to the individual liquid consumers 1, 2, 3 or the respective liquid consumer classes. In this context, FIGS. 3 and 4 may also illustrate examples of patterns which may be learned during the training by the learnable or self-learning algorithm and may be used later for classification.
[0047] The liquid consumption of specific liquid consumer classes or specific liquid consumers of a supply unit can be determined separately by the present invention. A method for determining liquid consumptions of a plurality of liquid consumers with which the liquid consumption of specific liquid consumers of a supply unit can be determined can thus be specified. Moreover, in particular, a determination of liquid consumptions even in the case of complex liquid consumption processes is to be made possible, in which a plurality of different liquid consumers consume simultaneously or at overlapping times.
REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0048] 1 first liquid consumer
[0049] 2 second liquid consumer
[0050] 3 third liquid consumer
[0051] 4 liquid consumption process
[0052] 5 liquid line
[0053] 6 first parameter
[0054] 7 second parameter
[0055] 8 data processing system
[0056] 9 processor
[0057] 10 measuring apparatus
[0058] 11 supply unit
[0059] 12 data connection
[0060] 13 first diagram
[0061] 14 first region
[0062] 15 second region
[0063] 16 second diagram
[0064] 17 first graph
[0065] 18 second graph
[0066] 19 third diagram
