APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MEASURING WATER RUN TIME

摘要

Systems and methods for sensing water device run time, transmitting this data via a network to a database which analyzes, records and reports the individual run times and the aggregate use over any given timeframe. Sensors used to measure device use time do not directly measure flow rate, and may sense device run time by sensing water flow, through electronic signals, vibration, etc. The sensors may be battery powered and transmit discrete data packets via radio frequency to powered node units. A system of node units communicates with a central internet gateway which uploads the data packets to a cloud-based database which organizes, analyzes, stores and reports the information. The system allocates the cost of water flowing through a common water meter to a plurality of individual units within a collection of geographically proximate units. The systems are useful in multi-unit buildings or complexes having stacked plumbing.

主权项

1. A method for allocating the cost of water flowing through a single water meter to a plurality of individual units having water use devices therein within a collection of geographically proximate units, comprising:
providing a network of sensors each sensor associated with a water use device, the sensor including a sensing element that senses operation of the device and/or duration of operation without sensing actual water flow magnitudes through the water use devices, the sensors each having a sensor board with which the sensing element interacts, the sensor board being adapted to a) create a sensor time signature based on what is sensed, b) process the sensor time signature as well as a time stamp and create a data packet, and c) wirelessly transmit the data packet; retrieving data packets from the network of sensors at one or more unit nodes connected to a power source, and wirelessly forwarding the sensor data packets; collecting the sensor data packets at a central Internet gateway device and transmitting the sensor data packets to an internet-based database manager having software; calculating a proportion of water use by analyzing the sensor data packets for each individual user; and allocating a proportional cost of water for each individual user.