Water consumption monitor

A system and method for monitoring utilization and waste of a natural resource, such as water. Data is received indicating natural resource consumption by a facility. An indication of at least one period of natural resource usage by the facility is received. Natural resource usage corresponding to utilization of the natural resource for a useful purpose. Quantities of the natural resource consumed by the facility during the at least one period of water usage is recorded as a utilized quantity.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to monitoring consumption of natural resources and more particularly to instrumentation that monitors usage of consumed fluid.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many factors are increasing the importance of conserving natural resources. For example, clean water is becoming a more precious commodity as population grows and clean water supplies are becoming more strained. In order to reduce resource consumption, conservation measures including equipment modification and conservation incentives are provided to users of resources. Development of more effective resource conservation strategies can be assisted by accurate evaluation of the effectiveness of current conservation techniques.

Therefore, developing effective resource conservation measures is enhanced by monitoring the effectiveness of current natural resource utilization levels.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, a method for monitoring natural resource utilization is performed with a processor and includes receiving data indicating water consumption by a facility. At least one period of water usage by the facility is detected, where the water usage corresponds to utilization of water for a useful purpose. A utilized quantity is recorded corresponding to quantities of water consumed by the facility during the at least one period of water usage.

In another embodiment, a system for monitoring natural resource utilization includes a memory and a processor communicatively coupled to the memory. The processor includes an instruction processor that receives data indicating water consumption by a facility and detects at least one period of water usage by the facility. The water usage corresponds to utilization of water for a useful purpose. The instruction processor further records, as a utilized quantity, quantities of water consumed by the facility during the at least one period of water usage.

In another embodiment, a computer program product for monitoring natural resource includes a storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method. The method includes receiving data indicating water consumption by a facility and detecting at least one period of water usage by the facility. The water usage corresponding to utilization of water for a useful purpose. The method further includes recording, as a utilized quantity, quantities of water consumed by the facility during the at least one period of water usage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The terms “a” or “an”, as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term plurality, as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term another, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms including and/or having, as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term coupled, as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically.

The following disclosure describes a system and method for monitoring utilization of a natural resource, such as water. As one example, an optical water utilization monitor for use in a basin is disclosed. In one example, the optical water utilization monitor is based on an optical sensor system that establishes a light beam, such as is generated by a laser or other source, between the outward boundary of a faucet head and a surface of the basin. If a hand, or any other type of object, enters the basin, it disrupts the light beam as detected by optical signal receivers at the edge of the basin. If no object has entered the basin, the monitor assumes the water flowing into the basin is wasted. The apparatus includes a component to measure the amount of water that flows into the basin. When water flows into the basin and an object is detected to have entered the basin, the water is classified as utilized. When water flows into the basin without an object having been detected in the basin, the water is classified as unused or wasted. The ratio of used water to the total amount of water consumed by the basin is used as a percentage of water utilization by the basin. A ratio of used water to unused or wasted water is also able to be determined and analyzed. This data is able to be accumulated and sent to a central monitoring system to assemble water usage and wastage statistics.

Examples of the apparatus described below combine water consumption measurements with detection of water utilization. Enhanced water utilization statistics are available through the use of the described apparatus and method by dividing measured water consumption quantities into quantities of water that were put to a useful purpose and quantities of water that were wasted or not utilized. Accumulation of such water utilization and wastage statistics allows, for example, accurate evaluation of water conservation measures and incentives.

Existing equipment designs serve to detect when an object is in a basin only for the purposes of activating water flow when an object is detected in the basin. The detection techniques used by these designs are not foolproof and often do not detect the presence of an object in the basin. In such applications, the user is motivated to start the water flow and will move his or her hands or other objects until the object's detection is successful and water flows. Should water stop flowing, the user will continue moving objects until the flow starts again. Water utilization measuring applications generally do not provide immediate feedback to a user or provide the user with an incentive to have water utilization accurately detected. Accurate detection of objects in a basin in which water is flowing is required in order to accurately determine if water is being utilized or wasted. The following disclosure presents an effective object detection mechanism that detects a disturbance of an optical signal across an entire opening of a basin.

FIG. 1illustrates a water utilization monitor apparatus100in accordance with one example. The water utilization monitor apparatus100is an example of a facility that consumes water and includes equipment and processing to determine amounts of consumed water that is put to a useful purpose and amounts of consumed water that is wasted or unutilized, i.e., water not put to a useful purpose. The water utilization monitor apparatus100includes a basin102, such as a sink, wash tub, bath tub, or any other basin into which water flows and is consumed. The basin102has an opening108that is defined by the surface of the top rim of the basin102in this example. Further examples are able to have basins with openings that take the form of any shape formed by surfaces defining any opening on any surface of the basin102.

Basin102has an associated faucet104with a discharge port106from which a water flow112is directed into the basin. In one example, the water flow112is in the form of an aerated stream. Further examples include faucets104that have discharge ports106that form the water flow112into any shape, such as a conical spray, a wide area spray, and the like. Additional examples include discharge ports106that are able to be changeably configured to change the shape of the water flow112into the basin102.

The faucet104further includes an optical signal transmitter120that transmits an optical signal124across the opening108. In an example, the optical signal124creates a boundary formed by the discharge port106of the faucet104and the opening108of the basin102. In one example, the optical signal124forms a cone from the discharge port106of the faucet104to the opening108formed by the rim of basin102. In various examples, the faucet104is able to be constructed with an integral optical transmitter120or an optical transmitter120is able to be retrofitted to an existing faucet104. In an example, an optical transmitter is able to be threaded onto a nozzle forming the discharge port106of an existing faucet104in a facility.

The opening108of one example has an optical signal receiver122that extends around the entire surface at the edge of the basin opening108. The optical signal receiver122receives the optical signal124along substantially the entire surface of the opening108of the basin102. In various examples, optical signal receivers are able to be located on any surface of the basin108and are not restricted to being placed on the edge of the basin. In one example, as described in further detail below, the optical signal receiver122consists of a series of light sensors that are located at intervals around the surface of the opening108of the basin102. The light sensors of one example optical signal receiver122are separated by distances that are less than the expected size of objects that are to be detected as entering the boundary formed by a discharge port106of the faucet104and the opening108of the basin102. For example, light sensors are placed around the surface of the opening108of the top of the basin102and are separated by distances that are less than the minimum size of a hand or arm that is expected to enter the basin102to use water in the water flow112. The optical signal receiver122in various examples is able to be constructed as part of a basin102or countertop for a basin102, or an existing basin102and/or countertop is able to be retrofitted to include an optical signal receiver122. Optical signal receivers122are able to be retrofitted into existing basins through a variety of techniques such as using adhesives or inserts. Various implementations are able to retrofit an apparatus to perform detecting periods of water usage by retrofitting an apparatus including an optical transmitter120and an optical signal receiver122to the facility.

Faucet104receives water from a water supply114, such as a city water supply system. The water provided to the faucet104is measured by a water meter110. An example facility includes one basin102with a corresponding water meter110. Other example facilities include multiple basins. In the case of a facility with multiple basins, each basin is able to have an associated water meter in order to determine water consumed by each basin and to determine utilized quantities of water when the water consumed by that basin is being utilized. In various components, the water meter110is able to be included in an apparatus located at the discharge port106of faucet104. Such a water meter included in an apparatus located at discharge port106is able to be either manufactured as part of the faucet104or as part of an apparatus that is retrofitted to an existing faucet104.

The water utilization monitor apparatus100includes a data collection component130that receives and collects data indicating water consumption by a facility. The data collection component130of one example receives values indicating the measured quantities of water consumed by the faucet104and basin102. The data collection component130further detects periods of water usage by receiving an indicator from the optical signal receiver122indicating whether or not the water consumed by the facility consisting of the faucet104and the basin102is being utilized. Water utilization in this context refers to utilization of the water for a useful purpose. In one example, the water discharged by the faucet104through discharge port106is utilized if an object, such as a user's hand, is inserted into the basin102. If an object is inserted into the basin102, it is assumed that the water consumed by the basin102, e.g., discharged through discharge port106into water flow112, is used to, for example, wash the object or fill the object if the object is a container.

The data collection component130monitors water consumption by the faucet104and basin102by accumulating indications of the quantities of consumed water that are measured by and received from the water meter110. Water meter110measures the quantity of consumed water and delivers indications of the quantity of water consumption to the data collection component130.

The data collection component130further receives indications of detections of water usage by the faucet104and basin102. In one example, the optical signal receiver122detects periods of water usage by detecting an object within the boundary formed by the discharge port of the faucet and the opening of the basin102. In the illustrated example, the optical signal receiver122detects entry of an object into the basin by detecting a corresponding disruption in the optical signal124by, for example, the object entering the boundary.

The data collection component130receives an indication from the optical signal receiver122that an object has been detected in the basin102. When an object's entry into the basin102is detected, a period of water usage begins. In this example, the period during which the object is detected to be in the basin102is a detected period of water usage. The period of water usage terminates when the object is no longer detected to be in the basin102. In one example, the period of water usage terminates when no object is detected within the boundary formed by the optical signal124, such as when the optical signal receiver122is no longer detecting a disruption of the optical signal124.

While the object is detected to be in the basin, the data collection component records the quantity of water consumed by the faucet104and basin102as a utilized quantity of water. Water consumption measured by water meter110during periods of water usage, i.e., during periods when an object is detected to be in the basin, is recorded as utilized quantities of water. In one example, measured quantities of all water consumed during all periods of water usage by basin102and faucet104are accumulated by the data collection component130into a utilized quantity value.

The data collection component130monitors water consumption by the basin102and faucet104at all times, including outside of periods of water usage. Time periods outside of periods of water usage, i.e., periods when an object is not detected to be in the a boundary formed by the discharge port106of the faucet104and the opening108of the basin102, are periods during none of the periods of water usage. Quantities of water consumed outside of periods of water usage are recorded as an unutilized quantity. All water consumed outside of periods of water usage is recorded and accumulated into the unutilized quantity for the basin102and faucet104. In an alternative example, the data collection component records the total quantity of all water consumed by the facility and determines water utilization ratios based upon the utilized quantity and the total quantity of all water consumed by the basin102and faucet104.

Water utilization data, such as utilized quantity values, unutilized quantity values and total consumption quantity values, are sent from the data collection component130to a central monitor134. The central monitor134of various implementations accumulates water utilization and total consumption data and determines statistics and other utilization metrics that are used to support, for example, water conservation program analyses. In one example, a “smart city” that provides a water utilization monitor apparatus100to each water using facility maintains a central monitor134to collect water utilization data from all facilities such as homes and businesses. The central monitor134further receives water utilization data from other facilities138to assemble a large base of data to derive and develop water utilization statistics. One example of water utilization statistics includes a ratio of utilized water to unutilized water and monitoring that ratio as, for example, different incentives are provided to users.

FIG. 2illustrates a water usage configuration200, in accordance with one example. The water usage configuration200illustrates a basin202and faucet204with an optical signal transmitter220located near a discharge port206. The optical signal transmitter220transmits an optical signal224to a number of optical signal detectors230and a first optical signal detector232that are located at points around the surface of the opening208of the top opening of the basin202. The assembled number of optical signal detectors230and the first optical signal detector232form an optical signal receiver222similar to the optical signal receiver122discussed above. The first optical signal detector232is similar to the other optical signal detectors230and is depicted separately to facilitate the following discussion regarding the detection of the entry of an object250into the boundary formed by the discharge port of the faucet and the opening of the basin. As described above, the optical signal detectors230and the first optical signal detector232are located at points around the surface of the opening208so that objects of at least a minimum expected size that enter the surface of the opening208will interfere with at least one optical signal receiver's reception of the optical signal224. In order to allow a clear depiction of relevant aspects of the illustrated system, the illustrated number optical signal detectors230are not as dense as are often deployed around an opening of the basin202.

The water usage configuration200illustrates an object250that is inserted into a boundary formed by the discharge port206of the faucet204and the surface of the opening208of the basin202. Object250disrupts the receiving of a portion226of the optical signal224by the first optical signal detector232. An indication of a detection of the disruption of the portion226of the optical signal224by the first optical signal detector232is provided by the optical signal receiver222to the data collection component240. In response to the indication of the detected disruption of receiving the optical signal, the data collection component240records as a utilized quantity the quantities of water that are measured by water meter210as consumed by the facility including the basin202and faucet204. When the object250is removed from the boundary formed by the optical signal224, the disruption of reception of the optical signal224ceases. The reception of an undisrupted optical signal224by the optical signal receiver222is indicated to the data collection component240. Water consumed by the facility including basin202and faucet204during periods of undisrupted optical signal reception are marked as utilized.

FIG. 3illustrates a multiple basin facility300, in accordance with one example. The multiple basin facility300includes a basin facility “A”302, a basin facility “B”312, and a basin facility “Z”322. In this description, each basin facility includes a basin and an associated respective faucet for that basin. Each basin facility further includes an optical transmitter and an optical signal receiver as is described above with respect to water utilization monitor apparatus100. The three illustrated basin facilities are representative on any number of basins and associated equipment that are able to be included in a facility. Various facilities that are able to incorporate the disclosed system and methods are able to have from one to any number of basin facilities.

Each basin facility in the multiple basin facility300is shown to have a respective opening into which objects enter that basin. For example, basin “A”310has an associated opening “A”306, basin “B”320has and is associated with an opening “B”316, and basin “Z”330has and is associated with opening “Z”326.

Each basin is also associated with at least one faucet that directs a water flow into the basin with which it is associated. For example, basin “A”310is associated with a faucet “A”304, basin “B”320is associated with a faucet “B”314, and basin “Z”330is associated with a faucet “Z”324.

Each basin also has a respective optical signal transmitter and receiver to detect at least one period of water usage by detecting a presence of an object within a boundary formed by a discharge port of one faucet and the opening of the basin with which the one faucet is associated. These optical signal transmitters and receivers operate as described above with regards to water utilization monitor apparatus100to detect periods of usage by each basin and reports these periods of usage to a data collection component370. The data collection component370receives indications of detected periods of water usage from the optical signal receivers of each basin.

The water consumption of each basin is measured by a water meter that is associated with that basin. For example, basin “A”302is associated with a meter “A”312, basin “B”320is associated with a meter “B”312, and basin “Z”330is associated with a meter “Z”332.

Each water meter reports water consumption amounts for each respective basin to a data collection component370. The data collection component370marks measured amounts of consumed water for each basin as either “used” or “unused” based upon detected periods of water usage for each basin. In one example, periods of water usage are detected by optical signal receivers for each basin and an indication is sent to the data collection component370. In response to the indication of a period of water usage, the data collection component370marks as “used” water that was consumed by that basin during the detected period of water usage. Water consumption marked as “used” is accumulated into a utilized quantity value. Water consumption marked as “unused” is accumulated into an unutilized quantity value. Other examples record and accumulate utilized quantity values and total consumption quantity values to support usage analyses. Some examples include a multiple basin water meter308that measures the total amount of water consumed by the multiple basin facility300.

The data collection component370of one embodiment communicates utilized quantity values, unutilized quantity values, and total consumption quantity values to a central monitor system372, in a manner similar to that discussed above.

FIG. 4illustrates a water utilization monitoring process400, in accordance with one example. The water utilization monitoring process400begins by monitoring and recording, at402, water consumption by at least one facility. A facility in this context refers to one or more of a single basin with a water faucet, a building, or multiple buildings that have a number of basins and various techniques for directing a flow of water into those basins, and the like. Water consumption is able to be measured by, for example, a water meter associated with each basin or other water consumption devices.

The water utilization monitoring process400continues by detecting, at404, usage of water that is being consumed by a basin that is a facility or that is part of a facility. Usage of water by the basin is defined in this context as utilizing the water consumed by the basin for a useful purpose.

If there was not detected a usage of water being consumed by the basin, the water utilization monitoring process400proceeds by marking, at408, water consumed by the basin as being unused. If there was detected a usage of water being consumed by the basin, the water utilization monitoring process400proceeds by marking, at406, water consumed by the basin as being used.

The water utilization monitoring process400proceeds to accumulate, at410, water consumption and utilization data. The accumulated water consumption and utilization data is able to include, for example, the quantities of water consumption that were marked as used and unused. Total water consumption is also able to be accumulated. The accumulated water consumption and utilization data are then reported, at412, to a central monitor system in a manner similar to that discussed above. The processing then returns to monitoring and recording, at402, the water consumption by the facility.

Information Processing System

Referring now toFIG. 5, which is a block diagram illustrating an information processing system500that can be utilized in conjunction with water utilization monitor apparatus100discussed above with respect toFIG. 1. Uses of the information processing system500include, for example, the data collection component130and the central monitor132. The information processing system500is based upon a suitably configured processing system adapted to implement one or more embodiments of the present invention. Similarly, any suitably configured processing system can be used as the information processing system500by embodiments of the present invention.

The information processing system500includes a computer502. The computer502has one or more instruction processor(s)504that are connected to a cache memory506, memory522, mass storage interface508, and network adapter hardware510. A system bus512interconnects these system components.

The mass storage interface508is used to connect mass storage devices, such as data storage device514, to the information processing system500. One specific type of data storage device is an optical drive such as a CD/DVD drive, which may be used to store data to and read data from a computer readable medium or storage product such as (but not limited to) a CD/DVD516. Another type of data storage device is a data storage device configured to support, for example, NTFS type file system operations.

An operating system (not shown) included in the memory522is a suitable multitasking operating system such as the Linux, UNIX, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 operating system. Embodiments of the present invention are able to use any other suitable operating system. Some embodiments of the present invention utilize architectures, such as an object oriented framework mechanism, that allows instructions of the components of operating system (not shown) to be executed on any processor located within the information processing system500. The network adapter hardware510in one embodiment provides network communications interfaces to one or more networks520. Embodiments of the present invention are able to be adapted to work with any data communications connections including present day analog and/or digital techniques or via a future networking mechanism. Networks420are able to connect, for example, various data collection components130to a central monitor132.

A data interface530is used to exchange data with data collection systems such as meters432and optical detectors434. Meters432include, for example, water meter110discussed above. Optical detectors434include, for example, the optical signal receiver122also discussed above.