System for monitoring quality of water system

• US 20070257806A1
• Filed: 09/27/2005
• Published: 11/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Source Sentinel LLC
• Original Assignee: Source Sentinel LLC
• Inventors: Campbell, Christopher, Murphy, Cornelius, Brower, Michael, Madden, Terrance
• Granted Patent: US 7,391,333 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/603
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/18 Water

Abstract

A monitoring, detection and alarm for water systems includes a plurality of sensing components for detecting the presence of target contaminants in water and for measuring the overall quality of the water. The apparatus contains water sensing components, a database for storing sensor data and processors for data analysis using artificial intelligence. The apparatus provides control logic to take responsive action based on the results of the detection of the target contaminants. Responsive action includes, but is not limited to, generation of reports and alarm signals that are delivered in near real-time to users of the system.

Claims

1. An apparatus for detecting and warning of a specific condition in a body of water, comprising:

a monitoring module comprising a plurality of sensors each of which is adapted to sense a respective environmental parameter and a data transmitting unit coupled to said plurality of sensors; and

a decision support module adapted to receive said data from said data transmitting unit comprising an artificial intelligence system for analyzing said data and a processor for determining a probability that the specific condition exists in the body of water.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a first communications network for transmitting said data from said plurality of sensors to said processor.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said processor generates a signal when said probability exceeds a predetermined threshold.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said threshold is a user-defined threshold.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said signal is variable in relation to the magnitude of said probability.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a second communications network for transmitting said signal to a remote location.

7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said signal communicates information to identify the specific condition.

8. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said signal communicates information for mitigating the specific condition.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the specific condition is the presence of a contaminant.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the specific condition is the absence of a contaminant.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the specific condition is a first condition that has a high probability of producing a second condition after a period of time.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said second condition is the presence of a contaminant.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said artificial intelligence system comprises an inference engine.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a display having color coded indicators for providing information about the presence of said condition, in response to said signal.

15. An apparatus for detecting and warning of the presence of hazardous conditions in water, comprising:

a plurality of sensors for detecting a plurality of environmental parameters, each sensor generating a first signal in response to said environmental parameters;

a processor for receiving each said first signal, said processor comprising an artificial intelligence system for analyzing each said first signal and calculating a probability that a hazardous condition is present;

wherein said processor generates a second signal when said probability exceeds a predetermined threshold.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said threshold is a user-defined threshold.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said second signal is variable in relation to the magnitude of said probability.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a first communications network for transmitting said plurality of first signals to said processor.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a second communications network for transmitting said second signal to a remote location.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said second signal identifies said contaminant.

21. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said artificial intelligence system comprises an inference engine.

22. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a display having color coded indicators for providing information about the presence of said hazardous condition, in response to said second signal.

23. An apparatus for predicting the occurrence of a specific condition in a body of water, comprising:

a plurality of sensors for detecting a plurality of environmental parameters, each sensor generating a first signal in response to one of said environmental parameters;

a processor for receiving each said first signal, said processor comprising an artificial intelligence system for analyzing each said first signal and calculating a probability that a specific condition will occur;

wherein said processor generates a second signal when said probability exceeds a predetermined threshold.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said threshold is a user-defined threshold.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said second signal is variable in relation to the magnitude of said probability.

26. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising a first communications network for transmitting said plurality of first signals to said processor.

27. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising a second communications network for transmitting said second signal to a remote location.

28. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said second signal identifies said specific condition.

29. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said artificial intelligence system comprises an inference engine.

30. The apparatus of claim 23 further comprising a display having color coded indicators for providing information about the likelihood of said condition, in response to said second signal.

31. A method of detecting presence of a contaminant in a body of water, comprising the steps of:

sensing data related to environmental parameters of a body of water;

communicating said data to processor for analysis by an artificial intelligence system;

analyzing said data to determine a probability that a contaminant is present in the body of water.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of:

generating a signal when said probability exceeds a threshold.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising the step of:

providing a value for said threshold to said processor.

34. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of:

identifying said contaminant.

35. A method of predicting the occurrence of a specific condition in a body of water, comprising the steps of:

sensing data related to environmental parameters of a body of water;

communicating said data to a processor for analysis by an artificial intelligence system;

analyzing said data to determine a probability that the specific condition will occur in the body of water.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising the step of:

generating a signal when said probability exceeds a threshold.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising the step of:

providing a value for said threshold to said processor.

38. The method of claim 35, further comprising the step of:

identifying said specific condition.