SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING AND CONTROLLING WATER DISTRIBUTION

• US 20090307116A1
• Filed: 06/04/2008
• Published: 12/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hamad S.H. Al-Harbi
• Original Assignee: Hamad S.H. Al-Harbi
• Inventors: Al-Harbi, Hamad S. H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,970,715 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply

Abstract

An electronic system for maintaining and controlling the use of water includes a control valve, an electronic water counter and a central computer connected to the water counter by wire, internet or wireless for opening and closing a control valve during pre-selected periods or in the event of excess usage. The system is also capable of providing water at an increased charge and subject to modification by a Smart Card.

Claims

1. A electronic system for monitoring and controlling the use of water by a customer, said system comprising:

a water inlet for receiving an amount of water from a water source,

a water outlet for supplying water from said water inlet to a customer and a control valve between said water inlet and said water outlet;

means including a central computer for limiting the amount of water to be dispensed to a pre-selected customer during a first pre-selected period of time;

a monitor for indicating the amount of water used by the pre-selected customer during the first pre-selected period of time;

means for closing said control valve when the amount of water indicated by the monitor exceeds the limited amount of water during a first period of time and for opening the control valve when the first period of time has lapsed;

means for including the central computer for limiting the amount of water to be dispensed to a customer during a second pre-selected period of time;

means for closing said control valve when the amount of water indicated by the monitor equals the limited amount of water during the second period of time and for opening the control valve when the second period of time has lapsed; and

a smart card and means including the smart card for overriding the limitations.

2. An electronic system for monitoring and controlling the use of water by a customer according to claim 1 in which said system includes means for accessing penalties for water usage in excess of limitations and for billing a customer for the amount of water used plus penalties.

4. An electronic system for monitoring and controlling the use of water by a customer according to claim 1 which includes means for providing wireless communication between the water counter and the central computer.

5. An electronic system for monitoring and controlling the use of water by a customer according to claim 4 which includes a crystal monitor and electronic actuated valve for indicating water usage during various time periods and for opening and closing the valve.

6. An electronic system for monitoring and controlling the use of water by a customer according to claim 5 which includes an alarm that warns a customer that they are approaching one of the limitation.

7. An electronic system for monitoring and controlling the use of water by a customer according to claim 6 which includes two portions, namely an upper portion including the mechanism for monitoring the value of water and different periods of time and for communicating with the central computer and a lower portion includes the control valve inlet and outlet and wherein the upper portion is removable from the lower portion.

8. An electronic system for monitoring and controlling the use of water by a customer according to claim 7 which includes a mobile control device for operation by an employee of a supplier to provide new or modified limitations.

9. An electronic system for monitoring and controlling the use of water by a customer according to claim 8 in which the first pre-selected period of time is twenty-four hours.

10. An electronic system for monitoring and controlling the use of water by a customer according to claim 9 in which the smart card authorizes an additional volume of water at an increased charge.

3. An electronic system for monitoring and controlling the use of water by a customer according to claim I in which the means for establishing limitations are based on daily usage and usage during periods of high volume usage.

11. A business management system with interaction between a central water supplier and a plurality of customers, said system comprising:

an interactive flow of information between a supplier and a plurality of customers to optimize the efficient use of water, water distribution and water consumption base on at least one of the following, a.) the requested amount of water, b.) data on a smart card, c.) time of day, and d.) history of use.

12. A business management system according to claim 11 which includes a central computer and means for inputting limitations on the use of water, a monitor for registering the use of water by a customer verses time, means including a control valve for discontinuing the flow of water to a customer when a limitation has been exceeded.

13. A business management system according to claim 12 which includes:

means including a smart card for overriding the limitations to obtain an additional supply of water at an increased price.

14. A business management system according to claim 13 in which said means for monitoring the use of water is an electronic water counter.

15. A business management system according to claim 11 in which said means for monitoring and controlling a flow of water to a customer includes:

a water inlet for receiving an amount of water from a water source,

a water outlet for supplying water from said water inlet to a customer and a control valve between said water inlet and said water outlet;

means including a central computer for limiting the amount of water to be dispensed to a pre-selected customer during a first pre-selected period of time;

a monitor for indicating the amount of water used by the pre-selected customer during the first pre-selected period of time;

means for closing said control valve when the amount of water indicated by the monitor exceeds the limited amount of water during a first period of time and for opening the control valve when the first period of time has lapsed;

means for including the central computer for limiting the amount of water to be dispensed to a customer during a second pre-selected period of time;

means for closing said control valve when the amount of water indicated by the monitor equals the limited amount of water during the second period of time and for opening the control valve when the second period of time has lapsed.

16. A business management system according to claim 15 in which said system includes means for accessing penalties for water usage in excess of limitations and for billing a customer for the water used plus penalties.

17. A business management system according to claim 16 which includes wireless communication means for communication between a central computer and a customer.

18. A method for monitoring and controlling the use of water to optimize water distribution and water consumption, said method comprising the steps of:

a.) providing a water counter and a central computer and and means for communication between the water counter and the central computer;

b.) establishing a flow of information between the water counter and the central computer;

c.) establishing a first limitation on the overall use of water by each customer;

enforcing the first limitation on the overall use of water by preventing the flow of water to a customer that exceeds the use as defined by the first limitation until the period of time for such use is exceeded;

d.) establishing a second limitation on the use of water during a particular time of day;

e.) enforcing the second limitation on the use of water during a particular time of day and preventing the flow of water to pre-selected customers during the particular pre-selected time of day; and

f.) providing a smart card for bypassing the limitation of steps c and e.

19. A method for monitoring and controlling the use of water according to claim 18 which includes the step of establishing penalties for exceeding the limitations of steps c and e and billing the customer for exceeding those limitations.

20. A method for monitoring and controlling the use of water according to claim 19 which includes the step of providing a portable module by which an employee of a supplier can change the limitations of a pre-selected customer.