TELECOMMUNICATION DEVICE FOR WATER DAMAGE MITIGATION MANAGEMENT

• US 20150025692A1
• Filed: 10/09/2014
• Published: 01/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Independent Mitigation and Cleaning/Conservation Network Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Independent Mitigation and Cleaning/Conservation Network Incorporated
• Inventors: Harmon, Patrick, Anthony, James, Hart, Nathan, Varughese, Philip
• Application Number:
  US14/510,189
• Publication Number:
  US 20150025692A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/276
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/02 for measuring temperature of moving fluids or granular materials capable of flow
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 19/10 Measuring moisture content, e.g. by measuring change in length of hygroscopic filament; Hygrometers
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1393 characterised by the use of electric means
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A telecommunication device for water damage mitigation management is described that includes a transceiver, a data input/output mechanism, a display mechanism, and a processor. The processor causes at least one of the transceiver to transmit over a telecommunication network, the data input/output mechanism to transmit through a hard-wired connection, and the display mechanism to display chamber dimension data, water damage data, and dehumidifier data. A required quantity of water to be removed from the chamber over a given period of time may be determined and displayed using at least the chamber dimension data and the water damage data. Further, whether the required quantity of water to be removed is greater than, less than, or approximately equal to an expected quantity of water to be removed by the chosen dehumidifier over the given period of time may also be determined and displayed.

Claims

1. A water damage mitigation management telecommunication device comprising:

a transceiver operable to transmit and receive information data and communication data over at least a portion of a telecommunication network;

a data input/output mechanism operable to transmit and receive information data through a hard-wired connection;

a user input mechanism;

a display mechanism;

an electronic data storage; and

a processor cooperatively operable with the transceiver, the data input/output mechanism, the user input mechanism, the display mechanism, and the electronic data storage, the processor being configured to;

cause at least one of the transceiver to transmit, the data input/output mechanism to transmit, and the display mechanism to display;

chamber dimension data, including dimensions of one or more rooms in a chamber in which water damage has occurred,

water damage data, including a category of water and a class of the water, which defines a type of damage that has occurred in the chamber, and

dehumidifier data, including a model type and a rating of a chosen dehumidifier to be used in removing water from the chamber;

using at least the chamber dimension data and the water damage data, determine and cause at least one of the transceiver to transmit, the data input/output mechanism to transmit, and the display mechanism to display, a required quantity of water to be removed from the chamber over a given period of time; and

determine and cause at least one of the transceiver to transmit, the data input/output mechanism to transmit, and the display mechanism to display, whether the required quantity of water to be removed is greater than, less than, or approximately equal to an expected quantity of water to be removed by the chosen dehumidifier over the given period of time.

2. The water damage mitigation management telecommunication device according to claim 1, wherein:

the chamber dimension data further includes a flooring type for each of the one or more rooms and a number of wet walls for each of the one more rooms.

3. The water damage mitigation management telecommunication device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine and cause at least one of the transceiver to transmit, the data input/output mechanism to transmit, and the display mechanism to display, an initial number of air movers needed to achieve the required quantity of water to be removed from the chamber over the given period of time.

4. The water damage mitigation management telecommunication device according to claim 3, wherein the processor is further configured to:

cause at least one of the transceiver to transmit, the data input/output mechanism to transmit, and the display mechanism to display respective measurements of temperature and relative humidity received through the user input mechanism and taken substantially at a particular time at various locations including an outside location that is exterior to the chamber, an affected area inside the chamber, an unaffected area inside the chamber, and inside an HVAC system in the chamber; and

using the respective measurements of temperature and relative humidity, determine and cause at least one of the transceiver to transmit, the data input/output mechanism to transmit, and the display mechanism to display, respective values of grains of water per pound of air (GPP), actual vapor pressure, and dew point for each of the outside location, the affected area, the unaffected area, and inside the HVAC system.

5. The water damage mitigation management telecommunication device according to claim 4, wherein the processor is further configured to:

cause at least one of the transceiver to transmit, the data input/output mechanism to transmit, and the display mechanism to display measurements of temperature and relative humidity received through the user input mechanism and provided substantially at the particular time by the chosen dehumidifier; and

using the measurements of temperature and relative humidity provided by the chosen dehumidifier at the particular time, determine and cause at least one of the transceiver to transmit, the data input/output mechanism to transmit, and the display mechanism to display, grains of water per pound of air (GPP), actual vapor pressure, and dew point at the chosen dehumidifier.

6. The water damage mitigation management telecommunication device according to claim 5, wherein

the electronic data storage is configured to store normal moisture content data, which is the content of water occurring naturally a material, for a plurality of different materials;

and

the processor is further configured to cause at least one of the transceiver to transmit, the data input/output mechanism to transmit, and the display mechanism to display moisture map arrangement data received through the user input mechanism which includes a map demonstrating a geographic position of each floor and each wall in each room in the chamber, an identifying label for each floor and each wall in each room in the chamber, and a material of which each floor and each wall in each room in the chamber is made.

7. The water damage mitigation management telecommunication device according to claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to, with respect to the following received through the user input mechanism, cause at least one of the transceiver to transmit, the data input/output mechanism to transmit, and the display mechanism to display:

an actual moisture content measurement of each floor and each wall in each room in the chamber,

a height measurement of the height off the ground at which each actual moisture content measurement is taken, and

a temperature measurement of the room where each respective moisture content measurement is taken; and

associate and cause at least one of the transceiver to transmit, the data input/output mechanism to transmit, and the display mechanism to display, the actual moisture content, height measurement, and temperature measurement of each floor and each wall in each room in the chamber with their respective identifying labels.

8. The water damage mitigation management telecommunication device according to claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to:

repeatedly cause at least one of the transceiver to transmit, the data input/output mechanism to transmit, and the display mechanism to display, at additional particular times, moisture content measurements, height measurements, and temperature measurements of each floor and each wall in each room in the chamber repeatedly received through the user input mechanism until an actual moisture content of each floor and each wall in each room in the chamber corresponds to its normal moisture content, given the material of which each floor and each wall in each room in the chamber is made.

9. A water damage mitigation management method, implemented in a water damage mitigation management telecommunication device comprising a transceiver that transmits and receives information data and communication data over at least a portion of a telecommunication network, a data input/output mechanism that transmits and receives information data through a hard-wired connection, a user input mechanism, a display mechanism, an electronic data storage, and a processor cooperatively operable with the transceiver, the data input/output mechanism, the user input mechanism, the display mechanism, and the electronic data storage, the method comprising:

causing by the processor at least one of the transceiver to transmit, the data input/output mechanism to transmit, and the display mechanism to display;

chamber dimension data, including dimensions of one or more rooms in a chamber in which water damage has occurred,

water damage data, including a category of water and a class of the water, and

dehumidifier data, including a model type and a rating of a chosen dehumidifier to be used in removing water from the chamber;

using at least the chamber dimension data and the water damage data, determining by the processor, and causing by the processor at least one of the transceiver to transmit, the data input/output mechanism to transmit, and the display mechanism to display, a required quantity of water to be removed from the chamber over a given period of time; and

determining by the processor, and causing by the processor at least one of the transceiver to transmit, the data input/output mechanism to transmit, and the display mechanism to display, whether the required quantity of water to be removed is greater than, less than, or approximately equal to an expected quantity of water to be removed by the chosen dehumidifier over the given period of time.

10. The water damage mitigation management method according to claim 9, wherein:

the chamber dimension data further includes a flooring type for each of the one or more rooms and a number of wet walls for each of the one more rooms.

11. The water damage mitigation management method according to claim 9, further comprising:

determining by the processor, and causing by the processor at least one of the transceiver to transmit, the data input/output mechanism to transmit, and the display mechanism to display, an initial number of air movers needed to achieve the required quantity of water to be removed from the chamber over the given period of time.

12. The water damage mitigation management method according to claim 11, further comprising:

causing by the processor at least one of the transceiver to transmit, the data input/output mechanism to transmit, and the display mechanism to display respective measurements of temperature and relative humidity received through the user input mechanism and taken substantially at a particular time at various locations including an outside location that is exterior to the chamber, an affected area inside the chamber, an unaffected area inside the chamber, and inside an HVAC system in the chamber; and

using the respective measurements of temperature and relative humidity, determining by the processor, and causing by the processor at least one of the transceiver to transmit, the data input/output mechanism to transmit, and the display mechanism to display respective values of grains of water per pound of air (GPP), actual vapor pressure, and dew point for each of the outside location, the affected area, the unaffected area, and inside the HVAC system.

13. The water damage mitigation management method according to claim 12, further comprising:

causing by the processor at least one of the transceiver to transmit, the data input/output mechanism to transmit, and the display mechanism to display measurements of temperature and relative humidity provided substantially at the particular time by the chosen dehumidifier, and

using the measurements of temperature and relative humidity provided by the chosen dehumidifier at the particular time, determining by the processor, and causing by the processor at least one of the transceiver to transmit, the data input/output mechanism to transmit, and the display mechanism to display the grains of water per pound of air (GPP), the actual vapor pressure, and the dew point at the chosen dehumidifier.

14. The water damage mitigation management method according to claim 13, further comprising:

storing, by the electronic data storage, normal moisture content data, which is the content of water occurring naturally a material, for a plurality of different materials; and

causing by the processor at least one of the transceiver to transmit, the data input/output mechanism to transmit, and the display mechanism to display moisture map arrangement data received through the user input mechanism which includes a map demonstrating a geographic position of each floor and each wall in each room in the chamber, an identifying label for each floor and each wall in each room in the chamber, and a material of which each floor and each wall in each room in the chamber is made.

15. The water damage mitigation management method according to claim 14, further comprising

receiving, through the user input mechanism, the following taken at substantially the particular time:

an actual moisture content measurement of each floor and each wall in each room in the chamber,

a height measurement of the height off the ground at which each actual moisture content measurement is taken, and

a temperature measurement of the room where each respective moisture content measurement is taken; and

associating by the processor, and causing by the processor at least one of the transceiver to transmit, the data input/output mechanism to transmit, and the display mechanism to display, the actual moisture content, height measurement, and temperature measurement of each floor and each wall in each room in the chamber with their respective identifying labels.

16. The water damage mitigation management method according to claim 15, further comprising:

repeatedly causing by the processor at least one of the transceiver to transmit, the data input/output mechanism to transmit, and the display mechanism to display, at additional particular times, moisture content measurements, height measurements, and temperature measurements of each floor and each wall in each room in the chamber repeatedly received through the user input mechanism, until an actual moisture content of each floor and each wall in each room in the chamber corresponds to its normal moisture content, given the material of which each floor and each wall in each room in the chamber is made.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium with instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor in a water damage mitigation management telecommunication device further comprising a transceiver that transmits and receives information data and communication data over at least a portion of a telecommunication network, a data input/output mechanism that transmits and receives information data through a hard-wired connection, a user input mechanism, a display mechanism, an electronic data storage, the processor being cooperatively operable with the transceiver, the data input/output mechanism, the user input mechanism, the display mechanism, and the electronic data storage, result in a water damage mitigation method being performed comprising:

causing at least one of the transceiver to transmit, the data input/output mechanism to transmit, and the display mechanism to display;

chamber dimension data, including dimensions of one or more rooms in a chamber in which water damage has occurred,

water damage data, including a category of water and a class of the water, and

dehumidifier data, including a model type and a rating of a chosen dehumidifier to be used in removing water from the chamber;

using at least the chamber dimension data and the water damage data, determining, and causing at least one of the transceiver to transmit, the data input/output mechanism to transmit, and the display mechanism to display, a required quantity of water to be removed from the chamber over a given period of time; and

determining, and causing at least one of the transceiver to transmit, the data input/output mechanism to transmit, and the display mechanism to display, whether the required quantity of water to be removed is greater than, less than, or approximately equal to an expected quantity of water to be removed by the chosen dehumidifier over the given period of time.

18. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 17, wherein:

the chamber dimension data further includes a flooring type for each of the one or more rooms and a number of wet walls for each of the one more rooms.

19. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 17, further storing instructions that when executed by the processor result in the water damage mitigation method being performed further comprising:

determining, and causing at least one of the transceiver to transmit, the data input/output mechanism to transmit, and the display mechanism to display, an initial number of air movers needed to achieve the required quantity of water to be removed from the chamber over the given period of time.

20. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 19, further storing instructions that when executed by the processor result in the water damage mitigation method being performed further comprising:

causing at least one of the transceiver to transmit, the data input/output mechanism to transmit, and the display mechanism to display respective measurements of temperature and relative humidity received through the user input mechanism and taken substantially at a particular time at various locations including an outside location that is exterior to the chamber, an affected area inside the chamber, an unaffected area inside the chamber, and inside an HVAC system in the chamber; and

using the respective measurements of temperature and relative humidity, determining, and causing at least one of the transceiver to transmit, the data input/output mechanism to transmit, and the display mechanism to display, respective values of grains of water per pound of air (GPP), actual vapor pressure, and dew point for each of the outside location, the affected area, the unaffected area, and inside the HVAC system.

21. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 20, further storing instructions that when executed by the processor result in the water damage mitigation method being performed further comprising:

causing at least one of the transceiver to transmit, the data input/output mechanism to transmit, and the display mechanism to display measurements of temperature and relative humidity provided substantially at the particular time by the chosen dehumidifier; and

using the measurements of temperature and relative humidity provided by the chosen dehumidifier at the particular time, determining, and causing at least one of the transceiver to transmit, the data input/output mechanism to transmit, and the display mechanism to display the grains of water per pound of air (GPP), the actual vapor pressure, and the dew point at the chosen dehumidifier.

22. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 21, further storing instructions that when executed by the processor result in the water damage mitigation method being performed further comprising:

storing, by the electronic data storage, normal moisture content data, which is the content of water occurring naturally a material, for a plurality of different materials; and

causing at least one of the transceiver to transmit, the data input/output mechanism to transmit, and the display mechanism to display moisture map arrangement data received through the user input mechanism which includes a map demonstrating a geographic position of each floor and each wall in each room in the chamber, an identifying label for each floor and each wall in each room in the chamber, and a material of which each floor and each wall in each room in the chamber is made.

23. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 22, further storing instructions that when executed by the processor result in the water damage mitigation method being performed further comprising:

receiving, through the user input mechanism, the following taken at substantially the particular time;

an actual moisture content measurement of each floor and each wall in each room in the chamber,

a height measurement of the height off the ground at which each actual moisture content measurement is taken, and

a temperature measurement of the room where each respective moisture content measurement is taken; and

associating, and causing at least one of the transceiver to transmit, the data input/output mechanism to transmit, and the display mechanism to display, the actual moisture content, height measurement, and temperature measurement of each floor and each wall in each room in the chamber with their respective identifying labels.

24. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 23, further storing instructions that when executed by the processor result in the water damage mitigation method being performed further comprising:

repeatedly causing at least one of the transceiver to transmit, the data input/output mechanism to transmit, and the display mechanism to display, at additional particular times, moisture content measurements, height measurements, and temperature measurements of each floor and each wall in each room in the chamber repeatedly received through the user input mechanism, until an actual moisture content of each floor and each wall in each room in the chamber corresponds to its normal moisture content, given the material of which each floor and each wall in each room in the chamber is made.