SYSTEM AND METHOD TO DYNAMICALLY ALLOCATE WATER SAVINGS AMOUNTS FOR REMOTE WATER DEVICES

• US 20170053360A1
• Filed: 08/18/2015
• Published: 02/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Linkbee, LLC
• Original Assignee: Linkbee, LLC
• Inventors: Loeb, Michael R., Slosberg, Jason, Bein, Andrew, Kopel, Alvin, McCabe, Edward J., Rovegno, John F.
• Application Number:
  US14/828,771
• Publication Number:
  US 20170053360A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/125 Utility meter reading systems specially adapted for determining the environmental impact of user behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/002 Remote reading of utility meters
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/00 Water conservation; Efficient water supply; Efficient water use
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/34 Smart metering supporting the carbon neutral operation of end-user applications in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

According to some embodiments, data about a plurality of remote water devices may be received, and each water device is associated with one of plurality of customers of an enterprise and includes a wireless communication device. Based on data indicative of water usage by a first customer, a first water savings amount may be determined for the first customer in connection with a pre-determined period of time. An allocation of the first water savings amount between the first customer and the enterprise may be dynamically calculated, and an indication of the allocation between the first customer and the enterprise may be transmitted.

Claims

1. A system to facilitate water conservation, the system comprising:

communication port to receive data about a plurality of remote water devices, each water device being associated with one of a plurality of customers of an enterprise and including a wireless communication device;

a computer memory for storing data indicative of water usage by a first customer associated with a first water device; and

a processor in communication with the computer memory, wherein the processor is configured to;

determine, based on the data indicative of water usage by the first customer, a first water savings amount for the first customer in connection with a pre-determined period of time,

dynamically calculate an allocation of the first water savings amount between the first customer and the enterprise, and

transmit an indication of the allocation between the first customer and the enterprise.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein at least some of the water devices are cloud controlled water valve and flow meter devices.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the dynamic calculation is associated with at least one of:

(i) allocating a pre-determined amount to the first customer or the enterprise, and (ii) allocating a pre-determined percentage to the first customer or the enterprise.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein at least some of the water devices are further equipped with a sensor, and the processor is further configured to:

collect sensor information from the first water device.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the sensor is to detect:

(i) an amount of water flowing through the water device, (ii) a water pressure amount, and (iii) data from another sensor.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication port receives data about the first water device via at least one of:

(i) a first customer communication hub co-located with the first water device, and (ii) one of a plurality of water devices wherein the water devices comprise a mesh network topology.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the indication of the allocation between the first customer and the enterprise is transmitted to at least one of:

(i) a first customer device, (ii) an enterprise device, (iii) a water utility device, and (iv) a payment platform.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine, based on the data indicative of water usage by the first customer, at least one of an overall water usage cost and a water usage rate.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

based on the data indicative of water usage by the first customer, transmit to the first customer a warning message.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to:

based on the data indicative of water usage by the first customer, transmit a control signal to the first water device.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the control signal is to reduce an amount of water flowing through the first water device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the first customer is associated with a plurality of water devices, and the control signal is to control a subset of the plurality of water devices.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one remote water device includes:

a water characteristic measuring portion adapted to measure at least one characteristic of water proximate to the at least one remote water device.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one remote water device includes:

an electricity generation portion adapted to create electrical energy utilizing water flowing in proximity to the at least one remote water device.

15. A computerized method to facilitate use of water devices, the method comprising:

receiving data about a plurality of remote water devices, each water device being associated with one of a plurality of customers of an enterprise and including a wireless communication device;

storing data indicative of water usage by a first customer associated with a first water device;

determining, based on the data indicative of water usage by the first customer, a first water savings amount for the first customer in connection with a pre-determined period of time;

dynamically calculating an allocation of the first water savings amount between the first customer and the enterprise; and

transmitting an indication of the allocation between the first customer and the enterprise.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein at least some of the water devices are cloud controlled water values and flow meter devices.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the dynamic calculation is associated with at least one of:

(i) allocating a pre-determined amount to the first customer or the enterprise, and (ii) allocating a pre-determined percentage to the first customer or the enterprise.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein at least some of the water devices are further equipped with a sensor, and the processor is further configured to:

collect sensor information from the first water device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the sensor is to detect:

(i) an amount of water flowing through the water device, (ii) a water pressure amount, and (iii) data from another sensor.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the communication port receives data about the first water device via at least one of:

(i) a first customer communication hub co-located with the first water device, and (ii) one of a plurality of water devices wherein the water devices comprise a mesh network topology.

21. A non-transitory, computer readable medium having stored therein instructions that, upon execution, cause a computer to perform a method to facilitate use of water devices, the method comprising:

receiving data about a plurality of remote water devices, each water device being associated with one of a plurality of customers of an enterprise and including a wireless communication device;

storing data indicative of water usage by a first customer associated with a first water device;

determining, based on the data indicative of water usage by the first customer, a first water savings amount for the first customer in connection with a pre-determined period of time;

dynamically calculating an allocation of the first water savings amount between the first customer and the enterprise; and

transmitting an indication of the allocation between the first customer and the enterprise.

22. The medium of claim 21, wherein at least some of the water devices are cloud controlled water value and flow meter devices.

23. The medium of claim 21, wherein the dynamic calculation is associated with at least one of:

(i) allocating a pre-determined amount to the first customer or the enterprise, and (ii) allocating a pre-determined percentage to the first customer or the enterprise.