Token-operated apparatus for communal prepayment water management

• US 6,243,693 B1
• Filed: 02/10/1998
• Issued: 06/05/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Merlin Gerin SA Pty Ltd (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Merlin Gerin SA Pty Ltd (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Richards, Wayne Noel
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dixon, Thomas A.
• Application Number:
  US09/021,100
• Time in Patent Office: 1,211 Days
• Field of Search: 705/412, 731/525.1, 73/300.3, 73/17.3, 738/61
• US Class Current: 705/412
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/127 Shopping or accessing services according to a time-limitation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/00 Coin-freed apparatus with meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/06 with means for prepaying basic charges, e.g. rent for meters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00

Abstract

A system and apparatus for controlling and measuring the flow of water delivered per transaction of a community water management arrangement, the apparatus having an inlet and outlet, a meter to determine the volume of water delivered and also to adjust data contained in a customer data device, the data device being presentable to an interface for a time period chosen by the customer for a predetermined volume of water, the metering unit and regulator being stopped by removable of the data device or by a management station signal, the management station being capable of receiving information directly from the personal consumer data device and from the personal consumer data device via the apparatus.

Claims

1. A system for communal prepayment water management, the system comprising:

a management station;

a water control device for controllably dispensing water; and

a personal consumer data device,

the water control device being remote from the management station, being controllable by the management station and by the personal consumer data device, and being in data communication with both the management station and the personal consumer data device during a water dispensing action,

the management station being configured for receiving and writing information directly from and to the personal consumer data device and from and to the personal consumer data device via the water control device so as to validate data and update data on the personal consumer data device,

the personal consumer data device being in data communication with the management station when the personal data device is inserted into the prepayment metering unit,

the water control device having

a water inlet and a water outlet for the flow of water therebetween,

a metering unit connected intermediate the water inlet and water outlet for metering the flow of water,

a regulator located intermediate the water inlet and water outlet for controlling the flow of water therebetween,

a computing unit operatively connected to the metering unit, and

a personal consumer data device interface having a port for accepting the personal consumer data device,

the personal consumer data device interface and the computing unit being operatively connected to the metering unit and arranged to control the metering unit and the regulator, to monitor a volume of water delivered through the metering unit, and to incrementally decrease a credit remaining in the personal consumer data device based on water volume delivery data,

the metering unit being activated by the personal consumer data device being inserted in the personal consumer data device interface,

the metering unit being de-activated by the personal consumer data device being removed from the personal consumer data device interface,

the metering unit and regulator being de-activatable by the management station,

in a first mode of operation, when the personal consumer data device is removed from the personal consumer data device interface, the personal consumer data interface and computing unit direct the metering unit to shut off the flow of water,

the personal consumer data device retains a credit from a last incremental credit decrease based on water volume delivery data prior to removing the personal consumer data device from the water control device, and

the water control device, upon removal of the personal consumer data device from the personal consumer data device interface, transmits the water delivery volume data to the management station,

in a second mode of operation, with the consumer data device inserted in the water control device, the regulator is operated to start and stop the flow of water in compliance with a signal received from the management station, the signal being related to a total credit data remaining on the personal consumer data device, the total credit data being receivable and recordable by the management station for permissibility of a transaction according to available credit and transferable to the personal consumer data device interface for transference to the consumer data device as water is delivered through the water control device so that the recordal of a transaction by the management station is transferable to the personal consumer data device through the water control device.