System for monitoring quality of water system

• US 7,391,333 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2005
• Issued: 06/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Source Sentinel LLC
• Original Assignee: Source Sentinel LLC
• Inventors: Campbell, Christopher, Brower, Michael R., Madden, Terrance P., Murphy, Cornelius
• Primary Examiner(s): Griffin; Walter D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Allen; Cameron J
• Application Number:
  US11/236,088
• Publication Number:
  US 20070257806A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,001 Days
• Field of Search: 210/615, 210/743, 210/739, 340/603, 73/614.1
• 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 chemical or biological contaminant in a body of water, comprising:

a monitoring module comprising a plurality of sensors positioned in said body of water, wherein each said sensor is adapted to sense a respective environmental parameter and to output data regarding said parameter, and a data transmitting unit coupled to said plurality of sensors for transmitting said data; and

a decision support module adapted to receive said data from said data transmitting unit, said decision support module comprising a relational database for storing said data and at least one rule for processing said data, an artificial intelligence processor programmed to identify trends in said data over time, and a decision processor interconnected to said relational database and said artificial intelligence processor that is programmed to apply the at least one rule for processing said data to determine the probability of the presence of said contaminant.

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 contaminant.

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

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

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

11. 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.

12. An apparatus for detecting and warning of the presence of hazardous biological or chemical contaminants 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 module programmed to identify trends in said data over time and a decision module programmed to apply at least one rule for processing said data to determine the probability of the presence of said contaminant;

a relational database for storing said data and the said least one rule for processing said data; and

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

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said threshold is a user-defined threshold.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said second signal is variable in relation to the magnitude of said probability.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a first communications network for transmitting said plurality of first signals to said processor.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a second communications network for transmitting said second signal to a remote location.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said second signal identifies said contaminant.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said artificial intelligence system comprises an inference engine.

19. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a display having color coded indicators for providing information about the presence of said hazardous condition, in response to said second signal.

20. An apparatus for predicting the occurrence of a specific biological or chemical contaminant 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 sensors module programmed to identify trends in said data over time and a decision module programmed to apply at least one rule for processing said data to determine the probability that the presence of said contaminant will occur;

a relational database for storing said data and the said least one rule for processing said data; and

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

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said threshold is a user-defined threshold.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said second signal is variable in relation to the magnitude of said probability.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a first communications network for transmitting said plurality of first signals to said processor.

24. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a second communications network for transmitting said second signal to a remote location.

25. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said second signal identifies said specific condition.

26. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said artificial intelligence system comprises an inference engine.

27. The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising a display having color coded indicators for providing information about the likelihood of said condition, in response to said second signal.