Devices and system for channeling and automatic monitoring of fluid flow in fluid distribution systems

A method identifying fluid flow events in a fluid distribution system, the method comprising:

• generating, by an ultrasonic sensor of a fluid flow meter, measurement signals associated with respective ultrasonic signals propagating through a fluid in a chamber of the fluid distribution system, the fluid distribution system coupled to a plurality of devices capable of causing fluid flow through the chamber;
• storing, by a memory of the fluid flow meter, data representative of a plurality of device fluid flow signatures, each device fluid flow signature including statistical parameters defining a corresponding probability distribution of fluid flow rate for a corresponding device of the plurality of devices coupled to the fluid distribution system;
• computing, by one or more processors of the fluid flow meter, a sequence of fluid flow rate values associated with a fluid flow event based on a plurality of measurement signals generated by the ultrasonic sensor, the one or more processors communicatively coupled to the ultrasonic sensor and to the memory;
• determining, by the one or more processors of the fluid flow meter, for each device of the plurality of devices, a corresponding first conditional probability value representing the probability of the sequence of fluid flow rate values given that the fluid flow event is caused by the device, using the statistical parameters defining the probability distribution of fluid flow rate for the device;
• and
• identifying, by the one or more processors of the fluid flow meter, using the first conditional probability values, a device of the plurality of devices causing the fluid flow event.