Method and system for assessing usage of devices of a property

A computer-implemented method performed by at least one processor comprising:

• receiving consumption data comprising readings from one or more utility meters associated with a property comprising one or more devices, the one or more devices comprising one or more devices of interest;
• determining, in the received consumption data, one or more positive consumption variations indicative of switching on of one or more of the devices and/or one or more negative consumption variations indicative of switching off of one or more of the devices;
• identifying a plurality of events associated with the one or more devices, based on the determined variations, each event identified by matching one or more positive variations with one or more negative variations;
• grouping the identified events into one or more blocks, each block corresponding to an occurrence of usage of a device of the property, wherein the grouping comprises:
• grouping events of similar magnitudes occurring within a predetermined space of time, to generate a block associated with a device of interest of the property;
• classifying the one or more blocks into one or more predetermined clusters, the one or more predetermined clusters comprising a respective predetermined cluster associated with each device of interest of the property, wherein the classifying comprises, for each block being classified, using a vector classifier using a model-based clustering and an expectation-maximization algorithm in an n-dimensional space to classify the block,
• wherein, for a given one of said blocks formed in the grouping step, the given block comprising multiple events, each event corresponding to matched positive and negative power consumption variations as identified in the identifying step, the n dimensions input to the vector classifier comprise at least one of:
• a time of the start of the given block of multiple events;
• a time of the end of the given block of multiple events;
• a duration of the given block of multiple events;
• and
• a number of events in the given block of multiple events;
• determining an occurrence and/or an absence of usage of the one or more devices of interest of the property, based on the classification into the one or more predetermined clusters;
• comparing the determined occurrence and/or absence of usage of the one or more devices of interest of the property with one or more predetermined usage patterns associated with the one or more devices of interest of the property;
• determining whether the determined occurrence and/or absence of usage of the one or more devices of interest of the property is associated with normal or abnormal usage, based on the comparison, wherein the comparing and determining whether the determined occurrence and/or absence of usage of the one or more devices steps comprise:
• determining a detection time indicating one of:
• a time in an observation period at which occurrence of usage was detected;
• and a time period in the observation period during which an absence of usage was detected, and identifying the occurrence or absence of usage as normal or abnormal based on the detection time and probability information indicating probabilities of usage of the device over the observation period;
• and
• based on the detection time and on whether the occurrence and/or absence of usage was determined as normal or abnormal;
• causing output of a selected one of a plurality of predetermined alarm signal types when determined as abnormal, wherein the selected alarm signal type comprises one of:
• a first type of alarm signal to cause a communication to a relative;
• a second type of alarm signal to cause a communication to a professional caregiver;
• and a third type of alarm signal to cause a visit to the property by the professional caregiver;
• or
• not causing output of any type of alarm signal when determined normal.