Method of determining resource usage information for a facility, data collection device, data collection system and data collection method

A method comprising:

• outputting a detection signal having a signal intensity from the one or more sensors toward the consumable resource along the axial direction and reflecting the detection signal from the consumable resource, wherein the signal intensity of the reflected detection signal is indicative of an amount of consumption of the consumable resource usage;
• detecting, using the one or more electronic sensors, the reflected detection signal and generating using the one or more electronic sensors resource usage sensor data indicative of the amount of consumption and a location of the consumable dispenser in the facility;
• transmitting resource usage sensor data indicative of the amount of consumption from the one or more electronic sensors via a first communications channel to a data collection device;
• wirelessly receiving, by said data collection device comprising a processor within a housing, an electrical signal indicative of the resource usage sensor data relating to a location in a facility via said first communications channel from said one or more electronic sensors;
• applying to the resource usage sensor data, by said processor of the data collection device, a criterion that defines when a predetermined usage event associated with a change in a resource state of the location in the facility has occurred;
• identifying, by said processor of the data collection device, usage data associated with the predetermined usage event when the resource usage sensor data meets the criterion;
• assembling a message including a logical value indicative of a type of usage event and the resource usage sensor data associated with the predetermined usage event in response to the resource usage sensor data meeting the criterion;
• only determining, by said data collection device, to transmit said message via a second communications channel to a server in response to the resource usage sensor data meeting the criterion;
• determining, by said data collection device, to store data indicating the occurrence of the predetermined usage event in response to the resource usage sensor data not meeting the criterion in said data collection device;
• and
• transmitting data or storing data, by said data collection device, based on the determinations,
• wherein the resource usage sensor data is fill level data associated with the dispenser or the waste bin,
• wherein the predetermined usage event is selected from at least one of a low fill level event, a high fill level event, an emptying event, and a refill event, and
• wherein applying the criterion comprises reading previously stored data relating to the resource state of the location in the facility to determine a previously existing resource state of the location in the facility.

A system comprising:

• at least one dispenser configured to provide a consumable resource or a waste bin configured to receive a consumable resource;
• one or more sensors coupled to the dispenser or the waste bin, the one or more sensors configured to output a detection signal having a signal intensity toward the consumable resource, to detect a reflection of the detection signal that is reflected from the consumable resource, and to output an electronic signal indicative of resource usage sensor data indicating the signal intensity which changes in response to consumption of the consumable resource and a location in a facility via a first communications channel from the one or more sensors;
• a data collection device in signal communication with one or more electronic sensors via a first communications channel, the data collection device configured to:
• wirelessly receive the electronic signal indicative of resource usage sensor data indicating the signal intensity of the reflected detection signal and the location in a facility via a first communications channel from one or more sensors;
• apply to the resource usage sensor data a criterion that defines when a predetermined usage event associated with a change in a resource state of the location in the facility has occurred;
• identify usage data based on the signal intensity of the reflected detection signal as indicated by the electronic signal, the usage data associated with the predetermined usage event when the resource usage sensor data meets the criterion;
• assemble a message including a logical value indicative of a type of usage event and data indicating an occurrence of the predetermined usage event in response to the resource usage sensor data meeting the criterion;
• only transmit said message including the data indicating the occurrence of the predetermined usage event via a second communications channel to a server in response to the resource usage sensor data meeting the criterion;
• and
• store the data indicating the occurrence of the predetermined usage event in response to the resource usage sensor data not meeting the criterion;
• wherein the resource usage sensor data is fill level data associated with the at least one dispenser or waste bin,
• wherein the criterion is applied by reading previously stored data relating to the resource state of the location in the facility to determine a previously existing resource state of the location in the facility, and
• wherein the predetermined usage event is selected from at least one of a low fill level event, a high fill level event, an emptying event, and a refill event.