Flushable pill sensor
AssigneeState Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
InventorsNathan L. Tofte, Brian N. Harvey, Vicki King, Joseph P. Harr
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for detecting blockages or leaks in a piping system. A water-resistant pill sensor is tracked while it travels through the piping system. The pill sensor's travel speed, travel time, movement, images, audio, and/or other data determines if a leak or blockage exists, and if so, an electronic notification detailing the blockage or leak, its location, and corrective action is sent.
Claims20
A computer-implemented method of detecting blockages or leaking pipes, the method comprising:
- tracking, via one or more local or remote processors, transceivers, and/or sensors, a water-resistant pill sensor traveling through one or more piping systems and/or tracking a position or estimated location of the pill sensor as the pill sensor travels through the one or more piping systems;
- estimating, via the one or more local or remote processors, transceivers, and/or sensors, a travel speed and/or travel time of the pill sensor through the one or more piping systems;
- determining or detecting, via the one or more local or remote processors, transceivers, and/or sensors, that a blockage or leak in the one or more piping systems exists based upon the pill sensor (i) travel speed, (ii) travel time, (iii) movement through the one or more piping systems, (iv) images, (v) audio or acoustic data sets, or (vi) other data sets;
- and when a blockage or leak exists:
- (a) determining or detecting, via the one or more local or remote processors, transceivers, and/or sensors, a location of the blockage or leak in the one or more piping systems exists;
- (b) generating and transmitting, via the one or more local or remote processors, transceivers, and/or sensors, an electronic notification detailing the blockage or leak, and a location of the blockage or leak, to a mobile device of a user or home owner;
- and (c) generating and transmitting, via the one or more local or remote processors, transceivers, and/or sensors, an electronic notification detailing one or more corrective actions to mitigate an impact of the blockage or leak to the mobile device of the user or home owner.
A computer system for detecting blockages or leaks in pipes or piping systems, the computer system comprising:
- one or more local or remote processors, transceivers, and/or sensors;
- and one or more water-resistant pill sensors;
- the one or more local or remote processors, transceivers, and/or sensors configured to track a pill sensor traveling through one or more piping systems and/or track a position or estimated location of the pill sensor as the pill sensor travels through the one or more piping systems;
- estimate a travel speed and/or travel time of the pill sensor through the one or more piping systems;
- determine or detect that a blockage or leak in the one or more piping systems exists based upon the pill sensor (i) travel speed, (ii) travel time, (iii) movement through the one or more piping systems, (iv) images, (v) audio or acoustic data, or (vi) other data sets;
- and when a blockage or leak exists:
- (a) determine or detect a location of the blockage or leak in the one or more piping systems exists;
- (b) generate and transmit an electronic notification detailing the blockage or leak, and a location of the blockage or leak, to a mobile device of a user or home owner;
- and (c) generate and transmit an electronic notification detailing one or more corrective actions to mitigate an impact of the blockage or leak to the mobile device of the user or home owner.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.