US 2019/0162572 A1Published application

Water wastage detection system

AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation

InventorsVitobha Munigala, SRIKANTH G. TAMILSELVAM, Manikandan Padmanaban, Jagabondhu Hazra

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Abstract

An indication of water flowing into a fixture and down a drain of the fixture is received. A timer is started. A flow rate and attributes of the water flowing into the fixture are monitored. Attributes of the water flowing through the drain are monitored. A determination is made that the attributes of water flowing into the fixture match, within a threshold, the attributes of water flowing through the drain. A first duration of time of water being wasted is determined. A determination is made that water flowing into the fixture has stopped. A total duration of time of water being wasted, based on at least the first duration of time, is determined. A volume of water being wasted is determined based on the total duration of time and the flow rate.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method comprising:

receiving, by one or more computer processors, an indication of water flowing into a fixture and down a drain of the fixture;
starting, by one or more computer processors, a timer;
monitoring, by one or more computer processors, a flow rate and attributes of water flowing into the fixture;
monitoring, by one or more computer processors, attributes of water flowing through the drain;
determining, by one or more computer processors, that the attributes of water flowing into the fixture match, within a threshold, the attributes of water flowing through the drain;
responsive to determining that the attributes of water flowing into the fixture match, within the threshold, the attributes of water flowing through the drain, determining, by one or more computer processors, a first duration of time of water being wasted;
determining, by one or more computer processors, that water flowing into the fixture has stopped;
responsive to determining that water flowing into the fixture has stopped;
determining, by one or more computer processors, a total duration of time of water being wasted based on, at least, the first duration of time;
and
determining, by one or more computer processors, a volume of water being wasted based on the total duration of time and the flow rate.

8 more elements

A computer program product comprising:

one or more computer readable storage media;
and
program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, the program instructions comprising:
program instructions to receive an indication of water flowing into a fixture and down a drain of the fixture;
program instructions to start a timer;
program instructions to monitor a flow rate and attributes of water flowing into the fixture;
program instructions to monitor attributes of water flowing through the drain;
program instructions to determine that the attributes of water flowing into the fixture match, within a threshold, the attributes of water flowing through the drain;
responsive to determining that the attributes of water flowing into the fixture match, within the threshold, the attributes of water flowing through the drain, program instructions to determine a first duration of time of water being wasted;
program instructions to determine that water flowing into the fixture has stopped;
responsive to determining that water flowing into the fixture has stopped;
program instructions to determine a total duration of time of water being wasted based on, at least, the first duration of time;
and
program instructions to determine a volume of water being wasted based on the total duration of time and the flow rate.

11 more elements

A computer system comprising:

one or more computer processors;
one or more computer readable storage media;
and
program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media for execution by at least one of the one or more computer processors, the program instructions comprising:
program instructions to receive an indication of water flowing into a fixture and down a drain of the fixture;
program instructions to start a timer;
program instructions to monitor a flow rate and attributes of water flowing into the fixture;
program instructions to monitor attributes of water flowing through the drain;
program instructions to determine that the attributes of water flowing into the fixture match, within a threshold, the attributes of water flowing through the drain;
responsive to determining that the attributes of water flowing into the fixture match, within the threshold, the attributes of water flowing through the drain, program instructions to determine a first duration of time of water being wasted;
program instructions to determine that water flowing into the fixture has stopped;
responsive to determining that water flowing into the fixture has stopped;
program instructions to determine a total duration of time of water being wasted based on, at least, the first duration of time;
and
program instructions to determine a volume of water being wasted based on the total duration of time and the flow rate.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/825,133Filed 29 Nov 2017
Published: 30 May 2019
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

G01F 15/0755
Using electrically-operated integrating means: involving digital counting
E03B 7/072
Arrangement of devices, e.g. filters, flow controls, measuring devices, siphons or valves, in the pipe systems: arrangement of flowmeters
G01F 15/003
Means for regulating or setting the meter for a predetermined quantity: using electromagnetic, electric or electronic means
G01F 22/00
Methods or apparatus for measuring volume of fluids or fluent solid material