# US 8,751,374 B2 · System, method, and apparatus for managing wastewater treatment installation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,751,374 B2 - Document ID: US8751374B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/232,504 - Filed: 2008-09-18 - Published: 2009-03-26 - Granted: 2014-06-10 - Earliest claimed: 2006-10-23 - Assignees: Service Pro Monitoring, LLC. - Applicants: Gregory D. Graves - Inventors: Gregory D. Graves - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8751374B2 ## CPC - G05B 23/027: {Alarm generation, e.g. communication protocol; Forms of alarm} - G06Q 20/102: {Bill distribution or payments} - C02F 2209/008: comprising telecommunication features, e.g. modems or antennas - G05B 2223/06: Remote monitoring - Y02W 10/10: Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes) - Y02W: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT ## Abstract Apparatus for managing a residential wastewater treatment system includes an in situ control unit that monitors an individual system. The control unit provides local control and alarms, and also sends status reports and/or alarms to a remote monitoring center via a telemetry device. The remote monitoring center makes information concerning the individual system available through a website. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for monitoring and controlling a wastewater treatment system, comprising: a remote monitoring center; at least one distributor or service provider; and a plurality of in situ control units, each including circuitry for carrying out monitoring and control functions and to provide alarms, and a built-in telemetry device for communication of alarm conditions to said remote monitoring center, said remote monitoring center notifying a respective one said at least one distributor or service provider when maintenance is required or when service is required in response to any of said alarm conditions, said remote monitoring center further notifying a financial entity of: (i) fees charged by each distributor or service provider that has provided services in response to a request from said remote monitoring center for maintenance or in response to notification by said remote monitoring center of any of said alarm conditions, and (ii) monitoring fees charged by said remote monitoring center, wherein respective single consolidated invoices are sent by said financial entity directly to each owner of said in situ control units, and wherein fees collected in reply to said single consolidated invoices are distributed by said financial entity directly to an operator of said remote monitoring center and directly to each distributor or service provider that has provided said services requested by said remote monitoring center. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an administrator, and wherein said fees are further distributed to said administrator. ### Claim 3 A method for monitoring and controlling a wastewater treatment system, comprising the steps of: a remote monitoring center monitoring a plurality of in situ control units for individual wastewater treatment installations, said in situ control units including circuitry for carrying out monitoring and control functions and to provide alarms, and a built-in telemetry device for communication of alarm conditions to said remote monitoring center; said remote monitoring center notifying a distributor or service provider when maintenance is required or when a specific one of said alarm conditions has been communicated to said remote monitoring center by said built-in telemetry device; said remote monitoring center further notifying a financial entity of: (i) fees charged by each distributor or service provider that has provided services in response to a request from said remote monitoring center for maintenance or in response to communication of said one of said alarm conditions by said remote monitoring center, and (ii) monitoring fees charged by said remote monitoring center; said financial entity directly billing, by a single consolidated invoice, each owner of said in situ control units for said fees charged by each distributor and service provider that has provided said services and for said monitoring fees; said financial entity collecting payments reflective of the billing from owners of said in situ control units; and said financial entity distributing payments collected based on said single consolidated invoice directly to an operator of said remote monitoring center and directly to each said distributor and service provider that has provided services requested by said remote monitoring center. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A method as claimed in claim 3, further comprising the step of distributing said payments to an administrator. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said payments are collected and distributed by a third party financial entity. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said payments include payment for financial services provided by said third party financial entity.