Restroom Convenience Center

Abstract

A restroom monitoring system for monitoring attributes of fixtures within a restroom using sensors. Additional attributes are determined from the monitored attributes. Consumable usage levels are estimated based on predetermined consumption levels associated with usage states of the fixtures. The restroom monitoring system provides an indication of the need for replenishment of consumables based on the monitored attributes of the fixtures. In addition, restroom monitoring system may provide additional information regarding the restroom attributes to a service provider, a manager or a user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A restroom control system for controlling a restroom and its restroom facilities, comprising:
 one or more sensors configured to monitor states associated with a first set of features of the restroom;   a controller operably coupled to the one or more sensors, and configured to receive first states data therefrom associated with the first set of features to determine second states data associated with a second set of features and communicate the status condition associated with the first set of features, thereby causing a useful actions to be scheduled for the restroom.   
     
     
         2 . The restroom control system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to collect and save the received first states data over a period of time and generate historical information associated with the restroom;
 thereby enabling future improvements of services for the restroom.   
     
     
         3 . The restroom control system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise sensor units of an automatic flush valve and an automatic faucet. 
     
     
         4 . The restroom control system of  claim 1 , further comprising a user interface for communicating the status condition. 
     
     
         5 . The restroom control system of  claim 1 , further comprising a patron call device configured to be manually activated upon a need for service associated with the restroom, wherein the actuation of the patron call device provides a signal to the controller. 
     
     
         6 . A method for automatically generating work orders for a restroom;
 sensing the state of at least one restroom fixture;   communicating the at least one sensed state to a controller;   calculating the use of at least one type of consumable within the restroom facility based upon a predetermined average usage for each of the at least one sensed states;   aggregating the calculated usage for each type of consumable within the restroom facility to determine a total amount used for each type of consumable;   determining when the total amount used for each type of consumable surpasses a predetermined threshold;   evaluating at least one of additional stored data and sudden occurrence data for determining whether the predetermined threshold should be adjusted based on the additional stored data and the sudden occurrence data;   issuing a work order for replenishment of each type of consumable for which the respective threshold has been surpassed.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising generating a time/date stamp for each sensed state. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising generating historical use data of the restroom based on the sensed data and time/date stamp and storing the historical use data. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising altering the predetermined threshold based on the historical use data. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising providing a manual input to alter the predetermined threshold based on the historical use data 
     
     
         11 . A method, comprising:
 receiving first data from a plurality of sensors, at least one associated with a flushometer;   inferring information based on the received first data, the inferred information being indicative of at least one state of the restroom facility requiring at least one corrective measure; and   transmitting at least one notification including at least one instruction for implementing the at least one corrective measure.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein a central restroom controller receives the first data over at least one of wired and wireless network. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the inferring of the information further comprises applying a predictive algorithm to the received first data. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the received direct/first data includes at least one of water closet flow, urinal water flow, a temperature of the restroom facility, air quality of the restroom facility, and user traffic through the restroom facility. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein inferred information includes at least one of a condition of a water closet, a condition of a urinal, a supply level of consumables in the restroom facility, and overall cleanliness of the restroom facility. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the transmitting of the at least one notification comprises transmitting an email, transmitting a page alert, transmitting an alarm notification, transmitting an SMS text, initiating a voice communication.