Apparatus and Methods for Remotely Monitoring Water Utilization

Abstract

An apparatus and method for remotely monitoring water usage in real time utilizes a sensor attached to a water meter. The sensor monitors water flowing through the meter by analyzing the water meter's magnetic coupling and processes the data to correlate it to real time flow rates. Data is transmitted through a base unit to remote storage and consumers may access the data with application software installed on electronics such as smartphones and tablets. Four components are combined to allow the real time monitoring of water utilization.

1 . A method of monitoring water utilization through a water meter in real time comprising the steps of:
 a. installing on a water meter a sensor capable of detecting a gradient in magnetic field as water flows through the meter and with the sensor, generating water utilization data as water flows through the water meter by detecting the gradient in the magnetic field;   b. transmitting the water utilization data using RF signals to a remote data bridge;   c. transmitting the water utilization data from the data bridge to a remote storage facility;   d. conditioning the water utilization data so that it correlates to volumetric flow;   e. accessing the utilization data with an electronic device and presenting the water utilization data in a format correlating to real time water flow through the meter.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  including the step of providing a database containing water meter characterizing data for water meters, obtaining water meter characterizing data for the water meter being monitored, and correlating the water meter characterizing data with the water meter being monitored. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2  wherein the water utilization data is characterized by the water meter characterizing data for the specific water meter that is being monitored. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3  including the step of characterizing the water utilization data based on a threshold value. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the step of detecting the gradient in the magnetic field includes determining high and low values of the magnetic field and determining a threshold value. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5  including the step of determining the threshold value as a percentage of the high and low values. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1  including the step of presenting the water utilization data includes displaying the water utilization data on the electronic device as a function of water utilization over time. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1  including the step presenting the water utilization data includes displaying unexpected water utilization data as a function of time. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8  including the step providing alerts in response to detection of unexpected water utilization data. 
     
     
         10 . Apparatus for monitoring water flow through a water meter in real time, comprising:
 a water meter node configured for detecting water utilization data from a water meter, the water meter node including an RF transceiver adapted for transmitting water utilization data;   a receiving station remotely located from the water meter node and configured for receiving water utilization data transmitted via RF transceiver from the water meter node, the receiving station connected to a communication network and adapted for transmission of water utilization data over the communication network;   a remote storage facility for receipt of water utilization data transmitted from the receiving station via the network, and for storing the water utilization data;   an electronic device with application software for connecting to the remote storage facility and accessing the water utilization data to provide real time information regarding water flow through the water meter.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 10  in which the remote storage facility includes parametric characterizing data specific to the type of water meter. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 10  in which the water utilization data are based on threshold values. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 12  in which the water meter node is adapted for detecting a gradient in a magnetic field created by the water meter as water flows through the meter and the water meter node determines the high and low levels of the magnetic field and the threshold values are a percentage of the high and low values. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 13  in which the threshold values are some percentage of the high and low values. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 14  in which water utilization data is displayed on the electronic device as a function of water utilization over time. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 14  in which the water utilization data is displayed on the electronic device including a display of unexpected water utilization data as a function of time. 
     
     
         17 . A method of monitoring water flow through a water meter in real time comprising the steps of:
 a. detecting with a sensor a flow of water in a water meter;   b. generating signal data from the sensor as water flows through the water meter;   c. from the signal data, calculating volumetric flow data for water through the water meter to thereby define water utilization data;   d. providing the water utilization data to a remote storage device and accessing the water utilization data in a format correlating to real time water flow through the meter.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17  including transmitting the water utilization data using a RF transmitter to a data bridge located remotely from the sensor. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18  including transmitting the water utilization data to a remote storage facility via a communication network. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19  including accessing the water utilization data with an electronic device.