Systems and methods for predicting system use and calibrating the predictions

Abstract

A method for is disclosed herein, including receiving, by a processor, a first sensor signal, retrieving, by the processor, a first dispense time for a faucet in response to the first sensor signal being a request for water from the faucet, activating, by the processor, the faucet to dispense water for the first dispense time, receiving, by the processor, a second sensor signal while the faucet is dispensing water, determining, by the processor, that the faucet is active in response to the second sensor signal being a request for soap from a soap dispenser, calculating, by the processor, a first frequency of the faucet being active when the second sensor signal is received, and decreasing, by the processor, the first dispense time in response to the first frequency being above a first threshold.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, by a processor, a first sensor signal;   retrieving, by the processor, a first dispense time for a faucet in response to the first sensor signal being a request for water from the faucet;   activating, by the processor, the faucet to dispense water for the first dispense time;   receiving, by the processor, a second sensor signal while the faucet is dispensing water;   determining, by the processor, that the faucet is active in response to the second sensor signal being a request for soap from a soap dispenser;   calculating, by the processor, a first frequency of the faucet being active when the second sensor signal is received; and   decreasing, by the processor, the first dispense time in response to the first frequency being above a first threshold.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first frequency is a measurement of multiple requests as a percentage of total requests over a predetermined number of uses, and wherein the first threshold is about 70% of the predetermined number of uses being multiple requests. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 retrieving, by the processor, an amount of soap to dispense from the soap dispenser in response to the second sensor signal;   activating, by the processor, the soap dispenser to dispense the amount of soap;   receiving, by the processor, a third sensor signal indicating a request for soap from the soap dispenser;   calculating, by the processor, a second frequency of multiple requests for soap to total requests for soap; and   increasing, by the processor, the amount of soap to dispense in response to the second frequency being above a second threshold.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein multiple requests for soap includes a second request for soap being received within about 5 seconds of a first request for soap. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the second frequency is a measurement of a number of multiple requests for soap as a percentage of total requests for soap over a predetermined number of uses, and wherein the second threshold is about 70% of the predetermined number of uses. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the processor, a fourth sensor signal indicating a request for water, the fourth sensor signal received after the second sensor signal;   retrieving, by the processor, a second dispense time for the faucet;   activating, by the processor, the faucet to dispense water for the second dispense time;   receiving, by the processor, a fifth sensor signal indicating a request for water, the fifth sensor signal received after the fourth sensor signal;   calculating, by the processor, a third frequency of multiple requests for water in response to the fifth sensor signal being within a time threshold of the fourth sensor signal; and   increasing, by the processor, the second dispense time in response to the third frequency being above a third threshold.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the second dispense time is greater than the first dispense time. 
     
     
         8 . A method, comprising:
 determining, by a processor, a number of uses available in a system in a touchless lavatory;   receiving, by the processor, a first trigger to use the system;   decrementing, by the processor, the number of uses in response to the first trigger; and   sending, by the processor, a warning in response to the number of uses being below a threshold.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the determining the number of uses comprises:
 retrieving, by the processor, a supply count;   retrieving, by the processor, a prediction; and   calculating, by the processor, the number of uses based on the supply count and the prediction.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the system is a touchless soap dispenser and the number of uses is based on an amount of soap in the soap dispenser and an amount soap dispensed at one time by the soap dispenser. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the system is a touchless waste bin and the number is uses is based on an estimated volume of waste each time the touchless waste bin is activated. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the system is a touchless toilet and the number of uses is based on an estimated amount of toilet paper used. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the processor, a second trigger for the system;   determining, by the processor, the second trigger is within a first time period of the first trigger; and   skipping, by the processor, the decrementing the number of uses in response to the first time period being below a time threshold.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the threshold is about  5  seconds to about  10  seconds. 
     
     
         15 . A system in a touchless lavatory, comprising:
 a motor;   a sensor;   a consumable;   a processor coupled to the motor and the sensor; and   a memory operatively coupled to the processor, the memory comprising instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
 receive a signal from the sensor; 
 operate the motor in response to the signal; 
 track the use of the consumable; and 
 send a warning in response to a prediction that the consumable is close to depleted. 
   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:
 receive a first feedback status indicating that the warning is early, late, or accurate; and   update the prediction a first amount in response to the first feedback status.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:
 receive a second feedback status requesting a major update to the prediction; and   update the prediction a second amount in response to the second feedback status, the second amount being greater than the first amount.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the prediction is increased by about 10% to about 20% in response to the first feedback status indicating the warning is early and the prediction is decreased by about 5% to about 15% in response to the first feedback status indicating the warning is late. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the prediction is increased by about 2% to about 10% in response to the first feedback status indicating the warning is early and the prediction is decreased by about 2% to about 10% in response to the first feedback status indicating the warning is late. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a user interface configured to display the warning.