IT202100016049A1 - SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MONITORING AND CONTROL OF AIR QUALITY IN CLOSED ENVIRONMENTS. - Google Patents

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MONITORING AND QUALITY CONTROL

OF THE AIR IN CLOSED ENVIRONMENTS

DESCRIPTION

Technical field of the invention

The present invention refers to the technical field of detection and quality control systems? of the air. Pi? in particular, the present invention relates to a system and a method for centralized and remote monitoring and control of a plurality of of detection and quality control devices? systems, preferably air treatment and sanitizing devices, installed in closed environments, for example domestic environments, workplaces, schools, public places, public transport and the like.

State of the art prior to the invention

Each person breathes about twenty-three thousand times a day, moving over twelve thousand liters of air. Furthermore, most people spend between 75% and 90% of their day indoors, where the internal air is ? more often polluted air of the external environment.

In this regard, the United States? Agency for the protection of the environment (EPA - Environment Protection Agency) has found that the level of pollution of the air present inside closed environments, or indoor air, can? be even a hundred times higher than the level of pollution of the air of the external environment, or external air.

The Italian Ministry of the Environment has also detected the presence, in the internal air, of chemical, physical and/or biological pollutants, which are not present in the external air.

The main causes of air pollution present in closed environments are the following: presence of particulate matter, which includes dust, dandruff, soot, asbestos, synthetic wool fibres, pollen, smoke particles, etc.; presence of microbes, including bacteria, germs, viruses, fungi, spores, moulds, etc.; presence of gases and odors, which include carbon monoxide, radon, acetaldehyde, benzene, formaldehyde, chloroform, ammonia, volatile organic compounds, etc. Other factors that contribute to indoor air pollution are poor ventilation, i.e. lack of outside air, and incorrect temperature and humidity conditions.

Also, specific contaminants, such as construction or renovation dust, cleaning products, pesticides, or other airborne chemicals (including small amounts of chemicals released as gases over time) can cause indoor air pollution problems.

A quality? of the optimal air inside the closed environments of buildings, such as for example homes, schools, offices and companies, ? important not only for the comfort of the people inside them, for example students and workers, but also, and above all, for their health.

Several studies have, in fact, demonstrated the existence of a strong correlation between the presence of polluted air inside a closed environment and clinical manifestations, such as for example headaches, tiredness, difficulty in walking. concentration and irritation of the eyes, nose, throat and lungs, allergies, asthma, leading to define the existence of a real sick building syndrome (SBS ? Sick Building Syndrome).

Other pathologies caused by polluted indoor air are legionellosis, caused by the Legionella bacterium, which lives in aerobic and humid environments, in particular in all heating and air nebulisation systems, and humidifier fever, caused by the presence, in the air conditioning, of microorganisms such as Bacillus subtilis, which cause flu-like symptoms.

The World Health Organization? stated that more 30% of the buildings in the world could have the problem of indoor air pollution.

How?? known, to improve the quality? air in a building, air detection and control devices are installed, suitably located in the various enclosed areas of the building.

These known air detection and control devices are preferably air treatment and sanitization devices, which typically comprise a fan for sucking the polluted internal air and introducing the treated air into the closed environment and sanitized, and a plurality? of filters, treatment and sanitation of the air.

In particular, the filters comprise a filter suitable for the treatment of dust and large particles, such as for example spores and pollen, a further filter, suitable for the treatment of small particles and an activated carbon filter, for of smoke and bad smells. Known devices also comprise a UV lamp for eliminating viruses and bacteria.

These air treatment and sanitation devices are often produced by different manufacturers and of the stand-alone type, i.e. they require manual interventions by a user for configuration, verification and maintenance. As an alternative to stand-alone devices, treatment and sanitization devices with wi-fi technology have recently been proposed, i.e. remotely controllable, for example through proprietary applications stored on a user's smartphone.

However, the devices for detecting and controlling the air in closed environments of the known type briefly described above have a series of drawbacks, including, of centralized monitoring and control of all the devices present inside the building, difficulty? centralized management of devices for on/off operations, with consequent waste of energy; difficulty? of centralized management of the devices for maintenance operations, for example filter change, with consequent deterioration of the quality? of the air; and difficulty? of preventive assistance by specialized personnel, in order to guarantee a constant quality? of the air.

Summary of the invention

The main purpose of the present invention ? therefore that of making available a system and a method of monitoring and quality control? air in closed environments, configured in such a way as to allow centralized and remote monitoring and control of a plurality? of air detection and control devices installed in the closed rooms of a building. Another object of the present invention ? to make available a system and a method of monitoring and quality control? of the air in closed environments, configured to guarantee complete and hierarchical management of the supply chain, from the distributor to the final customer, of the air detection and control devices.

Another object of the present invention ? to make available a system and a method of monitoring and quality control? of the air in closed environments, configured to allow remote and centralized diagnostics of the air detection and control devices.

Yet another object of the present invention? to make available a system and a method of monitoring and quality control? of the air in closed environments, configured in such a way as to optimize the performance, in terms of internal air treatment, of the air detection and control devices.

Another object of the present invention ? to make available a system and a method of monitoring and quality control? of the air in closed environments, configured in such a way as to allow predictive maintenance, ordinary and extraordinary, of the air detection and control devices.

Yet another object of the present invention? to make available a system and a method of monitoring and quality control? of the air in closed environments, configured to allow interfacing and integration between the air detection and control devices of different manufacturers.

These and other aims, which will appear better in the following of the present description, are achieved by a quality monitoring and control system and method? of the air in closed environments according to the independent claims 1 and 9. Preferred characteristics of the system and of the detection and quality control method? of the air in closed environments are set forth in the dependent claims.

In its first aspect, the invention therefore concerns a quality monitoring and control system. of the air in closed environments including:

- a plurality? of detection and quality control devices? air, located in one or more? rooms of a building, each device being equipped with a wireless communication module;

- a server in wireless communication with each air detection and control device for centralized and remote monitoring and control of a series of operating parameters of each device; and

- a user profiling module, operationally connected to the server and configured to hierarchically organize a plurality? of system users.

Thanks to this combination of characteristics, in particular thanks to the use of the server in wireless communication with the air detection and control devices, ? It is possible to detect a series of operating parameters of the devices, on the basis of which to centrally and remotely manage the operation of the devices themselves, in order to guarantee the quality? optimal air quality inside closed environments, where the devices are installed. Furthermore, thanks to the presence of the user profiling module in communication with the server ? It is possible to manage accounts, roles and permissions of individual system users.

Preferably, the user profiling module uses a dynamic and configurable authorization management technique through roles, which provides the possibility to define permissions, which discriminate access to features? or dataset.

In one embodiment, the system comprises an artificial intelligence module, operatively connected to the server to receive the results of a series of measurements performed by the devices, calculate an integrated health index value and of the air on the basis of the received measurement results and transmit the integrated health index value to the server? calculated, on the basis of which the server modifies one or more? operating parameters of the devices. Preferably, the measurements performed by the devices include at least one of the following measurements: numerical measurement of particles, measurement of temperature and humidity? of closed environments, photometric measurement, measurement of CO2 and volatile organic compounds, measurement of quantity? bacterial viral, measurement of the presence of ozone and/or measurement of the presence of formaldehyde.

In one embodiment, the system comprises a malfunction and failure detection and reporting module, operationally connected to the server and configured to detect, on the basis of measurement results performed by the devices and sent to the server, malfunctions and/or failures of each device and transmit an alarm message to one or more? system users.

In one embodiment, the malfunction and failure detection and reporting module is operationally connected to the artificial intelligence module and includes one or more? applications, by means of which to identify, on the basis of an analysis of statistical data on the use of the devices, any ordinary or extraordinary predictive maintenance interventions to be carried out on the individual devices.

In one embodiment, the system comprises an application interface for integrating the system with other subsystems which ensure the interfacing of a series of devices for detecting and controlling the air in closed environments.

In one embodiment, each detection and quality control device? of the air ? associated with a unique identifier for interfacing with the server through the respective wireless communication module.

In a second aspect thereof, the invention relates to a method for detecting and controlling the quality of air conducted using a system as defined above, the method comprising the steps of:

- prepare a plurality? of detection and quality control devices? air, located in one or more? rooms of a building, each device being equipped with a wireless communication module;

- centrally and remotely monitor and control a series of operating parameters of each device by means of a server in wireless communication with each device; and

- hierarchically organize a plurality? of users through a user profiling module, operationally connected to the server.

In one embodiment, the method comprises a preliminary step of interfacing each device with the server using a wireless communication module of each device and a unique identifier associated with each device.

In one embodiment, the method comprises a further modification step, by the server, of a series of operating parameters of the devices, based on an integrated health index value. calculated by an artificial intelligence module operationally connected to the server.

In one embodiment, the method comprises a further detection step, by a malfunction and failure detection and reporting module operationally connected to the server, on the basis of measurement results performed by the devices, followed by a sending step, by the server, of an alarm message to one or more? users.

Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the following detailed description of its preferred embodiments, given hereinafter, by way of example and not of limitation, with reference to the attached drawings. In the drawings:

- Figure 1 ? a schematic view of a quality control and monitoring system? of the air in closed environments according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

With reference to Figure 1, it illustrates a detection and quality control system of the air in closed environments according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The system, indicated in general with the reference number 100, comprises a plurality of devices 10 for regulation and quality control? of? air, which are located in one or more? rooms of a building, for example a home, a school, an office or a company, and a server 20, in wireless communication with the devices 10 for centralized and remote monitoring and control of a series of operating parameters this last.

The devices 10 are, preferably, air treatment and sanitation devices and each comprise a pre-filter 11, capable of capturing large-sized dust and pollen, a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter 12, capable to block particles as small as 0.1 micron and up to 99.97% of particles, blocking dust, bacteria, fungi, viruses, allergens and other microparticles such as microbes, pollen and PM 2.5 and an activated carbon filter 13, able to break down odors in the air, destroy smoke and kill viruses and bacteria.

Each device 10 preferably comprises an element 14 for photocatalysis, capable of breaking up many toxic gases present in the internal air and absorbing and breaking down volatile and harmful organic compounds, and a UV lamp 15, capable of eliminating viruses and bacteria. The air treatment and sanitizing devices 10 can be produced by different manufacturers and, depending on the model, can contain one or more? of components 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 listed above.

Each device 10 ? equipped with a respective wireless communication module 16, for remote monitoring and control by the server 20. Furthermore, the wireless communication module 16 allows interfacing between the devices 10 and the server 20. To this end, a each device 10 ? associated with a unique identifier (UUID? Universally Unique Identifier).

To interact with the devices 10, the server 20 can advantageously take advantage of appropriate interfacing services made available on cloud platforms.

Server 20 ? preferably configured to centrally and remotely control the scheduled switching on and off of each device 10 on the basis of a setting pre-set by a user of the system. As an example, server 20 can? command the ignition of the element 14 by photocatalysis if one or more? devices 10, the turning on of the UV lamp 15, the activation of the mode? automatic ventilation, etc.

Server 20 ? preferably configured to perform a periodic check of the operating status of each device 10 in a centralized and remote manner and, if necessary, perform an automatic configuration of the same.

For example, if the scheduling provides for the switching on of a device 10 from 09.00 to 15.00, with an established frequency, the server 20 checks that the device 10 is actually switched on and correctly configured in this time interval, i.e. it verifies that no one has turned off the device 10 manually or has changed its settings, for example has deactivated the UV lamp, has changed the mode? of automatic ventilation, etc., and if so, controls the device 10 so as to restore its initial state.

A completely analogous argument applies to the state of ?off? of the device 10.

The above control and configuration operations can be performed for a single device 10 or, for simplicity? and speed? programming, for a group or cluster of devices 10. For example, the server 20 ? able to command all the devices 10 installed inside a school building so that? turn on every morning at 08.30 and turn off at 18.30. There? advantageously avoids having to set the timer for each individual device 10.

Again, server 20 ? configured for centralized and remote control of the temporary activation/deactivation of the wireless communication module 16 of the devices 10 in rooms inside the building where it is necessary to limit the emission of radio-electric signals.

Also, the server 20 ? configured to remotely update the firmware of each device 10.

Preferably, the system 100 also comprises a series of human presence sensors (not shown), which are suitably located in the closed rooms of the building and the server 20? further configured to modify the operating parameters of the devices 10 on the basis of one or more? signals received from human presence sensors.

The system 100 preferably comprises an artificial intelligence module 30, operatively connected to the server 20 so as to calculate an integrated health index. air in closed environments.

In particular, each device 10 performs a series of measurements and transmits the results to the server 20, which, in turn, transmits them to the artificial intelligence module 30. The artificial intelligence module 30 calculates, on the basis of the measurement results received from the server, a value of the integrated health index. of the air and transmits it to the server 20, which, on the basis of the value obtained, modifies the operating parameters of the devices 10.

By way of example, the measurements performed by the devices 10 include numerical measurement of particles, measurement of temperature and humidity? of closed environments, photometric measurement, measurement of CO2 and volatile organic compounds, measurement of the quantity? bacterial viral, measurement of the presence of ozone and measurement of the presence of formaldehyde.

The system 100 preferably comprises a malfunction and failure detection and signaling module 40, operatively connected to the server 20 and, preferably, to the artificial intelligence module 30 and configured to detect malfunctions and/or failures of each device 10 and transmit an alarm message to one or more system 100 users U1-U4.

In particular, each device 10 transmits the results of the measurements made to the server 20 and the server 20 in turn transmits them to the module 40 for detecting and signaling malfunctions and faults. The malfunction and failure detection and reporting module 40, on the basis of the measurement results, determines the presence of any malfunctions or failures of the devices 10 and notifies them, for example by SMS or by e-mail, in the form of an alarm message both to the individual users U1-U4 of the system 100, on the basis of a hierarchical order that will described in detail below, and through external services, in the event that the measurements have revealed a malfunction of one or more? devices 10. Configuring a result as an alarm message ? regulated by a system of specific essential performance indicators (IEP), configurable for each device 10 of the system 100.

Furthermore, thanks to the Artificial Intelligence module 30, specific algorithms will be able to identify any predictive maintenance interventions, ordinary or extraordinary, on the individual devices based on the in-depth analysis of the statistical data on the use of the devices 10. These interventions could concern the replacement of parts of the devices 10, such as for example the replacement of filters.

The 40 module for detecting and reporting malfunctions and failures ? also configured to send an alarm message to users U1-U4 of system 100 in the event of a power failure to devices 10.

An important feature of the system 100 consists in the fact that it comprises a user profiling module 50, which ? operationally connected to the server 20 and ? configured to hierarchically organize users U1-U4 of system 100. Ci? in order to define, in a precise way, the role of each user of the system and to allow, over time, scalability? of the system.

The user profiling module 50 preferably uses a dynamic and configurable technique for managing authorizations through roles (RBAC - Role Based Access Control), which provides for the possibility to define permissions, which discriminate access to functionality? or dataset. Permissions are then assigned to roles and users are placed in groups which in turn are associated with roles. Individual users can in any case be associated with roles.

In other words, ? You can establish many-to-many relationships between: permissions and roles, users and roles, users and groups and roles, and other roles. There? advantageously allows extreme power and flexibility, releasing the detail profiling from the architecture of the system 100.

To this end, four types of system 100 users are identified, each associated with its own role, i.e. resellers or dealers U1, organized large-scale distribution/specialized large-scale distribution (GDO/GDS) U2, business consumer U3 and domestic consumer U4.

Is each user U1-U4, and therefore each role, then allowed access to a respective functionality? or dataset. To the dealer and GDO/GDS roles defined above? You can preferably add detail roles, i.e. administrator, operator and customer. ? it is also possible to add other roles through the appropriate interface, so? how to delete them.

The following functions are assigned to the system administrator 100:

- management, i.e. creation, modification, reading and deletion, of users U1-U4 based on the hierarchy;

- management, i.e. creation, modification, reading and deletion, based on the hierarchy of the devices 10 installed and on the functionalities? of the devices 10 made available by the interface between the devices 10 and the server 20; And

- management of alarm messages based on the hierarchy of the air treatment and sanitization devices 10 installed and on the functionalities? of devices 10 made available by the interface between devices 10 and server 20.

System 100 allows U1 dealers to access system 100 and take advantage of the following features:

- management of the customer base and their personal data;

- management of each device 10 of each customer and both personal and geographical location; And

- management of the alarm messages relating to the 10 devices installed.

System 100 allows organized large-scale distribution/specialized large-scale distribution U2, in particular the role of detail administrator, to enter the organization and list of associated points of sale, so that the final consumer is facilitated in entering the place of purchase .

The system 100 preferably comprises a device registration module 60 10, which ? operationally connected to the server 20 and through which domestic users U4 can register their own air detection and control devices 10 purchased through large-scale retail trade/GDS, thus being able to access any additional and/or promotional services. The system 100 preferably comprises an application interface 70 for integrating the system with other subsystems which ensure the interfacing of a series of devices for detecting and controlling the air in closed environments. ? interfacing with applications belonging to business U3 or domestic U4 users and/or companies in the distribution chain (resellers, large-scale retail trade/GDS), such as CRM, maintenance and contract management and customer databases, is also envisaged.

Will I come now described a method of monitoring and quality control? of the air in closed environments, carried out using a system 100, as described above and illustrated in Figure 1. The method provides for a preliminary phase of preparation of a plurality of? of detection and quality control devices 10? and their subsequent interfacing with a server 20 using a wireless communication module 16 of each device 10 and a unique identifier UUID associated with each device.

The preparation and interfacing phases are followed by a centralized and remote monitoring and control phase of a series of operating parameters of each device 10 by means of the server in wireless communication with each device 10 and a hierarchical organization phase of a plurality of users U1-U4 by means of a user profiling module 50, operatively connected to the server 20.

The method comprises a further modification step, by the server 20, of a series of operating parameters of the devices 10, on the basis of an integrated health index value. of the air calculated by an artificial intelligence module 40 operationally connected to the server 20.

The method comprises a further detection step, by a module 40 for detecting and signaling malfunctions and failures operatively connected to the server 20, on the basis of measurement results performed by the devices 10, followed by a sending step, by the server 20, of an alarm message to one or more? U1-U4 users.

From the description made are the characteristics of the system and method of monitoring and quality control evident? of the air in closed environments of the present invention, cos? how evident are the relative advantages especially in terms of effectiveness in managing the devices 10 and flexibility? of employment.

? clear, finally, that the system cos? conceived ? susceptible to numerous modifications and variations; moreover, all the details can be replaced by technically equivalent elements.

Claims (12)

1. System (100) of monitoring and quality control? of the air in closed environments including: - a plurality? of devices (10) for detection and quality control? air, located in one or more? rooms of a building, each device (10) being equipped with a wireless communication module (16); - a server (20) in wireless communication with each air sensing and control device (10) for centralized and remote monitoring and control of a series of operating parameters of each device (10); and - a user profiling module (50), operationally connected to the server (20) and configured for hierarchically organizing a plurality? of users (U1-U4) of the system (100). 2. System (100) according to claim 1, wherein the user profiling module (50) ? configured to perform a dynamic and configurable authorization management technique through roles, which provides the possibility? to define permissions to discriminate access to features? or dataset. The system (100) according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising an artificial intelligence module (40), operatively connected to the server (20) for receiving the results of a series of measurements performed by the devices, calculating an integrated index value of healthiness? of the air on the basis of the received measurement results and transmit the integrated health index value to the server? calculated, on the basis of which the server (20) modifies one or more? operating parameters of the devices (10). The system (100) according to claim 3, wherein the measurements performed by the devices (10) comprise at least one of the following measurements: numerical measurement of particles, measurement of temperature and humidity? of closed environments, photometric measurement, measurement of CO2 and volatile organic compounds, measurement of quantity? bacterial viral, measurement of the presence of ozone, measurement of the presence of formaldehyde. 5. System (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a malfunction and failure detection and signaling module (40), operatively connected to the server (20) and configured to detect, on the basis of measurement results performed by the devices ( 10) and send to the server (20), malfunctions or breakdowns of each device (10) and transmit an alarm message to one or more? 100 system users (U1-U4). 6. System (100) according to claim 5, wherein the malfunction and failure detection and signaling module (40) ? operationally connected to the artificial intelligence module (30) and comprises one or more? applications, by means of which to identify, on the basis of an analysis of statistical data on the use of the devices (10), any ordinary or extraordinary predictive maintenance interventions to be carried out on the individual devices (10). 7. System according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an application interface (70) for integrating the system (100) with other subsystems in order to ensure interfacing of a series of detection and control devices (10) of the ?air indoors. 8. System (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which each device (10) for detecting and controlling the quality? of the air ? associated with a unique identifier (UUDI) for interfacing with the server (20) by means of the respective wireless communication module (16). 9. Method for monitoring and controlling the air in enclosed spaces conducted using a system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, the method comprising the steps of: - prepare a plurality? of devices (10) for detection and quality control? air, located in one or more? rooms of a building, each device (10) being equipped with a wireless communication module (16); - centrally and remotely monitoring and controlling a series of operating parameters of each device (10) by means of a server (20) in wireless communication with each device (10); and - hierarchically organize a plurality? of users (U1-U4) by means of a user profiling module (50), operationally connected to the server (20). The method according to claim 9, further comprising a preliminary step of interfacing each device (10) with the server (20) using a wireless communication module (16) of each device (10) and an associated unique identifier (UUID) to each device. The method according to claim 9 or 10, comprising a further modification step, by the server (20), of a series of operating parameters of the devices (10), on the basis of an integrated health index value? of the air calculated by an artificial intelligence module (40) operationally connected to the server (20). The method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, comprising a further detection step, by a malfunction and failure detection and reporting module (40) operationally connected to the server (20), on the basis of measurement results performed by the devices (10), followed by a sending phase, by the server (20), of an alarm message to one or more? users (U1-U4).