IT202200026697A1 - REPORTING AND MONITORING SYSTEM FOR CONSUMPTION RELATED TO DOMESTIC UTILITIES - Google Patents

Description

Description of the invention entitled:

?REPORTING AND MONITORING SYSTEM FOR CONSUMPTION RELATED TO DOMESTIC UTILITIES?

Description

Field of technique

The invention refers to an innovative reporting and monitoring system designed to record utility consumption in relation to the time slots most used by the customer, developing a strategy that can save on consumption related to household bills.

Known art

Every house is now connected to a network of pipes to provide a constant flow of water, electricity and gas.

These utilities are provided by supplier companies that need to monitor the consumption of each individual customer, as well as manage and maintain the distribution systems operational.

In fact, a number of meters are installed inside each home in order to record the quantities used by users, making the cost charge on the bill as truthful as possible.

The water meter is a measuring instrument typically installed by water service providers to account for the consumption of public water for each user.

The meter is a mechanical device, inside which the water being supplied passes, which moves turbines that activate the internal devices for calculating the water consumed.

The gas meter (or gauge), on the other hand, is the instrument that indicates the total volume of gas that has passed through the section of the pipe on which it is installed. Gas meters are universally used in all combustible gas systems: residential, commercial, industrial, etc. They measure the "geometric" volume of the gas, at the temperature and pressure conditions in which it is found, as this fluid does not have its own volume.

In other cases the counter can be integrated with the volume converter, whose use will be progressively extended for greater precision in measurement. Based on the operating principle, there are various types of counters; those commonly used in commercial transactions are of three types: membrane, rotary piston or turbine.

These meters do not require external sources of energy, the energy released by the gas during transit through the meter being sufficient. Various other types of meters are used for study, research or for particular applications. However, all meters must clearly show the following specifications on their dial:

- the class;

- the consumption indication, displayed with tambourines;

- the registration number;

- the year of manufacture;

- the manufacturer's brand;

- the prototype approval data;

- the minimum flow rate (i.e. the flow rate below which the measurement error is no longer guaranteed within the accuracy class);

- the maximum flow rate (flow rate at which the meter can still function indefinitely without deteriorating either from a metrological or constructional perspective);

- the maximum (relative) operating pressure.

Furthermore, the unit of measurement of the volume must be clearly indicated, as well as decimal places must be distinguished from whole numbers. Turbine and rotary piston meters are designed, in standard version, for higher pressures than membrane meters (15?20 bar).

However, the aforementioned meters, as sophisticated as they are, are still not able to communicate with the supplier companies.

In fact, consumption forecasts are calculated in each bill by verifying the average of the past consumption of the customer in question.

This calculation system is completely improbable given the frequent unforeseen events that can lead to a significant increase or decrease in customer consumption.

Another topic that is still little discussed is the difference in price due to time slots.

These time slots are little known to most customers who are connected to the systems. In fact, each customer consumes domestic utilities deliberately without taking into account the most convenient time slots.

Today's meters are not able to provide consumption statistics as they are only able to update the supply count, without communicating with any other online device.

The purpose of the patent is therefore to create a monitoring device capable of communicating the consumption statistics of the customer's utilities directly to a common smartphone connected to an internet connection. Said device is also capable of sending the collected information to the supplier company to carry out truthful readings before issuing the relevant invoices.

Description of the invention

According to the present invention, a system for reporting and monitoring consumption related to domestic users is created which effectively solves the above-mentioned problems.

The system in question includes a consumption monitoring device designed to interact with a common gas or water meter, in order to detect and optimally manage consumption related to domestic utilities.

Each customer can conveniently connect to this device to check the status of their consumption and to obtain notifications and advice in order to optimize their use of household appliances, following the most economical time slots.

The consumption reporting and monitoring system includes the possibility of connecting the monitoring device to a common smartphone owned by the customer, via a Wi-Fi wireless connection.

The device in question is protected by an external case designed to contain and protect the circuits inside. This case is further designed to engage with a common counter.

A transponder is included inside the hard case and is used to transmit the readings, taken from the meter in real time, to the supplier company. This real time service easily solves the problem related to the estimates that the companies use to calculate the bills, often under or overestimated.

The connection between the transponder and the company takes place via a standard Internet connection.

A plurality of LED lights are arranged above said case and are designed to signal and specify the operating status of the device for monitoring consumption related to utilities.

In one embodiment, said LED lights are designed to indicate that the monitoring device is correctly connected to the home Wi-Fi network, by coloring said LEDs green. In the event of a malfunction, said LED lights communicate poor operability to the customer by alternating and changing color.

To turn on or off the said device, a plurality of buttons are installed on the side of the said external case; the buttons can be further used to connect the monitoring device to the local internet network, as well as to change the device settings automatically, completely offline.

At least one speaker is installed inside the device and is capable of emitting a notification signal in the event that the customer's consumption exceeds the pre-established economic threshold.

This speaker warns the customer when he is about to exceed the threshold due to the use of expensive time slots, in order to make the customer more aware, hopefully reducing waste.

Inside the hard case is a GPS device, capable of transmitting the position of the monitoring device, allowing the supplier company to easily identify the origin of the signal sent by the transponder, entering the data in the corresponding customer folder.

This GPS also plays an essential role in providing the correct time during the entire period of operation of the monitoring device. The time is essential to calculate the time slots most used by the customer, in order to obtain usage statistics.

In one embodiment, a QR code is printed on the monitoring device in order to detect the location of said monitoring device. By scanning the pre-printed QR code on the outer case, the company immediately obtains the installation address of the device and its consumption data.

This code allows the customer to reduce the information transmitted online; only the data of the customer who scanned the QR code using his smartphone will be transmitted; this QR code allows to locate and identify the monitoring device, facilitating communications between said transponder and the company that provides the service.

A CPU is installed inside the device in question in order to cross-reference the information obtained from the GPS and the meter on which this device is engaged, obtaining a plurality of statistics relating to the times of greatest consumption of utilities by the customer; said CPU is further able to communicate with a common smartphone, via local Wi-Fi connection, suggesting to the customer the most economical time slots and a consumption plan that reflects the needs and habits of the tenants.

The CPU is then able to send the notifications to the customer, further proposing the consumption strategy best suited to the customer and his habits. Once connected to the Wi-Fi network, in one of its embodiments, said device is entirely manageable from a common smartphone, through which it is possible to change the settings of said device; notifications relating to consumption and the most convenient time slots are sent to the customer's smartphone, connected to the monitoring device thanks to the aforementioned CPUs. To facilitate maintenance operations, carried out by specialized personnel sent by the supplier company, a common augmented reality viewer is used. Said viewer is essential for viewing the diagrams of hidden or barely visible systems; said viewer is further used to detect any leaks in the system through a thermographic scan.

The advantages offered by the present invention are evident in light of the description set forth thus far and will be even clearer thanks to the attached figure and the detailed description.

Description of the figures

The invention will be described below in at least one preferred embodiment for explanatory and non-limiting purposes with the aid of the attached figure, in which:

- FIGURE 1 shows a generic diagram designed to explain the operation of the home consumption monitoring system that is the subject of the invention. An external case 10 is designed to provide rigidity to the monitoring device, which in turn comprises a plurality of LEDs 12 and a plurality of buttons 11. A speaker 13 is installed laterally to the external case 10 in order to emit notification sounds useful to the customer. A CPU 18 is designed to send the information collected by a common smartphone 16 to the company 17 providing the service via an Internet connection. A geolocalizer 15 is commonly used to identify the mobile device in question but, alternatively, a QR code 14 is used to scan and identify the device and the related customer.

Detailed description of the invention

The present invention will now be illustrated purely by way of example but not in a limiting or binding manner, with reference to the figure which illustrates an embodiment relating to the present inventive concept.

With reference to FIG. 1, the device for monitoring consumption related to domestic users is illustrated.

This device is protected by an external case 10 designed to protect the plurality of components inside to ensure the functioning of the innovative system.

A CPU 18 is designed to send the information collected by the meter to a common smartphone 16, via a Wi-Fi connection.

Said CPU 18 is further adapted to communicate with the service provider company 17, once connected to a common Internet network.

A plurality of buttons 11 are installed on the upper surface of said hard case 10, for the purpose of changing the settings of the device when the latter is in offline mode.

12 LED lights are instead installed to indicate the operating status of the device in question.

If it is necessary to identify the device by obtaining its geographic position, a geolocator 15 is installed inside the rigid case 10. Said geolocator 15, by providing information relating to the position of the device, facilitates the identification of the customer.

A QR code 14 is instead suitable for being scanned to identify the home address of the interested customer.

To inform the customer, a loudspeaker 13 is installed laterally to said case 10, in order to send sound signals in case the maximum spending threshold is exceeded.

Finally, it is clear that modifications, additions or variations obvious to a person skilled in the art may be made to the invention described herein, without thereby departing from the scope of protection provided by the attached claims.

Claims (6)

Claims 1. System for reporting and monitoring consumption related to domestic users, characterised by the fact that it comprises a monitoring device, installed on the meter of the relevant user, capable of transmitting information relating to consumption in real time, by means of a transponder capable of suggesting the most economical time slots for the use of household appliances; communication with the customer occurs via a Wi-Fi connection which links the monitoring device to a common smartphone (16) owned by the customer; said system comprising: - at least one rigid external case (10), suitable for containing within it all the components necessary for the functioning of the monitoring device; said case (10) being suitable for engaging with a common meter; - at least one transponder, installed inside said external case (10), capable of transmitting the readings taken by the meter in real time to the company (17) that provides the service; - a plurality of LED lights (12), arranged above said case (10), suitable for signalling and specifying the operating status of the consumption monitoring device; - a plurality of buttons (11), suitable for switching said device on and off, as well as connecting the monitoring device to the local internet network; said buttons (11) being installed above said external rigid case (10); - at least one loudspeaker (13) capable of emitting a notification signal in the event that the customer's consumption exceeds the economic threshold established during the contract stipulation phase; - at least one GPS device (15), inserted inside the external rigid case (10), capable of transmitting the position of the monitoring device, identifying it within the condominium where the system in question is installed; said GPS (15) being capable of providing the correct time during the entire period of operation of said monitoring device; - at least one CPU (18), capable of cross-referencing the information obtained from the GPS (15) and from the meter on which this device is installed, obtaining a plurality of statistics relating to the times of greatest consumption of utilities by the customer; said CPU (18) being capable of communicating with a common smartphone (16), via Wi-Fi connection, suggesting to the customer the most economical time slots and a consumption plan that reflects the needs and habits of the tenants. 2. System for reporting and monitoring consumption related to domestic users, according to the previous claim 1, characterised in that said LED lights (12) are designed to signal that the monitoring device is correctly connected to the domestic Wi-Fi network, by colouring said LEDs (12) green. 3. System for reporting and monitoring consumption related to domestic users, according to any of the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that it comprises an augmented reality viewer to display the diagrams of hidden or barely visible systems; said viewer being able to detect any leaks in the system by means of a thermographic scan to facilitate maintenance operations, carried out by specialised personnel sent by the supplier company (17). 4. System for reporting and monitoring consumption related to domestic users, according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that said external case (10) includes a QR code (14) suitable for being scanned before installation; said device transmitting online only the data relating to the customer who has scanned the QR code (14) using his/her smartphone (16); said QR code (14) allowing the monitoring device to be located and identified, facilitating communications between said transponder and the company (17) providing the service. 5. System for reporting and monitoring consumption related to domestic users, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said monitoring device, once connected to the Wi-Fi network, can be managed via a common smartphone (16), via a dedicated App through which it is possible to modify the settings of said device; notifications relating to consumption and the most convenient time slots are sent to the customer's smartphone (16), connected to the monitoring device. 6. System for reporting and monitoring consumption related to domestic users, according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that said buttons (11) are suitable for modifying the device settings manually and completely offline.