WO2022136035A1

WO2022136035A1 - Method and computing function for mananging risk factor relating to damages to venue

Info

Publication number: WO2022136035A1
Application number: PCT/EP2021/085786
Authority: WO
Inventors: Anders INGVES; Joakim Isaksson; Robert KNAHPE
Original assignee: Ålands Ömsesidiga Försäkringsbolag (Ömsen)
Priority date: 2020-12-22
Filing date: 2021-12-14
Publication date: 2022-06-30
Also published as: SE2030373A1

Abstract

A method and a computing function (110) for managing a risk factor relating to damages to a venue (100) are disclosed. The computing function (110) receives, from a sensor device (240, 340) monitoring a system (200, 300) of the venue (100), a first message indicating malfunction of the system (200, 300). The system (200, 300) is related to the risk factor. The computing function (110) analyses operation history indications of a set of candidate sources (210, 220, 230, 310, 320, 330) of the system (200, 300) to obtain a primary source (210, 310) of the set of candidate sources (210, 220, 230, 310, 320, 330). The computing function (110) provides, to a person associated with the venue (100), a second message indicating the primary source (210, 310), thereby inviting the person to check whether the primary source (210, 310) is the cause of the malfunction or not. A corresponding computer program and a computer program carrier are also disclosed.

Description

METHOD AND COMPUTING FUNCTION FOR MANANGING RISK FACTOR RELATING TO DAMAGES TO VENUE

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments herein relate to automation and/or monitoring systems for venues, such as homes, offices or the like. In particular, a method and a computing function for managing a risk factor relating to damages to the venue are disclosed. A corresponding computer program and a computer program carrier are also disclosed.

BACKGROUND

There exists various home automation and monitoring systems that warns the user about different errors as they happen.

Existing system provide information about which sensor or the like caused the alarm. A homeowner then commences a cumbersome error finding process, which typically is both time consuming and costly, e.g. in terms of continued worsening of damage during error finding, hourly rate for error finding if applicable, or the like.

US10198771B1 discloses a system for receiving data from one or more sensors or devices associated with one or more users. In some examples, data may be filtered and analysed to determine a risk profile for a user. In addition, the system may also determine a neighbourhood risk profile for a number of users located in the same geographical location. The risk profile and the neighbourhood profile may be used to determine or adjust a user's insurance premium. A disadvantage with the aforementioned system may be that it may be frustrating for the user to experience how the insurance premium varies, especially increases, as time passes by. Moreover, once a damage happens, or risk thereof increases, the user may need to perform tedious and/or difficult investigations to at least reduce the damage, or risk thereof.

SUMMARY

An object may be to at least reduce one or more of the aforementioned problems and/or disadvantages.

According to an aspect, the object is achieved by a computer-implemented method for managing a risk factor relating to damages to a venue. As an example, the method may be performed by a computing function, such as a server, a computer, a cloud function, a server-less function or the like.

The computing function receives, from a sensor device monitoring a system of the venue, a first message indicating malfunction of the system. The system is related to the risk factor. The computing function analyses operation history indications of a set of candidate sources of the system to obtain a primary source of the set of candidate sources. The computing function provides, to a person associated with the venue, a second message indicating the primary source, thereby inviting the person to check whether the primary source is the cause of the malfunction or not.

Thanks to the computing function analyzing the operation history indications of the set of candidate sources of the system that is indicated as malfunctioning according to the first message, the computing function is able to obtain the primary source, e.g. a probable source of the malfunction detected by the sensor device. Then, the computing function provides the second message in order to indicate to the user that the primary source may be checked. As a result, the computing function may enable a reduction of the risk factor, since the probable source of malfunction may be checked and appropriate actions may be taken without unnecessary delay.

Accordingly, based on a relatively generic error message as provide by the first message, an indication of source of error, such as by providing the primary source, may be indicated to the user. As a result, a faster and less costly error finding process may be enabled.

An advantage is, hence, that the user is assisted, by the computing function, in finding the primary source, causing the first message. As a result, a cumbersome and time consuming error finding process may be avoided, or at least greatly simplified. For example, time spent in the error finding process may be reduced. Hence, in many scenarios, such as when error finding is bought, e.g. by an owner of the venue, as a service, also reduced expenses for the error finding process is expected.

According to further aspects, the object is achieved by a computing function, a computer program and a computer program carrier corresponding to the aspects above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various aspects of embodiments disclosed herein, including particular features and advantages thereof, will be readily understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, which are briefly described in the following.

Figure 1 is a schematic overview of an exemplifying venue in which embodiments herein may be implemented.

Figure 2 is a combined signaling and flowchart illustrating the method herein. Figure 3 is a block diagram illustrating embodiments of the computing function.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Throughout the following description, similar reference numerals have been used to denote similar features, such as nodes, actions, modules, circuits, parts, items, elements, units or the like, when applicable. In the Figures, features that appear in some embodiments are indicated by dashed lines.

Figure 1 depicts an exemplifying venue 100 in which embodiments herein may be implemented.

The venue 100 may be said to comprise a computing function 110, such as a computer, a server function or the like.

Furthermore, the venue 100 may comprise a system 200, 300, such as a facility control and/or monitoring system for the venue 100.

The system 200, 300 may comprise at least one of a tap water pipe system of the venue 100, a radiator pipe system of the venue 100, an electrical system of the venue 100, a ventilation system of the venue 100, an air quality control system of the venue 100, and a temperature measuring system of the venue 100, a motion detection system of the venue 100 and the like. In some examples, the venue 100 may comprise a set of systems 200, 300, such as a first system 200, a second system 300 etc, where each system of the set of systems comprises one of a tap water pipe system of the venue 100, a radiator pipe system of the venue 100, an electrical system of the venue 100, a ventilation system of the venue 100, an air quality control system of the venue 100, and a temperature measuring system of the venue 100 and the like.

The systems 200, 300 may comprise a set of candidate sources 210, 220, 230, 310, 320, 330. In some examples, each system 200, 300 associated with the venue 100 comprises a respective set of candidate sources 210, 220, 230, 310, 320, 330.

In some examples, the previously mentioned motion detection system may comprise a set of motion detecting devices, such as motion sensor, IR sensors or the like. Each motion detection device may be associated with one or more candidate sources, which may be comprised in, e.g. belong to, one or more other systems of the venue 100. In this manner, a motion alert from one of the motion detecting devices of the set of motion detecting devices may be mapped to one or more candidate sources of said one or more other systems. Additionally, the venue 100 may comprise a client device 300, such as a smartphone, a Personal Computer (PC), a wireless communication device, an electronic device with wireless communication capability, a user equipment, a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) equipped with radio communication capabilities, a smartphone, a tablet PC, a portable electronic radio communication device or the like.

The venue 100 may further be said to comprise, or be connected to, an exemplifying network (not shown), which may be any kind of network for providing communication capabilities between units associated with the venue 100. The network may be based on many different technologies and/or protocols, such as Internet Protocol, Transport Control Protocol (TCP), any wired or wireless communication technology, a Long Term Evolution (LTE), Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), restful-Application Programming Interfaces, Bluetooth, loT protocols, etc. etc.

The computing function 110 may communicate 410 with the client device 300, e.g. over the network.

Moreover, the computing function 110 may communicate 420, e.g. also over the network, with sensors of the set of systems 200, 300, i.e. a respective sensor 240, 340 of each system 200, 300. The respective sensor 240, 340 may comprise a first sensor 240 and a second sensor 340.

As used herein, the term "venue" may refer to a place, a house, an office, an apartment, a housing, a residence, a habitation, a domicile, a lodgement, an outdoor area, an indoor area, or the like.

As used herein, the term "risk factor" may comprise at least one of a level of risk for damages, a level of damages and the like. In this manner, both actual damages and risk of damages may be taken into account according to the embodiments herein. As a result, the actual damages and the risk of damages may be alleviated, or at least reduced, thanks to the embodiments herein.

As used herein, the term "candidate source", "primary source" or "source" may refer to e.g. one or more of a domestic appliance, a home or household appliance, a small appliance, such as a dishwasher, washing machine, toaster, coffee maker, espresso machine, baking machine, blender, mixer, rice cooker, etc, a piece of consumer electronics, such as television sets, audio equipment, headphones, head sets, loud speakers, computers, phones, cellular phones, tablet PCs, heating arrangements, such as radiators, floor heating, electric heaters and more, fans and valves for ventilation systems and/or air control systems, sections, valves and/or other units of tap water systems and the like.

Figure 2 illustrates an exemplifying method according to embodiments herein when implemented in the venue 100 of Figure 1, such as in the network of the venue 100. The computing function 110 performs a method for managing a risk factor relating to damages, i.e. at least one of actual damages and risk for damages, to a venue 100. In some examples, the computing function 110 may perform a method for at least enabling management of the risk factor relating to the damages.

Along with the description below a few exemplifying examples will be described for purposes of illustration.

In a first example, the system 200, 300 comprises a tap water pipe system of the venue 100.

In a second example, the system 200, 300 comprises an electrical system of the venue 100.

One or more of the following actions may be performed in any suitable order.

Action A010

The sensor device 240, 340 sends a first message to the computing function 110. The first message indicates malfunction of the system 200, 300. The system 200, 300 is related to the risk factor. More generally, the first message may indicate an event related to the system 200, 300. The sensor device 240, 340 may monitor one or more systems 200, 300 of the venue 100.

Action A020

The computing function 110 receives, from a sensor device 240, 340 monitoring a system 200, 300 of the venue 100, the first message.

According to the first example, the first message may indicate malfunction of the tap water system 200, e.g. by means of that the sensor device 240, such as a drip sensor device, detects a leak and thus sends the first message, which e.g. indicates dripping or leaking water in the tap water system 200.

According to the second example, the first message may indicate malfunction of the electrical system 200, e.g. by means of the sensor device 240, such as a sensor device monitoring fuses of the electrical system, detecting that a fuse has released, such as blown, and thus sends the first message, which e.g. indicates that the fuse of a particular section or group of the electrical system has released.

Action A030 The computing function 110 analyses operation history indications of a set of candidate sources 210, 220, 230, 310, 320, 330 of the system 200, 300 to obtain a primary source 210, 310 of the set of candidate sources 210, 220, 230, 310, 320, 330.

The operation history indications may relate to, such as specify, comprise or the like, at least one of water consumption, water flow, water pressure, temperature, air quality, air flow and electricity consumption of the corresponding candidate source 210, 220, 230, 310, 320, 330 or the like.

The operation history indications may relate to a time period prior to the first message, and optionally also to a time period after the first message if available. The time period may be any suitable time frame, such as one or more years, months, weeks, days, hours, minutes, seconds or the like.

According to the first example, each operation history indication of the operation history indications of the set of candidate sources 210, 220, 230 may specify a respective water consumption of a corresponding candidate source 210, 220, 230 of the set of candidate sources. The set of candidate sources 210, 220, 230 may be selected by the computing function 110 since they are included in the system 200 that the sensor 240 monitors for leakage or the like. For example, the respective water consumption may be related to the time period, such as a plurality of hours, prior to the first message.

According to the second example, each operation history indication of the operation history indications of the set of candidate sources 210, 220, 230 may specify a respective electric consumption of a corresponding candidate source 210, 220, 230 of the set of candidate sources. The set of candidate sources 210, 220, 230 may be selected by the computing function 110 since they are included in the system 200, or in a section or group thereof, that the sensor 240 monitors for release of the fuse of the system, or in particular that section or group. For example, the respective electrical consumption may be related to the time period, such as a plurality of minutes, prior to the first message.

The analysing A030 may comprise selecting the primary source 210, 310 that is associated with a respective operation history indication that is an extreme operation history indication among the operation history indications, such as a maximum or minimum operation history indication among the operation history indications.

The extreme operation history indication may be at least among the extreme operation history indications, possibly not necessarily the most extreme. For example, various further factors may be taken into account, such as relative severity of the candidate sources. For example, in case of a dripping or leakage, a location of the corresponding candidate source may be taken into account. If the location is in the basement of a house, it may be considered less severe than if the location is on the attic, in the kitchen, near the living room or the like.

In some examples, the extreme operation history indication may be determined, by the computing function 110, as a relative measure. That is, the relative measure may, for each candidate source, indicate said each candidate source's operation history indication relatively to a normal or common operation history indication, such as an average operation history indication during a measurement time period. It may be preferred that the measurement time period is in the same magnitude as, or greater than, the aforementioned time period prior to the first message.

According to the first example, the computing function 110 may select the primary source 210 that is associated with the respective water consumption that is a maximum water consumption among the water consumptions of the set of candidate sources 210, 220, 230.

Summarizing the first example, the computing function 110 receives the first message indicating leakage in the tap water system. Then the computing function 110 may fetch and analyse water consumption, i.e. operation history indications, during the time period prior to the first message for each candidate source. The candidate source associated with the greatest, or lowest, water consumption prior to the first message may be set as the primary source 210.

According to the second example, the computing function 110 may select the primary source 210 that is associated with the respective electrical consumption that is a maximum electrical consumption among the electrical consumptions of the set of candidate sources 210, 220, 230.

Summarizing the second example, the computing function 110 receives the first message indicating release of a fuse of the electrical system. Then the computing function 110 may fetch and analyse electrical consumption, i.e. operation history indications, during the time period prior to the first message for each candidate source. The candidate source associated with the greatest, or lowest, electrical consumption prior to the first message may be set as the primary source 210.

Action A040

The computing function 110 provides, to a person associated with the venue 100, a second message indicating the primary source 210, 310, thereby inviting the person to check whether the primary source 210, 310 is the cause of the malfunction or not.

When the primary source is the cause of the malfunction, further damage to the venue 100 may be avoided by that the user performs appropriate actions, such as closes water supply to the primary source, turns off electricity toward the primary source or the like. In many cases, these actions may even prevent that any damage at all is caused to the venue 100.

In this manner, the computing function 110 at least enables management of the risk factor.

As an example, the computing function 110 may send the second message to the client device 300. The second message may cause the client device to invite the user 310 to check the primary source 210, 320, e.g. by displaying a suitable text on the screen of the client device 300, by reading the message using text-to-speech synthesis or otherwise mediate the implication of the second message to the user 310.

According to the first example, the second message may indicate to the user 310 to check the primary source 210, e.g. one of the candidate sources that is connected to the tap water system that the sensor 240 monitors for leakage and/or water drip.

According to the second example, the second message may prompt the user 310 to check the primary source 210, e.g. one of the candidate sources that is included in the electrical system, or a particular section or group thereof that the fuse is associated with, said primary source being monitored by the sensor 240.

Action A050

The client device 300 may receive the second message. Reference is made to the description of action A040 above.

Action A060

The computing function 110 may detect that the user does not respond to the second message, preferably repeatedly. For example, the computing function 110 may detect that the user does not respond, by detecting that no confirmation message is received from the client device 300. The confirmation message may indicate to the computing function 110 that the primary source has been checked.

Action A070

This action is preferably performed subsequent to the detection A060 of no response to the second message.

In some examples, "no response" may include that the user selects ignore or the like when presented with, such as confronted to, or the like, the second message.

In further examples, "no response" may include that the user simply confirms the second message, but without appropriate handling to prevent the second message to appear again. Therefore, the second message will then, within shortly, appear again. The computing function 110 may provide, to the person, a third message indicating to the person how to act to decrease the risk factor and/or one or more actions to take to reduce or prevent damages to the venue 100.

The third message may indicate one or more of:

- to seal tap water system, e.g. in particular in the vicinity of the primary source;

- to increase ventilation, e.g. in particular in the vicinity of the primary source, or the like.

In this manner, the computing function may invite the user, such as a person in the venue 100, to change their behaviour.

Action A080

The client device 300 may receive the third message. Reference is made to action A070 for description of the third message.

In a further example, the computing function 110 may perform a combined analysis of two or more respective messages originating from a respective sensor device, which e.g. monitors the same system or a respective system. Such combined analysis may be performed in order to decrease the risk factor. Hence, a first sensor device may send, to the computing function, a first event message indicating duration of cooking, i.e. a stove has been active, such as turned on for cooking purposes, for the duration. Start and end points in time of the cooking may, also or alternatively, be indicated by the first event message.

Upon receiving the first event message, or after being notified about end of cooking, the computing function may fetch from a second sensor device a second event message indicating motion detected by the second sensor device at further location of the venue, such as a living room, home office or the like. In some examples, the second sensor may be a humidity sensor sensing humidity in a shower facility of the venue. In some examples, the second sensor device may send the second event message repeatedly and the computing function 110 may filter out the relevant data based on the first event message, i.e. the duration derived therefrom. In some examples, the first message may be exemplified by the first and second event messages.

When the computing function detects that the motion at said further location has been greater than a threshold value for motion during cooking, the computing function records an activity referred to as unattended cooking, or distracted from cooking.

After each recording of the activity, the computing function checks that a current number of registered activities referred to as e.g. unattended cooking, e.g. during a past time period, is above a further threshold value. The past time period may be a plurality of days or the like as deemed appropriate depending on the application.

When the further threshold value is exceeded by the current number of registered activities of unattended cooking, the computing function may send an alert message to the user. The alert message may invite the user(s) to change their behaviour by being present in the vicinity of the stove during cooking. As a result, the risk factor may be reduced upon conformance of user behaviour to the invitation provided by the alert message. In some examples, the second message of action A050 may be exemplified by the alert message.

In some embodiments, the computing function 110 may be said to perform a method for handling an error message, referred to as the first message above, wherein the error message may indicate that the malfunction is located within the system 200, 300.

With reference to Figure 3, a schematic block diagram of embodiments of the computing function 110 of Figure 1 is shown.

The computing function 110 may comprise a processing unit 301, such as a means for performing the methods described herein. The means may be embodied in the form of one or more hardware units and/or one or more software units. The term "unit" may thus refer to a circuit, a software block or the like according to various embodiments as described below.

The computing function 110 may further comprise a memory 302. The memory may comprise, such as contain or store, instructions, e.g. in the form of a computer program 303, which may comprise computer readable code units.

According to some embodiments herein, the computing function 110 and/or the processing unit 301 comprises a processing circuit 304 as an exemplifying hardware unit, which may comprise one or more processors. Accordingly, the processing unit 301 may be embodied in the form of, or 'realized by', the processing circuit 304. The instructions may be executable by the processing circuit 304, whereby the computing function 110 is operative to perform the methods of Figure 2. As another example, the instructions, when executed by the computing function 110 and/or the processing circuit 304, may cause the computing function 110 to perform the method according to Figure 2.

In view of the above, in one example, there is provided a computing function 110 according to the embodiments herein. Again, the memory 302 contains the instructions executable by said processing circuit 304 whereby the computing function 110 is operative for: receiving, from a sensor device 240, 340 monitoring a system 200, 300 of the venue 100, a first message indicating malfunction of the system 200, 300, wherein the system 200, 300 is related to the risk factor, analysing operation history indications of a set of candidate sources 210, 220, 230, 310, 320, 330 of the system 200, 300 to obtain a primary source 210, 310 of the set of candidate sources 210, 220, 230, 310, 320, 330, and providing, to a person associated with the venue 100, a second message indicating the primary source 210, 310, thereby inviting the person to check whether the primary source 210, 310 is the cause of the malfunction or not.

Figure 3 further illustrates a carrier 305, or program carrier, which provides, such as comprises, mediates, supplies and the like, the computer program 303 as described directly above. The carrier 305 may be one of an electronic signal, an optical signal, a radio signal and a computer readable medium.

In some embodiments, the computing function 110 and/or the processing unit 301 may comprise one or more of a receiving unit 310, an analysing unit 320, a providing unit 330 (such as a sending unit), and a detecting unit 340 as exemplifying hardware units. The term "unit" may refer to a circuit when the term "unit" refers to a hardware unit. In other examples, one or more of the aforementioned exemplifying hardware units may be implemented as one or more software units.

Moreover, the computing function 110 and/or the processing unit 301 may comprise an Input/Output circuit 306, which may be exemplified by the receiving unit and/or the sending unit when applicable.

Accordingly, the computing function 110 is configured for managing a risk factor relating to damages to a venue 100.

As mentioned, the risk factor may comprise at least one of a level of risk for damages and a level of damages or the like.

The system 200, 300 may comprise at least one of a tap water pipe system of the venue 100, a radiator pipe system of the venue 100, an electrical system of the venue 100, a ventilation system of the venue 100, an air quality control system of the venue 100, and a temperature measuring system of the venue 100 and the like.

The operation history indications may relate to at least one of water consumption, water flow, water pressure, temperature, air quality, air flow and electricity consumption of the corresponding candidate source 210, 220, 230, 310, 320, 330 or the like. Therefore, according to the various embodiments described above, the computing function 110 and/or the processing unit 301 and/or the processing circuit 304 and/or the receiving unit 310 is configured for receiving, from a sensor device 240, 340 monitoring a system 200, 300 of the venue 100, a first message indicating malfunction of the system 200, 300. The system 200, 300 is related to the risk factor.

The computing function 110 and/or the processing unit 301 and/or the processing circuit 304 and/or the analysing unit 310 is configured for analysing operation history indications of a set of candidate sources 210, 220, 230, 310, 320, 330 of the system 200, 300 to obtain a primary source 210, 310 of the set of candidate sources 210, 220, 230, 310, 320, 330. The analysing A030 may comprise selecting the primary source 210, 310 that is associated with a respective operation history indication that is an extreme operation history indication among the operation history indications.

The computing function 110 and/or the processing unit 301 and/or the processing circuit 304 and/or the providing unit 310 is configured for providing, to a person associated with the venue 100, a second message indicating the primary source 210, 310, thereby inviting the person to check whether the primary source 210, 310 is the cause of the malfunction or not.

The computing function 110 and/or the processing unit 301 and/or the processing circuit 304 and/or the detecting unit 310 may be configured for detecting that the person does not respond to the second message, preferably repeatedly.

The computing function 110 and/or the processing unit 301 and/or the processing circuit 304 and/or the providing unit 310, or another providing unit (not shown) may be configured for, preferably subsequent to the detecting no response to the second message, providing, to the person, a third message indicating to the person how to act to decrease the risk factor.

As used herein, the term "function", or "computing function", may refer to one or more physical entities, such as devices, apparatuses, computers, servers or the like. This may mean that embodiments herein may be implemented in one physical entity. Alternatively, the embodiments herein may be implemented in a plurality of physical entities, such as an arrangement comprising said one or more physical entities, i.e. the embodiments may be implemented in a distributed manner, such as on a cloud system, which may comprise a set of server machines. In case of a cloud system, the term "computing function" may refer to a virtual machine, such as a container, virtual runtime environment, a software module or the like. The virtual machine may be assembled from hardware resources, such as memory, processing, network and storage resources, which may reside in different physical machines, e.g. in different computers.

As used herein, the term "unit" may refer to one or more functional units, each of which may be implemented as one or more hardware units and/or one or more software units and/or a combined software/hardware unit in a node. In some examples, the unit may represent a functional unit realized as software and/or hardware of the node.

As used herein, the term "computer program carrier", "program carrier", or "carrier", may refer to one of an electronic signal, an optical signal, a radio signal, and a computer readable medium. In some examples, the computer program carrier may exclude transitory, propagating signals, such as the electronic, optical and/or radio signal. Thus, in these examples, the computer program carrier may be a non-transitory carrier, such as a non-transitory computer readable medium.

As used herein, the term "processing unit" may include one or more hardware units, one or more software units or a combination thereof. Any such unit, be it a hardware, software or a combined hardware-software unit, may be a determining means, estimating means, capturing means, associating means, comparing means, identification means, selecting means, receiving means, sending means or the like as disclosed herein. As an example, the expression "means" may be a unit corresponding to the units listed above in conjunction with the Figures.

As used herein, the term "software unit" may refer to a software application, a Dynamic Link Library (DLL), a software component, a software module, a software object, an object according to Component Object Model (COM), a software function, a software engine, an executable binary software file or the like.

The terms "processing unit" or "processing circuit" may herein encompass a processing unit, comprising e.g. one or more processors, an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field- Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or the like. The processing circuit or the like may comprise one or more processor kernels.

As used herein, the expression "configured to/for" may mean that a processing circuit is configured to, such as adapted to or operative to, by means of software configuration and/or hardware configuration, perform one or more of the actions described herein.

As used herein, the term "action" may refer to an action, a step, an operation, a response, a reaction, an activity or the like. It shall be noted that an action herein may be split into two or more sub-actions as applicable. Moreover, also as applicable, it shall be noted that two or more of the actions described herein may be merged into a single action.

As used herein, the term "memory" may refer to a hard disk, a magnetic storage medium, a portable computer diskette or disc, flash memory, random access memory (RAM) or the like. Furthermore, the term "memory" may refer to an internal register memory of a processor or the like. As used herein, the term "computer readable medium" may be a Universal Serial Bus (USB) memory, a Digital Versatile Disc (DVD), a Blu-ray disc, a software unit that is received as a stream of data, a Flash memory, a hard drive, a memory card, such as a MemoryStick, a Multimedia Card (MMC), Secure Digital (SD) card, etc. One or more of the aforementioned examples of computer readable medium may be provided as one or more computer program products.

As used herein, the term "computer readable code units" may be text of a computer program, parts of or an entire binary file representing a computer program in a compiled format or anything there between.

As used herein, the terms "number" and/or "value" may be any kind of digit, such as binary, real, imaginary or rational number or the like. Moreover, "number" and/or "value" may be one or more characters, such as a letter or a string of letters. "Number" and/or "value" may also be represented by a string of bits, i.e. zeros and/or ones.

As used herein, the terms "first", "second", "third" etc. may have been used merely to distinguish features, apparatuses, elements, units, or the like from one another unless otherwise evident from the context.

As used herein, the term "subsequent action" may refer to that one action is performed after a preceding action, while additional actions may or may not be performed before said one action, but after the preceding action.

As used herein, the term "set of" may refer to one or more of something. E.g. a set of devices may refer to one or more devices, a set of parameters may refer to one or more parameters or the like according to the embodiments herein.

As used herein, the expression "in some embodiments" has been used to indicate that the features of the embodiment described may be combined with any other embodiment disclosed herein.

Even though embodiments of the various aspects have been described, many different alterations, modifications and the like thereof will become apparent for those skilled in the art. The described embodiments are therefore not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, performed by a computing function (110), for managing a risk factor relating to damages to a venue (100), wherein the method comprises: receiving (A020), from a sensor device (240, 340) monitoring a system (200, 300) of the venue (100), a first message indicating malfunction of the system (200, 300), wherein the system (200, 300) is related to the risk factor, analysing (A030) operation history indications of a set of candidate sources (210, 220, 230, 310, 320, 330) of the system (200, 300) to obtain a primary source (210, 310) of the set of candidate sources (210, 220, 230, 310, 320, 330), and providing (A040), to a person associated with the venue (100), a second message indicating the primary source (210, 310), thereby inviting the person to check whether the primary source (210, 310) is the cause of the malfunction or not.

2. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the system (200, 300) comprises at least one of a tap water pipe system of the venue (100), a radiator pipe system of the venue (100), an electrical system of the venue (100), a ventilation system of the venue (100), an air quality control system of the venue (100), and a temperature measuring system of the venue (100).

3. The computer-implemented method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the operation history indications relate to at least one of water consumption, water flow, water pressure, temperature, air quality, air flow and electricity consumption of the corresponding candidate source (210, 220, 230, 310, 320, 330).

4. The computer-implemented method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the analysing (A030) comprises selecting the primary source (210, 310) that is associated with a respective operation history indication that is an extreme operation history indication among the operation history indications.

5. The computer-implemented method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the method comprises: detecting (A060) that the person does not respond to the second message.

6. The computer-implemented method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the method comprises: providing (A070), to the person, a third message indicating to the person how to act to decrease the risk factor.

7. The computer-implemented method according to any one of preceding claims, wherein the risk factor comprises at least one of a level of risk for damages and a level of damages.

8. A computer (110) configured to perform a method according to any one of the preceding claims.

9. A computer program (303), comprising computer readable code units which when executed on a computer (110) causes the computer (110) to perform the method according to any one of claims

1-7.

10. A computer program carrier (305) comprising the computer program according to the preceding claim, wherein the carrier (505) is one of an electronic signal, an optical signal, a radio signal and a computer readable medium.