Automatic bottled water consumption monitoring system

Abstract

FIELD: measurement systems.SUBSTANCE: invention relates to systems for measuring the mass and / or remainder of liquid in replaceable containers used in conjunction with coolers. The system for automatically monitoring the consumption of bottled water comprises scales that comprise a top cover that is installed on a housing, at least four membrane strain gauges are installed inside the housing, which are secured in the housing, four openings are made in the housing, into which spring-loaded legs are installed, connected to the strain gauges, an ADC board is also located inside the housing, connected to each of the strain gauges and to a microprocessor board installed inside the housing, the microprocessor board comprises a microcomputer with an Internet connection; a cooler that is installed on the scales; a cellular telephone with the ability to connect to a wireless connection; a server with a database of connected devices, connected to the ADC board via the Internet.EFFECT: reliable continuous monitoring of the remaining liquid while simultaneously reducing the impact of operational disturbances, reducing the labour intensity of implementation and increasing the reliability and energy efficiency of telemetry; forecasting consumption, without interfering with the cooler design.2 cl, 2 dwg

Description

[0001] The invention relates to systems for measuring the mass and / or remaining liquid in replaceable containers (bottled water 11-19 liters, etc.), used in conjunction with dispensers / coolers, as well as to the water bottles themselves and to telemetry for bottled water delivery services. The invention can also be applied to any liquids in containers used in industry or everyday life, the consumption of which requires measurement.

[0002] A water bottle attachment (RU Patent No. 206259) is known. Its housing contains a sensor that is triggered when the water level in the bottle drops below a preset level. The sensor processes and transmits low-water information wirelessly. The attachment can be attached to the bottle with an elastic band. The sensor is capacitive and connected to a microcontroller that receives and processes the signal from the sensor, transmitting low-water information to a Wi-Fi module with a built-in antenna for online ordering of a new bottle. The attachment also has a built-in battery for power supply.

[0003] A system for automatic ordering of delivery of bottled water is known (Russian Federation Application No. 2013135323), containing a water presence sensor module located in the housing of at least one apparatus for dispensing drinking water of various temperatures, including a power supply module, a capacitive sensor, an internet access module, a controller and an electric emergency order button, workstations of a dispatcher, a forwarder and an administrator of a water supplier, customer equipment including a cell phone, and an internet server, wherein the sensor module is connected via an internet access module and an internet server to the workstations of the dispatcher, the forwarder and the administrator of the water supplier and to the customer equipment, which in turn is connected to the water supplier.

[0004] A device for providing the ability to connect a water cooler is known (Application No. WO 2017189734), comprising: a platform having a perimeter and comprising: a protrusion extending along the perimeter, and a leak sensor located inside the perimeter; and a bottom cover configured to be mounted on the underside of said platform and covering it, and comprising: a location tracking device, at least one strain gauge, an electronic memory device, a processor electrically connected to said at least one strain gauge, said location tracking device and said electronic memory device, and a wireless transmitter / receiver connected to said electronic memory device; wherein said processor is configured to determine an approximate water level in said cooler based on data received from said load sensors.

[0005] The following system limitations are observed in the known solutions for accounting and signaling of liquid balance:

[0006] Lack of versatility.

[0007] Most smart modules are integrated into a specific cooler model or require special packaging (smart plugs, collars, inserts), which excludes compatibility with a wide range of devices and increases barriers to implementation.

[0008] Low metrological reliability under real conditions.

[0009] Optical / capacitive level sensors are sensitive to turbidity, condensation, bottle geometry, bubbles, and tilt; flow sensors require installation in the flow path and violate warranty / sanitary requirements; indirect methods do not account for actual consumption.

[0010] Difficulty of installation.

[0011] Integration into the cooler case, electrical system or hydraulics requires disassembly, personnel qualifications and certification risks.

[0012] Lack of standardized communication channel for mass implementation.

[0013] Smartphone-based solutions are unstable for continuous monitoring; Wi-Fi in commercial premises is often segmented / closed; cellular communications increase the cost of ownership and energy consumption.

[0014] Failure to correctly account for multiple operational factors.

[0015] The system's mass changes due to the presence / absence of empty containers, bottle changes, temporary loads (overlapping objects, glasses), vibrations, floor distortions, and temperature drift. Standard filtering algorithms are rarely robust to such disturbances.

[0016] Lack of end-to-end accounting for supplier logistics.

[0017] The user's personal account / application is not synchronized with the supplier's route planning: there is no consolidated data on the actual balance of customers, no early detection of anomalies (leaks, thefts, unusually fast consumption), a high proportion of "empty" trips and short deliveries.

[0018] Poor suitability for retrofitting water coolers / bottles.

[0019] Hundreds of thousands of coolers of various sizes are already installed at user sites; the mass market requires retrofitting without decommissioning or changing user scenarios.

[0020] The objective of this invention is to create a universal, quickly installed, energy-efficient, and metrologically stable means of monitoring the remaining water in a bottle, compatible with a wide range of water coolers, providing reliable telemetry and service functions (forecasting, automatic ordering, analytics, and event alerts) under real-world operating conditions, without interfering with the cooler's hydraulics or electrical system or replacing the standard container. In other words, it is necessary to ensure reliable continuous mass / remaining determination and data transmission, taking into account operational disturbances (distortion, vibration, random loads, temperature drift), with minimal installation requirements, and scalability to thousands of points.

[0021] The technical result of the invention consists in ensuring reliable continuous monitoring of the remaining liquid in a standard bottle, used both with a cooler and separately, while simultaneously reducing the impact of operational disturbances, reducing the labor intensity of implementation and increasing the reliability and energy efficiency of telemetry; forecasting consumption, automating orders and optimizing logistics without interfering with the design of the cooler and without replacing the standard container.

[0022] The following target criteria are achieved:

[0023] 1) Compatible with most common floor coolers without modification;

[0024] 2) Continuous determination of the remainder with suppression of false events;

[0025] 3) correct operation with tilted supporting surface and short-term external loads;

[0026] 4) Transmission of telemetry and events in limited network conditions while ensuring integrity and confidentiality;

[0027] 5) Energy-efficient mode with long battery life or minimal power requirements;

[0028] 6) Remote management and mass deployment capabilities.

[0029] The technical result is achieved in that, according to the declared technical solution, in the system for automatic monitoring of bottled water consumption, comprising scales that contain a top cover that is installed on the housing, at least four membrane strain gauges are installed inside the housing, which are fixed in the housing, four holes are made in the housing, into which spring-loaded legs are installed, connected to the strain gauges, inside the housing there is also an ADC board, which is connected to each of the strain gauges, the ADC board is connected to a microprocessor board installed inside the housing, the microprocessor board contains a microcomputer with an Internet connection using a switch via a Wi-Fi wireless connection, as well as a LoRaWan wireless module, electronic circuits inside the housing are connected to a power supply; a cooler or other device for dosing water and liquids, which is installed on the scales;a cellular telephone with the ability to connect to a wireless connection; a server with a database of connected devices, connected to an ADC board via the Internet, wherein the ADC board is configured to output a digital weight signal to a microprocessor board, the microprocessor board is configured to process information on weight, to receive information on water consumption, information on water consumption is transmitted via Wi-Fi or LoRaWan using a switch via the Internet to the server, the server is configured to process incoming information on consumption and the remaining water in a cooler or a device for dispensing water and liquids, to transmit it to the cellular telephone and to send to the cellular telephone a reminder about the end of the water supply and an offer to make an online order and pay for the order to the supplier.

[0030] In one embodiment, the scale contains a lithium battery.

[0031] The specified result is achieved through a combination of essential features of the invention and is manifested in the following:

[0032] 1. Metrological reliability and stability of measurements.

[0033] Reduction of the error in determining the remainder under real disturbances (inclination of the supporting surface, microvibrations, short-term extraneous loads) due to spring-loaded feet and compensation and filtering algorithms.

[0034] Effect: Reduce the mean square error and zero drift; reduce the number of false bottle replacement / emptying events.

[0035] Elimination of the influence of geometric and optical factors inherent in level sensors (turbidity, bubbles, condensate) due to indirect weighing of the “cooler + bottle” system.

[0036] 2. Operational versatility and ease of implementation. Installation without interfering with the cooler's hydraulics or electrical system or changing the standard packaging.

[0037] Effect: reduced installation time and personnel qualification requirements; no risk of violating sanitary / warranty conditions.

[0038] Compatibility with different types of coolers due to the unified form factor of the “smart scales”.

[0039] Effect: Reduced product range and warehousing / logistics costs.

[0040] 3. Algorithmic correctness of events and reduction of false positives.

[0041] Reliable event detection (bottle replacement, reaching the remaining threshold, empty container removal, foreign load) with short-term surge suppression.

[0042] Effect: Reduce false alerts and automated orders; increase data trust.

[0043] 4. Energy efficiency and autonomy of telemetry.

[0044] Reduce power consumption through event-driven communication sessions, buffering and low-power mode during pauses.

[0045] Effect: Increase battery life (or the ability to power from limited sources) without losing functionality.

[0046] Improving the stability of data transmission in a noisy radio environment and under local network limitations.

[0047] Effect: Reduce telemetry loss and repeated sessions, reduce the load on battery / network.

[0048] 5. User and service properties.

[0049] Predictable bottle emptying moment and notification when the remaining threshold is reached.

[0050] Effect: Reduce the incidence of "sudden lack of water" and improve user satisfaction.

[0051] Reducing the number of unjustified supplier visits (empty / incomplete deliveries) by transferring the actual balance and consolidating data by point.

[0052] Effect: Reducing logistics operating costs and personnel burden.

[0053] In total, the invention provides:

[0054] 1) improving the accuracy and stability of water balance control under actual operating conditions;

[0055] 2) Reduced implementation complexity due to quick installation of the device under a cooler or water bottle;

[0056] 3) Reduction of false alarms and zero drift;

[0057] 4) increasing energy efficiency and autonomy of telemetry in the absence of standard Wi-Fi wireless protocols;

[0058] 5) increasing data reliability and cybersecurity;

[0059] 6) Improving user service, ordering and instant online payment in the Telegram bot;

[0060] 7) reduction of idle and unjustified departures of suppliers;

[0061] 8) Water suppliers planning their warehouse stocks based on real water consumption analytics, and reducing the costs of increased warehouse stocks.

[0062] The proposed system for automatic monitoring of bottled water consumption is illustrated by the following figures: Fig. 1 - scale device (“Smart scales”), Fig. 2 - diagram of the hardware and software complex.

[0063] The following designations have been introduced:

[0064] 1 - cover, 2 - microprocessor board, 3 - ADC board, 4 - strain gauge, 5 - case, 6 - legs, 7 - power supply, 8 - cooler, 9 - scales, 10 - switch, 11 - Internet network, 12 - cell phone, 13 - server, 14 - workplace.

[0065] The automatic bottled water consumption tracking system using smart scales and a Telegram bot is a hardware and software complex. Its hardware component consists of a smart scale (Fig. 1), which comprises a metal top cover 1, which is screwed to a plastic housing 5. Four membrane strain gauges 4 are installed inside the housing 5 and are screwed to the plastic housing 5. When the scale is loaded, the membrane strain gauge (strain gauge) 4 operates in compression, and the strain gauge 4 is deformed by twisting the elastic housing of the sensor. Housing 5 has four holes, into which spring-loaded feet 6 are installed. The feet press on the strain gauge 4 if a load is placed on the metal top cover 1. Thanks to this solution, the scale does not need to be manually adjusted to the unevenness of the surface on which it is located. Inside the housing 5 there is also an ADC board 3, which is connected to each of the strain gauges 4.The ADC board outputs a digital weight signal to microprocessor board 2. In addition to weight processing, board 2 contains a microcomputer with Wi-Fi internet access, as well as a LoRaWan wireless module. LoRaWan is a radio frequency technology used for long-distance data transmission with low power consumption, also known as the "Internet of Things." LoRaWan provides wireless communication up to 3 km in urban areas, boasts extremely low power consumption, and can transmit information about the amount of water in a bottle even without Wi-Fi networks. Power supply 7 supplies power to the electronic circuits. Optionally, when operating in "Internet of Things" mode via LoRaWan, the smart scale is equipped with a 5V, 7200 mAh lithium battery if a 220V power supply is not available.

[0066] The automatic bottled water consumption tracking system using smart scales and a Telegram bot ("Smart Scales") consists of the following interacting components (Fig. 2): a cooler (8) with a standard 19-liter bottle installed, or another device for dispensing water and any other liquids, which is mounted on the "Smart Scales." When the scales (9) are connected to the network, they create a local Wi-Fi network. The user logs into this network from their mobile phone (12) and configures a password for the scale to operate in the Wi-Fi network, with internet access for data transfer. When operating in a LoRaWan network, the scales (9) automatically connect to the LoRaWan switch. Two LEDs on the scale body indicate the operating mode and the scale's connection to the internet via Wi-Fi or to the Internet of Things via LoRaWan.

[0067] Water consumption information is transmitted via Wi-Fi or LoRaWan via switch 10 (router) over the internet 11 to server 13. Server 13 contains a database of connected devices with their identification numbers. Server 13 processes all information on water consumption and remaining water in each cooler, recording when a bottle runs out and when a new one is added when a signal indicating a sudden increase in the cooler's weight is detected. The server transmits this information to the cooler owner's mobile phone 12 via a Telegram bot, allowing the owner to monitor the remaining water in real time. When the water level in the bottle reaches a preset value, the bot sends a reminder about the low water level and prompts the user to place an online order and immediately pay the supplier via the Fast Payment System (SBP).The water supplier, at workstation 14, receives real-time information on each device, sees customers' remaining water, their payments, and also predicts the date of the next water delivery in real time and plans a Just-in-Time water delivery route.

[0068] The consumer can manually manage (add / reduce) the remaining water and full bottles on his mobile phone.

[0069] The proposed technical solution is industrially applicable due to its easy implementation. Manufacturing and use of the solution do not require unique or hard-to-find technologies. All structural elements (sheet metal and plastic) are used; electronic components (standard membrane strain gauge sensors, high-bit ADC, microcontrollers, wireless communication modules), as well as signal processing and data protection methods are widely known and available. The novelty and technical effectiveness are ensured by a combination of features: the arrangement of strain gauges with scale feet, algorithms for calculating the remaining water and event logic, the current balance and depletion forecast, and an event log. Water balance information is transmitted via Wi-Fi and LoRaWan networks, scale management by users via a tg-bot, ordering and payment for new deliveries via a tg-bot, predictive analysis of the customer's water balance and the time of ordering a new delivery, online delivery formation, point prioritization, and route optimization.

[0070] This solution requires no technical modifications to existing coolers or their reconfiguration. Smart scale manufacturing and retrofitting can be easily scaled without decommissioning the coolers.

Claims

1. A system for automatically tracking the consumption of bottled water, comprising scales that contain a top cover that is installed on a housing, at least four membrane strain gauges are installed inside the housing and secured in the housing, four openings are made in the housing into which spring-loaded legs are installed, connected to the strain gauges, an ADC board is also located inside the housing, which is connected to each of the strain gauges, the ADC board is connected to a microprocessor board installed inside the housing, the microprocessor board contains a microcomputer with an Internet connection using a switch via a Wi-Fi wireless connection, as well as a wireless LoRaWan module, electronic circuits inside the housing are connected to a power supply; a cooler or other device for dispensing water and liquids, which is installed on the scales; a cell phone with the ability to connect to a wireless connection;a server with a database of connected devices, connected to the ADC board via the Internet, wherein the ADC board is configured to output a digital weight signal to the microprocessor board, the microprocessor board is configured to process information about the weight, to receive information about water consumption, information about water consumption is transmitted via Wi-Fi or LoRaWan using a switch via the Internet to the server, the server is configured to process incoming information about the consumption and the remaining water in the cooler or water and liquid dispensing device, to transmit it to the cell phone and to send to the cell phone a reminder about the end of the water supply and an offer to make an online order and pay for the order to the supplier.

2. The system according to paragraph 1, characterized in that the scales contain a lithium battery.

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