Flow Controller Automates Water Meter Data Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Utility companies face inefficiencies in collecting meter data from residential and commercial properties, requiring frequent visits by multiple workers to read meters, which is time-consuming and costly.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a flow controller connected to water outlets and a server infrastructure that detects and transmits utility usage data from water meters to a utility company, enabling remote data collection and billing processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If workers from the utility company visit meters to read and store data for billing, then accurate utility usage data can be collected, but this requires multiple workers to travel frequently and around large areas, which is inefficient and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of manual meter reading with an automated electronic data collection system. The flow controller automatically reads meter data through communication interfaces, eliminating the need for workers to physically visit meters. This substitution of manual mechanical reading with automated electronic reading resolves the contradiction by maintaining accurate data collection while eliminating time-consuming worker travel.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service data collection where the flow controller autonomously reads meter data, stores it locally, and transmits it to the utility company without human intervention. The automated system serves itself by performing all data collection and transmission functions, resolving the contradiction between accurate reading and time efficiency.
2Productivity
If multiple workers are deployed to collect meter data from various properties, then comprehensive data collection is achieved, but this increases operational costs and reduces billing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces multiple human workers with a single automated flow controller that can read data from multiple meters. This mechanical substitution eliminates labor costs while maintaining comprehensive data collection coverage, as the automated system can access and read data from numerous meter locations without additional operational expenses.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow controller is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a water flow control device and as a data collection hub for multiple utility meters. This universal device performs multiple functions including reading water meter data, storing data locally, and transmitting it to the utility company, thereby achieving comprehensive data collection with a single device rather than multiple workers.
3Loss of information
If manual meter reading processes are used, then utility companies can obtain usage data, but the process is inefficient and requires frequent physical visits to properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of worker visits with an automated electronic data collection and transmission system. The flow controller automatically reads meter data, stores it in memory, and transmits it to the utility company's server, ensuring no data is lost while dramatically simplifying the operation. This eliminates the need for frequent physical visits while maintaining complete data capture.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow controller acts as an intermediary device between the utility meters and the utility company's server. It receives data from meters, processes and stores it locally, and automatically transmits it to the server, thereby facilitating data collection without requiring direct human intervention or physical visits to properties.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatuses, systems, and methods for collecting utility meter data are described. An example system may include a flow controller and a server. The flow controller is configured to communicate with a water meter for a property and connected to at least one water outlet of a plurality of water outlets. The server is coupled to one or more infrastructure databases and the flow controller. The server includes a non-transitory computer readable media and is configured to execute instructions stored on the non-transitory computer readable media. The instructions include receiving water usage data from the flow controller and transmitting the water usage data from the water meter for the property to a water utility company.