System and method for transmitting electronic plumbing fixture data and health data to a user device for transmission over a network
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic plumbing fixtures (EPFs) face challenges in reliably transmitting usage and maintenance data to a central server due to limited internet connectivity in areas like bathrooms, where Wi-Fi and Bluetooth ranges are insufficient for regular data collection.
Innovation Solution
EPFs use nearby user devices, such as smartphones, to collect and asynchronously upload data to a server when internet connectivity is available, incentivizing users with health monitoring benefits, and the host server merges and resolves duplicate/conflicting data before storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are used for data transmission, then data can be transmitted to a server, but the transmission is unreliable in areas with limited internet connectivity like bathrooms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a user device (smartphone, tablet, or laptop) as an intermediary between the electronic plumbing fixture and the server. The fixture first transmits data to the user device via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi when the user is present, and then the user device asynchronously uploads the data to the server when internet connectivity is available. This intermediary approach resolves the contradiction by decoupling the local data collection from the remote server transmission, allowing reliable data capture in areas with limited connectivity.
2Reliability
If data is transmitted asynchronously when connectivity is available, then data transmission reliability improves, but data transmission delay increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary data collection and storage at the user device before asynchronous upload to the server. Data is captured and buffered locally whenever the fixture operates, regardless of immediate connectivity status. This preliminary action ensures data is ready for transmission as soon as connectivity is available, minimizing the effective delay while maintaining reliability through local buffering.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous data collection at the fixture and continuous data buffering at the user device, ensuring that data capture operations never stop. The useful action of data collection continues uninterrupted, while the upload action resumes continuously whenever connectivity is available, thus maintaining overall system productivity and reducing cumulative delays.
3Adaptability or versatility
If user devices are used as intermediaries, then data transmission in areas with limited connectivity is enabled, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The user device serves multiple functions: it acts as a local receiver for fixture data via Bluetooth/Wi-Fi, stores data in its database, provides internet connectivity for server communication, and potentially displays data to the user. This multi-functionality reduces the need for dedicated hardware components and simplifies the overall system architecture by leveraging the capabilities of devices users already carry.
Solution Approach 2:
The system leverages the user's existing device and their natural presence in the bathroom to perform data collection and transmission tasks. The user device automatically receives data when the fixture operates and autonomously uploads when connectivity is available, requiring no additional specialized hardware or complex configuration. The system serves itself by utilizing resources already available in the user's environment.
Data Source
AI summary
An EPF digital record transmission system may be configured to transmit an EPF digital record from an EPF device to a user device. The user device may then transmit the EPF digital record to a host server for storage and processing. The EPF device may also be configured to transmit health data and the user device may be configured to analyze one or both of the health data and the EPF digital record and present a health recommendation.