System and method for transmitting electronic plumbing fixture data and health data to a user device for transmission over a network

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019354535-A1
Application number	US-201916415568-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 17, 2019
Priority date	May 17, 2018
Publication date	Nov 21, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

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.

First claim

1 . An electronic plumbing fixture (EPF) comprising:
a measuring device; a processor; and a memory configured to store instructions that, when executed by the processor cause the processor to:
record EPF information with the measuring device;
store the EPF information in an EPF digital record;
detect a nearby user device configured to transmit the EPF digital record to a host server; and
transmit the EPF digital record to the nearby user device along with routing information that enables the nearby user device to transmit the EPF digital record to the host server.

2 . The EPF of claim 1 , wherein the host server is further configured to merge the EPF digital record into an EPF database by:
identifying duplicated portions of the EPF digital record, wherein the duplicated portions are portions of the EPF digital record already present in the EPF database; removing the duplicated portions from the EPF digital record prior to merging the EPF digital record into the EPF database; identifying conflicting portions of the EPF digital record, wherein the conflicting portions are portions of the EPF digital record that conflict with data already present in the EPF database; and resolving any conflict between the conflicting portions and the data already present in the EPF database.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the EPF information includes one or more of: a battery level of the EPF, a cycle count for the EPF, a maintenance level for the EPF, usage data for the EPF, a water usage information for the EPF, and service information for the EPF.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the EPF is further configured to transmit user health data to the nearby user device.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the user health data includes one or more of a handwashing count and a bathroom usage count.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the EPF is located in an area with limited internet connectivity and the nearby user device is configured to transmit the EPF digital record to the host server after leaving the area with limited internet connectivity.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the area with limited internet connectivity is a bathroom.

8 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the nearby user device is further configured to provide a health alert based on the health data.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the EPF further comprises one or more of an electronic faucet, an electronic flushometer, an electronic pipe fitting, an electronic flow measurement device, an electronic water closet flushometer, an electronic urinal flushometer, an electronic soap dispenser, an electronic paper towel dispenser, and an electronic hand dryer.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the nearby user device includes one or more of a mobile phone, smart watch, fitness tracker, laptop, or other personal computing device.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the location of the EPF is determined based on the location of the nearby user device.

12 . A system comprising:
an electronic plumbing fixture (EPF) configured to create an EPF digital record and transmit the EPF digital record via a first communication interface; a user device configured to receive the EPF digital record from the EPF and transmit the EPF digital record via a second communication interface; and a host server configured to receive the EPF digital record transmitted by the user device.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the host server is further configured to merge the EPF digital record into an EPF database by:
identifying duplicated portions of the EPF digital record, wherein the duplicated portions are portions of the EPF digital record already present in the EPF database; removing the duplicated portions from the EPF digital record prior to merging the EPF digital record into the EPF database; identifying conflicting portions of the EPF digital record, wherein the conflicting portions are portions of the EPF digital record that conflict with data already present in the EPF database; and resolving any conflict between the conflicting portions and the data already present in the EPF database.

14 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the EPF digital record includes one or more of:
a battery level of the EPF, a cycle count for the EPF, a maintenance level for the EPF, usage data for the EPF, a water usage information for the EPF, and service information for the EPF.

15 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the user device is further configured to receive user health data from the EPF.

16 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the EPF is located in an area with limited internet connectivity and the user device is configured to transmit the EPF digital record to the host server after leaving the area with limited internet connectivity.

17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the area with limited internet connectivity is a bathroom.

18 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the user device is further configured to provide a health recommendation based on the health data.

19 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the EPF comprises one or more of an electronic faucet, an electronic flushometer, an electronic pipe fitting, an electronic flow measurement device, an electronic water closet flushometer, an electronic urinal flushometer, an electronic soap dispenser, an electronic paper towel dispenser, and an electronic hand dryer.

20 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the location of the EPF is determined based on the location of the user device.

Assignees

• Sloan Valve Co

Inventors

• Amin Parthiv
• Zosimadis Panagiotis

Classifications

• G08C2201/93

  Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop · CPC title

• H04Q2209/84

  Measuring functions · CPC title

• H04Q2209/82

  where the sensing device takes the initiative of sending data · CPC title

• H04Q2209/40

  using a wireless architecture · CPC title

• H04Q9/00

  Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom · CPC title