Detailed Description
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here. As used herein, unless otherwise noted, the terms "comprising," "including," "containing," and "including" and grammatical variations thereof are intended to mean "open" or "inclusive" language such that they include the recited elements but also allow for the inclusion of additional, unrecited elements. The terms "connect," "connected," or "connecting," and grammatical variations thereof, as used herein, are intended to refer to a link of two items, either directly linked together or indirectly linked together through a wireless and/or wired network.
As used herein, the term network may be the internet, an intranet, and/or a combination of both. The network may be implemented using any combination of Wi-Fi, WAN, LAN, cellular, wire, fiber optic cable to transmit data from a gateway or user interface to a server.
As used herein, a server may be a single stand-alone server, multiple dedicated servers, and/or a virtual server running on a larger network of servers. The database may be located on the server itself or may be accessible by a server on a separate network or platform. The sensor data may be stored in a server or may be stored off-site in a data storage network.
The user interface may be a visual screen on a portable tablet, smart phone, dedicated device, laptop or desktop computer. In field use, a smaller visual screen is typically included, and thus the information format of the mobile device may be different from the format displayed on a laptop or desktop computer. The level of access between members of an employee may vary depending on roles such as between cleaning employees, technical employees, supervisor employees, and server administrators.
Fig. 1 is a block diagram 1-00 of an embodiment of a system 1-01 including an IoT sensor, a gateway 10, a network 11, a user interface 06, a mobile sensor 05, and a server 12. The toilet 01 includes a plurality of IoT sensors belonging to the categories of the consumption sensor 02, the environmental sensor 03, and the flow pattern sensor 04. The IoT sensors are connected to a server 12 through a gateway 10 and a network 11. The user interface 06 accesses the server 12 through the network 11 and is connected to one or more mobile sensors 05. The server 12 comprises a database 13.
Fig. 2 is a flow chart of a second embodiment of the invention, 2-00, illustrating the collection and analysis of IoT sensor data for managing multiple toilets 01. Flow diagrams 2-00 illustrate steps 2-01 through 2-06 (see below) for implementing embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a dashboard screen 3-00 of an embodiment of the invention as displayed on the user interface 06, providing a building management summary, a human management summary, and a performance index summary. The building management summary of the screen includes statistical information for cleaning and maintenance. The human management summary includes statistical information about the availability of cleaning staff and the availability of technical staff. The performance index summary includes an off-time metric, a cleanliness index, soap consumption, tissue consumption, water consumption, and energy consumption.
Fig. 4 is a building management summary screen 4-00 of an embodiment of the present invention displayed on the user interface 06. The building management summary of the screen includes statistical information for cleaning and maintenance. This screen includes statistical information from ammonia sensors, soap dispenser sensors, paper towel dispenser sensors, faucet sensors, toilet flush sensors, urinal flush sensors, hand dryer power meters, temperature sensors, and humidity sensors.
FIG. 5 is a human management summary screen 5-00 of an embodiment of the invention as displayed on the user interface 06. The human management summary of the screen includes statistical information about the availability of cleaning staff and the availability of technical staff.
FIG. 6 is a performance index summary screen 6-00 of an embodiment of the invention as displayed on the user interface 06. The performance metric summary includes a downtime metric, a list of metrics, and a cleanliness metric. Also included are measures of soap consumption, tissue consumption, water consumption, and energy consumption.
FIG. 7 is an administration report screen 7-00 of an embodiment of the present invention as displayed on user interface 06. The management report screen includes equipment and consumption information subdivided by month and year.
FIG. 8 is a user list screen 8-00 of an embodiment of the present invention as displayed on user interface 06. Users are classified by job category, including cleaning staff, technical staff, and supervisor staff. The screen includes fields for name, username (or employee ID), gender, work place, creation date, and action (or task item).
FIG. 9 is a setup screen 9-00 of an embodiment of the invention as displayed on user interface 06. The screen includes a maintenance schedule that includes cleaning schedule recommendations and predictive maintenance.
The first embodiment of the invention (system 1-01) and the second embodiment of the invention (method) both use multiple IoT sensors. These IoT sensors may be categorized as follows.
I. Consumption sensor
a. Hand drier power meter: measuring the total current consumption of the toilet 01; the server 12 issues an alarm whenever the current level indicates a possible lack of power and/or a change in current consumption indicates a heating element damage or short circuit.
b. A paper towel sensor: measuring a balance level of the towel in the dispenser; the server 12 issues an alert whenever a threshold is reached (e.g., less than 10% remaining) indicating that the towel needs to be replenished or replenished.
c. Soap dispenser sensor: a single soap dispenser or a combination soap dispenser; measuring the level of soap liquid in a storage tank of a soap liquid groove; the server 12 issues an alert whenever a threshold is reached (e.g., less than 10% remaining) indicating a need to replenish or refill the soap dispenser.
d. Toilet paper roll dispenser sensor: measuring a level of balance of the toilet paper roll in the dispenser; the server 12 issues an alarm whenever a threshold is reached (e.g., less than 10% remaining) indicating that the toilet paper roll needs to be replenished or replenished.
e. Bathroom power meter: measuring the overall current draw and/or whether the hand dryer is active; the server 12 will issue an alert whenever the current level indicates a blower failure and/or the heating element is inactive or malfunctioning
f. The urinal washes the sensor: indicating that the solenoid valve is in an open or closed position and/or water flow; the server 12 issues an alert whenever a time threshold is reached indicating that the solenoid is stuck in the open or closed position and/or whenever the water flow exceeds the threshold for a period of time; possibly also as an indicator of traffic and/or usage patterns.
g. Toilet flush sensor: indicating that the solenoid valve is in an open or closed position and/or water flow; the server 12 issues an alert whenever a time threshold is reached indicating that the solenoid is stuck in the open or closed position and/or whenever the water flow exceeds the threshold for a period of time; possibly also as an indicator of traffic patterns; the toilet flush sensor may comprise an infrared sensor; the toilet flush sensor may be used as an occupancy counter and/or an indicator indicating that a user of the toilet 01 is in the toilet compartment.
h. A faucet sensor: indicating that the solenoid is in an open or closed position and/or water flow; the server 12 issues an alarm whenever a time threshold is reached indicating that the solenoid is stuck in an open or closed position, whenever the faucet is turned on but there is no water flow, and/or whenever the water flow exceeds the threshold for a period of time.
Environmental condition sensor
a. An ammonia sensor: measuring the presence of ammonia in toilet 01; the server 12 issues an alarm whenever a threshold is reached indicating that the ammonia odor level in the toilet 01 is not satisfactory.
b. A humidity sensor: the humidity of the toilet 01 was measured.
c. An air quality sensor: measuring the air quality level in the toilet 01; the server 12 issues an alarm whenever a threshold value indicating the air quality in the bathroom 01 is reached; the air quality may be evaluated by an air quality sensor to check for the presence of LPG, carbon monoxide, smoke and/or other hazardous gases.
d. Movement sensor 05: sensors that are not permanently installed in the toilet 01, such as sensors carried with them by maintenance personnel; the motion sensor 05 can be used for odor, humidity, temperature, LPG, smoke and carbon monoxide readings; the mobile sensor 05 may be integrated into a smart phone or a dedicated device; the readings may then be uploaded to the server 12 and database 13 via a smartphone or tablet via the cellular network 11 or gateway 10 with a wireless transceiver; moving the sensors 05 is convenient, especially during transition periods where not all toilets 01 contain a complete array of IoT sensors or where a particular sensor is too expensive or delicate to fit into all toilets 01.
e. An odor sensor: measuring odor in toilet 01; the server 12 issues an alarm whenever a threshold is reached indicating that the odour level in the toilet 01 is not satisfactory.
f. A smoke sensor: measuring the smoke level in toilet 01; the server 12 issues an alarm whenever a threshold is reached indicating smoke in the toilet 01.
g. Sound level sensor: the sound level in toilet 01 is measured in decibels; the server 12 issues an alert whenever a threshold is reached indicating an abnormal sound level.
h. A temperature sensor: the ambient temperature of the toilet compartment 01 is measured.
i. A water leakage sensor: detecting whether water is accumulated or leaked in the toilet 01; the server 12 issues an alarm whenever a leak is detected.
Flow pattern sensor
a. A person counter: detecting the number of persons entering or leaving a toilet
B, RFID sensor: detecting when an RFID card of a member of an employee having associated cleaning staff, technician or supervisor ID information is detected; the information is sent to the server 12 for tracking, recording and analysis.
c. The urinal washes the sensor: a sensor for detecting urinal usage; the sensor is a dual purpose sensor in that it can be used to indicate both the water consumption of urinal flushing and occupancy or flow patterns in the toilet 01.
d. Toilet flush sensor: a sensor for detecting occupancy of the toilet; the sensor is a dual purpose sensor in that it can indicate both the water consumption of the toilet flush and the occupancy or flow pattern in the toilet 01.
A first embodiment of the present invention is a toilet management system for maintaining a plurality of toilets 01 by a worker, comprising: (a) a plurality of IoT sensors configured to create sensor data for calculating consumption states of a plurality of consumables, an environmental state of each toilet 01, and a flow pattern of each toilet 01; (b) a gateway 10 configured to receive sensor data from each IoT sensor; and (c) a server 12 in communication with the gateway 10 and the at least one user interface 06 over the network 11, wherein the server 12 comprises a database 13. The database 13 includes: (i) an IoT description for each IoT sensor, wherein each IoT description comprises a set of data attributes and a set of sensor parameters; (ii) IoT list for each toilet 01; (iii) an employee profile for each member of the employee; (iv) a time series profile of sensor data for each of a plurality of toilets 01; (v) at least one consumable replenishment schedule; and (vi) at least one maintenance schedule having a plurality of task items. The server 12 is configured to: (i) storing and collating sensor data in a time series archive; (ii) generating a plurality of task items and a plurality of reports, wherein each task item includes a current task state; (iii) monitoring IoT sensors in real-time and creating a plurality of emergency maintenance alerts; (iv) recommending an update to the consumable replenishment schedule and the maintenance schedule; (v) generating screen information for the user interface 06 to present task items, reports, and emergency maintenance alerts; and receives data input from the employee.
A second embodiment of the present invention is a toilet management method employing an IoT sensor, including the steps of: (a) connected to a gateway 10, the gateway 10 configured to receive sensor data from a plurality of IoT sensors, wherein the IoT sensors are configured to create sensor data; (b) providing a server 12 in communication with the gateway 10 and the at least one user interface 06, wherein the server 12 comprises a database 13; and (c) executing on the server 12 the steps of: (i) calculating consumption states of a plurality of consumables, an environmental state of each toilet 01, and a flow rate pattern of each toilet 01; (ii) storing and collating sensor data in a time series archive; (iii) generating a plurality of task items and a plurality of reports, wherein each task item includes a current task state; (iv) monitoring IoT sensors in real-time and creating a plurality of emergency maintenance alerts; (v) recommending an update to the consumable replenishment schedule and the maintenance schedule; and (vi) generating screen information for the user interface 06 to present task items, reports, and emergency maintenance alerts, and also to receive data input from employees. The database 13 includes: (i) an IoT description for each IoT sensor, wherein each IoT description comprises a set of data attributes and a set of sensor parameters; (ii) IoT list for each toilet 01; (iii) an employee profile for each member of the employee; (iv) a time series profile of sensor data for each toilet 01 of the plurality of toilets; (v) at least one consumable replenishment schedule; and (vi) at least one maintenance schedule having a plurality of task items.
Each IoT sensor may communicate with the gateway 10 via at least one of a wireless transceiver and a wired link. Communication between the IoT sensors, the gateway 10, the server 12, and the user interface 06 may also be encrypted, and at least one of the IoT sensors may be configured to receive at least one command from the server through the gateway.
The command received by at least one of the IoT sensors may be at least one of a flush command, a water flow command, an alarm signal, and a configuration command. For example, a flush command may be sent by the server to a urinal flush sensor to flush the urinal and/or to a toilet flush sensor to flush the toilet. A water flow command may be sent to a faucet sensor to start, stop, and/or pulse water flow through the faucet. The alarm signal may be used to flash an LED and/or emit an audible signal to help warn and instruct members of the employee to repair, replace, maintain, and/or replenish items in one of toilets 01. The configuration commands may be used to configure the IoT sensors with a level of specificity, a scheduled reporting frequency, and/or a sleep pattern.
Additionally, the gateway 10 may include at least one of: (a) a Wi-Fi access point for summarizing data packet transmissions to and from the server 12; (b) a local area network; and (c) an NB-IoT or 3G SIM card based mobile communication network. IoT sensors may also be made via message queue telemetry transmissions.
A Wi-Fi access point is a wireless access point that allows Wi-Fi devices to connect to a wired network. It is usually connected to the router as a stand-alone device (via a wired network), but it may also be an integral part of the router itself.
NB-IoT refers to a low power WAN standard that uses SIMs to implement cellular devices and services. NB-IoT is particularly focused on indoor coverage, low cost, long battery life, and high connection density. 3G is a widely used cellular telephone communication standard. NB-IoT or 3G may both provide coverage for remote areas without wired telecommunications infrastructure.
Message queue telemetry transport) is an ISO standard publish-subscribe based messaging protocol. It works on top of the TCP/IP protocol. It is designed for connection to remote locations that require small code footprint or limited network bandwidth.
The consumption status may be calculated based on sensor data of at least one of a soap dispenser sensor, a faucet sensor, a hand dryer power meter, a toilet paper roll dispenser sensor, a paper towel sensor, a waste bin sensor, at least one urinal flush sensor, and at least one toilet flush sensor. The environmental status may be calculated from sensor data of at least one of a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a sound level sensor, a smoke sensor, an odor sensor, a water leakage sensor, and an air quality sensor. The flow pattern may be calculated from sensor data of at least one of the RFID sensor, the person counter, the at least one urine flush sensor, and the at least one toilet flush sensor. The at least one odor sensor may be an ammonia sensor. Each emergency maintenance alert may be determined based on at least one of a consumption status, an environmental status, a traffic pattern, and a loss of communication between the server 12 and one of the IoT sensors.
The emergency maintenance alert may be categorized by at least one of a water leak, a faucet overrun, a flush failure, a soap dispenser refill indication, a paper towel refill indication, and a toilet paper refill indication. The flush failure may be due to, for example, insufficient water pressure, insufficient water flow, air in the water line, and/or excessive water pressure.
Server 12 may also be configured to employ machine learning or artificial intelligence ("AI") programming to predict emerging flow trends and recommend changes for consumable replenishment schedules and maintenance schedules.
Machine learning or AI (sometimes referred to as machine intelligence) is the intelligence exhibited by machines, in contrast to the natural intelligence exhibited by humans and other animals. Machine learning or AI programs can mimic human functions associated with other human thoughts, such as learning and problem solving. The server 12 may use machine learning or AI to step up the quality of service ("QoS") for a particular cleaning task and predict future changes in the demand for consumables, maintenance, and repairs. For example, if the occupancy rate of a toilet 01 increases, the system 1-01 may predict that the toilet 01 will have an increased demand for soap, paper towels, and toilet paper rolls. For use in larger facilities, such as airports, machine learning or AI connections may also be used to connect additional data outside of the toilet management system, such as passengers that are about to arrive at the airport, to predict consumption and maintenance needs due to possible usage increases.
The report may include at least one of: (a) a consumption history comprising at least one of energy consumption, water consumption, paper towel consumption, trash bin usage, toilet paper roll consumption, and soap consumption, wherein the consumption history is calculated from sensor data in the time series profile; (b) a building management summary indicating a cleaning status and a maintenance status of the toilet 01; (c) a human management summary indicating at least one of availability of cleaning staff, availability of technical staff, a staff scheduling turn table, response time statistics, staff attendance statistics, staff efficiency statistics, and a plurality of staff replacement recommendations; (d) a performance index summary indicating at least one of an outage time metric, an equipment fault history, a cleanliness index, and a flow history; (e) system state including each IoT sensor and gateway 10; and (f) occupancy of each toilet 01 determined from sensor data collected from the urine flush sensor and the toilet flush sensor of each toilet 01. The entry in the equipment failure history record may include at least one of a unit identifier, a location, a frequency of failure, and a type of failure. The server 12 may be configured to recommend alternative toilets 01 to the user based on the occupancy of each toilet 01. Reports may be presented in at least one dashboard screen in each user interface 06.
Each user interface 06 may be configured to: (a) associating each task item with at least one member of the employee; (b) allowing the current task state of each task item to be updated; (c) recording readings of at least one motion sensor 05; and (d) recording the specific cleaning. Each user interface 06 may be at least one of a portable tablet, a smart phone, a dedicated device, a laptop computer, or a desktop computer. Each employee profile may include a work location, an employee ID, a work indication, and a work schedule.
Although various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that various other modifications and variations of this invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, which is set forth in the following claims. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.