KR20040039585A - A system and method for levying an water cleaning rate based on amount of water purification - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and system for charging a water purifier usage fee by an amount of water purified.

The method of the present invention is performed by using a water purification system including a device for transmitting data to a specific computer through a wired or wireless communication network and a computer system for receiving, processing and processing data transmitted from the water purification system. Sensing the amount of purified water via the purified unit; Generating purified water meter reading data based on the sensed purified water quantity data and transmitting the same to the computer system; Comprising the step of calculating the water purification fee for each user based on the water meter reading data.

Therefore, since the present invention reads the purified water through the water purifier and charges the purified water fee based on the read information, it is possible not only to popularize the spread of the water purifier but also to set the water purifier use price fairly.

Description

A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LEVYING AN WATER CLEANING RATE BASED ON AMOUNT OF WATER PURIFICATION}

The present invention relates to a domestic water purifier, and more particularly, to a water purifier capable of transmitting and receiving information using a communication network.

More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and system for charging a water purifier usage fee by an amount of water purified.

As water pollution is a problem, most households and companies use water purifiers to purify water.

However, since the water purifier itself is an expensive product, the financial burden is too great to purchase and use it. Rental services are becoming popular to compensate for these problems.

In other words, it is a method of renting and using a water purifier from a water purifier rental company, and paying a certain amount of rent on a water purifier rental company every month. In this case, the rental company provides maintenance services such as inspecting and repairing the water purifier at regular intervals and replacing the filter.

These rental services have contributed to the popularization of water purifiers by distributing water purifiers, which were considered exclusive property of the wealthy, to most middle class households.

However, since the rental service described above has to pay a fixed rental fee every month regardless of the degree of use of the water purifier, the household may have a financial burden even if the number of users is low or the degree of use is poor.

In other words, the disadvantage of the rental service is that a flat fee is charged only by the installation of the water purifier regardless of the degree of use of the water purifier.

Therefore, there is a demand for a method that can make the use of water purifiers more popular by supplying equipment called water purifiers free of charge and by setting a differential fee according to the degree of use of the water purifier (ie, the amount of purified water).

An object of the present invention is to provide a water purifier apparatus capable of checking a purified water amount and transmitting the checked purified water amount information through a communication network.

In addition, another object of the present invention is to provide a method and system for receiving purified water amount information for a predetermined period from a water purifier installed at a user, and for charging a purified water fee according to the purified water amount.

The following drawings attached to this specification are illustrative of preferred embodiments of the present invention, and together with the detailed description of the invention to serve to further understand the technical spirit of the present invention, the present invention is a matter described in such drawings It should not be construed as limited to.

1 is a view for explaining the system of the present invention.

2 is a schematic internal configuration diagram of the water purifier according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the purified water meter reading device built in FIG. 2.

4 shows the format of the purified water meter reading data transmitted from the water purifier of the present invention to the purified water management server.

5 is a functional block diagram of a water management server of a preferred embodiment according to the present invention.

6A shows the attributes of the user database, and FIG. 6B shows the attributes of the charging database.

7 is a flow chart for explaining the water purification fee charging method of the preferred embodiment according to the present invention.

<Description of main reference numerals in the drawings>

100: water purifier 150; Water Purification Meter

200; Communication network 300: water purification management server

With the development of the information and communication infrastructure, not only the information communication terminals such as computers, but also the classical mechanical devices are developing into the information communication devices. In other words, by installing a wired or wireless modem in equipment for which information communication is not possible, transmission and reception of information through a communication network becomes possible.

In general, a water purifier is a device for purifying tap water by simply purifying it, and it is recognized that a combination with information communication is unnecessary.

However, the present inventors have found that the water purification fee can be charged according to the user's water usage by coupling the communication interface device to the water purifier, and intentionally checking the purified water amount and transmitting it to a remote computer device.

To this end, the method of the present invention is carried out using a water purification system including a device for transmitting data to a specific computer through a wired or wireless communication network and a computer system for receiving, processing and processing data transmitted from the water purification system. As a method,

Sensing the amount of purified water via the purified unit;

Generating purified water meter reading data based on the sensed purified water quantity data and transmitting the same to the computer system;

Comprising the step of calculating the water purification fee for each user based on the water meter reading data.

At this time, the purified water meter reading data includes a water purifier unique number and purified water data. In addition, the purified water amount data is preferably accumulated water amount information for a certain period of time.

In addition, the method of the present invention may further include generating an electronic bill based on the purified water fee information calculated for each user, and sending the electronic bill to each user electronically.

The method may further include generating a bill and outputting the bill in accordance with the purified water bill information calculated for each user.

In addition, the method of the present invention may further include the step of transmitting the purified water rate information calculated for each user to the corresponding water purifier system, and outputting it through a display device attached to the water purifier system.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a system for charging a water purifier usage fee includes a water purifying device including a water purifying unit for purifying tap water, and a water purifying amount sensing unit for sensing an amount of water purified through the water purifying unit; ;

A meter reading device for generating purified water meter reading data based on the purified water amount data sensed by the purified water amount sensing unit and transmitting the same through a wired or wireless communication network;

And a computer device that receives meter reading data transmitted from the meter reading device and calculates a water purification fee for each user based on the meter reading data.

At this time, the meter reading device is a storage means for storing the purified water data input from the sensing unit; Means for accumulating the purified water amount data for a predetermined period of time to calculate total purified water amount data, and generating a purified water meter reading data by concatenating the purified water amount data with a unique water purifier number; Means for converting the purified water meter reading data into communicable information and transmitting it to the computer device.

The meter reading device may further comprise means for receiving purified water rate information transmitted from the computer device; It may further include means for displaying the purified water rate information.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for charging a water purifier use fee based on an amount of purified water, the water purifying unit for purifying tap water;

A purified water amount detecting unit for sensing an amount of water purified through the purified water unit; And

A water purifier device including a metering unit for generating purified water meter reading data based on the purified water amount data sensed by the purified water amount sensing unit and transmitting the same through a wired or wireless communication network;

And a computer device that receives meter reading data transmitted from the meter reading device and calculates a water purification fee for each user based on the meter reading data.

At this time, the meter reading unit comprises a storage means for storing the purified water data input from the sensing unit; Means for accumulating the purified water amount data for a predetermined period of time to calculate total purified water amount data, and generating a purified water meter reading data by concatenating the purified water amount data with a unique water purifier number; Means for converting the purified water meter reading data into communicable information and transmitting it to the computer device.

The meter reading unit may further comprise means for receiving purified water rate information transmitted from the computer device; It may further include means for displaying the purified water rate information.

The meter reading data consists of a water purifier unique number and accumulated amount of water for a certain period of time.

As an embodiment, the detection unit is installed between the water purification unit and a water tank for storing purified water, and includes a flow rate sensor and a connection pipe for checking the amount of purified water.

In another embodiment, the sensing unit may include a water tank for storing purified water and two water level sensors installed in the water tank. At this time, the two water level detection sensor is composed of a low water level sensor installed on the top of the tank and a low water level sensor installed on the bottom of the tank.

The computer device also includes a storage device and a processing device connected with the storage device; The storage device stores a program for controlling the processing device;

The processing device

Receiving the purified water meter reading information and storing the purified water amount for each user;

Calculate the water purification fee based on the purified water amount by use,

It is operated by a program for performing a procedure for transmitting the purified water rate information to the meter reading device of the corresponding user.

Water purifier for home use as an aspect of the present invention comprises: a water purification unit for purifying tap water;

A purified water amount detecting unit for sensing an amount of water purified through the purified water unit; And

And a metering unit for generating purified water meter reading data based on the purified water amount data sensed by the purified water amount sensing unit and transmitting the purified water meter reading data to a predetermined computer device through a wired or wireless communication network.

At this time, the water purification unit is preferably composed of a plurality of filters for removing various suspended solids, chlorine components, heavy metals, carcinogens, bacteria, odors and gases in the tap water.

Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings will be described in detail the configuration of the preferred embodiment according to the present invention.

First, Figure 1 is a network diagram for explaining the system of the present invention.

The system of the present invention includes a water purifier 100 having a built-in water meter reading device 150, a computer device 300 including a mass storage device 350, and a water purifier and a computer device for transmitting and receiving information therebetween. It consists of a communication network 200 for connecting.

The purified water meter reading device 150 built in the water purifier 100 may be separated from the water purifier and exist as an independent device.

Detailed configurations of the water purifier 100 and the purified water meter reading device 150 will be described later with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

In addition, the computer device 300 is a remote computer system for calculating a water purification fee for each user based on the meter reading information transmitted from the water purifier 100, and collecting the collected water for each user.

The communication network 200 encompasses wired and wireless communication networks. Typically, the communication network 200 is a public telephone network, the Internet, a mobile communication network, a wired or wireless dedicated network, and any information may be transmitted and received.

The water purifier of the present invention is largely composed of a water purifying unit, a sensing unit and a metering unit.

The water purification unit purifies and purifies the tap water, and stores the purified water in a water purification tank. In addition, the detection unit is for measuring the amount of water purified by the water purification unit. The meter reading unit combines the water purifier's unique number with the purified water number measured by the sensing unit, converts it into a data format (ie, meter reading data) in a form that can be transmitted through a communication network, and transmits the meter reading data thus converted to the computer device. It is to.

2 shows the internal configuration of the water purifier 100 of the preferred embodiment according to the present invention.

When contaminated water is introduced through the tap water inlet 141 connected to the faucet, the motor pump 140 delivers the contaminated water to the filter assembly 120 through the connection pipe 142. The filter assembly 120 purifies by removing various suspended substances, chlorine, heavy metals, carcinogens, bacteria, odors and gases in the contaminated water.

The filter assembly 120 as a preferred embodiment consists of a plurality of filters, for example, a sediment filter for removing suspended solids, a pre-carbon filter for removing chlorine components, a membrane filter for removing heavy metals, and water. It consists of a post carbon filter that removes odors and gases from the inside.

The water purified through the filter assembly 120 is stored in the water purification tank 110 through the connection pipe 122 to which the flow rate sensor 130 is attached.

The flow rate sensor 130 measures the amount of purified water passing through the connection pipe, and transfers the measured amount of purified water data to the purified water meter reading device 150. The purified water meter reading device 150 accumulates the purified water data transmitted from the flow rate sensor 130 for a predetermined period of time (for example, one month) to generate aggregated purified water data, and combines the water purifier unique number with the total purified water data to communicate with the communication network. Send it through.

Instead of the flow rate sensor 130, as shown in FIG. 2, the water level sensor 112 and the low water level sensor 114 may be attached to the upper and lower ends of the water purification tank 110 to measure the amount of purified water. In this case, when the high water level sensor 112 is operated, the motor pump 140 stops operation, and when the low water level sensor 114 is operated, the motor pump 140 is restarted. Therefore, when the low water level sensor 114 is operated after the high water level sensor 112 is operated, the purified water meter reading device 150 generates the purified water data corresponding to the capacity of the water tank and stores the data as a purified water amount. do.

The purified water stored in the purified water tank 110 is supplied to the user through the purified water drawing faucet 111.

2 illustrates a configuration in which the purified water meter reading device 150 is built in the water purifier 100, the purified water meter reading device does not necessarily need to be installed inside the water purifier, and may be installed separately from the water purifier as an independent device. Do. In this case, the flow sensor (or full water level sensor, low water level sensor) and the water level meter are connected to each other through a data transmission cable.

In addition, although the water purifier of FIG. 2 introduces a water direct connection type | mold water purifier, the water purifier of this invention is not necessarily limited to this example.

Hereinafter, a detailed detailed configuration of the purified water meter reading device will be described with reference to FIG. 3.

The purified water meter reading device 150 of the present invention includes a ROM (152) for storing a program related to the operation of the device, a RAM (RAM) 153 which is a storage area for purified water data, and a flash memory for temporarily storing data. 154, a central processing unit (CPU) 155 for controlling signals for smooth operation of the component, a sensor connection unit 151 for interfacing the flow rate sensor and the central processing unit, and a water purifier unique number A unique number setting unit 158 for transmitting the water, and a modulation device unit 156 for modulating the water meter reading data of the form as shown in FIG. 4 to be transmitted through the communication connection unit 157, and the water purification management server 300. And a display device 159 for displaying the purified water charge externally, and a display driver 158 for driving the display device.

The central processing unit 155 stores the purified water quantity data inputted from the flow rate sensor 130 in the RAM 153, and when the transmission point is reached, adds the purified water quantity data accumulated during the period and calculates the total purified water quantity data. The water purification amount reading data 160 having the format as shown in FIG. 4 is generated by combining the calculated water purification amount data and the water purifier unique number set by the unique number setting unit 158. The purified water meter reading data 160 is modulated by being coupled to the carrier signal in the modulation device unit 156 and then transmitted to the water management server 300 through the communication connection unit 157.

The unique number setting unit 158 is for setting a unique code assigned by the water management server 300 to distinguish each distributed water purifier. The central processing unit 155 combines the water purifier unique number 162 with the sum of the purified water amount data 163, and connects the header 161 and the error detection data 164 as shown in FIG. Create

5 is a functional block diagram of a remote computer system (i.e., a water management server) that receives meter reading information from a water purifier and charges the purified water fee for each user.

Purification management server 300 according to the present invention is the central processing unit 340, RAM (310), ROM (ROM) 330, network interface 320, operating system 370, billing processing device ( 360, a data storage device 350.

A traditional personal computer or workstation with a significant amount of memory and processing power can be used as the water management server 300. This water management server can perform a large amount of work by executing a huge amount of mathematical calculations in information processing or database search.

Referring to FIG. 5, the charging processing device 360 includes one or more microprocessors that calculate the water purification fee for each user based on the purified water data and the price calculation table. The charging processor 360 may be configured as a part of the central processing unit 340.

The data storage device 350 may include a hard disk that is magnetic or optical storage device such as a CD-ROM driver or a flash memory. The data storage device 350 includes a user database 351 and a billing database 353, which contain databases used for the process of calculating and imposing a water purification fee according to the present invention. The data storage device 350 may store the charging rate table 352 as shown in FIG. 6C.

The user database 351 stores information related to the water purifier user, such as a user name, address, deposit account, telephone number, social security number, e-mail address, water purifier model name, water purifier unique number, and the like as shown in FIG. 6A. Such information is obtained by presenting to the service provider when the user installs the water purifier free of charge or by the service provider setting (purifier unique number, etc.).

The billing information database 353 is used for a certain period of time for each user, such as a payer's name, address, payment account number, telephone number, social security number, e-mail address, metered water purification amount, billed water purification rate (monthly), and the like as shown in FIG. 6B. Stores the information needed to charge clean water.

The billing rate table 352 records water purification rate information on the amount of usage corresponding to each water purifier model as shown in FIG. 6C. For example, in the case of the model name ABCD-2CF, if the total amount of purified water is 100 liters, the water purification rate of the corresponding user price is calculated as \ 100,000 based on the billing rate table.

The network interface 320 is a gateway for periodically receiving purified water meter reading information through the respective purified water meter reading devices 150 and transmitting the calculated purified water rate information to each purified water meter reading device 150. Existing internal and external modems may serve as the network interface 320.

Although one computer is described as acting as a water management server in FIG. 5, those skilled in the art will readily recognize that the functionality may be distributed among a plurality of computers. In one embodiment, the integer management server is configured in a distributed structure, the database and the processors are stored in individual units or storage (Location). Some servers have a minimum amount of RAM, ROM and general processing, and perform some basic processing.

Hereinafter, the water purification fee charging method according to the present invention will be described based on the above configuration.

Referring to FIG. 7, the flow rate sensor 130 (or the water level sensors 112 and 114) built in the water purifier 100 senses the flow rate of the purified water, and transfers it to the purified water meter reading device 150. Step S110)

The central processing unit 155 of the purified water meter reading device 150 stores this purified water data in the memory 163 (step S120), and checks whether or not the data transfer time has been reached (step S130). If it is determined that the data has been reached, the purified water amount data stored in the memory is read out, and the sum is summed up to obtain the total purified water amount data for a predetermined period (step S140).

On the other hand, if it is determined that the transmission time has not been reached in step S130, the process returns to step S110.

When the sum purified water amount data is obtained, the sum purified water amount data 163 is combined with the water purifier unique number 162 set by the unique number setting unit 158 to generate the purified water meter reading data 160 as shown in FIG. (Step S150) When the purified water meter reading data 160 is generated, a carrier signal is coupled to the purified water meter reading data to be converted into a purified water meter reading signal in a communicable form, and this is determined in advance through a communication network (i.e., Water purification management server) 300. (Step S160).

The purified water management server 300 receiving meter reading information from the purified water meter reading device 150 determines a user by extracting a water purifier unique number from the meter reading information, and stores the total purified water amount data for each used user (steps S170 and S180).

When the water purification rate is reached (step S190), the purified water amount data for each user is read and the water purification rate for the corresponding user is calculated by referring to the billing rate table 352 and stored in the billing information database 353. (Step S210)

For example, when the total purified water amount data of Hong Gil-dong using the water purifier model name ABCD-2CF is 100 l, the purified water charge charged to Hong Gil-dong is 1,000 won / l × 100 l = 100,000 won.

The purified water rate information calculated in this way may be printed for each user and sent to a bill or notified to each user in the form of an electronic document (that is, an electronic bill). (Step S220) In particular, the purified water management server 300 The fee may be transmitted to the purified water meter reader 150 for each user through the network interface 320 and displayed on the display device 159.

The electronic bill may be output to each user through a website or transmitted in an e-mail or a short message (SMS).

In the above, preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, the terms or words used in the present specification and claims should not be construed as being limited to the ordinary or dictionary meanings, and the inventors properly define the concept of terms in order to best explain their invention in the best way. It should be interpreted as meaning and concept corresponding to the technical idea of the present invention based on the principle that it can. Therefore, the embodiments described in the specification and the drawings shown in the drawings are only the most preferred embodiment of the present invention and do not represent all of the technical idea of the present invention, various modifications that can be replaced at the time of the present application It should be understood that there may be equivalents and variations.

As described above, the present invention reads the purified water through the water purifier and charges the water purifying fee based on the read information so that not only can the popularity of the water purifier be popularized but also the water purifier usage fee can be set fairly. .

In addition, it may have an additional effect of predicting in advance the replacement time of the filter assembly based on the purified water information transmitted from the water purifier.

Claims (27)

A water purification system including a device for transmitting data to a specific computer through a wired or wireless communication network and a computer system for receiving, processing, and processing data transmitted from the water purification system, Sensing the amount of purified water via the purified unit; Generating purified water meter reading data based on the sensed purified water quantity data and transmitting the same to the computer system; And calculating a water purification fee for each user based on the water purification meter reading data. The method of claim 1, wherein the purified water meter reading data And a water purifier unique number and purified water amount data. The method of claim 2, The purified water amount data is characterized in that the accumulated water amount information for a period of time. The method of claim 3, wherein And generating an electronic bill based on the purified water rate information calculated for each user and sending the electronic bill to each user electronically. The method of claim 4, wherein And generating a bill of bills based on the purified water bill information calculated for each user, and outputting the bills. The method of claim 4, wherein And transmitting the purified water rate information calculated for each user to a corresponding water purifier system, and outputting the purified water rate information through a display device attached to the water purifier system. A water purifier device including a water purifying unit for purifying tap water, and a water purifying amount sensing unit for sensing an amount of water purified through the water purifying unit; A meter reading device for generating purified water meter reading data based on the purified water amount data sensed by the purified water amount sensing unit and transmitting the same through a wired or wireless communication network; And a computer device that receives meter reading data transmitted from the meter reading device and calculates a bill for each user based on the meter reading data. A water purification unit for purifying tap water; A purified water amount detecting unit for sensing an amount of water purified through the purified water unit; And A water purifier device including a metering unit for generating purified water meter reading data based on the purified water amount data sensed by the purified water amount sensing unit and transmitting the same through a wired or wireless communication network; And a computer device that receives meter reading data transmitted from the meter reading device and calculates a bill for each user based on the meter reading data. The method of claim 7 or 8, wherein the meter reading data A system comprising a water purifier unique number and water purification data accumulated over a period of time. The method of claim 9, wherein the sensing unit And a flow rate sensor and a connection pipe installed between the purified water unit and a water tank storing purified water to check the purified water amount. The method of claim 9, wherein the sensing unit A system comprising a water tank for storing purified water and two water level sensors installed in the water tank. The method of claim 11, The two sets of water level sensor is characterized in that the water level sensor installed on the top of the tank and the low water level sensor installed on the bottom of the tank. The method of claim 7, wherein the meter reading device Storage means for storing purified water data inputted from said sensing unit; Means for accumulating the purified water amount data for a predetermined period of time to calculate total purified water amount data, and generating a purified water meter reading data by concatenating the purified water amount data with a unique water purifier number; And means for converting the purified water meter reading data into communicable information for transmission to the computer device. The method of claim 13, wherein the meter reading device Means for receiving purified water bill information transmitted from said computer device; And means for displaying the purified water rate information. The method of claim 8, wherein the meter reading unit Storage means for storing purified water data inputted from said sensing unit; Means for accumulating the purified water amount data for a predetermined period of time to calculate total purified water amount data, and generating a purified water meter reading data by concatenating the purified water amount data with a unique water purifier number; And means for converting the purified water meter reading data into communicable information for transmission to the computer device. The method of claim 15, wherein the meter reading unit Means for receiving purified water bill information transmitted from said computer device; And means for displaying the purified water rate information. 10. The apparatus of claim 7 or 8, wherein the computer device is Memory and A processing device associated with the storage device; The storage device stores a program for controlling the processing device; The processing device Receiving the purified water meter reading information and storing the purified water amount for each user; And a program for calculating a water purifier fee based on the amount of purified water for each user. 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the processing device is And performing the procedure of transmitting the purified water charge information to the meter reading device of the corresponding user. 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the processing device is And generating a electronic bill for each user based on the purified water rate information and transmitting the electronic bill to an individual user electronically. 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the processing device is And generating a bill for billing based on the purified water bill information calculated for each user and outputting the bill. A water purification unit for purifying tap water; A purified water amount detecting unit for sensing an amount of water purified through the purified water unit; And And a metering unit for generating purified water meter reading data based on the purified water amount data sensed by the purified water amount sensing unit and transmitting the purified water meter reading data to a predetermined computer device through a wired or wireless communication network. The method of claim 21, wherein the meter reading data Water purifier home water purifiers, characterized in that it comprises a unique number and accumulated water quantity data for a certain period of time. The method of claim 22, wherein the sensing unit And a flow rate sensor and a connection pipe installed between the water purification unit and a water tank for storing purified water to check the amount of purified water. The method of claim 22, wherein the sensing unit It consists of a water tank for storing purified water and two water level sensors installed in the water tank, The water level sensor of the two sets is a household water purifier, characterized in that consisting of a low water level sensor installed in the top of the tank and the low water level sensor installed in the bottom of the tank. The method of claim 23 or 24, wherein the meter reading unit Storage means for storing purified water data inputted from said sensing unit; Means for accumulating the purified water amount data for a predetermined period of time to calculate total purified water amount data, and generating a purified water meter reading data by concatenating the purified water amount data with a unique water purifier number; And means for converting the purified water meter reading data into communicable information and transmitting the same to a predetermined computer device. The method of claim 25, wherein the metering unit Means for receiving purified water bill information transmitted from said computer device; And a means for displaying the purified water rate information. The water purification unit of claim 25, wherein A household water purifier, comprising a plurality of filters for removing various suspended matter, chlorine, heavy metals, carcinogens, bacteria, odors and gases in water.