IP Library Granted Patent US 9,912,492
Granted Patent B2
US 9,912,492 · App. 14/485,038 · Granted Mar 6, 2018

Detection and mitigation of water leaks with home automation

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,912,492
App. No.
14/485,038
Granted
Mar 6, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

Automation control for water leaks is provided. First sensor readings from first sensors disposed about water supply lines at a home to detect a first type of metrics indicative of water flow may be received and recorded over a first time period. Second sensor readings may be received from a second sensor. A first correlation between the first sensor readings and the second sensor readings may be identified. A first activity profile may be generated based on the first correlation. A first water use profile may be generated based on the first activity profile. First thresholds may be identified based on the first water use profile and may be retained in association with the first activity profile. Water use at the home may be monitored with the first sensors and activity at the home may be monitored with the second sensors. A water leak condition may be determined.

Claims (78)

1. A method for automation control for water leaks, the method comprising:

receiving, by a control device, a first set of one or more sensor readings from a first set of one or more sensors disposed about one or more water supply lines at a home, the first set of one or more sensors to detect a type of one or more metrics indicative of water flow;

recording, by the control device, the first set of one or more sensor readings over a time period;

receiving, by the control device, a second set of one or more sensor readings from a second set of one or more sensors disposed at the home, the second set of one or more sensors to detect presence and/or locations of one or more occupants at the home;

identifying, by the control device, a correlation between the first set of one or more sensor readings indicative of the water flow over the time period and the second set of one or more sensor readings indicative of the presence and/or the locations of the one or more occupants at the home;

generating, by the control device, an activity profile based at least in part on the correlation;

generating, by the control device, a water use profile based at least in part on the activity profile, wherein the water use profile indicates water flow trends corresponding to circumstances identified with the activity profile;

identifying, by the control device, a set of one or more thresholds based at least in part on the water use profile;

retaining, by the control device, the set of one or more thresholds in association with the activity profile;

monitoring, by the control device, water use at the home at least in part with the first set of one or more sensors and activity at the home at least in part with the second set of one or more sensors;

determining, by the control device, a water leak condition based at least in part on the monitoring, wherein the determining the water leak condition comprises:

matching monitored activity to the activity profile;

comparing a third set of one or more sensor readings indicative of monitored water use to at least one threshold of the set of one or more thresholds; and

determining that the at least one threshold is satisfied;

determining, by the control device, an adjustment to address the water leak condition; and

causing, by the control device, a water supply controller to make the adjustment, wherein the adjustment comprises shutting off a water supply.

2. The method for automation control for water leaks of claim 1 , further comprising:

causing, by the control device, transmission of a user notification to indicate the water leak condition via one or more notification interfaces.

3. The method for automation control for water leaks of claim 1 , further comprising:

processing, by the control device, one or more user selections corresponding to one or more user-selection options;

wherein the causing the water supply controller to make the adjustment is based in part on the one or more user selections.

4. The method for automation control for water leaks of claim 1 , further comprising:

processing, by the control device, one or more user selections corresponding to one or more user-selection options; and

modifying, by the control device, the set of one or more thresholds based in part on the one or more user selections.

5. The method for automation control for water leaks of claim 1 , wherein the second set of one or more sensor readings from the second set of one or more sensors indicates the locations of the one or more occupants of the home.

6. A system for automation control for water leaks, the system comprising:

a control device communicatively coupled to:

a first set of one or more sensors disposed about one or more water supply lines at a home, the first set of one or more sensors to detect a type of one or more metrics indicative of water flow; and

a second set of one or more sensors disposed at the home;

the control device comprising:

one or more processors;

a memory communicatively coupled with and readable by the one or more processors and having stored therein processor-readable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

receive a first set of one or more sensor readings from the first set of one or more sensors;

record the first set of one or more sensor readings over a time period;

receive a second set of one or more sensor readings from the second set of one or more sensors disposed at the home, the second set of one or more sensors to detect presence and/or locations of one or more occupants at the home;

identify a correlation between the first set of one or more sensor readings indicative of the water flow over the time period and the second set of one or more sensor readings indicative of the presence and/or the locations of the one or more occupants at the home;

generate an activity profile based at least in part on the correlation;

generate a water use profile based at least in part on the activity profile, wherein the water use profile indicates water flow trends corresponding to circumstances identified with the activity profile;

identify a set of one or more thresholds based at least in part on the water use profile;

retain the set of one or more thresholds in association with the activity profile;

monitor water use at the home at least in part with the first set of one or more sensors and activity at the home at least in part with the second set of one or more sensors;

determine a water leak condition based at least in part on the monitoring, wherein the determining the water leak condition comprises:

matching monitored activity to the activity profile;

comparing a third set of one or more sensor readings indicative of monitored water use to at least one threshold of the set of one or more thresholds; and

determining that the at least one threshold is satisfied;

determine an adjustment to address the water leak condition; and

cause a water supply controller to make the adjustment, wherein the adjustment comprises shutting off a water supply.

7. The system for automation control for water leaks of claim 6 , wherein the processor-readable instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

cause transmission of a user notification to indicate the water leak condition via one or more notification interfaces.

8. The system for automation control for water leaks of claim 6 , wherein the processor-readable instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

process one or more user selections corresponding to one or more user-selection options;

wherein the causing the water supply controller to make the adjustment is based in part on the one or more user selections.

9. The system for automation control for water leaks of claim 6 , wherein the processor-readable instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

process one or more user selections corresponding to one or more user-selection options; and

modifying the set of one or more thresholds based in part on the one or more user selections.

10. The system for automation control for water leaks of claim 6 , wherein the second set of one or more sensor readings from the second set of one or more sensors indicates the locations of the one or more occupants of the home.

11. One or more non-transitory, machine-readable media having machine-readable instructions thereon which, when executed by one or more processing devices, facilitates automation control for water leaks, causing the one or more processing devices to:

receive a first set of one or more sensor readings from a first set of one or more sensors disposed about one or more water supply lines at a home, the first set of one or more sensors to detect a type of one or more metrics indicative of water flow;

record the first set of one or more sensor readings over a time period;

receive a second set of one or more sensor readings from a second set of one or more sensors disposed at the home, the second set of one or more sensors to detect presence and/or locations of one or more occupants at the home;

identify a correlation between the first set of one or more sensor readings indicative of the water flow over the time period and the second set of one or more sensor readings indicative of the presence and/or the locations of the one or more occupants at the home;

generate an activity profile based at least in part on the correlation;

generate a water use profile based at least in part on the activity profile, wherein the water use profile indicates water flow trends corresponding to circumstances identified with the activity profile;

identify a set of one or more thresholds based at least in part on the water use profile;

retain the set of one or more thresholds in association with the activity profile;

monitor water use at the home at least in part with the first set of one or more sensors and activity at the home at least in part with the second set of one or more sensors;

determine a water leak condition based at least in part on the monitoring, wherein the determining the water leak condition comprises:

matching monitored activity to the activity profile;

comparing a third set of one or more sensor readings indicative of monitored water use to at least one threshold of the set of one or more thresholds; and

determining that the at least one threshold is satisfied;

determine an adjustment to address the water leak condition; and

cause a water supply controller to make the adjustment, wherein the adjustment comprises shutting off a water supply.

12. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable media of claim 11 , wherein the machine-readable instructions further cause the one or more processing devices to:

cause transmission of a user notification to indicate the water leak condition via one or more notification interfaces.

13. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable media of claim 11 , wherein the machine-readable instructions further cause the one or more processing devices to:

process one or more user selections corresponding to one or more user-selection options;

wherein the causing the water supply controller to make the adjustment is based in part on the one or more user selections.

14. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable media of claim 11 , wherein the second set of one or more sensor readings from the second set of one or more sensors indicates the locations of the one or more occupants of the home.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 16, 2017
From: ECHOSTAR TECHNOLOGIES L.L.C.
To: ECHOSTAR TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 041735/0861 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 12, 2014
From: MCCARTHY, BERNARD ANTHONY, III; KUMMER, DAVID
To: ECHOSTAR TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 033732/0434 →