Universal dispenser monitor

1. A retrofit dispenser monitor comprising:

a connector configured to connect the dispenser monitor directly to a dispenser body of a dispenser such that there is physical contact between the dispenser monitor and the dispenser;

a sensor configured to detect the attached dispensing action of the attached dispenser;

a controller connected to the sensor, the controller being configured:

to learn characteristics of a data signature which is transmitted through the body of the dispenser directly to the physically connected dispenser monitor and which corresponds to a dispensing action of the attached dispenser; and

to recognize subsequent data signatures received from the sensor which corresponds to the learned characteristics in order to determine a measure of dispenser use; and

a transmitter configured to transmit data relating to the determined measure of dispenser use.

2. The monitor according to claim 1 , wherein the connector is a releaseable connector.

3. The monitor according to claim 1 , wherein the connector comprises an adhesive area; a clamp or a magnet.

4. The monitor according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises one or more of: a vibration sensor; a heat sensor; a light sensor; an electromagnetic interference sensor; a sound sensor; a volume sensor; a motion sensor; and an orientation sensor.

5. The monitor according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to distinguish between a plurality of dispensing actions based on the received data signature.

6. The monitor according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to predict characteristics of the next data signature based on the most recent recognized signatures.

7. The monitor according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine whether the dispenser has been refilled based on received data.

8. The monitor according to claim 7 , wherein the controller is configured to determine whether the dispenser has been refilled based on detecting a data signature corresponding to a refill action.

9. The monitor according to claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to determine whether the dispenser has been refilled based on detecting a data signature corresponding to a full dispenser.

10. The monitor according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine whether the dispenser has been refilled based on a user interaction.

11. The monitor according to claim 1 , wherein the signature characteristics comprise one or more of: duration of dispensing; frequency of vibration during dispensing; and temperature profile during dispensing.

12. The monitor according to claim 1 , wherein the dispenser comprises one or more of: a soap dispenser; a sanitizer dispenser; a paper towel dispenser; a urinal; and a toilet.

13. The monitor according to claim 1 , wherein the dispenser monitor is configured to:

compare a received signature with a library of signatures of known dispensers; and

determine the type of the attached dispenser based on the comparison.

14. The monitor according to claim 1 , wherein the dispenser monitor comprises a universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter configured to allow the dispenser monitor to communicate with a remote device.

15. The monitor according to claim 1 , wherein the dispenser monitor comprises a magnetic sensor, and wherein the dispenser monitor is configured to suspend recording or detecting signatures while the magnetic sensor is detecting a particular magnetic field.

16. The monitor according to claim 1 , wherein the transmitter comprises one or more of: a wireless transmitter; a wired transmitter; a Bluetooth® transmitter; an IR transmitter; a cellular transmitter; a WiFi transmitter; and a radio-frequency transmitter.

17. A method, the method comprising:

connecting a dispenser monitor directly to a dispenser body of a dispenser such that there is a physical contact between the dispenser monitor and the dispenser;

detecting the attached dispensing action of the attached dispenser;

learning characteristics of a data signature which is transmitted through the body of the dispenser directly to the physically connected dispenser monitor and which corresponds to a dispensing action; and

recognizing subsequent data signatures which corresponds to the learned characteristics in order to determine a measure of dispenser use; and

transmitting data relating to the determined measure of dispenser use.

18. A system comprising:

a plurality of retrofit dispenser monitors according to claim 1 ;

a remote electronic device having a receiver configured to receive data from each of the transmitters relating to the determined measure of dispenser use

wherein the remote electronic device is configured to provide a notification when the dispensers require refilling.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the remote electronic device is a portable electronic device.

20. A retrofit dispenser monitor comprising:

a connector configured to connect the dispenser monitor directly to a dispenser body of a dispenser such that there is physical contact between the dispenser monitor and the dispenser;

a sensor configured to detect the attached dispensing action of the attached dispenser by measuring a signature which is transmitted through the body of the dispenser directly to the physically connected dispenser monitor;

a controller connected to the sensor, the controller being configured to:

compare received sensor data with a library of signatures of known dispensers;

determine the type of the attached dispenser based on the comparison; and

recognize subsequent data signatures received from the sensor which correspond to the determined dispenser type in order to determine a measure of dispenser use; and

a transmitter configured to transmit data relating to the determined measure of dispenser use.