Description:TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to the field of flowmeters, and more particularly to a battery powered Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)-based Internet of Things (IoT) flowmeter.

BACKGROUND
[0002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed disclosure, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
[0003] Conventionally known flowmeters are devices used to measure the flow rate and/or flow quantity of a fluid, such as liquid or gas, in a pipeline or conduit. The traditional flowmeter typically employs various physical principles to quantify the volume, velocity, or mass of the fluid passing through a specific point in the system. Such a flowmeter typically relies on physical connections for data transmission and power supply. Traditional flowmeters might be located in areas that are difficult to access, making it challenging to monitor data or perform maintenance. Further, traditional flowmeters often require wired connections for data transmission and power, which can be costly and cumbersome to install, especially in remote or hazardous environments. Moreover, traditional flowmeters may not offer real-time data access or may require manual reading, leading to delays in data analysis and decision-making. Traditional flowmeters often rely on external power sources, which may not be readily available in all environments. Furthermore, traditional flowmeters may be difficult to scale or expand, especially in large industrial settings where multiple flowmeters are required.
[0004] There is therefore a need in the art to provide a method and system that can overcome the shortcomings of the existing prior art.

OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE
[0005] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies are as listed herein below.
[0006] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a battery powered Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)-based Internet of Things (IoT) flowmeter that communicates wirelessly with other devices, such as smartphones, tablets, or IoT gateways, thereby eliminating the need for physical wired connections, simplifying installation and reducing costs.
[0007] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a battery powered BLE-based IoT flowmeter that allows transmission of data to BLE-enabled devices, allowing for real-time monitoring of flow parameters from anywhere with internet connectivity.
[0008] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a battery powered BLE-based IoT flowmeter that eliminates the need for manual data collection, reducing the likelihood of human error and ensuring timely data updates.
[0009] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a battery powered BLE-based IoT flowmeter that ensures secure transmission of data from the flowmeters to the mobile phone and then to the cloud server.

SUMMARY
[0010] This section is provided to introduce certain objects and aspects of the present disclosure in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify the key features or the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[0011] The present disclosure relates to the field of flow analysis, and more particularly to a system and method for conducting flow analysis by a battery powered Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)-based Internet of Things (IoT) flowmeter.
[0012] In an aspect of the present disclosure a flowmeter for fluid flow analysis is disclosed. The flowmeter includes a plurality of sensors, a primary processor operatively coupled with the plurality of sensors, a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) component, a secondary processor operatively coupled with the BLE component, and a memory coupled to the primary processor and the secondary processor. The memory includes processor-executable instructions, which on execution, causes the primary processor and the secondary processor of the flowmeter to execute a sequence of tasks. The flowmeter is configured to detect data pertaining to a plurality of fluid flow parameters of fluid flow. Further, the flowmeter is configured to beacon the detected data automatically to a BLE-enabled device for analysis. The flowmeter is enabled to apply battery powered Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)-based Internet of Things (IoT) technology to beacon the data to the BLE-enabled device in vicinity of the flowmeter.
[0013] In another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of fluid flow analysis by a flowmeter is disclosed. The method begins with detecting, by a plurality of sensors operatively coupled with a primary processor, data pertaining to a plurality of fluid flow parameters of fluid flow. The method then beacons, by a BLE component operatively coupled with secondary processor, the detected data automatically to a BLE-enabled device for analysis. The flowmeter is enabled to apply battery powered Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)-based Internet of Things (IoT) technology to beacon the data to the BLE-enabled device in vicinity of the flowmeter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0014] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present disclosure and are incorporated in, and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure.
[0015] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary block diagram representation of a battery powered BLE-based IoT flowmeter, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0016] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary flow diagram representation of operation of the battery powered BLE-based IoT flowmeter, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0017] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary representation of a battery powered BLE-based IoT flowmeter operating on a beaconing mode, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0018] FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary representation of the battery powered BLE-based IoT flowmeter operating on a beaconing mode, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0019] FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary representation of operation of the battery powered BLE-based IoT flowmeter operating on a paired mode, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0020] FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary flow diagram representation of a method for conducting flow analysis by a battery-powered Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) based Internet of Things (IoT) Flowmeter, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] The following is a detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are in such detail as to communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit, and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0022] In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the present invention. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that embodiments of the present invention may be practiced without some of these specific details.
[0023] Specific details are given in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. For example, circuits, systems, networks, processes, and other components may be shown as components in block diagram form in order not to obscure the embodiments in unnecessary detail. In other instances, well-known circuits, processes, algorithms, structures, and techniques may be shown without unnecessary detail to avoid obscuring the embodiments.
[0024] The word “exemplary” and/or “demonstrative” is used herein to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. For the avoidance of doubt, the subject matter disclosed herein is not limited by such examples. In addition, any aspect or design described herein as “exemplary” and/or “demonstrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs, nor is it meant to preclude equivalent exemplary structures and techniques known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Furthermore, to the extent that the terms “includes,” “has,” “contains,” and other similar words are used in either the detailed description or the claims, such terms are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as an open transition word without precluding any additional or other elements.
[0025] Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” or “an instance” or “one instance” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Thus, the appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.
[0026] The present disclosure relates to the field of flowmeters, and more particularly to a battery powered Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)-based Internet of Things (IoT) flowmeter.
[0027] The present disclosure provides a flowmeter for fluid flow analysis is disclosed. The flowmeter includes a plurality of sensors, a primary processor operatively coupled with the plurality of sensors, a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) component, a secondary processor operatively coupled with the BLE component, and a memory coupled to the primary processor and the secondary processor. The memory includes processor-executable instructions, which on execution, causes the primary processor and the secondary processor of the flowmeter to execute a sequence of tasks. The flowmeter is configured to detect data pertaining to a plurality of fluid flow parameters of fluid flow. Further, the flowmeter is configured to transmit the detected data automatically to a BLE-enabled device for analysis. The flowmeter is enabled to apply battery powered Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)-based Internet of Things (IoT) technology to transmit the data to the BLE-enabled device in vicinity of the flowmeter.
[0028] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, plurality of fluid flow parameters comprises water flow rate, total volume, working hours, metrological, telemetry, and diagnostics data.
[0029] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the one or more IoT flowmeters operates on a “dual mode” comprising a “beaconing” mode for automated data transmission to unauthorized as well as authorized devices and a “pairing” mode for data transmission to authorized devices.
[0030] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the data is automatically transmitted to the BLE-enabled device by applying BLE beaconing technique.
[0031] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the data is transmitted in an encrypted form to the BLE-enabled device based on a unique cryptographic key in a “paired” mode of operation.
[0032] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, data is transmitted from the BLE-enabled device to a cloud server for fluid flow analysis.
[0033] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the data is automatically synchronized with a cloud-based server for real-time analysis and visualization on a cloud dashboard.
[0034] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the BLE-enabled device is configured to temporarily store the data before the data is transmitted to a cloud-based server for analysis.
[0035] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the BLE-enabled device is configured to continuously scan for BLE signals from the flowmeter and capture the transmitted data upon detection of a beacon signal emitted by the flowmeter.
[0036] In an embodiment of the present disclosure a method of fluid flow analysis by a flowmeter is disclosed. The method begins with detecting, by a plurality of sensors operatively coupled with a primary processor, data pertaining to a plurality of fluid flow parameters of fluid flow. The method then beacons, by a BLE component operatively coupled with secondary processor, the detected data automatically to a BLE-enabled device for analysis. The flowmeter is enabled to apply battery powered Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)-based Internet of Things (IoT) technology to beacon the data to the BLE-enabled device in vicinity of the flowmeter.
[0037] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary block diagram representation of a battery powered BLE-based IoT flowmeter, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0038] Illustrated in Fig. 1 is a battery-powered BLE-based IoT flowmeter 100 (interchangeably referred to as a flowmeter 100 herein) that uses ultrasonic technology to measure, capture, and report water flow. With built-in telemetry, the data may be accessed remotely on any computer or mobile device. The flowmeter 100 utilizes ultrasonic sound waves to measure the velocity of water flow. The flowmeter 100 may have at least two transducers that send and receive sound waves. By measuring the time it takes for the sound waves to travel upstream and downstream, the flow rate can be calculated. Further, the flowmeter 100 operates on battery power, eliminating the need for a wired power connection. This feature is especially useful for remote installations or temporary setups where running power lines is impractical or costly. The flowmeter 100 provides accurate measurements of water flow rates, often with high precision.
[0039] The flowmeter 100 is provided with a power source 102 that supplies power to a metrology unit 104 and a communication unit 106 of the flowmeter 100. The metrology unit 104 of the flowmeter 100 may include a sensor unit 104-1 operatively coupled with a primary processor 104-2. The sensor unit 104-1 of the flowmeter 100 is capable of measuring a wide range of parameters, including, but not limited to, flow rate, pressure, temperature, and volume of fluid flow. The communication unit 106 of the flowmeter 100 may include a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) component 106-1 operatively coupled with a secondary processor 106-2. The BLE component 106-1 facilitates emission of BLE signals that is scanned by a BLE-enabled device in vicinity of the flowmeter 100. The BLE component 106-1 periodically broadcasts the data measured by the sensor unit 104-1 and the BLE-enabled device captures the broadcasted data and transmits the data to a cloud-based server for storage and analysis. The BLE component 106-1 is configured to apply BLE 5.0 technology to provide improved range and data rate as compared to previous versions. There is also provided a display unit 108 to display the data of the flowmeter 100.
[0040] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary flow diagram representation of operation of the battery powered BLE-based IoT flowmeter, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0041] As illustrated in Fig. 2, the flowmeter 100 is initialized and the mode of operation of the flowmeter 100 is checked prior to mode selection. If a beaconing method is selected, the data of the flowmeter 100 is transmitted to the BLE-enabled device by applying the BLE beaconing method. The data is stored in the BLE-enabled device and forwarded to the central server for enhanced analysis. If a pairing method is selected, a paired connection is established between the flowmeter 100 and the BLE-enabled device. A request for a passkey is put forth to the BLE-enabled device. The obtained passkey is validated and data is transmitted securely to the BLE-enabled device if the passkey is authentic or the connection with the BLE-enabled device is rejected if the passkey fails the authentication check. The data transmitted to the BLE-enabled device is stored in the BLE-enabled device and forwarded to the central server for analysis.
[0042] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, passkey validation is a crucial security feature in BLE communication, ensuring that the data transmitted from the BLE-based flowmeter 100 to the BLE-enabled device is secure and authenticated. The passkey provides a robust method to prevent unauthorized access and ensures the integrity and confidentiality of the transmitted data. The flowmeter 100 initiates a connection with the BLE-enabled device. The BLE-enabled device generates and displays the passkey. A confirmation message is displayed on the screen of the BLE-enabled device if the passkey on the BLE-enabled device is the same as the passkey of the flowmeter 100. Once the passkey is validated, the BLE-enabled device and the flowmeter 100 establish an encrypted connection, and the flowmeter 100 may securely transmit the flow data to the BLE-enabled device.
[0043] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary representation of a battery powered BLE-based IoT flowmeter operating on a beaconing mode, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0044] As illustrated in Fig. 3, the data retrieved from the flowmeter 100 is transmitted automatically to the cloud server 302 by the BLE-enabled device 304 via internet connectivity. The BLE-enabled device 304 retrieves data from the flowmeter 100, when in proximity, without establishing any individual pairing connection. This operation, termed "beaconing” method, enables seamless data acquisition by the BLE-enabled device 304 from the flowmeter 100. In the beaconing method, the flowmeter 100, regardless of ownership, transmits the data to the BLE-enabled device 304 upon entering Bluetooth range.
[0045] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, BLE beaconing is a powerful and efficient method for transmitting the data from the BLE-based flowmeter 100 to the BLE-enabled device 304. BLE beaconing leverages the low power and simplicity of BLE technology to enable reliable and continuous data transmission, essential for real-time monitoring and management of flow data. BLE beaconing between the BLE-based flowmeter 100 and the BLE-enabled device 304 is a communication mechanism used to transmit data wirelessly using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology. BLE beaconing typically involves the flowmeter 100 periodically sending out small packets of data, known as beacons, which are detected and received by the BLE-enabled device 304.
[0046] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the data that is transmitted to the BLE-enabled device 304 from the flowmeter 100 is encrypted in order to safeguard the privacy of the data. Further, the data being transmitted by the flowmeter 100, authorized to a particular BLE-enabled device 304, is only made accessible to a particular user of the BLE-enabled device 304 who has access to the cryptographic key that was used for encrypting the data being transmitted by the flowmeter 100 to the BLE-enabled device 304. The flowmeter 100 also transmits the data to unauthorized BLE-enabled devices 304, in vicinity of the flowmeter 100, but that data is not displayed in the unauthorized BLE-enabled devices 304.
[0047] The beacon is a small packet of data that is transmitted at regular intervals from the flowmeter 100. The flowmeter 100 broadcasts the beacons, allowing the BLE-enabled device 304 to detect and receive the data. The data in the beacons may include measurements including water flow rate, temperature, and other sensor data collected by the flowmeter 100. The BLE beacons are designed to consume very little power. The BLE-enabled device 304 (such as a smartphone or a gateway) scans for nearby BLE beacons. When the BLE-enabled device 304 detects the beacons from the flowmeter 100, the BLE-enabled device 304 processes the received data, which could include flow rates, timestamps, and other relevant sensor readings. The BLE-enabled device 304 stores the received data and then transmits the received data to the cloud server 302 allowing for historical analysis and monitoring. The BLE-enabled device 304 may also display real-time flow data, alerting the user to any anomalies or thresholds that are exceeded.
[0048] FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary representation of the battery powered BLE-based IoT flowmeter operating on a beaconing mode, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0049] As illustrated in Fig. 4, when the BLE-enabled device 304 enters the range of the BLE-based flowmeter 100, the BLE-enabled device 304 retrieves the flow data from the flowmeter 100 automatically. The flowmeter 100 senses events and transmits the data by applying the BLE beaconing mode. The flowmeter 100, within or beyond the range of the BLE-enabled device 304, automatically beacons the sensed data to the BLE-enabled device 304, at regular intervals on the BLE beaconing mode. Upon receiving the beaconed data, the BLE-enabled device 304 acts as a gateway by temporarily storing the data. The BLE-enabled device 304 then forwards the collected data to the central server 302 for further processing and analysis. For the beaconing mode, the flowmeter 100 may be assigned a unique identifier to distinguish the flowmeter from other flowmeters. The BLE-enabled device 304 is configured to continuously scan for BLE signals from the flowmeters 100. Upon detecting a beacon signal, the BLE-enabled device 304 captures the transmitted data. The BLE-enabled device 304 processes the received data and sends the data to the cloud-based server for storage and further analysis. The transmission from the BLE-enabled device 304 to the cloud server 302 may be executed by applying various communication protocols including Wi-Fi, 4G/5G, or any available internet connection.
[0050] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the flowmeter 100 incorporates a sophisticated data handling mechanism to prevent data loss, even when multiple devices interact with the flowmeter 100 at different intervals. A synchronization protocol is implemented to ensure that the data is consistently updated and stored, regardless of the number or timing of device interactions. Conflict resolution techniques may be applied as well to manage concurrent data access and updates, ensuring seamless data integrity. The flowmeter 100 is equipped with sensors capable of measuring a range of parameters, including, but not limited to, flow rate, totalizer value, work hours. The user may configure and monitor specific parameters through the BLE-enabled device 304, providing flexibility for different use cases.
[0051] FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary representation of operation of the battery powered BLE-based IoT flowmeter operating on a paired mode, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0052] As illustrated in Fig. 5, the data retrieved from the flowmeter 100 is transmitted to the cloud server by the BLE-enabled device 304 via internet connectivity by establishing a pairing connection between the flowmeter 100 and the BLE-enabled device 304. In the pairing mode, the BLE-enabled device 304 retrieves data from the flowmeter 100 in proximity by establishing individual connections. Further, in the paired mode, the flowmeters 100 are registered with specific BLE-enabled devices 304. The flowmeters 100 communicate exclusively with the registered BLE-enabled devices 304 upon entering Bluetooth range for transmission of data.
[0053] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the BLE-based flowmeter 100 may communicate exclusively with registered BLE-enabled devices 304 by using security features and protocols designed to ensure that only authorized devices can connect and exchange data. After pairing, all data transmitted from the BLE-based flowmeter 100 to the BLE-enabled device 304 is encrypted, protecting the data from being intercepted or tampered with. During the initial setup, the BLE-enabled device 304 pairs with the flowmeter 100 based on a validated passkey. Upon validation of the passkey, the BLE-enabled device 304 receives data from the flowmeter 100. Thus, the BLE-based flowmeter 100 is able to communicate exclusively with the registered BLE-enabled devices 304. The BLE enable devices 304 maintain list of authorized flowmeters 100. Only the flowmeters in the list are authorized to connect to the BLE-enabled device 304 for transmission of data. The passkey ensures that only authorized BLE-enabled devices 304 may connect and access the data being transmitted by the flowmeters 100, providing a secure and efficient data transmission process.
[0054] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, BLE technology allows for a large number of flowmeters 100 to be in the proximity of the BLE-enabled device 304 and still beacon the data to the BLE-enabled device 304 effectively. The BLE-enabled device 304 is capable of managing data from hundreds of flowmeters, ensuring scalability for large-scale deployments. The entire process from fluid flow parameter detection to beaconing is automated by the battery powered BLE-based IoT flowmeter 100. Once the flowmeters 100 are deployed and the BLE-enabled device 304 is configured, no manual intervention is required. Continuous monitoring of fluid flow parameters and data beaconing is ensured, even when new BLE-enabled devices 304 and BLE-based flowmeters 100 are added to the network.
[0055] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the battery powered BLE-based IoT flowmeter 100 may be used for monitoring water flow in municipal and industrial water distribution networks. The battery powered BLE-based IoT flowmeter 100 may also be used for measuring water usage in irrigation systems to ensure efficient water management. The battery powered BLE-based IoT flowmeter 100 may further be used for collecting flow data in remote locations where traditional power sources are unavailable.
[0056] FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary flow diagram representation of a method of conducting fluid flow analysis by battery powered BLE-based IoT flowmeter, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0057] As illustrated in Fig. 6, a method 600 of fluid flow analysis by a flowmeter is disclosed. The method begins with detecting 602, by the plurality of sensors 104-1 operatively coupled with the primary processor 104-2, the data pertaining to the plurality of fluid flow parameters of fluid flow. The method 600 then beacons 604, by the BLE component 106-1 operatively coupled with secondary processor 106-2, the detected data automatically to the BLE-enabled device 304 for analysis. The flowmeter 100 is enabled to apply battery powered BLE-based IoT technology to beacon the data to the BLE-enabled device 304 on a walk-by mode in vicinity of the flowmeter.
[0058] As used herein, the expression “walk-by mode” has been utilized to describe a use case embodiment in which a user may be walking past the one or more flowmeters 100, and the BLE-enabled device 304 in the hands of the user automatically receives the data being beaconed by the BLE-based flowmeter 100. This is an example embodiment of the beaconing mode of operation of the BLE-based flowmeter 100. Thus, in an example, a guard of a high-rise apartment building may simply be walking past a plurality of BLE-based flowmeters 100 and the BLE-enabled device 304 in the hands of the guard may automatically receive the data being beaconed by the plurality of BLE-based flowmeters 100, and the received data may then be transmitted by the BLE-enabled device 304 to the cloud server 302 for analysis.
[0059] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, fluid flow analysis based on water flow rate, total volume, working hours, and other metrological, telemetry, and diagnostics data involves the comprehensive evaluation and monitoring of water flow within a system. This analysis helps in understanding the behaviour and efficiency of fluid systems, ensuring optimal performance, detecting anomalies, and planning maintenance.
[0060] Water flow rate refers to the instantaneous rate at which water flows through a pipe or channel, typically measured in litres per second (L/s), gallons per minute (GPM), or cubic meters per hour (m³/h). Monitoring the flow rate helps in understanding the demand patterns, peak usage times, and detecting any sudden changes that may indicate issues such as leaks or blockages. Total Volume refers to the cumulative amount of water that has flowed through the system over a specific period, often measured in litres, gallons, or cubic meters. Calculating the total volume helps in tracking overall consumption, comparing it against historical data, and ensuring that the supply meets the demand.
[0061] Working hours refers to the total operational time during which a finite flow was observed. Assessing working hours can provide insights into the operational efficiency and workload of the system, and help schedule maintenance and downtime. Metrological Data involves flow data along with the science of measurement, including calibration data, accuracy, and standards compliance of the flowmeters and related equipment. Ensuring that flow measurements are accurate and reliable, by regularly calibrating instruments and validating them against standards. This helps in maintaining data integrity and trustworthiness.
[0062] Telemetry data is the data being beaconed from the flowmeters to the BLE-enabled device using wireless communication technologies like BLE, cellular, or satellite. Analysis of telemetry data enables real-time monitoring and management of the water flow system from a remote location. Telemetry data facilitates quick response to issues, trend analysis, and long-term planning. Diagnostics data refers to the information about the operational status and health of the flowmeters 100, including error codes, battery status, and performance metrics. Analysis of diagnostics data helps in early detection of faults, performance degradation, or impending failures. Diagnostics data is critical for predictive maintenance and reducing unplanned downtime.
[0063] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims that follow. The invention is not limited to the described embodiments, versions, or examples, which are comprised to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention when combined with information and knowledge available to the person having ordinary skill in the art.

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
[0064] The present disclosure provides a battery powered Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)-based Internet of Things (IoT) flowmeter that communicates wirelessly with other devices, such as smartphones, tablets, or IoT gateways, thereby eliminating the need for physical wired connections, simplifying installation and reducing costs.
[0065] The present disclosure provides a battery powered BLE-based IoT flowmeter that allows transmission of data to remote devices or cloud platforms, allowing for real-time monitoring of fluid flow parameters from anywhere with internet connectivity.
[0066] The present disclosure provides a battery powered BLE-based IoT flowmeter that eliminates the need for manual data collection, reducing the likelihood of human error and ensuring timely data updates.
[0067] The present disclosure provides a battery powered BLE-based IoT flowmeter that ensures secure transmission of data from the flowmeters to the mobile phone and then to the cloud server.
[0068] The present disclosure provides a battery powered BLE-based IoT flowmeter that allows a user going around an apartment to receive the flow data if the app is active in the background of the BLE-enabled device of the user thereby saving time, effort, money and resources.
, Claims:1. A flowmeter for fluid flow analysis (100) comprising:
a plurality of sensors (104-1);
a primary processor (104-2) operatively coupled with the plurality of sensors (104-1);
a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) component (106-1);
a secondary processor (106-2) operatively coupled with the BLE component (106-2); and
a memory coupled to the primary processor (104-2) and the secondary processor (106-2), wherein the memory comprises processor-executable instructions, which on execution, causes the primary processor (104-2) and the secondary processor (106-2) to:
detect data pertaining to a plurality of fluid flow parameters of fluid flow; and
beacon the detected data automatically to a BLE-enabled device (304) for analysis;
wherein the flowmeter (100) is enabled to apply battery powered Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)-based Internet of Things (IoT) technology to beacon the data to the BLE-enabled device (304) in vicinity of the flowmeter (100).

2. The flowmeter (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of fluid flow parameters comprises water flow rate, total volume, working hours, metrological, telemetry, and diagnostics data.

3. The flowmeter (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flowmeter (100) operates on a dual mode comprising a beaconing mode for automated data transmission to unauthorized and authorized devices (304) and a pairing mode for data transmission to authorized devices (304).
4. The flowmeter (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data is automatically transmitted to the BLE-enabled device (304) by applying BLE beaconing technique.

5. The flowmeter (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data is transmitted in an encrypted form to the BLE-enabled device (304) based on a unique cryptographic key.

6. The flowmeter (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data is transmitted from the BLE-enabled device (304) to a cloud server (302) for fluid flow analysis.

7. The flowmeter (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data is automatically synchronized with a cloud-based server (302) for real-time analysis and visualization on a cloud dashboard.

8. The flowmeter (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the BLE-enabled device (304) is configured to temporarily store the data before the data is transmitted to a cloud-based server (302) for analysis.

9. The flowmeter (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the BLE-enabled device (304) is configured to continuously scan for BLE signals from the flowmeter (100) and capture the beaconed data upon detection of a beacon signal emitted by the flowmeter (100).

10. A method (600) of fluid flow analysis by a flowmeter (100) comprising steps of:
detecting (602), by a plurality of sensors (104-1) operatively coupled with a primary processor (104-2), data pertaining to a plurality of fluid flow parameters of fluid flow; and
beaconing (604), by a BLE component (106-1) operatively coupled with secondary processor (106-2), the detected data automatically to a BLE-enabled device (304) for analysis,
wherein the flowmeter (100) is enabled to apply battery powered Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)-based Internet of Things (IoT) technology to beacon the data to the BLE-enabled device (304) in vicinity of the flowmeter (100).