Claims:I / We Claim:

1. A water dispensing system (110, 200) for providing water-as-a-service, the water dispensing system (110, 200) comprising:
a sensor (204) to monitor an amount of water dispensed out of the water dispensing system (110, 200);
a controller (210) that is communicatively coupled with the sensor (204), wherein the controller (210) is configured to receive, from the sensor (204), an indication of the monitored amount of water dispensed out of the water dispensing system (110, 200); and
a communication unit (212) that is communicatively coupled with the controller (210) and a server (130, 216, 400), wherein the server (130, 216, 400) stores a subscription plan of a user (140) associated with the water dispensing system (110, 200), wherein the subscription plan comprises an indication of a maximum amount of water to be dispensed from the water dispensing system (110, 200) for the user, and wherein the communication unit (212) is configured to:
receive, from the controller (210), the indication of the monitored amount of water, dispensed out of the water dispensing system (110, 200) in real time;
transmit the indication of the monitored amount of water to the server (130, 216, 400);
receive a control signal from the server (130, 216, 400) to control the flow of water from the water dispensing system (110, 200); and
transmit the control signal to the controller (210);
wherein the control signal is generated based on a comparison of the value of the amount of water already dispensed with the maximum amount of water as per the subscription plan, and wherein the control signal comprises:
a stop water control signal to stop the dispensing of water when the amount of water already dispensed and the maximum amount of water as per the subscription plan is equal;
a resume water control signal to resume the dispensing of water when the user renews the subscription plan; and
an emergency water dispense control signal to allow dispensing of a predefined amount of water, when the amount of water already dispensed and the maximum amount of water as per the subscription plan is equal, and based on a determination of a predefined emergency condition;
wherein the controller (210) is configured to dispense water based on the generated control signal.
2. The water dispensing system (110, 200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor (204) is a flow meter.
3. The water dispensing system (110, 200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the determination of the predefined emergency condition comprises receiving of a request from the user (140) associated with the water dispensing system (110, 200) to provide an emergency top-up.
4. The water dispensing system (110, 200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication unit (212) is configured to send one or more notifications to the user (140) associated with the water dispensing system (110, 200) to renew the subscription plan when a difference between the maximum amount of water, as per the subscription plan, and the amount of water already dispensed is less than a predefined threshold.
5. The water dispensing system (110, 200) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the determination of the predefined emergency condition comprises a determination that the user (140) has not renewed the subscription plan after receiving a preset number of notifications from the communication unit (212).
6. The water dispensing system (110, 200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the determination of the predefined emergency condition comprises a determination that the amount of water already dispensed out of the water dispensing system (110, 200) is equal to the maximum amount of water, as per the subscription plan, at a predefined time period of a day.
7. A system (130, 216, 400) for providing water-as-a-service, the system (130, 216, 400) comprising:
an input unit (402) configured to:
receive a subscription plan associated with a user (140), wherein the subscription plan comprises an indication of a maximum amount of water to be dispensed from a water dispensing system (110, 200) for the user (140); and
receive an indication of the amount of water already dispensed by the water dispensing system (110, 200) for the user (140); and
a controller (406) configured to:
compare the amount of water already dispensed by the water dispensing system (110, 200) with the maximum amount of water as per the subscription plan;
generate a control signal based on the comparison, wherein the control signal comprises:
a stop water control signal to stop the dispensing of water when the amount of water already dispensed and the maximum amount of water as per the subscription plan is equal;
a resume water control signal to resume the dispensing of water when the user (140) renews the subscription plan; and
an emergency water dispense control signal to allow dispensing of a predefined amount of water, when the amount of water already dispensed and the maximum amount of water as per the subscription plan is equal, and based on a determination of a predefined emergency condition; and
an output unit (414) configured to send the generated control signal to the water dispensing system (110, 200) to dispense the water based on the control signal.
8. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the output unit (414) is configured to send one or more notifications to the user (140) associated with the water dispensing system (110, 200) to renew the subscription plan when a difference between the maximum amount of water as per the subscription plan and the amount of water already dispensed is less than a predefined threshold.
9. The system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the determination of the predefined emergency condition comprises at least one of:
receipt of a request, by the input unit 402, from the user (140) to provide emergency top-up;
a determination by the controller (406) that the amount of water already dispensed out of the water dispensing system (110, 200) is equal to the maximum amount of water, as per the subscription plan, at a predefined time period of a day; and
a determination by the controller (406) that the user (140) has not renewed the subscription plan after receiving a preset number of notifications from the output unit (414).
10. A method (500) performed by a server (130, 216, 400) for providing water-as-a-service, the method (500) comprising:
receiving (504), by an input unit (402) of the server (130, 216, 400), a subscription plan associated with a user (140), wherein the subscription plan comprises an indication of a maximum amount of water to be dispensed from a water dispensing system (110, 200) for the user (140);
receiving (506), by the input unit (402), an indication of the amount of water already dispensed by the water dispensing system (110, 200) for the user (140);
comparing (508), by a subscription plan unit (408) of the server (130, 216, 400), the amount of water already dispensed by the water dispensing system (110, 200) with the maximum amount of water as per the subscription plan;
generating (510), by a controller (406) of the server (130, 216, 400), a control signal based on the comparison, wherein the control signal comprises:
a stop water control signal to stop the dispensing of water when the amount of water already dispensed and the maximum amount of water as per the subscription plan is equal;
a resume water control signal to resume the dispensing of water when the user (140) renews the subscription plan; and
an emergency water dispense control signal to allow dispensing of a predefined amount of water, when the amount of water already dispensed and the maximum amount of water as per the subscription plan is equal and based on a determination of a predefined emergency condition;
transmitting (512), by an output unit (414) of the server (130, 216, 400), the generated control signal to the water dispensing system (110, 200) to dispense the water based on the control signal.
, Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[001] The present invention relates to a water dispensing system, and more specifically to controlling a water dispensing system that is based on Internet of Things (IoT).
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[002] With rapid urbanization and increasing population, the problem of water pollution has become widespread throughout the world, which causes tap water to be unfit for drinking purposes. Therefore, people usually rely on water purifiers to filter toxic and harmful substances from water.
[003] Typically, a water purifier includes multiple filters to remove harmful substances from water. As the water purifier is used for a long duration of time, usually waste gets accumulated in the filters, which affects the efficiency of the purifier. Therefore, these filters are required to be replaced periodically, and thus the water purifier requires periodic maintenance.
[004] In conventional water purifiers, the user is unaware of the right time to replace the filters, and is thus unaware of the quality of the water that he / she is consuming. Also, since the cost of the water purifiers and their maintenance might be high, a few users or families who have less / temporary water requirement avoid using water purifiers and instead rely on packaged drinking water to fulfill their daily needs.
[005] Packaged drinking water is typically filled and sold in plastic bottles, which leads to environmental pollution. Also, it is highly cumbersome to manage and dispose the containers / bottles that carry packaged drinking water, after the water is consumed. Furthermore, there is a probability of counterfeit packaged drinking water as well, which can result in health scare for the consumer.
[006] Thus, there is a need for an easy-to-use system to provide safe drinking water to users, which overcomes the aforementioned challenges of the conventional systems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[007] The present invention is directed towards a water dispensing system for providing water-as-a-service. The water dispensing system includes a sensor to monitor an amount of water dispensed out of the water dispensing system. The water dispensing system further includes a controller that is communicatively coupled with the sensor. The controller may be configured to receive, from the sensor, an indication of the monitored amount of water, dispensed out of the water dispensing system. The water dispensing system further includes a communication unit that is communicatively coupled with the controller and a server. The server stores a subscription plan of a user associated with the water dispensing system, where the subscription plan includes an indication of a maximum amount of water to be dispensed from the water dispensing system for the user. The communication unit may be configured to receive, from the controller, the indication of the monitored amount of water, dispensed out of the water dispensing system in real time, and transmit the indication of the monitored amount of water to the server. The communication unit may be further configured to receive a control signal from the server to control the flow of water from the water dispensing system, and transmit the control signal to the controller. The control signal may be generated based on a comparison of the value of the amount of water already dispensed with the maximum amount of water as per the subscription plan. The control signal may be a stop water control signal to stop the dispensing of water when the amount of water already dispensed and the maximum amount of water as per the subscription plan is equal; a resume water control signal to resume the dispensing of water when the user renews the subscription plan; or an emergency water dispense control signal to allow dispensing of a predefined amount of water, when the amount of water already dispensed and the maximum amount of water as per the subscription plan is equal, and based on a determination of a predefined emergency condition. The controller may be further configured to dispense water based on the generated control signal.
[008] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the sensor may be a flow meter.
[009] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the determination of the predefined emergency condition includes receiving of a request from the user associated with the water dispensing system to provide an emergency top-up.
[0010] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the communication unit may be further configured to send one or more notifications to the user associated with the water dispensing system to renew the subscription plan when a difference between the maximum amount of water, as per the subscription plan, and the amount of water already dispensed is less than a predefined threshold.
[0011] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the determination of the predefined emergency condition includes a determination that the user has not renewed the subscription plan after receiving a preset number of notifications from the communication unit.
[0012] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the determination of the predefined emergency condition comprises a determination that the amount of water already dispensed out of the water dispensing system is equal to the maximum amount of water, as per the subscription plan, at a predefined time period of a day.
[0013] The present invention is further directed towards a system for providing water-as-a-service. The system comprises an input unit that is configured to receive a subscription plan associated with a user, the subscription plan includes an indication of a maximum amount of water to be dispensed from a water dispensing system for the user. The input unit may be further configured to receive an indication of the amount of water already dispensed by the water dispensing system for the user. The system further includes a controller that may be configured to compare the amount of water already dispensed by the water dispensing system with the maximum amount of water as per the subscription plan, and generate a control signal based on the comparison. The control signal may include a stop water control signal to stop the dispensing of water when the amount of water already dispensed and the maximum amount of water as per the subscription plan is equal; a resume water control signal to resume the dispensing of water when the user renews the subscription plan; and an emergency water dispense control signal to allow dispensing of a predefined amount of water, when the amount of water already dispensed and the maximum amount of water as per the subscription plan is equal, and based on a determination of a predefined emergency condition. The system further includes an output unit that may be configured to send the generated control signal to the water dispensing system to dispense the water based on the control signal.
[0014] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the output unit may be further configured to send one or more notifications to the user associated with the water dispensing system to renew the subscription plan when a difference between the maximum amount of water as per the subscription plan and the amount of water already dispensed is less than a predefined threshold.
[0015] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the determination of the predefined emergency condition includes at least one of: receiving of a request, by the input unit, from the user to provide emergency top-up; a determination by the controller that the amount of water already dispensed out of the water dispensing system is equal to the maximum amount of water, as per the subscription plan, at a predefined time period of a day; and a determination by the controller that the user has not renewed the subscription plan after receiving a preset number of notifications from the output unit.
[0016] The present invention is further directed towards a method performed by a server for providing water-as-a-service. The method includes receiving, by an input unit of the server, a subscription plan associated with a user, wherein the subscription plan comprises an indication of a maximum amount of water to be dispensed from a water dispensing system for the user. The method further includes receiving, by the input unit, an indication of the amount of water already dispensed by the water dispensing system for the user. The method furthermore includes comparing, by a subscription plan unit of the server, the amount of water already dispensed by the water dispensing system with the maximum amount of water as per the subscription plan, and generating, by a controller of the server, a control signal based on the comparison. The control signal includes a stop water control signal to stop the dispensing of water when the amount of water already dispensed and the maximum amount of water as per the subscription plan is equal; a resume water control signal to resume the dispensing of water when the user renews the subscription plan; and an emergency water dispense control signal to allow dispensing of a predefined amount of water, when the amount of water already dispensed and the maximum amount of water as per the subscription plan is equal and based on a determination of a predefined emergency condition. The method further includes transmitting, by an output unit of the server, the generated control signal to the water dispensing system to dispense the water based on the control signal.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] Fig. 1 illustrates an environment where the present invention may be implemented, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0018] Fig. 2 illustrates a block diagram of a water dispensing system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0019] Fig. 3 illustrates an exemplary snapshot of user device when the user accesses the water dispensing application hosted on the server, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0020] Fig. 4 illustrates a block diagram of a server, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0021] Fig. 5 illustrates a method executed by the server to provide water-as-a-service to a user, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] Hereinafter, the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the preferred embodiments described herein are only used to illustrate and explain the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the present disclosure.
[0023] The following description includes the preferred best mode of one embodiment of the present invention. It will be clear from this description of the invention that the invention is not limited to these illustrated embodiments but that the invention also includes a variety of modifications and embodiments thereto. Therefore, the present description should be seen as illustrative and not limiting. While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, it should be understood, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications falling within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.
[0024] In any embodiment described herein, the open-ended terms "comprising," "comprises,” and the like (which are synonymous with "including," "having” and "characterized by") may be replaced by the respective partially closed phrases "consisting essentially of," “consists essentially of," and the like or the respective closed phrases "consisting of," "consists of,” the like.
[0025] As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” designate both the singular and the plural, unless expressly stated to designate the singular only.
[0026] Fig. 1 illustrates an environment 100 where the present invention may be implemented, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The environment 100 may include a water dispensing system 110. The environment 100 may further include a network 120 which may be connected to the water dispensing system 110 and a server 130. The network 104 may be the internet, intranet, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), wireless LAN (WLAN), wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi), and similar networks.
[0027] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a user 140 (or a plurality of users) of the water dispensing system 110 may use the network 120 to connect with the server 130 to monitor a plurality of parameters associated with the water to-be dispensed or dispensed from the water dispensing system 110, and control the water dispensing system 110 based on the monitored parameters and user’s water consumption requirement. The examples of the plurality of monitored parameters are TDS value, pH value, tampering indication of the water dispensing system 110, quantity of water dispensed from the water dispensing system 110, and the like.
[0028] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the user 140 may use a number of user devices 150 to access a water purifier application (not shown in Fig. 1) hosted on the server 130. The water dispensing application may be used to monitor the plurality of parameters, and control the water dispensing system 110 based on the monitored parameters and user’s requirement. The server 130 may be dedicated to host and run said application, or may host and run a plurality of different applications. Hereafter, for the sake of the description of the present invention, it is considered that the server 130 performs all the operations of said application.
[0029] The user device 150 may be a communication device such as a mobile phone, a smart phone, a smart watch, a radio terminal, a personal digital assistant, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, or the like with communication capabilities.
[0030] As mentioned earlier, the application hosted on the server 130, for example, may be an application associated with capabilities to monitor and control the water dispensing system 110. The application may be a standalone application, or may be a “plug-in” to existing applications used by the user 140.
[0031] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the water dispensing system 110 may be configured to filter harmful substances from tap water and dispense the filtered water to the user 140. The water dispensing system 110 may be further configured to monitor the plurality of parameters of the water to be dispensed or already dispensed from the water dispensing system 110. The monitored parameters may be transmitted to the server 130 by the water dispensing system 110, via the network 120. These monitored parameters are then accessible to the user 140 via the water dispensing application which is hosted on the server 130. Examples of the monitored parameters are already mentioned earlier. A person ordinarily skilled in the art may appreciate that the examples of the monitored parameters are just mentioned for illustrative purposes, and more or less parameters can be monitored by the water dispensing system 110, without departing from the scope of the present invention.
[0032] The server 130 may be configured to receive the plurality of parameters from the water dispensing system 110, store the received plurality of parameters, and monitor the stored plurality of parameters. The server 130 may be further configured to store current and historical subscription plan corresponding to the user 140, which may be received from the user 140 at the time of selecting / purchasing the subscription plan through the water dispensing application. The subscription plan may include an indication of a maximum amount of water to be dispensed from the water dispensing system 110 for the user 140.
[0033] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the server 130 may be further configured to compare the monitored plurality of parameters with the parameters associated with the subscription plan of the user. Based on the comparison and / or one or more special requests, the server 130 may be configured to control the dispensing of the water from the water dispensing system 110. As an example, the user 140 may have subscribed to a plan which allows him to use 600 liters of water per month. In this case, the server 130 may store this value of 600 liters of water per month against the user 140, and monitor the usage of the water from the water dispensing system 110.
[0034] In accordance with further embodiment of the present invention, the server 130 may be configured to issue one or more notifications to the user device 150 based on the monitoring of the plurality of parameters and /or the comparison. The notifications to the user device 150 may indicate, for example, that the dispensing of water from the water dispensing system is reaching its maximum quantity, i.e. 600 liters in a month, and the user 140 may be required to increase the quantity of water in the subscription plan or pay additional money for a “top-up” over the monthly / yearly subscription. In accordance with further embodiment of the present invention, the server may generate a control signal based on the monitoring of the plurality of parameters, which is transmitted to the water dispensing system 110 to control the dispensing of water. The details of the control signal may be understood in conjunction with the Figs. 2-5.
[0035] In accordance with further embodiment of the present invention, the server 130 may be configured to issue one or more notifications to a technician or service provider, where the one or more notifications may be associated with maintenance of the water dispensing system 110. An example of such a notification to a technician may be, but is not limited to, a notification to change filters of the water dispensing system 110, if the monitored TDS value of the dispensed water increases beyond a preset threshold value. The advantage of this notification is that the user 140 does not need to track the quality of the dispensed water himself and request for change of filters; in the case of the present invention, the server 130 itself detects the need to change the filters and sends the corresponding notification to the technician.
[0036] In accordance with further embodiment of the present invention, the user 140 may himself access the server 130 (via the user device 150 and water dispensing application hosted on the server 130) to monitor the plurality of parameters, raise one or more special requests, and manage the subscription plan associated with the user. Examples of special requests could be a “top-up” to the existing subscription plan for a month (for example, if the user 140 has guests visiting his home for a few days, he may request for a top-up), or change of subscription plan, or change of home address of the user 140 which requires transfer of the water dispensing system 110 from the current address to the new address, and the like.
[0037] Fig. 2 illustrates a block diagram of a water dispensing system 200, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The water dispensing system 200 may include, but not limited to, a plurality of sensors including a Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) sensor 202, a flow sensor (or flow meter) 204, a pH sensor 206, and a tamper-protect sensor 208. The TDS sensor 202 may be configured to monitor TDS value of the water to-be dispensed from the water dispensing system 200 in real-time. The flow sensor 204 may be configured to monitor the amount of water that is dispensed (outflow) from the water dispensing system 200. The flow sensor 204 may be further configured to monitor the inflow of water as well in the water dispensing system 200. The pH sensor 206 may be configured to monitor pH value of water in the water dispensing system 200. The tamper-protect sensor 208 may be configured to monitor an indication of tampering of the water dispensing system 200.
[0038] A person ordinary skilled in the art may appreciate that the water dispensing system 200 may include a plurality of TDS sensors, a plurality of flow sensors, a plurality of pH sensors, a plurality of tamper-protect sensors without departing from the scope of the present invention. Alternatively, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the water dispensing system 200 may not include all the types of sensors mentioned above, and may include other types of sensors not mentioned above. Fig. 2 is to be viewed as providing just one embodiment of the present invention, and not to be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention.
[0039] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of sensors, as mentioned above, may be communicatively coupled to a controller 210. The plurality of sensors may be configured to monitor the plurality of parameters and transmit the monitored plurality of parameters to the controller 210 to enable controlling of the operation (such as dispensing of water) of the water dispensing system 200. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the controller 210 may include, but not limited to, microcontrollers such as Arduino Uno, ESP8266, and microcontroller 8051.
[0040] The controller 210 may be further communicatively coupled with a communication unit 212. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the communication unit 212 may include a Global System for Mobile communication Subscriber Identity Module (GSM SIM) card, through which notifications may be sent to a user device 218 or a service provider / technician, via a network 214. The notifications may be sent directly to the user device 218 by the communication unit 212, or indirectly via a server 216. The notifications may be associated with the maintenance and service of the water dispensing system 200, in case the notification is sent to the service provider / technician; or may be associated with the subscription plan or its renewal, if the notification is sent to the user device 218.
[0041] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the communication unit 212 may be configured to receive a plurality of inputs from the controller 210. The plurality of inputs may include the amount of water already dispensed from the water dispensing system 200, the quality of water that is to-be dispensed such as the TDS value of the water, indication associated with tampering of the water dispensing system 200, pH value of the water, inflow of the water, and the like. As mentioned earlier, the controller 210 receives these inputs from the plurality of sensors that are communicatively connected with the controller 210.
[0042] Once the communication unit 212 receives these inputs from the controller 210, the communication unit 212 transmits the inputs to the server 216, via the network 214. In addition, the server 216 may be configured to receive / fetch an active subscription plan associated with the user 140 from memory (not shown in Fig. 2) of the server 216. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the active subscription plan may include an indication of a maximum amount of water to be dispensed from the water dispensing system 200 for the user 140.
[0043] Once the server 216 has the information about the subscription plan of the user 140 and the plurality of inputs from the communication unit 212, the server 216 may be configured to compare one or more inputs, of the plurality of inputs, with the corresponding information in the active subscription plan. For instance, the server 216 may be configured to compare the amount of water already dispensed from the water dispensing system 200 with the maximum amount of water allowed as per the subscription plan. Based on the comparison, the server 216 may be configured to generate a control signal, and transmit the control signal to the controller 210 via the communication unit 212. An example of such a control signal may be a “Stop water” control signal to stop the dispensing of the water from the water dispensing system 200 if the amount of water already dispensed is equal to the maximum amount of water as per the subscription plan, and the user 140 has not renewed his subscription plan. In an exemplary embodiment, the server 216 may also generate the “Stop water” control signal when it is determined by flow sensor 204 that the water is continuously dispensing from the water dispensing system 200 (i.e. dispensing more than a predetermined quality in a predetermined time period). For example, if the server 216 determines that the water dispenser has continuously dispensed more than 100 liters, the server 216 may generate “Stop water” control signal, indicating that the user 140 may have left the dispenser open by mistake. This ensures that the water is not wasted.
[0044] In accordance with further embodiment of the present invention, the control signal generated by the server 216 may include a ‘Resume water’ control signal to resume the dispensing of water when the user has renewed the subscription plan. Furthermore, the control signal may include an ‘Emergency water dispense’ control signal when the subscription plan associated with the user has expired, and when a predefined emergency condition is satisfied. Details of the “emergency condition” is provided in the description later.
[0045] The server 216 may be further configured to send one or more notifications to the user 140 associated with the water dispensing system 200 to renew the subscription plan when a difference between the maximum amount of water as per the subscription plan and the amount of water already dispensed is less than a predefined threshold. The predefined threshold (such as 50 liters) may be defined by the service provider of the water dispensing system 200 or may be defined by the user 140 himself. In accordance with further embodiments of the present invention, there may be a preset number of notifications which may be sent at different predefined thresholds to the user 140. For instance, a first notification may be sent when the water remaining is 100 liters, a second notification may be sent when the water remaining is 75 liters, and a third notification when the water remaining is 50 liters, and so on.
[0046] Once the user consumes the amount of water mentioned in the subscription plan, the user may renew the subscription plan to add more water to the subscription plan. Alternatively, the user may renew the subscription plan before the consumption of the maximum amount of water mentioned in the subscription plan.
[0047] In case the subscription plan associated with the user 140 has expired, and the user 140 has not renewed the subscription plan even after receiving the notification(s), the user 140 associated with the water dispensing system 200 may request for an “emergency top-up”. The emergency top-up request may be considered as an emergency condition. The emergency top-up request may be a request to allow the user 140 to use more amount of water from the water dispensing system 200. Based on the user’s request, the server 216 may approve or reject the request. In case, the server 216 approves the user’s request, the server 216 may send the ‘Emergency water dispense’ control signal to the communication unit 212. The communication unit 212 may be configured to receive the ‘Emergency water dispense’ control signal from the server 216, and transmit the control signal to the controller 210 to control the water dispensing system 200.
[0048] After receiving the ‘Emergency water dispense’ control signal, the controller 210 may resume the dispensing of the water up to a predefined threshold. The predefined threshold may be set by the service provider. For example, the service provider may define that in case of emergency condition, a user can use 10 Liters. Also, the service provider may define the number of times the user can raise such emergency requests (for example, maximum of 2 per quarter or in six months). In another embodiment of the present invention, the user may be allowed to raise the request once in one subscription cycle, i.e. when the current subscription plan of the user has expired, the user can request for the emergency top-up only once. Once the user has renewed the subscription plan, he may be eligible for another emergency top-up. The amount of water dispensed under emergency top-up may be adjusted in the amount of water mentioned in the renewed subscription plan. For example, if the user has used 20 Liters of water under emergency request, and he has renewed the plan of 200 Liters, then the user may only get 180 Liters in the renewed subscription plan. After such renewal, the user may become eligible for next emergency top-up.
[0049] In accordance with further embodiments of the present invention, the emergency condition may be detected automatically by the server 216. In this case, when the user has consumed the maximum amount of water mentioned in the subscription plan, the server 216 may be configured to predict whether the user 140 is available to renew the subscription plan. Based on the prediction that the user 140 is unavailable, the server 216 may generate the emergency water dispense control signal itself, and send the control signal to the controller 210 accordingly. An example could be that if there is force majeure (natural calamity or thunderstorm resulting in internet outage), the server 216 can determine that the user 140 may not be able to renew the subscription plan on time. In this case, the server 216 may generate the emergency water dispense control signal itself.
[0050] In an exemplary embodiment, the server 216 may be configured to generate the ‘Emergency water dispense’ control signal based on a determination that the subscription plan associated with the user 140 has expired at a predefined time of a day, such as during mid-night or office working hours. Another scenario for generating the ‘Emergency water dispense’ control may include a determination that the user has not received the said notifications. This may be because he was unable to access the network 214 as the user 140 is in remote areas, and thus cannot access the network 214 to renew the subscription plan. Alternatively, the server 216 may generate the ‘Emergency water dispense’ control signal based on a determination that the user 140 has not renewed the subscription plan after receiving a preset number of notifications from the server 216, and based on historical renewal data of the user 140. For example, if the server 216 determines that the user 140 usually renews the subscription plan on time, after checking the historical renewal data of the user 140; and determines that the user 140 has not renewed the subscription currently, even after receiving a preset number of notifications (for example, three), the server 216 may generate an ‘Emergency water dispense’ control signal to enable the water dispensing system 200 to dispense emergency water for the user 140. Yet another scenario for generating the emergency water dispense control may include a determination by the server 216 that the user 140 has attempted to renew the subscription (for example, by making the renewal payment), however the renewal could not be successfully performed due to a banking error (for example, a credit card error or internet banking error).
[0051] A person ordinarily skilled in the art may appreciate that the examples mentioned above for “emergency condition” are for illustrative purposes, and more examples can be added, without departing from the scope of the present invention. In addition, the amount of water to-be dispensed from the water dispensing system 200 may be different under different emergency conditions, and may be predefined by the service provider. Further, the notifications to renew the subscription that are sent to the user 140 as mentioned above, can be sent by the server 216 directly to the user device 218, or may be sent via the communication unit 212, without departing from the scope of the present invention.
[0052] In addition, the server 216 may be configured to generate another set of control signals / notifications (for the user / service provider, technician) based on the received inputs for the TDS value of the dispensed water, pH value of the dispensed water, and detection of tampering of the water dispensing system 200. For instance, the server 216 may generate the control signal to stop dispensing of water based on a determination that the water dispensing system 200 is tampered. Another example of the control signal could be a control signal / notification to a technician (not shown in Fig. 2) to replace the filter of the water dispensing system 200 when the TDS value of the dispensed water exceeds a predefined threshold value.
[0053] Fig. 3 illustrates a snapshot of the user device 300 (same as the user device 218 of Fig. 2), when the user 140 accesses the water purification application hosted on the server 216. As soon as the user 140 logs in to the water purification application, the application shows the details of the active subscription plan (not shown in Fig. 3) associated with the user. As mentioned in conjunction with Fig. 2, the application may indicate the water consumption level 310, based on the active subscription plan, which may be measured by the flow meter (flow sensor 204) present in the water dispensing system 200. For instance, the application may indicate that the user has consumed 200 liters of water, and is left with 400 liters of water, according to the active subscription plan. Such indication may be provided using any charts, including pie chart, line chart, bar graph, text, colors, symbols, and the like. The details may further include, but are not limited to, the time duration of the plan, maximum amount of water that can be dispensed, etc.
[0054] In accordance with further embodiments of the present invention, the application may indicate the quality of water to-be dispensed by the water dispensing system 200. In particular, the application may indicate the TDS value 320 of the water to be dispensed, which is monitored by the TDS sensor 202, as mentioned in conjunction with Fig. 2. The application may indicate the current TDS value and / or historical TDS values that are stored on the server 216. In other words, the user can track in real-time the quality of water that he is consuming. In accordance with further embodiments of the present invention, the server 216 may be configured to issue notification to the service provider / technician and / or the user device 218 when the TDS value is below a predetermined threshold. The predetermined threshold may be set by the service provider of the water dispensing system 200. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, along with the TDS value, the application may show the quality of water (not shown in Fig. 3) as “Healthy”, “Moderate” or “Unhealthy”.
[0055] In accordance with further embodiment of the present invention, the application may indicate the option for upgrading / renewing the subscription plan 330 associated with the user 140 of the water dispensing system 200. In other words, the user 140 may click on the “upgrade plan” 330 button to add more amount of water in his account associated with the water dispensing system 200. Similarly, the user may use the emergency top-up button 340 to avail the benefit of the emergency top-up as mentioned above in conjunction with Fig. 2. In accordance with further embodiment of the present invention, the emergency top-up request may be raised by another user on behalf of the user 140. A person ordinary skilled in the art may appreciate that the user device 300 or the water dispensing application may show other monitored parameters as well (such as pH value of the water, historical water consumption pattern of the user 140, etc.) without departing from the scope of the present invention.
[0056] Fig. 4 illustrates a block diagram of server 400, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The server 400 may include various units such as, but not limited to, an input unit 402, a memory 404, a controller 406, and an output unit 414, which are communicatively coupled to each other.
[0057] The memory 404 may be an integrated circuit (IC) memory chip containing any form of random-access memory (RAM) or read-only memory (ROM), a floppy disk, a compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), a hard disk drive, a digital video disc (DVD), a flash memory card, external subscriber identity module (SIM) card or any other medium for storing non-transitory digital information.
[0058] The controller 406 may include a hardware unit dedicated to perform its operations. The controller 406 may include one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors (DSPs), state machines, logic circuitry, or any other device or devices that process information.
[0059] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the controller 406 may include various units such as, but not limited to, a subscription plan unit 408, a TDS information unit 410, and an emergency information unit 412, which are communicatively coupled to each other.
[0060] The input unit 402 of the server 400 may be configured to receive / fetch an active subscription plan of the user 140 from the memory 404. As mentioned earlier in conjunction with Figs. 2 and 3, the active subscription plan includes an indication of a maximum amount of water to be dispensed from a water dispensing system 200 for the user 140. Also, the input unit 402 may be configured to receive a plurality of inputs from the water dispensing system 200. The plurality of inputs may include, for example, an indication of the amount of water already dispensed by the water dispensing system 200 for the user 140, from the flow meter; an indication of the quality (in the form of TDS value from the TDS sensor 202) of the water that is dispensed from the water dispensing system 200, etc. In addition, the input unit 402 may be configured to receive personal details of the user including name, address, account details, family member details, and the like. Additionally, the input unit 402 may be configured to receive selection of the subscription plan associated with the water dispensing system 200, and one or more special requests from the user device 218 associated with the water dispensing system 200. The one or more special requests include a request for an emergency top-up, which is explained above in conjunction with Fig. 2.
[0061] As and when the above-mentioned inputs are received by the input unit 402, they may be stored in the memory 404 of the server 400, and may be processed by the controller 406. The controller 406 may be configured to access and process the one or more inputs received by the input unit 402.
[0062] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the subscription plan unit 408 may be configured to compare the amount of water already dispensed by the water dispensing system 200 with the maximum amount of water mentioned in the active subscription plan. Based on the comparison, the controller 406 may be configured to generate a control signal, which is sent to the controller 210 of the water dispensing system 200, via the output unit 414. The details of the control signal are explained in conjunction with Fig. 2. In addition, the controller 406 may be configured to command the subscription plan unit 408 to renew the subscription plan associated with the user 140, when the user 140 renews the plan.
[0063] In accordance with further embodiment of the present invention, the TDS information unit 410 may be configured to monitor the TDS value of the water that is to-be dispensed from the water dispensing system 200. In other words, the TDS information unit 410 may be configured to receive the TDS information from the TDS sensor, and store the TDS values in the memory 404, and transmit the TDS value to the user device 218 in real time. Based on a request from a user, the TDS information unit 410 may be further configured to generate the historical values of the TDS of water that is dispensed from the water dispensing system 200, over a period of time. In accordance with further embodiments of the present invention, the controller 406 may be configured to send notification(s) to the service provider and / or the user 140 when the TDS value exceeds a predefined threshold, via the output unit 414.
[0064] In accordance with further embodiment of the present invention, the emergency information unit 412 may be configured to determine an ‘emergency condition’, and control the water dispensing system 200 based on the determined emergency condition. The details of the emergency condition are already explained in conjunction with Figs. 2 and 3.
[0065] Without departing from the scope of the present invention, the memory 404 may store historical data for the user 140. The historical data may include, but is not limited to, water consumption data of the user 140 over a period of time as determined from the water dispensing system 200, number of emergency top-ups requested by the user 140 historically, number of notifications sent to the user 140 historically, historical renewal data and frequency of the subscription plan of the user 140, etc. The controller 406 may be configured to receive said historical data from the memory 406, and send it to the user device 218 via the output unit 414.
[0066] Fig. 5 illustrates a method 500 performed by the server 400, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The method 500 starts at step 502. At step 504, the server 400 receives / fetches the active subscription plan associated with the user 140. As mentioned earlier, the subscription plan includes an indication of a maximum amount of water to be dispensed from a water dispensing system 200 for the user 140. The method further includes receiving, at step 506, an indication of the amount of water already dispensed by the water dispensing system 200 for the user 140. At step 508, the method includes comparing the amount of water already dispensed by the water dispensing system 200 with the maximum amount of water as per the subscription plan. Based on the comparison, the method 500 includes generating, at step 510, a control signal to control dispensing of water from the water dispensing system 200. The details of the control signal are already explained in conjunction with Figs. 2 and 3. At step 512, the method includes transmitting the control signal to the water dispensing system 200, to control the dispensing of the water from the water dispensing system 200. The method ends at step 514.
[0067] While the present disclosure has been described with reference to a water dispensing system, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the water dispensing system can also be a water purification system.
[0068] Further, while the present disclosure has been described with reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but that the present disclosure will include all embodiments that fall within the scope of the appended claims.