US 11,867,542 B2
Detection of low gas pressure without pressure sensors
Mark K. Cornwall, Spokane, WA (US); James Lee Kann, Mica, WA (US); and Peter Clevenger, Liberty Lake, WA (US)
Assigned to Itron, Inc., Liberty Lake, WA (US)
Filed by Itron, Inc., Liberty Lake, WA (US)
Filed on Dec. 18, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/127,809.
Prior Publication US 2022/0196451 A1, Jun. 23, 2022
Int. Cl. G01F 15/10 (2006.01); G01F 9/00 (2006.01); G01F 15/04 (2006.01); G01F 15/02 (2006.01); G01F 25/10 (2022.01)
CPC G01F 15/10 (2013.01) [G01F 9/00 (2013.01); G01F 15/02 (2013.01); G01F 15/04 (2013.01); G01F 15/043 (2013.01); G01F 25/15 (2022.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method, comprising:
obtaining a flowrate of gas at a first device;
disaggregating the flowrate of gas to obtain a representation of a flowrate of gas corresponding to an appliance having a generally fixed-rate of gas consumption;
determining, based at least in part on the representation of the flowrate of gas corresponding to the appliance, and based at least in part on a representation of historical gas flowrate to the appliance, that gas pressure at the first device is lower than expected;
obtaining information from a second device indicative of its gas pressure;
determining, based on the gas pressure at the first device being lower than expected and based on the obtained information from the second device indicative of its gas pressure, whether a low gas pressure situation exists in a regional area;
generating a message, based at least in part on the determination; and
transmitting the message.