WO2011101476A1

WO2011101476A1 - Limiter for supply of utility under control of consumption-profile

Info

Publication number: WO2011101476A1
Application number: PCT/EP2011/052539
Authority: WO
Inventors: Adriaan Johannes Hoeven; Wouter Cornelis Otte
Original assignee: Adriaan Johannes Hoeven; Wouter Cornelis Otte
Priority date: 2010-02-22
Filing date: 2011-02-21
Publication date: 2011-08-25
Also published as: ZA201207134B

Abstract

A system supplies water via a valve that is controlled in order to control the water consumption. The system determines a current magnitude of an accumulated amount of the water consumed since a start of a predetermined time-period. Under control of the current magnitude, the system determines an expected magnitude of the accumulated amount expected to have been consumed at an end of the predetermined period. The system determines a difference between the expected magnitude and a desired magnitude of the accumulated amount at an end of a predetermined time-period. If the expected magnitude is larger than the desired magnitude, the system determines a rationing strategy. The rationing strategy implements dynamically controlling the valve during a remainder of the predetermined time-period for varying the supplying so as to prevent an actual magnitude of the accumulated amount at the end of the predetermined time-period from overshooting the desired magnitude.

Description

LIMITER FOR SUPPLY OF UTILITY UNDER CONTROL OF CONSUMPTION-PROFILE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a system for supplying a utility via a valve, to control consumption of the utility. The system also relates to a method for supplying a utility via a valve, in order to control consumption of the utility. The invention further relates to control software on a computer-readable medium for controlling a supply of a utility via a valve, in order to control consumption of the utility. BACKGROUND ART

The term "utility", as used throughout this text, refers to a commodity, such as water, gas, oil, steam, heat or electricity that is provided to individual consumers. The delivery of the utility typically uses a network of pipelines or, in the case of electricity, a network of cables. Alternatively, the utility is supplied to the consumer via a storage device, e.g., a water tank, a gas tank, an oil tank, a steam tank, that is local to the consumer. The storage device is gradually emptied when the utility is being consumed. The utility is replenished via bulk transport, e.g., tank truck.

The consumption of the utility by the consumer is typically measured by means of a meter. Metering of the consumption per individual consumer or per individual household enables to monitor the consumption for purposes of, e.g., billing and/or rationing.

In various countries in the developing world, infrastructure programs are running for providing potable water to all inhabitants. Significant and frequently occurring problems are that the water is in scarce supply and that extensive losses occur as a result of leakages in the pipeline system that supplies the water from a main source to the households. Leakages in the parts of the pipeline system close to the final destination often go undetected. The time between the arising of a leakage and its repair could be several months if no specific leakage detection measures are taken. For example, in the water supply infrastructure of South Africa, leakages occur very often and in some places 40% of the water is lost due to leakage.

Another issue is that in various countries, among which South Africa, the

municipalities are required to supply to each household a free basic water quantity (FBW) of 200 liters per day. Many households are very poor and cannot pay for any quantity of water consumed that exceeds the FBW. The allocation of a FBW to all inhabitants enables to more or less fairly distribute the potable water available. It is important to let the households not use more than the FBW. If some of them did, others would be at a disadvantage as the amount of potable water freely supplied is limited and, as a consequence, the others would receive less. Also, it would be practically impossible to let the poor households pay for the amount of potable water consumed in excess of the FBW.

For this reason, various solutions have been implemented for disabling the water supply to a household the moment the FBW is exceeded, or when irregularities occur such as leakage or theft. Typically, these solutions use a valve between the pipeline network and the household, which cuts off the water supply completely under such circumstances. However, such solutions cause significant irritation among the population which may only lead to damage, theft or other undesired consequences.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The inventors therefore propose a system of regulating the amount of water or of another utility supplied to a consumer. The term "consumer", as used within the context of the invention, refers to the entity whose consumption of the utility is monitored and to whom the utility is supplied via the controllable valve. Examples of the consumer are: an individual natural person, two or more natural persons, a household, two or more households, a village, a small enterprise, etc.

Instead of completely switching off the supply of the utility for an extended period of time, the system provides a full amount in regular situations and a limited amount in irregular situations. For example, the valve is controlled so as to be open in regular situations and closed at only selected timeslots in irregular situations. In this way, it is ensured that the basic humanitarian needs are always met, while irregular situations can still be managed and controlled.

More specifically, the inventors propose a system, e.g., in a community service infrastructure, for supplying a utility via a valve for control of consumption of the utility. Examples of such a utility are water, electricity, natural gas, oil, steam, and heat. The system is configured for monitoring the consumption of the utility, and for determining a current magnitude of an accumulated amount of the utility consumed since a start of a predetermined time -period. The system is configured for determining, under control of the current magnitude, an expected magnitude of the accumulated amount expected to have been consumed of the predetermined period. The system is configured for determining a difference between the expected magnitude and a desired magnitude of the accumulated amount at an end of a predetermined time -period. The system is configured for, in case the expected magnitude is larger than the desired magnitude, determining a rationing strategy for dynamically controlling the valve during a remainder of the predetermined time -period for varying the supplying so as to prevent an actual magnitude of the accumulated amount at the end of the predetermined time -period from overshooting the desired magnitude.

The expression "dynamically controlling" used above refers to a mode of control that varies with the passage of time. For example, the valve is closed during certain timeslots and open during other timeslots during the remainder of the predetermined time-period.

The term "valve" usually refers to a device for controlling the flow of a fluid. The term "valve" as used above refers to a device that can be adjusted in order to control the supply of the utility. Electricity is an example of a utility and the supply of electricity could be controlled by, e.g., a current limiter, an on off-switch or another device, which will also be referred to herein as "a valve" as the device to control the supply of electricity has the same functionality as the valve in the fluid supply scenario.

If the expected magnitude of the accumulated amount at the end of the predetermined period is higher than the desired magnitude of the accumulated amount at the end of the predetermined time -period, the system intervenes in the supplying of the utility by means of controlling the valve. The valve is dynamically controlled in order to ration the supply during the remainder of the predetermined time -period. That is, the supply is not disabled for the remainder of the predetermined time -period, but is controlled in order to prevent overshooting the desired magnitude of the accumulated amount consumed at the end of the predetermined time -period.

The system of the invention provides several advantages. A first advantage is that the consumer will still be able to keep receiving and consuming the utility during the entire predetermined time -period, albeit that the amount is conditionally rationed. A second advantage is that the rationing is typically started well ahead of time so that the severity of the rationing is spread over a longer time, thus reducing the impact on the consumer. That is, if the consumption of the utility is to be decreased in order to prevent overshooting the desired magnitude, it is more attractive to reduce the supply in smaller quantities more frequently over a longer time interval than to cut off the supply over an extended period of time. A third advantage is that the consumer will be able to more easily adjust to the rationing and will more readily accept the rationing. The consumer will know that the rationing is of short duration, not severe, and under his/her own control, as a more prudent consumption will remove the restriction requirement imposed by the rationing.

An embodiment of the system is configured for determining a profile, indicative of a temporal character of a reference consumption pattern for the predetermined time -period, and for determining the expected magnitude under control of the profile and the current magnitude.

In this embodiment, the expected magnitude of the accumulated amount of the utility, consumed at the end of the predetermined time -period, is determined by using a reference consumption pattern. The reference consumption pattern specifies the consumption per timeslot, e.g., per quarter of an hour, and/or per hour, and/or per day, and/or per week, etc. The reference consumption pattern is determined in advance, i.e., before the start of the current predetermined time -period. The reference consumption pattern is derived from, e.g., the consumption by the consumer in one or more previous predetermined time -periods.

Alternatively, the reference consumption pattern is created based on, e.g., statistics or experience. For example, demographic studies may provide a basis for allocating a specific amount of the utility per predetermined time -period to the consumer being a household of a certain number of persons, each specific one of the persons of a specific age.

The reference consumption pattern, considered representative of the consumption of the consumer, enables to more accurately determine, in a timely manner, the expected magnitude of the amount consumed by the end of the predetermined time -period. Optionally, the amounts per timeslot, as specified in the applicable reference consumption pattern, are scaled in order to take into account, e.g., seasonal influences, the weather forecast, or a climatologic effect. For example, during a drought and in hot weather, more potable water will be needed per household in the predetermined time-period than during a monsoon or during a spell of moderate temperatures. A further embodiment of the system in the invention is configured for determining a profile, indicative of a temporal character of a reference consumption pattern for the predetermined time -period, and determining the rationing strategy under control of the profile.

In this further embodiment, the profile is used to determine the rationing strategy for control of the supply of the utility so as to be able to avoid interrupting the supply during timeslots, wherein the profile indicates peak consumption, and to reduce or cut the supply during other timeslots, wherein consumption is expected to be low according to the profile.

In a further embodiment of the system in the invention, the temporal reference consumption pattern specifies for each respective one of a plurality of timeslots of the predetermined time -period a respective reference magnitude of the consumption. The determining of the rationing strategy comprises: selecting a threshold value from a

predetermined first range of threshold values; determining a number of particular ones of the timeslots in the remainder, wherein the reference magnitude is lower than the threshold value; determining an accumulation value of an accumulation of the reference magnitudes over the number of the particular timeslots; selecting a pinching value from a predetermined second range of pinching values, the pinching value being indicative of a fraction of the number of the particular timeslots wherein the valve is controlled to be closed; determining a product value of a product of the selected pinching value and the accumulation value; determining if the product value is compatible with a difference between the expected magnitude and the desired magnitude according to a predetermined criterion; if the product value is compatible with the difference, using the pinching value as the fraction of the number of the particular timeslots; if the product value is not compatible, selecting at least another one of the threshold values or another one of the pinching values; and under control of at least the other threshold value or the other pinching value repeating the determining of the number of particular timeslots, the determining of the accumulation value, the determining of the product value and the determining if the product value is compatible with the difference.

The term "compatible" as used above refers to the use of a suitable criterion for deciding whether to accept or rejecting the product value determined on the basis of the selected threshold value and the selected pinching value. For example, if the product value deviates from the difference by at the most a certain small percentage, it is decided that the selected threshold value and the selected pinching value are correct. The compatibility indicates then that the actual magnitude of the accumulated consumption at the end of the predetermined time -period is close enough to the desired magnitude. If, however, the product value is substantially smaller than the difference, the expected excess consumption cannot be recovered by invoking the current candidate of the rationing strategy. It is then decided to attempt finding another threshold value and/or another pinching value to determine an acceptable rationing strategy.

In above embodiment, the threshold value enables to identify the timeslots wherein the supply can be rationed. The pinch value determines the fraction of these timeslots, during which the rationing strategy will be invoked.

The system of the invention can be implemented in a variety of manners.

For example, the monitoring of the consumption is implemented using a metering device at the consumer and the valve is controlled by an actuator installed at the valve at the consumer. The information processing operations (i.e., the determining of the current magnitude of the accumulated amount of the utility consumed since a start of a predetermined time -period, the determining of the expected magnitude of the accumulated amount expected to have been consumed of the predetermined period; the determining of the difference between the expected magnitude and a desired magnitude of the accumulated amount at an end of a predetermined time -period; and the determining of the rationing strategy) are implemented at a remote server that is connected to the metering device and the actuator via a signaling network or a data network, e.g., a telephone network.

As another example, the information processing operations are carried out by a device installed at the consumer, and the device is configured for being connected to the valve and to the metering device. Accordingly, the device is a self-sufficient apparatus for autonomously controlling the valve under control of the measurements carried out by the metering device. The information processing operations are carried out by, e.g., electronic circuitry

accommodated in the device. The electronic circuitry comprises, e.g., dedicated electronic circuitry or general-purpose electronic circuitry with a data processor that operates under control of dedicated control software. Optionally, the device is equipped with an interface for communicating with a remote server via, e.g., a telephone network or a data network. The device comprises a power supply for powering the device. The power supply comprises, e.g., a battery or an energy scavenger for scavenging energy from the flow of the utility through the valve.

As yet another example, the system is accommodated in a device together with the metering device, the actuator and the valve. That is, the invention is implemented as a complete unit. Again, the device is optionally equipped with an interface for communicating with a remote server via, e.g., a telephone network or a data network. The device comprises a power supply for powering the device. The power supply comprises, e.g., a battery or an energy scavenger for scavenging energy from the flow of the utility through the valve.

Above embodiments of the invention relate to a system for supplying the utility via the valve.

The invention also relates to a method for supplying a utility via a valve to control consumption of the utility. The method comprises: determining a current magnitude of an accumulated amount of the utility consumed since a start of a predetermined time -period; under control of the current magnitude, determining an expected magnitude of the

accumulated amount expected to have been consumed of the predetermined period;

determining a difference between the expected magnitude and a desired magnitude of the accumulated amount at an end of a predetermined time -period; and if the expected magnitude is larger than the desired magnitude, determining a rationing strategy for dynamically controlling the valve during a remainder of the predetermined time -period for varying the supplying so as to prevent an actual magnitude of the accumulated amount at the end of the predetermined time -period from overshooting the desired magnitude.

An embodiment of the method in the invention comprises: determining a profile, indicative of a temporal character of a reference consumption pattem for the predetermined time -period; and determining the expected magnitude under control of the profile and the current magnitude.

A further embodiment of the method of the invention comprises: determining a profile, indicative of a temporal character of a reference consumption pattem for the predetermined time -period; and determining the rationing strategy under control of the profile.

In a further embodiment of the method of the invention the temporal reference consumption pattern specifies for each respective one of a plurality of timeslots of the predetermined time -period a respective reference magnitude of the consumption. The determining of the rationing strategy comprises: selecting a threshold value from a

predetermined first range of threshold values; determining a number of particular ones of the timeslots in the remainder wherein the reference magnitude is lower than the threshold value; determining an accumulation value of an accumulation of the reference magnitudes over the number of the particular timeslots; selecting a pinching value from a predetermined second range of pinching values, the pinching value being indicative of a fraction of the number of the particular timeslots wherein the valve is controlled to be closed; determining a product value of a product of the selected pinching value and the accumulation value; determining if the product value is compatible with a difference between the expected magnitude and the desired magnitude according to a predetermined criterion; if the product value is compatible with the difference, using the pinching value as the fraction of the number of the particular timeslots; if the product value is not compatible, selecting at least another one of the threshold values or another one of the pinching values; and under control of at least one of the other threshold value and the other pinching value repeating the determining of the number of particular timeslots, the determining of the accumulation value, the determining the product value and the determining if the product value is compatible with the difference.

The invention also relates to control software on a computer-readable medium for controlling a supply of a utility via a valve for control of consumption of the utility. The control software comprises: first instructions for determining a current magnitude of an accumulated amount of the utility consumed since a start of a predetermined time-period; second instructions for determining, under control of the current magnitude, an expected magnitude of the accumulated amount expected to have been consumed of the predetermined period; third instructions for determining a difference between the expected magnitude and a desired magnitude of the accumulated amount at an end of a predetermined time -period; and fourth instructions for determining, if the expected magnitude is larger than the desired magnitude, a rationing strategy for dynamically controlling the valve during a remainder of the predetermined time -period for varying the supplying so as to prevent an actual magnitude of the accumulated amount at the end of the predetermined time -period from overshooting the desired magnitude.

The computer-readable medium comprises, e.g., a magnetic disk, an optical disc, a semiconductor memory, etc. The control software in the invention is installed on a data processing system in a system for control of the valve. As mentioned earlier, the system for control of the valve can be implemented in a variety of manners.

For example, the system for control of the valve is implemented in a distributed fashion, wherein the valve, an actuator for control of the valve and a monitor for monitoring the consumption of the utility supplied via the valve, are installed at the consumer, and wherein the data processing system is installed at a remote server that is connected to the monitor and to the actuator via a signal connection, e.g., a mobile telephone network or a data network such as the Internet. The determining of the current magnitude of an accumulated amount, the determining of the expected magnitude, the determining of the difference, and the determining of the rationing strategy are then performed at the server. For example, the monitor at the valve may only communicate to the server the current amount consumed in the current timeslot. The server then determines the current magnitude of the accumulated amount by means of adding the magnitude of the current amount as received from the monitor to the magnitude of the accumulated amount stored at the server, and stores the result of the adding as the updated magnitude of the accumulated amount. As another example, the monitor has a local memory for storing the magnitude of the accumulated amount and updates the current magnitude of the accumulated amount by adding the current magnitude of the amount consumed in the current timeslot. The monitor communicates the current magnitude of the accumulated amount consumed to the remote server. The server then determines the current magnitude of the accumulated amount consumed by means of receiving this information from the monitor.

Alternatively, the system for control of the valve is implemented in its entirety at the consumer, e.g., as a unit accommodating the valve, the monitor, the actuator and the data processing system that runs the control software. The unit may, as an option, still comprise a communication interface for communicating with a remote server, e.g., for letting the server check the integrity of the unit and/or for letting the server perform a random sample survey, and/or for letting the server upgrade the control software at the unit.

In an embodiment of the control software, the control software comprises fifth instructions for determining a profile, indicative of a temporal character of a reference consumption pattern for the predetermined time-period, and the second instructions are operative to determine the expected magnitude under control of the profile and the current magnitude.

In a further embodiment of the control software, the control software comprises fifth instructions for determining a profile, indicative of a temporal character of a reference consumption pattern for the predetermined time-period, and the fourth instructions are operative to determine the rationing strategy under control of the profile.

In a further embodiment of the control software, the temporal reference consumption pattern specifies for each respective one of a plurality of timeslots of the predetermined time- period a respective reference magnitude of the consumption. The fourth instructions for determining of the rationing strategy comprise: sixth instructions for selecting a threshold value from a predetermined first range of threshold values; seventh instructions for determining a number of particular ones of the timeslots in the remainder wherein the reference magnitude is lower than the threshold value; eighth instructions for determining an accumulation value of an accumulation of the reference magnitudes over the number of the particular timeslots; ninth instructions for selecting a pinching value from a predetermined second range of pinching values, the pinching value being indicative of a fraction of the number of the particular timeslots wherein the valve is controlled to be closed; tenth instructions for determining a product value of a product of the selected pinching value and the accumulation value; eleventh instructions for determining if the product value is compatible with a difference between the expected magnitude and the desired magnitude according to a predetermined criterion; twelfth instructions for, if the product value is compatible with the difference, using the pinching value as the fraction of the number of the particular timeslots; and thirteenth instructions for, if the product value is not compatible, selecting at least another one of the threshold values or another one of the pinching values, and under control of at least one of the other threshold value and the other pinching value repeating the determining of the number of particular timeslots, the determining of the accumulation value, the determining the product value and the determining if the product value is compatible with the difference.

Monitoring the consumption per consumer for a community of consumers has additional advantages for the managing of the supply. The provider of the utility knows the amount of the utility that is put into the service infrastructure per timeslot, e.g., the pipeline network for water supply to each individual one of the consumers in the community. If there are no leakages and no theft, the total of the amounts consumed by the community as monitored should be equal to the total amount put into the service infrastructure by the provider. If there is a discrepancy between the input amount and the amount consumed, there is a difference that is not accounted for. Typically, the service infrastructure has a supply network with one or more layers of branches, each respective one of the branches per layer serving a respective number of consumers. By also monitoring the accumulated amount of the utility entering a specific branch and comparing this with the accumulated amounts consumed by the households served by that specific branch, the leakage or unauthorized tapping can be located. Furthermore, a leakage typically resembles a consumption that is constant over time. The leakage becomes more pronounced during timeslots of minimum consumption by the households, e.g., between midnight and the crack of dawn. Fourier analysis may be needed on the amounts consumed per unit of time as monitored in order to reveal the DC component.

The invention as specified above relates to determining a rationing strategy for the controlling of the valve in order to manage the supply. Instead of using the rationing strategy for control of the valve, one could use the rationing strategy for generating recommendations to the consumer. That is, the consumer needs to be willing to use some self-restriction in consuming the utility. In this case of generating recommendations, a visual, tactile or audible signal is generated for guiding the consumer towards a consumption pattern tailored to a desired magnitude projected towards the end of the pre-determined time period. For example, if the consumer attempts to draw water from the faucet at home during a rationing timeslot selected by the rationing strategy, a red light starts to blink. The blinking light indicates a recommendation to forfeit the privilege of drawing the water in order to meet the target of the desired magnitude. Nowadays, an increasingly large number of consumers in the developed countries have come to realize that the supply of potable water, natural gas, oil, energy, etc., is not unlimited. The population of the planet is growing and some of the consumable resources are dwindling, such as oil and natural gas, or have become more expensive to provide, such as potable water. Accordingly, it may be relevant to the consumers to be kept reminded of their consumption pattern so as to contribute their share to a fairer distribution of the consumable resources. The invention can help to achieve this in the implementation of generating recommendations BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The invention is explained in further detail, by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig.l is a block diagram of a system in the invention, and

Fig. 2 is a process diagram of a method in the invention.

Throughout the Figures, similar or corresponding features are indicated by same reference numerals.

DETAILED EMBODIMENTS

The invention relates to a system that enables to control the consumption of a scarce commodity by a consumer so as to keep the supply as efficient as possible if the consumption occurs in a temporally repetitive (or: cyclic) pattern. An example of a scarce commodity is water, at least in large parts of the world. In many countries around the world, a predetermined quantity of water per day, e.g., the FBW mentioned above, is allocated to each household. The invention efficiently rations the supply of water to a specific consumer if the consumption tends to exceed the predetermined allocated amount, and still enables to supply an adequate amount of water. The invention is based on the insight that the daily or weekly repetitive pattern in the usage of water can be used to efficiently and effectively distribute the water in a community.

An embodiment of the invention uses detecting the temporal pattern in the

consumption of the commodity and determining average amounts and trends in the pattern.

The invention uses recognizing the cyclic character in the consumption pattern. The cyclic character may be typified by two or more cycles of different frequencies and occurring on top of each other. For example, monitoring the consumption of the scarce commodity by a specific consumer may reveal a first pattern that is daily repeated, a second pattern that is repeated weekly, and third pattern that is repeated monthly.

The invention uses automatically determining of the sample frequency of measuring the consumption by the specific consumer. The automatic determining of the sample frequency is applied in order to determine the resolution of the measurements at which the significance of trends is as high as possible. If necessary, the sample frequency is increased or decreased automatically if the circumstances change. At a too low sample frequency, a change in a trend cannot be recognized. At a too high sample frequency, noise in the measurements, i.e., insignificant variation in the measurements, can be interpreted as a change in a trend.

The system of the invention intervenes in the supply of the scarce commodity to a specific consumer by rationing the supply, if the consumption, expected to occur in the near future on the basis of the spotted trends, is too high. The way of intervening is such that the consumer is hampered as little as possible by the rationing of the supply. Yet, the intervention is such that the consumption will be brought to a level between predetermined boundaries within a time -period of predetermined length.

The information about the cyclic patterns observed in the past for this consumer is used to determine the magnitude of the rationing as well as the timeslots during which the rationing should occur. The rationing is controlled by a predetermined strategy. For example, the water supply is reduced during the time -period of daily peak demand by this consumer or during the daily time -period of low demand. Whether to reduce the water supply during the time of peak demand or during the time of low demand is determined by considering estimates of how to maximize the savings of water while minimizing the disturbances to the consumer that are caused by the rationing.

The system of the invention uses the information about trends in the consumption, monitored within a particular time -period, in order to detect deviations from the trend .The occurrence of deviations may indicate reasons for exceeding the maximum allowed consumption other than the consumer actively drawing more of the commodity than allocated. For example, low constant water consumption during the night that also can be tracked during the day may indicate a leak in the water pipes.

Fig.l is a block diagram of a system 100 in the invention. The system 100 is configured for supply of a utility, e.g., water, from a service infrastructure 102, e.g., a network of water supply pipes, via a valve 104 to a consumer 106 for consumption of the utility.

The system 100 comprises a monitor 108 for monitoring the consumption of the utility by the consumer 106. The monitor 108 accommodates, e.g., a known water meter. The water meter may, but need not, be physically integrated with the valve 104. The monitor 108 enables to determine the magnitude of the actual amount of water consumed during consecutive timeslots of, e.g., 15 minutes duration. That is, the monitor 108 enables to keep track of the water consumption by this particular consumer 106 by means of determining the water consumption that has occurred during each of non-overlapping consecutive timeslots of 15 minutes each.

The system 100 comprises a memory 1 10 for storing an actual consumption pattern of this consumer 106 in terms of respective amounts of water consumed per respective one of a sequence of timeslots of 15 minutes. The actual consumption pattern stored in the memory 110 shows a temporal pattern in the consumption of the water as monitored. The actual consumption pattern indicates timeslots of high consumption and other timeslots of low consumption, e.g., per morning, and/or per afternoon, and/or per night, and/or per day, and/or per week, and/or per month.

The system 100 also comprises a control sub-system 112. The control sub-system 112 is connected to the memory 110. The control unit 1 12 is operative to determine a current magnitude of an accumulated amount of the utility consumed by the consumer 106 since a start of a predetermined time -period up to the current moment. The control sub-system 112 is operative to determine, under control of the actual consumption pattern as stored, an expected magnitude of the accumulated amount at an end of the predetermined time -period.

To this end, the control sub-system 112 consults a profile, applicable to the monitored consumer 106. The profile represents the temporal character of a reference consumption pattern for the predetermined time -period, as considered applicable to the consumer 106. For consulting the profile, the control sub-system 1 12 is connected to a further memory 114 that stores one or more profiles. Different profiles may be considered applicable to different consumers.

The control sub-system 112 determines from the reference consumption pattern the magnitude of the amount expected to be consumed by the consumer 106 over the remainder of the predetermined time -period. That is, the control sub-system 112 determined the amount expected to be consumed by the consumer 106 between the current moment and the end of the predetermined time period. To do so, the control sub-system 1 12 adds to the current magnitude of the amount consumed so far, the magnitude of the amount, expected to be consumed between the current moment and the end of the predetermined time -period.

If the sum is not larger than a desired magnitude of a total amount, allocated to the consumer 106 for consumption during the predetermined time -period, there is no reason for rationing the supply to the consumer 106. If, on the other hand, the sum is larger than the desired magnitude of the total amount, allocated to the consumer 106 for consumption during the predetermined time -period, there is a reason for rationing the supply to the consumer 106.

If the control sub-system 1 12 has determined that there is a reason for rationing the supply to the consumer 106, the control sub-system determines a rationing strategy for control of the supply to the consumer 106. The rationing is then implemented by the control subsystem 112 controlling an actuator 116 or other control mechanism that, in turn controls the setting of the valve 104. Examples of how to determine a suitable rationing strategy are discussed further below.

The system 100 of Fig.1 can be implemented in a variety of manners.

For example, in a first embodiment, the valve 104, the monitor 108, the memory 1 10, the control sub-system 1 12, and the actuator 116 are all accommodated in a single physical unit. The profile may be stored in the memory 110 that then also serves as the further memory 114. That is, the memory 110 and the further memory 114 are implemented in a single memory device. The system 100 is powered by a local power source. The local power source comprises, e.g., a battery and/or an energy scavenger. As known in the art, an energy scavenger, also referred to as an energy harvester, is a device that extracts energy from its environment and converts it to electrical energy. In the context of the invention, the energy scavenger extracts energy from, e.g., the flow of the water through the valve 104, for powering the monitor 108, the memory 1 10, the control sub-system 1 12, the memory 114 and the actuator 116. The system 100 in the first embodiment is then self-sufficient.

In a second embodiment, the valve 104, the monitor 108 and the actuator 116 are accommodated in another single physical unit that is provided with an interface (not shown) to communicate with a remote server via, e.g., a data network, via a wired connection and/or a wireless connection. The remote server accommodates the memory 110, the control subsystem 1 12 and the further memory 1 14. The processing of the information, involved in conditionally rationing the supply, is delegated to the server. Again, the monitor 108, the actuator 116 and the interface can be powered by a power source local to the physical unit such as a battery and/or an energy scavenger.

Within the context of the second embodiment, reference is made to automatic meter reading (AMR) technology and communication-enabled water meters are known in the art. AMR technology enables to automatically collect consumption data from a water meter or an energy meter and transferring that data to a central database for billing, troubleshooting, and analysis. AMR technologies include handheld, mobile and network technologies based on telephony platforms (wired and wireless), radio frequency (RF), or powerline transmission. A communication-enabled water meter includes, e.g., a small radio for automatically transmitting readings to corresponding receivers in the vicinity of the water meter, or a small computer that communicates with a server via, e.g., a telephone connection.

In yet another embodiment of the system 100, a first part of the control sub-system 112 is physically combined with the actuator 116, and a second part of the control sub-system 112 is accommodated at a server remote from the actuator 116. For example, the second part of the control sub-system 1 12 at the server determines a rationing strategy for control of the valve 104 for the remainder of the predetermined time -period. The second part of the control subsystem 112 at the server communicates instructions for implementing the rationing strategy to the first part of the control sub-system 112 at the actuator 116.

The control sub-system 1 12 is implemented by means of, e.g., dedicated hardware such as dedicated electronic circuitry for receipt of the input information, e.g., the current magnitude of the accumulated amount of the utility consumed since the start of the predetermined time period, the expected magnitude of the accumulated amount expected to have been consumed at an end of the predetermined period, and for supply of a control signal to the actuator 116. Alternatively, the control sub-system 1 12 comprises a general-purpose data processing system that runs dedicated control software 118 stored on a computer-readable medium, such as a magnetic disk, an optical disc, a semiconductor device, etc.

Fig.2 is a diagram of a process 200 as an example of a method in the invention for supplying a utility to a consumer via the valve (104) to control consumption of the utility. In the diagram of the example of the process 200, optional steps and optional steps are represented in dashed lines.

The process 200 starts in a first step 202 that starts the clock for a predetermined time- period. A profile is determined that is considered applicable to this consumer. The profile is indicative of a temporal character of a reference consumption pattern for use during the current predetermined time -period. The profile may have been created based on, e.g., a consumption history of the utility by this individual consumer. Alternatively, the profile has been selected from a plurality of different profiles prepared in advance and derived from demographic statistics. The selected profile is considered applicable to this consumer or to his household, based on, e.g., the number of persons in the household, the occupation of the consumer, the age of the consumer, seasonal influences, etc.

In a second step 204, an expected magnitude is determined of the accumulated amount of the utility expected to have been consumed by an end of the predetermined period. At the start of the process 200 in the first step, the expected magnitude is derived from the reference consumption pattern given by the profile.

In a third step 206, it is determined whether or not the expected magnitude exceeds a cap. That is, a difference is determined between the expected magnitude and a desired magnitude of the accumulated amount consumed by the end of a predetermined time -period. The difference is the excess by which the expected accumulated amount exceeds the predetermined cap, represented by the desired magnitude. If the expected magnitude exceeds the predetermined cap, a rationing strategy will be implemented to reduce the supply of the utility to the consumer. At the start of the process 200, the expected magnitude is set to the desired magnitude derived from the profile.

If it is determined in the third step 206 that the expected magnitude does not exceed the cap, the process 200 proceeds with a fourth step 208.

In a fourth step 208, the consumption of the utility is monitored via, e.g., a metering device. A current magnitude is determined of an accumulated amount of the utility consumed since the start of the predetermined time -period. The process 200 may then return from the fourth step 208 to the second step 204. Optionally, the process returns from the fourth step 208 to the second step 204 via an optional fifth step 210.

In the optional fifth step 210, it is determined whether or not a rationing strategy has been implemented for control of the supply of the utility during this predetermined time- period. If it is determined in the fifth step 210 that a rationing strategy has been implemented, the process 200 optionally returns to the fourth step 208. The rationing strategy determines the expected magnitude, or the expected magnitude can be derived from the rationing strategy implemented. The process 200 remains then in the loop between the fourth step 208 and the fifth step 210 until the rationing strategy is disabled, e.g., until the end of the predetermined time -period, or if the rationing strategy is revoked for another reason that reaching the end of the predetermined time -period. For example, if the utility is water, it may turn out that a leakage in the pipeline system upstream of the consumer was responsible for invoking a rationing strategy. The rationing is then disabled and the process 200 jumps out of the loop and returns to the second step 204. Monitoring the consumption while a rationing strategy is implemented can be used to determine whether the consumer has stayed below the desired magnitude and therefore has created a credit. The credit may then be taken into account for adjusting the desired magnitude to be used in a next predetermined time-period. Also, while a rationing strategy is implemented, the monitoring can be used to update or refine the profile that is associated with the consumer.

If it is determined in the fifth step 210 that a rationing strategy has not been implemented, the process 200 returns to the second step 204.

If it is determined in the third step 206 that the expected magnitude exceeds the cap, the process 200 proceeds with a sixth step 212.

In the sixth step 212, it is determined if the excess, i.e., the amount by which the expected magnitude exceeds the cap, can be neutralized over the remaining part of the predetermined time -period by rationing the supply in a manner that is reasonably acceptable to the consumer or household being monitored. A criterion for determining if the excess can be neutralized in an acceptable manner within the remaining part of the predetermined time- period is whether or not the intended rationing interferes with the most basic needs of the monitored consumer For example, consider the utility being water. The excess amount of water consumed can be so high, that the excess can only be neutralized by reducing the supply during the remainder of the predetermined time -period to a level that is below the minimum water needs of the monitored consumer. Reducing the supply to a level below such a minimum would be considered unacceptable. The length of the remainder of the

predetermined time -period also determined whether or not the excess can be neutralized in an acceptable manner. It is more acceptable to reduce the daily supply by a smaller amount for a larger number of rationed days, than to reduce the daily supply by a larger amount for a smaller number of rationed days. In both scenarios, the amount of the daily reduction times the number of rationed days equals the excess to be neutralized. If it is determined in the sixth step 212, that the excess can be neutralized during the remainder of the predetermined time -period in an acceptable manner, the process 200 proceeds with a seventh step 214.

In the seventh step 214, a rationing strategy is determined to neutralize the excess. The strategy for rationing the supply of the utility will take into account the temporal

characteristics of the consumption as specified in the reference consumption pattern in the profile, and the length of the remainder of the predetermined time -period after the rationing is implemented. For example, the profile indicates that during some time intervals during the day, there is a high consumption and during other time intervals during the day there is a low consumption. A rationing strategy is then, for example, to not reduce the supply during the time intervals wherein a high consumption is expected according to the profile, and to reduce the supply in the other time intervals.

If it is determined in the sixth step 212, that the excess cannot be neutralized during the remainder of the predetermined time -period in an acceptable manner, the process 200 proceeds with an eighth step 216 and, optionally, with a ninth step 218.

In the eighth step 216, another rationing strategy is determined. For example, the other rationing strategy is to reduce the supply for the remainder of the predetermined time -period to a predetermined amount dependent on the magnitude of the excess identified, and taking into account the minimum needs of the consumer. For example, until the end of the current predetermined time -period, the consumer can only draw a predetermined amount of the utility per day or in total.

In the optional ninth step 218, an alarm is issued to alert the provider to the excess that cannot be neutralized in an acceptable manner.

After the seventh step 214 or after the eighth step 216, the process 200 proceeds with a tenth step 220.

In the tenth step 220, the rationing strategy is implemented. The valve 104 is dynamically controlled during the remainder of the predetermined time -period for varying the supply in accordance with the rationing strategy determined in the seventh step 214 or in the eighth step 216. For example, the rationing strategy determined in the seventh step 214 or in the eighth step 216 aims at preventing an actual magnitude of the accumulated amount at the end of the predetermined time -period from overshooting the desired magnitude. As another example, the rationing strategy determined in the eighth step 216 aims at minimizing the overshoot at the end of the predetermined time -period under the condition that the supply must not drop below a minimum in view of the basic needs or the consumer. As yet another example, the rationing strategy determined in the eighth step 216 fixes the total amount of the utility that can be supplied to the consumer for the remainder of the predetermined time -period to a certain level. As yet another example, the rationing strategy determined in the eighth step 216 fixes the amount of the utility that can be supplied per day to the consumer until the end of the predetermined time -period, to a certain level.

As an option, the process 200 may return to the fourth step 208 after the tenth step 220 to keep monitoring the consumption. As mentioned above, the monitoring of the consumption, while a rationing strategy is implemented, can be used to determine whether the consumer has stayed below the desired magnitude and therefore has created a credit. The credit may then be taken into account for adjusting the desired magnitude to be used in a next predetermined time -period. Also, the monitoring, while a rationing strategy is implemented, can be used to update or refine the profile that is associated with the consumer.

At the end of the predetermined time -period, the process 200 begins anew at the first step 202 for the next predetermined time -period.

The following paragraphs discuss examples of determining the expected magnitude of the accumulated consumption at the end of the predetermined time-period.

It is assumed that the maximum total amount of water that is consumed by the household during a predetermined time -period is determined in advance. The predetermined time -period is, e.g., a day of the week, and the amount of water is consumed per day is capped by a daily limit determined in advance. The predetermined time -period is, e.g., a week, and the amount of water that is consumed per week is capped by a weekly limit determined in advance. The predetermined time -period is, e.g., a month (i.e., four weeks), and the amount of water that is consumed per time -period of four consecutive weeks is capped by a monthly limit determined in advance. The predetermined time -period is, e.g., a fixed number of days or of weeks or of months, and starts at a particular moment. Alternatively, the predetermined time -period starts at an arbitrary moment but has a fixed duration, e.g., the time -period of four weeks starting now. If the consumption of the water by the household in a previous time -period stayed below the then valid limit, there is a surplus on the balance of the household. As an option, the maximum amount of water, allocated to the household for consumption in a next or future time -period, may be adjusted by adding this surplus.

As an option, the daily, weekly or monthly limit is adjusted per individual household in order to take into account the number of people per household, their age and/or other circumstances that are relevant to the consumption of water.

Now consider a scenario, wherein the predetermined time -period is four consecutive weeks, i.e., 28 days, the surplus created in the past is ignored, and the allowed consumption of water for the household is capped at an amount of Y liters per four weeks (i.e., for twenty-eight consecutive days). The amount of F ilters per four weeks is set to the value of twenty-eight times the daily free basic water quantity (FBW).

Also assume that the consumption profiles for this household are available per individual day of the week and per individual week. The individual consecutive days in this four-week period are indicated with a label "JC Xbeing an integer running from 1 to 28 inclusive. The expected consumption of water by this household for the four-week time -period is determined as follows.

At the very start of the four-week time -period, the expected consumption equals four times the weekly consumption as determined by the profile.

If 0 < X < 7, the expected consumption equals the accumulated consumption as monitored since the start of current the four- week time -period, plus (7 - X) times the daily consumption as determined by the profile, plus three times the weekly consumption as determined by the profile. Alternatively, the expected consumption equals the accumulated consumption as monitored since the start of the current four-week time -period, plus the individual daily consumption as determined by the profile per individual one of the (7 - X) days left before the first week of the current four-week time -period ends, plus three times the weekly consumption as determined by the profile. In this alternative calculation, it is assumed that the daily consumption by the household varies significantly per day of the week.

If = 7, the expected consumption equals the consumption monitored during the first week of the current four-week time -period, plus three times the weekly consumption as determined by the profile. If 7 < X < 14, the expected consumption equals the accumulated consumption as monitored since the start of current the four- week time -period, plus (\4 - X) times the daily consumption as determined by the profile, plus two times the weekly consumption as determined by the profile. Alternatively, the expected consumption equals the accumulated consumption as monitored since the start of the current four-week time -period, plus the individual daily consumption as determined by the profile per individual one of the (\4 - X) days left before the second week of the current four-week time -period ends, plus two times the weekly consumption as determined by the profile. In this alternative calculation, it is assumed that the daily consumption by the household varies significantly per day of the week.

If = 14, the expected consumption equals the consumption monitored during the first week and the second week of the current four-week time -period, plus two times the weekly consumption as determined by the profile.

If l 4 < X < 21 , the expected consumption equals the accumulated consumption as monitored since the start of current the four- week time -period, plus (21 - X) times the daily consumption as determined by the profile, plus the weekly consumption as determined by the profile. Alternatively, the expected consumption equals the accumulated consumption as monitored since the start of the current four-week time -period, plus the individual daily consumption as determined by the profile per individual one of the (2 \ - X) days left before the third week of the current four-week time -period ends, plus the weekly consumption as determined by the profile. In this alternative calculation, it is assumed that the daily consumption by the household varies significantly per day of the week.

IfX = 21 , the expected consumption equals the consumption monitored during the first week and the second week and the third week of the current four-week time -period, plus the weekly consumption as determined by the profile.

If 21 < X < 28, the expected consumption equals the accumulated consumption as monitored since the start of current the four-week time -period, plus (28 -^ times the daily consumption as determined by the profile. Alternatively, the expected consumption equals the accumulated consumption as monitored since the start of the current four-week time -period, plus the individual daily consumption as determined by the profile per individual one of the (28 - X) days left before the fourth week of the current four-week time -period ends. In this alternative calculation, it is assumed that the daily consumption by the household varies significantly per day of the week.

The maximum amount of water supplied to the household was capped at an amount of Filters per four weeks. If the quantity "Filters minus the expected consumption" is positive, there is no reason for intervening in the supply, as it is expected that the accumulated consumption over the four-week time -period will stay below the cap of Filters. If the quantity "Filters minus the expected consumption" is negative, there may be a reason for intervening in the supply, as it is expected that the accumulated consumption over the four-week time- period will exceed the cap of F liters.

Assume that a surplus of Z liters, created in a previous four-week time -period, has not been consumed yet by the household. In above scenario, the surplus was not taken into account in the determining whether or not to intervene in the supply. If the surplus is taken into account, the above example strategy is changed to the following. If the quantity "Filters plus Z liters minus the expected consumption" is positive, there is no reason for intervening in the supply, as it is expected that the accumulated consumption over the four-week time -period will stay below the current cap of F + Z liters. If the quantity "Filters plus Z liters minus the expected consumption" is positive, there is a reason for intervening in the supply, as it is expected that the accumulated consumption over the four-week time -period will exceed the current cap of F + Z liters.

For determining the expected consumption during the four-week time -period, above example strategies consider the daily consumption and the weekly consumption. The consumption is monitored at a resolution of a single day, and the profile is based on an expected consumption per day and an expected consumption per week. The expected consumption per day may be taken as uniform for each day of the week, or may be taken as different per different day of the week. Similarly, the expected consumption per week may be taken as uniform per week of the four-week time -period or may be taken as different per different one of the four weeks.

In further examples of the strategy for managing the water supply, the resolution may be increased, for example, by monitoring the consumption at a finer granularity, for example, per hour or per quarter of an hour, and by using a profile on the basis of an hourly

consumption or on the basis of consumption per quarter of an hour. In this manner, time intervals during a day can be identified in a daily or weekly repetitive consumption pattern, wherein the consumption is highest or wherein the consumption is lowest. Again, some days of the week may have a different hourly consumption pattern than have other days. For example, one or more specific days of a week are spent on doing the laundry. Furthermore, seasonal influences, climatologic influences or weather forecast may be taken into account, for example, by varying the magnitude of the cap on the water consumption, or by adjusting the profile that is used to determine the expected consumption for a particular predetermined time- period, e.g. the four-week period used above. For example, during times of drought it is plausible that people need more water than during the monsoon.

The above paragraphs deal with determining whether or not the expected consumption exceeds the cap F(i.e, the desired magnitude of the total amount consumed over the four-week time -period). If the expected consumption, as determined at a certain moment, exceeds the cap, the system starts to intervene in the supply of water. The intervention is implemented by rationing the supply for the remainder of the four-week period.

The next paragraphs illustrate an example of the manner of intervening by means of invoking a rationing strategy if it has been determined that an intervention is needed.

Assume that the expected consumption, as determined on day d during the four-week period ("if' being an integer between 1 and twenty-eight: \< d < 28) exceeds the cap of twenty-eight times the FBW by a specific excess amount E.

A rationing strategy is then to be determined for recovering the excess amount E by means of controlling the supply from day d until the end of the four- week period. In order to determine the rationing strategy, consider a temporal consumption pattern, e.g., the reference consumption pattern in the profile applied to the consumer or a consumption pattern as monitored in the recent past.

The consumption pattern has time intervals of high consumption and other time intervals of low consumption. As it is undesirable to ration the supply at times of high consumption, the time intervals of low consumption are to be identified. In order to do that one proceeds, for example, as follows. Determine a threshold level L(th) between the level of the maximum consumption L(max) and the level of the minimum consumption L(min). The time intervals during the next (28 - d) days, wherein the consumption is higher than the threshold level Z(W) are considered time intervals of high consumption. The supply during these time intervals of high consumption will not be affected by the rationing. The other tine intervals, wherein the consumption is lower than the threshold level L(th), are the time intervals of low consumption and the supply in these other time intervals will be subjected to rationing. The time intervals wherein the supply will be subjected to rationing are referred to as "the rationing time intervals". Now, determine the total of the amounts expected to be consumed during the rationing time intervals of the next (28 - d) days according to the consumption pattern consulted. The total of these amounts is referred to as the "possible saving total" and is indicated below as PST. The PST is now used to recover the excess amount E during the next (28 - d) days. Recovery is implemented, for example by reducing the supply during the rationing time intervals by a factor A < \, referred to as the "pinch factor", so that the PST, multiplied by the pinch factor A, equals the excess amount E. For example, the valve 104 will be controlled so as to be closed for a fraction^ of the rationing time intervals. Note that the PST depends on the value of the threshold level L(th), and that the recovery of the excess amount E is controlled by the value of the threshold level L(th) and by the value of the pinch factor A . That is, the rationing strategy can be optimized by selecting suitable values for the threshold level L(th) and for the value of the pinch factor A . An upper boundary condition may be imposed on the threshold level L(th), so that the threshold level L(th), is always smaller than a maximum allowable value L(allowed).

For larger values of the threshold level L(th), more rationing time intervals become available. That is, the reduction of the supply as implemented by the rationing can then be spread over a higher number of time intervals, thus limiting the magnitude of the reduction per day. However, the reduction will occur more often than for a lower value of the threshold level L(th).

One way to proceed is the following. At first, set the value of the pinch factor^ to a default value A(def) and set the value of the threshold level L(th) to a default value L(dej). Then determine the product \A(def) · PST].

If the excess amount E is not larger than the product \A(def) · PST], then the excess amount E can be recovered by control the valve 104 so as to have the valve 104 closed for a fraction A (def) of the rationing time intervals.

If the excess amount E is larger than the product \A(def) · PST], then the value of the pinch factor A or the value of the threshold level L(th), or both the value of the pinch factor A and the value of the threshold level L(th), need to be adjusted in order to increase the magnitude of the product \A(def) · PST]. Several optimization algorithms can be used to search for suitable values of the pinch factor A and of the threshold level L(th).

For example, one increases the value of the current threshold level L(th) by a small increment in order to increase the value of the PST, and determines the new value of the product \A(def) · PST]. Increasing the value of the PST effectively increases the number of the rationing time intervals. If the excess amount E is not larger than the new value of the product [A(def)^■ PST], then the excess amount E can be recovered by control of the valve 104 so as to have the valve 104 closed for a fraction A (def) of the increased number of the rationing time intervals. If the excess amount E is still larger than the new value of the product \A(def) · PST], one increases the current value of the pinch factor^ by a small increment, and determines the new value of the product [A · PST]. If the excess amount E is not larger than the new value of the product [A · PST], then the excess amount E can be recovered by control of the valve 104 so as to have the valve 104 closed for a fraction A of the increased number of the rationing time intervals. If the excess amount E is still larger than the new value of the product [A ^■ PST], one repeats the above process of increasing the value of the current threshold level L(th) by a small increment, checking if the excess amount E can then be recovered and, if not, increasing the value of the pinch factor A by a small increment and checking if the excess amount E can then be recovered, etc. The process can be repeated until either the excess amount E can be recovered, or until the value of the threshold level L(th) and the value of the pinch factor A have reached their predetermined limits.

As another example, consider the mathematical function F = (E - [A ^■ PST]) . The function F is a function of the threshold level L(th) as a first parameter, and of the pinch factor A as a second parameter, and non-negative for all real values of the first parameter and the second parameter. One now attempts to find the values of the first parameter and of the second parameter within the allowed parameter region that minimize the value of F. The allowed parameter region depends on the predetermined limits set to the values of the first parameter and the second parameter. Determining the parameter values associated with a minimum value of a function is a standard exercise in numerical analysis. If the minimum of F as found is not equal to zero, one could determine if the discrepancy between the value of F as found differs acceptably little from zero and, if so, one could use the values of the first parameter and the second parameter corresponding to the value of F as found.

As another example, consider the mathematical function G = E - [A ^■ PST]. The function G is a function of the threshold level L(th) as a first parameter, and of the pinch factor A as a second parameter. One now attempts to find the values of the first parameter and the second parameter for which the function G assumes a zero value within the allowed parameter region. For example, one applies the Newton-Raphson method or another suitable root- finding algorithm.

As yet another example, one has prepared in advance a look-up table per profile (i.e., per reference consumption pattern, with values of the excess amount E and associated pairs of the values of the threshold level L(th) and the pinch factor A, for which the excess amount E can be recovered.

If the i¾Tcan be adjusted through selecting values for the threshold level L(th) and the pinch factor A within their allowed parameter regions so as to be able to recover the excess amount E, a neutralizing rationing strategy can be determined in the seventh step 214 discussed above.

If the PST cannot be adjusted through selecting values for the threshold level L(th) and the pinch factor A within their allowed parameter regions, another rationing strategy is determined in the eighth step 216. In an example of such other rationing strategy, the allowed value of the threshold level L(th) and allowed value of the pinch factor A are set o their maximum values. The part of the excess amount E that cannot be recovered before the end of the current predetermined time -period can be reallocated to the next predetermined time- period. Alternatively, a specific emergency time -period is inserted between the end of the current (regular) predetermined time -period and the start of the next (regular) predetermined time -period, effectively to extend the current predetermined time -period for increasing the PST from which to recover the remaining part of the excess amount E.

Claims

1. A system (100) for supplying a utility via a valve (104) to control consumption of the utility, wherein the system is configured for:

determining a current magnitude of an accumulated amount of the utility consumed since a start of a predetermined time -period;

under control of the current magnitude, determining (204) an expected magnitude of the accumulated amount expected to have been consumed at an end of the predetermined period;

determining a difference between the expected magnitude and a desired magnitude of the accumulated amount at an end of a predetermined time -period; and

if the expected magnitude is larger than the desired magnitude, determining a rationing strategy for dynamically controlling (220) the valve during a remainder of the predetermined time -period for varying the supplying so as to prevent an actual magnitude of the accumulated amount at the end of the predetermined time -period from overshooting the desired magnitude.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is configured for:

determining a profile, indicative of a temporal character of a reference consumption pattern for the predetermined time -period; and

determining the expected magnitude under control of the profile and the current magnitude.

3. The system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the system is configured for:

determining the rationing strategy under control of the profile.

4. The system of claim 2 or 3, wherein:

the temporal reference consumption pattern specifies for each respective one of a plurality of timeslots of the predetermined time-period a respective reference magnitude of the consumption; and the determining of the rationing strategy comprises:

selecting a threshold value from a predetermined first range of threshold values; determining a number of particular ones of the timeslots in the remainder wherein the reference magnitude is lower than the threshold value;

determining an accumulation value of an accumulation of the reference magnitudes over the number of the particular timeslots;

selecting a pinching value from a predetermined second range of pinching values, the pinching value being indicative of a fraction of the number of the particular timeslots wherein the valve is controlled to be closed;

determining a product value of a product of the selected pinching value and the accumulation value;

determining if the product value is compatible with a difference between the expected magnitude and the desired magnitude according to a predetermined criterion;

if the product value is compatible with the difference, using the pinching value as the fraction of the number of the particular timeslots;

if the product value is not compatible, selecting at least another one of the threshold values or another one of the pinching values and, under control of at least one of the other threshold value and the other pinching value repeating the determining of the number of particular timeslots, the determining of the accumulation value, the determining the product value and the determining if the product value is compatible with the difference.

5. The system of claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, accommodated in a device configured for being installed at the valve.

6. The system of claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, accommodated in a device together with the valve.

7. A method (100) for supplying a utility via a valve (104) to control consumption of the utility, wherein the method comprises:

determining a current magnitude of an accumulated amount of the utility consumed since a start of a predetermined time -period; under control of the current magnitude, determining (204) an expected magnitude of the accumulated amount expected to have been consumed at an end of the predetermined period;

determining a difference between the expected magnitude and a desired magnitude of the accumulated amount at an end of a predetermined time-period; and

8. The method of claim 7, comprising:

9. The method of claim 7 or 8, comprising:

determining the rationing strategy under control of the profile.

10. The method of claim 8 or 9, wherein:

the temporal reference consumption pattern specifies for each respective one of a plurality of timeslots of the predetermined time-period a respective reference magnitude of the consumption;

the determining of the rationing strategy comprises:

determining an accumulation value of an accumulation of the reference magnitudes over the number of the particular timeslots; selecting a pinching value from a predetermined second range of pinching values, the pinching value being indicative of a fraction of the number of the particular timeslots wherein the valve is controlled to be closed;

if the product value is not compatible, selecting at least another one of the threshold values or another one of the pinching values, and under control of at least one of the other threshold value and the other pinching value repeating the determining of the number of particular timeslots, the determining of the accumulation value, the determining the product value and the determining if the product value is compatible with the difference.

11. Control software on a computer-readable medium for controlling a supply of a utility via a valve (104) for control of consumption of the utility, wherein the control software comprises: first instructions for determining a current magnitude of an accumulated amount of the utility consumed since a start of a predetermined time -period;

second instructions for determining (204), under control of the current magnitude, an expected magnitude of the accumulated amount expected to have been consumed at an end of the predetermined period;

third instructions for determining a difference between the expected magnitude and a desired magnitude of the accumulated amount at an end of a predetermined time -period; and fourth instructions for determining, if the expected magnitude is larger than the desired magnitude, a rationing strategy for dynamically controlling (220) the valve during a remainder of the predetermined time -period for varying the supplying so as to prevent an actual magnitude of the accumulated amount at the end of the predetermined time-period from overshooting the desired magnitude.

12. The control software of claim 1 1, wherein: the control software comprises fifth instructions for determining a profile, indicative of a temporal character of a reference consumption pattern for the predetermined time-period; and

the second instructions are operative to determine the expected magnitude under control of the profile and the current magnitude.

13. The control software of claim 11 or 12, wherein:

the control software comprises fifth instructions for determining a profile, indicative of a temporal character of a reference consumption pattern for the predetermined time-period; and

the fourth instructions are operative to determine the rationing strategy under control of the profile.

14. The method of claim 12 or 13, wherein:

the fourth instructions for determining of the rationing strategy comprise:

sixth instructions for selecting a threshold value from a predetermined first range of threshold values;

seventh instructions for determining a number of particular ones of the timeslots in the remainder wherein the reference magnitude is lower than the threshold value;

eighth instructions for determining an accumulation value of an accumulation of the reference magnitudes over the number of the particular timeslots;

ninth instructions for selecting a pinching value from a predetermined second range of pinching values, the pinching value being indicative of a fraction of the number of the particular timeslots wherein the valve is controlled to be closed;

tenth instructions for determining a product value of a product of the selected pinching value and the accumulation value; eleventh instructions for determining if the product value is compatible with a difference between the expected magnitude and the desired magnitude according to a predetermined criterion;

twelfth instructions for, if the product value is compatible with the difference, using the pinching value as the fraction of the number of the particular timeslots; and

thirteenth instructions for, if the product value is not compatible, selecting at least another one of the threshold values or another one of the pinching values, and under control of at least one of the other threshold value and the other pinching value repeating the determining of the number of particular timeslots, the determining of the accumulation value, the determining the product value and the determining if the product value is compatible with the difference.