Systems and methods for providing network connectivity and remote monitoring, optimization, and control of pool/spa equipment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10219975-B2
Application number	US-201715413095-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 23, 2017
Priority date	Jan 22, 2016
Publication date	Mar 5, 2019
Grant date	Mar 5, 2019

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing network connectivity and remote monitoring, optimization, and control of pool/spa equipment are provided. “Internet-of-Things” (IoT) functionality is provided for pool and spa equipment in a flexible and cost-effective manner. Network connectivity and remote monitoring/control of pool and spa equipment is provided by various components such as a network communication and local control subsystem installed in pool/spa equipment, and other components. Also disclosed are various control processes (“pool logic”) which can be embodied as software code installed in any of the various embodiments of the present disclosure.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for remotely monitoring and controlling a pump for a pool or a spa, comprising the steps of:
assigning by a processor of the pump an Internet Protocol (IP) address to the pump;
establishing a network connection between the processor of the pump and a remote device;
providing for remote monitoring of operational parameters associated with the pump from the remote device over the network connection;
providing for remote control of the pump from the remote device over the network connection;
retrieving by the processor factory specified life expectancy data from a memory;
determining by the processor a life expectancy alert threshold based on the factory specified life expectancy data;
receiving at the processor operational data on runtime of the pump;
determining by the processor if the runtime of the pump exceeds the life expectancy alert threshold; and
controlling, by the processor, the pump based on the determination by the processor of whether the runtime of the pump exceeds the life expectancy alert threshold.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting an alert to the remote device if the runtime of the pump exceeds the alert threshold.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to control the pump and the remote device.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising establishing a second network connection between the processor of the pump and a second remote device.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising providing for control of the second remote device from the pump over the second network connection based on data received by the processor.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pump includes a housing enclosing (i) the processor and (ii) a network communication subsystem for providing direct communication between the processor and the Internet.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the network connection between the processor and the remote device is established over the Internet.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving at the processor web data from the Internet, the web data being specific to the physical location of the pump.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising controlling operation of the pump in response to the web data.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the remote device comprises one of a server, a cloud platform, a personal computer, a smartphone, a lighting system, a pool cleaning system, a pool or spa control system, a valve actuator, a water feature, a sanitization system, a heating system, and a cooling system.

11. A method for remotely monitoring and controlling a pump for a pool or a spa, comprising the steps of:
assigning by a processor of the pump an Internet Protocol (IP) address to the pump;
establishing a network connection between the processor of the pump and a remote device;
providing for remote monitoring of operational parameters associated with the pump from the remote device over the network connection;
providing for remote control of the pump from the remote device over the network connection;
retrieving by the processor factory specified operating temperature data from the memory;
determining by the processor a temperature alert threshold based on the factory specified operating temperature data;
receiving at the processor operational data on operating temperature of the pump;
determining by the processor if the operating temperature of the pump exceeds the temperature alert threshold; and
controlling, by the processor, the pump based on the determination by the processor of whether the temperature of the pump exceeds the temperature alert threshold.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising transmitting an alert to the remote device if the temperature of the pump exceeds the temperature alert threshold.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured to control the pump and the remote device.

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising establishing a second network connection between the processor of the pump and a second remote device.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising providing for control of the second remote device from the pump over the second network connection based on data received by the processor.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the pump includes a housing enclosing (i) the processor and (ii) a network communication subsystem for providing direct communication between the processor and the Internet.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the network connection between the processor and the remote device is established over the Internet.

18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising receiving at the processor web data from the Internet, the web data being specific to the physical location of the pump.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising controlling operation of the pump in response to the web data.

20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the remote device comprises one of a server, a cloud platform, a personal computer, a smartphone, a lighting system, a pool cleaning system, a pool or spa control system, a valve actuator, a water feature, a sanitization system, a heating system, and a cooling system.

21. A method for remotely monitoring and controlling a pump for a pool or a spa, comprising the steps of:
assigning by a processor of the pump an Internet Protocol (IP) address to the pump;
establishing a network connection between the processor of the pump and a remote device;
providing for remote monitoring of operational parameters associated with the pump from the remote device over the network connection;
providing for remote control of the pump from the remote device over the network connection;
storing temperature rise data in histogram counters and determining by the processor if the temperature of the pump is rising at a rate that exceeds a predetermined threshold value; and
controlling, by the processor, the pump based on the determination.

22. The method of claim 21 , further comprising transmitting an alert to the remote device if the temperature of the pump is rising at a rate that exceeds the predetermined threshold value.

23. The method of claim 21 , wherein the processor is configured to control the pump and the remote device.

24. The method of claim 21 , further comprising establishing a second network connection between the processor of the pump and a second remote device.

25. The method of claim 24 , further comprising providing for control of the second remote device from the pump over the second network connection based on data received by the processor.

26. The method of claim 21 , wherein the pump includes a housing enclosing (i) the processor and (ii) a network communication subsystem for providing direct communication between the processor and the Internet.

27. The method of claim 26 , wherein the network connection between the processor and the remote device is established over the Internet.

28. The method of claim 21 , further comprising receiving at the processor web data from the Internet, the web data being specific to the physical location of the pump.

29. The method of claim 28 , further comprising controlling operation of the pump in response to the web data.

30. The method of claim 21 , wherein the remote device comprises one of a server, a cloud platform, a

Assignees

• Hayward Ind Inc

Inventors

• Potucek Kevin
• Murdock James
• Carter James
• Fournier Gregory
• Johnson Iii Arthur W
• Blaine David
• Debruin Jason
• Aubrey Bruce
• Petty Scott
• Parcell Jason
• Horrocks Craig

Classifications

• H02J13/1311

  using the power network as support for the transmission · CPC title

• H04L67/12

  specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks · CPC title

• A61H2033/0008

  Arrangement for cleaning the installation before or after use · CPC title

• H04L67/10

  in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network (software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46) · CPC title

• G05B15/02

  electric · CPC title