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

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11096862-B2
Application number	US-201715413141-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 23, 2017
Priority date	Jan 22, 2016
Publication date	Aug 24, 2021
Grant date	Aug 24, 2021

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 local device for a pool or a spa, comprising the steps of:
assigning by a processor of the local device an Internet Protocol (IP) address to the local device;
establishing a network connection between the processor of the local device and a remote device;
providing for remote monitoring of operational parameters associated with the local device from the remote device over the network connection;
providing for remote control of the local device from the remote device over the network connection;
determining current weather conditions based on a location of the pool or spa; and
transmitting an instruction to a heater to increase output based on current heat loss from wind and current water temperature.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining whether current wind speed is above or below a setpoint speed.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising transmitting an instruction to increase pump circulation if the current wind speed is above the setpoint speed.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising transmitting an instruction to deactivate water features if the current wind speed is above the setpoint speed.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising transmitting an instruction to reduce fire features if the current wind speed is above the setpoint speed.

6. The method of claim 2 , further comprising transmitting an instruction retract at least one shading device if the current wind speed is above the setpoint speed.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising transmitting an alert if the current wind speed is above the setpoint speed.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising transmitting an instruction to a lighting display system to display a weather alert program if the current wind speed is above the setpoint speed and a bather is detected in the pool or spa.

9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising transmitting an instruction to close a pool cover if the current wind speed is above the setpoint speed and a bather is not detected in the pool or spa.

10. The method of claim 2 , further comprising transmitting an instruction to operate a plurality of pool or spa devices for normal weather conditions if the current wind speed is below the setpoint speed.

11. A method for remotely monitoring and controlling a local device for a pool or a spa, comprising the steps of:
assigning by a processor of the local device an Internet Protocol (IP) address to the local device;
establishing a network connection between the processor of the local device and a remote device;
providing for remote monitoring of operational parameters associated with the local device from the remote device over the network connection;
providing for remote control of the local device from the remote device over the network connection;
determining current weather conditions based on a location of the pool or spa; and
determining by the processor whether there is a freeze risk based on a temperature of the pool or spa and heat loss from wind.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising transmitting an instruction to increase pump speed if there is a freeze risk.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising transmitting an instruction to increase heater output if there is a freeze risk.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising transmitting an instruction to a lighting display system to display a freeze risk program if there is a freeze risk.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising transmitting an alert if there is a freeze risk.

16. A method for remotely monitoring and controlling a local device for a pool or a spa, comprising the steps of:
assigning by a processor of the local device an Internet Protocol (IP) address to the local device;
establishing a network connection between the processor of the local device and a remote device;
providing for remote monitoring of operational parameters associated with the local device from the remote device over the network connection;
providing for remote control of the local device from the remote device over the network connection;
determining current weather conditions based on a location of the pool or spa; and
transmitting an instruction to a sanitization system to operate at a sanitization rate based on the current weather conditions.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein a network communication subsystem is positioned within the local device.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising establishing by the network communication subsystem one or more of a wired or a wireless network connection with the remote device.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the remote device comprises one or more of a smart device, a user interface device, a shading device, a skimmer device, a pump, a water feature device, a fire feature device, a pool cover system, a lighting device, a heater, a cooling device, a pool cleaner device, a sanitization system, a chemical automation system, an alarm system, a garage door system, a home lighting system, or a maintenance system.

20. The method of claim 16 , further comprising said processor communicating with one or more sensors, the one or more sensors including one or more of a motion sensors, an ambient temperature sensor, a water temperature sensor, an ambient noise sensor, a light sensor, a video device, or a bar code scanner.

21. The method of claim 16 , further comprising receiving by the processor user input data over the network connection and altering operation of the local device in response to the user input data.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the user input data comprises one or more of a maximum sun exposure, a minimum sun exposure, device operation setpoints, a preferred pool or spa area, a contact means, a user profile, a zip code, a maximum wind speed setpoint, a lighting program, a mode selection, an override code, or a desired action.

23. The method of claim 16 , further comprising transmitting operational data from the processor to the remote device over the network connection.

24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the operational data comprises one or more of GPS coordinate data, compass bearing data, accelerometer data, image data, an IP address, timer data, energy usage data, or video monitoring data.

25. The method of claim 16 , further comprising transmitting by the processor factory specification data to the remote device over the network connection.

26. The method of claim 25 , wherein the factory specification data comprises one or more of maximum wind speed data, operation setpoint data, power requirements data, or device critical requirements data.

27. The method of claim 16 , further comprising storing configuration parameter data by the processor and transmitting the configuration parameter data to the remote device over the Internet.

28. The method of claim 27 , wherein the configuration parameter data includes one or more of an IP address, a GPS coordinate, a Zip code, a lighting program, a date, or a time.

29. The method of claim 16 , further comprising receiving at the processor remote data from the remote device over the network connection including one or more of location data, time data, date data, sun position data, maximum sun exposure data, sunrise data, sunset data, local lighting code data, regional weath

Assignees

• Hayward Ind Inc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• H02J13/1311

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

• H05B47/1965

  using handheld communication devices · CPC title

• H05B47/197

  Sound control or voice control · CPC title

• H05B47/19

  via wireless transmission · CPC title

• H04L2101/69

  using geographic information, e.g. room number · CPC title