Method and system of controlling scent diffusion with a network gateway device

• US 10,258,713 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2016
• Issued: 04/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scentbridge Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Christopher H. Patstone
• Inventors: Becker, Todd H., Langton, David L., Patstone, Christopher H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reis, Ryan A
• Application Number:
  US15/227,847
• Publication Number:
  US 20160339136A1
• Time in Patent Office: 986 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/00 Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lenses; Accessories therefor for contact lenses A61L12/00; atomisers for disinfecting agents A61M; sterilisation of packages or package contents in association with packaging B65B55/00; treatment of water, waste water, sewage or sludge C02F; disinfecting paper D21H21/36; disinfecting devices for water closets E03D; articles having provision for disinfection, see the relevant subclasses for these articles, e.g. H04R1/12
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/11 Apparatus for controlling air treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/111 Sensor means, e.g. motion, brightness, scent, contaminant sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/133 Replaceable cartridges, refills
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/135 Vaporisers for active components
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/16 Connections to a HVAC unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/20 Method-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/00 Disinfection, sterilisation or deodorisation of air body deodorants A61Q15/00; purifying air by respirators A62B, A62D9/00; separating dispersed particles from gases or vapours B01D45/00 - B01D51/00, B03C3/00; chemical or biological purification of waste gases B01D53/34; production of ozone C01B13/10; air-conditioning systems incorporating sterilisation F24F3/16, F24F8/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/015 using gaseous or vaporous substances, e.g. ozone A61L9/20 takes precedence ; evaporation in general B01B1/005
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/12 Apparatus, e.g. holders, therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/14 using sprayed or atomised substances including air-liquid contact processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/54 Mixing liquid fragrances with air
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/213 by spraying or atomising of the liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/08 responsive to condition of liquid or other fluent material to be discharged, of ambient medium or of target ; responsive to condition of spray devices or of supply means, e.g. pipes, pumps or their drive means
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/081 responsive to the weight of a reservoir or container for liquid or other fluent material; responsive to level or volume of liquid or other fluent material in a reservoir or container
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/12 responsive to conditions of ambient medium or target, e.g. humidity, temperature position or movement of the target relative to the spray apparatus B05B12/082, B05B12/084 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/2416 characterised by the means for producing or supplying the atomising fluid, e.g. air hoses, air pumps, gas containers, compressors, fans, ventilators, their drives
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/2424 the carried liquid and the main stream of atomising fluid being brought together downstream of the container before discharge B05B7/2435 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/2489 an atomising fluid, e.g. a gas, being supplied to the discharge device B05B7/2402, B05B7/2483, B05B7/262 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/262 a liquid and a gas being brought together before entering the discharge device
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/30 : by floats
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/72 : using magnetically actuated indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 : electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 : Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 : Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/22 : Electrical actuation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 : Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 23/00 : Alarms responsive to unspecified undesired or abnormal conditions

Abstract

Systems and methods for managing scent in an environment include disposing scent diffusion devices within the environment, wherein the diffusion devices comprise a communications facility that enables transmitting signals to and receiving signals from a non-fragrance dispensing, wide-area network gateway device that receives communication and control functions from a remote computer for distribution to the plurality of scent diffusion devices. A sensor in the environment transmits sensor data to the remote computer. A scent parameter for scenting the environment is received at the remote computer. Diffusion of a liquid from the scent diffusion devices is controlled by the network gateway device the to achieve the scent parameter, wherein controlling includes setting or adjusting an operation parameter of one or more of the scent diffusion devices in response to the sensor data.

Claims

1. A method of managing scent in an environment, comprising:

disposing a plurality of scent diffusion devices within the environment, wherein the diffusion devices comprise a communications facility that enables transmitting signals to and receiving signals from a non-fragrance dispensing, wide-area network gateway device;

networking the network gateway device to the plurality of scent diffusion devices, wherein the network gateway device receives communication and control functions from a remote computer for distribution to the plurality of scent diffusion devices;

disposing at least one sensor within the environment that transmits sensor data to the remote computer;

receiving at least one scent parameter for scenting the environment at the remote computer; and

controlling, via the network gateway device, diffusion of a liquid, from a source of the liquid in fluid communication with at least one of the plurality of scent diffusion devices, to achieve the scent parameter,

wherein controlling includes setting or adjusting an operation parameter of one or more of the scent diffusion devices in response to the sensor data, and

wherein the sensor data relates to a distance from the scent diffusion device to a scent target location.

2. A method of managing scent in an environment, comprising:

disposing a plurality of scent diffusion devices within the environment, wherein the diffusion devices comprise a communications facility that enables transmitting signals to and receiving signals from a non-fragrance dispensing, wide-area network gateway device;

networking the network gateway device to the plurality of scent diffusion devices, wherein the network gateway device receives communication and control functions from a remote computer for distribution to the plurality of scent diffusion devices;

disposing at least one sensor within the environment that transmits sensor data to the remote computer;

receiving at least one scent parameter for scenting the environment at the remote computer;

controlling, via the network gateway device, diffusion of a liquid, from a source of the liquid in fluid communication with at least one of the plurality of scent diffusion devices, to achieve the scent parameter;

receiving an alert that at least one of the plurality of scent diffusion devices is not diffusing enough liquid to achieve the scent parameter; and

adjusting an operation parameter of at least one of the other scent diffusion devices in response to the alert,

wherein the sensor data relates to a distance from the scent diffusion device to a scent target location.

3. A method of managing scent in an environment, comprising:

disposing a plurality of scent diffusion devices within the environment, wherein the diffusion devices comprise a communications facility that enables transmitting signals to and receiving signals from a local area network control device;

networking the local area network control device to each of the plurality of scent diffusion devices, wherein the local area network control device receives communications from and distributes control instructions to the plurality of scent diffusion devices;

disposing at least one sensor within the environment that transmits sensor data to the local area network control device;

receiving at least one scent parameter for scenting the environment at the local area network control device; and

controlling, via the local area network control device, the diffusion of a liquid, from a source of the liquid in fluid communication with at least one of the plurality of scent diffusion devices, to achieve the scent parameter,

wherein controlling includes setting or adjusting an operation parameter of one or more of the scent diffusion devices in response to the sensor data, and

wherein the sensor data relates to a distance from the scent diffusion device to a scent target location.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the local area network control device comprises one or more of a computer or laptop with wireless local area network communication capability, a smart phone, a pad device or tablet computer with wireless local area network communication capability, a purpose built scent controller device with wireless local area network communication capability, a handheld device and a wall-mounted device.

5. A method of managing scent in an environment, comprising:

disposing a plurality of scent diffusion devices within the environment, wherein the diffusion devices comprise a communications facility that enables transmitting signals to and receiving signals from a local area network control device;

networking the local area network control device to each of the plurality of scent diffusion devices, wherein the local area network control device receives communications from and distributes control instructions to the plurality of scent diffusion devices;

disposing at least one sensor within the environment that transmits sensor data to the remote computer;

receiving at least one scent parameter for scenting the environment at the local area network control device;

controlling, via the local area network control device, the diffusion of a liquid, from a source of the liquid in fluid communication with at least one of the plurality of scent diffusion devices, to achieve the scent parameter;

receiving an alert that at least one of the plurality of scent diffusion devices is not diffusing enough liquid to achieve the scent parameter; and

adjusting an operation parameter of one or more of the scent diffusion devices that are still functioning in response to the alert,

wherein the sensor data relates to a distance from the scent diffusion device to a scent target location.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the local area network control device comprises one or more of a computer or laptop with wireless local area network communication capability, a smart phone, a pad device or tablet computer with wireless local area network communication capability, a purpose built scent controller device with wireless local area network communication capability, a handheld device and a wall-mounted device.