Remotely controlling aspects of pools and spas

• US 10,621,848 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2019
• Issued: 04/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zodiac Pool Systems, LLC (Fluidra, S.A.)
• Original Assignee: Zodiac Pool Systems, LLC (Fluidra, S.A.)
• Inventors: Uy, Dindo
• Primary Examiner(s): Diallo, Mamadou L
• Application Number:
  US16/282,247
• Publication Number:
  US 20190180595A1
• Time in Patent Office: 418 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31104 Remote configuration of parameters of controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/00 Testing or monitoring of control systems or parts thereof monitoring of programme-control systems G05B19/048, G05B19/406
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

Systems and methods of (remotely) controlling aspects of pools and spas and of modifying water contained therein are detailed. Internet-enabled access to pool and spa controllers may happen without any need for users to create firewall ports or utilize static internet protocol addresses. Certain networking devices may be configured using a USB connection or SD card, avoiding any requirement for an Ethernet cable or supplying separate power to the devices during configuration. Time-varying data may be obtained in respect of one or more installations and analyzed for various information.

Claims

1. A method of assessing data obtained over time from a first pool including a first controller configured to control operation of first pool equipment, comprising:

a. receiving, at a server remote from the first pool, data transmitted by first transmitting equipment associated with the first pool, the data comprising first information concerning performance or energy usage of the first pool equipment obtained at a first time and second information concerning performance or energy usage of the first pool equipment obtained at a second time;

b. evaluating the data to determine issues associated with performance or energy usage of the first pool equipment; and

c. controlling operation of the first pool equipment based on a signal supplied from the server to the first controller.

2. A method according to claim 1 in which the data further comprises third information concerning performance or energy usage of second pool equipment of the first pool obtained at a third time.

3. A method according to claim 2 in which the data further comprises fourth information concerning performance or energy usage of the second pool equipment of the first pool obtained at a fourth time.

4. A method according to claim 2 in which each of the first and second pool equipment comprises at least one device selected from the group consisting of:

a water jet, a light, a pump, a heater, or an active filter.

5. A method according to claim 1 further comprising comparing the first information with the second information to identify at least one time-based trend concerning performance or energy usage of the first pool equipment.

6. A method according to claim 5 further comprising supplying, from the server, a warning to a user device based on the identified at least one time-based trend.

7. A method according to claim 3 further comprising comparing the third information with the fourth information to identify at least one time-based trend concerning performance of energy usage of the second pool equipment.

8. A method according to claim 2 further comprising controlling operation of the second pool equipment based on a signal supplied from the server to the first controller.

9. A method of assessing data obtained over time from a first pool including a first controller configured to control operation of first pool equipment and second pool equipment, comprising:

a. receiving, at a server remote from the first pool, data transmitted by first transmitting equipment associated with the first pool, the data comprising first information concerning performance or energy usage of the first pool equipment obtained at a first time, second information concerning performance or energy usage of the first pool equipment obtained at a second time, third information concerning performance or energy usage of the second pool equipment obtained at a third time, and fourth information concerning performance or energy usage of the second pool equipment obtained at a fourth time;

b. evaluating the data to determine issues associated with performance or energy usage of the first pool equipment and the second pool equipment by;

i. comparing the first information with the second information to identify at least one time-based trend concerning performance or energy usage of the first pool equipment; and

ii. comparing the third information with the fourth information to identify at least one time-based trend concerning performance or energy usage of the second pool equipment; and

c. controlling operation of the first pool equipment and the second pool equipment based on at least one signal supplied from the server to the first controller.

10. A method of assessing data obtained from a pool including a controller configured to control operation of pool equipment, comprising:

a. receiving, at a server remote from the pool, data transmitted by transmitting equipment associated with the pool, the data comprising information concerning performance, status, or energy usage of the pool equipment;

b. evaluating the data to determine issues associated with performance, status, or energy usage of the pool equipment; and

c. controlling operation of the pool equipment based on a signal supplied from the server to the controller.