METHOD, DEVICE AND SYSTEM FOR USE IN CONFIGURING A BATHING UNIT CONTROLLER

• US 20110046796A1
• Filed: 02/25/2008
• Published: 02/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gecko Alliance Group Inc.
• Original Assignee: Gecko Alliance Group Inc.
• Inventors: Robitaille, Mathleu, Brochu, Christian
• Granted Patent: US 8,150,552 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/282
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5007 computer controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/005 Electrical circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23306 Load program from host, remote load, non volatile card to volatile, ram
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

A controller for a bathing unit system comprising a memory unit for storing program instructions, an interface for establishing a communication link with an external memory medium and a processing unit. The controller is operative for controlling a set of bathing unit components at least in part on the basis of the program instructions stored in the memory unit. The external memory medium stores update information associated with the program instructions and relevancy information indicative of a characteristic of the update information. The processing unit is operative for detecting the presence of an external memory medium at the interface, accessing the relevancy information stored in the memory medium, processing the relevancy information and causing the program instructions to be updated on the basis of the update information.

Claims

1-36. -36. (canceled)

37. ) A controller for a bathing unit system, said controller being suitable for controlling a set of bathing unit components, said controller comprising:

a) a memory unit comprising at least a first set of program instructions and a second set of program instructions, the implementation of said first set of program instructions being suitable for causing said controller to acquire a first configuration, and the implementation of said second set of program instructions being suitable for causing said controller to acquire a second configuration;

b) an interface for establishing a communication link with an external memory medium, the external memory medium storing configuration information;

c) a processing unit in communication with said interface, said processing unit being operative for;

i) detecting the presence of the external memory medium at said interface;

ii) accessing the configuration information stored in the external memory medium;

i) processing the configuration information for causing the controller to acquire one of the first configuration and the second configuration based on the configuration information.

38. ) A controller as defined in claim 37, wherein said controller is operative for controlling a first set of bathing unit components when configured in accordance with said first configuration and wherein said controller is operative for controlling a second set of bathing unit components when configured in accordance with said second configuration, said second set of bathing unit components being a reduced set of said first set of bathing unit components.

39. ) A controller as defined in claim 37, wherein said controller is operative for controlling a first set of bathing unit components when configured in accordance with said first configuration and wherein said controller is operative for controlling a second set of bathing unit components when configured in accordance with said second configuration, wherein said second set of bathing unit components includes a different set of bathing unit components than said first set of bathing unit components.

40. ) A controller as defined in claim 37, wherein said controller is operative for controlling a first set of bathing unit components when configured in accordance with said first configuration and wherein said controller is operative for controlling a second set of bathing unit components when configured in accordance with said second configuration, wherein said first set of bathing unit components and said second set of bathing unit components are the same set of bathing unit components, said first configuration allows said controller to control the set of bathing unit components in a different manner than said second configuration.

41. ) A controller as defined in claim 37, wherein said memory unit stores an initial set of program instructions, said controller accessing said configuration information from the external memory medium on the basis of said initial set of program instructions.

42. ) A controller as defined in claim 37, wherein said configuration information includes one of an access code and a program element suitable for being processed by said processing unit for causing the controller to implement one of the first set of program instructions or said second set of program instructions.

43. ) A controller as defined in claim 37, wherein said processing unit is operative for processing the configuration information on the basis of a user input for causing the controller to acquire one of the first configuration and the second configuration.

44. ) A controller as defined in claim 43, wherein said user input includes one of a serial number and a password.

45. ) A controller as defined in claim 37, wherein said communication link is selected from the group consisting of a wireline link, an infrared link and an RF link.

46. ) A controller as defined in claim 37, wherein said interface is a USB, an I2C and an SPI interface.

47. ) A bathing unit system, comprising:

a) a set of bathing unit components;

b) an external memory medium storing configuration information; and

c) a controller, said controller comprising

i) a memory unit comprising at least a first set of program instructions and a second set of program instructions, the implementation of said first set of program instructions being suitable for causing said controller to acquire a first configuration, and the implementation of said second set of program instructions being suitable for causing said controller to acquire a second configuration;

ii) an interface for establishing a communication link with an external memory medium;

iii) a processing unit in communication with said interface, said processing unit being operative for;

(a) detecting the presence of the external memory medium at said interface;

(b) accessing the configuration information stored in the external memory medium;

(c) processing the configuration information for causing the controller to acquire one of the first configuration and the second configuration based on the configuration information.

48. ) A bathing unit system as defined in claim 47, wherein said controller is operative for controlling a first set of said bathing unit components when configured in accordance with said first configuration and wherein said controller is operative for controlling a second set of said bathing unit components when configured in accordance with said second configuration, wherein said second set of said bathing unit components is a reduced set of said first set of said bathing unit components.

49. ) A bathing unit system as defined in claim 47, wherein said controller is operative for controlling a first set of said bathing unit components when configured in accordance with said first configuration and wherein said controller is operative for controlling a second set of said bathing unit components when configured in accordance with said second configuration, wherein said first set of said bathing unit components includes a different set of bathing unit components than said second set of said bathing unit components.

50. ) A bathing unit system as defined in claim 47, wherein said memory unit stores an initial set of program instructions, said controller accessing said configuration information from the external memory medium on the basis of said initial set of program instructions.

51. ) A bathing unit system as defined in claim 47, wherein said set of bathing unit components includes at least one bathing unit component selected from the set consisting of a heating module, a pump, an ozonator, a power supply, a CD player and an air blower.

52. ) A bathing unit system as defined in claim 47, wherein said configuration information includes one of an access code and a program element suitable for being processed by said processing unit for causing the controller to implement one of the first set of program instructions or said second set of program instructions.

53. ) A bathing unit system as defined in claim 47, wherein said processing unit is operative for processing the configuration information on the basis of a user input for causing the controller to acquire one of the first configuration and the second configuration.

54. ) A bathing unit system as defined in claim 47, wherein said user input includes one of a serial number and a password.

55. ) A bathing unit system as defined in claim 47, wherein said communication link is selected from the group consisting of a wireline link, an infrared link and an RF link.

56. ) A bathing unit system as defined in claim 47, wherein said interface is a USB, an I2C and an SPI interface.

57. ) An apparatus suitable for use with a controller of a bathing unit system, the controller comprising a memory unit that stores at least a first set of program instructions and a second set of program instructions, the implementation of said first set of program instructions being suitable for causing said controller to acquire a first configuration, and the implementation of said second set of program instructions being suitable for causing said controller to acquire a second configuration;

said apparatus comprising;

a) an interface for establishing a communication link with the controller of the bathing unit system;

b) a memory component for storing configuration information;

said apparatus being responsive to a signal from the controller for releasing over the communication link the configuration information, the configuration information causing the controller to acquire one of the first configuration and the second configuration based on the configuration information.

58. ) A method for configuring a controller for a bathing unit system, the controller comprising a memory unit that stores at least a first set of program instructions and a second set of program instructions, the implementation of said first set of program instructions being suitable for causing said controller to acquire a first configuration, and the implementation of said second set of program instructions being suitable for causing said controller to acquire a second configuration;

said method comprising;

a) establishing a communication link between an external memory medium and the controller, the external memory medium comprising configuration information;

b) processing said configuration information at the controller for causing the controller to acquire one of the first configuration and the second configuration based on the configuration information.

59. ) A controller for a bathing unit system, said controller being suitable for controlling a set of bathing unit components, said controller comprising:

a) a memory unit for storing an initial set of program instructions;

b) an interface for establishing a communication link with an external memory medium, the external memory medium storing configuration information, the configuration information comprising a set of program instructions, said set of program instructions being suitable for causing said controller to acquire a certain configuration;

b) a processing unit in communication with said interface, said processing unit being operative for;

i) detecting the presence of the external memory medium at said interface;

ii) accessing the configuration information stored in the external memory medium at least in part on the basis of the initial program instructions;

iii) processing the configuration information for causing the controller to implement said set of program instructions for causing said controller to acquire said certain configuration.

60. ) A controller as defined in claim 59, wherein the configuration information comprises at least a first set of program instructions for causing said controller to acquire a first configuration and a second set of program instructions for causing said controller to acquire a second configuration, said processing unit being operative for processing the configuration information on the basis of a user input for causing the controller to implement a selected one of said first set of program instructions and said second set of program instructions.

61. ) A controller as defined in claim 59, wherein said user input is one of a serial number and password.

62. ) A controller as defined in claim 59, wherein the external memory medium stores a program element that is accessible by said controller, said processing unit processing the configuration information on the basis of the program element for causing the controller to implement said set of program instructions for causing said controller to acquire said certain configuration.

63. ) A controller as defined in claim 60, wherein said controller is operative for controlling a first set of bathing unit components when configured in accordance with said first configuration and wherein said controller is operative for controlling a second set of bathing unit components when configured in accordance with said second configuration, said second set of bathing unit components being a reduced set of said first set of bathing unit components.

64. ) A controller as defined in claim 60, wherein said controller is operative for controlling a first set of bathing unit components when configured in accordance with said first configuration and wherein said controller is operative for controlling a second set of bathing unit components when configured in accordance with said second configuration, wherein said second set of bathing unit components includes a different set of bathing unit components than said first set of bathing unit components.

65. ) A controller as defined in claim 60, wherein said controller is operative for controlling a first set of bathing unit components when configured in accordance with said first configuration and wherein said controller is operative for controlling a second set of bathing unit components when configured in accordance with said second configuration, wherein said first set of bathing unit components and said second set of bathing unit components are the same set of bathing unit components, said first configuration allows said controller to control the set of bathing unit components in a different manner than said second configuration.

66. ) A controller as defined in claim 59, wherein said communication link is selected from the group consisting of a wireline link, an infrared link and an RF link.

67. ) A controller as defined in claim 59, wherein said interface is a USB, an I2C and an SPI interface.

68. ) A bathing unit system, comprising:

a) a set of bathing unit components;

b) an external memory medium for storing configuration information, the configuration information comprising a set of program instructions;

c) a controller, said controller being suitable for controlling said set of bathing unit components, said controller comprising;

i) a memory unit for storing an initial set of program instructions;

ii) an interface for establishing a communication link with said external memory medium;

i) a processing unit in communication with said interface, said processing unit being operative for;

(1) detecting the presence of the external memory medium at said interface;

(2) accessing the configuration information stored in the external memory medium at least in part on the basis of the initial program instructions;

(3) processing the configuration information for causing the controller to implement said set of program instructions for causing said controller to acquire said certain configuration.

69. ) A bathing unit system as defined in claim 68, wherein the configuration information comprises at least a first set of program instructions for causing said controller to acquire a first configuration and a second set of program instructions for causing said controller to acquire a second configuration, said processing unit being operative for processing the configuration information on the basis of a user input for causing the controller to implement a selected one of said first set of program instructions and said second set of program instructions.

70. ) A bathing unit system as defined in claim 69, wherein said user input is one of a serial number and password.

71. ) A bathing unit system as defined in claim 68, wherein the external memory medium stores a program element that is accessible by said controller, said processing unit processing the configuration information on the basis of the program element for causing the controller to implement said set of program instructions for causing said controller to acquire said certain configuration.

72. ) A bathing unit system as defined in claim 69, wherein said controller is operative for controlling a first set of bathing unit components when configured in accordance with said first configuration and wherein said controller is operative for controlling a second set of bathing unit components when configured in accordance with said second configuration, said second set of bathing unit components being a reduced set of said first set of bathing unit components.

73. ) A bathing unit system as defined in claim 69, wherein said controller is operative for controlling a first set of bathing unit components when configured in accordance with said first configuration and wherein said controller is operative for controlling a second set of bathing unit components when configured in accordance with said second configuration, wherein said second set of bathing unit components includes a different set of bathing unit components than said first set of bathing unit components.

74. ) A bathing unit system as defined in claim 69, wherein said controller is operative for controlling a first set of bathing unit components when configured in accordance with said first configuration and wherein said controller is operative for controlling a second set of bathing unit components when configured in accordance with said second configuration, wherein said first set of bathing unit components and said second set of bathing unit components are the same set of bathing unit components, said first configuration allows said controller to control the set of bathing unit components in a different manner than said second configuration.

75. ) A bathing unit system as defined in claim 68, wherein said communication link is selected from the group consisting of a wireline link, an infrared link and an RF link.

76. ) A bathing unit system as defined in claim 68, wherein said interface is a USB, an I2C and an SPI interface.

77. ) An apparatus suitable for use with a controller of a bathing unit system, the controller comprising a memory unit that stores an initial set of program instructions;

said apparatus comprising;

a) an interface for establishing a communication link with the controller of the bathing unit system;

b) a memory component for storing configuration information, the configuration information comprising a set of program instructions, said set of program instructions being suitable for causing said controller to acquire a certain configuration;

said apparatus being responsive to a signal from the controller for releasing over the communication link the configuration information, the configuration information causing the controller to acquire said certain configuration.

78. ) A method for configuring a controller for a bathing unit system, the controller comprising a memory unit that stores an initial set of program instructions, said method comprising:

a) establishing a communication link between an external memory medium and the controller, the external memory medium comprising configuration information, the configuration information comprising a set of program instructions, said set of program instructions being suitable for causing said controller to acquire a certain configuration;

b) processing said configuration information at the controller for causing the controller to acquire said certain configuration.

79-86. -86. (canceled)