DISPENSER APPARATUS WITH NETWORK CAPABILITIES AND METHODS FOR INSTALLING THE SAME

• US 20140074285A1
• Filed: 09/12/2013
• Published: 03/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GOJO Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: GOJO Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: WEGELIN, JACKSON W., SOUDMAND ASLI, MOHAMMADREZA
• Application Number:
  US14/024,680
• Publication Number:
  US 20140074285A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/244
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/245 Reminder of hygiene compliance policies, e.g. of washing hands

Abstract

A network for a plurality of dispensers includes at least one dispenser device and a device controller carried by each dispenser device which monitors the operational activity of the dispenser device. A network transceiver is connected to each device controller and links to a gateway controller adapted to wirelessly communicate with each network transceiver. An installation button is associated with each network transceiver, wherein actuation of the installation button increases an operational duty cycle to enable linking of all of the dispenser devices to the gateway controller. Other embodiments are provided which facilitate learning of dispensers and related network devices to a network of dispensers.

Claims

1. A method for establishing a time synchronized network, comprising:

initializing a gateway controller;

positioning a plurality of network devices in relative proximity to one another and said gateway controller;

actuating an installation button on at least one of said plurality of network devices so as to increase an operational duty cycle of a communication signal between said network devices and said gateway controller; and

maintaining the increased operational duty cycle until all of said plurality of network devices are in linked communication with said gateway controller.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

re-positioning each said network device until in linked communication with said gateway controller.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

re-positioning each said network device until in linked communication with said gateway controller by two different communication paths of linked network devices.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising:

securing said network device in place.

5. The method according to claim 3, further comprising:

displaying on said network device each different communication path to said gateway controller.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

securing said network device in place.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

changing said operational duty cycle on all said network devices when all are linked to said gateway controller.

8. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

providing a fluid dispenser as at least one of said network devices.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising:

providing at least one hub as at least one of said network devices, wherein a plurality of said fluid dispensers are linked in communication with said hub.

10. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

providing a wand as at least one of said network devices;

providing a plurality of fluid dispensers as said network devices; and

linking said plurality of fluid dispensers to said wand prior to actuating said installation button.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

actuating an invite button prior to actuating said installation button so as to initialize said network controller.

12. A network for a plurality of dispensers, comprising:

at least one dispenser device;

a device controller carried by each said dispenser device which monitors operational activity of said dispenser device;

a network transceiver connected to each said device controller;

a gateway controller adapted to wirelessly communicate with each said network transceiver; and

an installation button associated with each said network transceiver, wherein actuation of said installation button increases an operational duty cycle to enable linking of all said dispenser devices to said gateway controller.

13. The network according to claim 12, further comprising:

a display connected to said device controller to confirm connection to said gateway controller.

14. The network according to claim 13, wherein said display provides information as to connection paths, said dispenser devices, and said gateway controller.

15. The network according to claim 12, wherein said operational duty cycle is increased to 100% when said installation button is actuated.

16. The network according to claim 12, further comprising:

a wand to initially link said dispenser devices to one another prior to actuation of said installation button.

17. The network according to claim 12, further comprising:

an invite button associated with said device controller, wherein actuation of said invite button for a first dispenser and actuation of said installation button of a second dispenser enables linking of said first and second dispensers to one another.