METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING REMOTE MONITORING AND CONTROL OF A BATHING SYSTEM

• US 20150381795A1
• Filed: 09/14/2015
• Published: 12/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gecko Alliance Group Inc.
• Original Assignee: Gecko Alliance Group Inc.
• Inventors: BROCHU, Christian, MONTPLAISIR, Jean-Francois
• Application Number:
  US14/852,792
• Publication Number:
  US 20150381795A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5012 using the internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5043 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/00 Bathing devices for special therapeutic or hygienic purposes A61H35/00 takes precedence; sprays acting on a body or body part not immersed in water A61H9/00; means for washing bed-ridden persons A61G7/0005; for sub aquatic intestinal cleaning A61M9/00; isolation chambers A61M21/0094; electric or magnetic baths, applying ionised fluids A61N1/44 ; heater for bath tubs F24H1/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/283 Processing of data at an internetworking point of a home automation network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/005 Transmission of information for alerting of incoming communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/18 Management of setup rejection or failure

Abstract

A network-enabled controller for a bathing unit is provided. The controller includes a network interface and a memory storing operational setting information associated with the bathing unit. Through the network interface, the controller connects to a home network and registers and maintains an active communication link with a gateway accessed over a network external to the home network. In response to receipt of a status request originating from a remote client, the controller processes the status request and selectively transmits operational setting information stored in the memory to the remote client. A system for facilitating remote control and monitoring of network-enabled controllers for bathing units is also provided. The system comprises a remote control client executed on a personal computing device, an Internet-based server implementing a gateway and a plurality of controllers, wherein respective active communication links are maintained between the server and the plurality of registered controllers.

Claims

1-50. -50. (canceled)

51. A method for facilitating monitoring of a network-enabled controller for a bathing unit, said method being implemented by a system including at least one processor, said method comprising:

registering the network-enabled controller with the system, the network-enabled controller;

i. communicating with the system through a home router;

ii. being associated with a public network address;

maintaining active a communication link between the system and the registered network-enabled controller, the communication link being maintained active by a periodic transmittal of signals over the communication link to the system by the registered network-enabled controller;

performing a failure detection operation to detect a potential failure in connection with the communication link, wherein detecting the presence of the potential failure includes monitoring the communication link to detect an absence of signals within a time delay;

in response to detection of the potential failure in connection with the communication link, initiating a failure advisory process in connection with the registered network-enabled controller corresponding to the communication link for which the potential failure was detected, wherein said failure advisory process includes issuing a notification conveying the potential failure.

52. A method as defined in claim 51, wherein issuing the notification includes transmitting an electronic message conveying the potential failure over a computing network to a remote computing device.

53. A method as defined in claim 52, wherein the remote computing device is associated with a bathing unit service technician and wherein the electronic message provides an identification of the registered network-enabled controller corresponding to the communication link for which the potential failure was detected.

54. A method as defined in claim 53, wherein the electronic message is one of an e-mail message, a voice-mail message and an SMS message.

55. A method as defined in claim 53, wherein the remote computing device is a phone.

56. A method as defined in claim 52, wherein the remote computing device is associated with an owner of the bathing unit system and wherein the electronic message provides an identification of the registered network-enabled controller corresponding to the communication link for which the potential failure was detected.

57. A method as defined in claim 56, wherein the electronic message is one of an e-mail message, a voice-mail message and an SMS message.

58. A method as defined in claim 52, wherein the failure advisory process includes:

a. accessing a memory medium to obtain contact information associated with the registered network-enabled controller corresponding to the communication link for which the potential failure was detected, the contact information being associated with a person to contact when a potential failure in connection with the communication link is detected;

b. transmitting the electronic message to the remote computing device using the obtained contact information.

59. A non-transient computer readable storage medium for storing computer executable program code for facilitating monitoring of a network-enabled controller for a bathing unit, the network-enabled controller being connected to a home network through a home router, when executed by a system including at least one processor, said program code configuring the computing system for:

registering the network-enabled controllers with the system, the network-enabled controller;

i. communicating with the system through a home router;

ii. being associated with a public network address;

maintaining active a communication link between the system and the registered network-enabled controller, the communication link being maintained active by a periodic transmittal of signals over the communication link to the system by the registered network-enabled controller;

performing a failure detection operation to detect a potential failure in connection with the communication link, wherein detecting the presence of the potential failure includes monitoring the communication link to detect an absence of signals within a time delay;

in response to detection of the potential failure in connection with the communication link, initiating a failure advisory process in connection with the registered network-enabled controller corresponding to the communication link for which the potential failure was detected, wherein said failure advisory process includes issuing a notification conveying the potential failure.

60. A non-transient computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 59, wherein issuing the notification includes transmitting an electronic message conveying the potential failure over a computing network to a remote computing device.

61. A non-transient computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 60, wherein the failure advisory process includes:

a. accessing a memory medium to obtain contact information associated with the registered network-enabled controller corresponding to the communication link for which the potential failure was detected, the contact information being associated with a person to contact when a potential failure in connection with the communication link is detected;

b. transmitting the electronic message to the remote computing device using the obtained contact information.

62. A system for facilitating monitoring of a network-enabled controller for a bathing unit, said system including one or more processors programmed for:

registering the network-enabled controller with the system, the network-enabled controller;

i. communicating with the system through a home router;

ii. being associated with a public network address;

maintaining active a communication link between the system and the registered network-enabled controller, the communication link being maintained active by a periodic transmittal of signals over the communication link to the system by the registered network-enabled controller;

performing a failure detection operation to detect a potential failure in connection with the communication link, wherein detecting the presence of the potential failure includes monitoring the communication link to detect an absence of signals within a time delay;

in response to detection of the potential failure in connection with the communication link, initiating a failure advisory process in connection with the registered network-enabled controller corresponding to the communication link for which the potential failure was detected, wherein said failure advisory process includes issuing a notification conveying the potential failure.