Controlling Water Installation Devices

• US 20170280641A1
• Filed: 06/23/2017
• Published: 10/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Fluidra, S.A.
• Original Assignee: Fluidra, S.A.
• Inventors: GIMNEZ PALLARS, David, PENELO ARIAS, scar, MELENDO CASADO, Domnec, BUJALANCE COLL, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US15/631,328
• Publication Number:
  US 20170280641A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2625 Sprinkler, irrigation, watering

Abstract

Methods of creating a controller module configured to be used by a water installation controlling apparatus to control a water installation device which is associable with the water installation controlling apparatus and which is not compatible with a control protocol used by the water installation controlling apparatus. The method comprises: obtaining, from a user input, at least a predefined type of the water installation device; obtaining, from a repository of control instructions, a set of control instructions associated with the predefined type of the water installation device; creating the controller module; and including the set of control instructions in the controller module. The set of control instructions comprises output control instructions configured to be called, by the water installation controlling apparatus, according to the control protocol, and to be executed for operating the non-compatible water installation device as required by the control protocol.

Claims

1. A method of creating a controller module configured to be used by a water installation controlling apparatus to control a water installation device which is associable with the water installation controlling apparatus and which is not compatible with a control protocol used by the water installation controlling apparatus, the method comprising:

obtaining, by the water installation controlling apparatus, from a user input, at least a predefined type of the water installation device;

obtaining, by the water installation controlling apparatus, from a repository of control instructions, a set of control instructions associated with the predefined type;

creating, by the water installation controlling apparatus, the controller module;

including, by the water installation controlling apparatus, the set of control instructions in the controller module;

wherein the set of control instructions comprises one or more output control instructions configured to be called by the water installation controlling apparatus, according to the control protocol, and to be executed for operating the water installation device as required by the control protocol.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the water installation device is a non-programmable device.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the water installation device is a physical module.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the water installation device is a software module.

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

obtaining, by the water installation controlling apparatus, from the user input, an identifier of the water installation device; and

including, by the water installation controlling apparatus, the identifier of the water installation device in the controller module.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising

obtaining, by the water installation controlling apparatus, from the user input, a pointer pointing at a first intermediary module through which the water installation device is to be operated by the execution of the output control instructions;

and

including, by the water installation controlling apparatus, the pointer pointing at the first intermediary module in the controller module.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the first intermediary module is not compatible with the control protocol.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the first intermediary module is compatible with the control protocol.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein the first intermediary module is a physical intermediary module.

10. The method according to claim 6, wherein the first intermediary module is a software intermediary module.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the set of control instructions further comprises one or more input control instructions configured to be called by the water installation controlling apparatus, according to the control protocol, and to be executed for receiving a response from the non-compatible water installation device and to transform the received response according to the control protocol.

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

obtaining, by the water installation controlling apparatus, from the user input, a pointer pointing at a second intermediary module through which the response from the water installation device is to be received; and

including, by the water installation controlling apparatus, the pointer pointing at the second intermediary module in the controller module.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the second intermediary module is not compatible with the control protocol.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the second intermediary module is compatible with the control protocol.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein the second intermediary module is a physical intermediary module.

16. The method according to claim 12, wherein the second intermediary module is a software intermediary module.

17. The method according to claim 11, wherein the one or more output control instructions comprise one or more first trigger instructions configured to cause activation or deactivation of the non-compatible water installation device depending on a received response of another control protocol non-compatible water installation device.

18. The method according to claim 11, wherein the one or more output control instructions comprise one or more second trigger instructions configured to cause activation or deactivation of the water installation device depending on a status of a control protocol compatible water installation device.

19. A system to create a controller module configured to be used by a water installation controlling apparatus to control a water installation device which is associable with the water installation controlling apparatus and which is not compatible with a control protocol used by the water installation controlling apparatus, the system comprising:

computing/electronic means for obtaining, by the water installation controlling apparatus, from a user input, at least a predefined type of the water installation device;

computing/electronic means for obtaining, by the water installation controlling apparatus, from a repository of control instructions, a set of control instructions associated with the predefined type;

computing/electronic means for creating, by the water installation controlling apparatus, the controller module;

computing/electronic means for including, by the water installation controlling apparatus, the set of control instructions in the controller module;

wherein the set of control instructions comprises one or more output control instructions configured to be called by the water installation controlling apparatus, according to the control protocol, and to be executed for operating the water installation device as required by the control protocol.