REMOTELY CONTROLLING ASPECTS OF POOLS AND SPAS

• US 20180012478A1
• Filed: 09/22/2017
• Published: 01/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zodiac Pool Systems, LLC (Fluidra, S.A.)
• Original Assignee: Zodiac Pool Systems Incorporated (Fluidra, S.A.)
• Inventors: Uy, Dindo
• Granted Patent: US 10,255,784 B2
• Time in Patent Office: 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

1-12. -12. (canceled)

13. A method of assessing data obtained from first and second pools installed in a first geographic region, comprising:

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

b. receiving, at the server, second data transmitted by second transmitting equipment associated with the second pool, the data comprising second time-varying information concerning performance or energy usage of equipment at the second pool;

c. comparing the first data with data from the first pool previously received by the server so as to identify trends in the first time-varying information;

d. comparing the second data with data from the second pool previously received by the server so as to identify trends in the second time-varying information; and

e. aggregating the first and second data for evaluation against historical weather information of, or weather forecasts for, the first geographic region.

16. A method of assessing data obtained from first and second pools installed in a first geographic region, comprising:

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

b. receiving, at the server, second data transmitted by second transmitting equipment associated with the second pool, the data comprising second information concerning performance or energy usage of equipment at the second pool; and

c. evaluating the first data and the second data to determine issues associated with performance or energy usage of equipment at either or both of the first pool or the second pool.

17. A method according to claim 16 further comprising supplying, from the server, a warning as to degraded performance or abnormal energy usage of equipment at the first pool.

18. A method according to claim 17 further comprising supplying, from the server, a warning as to degraded performance or abnormal energy usage of equipment at the second pool.

19. A method according to claim 16 further comprising aggregating the first and second data for evaluation against historical weather information of, or weather forecasts for, the first geographic region.