Networking of discrete plumbing devices
First Claim
1. A sanitary appliance communication and monitoring network, comprising:
- at least one sanitary appliance having a control circuit associated therewith;
a triggering device associated with the sanitary appliance and operable to generate an intent message unique to the triggering device;
a local radio frequency transmitter responsive to the triggering device to transmit the intent message;
a local radio frequency receiver capable of receiving the intent message and being electrically connected to the control circuit to selectively activate the sanitary appliance upon receipt of the intent message;
a global radio frequency transmitter electrically connected to one of the control circuit or the triggering device, the global radio frequency transmitter being operable to send an information message unique to said one of the control circuit or triggering device; and
a network node spaced from the appliance and having a global radio frequency receiver capable of receiving said information message.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A network of wirelessly connected sanitary appliances, their associated triggering devices and a remotely located network node is disclosed. The remotely located network node permits the monitoring and gathering of information concerning the appliances and their associated triggering devices. The network node can be connected to a LAN and/or the internet allowing the node to communicate with responsible parties. In addition, a control board having a central processing unit is wirelessly connected as an intermediary between the appliances and triggering devices and the network node. Communication between the appliances and their triggering devices uses low frequency RF signals. Communication to the remotely located network node uses high frequency RF signals.
-
Citations
41 Claims
-
1. A sanitary appliance communication and monitoring network, comprising:
-
at least one sanitary appliance having a control circuit associated therewith; a triggering device associated with the sanitary appliance and operable to generate an intent message unique to the triggering device; a local radio frequency transmitter responsive to the triggering device to transmit the intent message; a local radio frequency receiver capable of receiving the intent message and being electrically connected to the control circuit to selectively activate the sanitary appliance upon receipt of the intent message; a global radio frequency transmitter electrically connected to one of the control circuit or the triggering device, the global radio frequency transmitter being operable to send an information message unique to said one of the control circuit or triggering device; and a network node spaced from the appliance and having a global radio frequency receiver capable of receiving said information message. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A sanitary appliance communication and monitoring network, comprising:
-
at least one sanitary appliance having a flush valve connected to it and a control circuit electrically connected to the flush valve for activating said valve; a triggering device associated with the sanitary appliance and operable to generate an intent message unique to the triggering device; a local radio frequency transmitter responsive to the triggering device to transmit the intent message; a local radio frequency receiver capable of receiving the intent message and being electrically connected to the control circuit to selectively activate the flush valve upon receipt of the intent message; a global radio frequency transmitter electrically connected to the control circuit, the global radio frequency transmitter being operable upon activation of the flush valve to send an information message unique to said control circuit; and a sanitizer spaced from the flush valve and in fluid communication with the sanitary appliance, the sanitizer having a global radio frequency receiver capable of receiving said information message and activating the sanitizer in response thereto. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
-
-
29. A sanitary appliance communication and monitoring network comprising:
-
at least one sanitary appliance, a radio frequency receiver electrically connected to each sanitary appliance to cause the associated sanitary appliance to operate upon receiving an operate message, the operate message being unique to the sanitary appliance; a triggering device associated with each sanitary appliance for signaling an intent to operate the associated sanitary appliance, each triggering device having a radio frequency transmitter electrically connected thereto and operable thereby, each triggering device radio frequency transmitter being operable to send an intent message, the intent message being unique to the triggering device; a network node remotely spaced from the at least one appliance and having a radio frequency receiver for receiving an information message; and a control board having a central processing unit electrically connected to a radio frequency receiver and a radio frequency transmitter, the control board'"'"'s radio frequency receiver being capable of receiving the intent message and the control board'"'"'s radio frequency transmitter being capable of sending the operate message; wherein upon activation of the triggering device the triggering device radio frequency transmitter sends the intent message, and upon receipt of the intent message the central processing unit determines whether to send the operate message to cause operation of the sanitary appliance associated with the triggering device that sent the intent message. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
-
-
40. A sanitary appliance communication and monitoring network comprising:
-
at least one sanitary appliance, a radio frequency receiver electrically connected to each sanitary appliance to cause the associated sanitary appliance to operate upon receiving an operate message, the operate message being unique to the sanitary appliance; a triggering device associated with each sanitary appliance for signaling an intent to operate the associated sanitary appliance, each triggering device having a radio frequency transmitter electrically connected thereto and operable thereby, each triggering device radio frequency transmitter being able to send an intent message, the intent message being unique to the triggering device; and a network node remotely spaced from the at least one sanitary appliance and having a central processing unit electrically connected to a radio frequency receiver and a radio frequency transmitter; wherein upon activation of the triggering device the triggering device radio frequency transmitter sends the intent message and upon receipt of the intent message by the radio frequency receiver of the network node, the central processing unit determines whether the radio frequency transmitter of the network node sends the unique operate message to cause operation of the sanitary appliance associated with the triggering device that sent the unique intent message. - View Dependent Claims (41)
-
Specification