Systems and method providing for remote system design

• US 7,428,441 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2007
• Issued: 09/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pool Power LLC
• Original Assignee: Pool Power LLC
• Inventors: Walters, Eric J.
• Primary Examiner(s): VON BUHR, MARIA N
• Application Number:
  US11/899,216
• Publication Number:
  US 20080004738A1
• Time in Patent Office: 384 Days
• Field of Search: 700/17, 700 83- 85, 700/90, 700 94- 97, 700105-107, 348/86, 348/143, 3791021-1061, 705/16, 705/21, 715/705, 715/716, 715/727, 715751-759, 715/961, 715964-967, 715/969, 715/970, 715/978
• US Class Current: 700/97
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

A two-way communication and data transfer system allows a field technician and a designer to work together to create a retrofit design for a flow system, make a cost estimate for the retrofit, and gather an approval from a customer all in a single visit to the customer site. The field technician can utilize a remote unit including a digital camera, data entry device, and communication device, which allows the technician to transfer images and dimension information about the existing system to a base unit. A designer can take this information from the base unit and generate a virtual design for a new system, allowing a virtual view and cost estimate to be generated for display to the customer. The technician and the designer can communicate during the process to improve the accuracy of the design and estimate.

Claims

1. A method of retrofitting elements of an existing circulation system for a pool in order to improve fluid flow comprising the steps of:

obtaining a plurality of measurements at a pool site in order to characterize the existing circulation system;

inputting the measurements into a data entry device;

using the data entry device, transmitting the measurements to a technician at a remote design location;

at the remote design location, creating a virtual design for the retrofit based on the measurements, said virtual design including new fittings and piping configured to improve fluid flow through the circulation system; and

transmitting information related to the virtual design back to the pool site.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, further including the steps of:

at the remote design location, generating pricing information sufficient to generate a cost estimate for the retrofit; and

transmitting the pricing information to the pool site.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, further including the step of transmitting an image of the virtual design from the remote design location to the pool site for approval.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, further including the steps of:

building a retrofit kit based on the virtual design including the new fittings and pipings;

delivering the retrofit kit to the pool site; and

installing the retrofit kit into the circulation system at the pool site.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, further including the step at the pool site of generating an image of the circulation system and transmitting said image to the remote design location for use in creating the virtual design.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, further including the step of establishing a verbal communication link between the remote technician and an installer at the pool site to facilitate transfer of additional information about the pool to the remote technician.

7. A method of retrofitting elements of an existing circulation system for a pool in order to improve fluid flow comprising the steps of:

obtaining a plurality of measurements at a pool site in order to characterize the existing circulation system;

obtaining an image of the existing fittings;

transmitting the image and the measurements to a technician at a remote design location;

at the remote design location, creating a virtual design for the retrofit based on the image and the measurements, said virtual design including new fittings and piping configured to improve fluid flow through the circulation system;

transmitting information related to the virtual design back to the pool site.

8. A method as recited in claim 7, further including the steps of:

at the remote design location, generating pricing information sufficient to generate a cost estimate for the retrofit; and

transmitting the pricing information to the pool site.

9. A method as recited in claim 7, further including the step of transmitting an image of the virtual design from the remote design location to the pool site for approval.

10. A method as recited in claim 7, further including the steps of:

building a retrofit kit based on the virtual design including the new fittings and pipings;

delivering the retrofit kit to the pool site; and

installing the retrofit kit into the circulation system at the pool site.

11. A method as recited in claim 7, further including the step of establishing a verbal communication link between the remote technician and an installer at the pool site to facilitate transfer of additional information about the pool to the remote technician.

12. A method as recited in claim 7, further including the step of inputting the measurements obtained at the pool site into a data entry device and using the data entry device to transmit the measurements to the remote design location.

13. A method of retrofitting elements of an existing circulation system for a pool in order to improve fluid flow comprising the steps of:

obtaining a plurality of measurements at a pool site in order to characterize the existing circulation system;

transmitting the measurements to a design technician at a remote design location;

establishing a communication link between the field technician and the design technician allowing additional parameters related to the pool site to be discussed;

at the remote design location, creating a virtual design for the retrofit based on the measurements and the additional parameters, said virtual design including new fittings and piping configured to improve fluid flow through the circulation system;

transmitting information related to the virtual design back to the pool site.

14. A method as recited in claim 13, further including the steps of:

at the remote design location, generating pricing information sufficient to generate a cost estimate for the retrofit; and

transmitting the pricing information to the pool site.

15. A method as recited in claim 13, further including the step of transmitting an image of the virtual design from the remote design location to the pool site for approval.

16. A method as recited in claim 13, further including the steps of:

building a retrofit kit based on the virtual design including the new fittings and pipings;

delivering the retrofit kit to the pool site; and

installing the retrofit kit into the circulation system at the pool site.

17. A method as recited in claim 13, further including the step at the pool site of generating an image of the circulation system and transmitting said image to the remote design location for use in creating the virtual design.

18. A method as recited in claim 13, further including the step of inputting the measurements obtained at the pool site into a data entry device and using the data entry device to transmit the measurements to the remote design location.