Method and system for providing ambiance settings in a bathing system

• US 9,442,639 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2013
• Issued: 09/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gecko Alliance Group Inc.
• Original Assignee: Gecko Alliance Group Inc.
• Inventors: Laflamme, Benoit, Brochu, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): HARTMAN JR, RONALD D
• Application Number:
  US14/106,554
• Publication Number:
  US 20140108986A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,005 Days
• Field of Search: 700/17, 700 19- 20, 700/83, 715/700
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2033/0079 using remote control signal transmission devices, e.g. ultrasonic, infrared
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2033/0083 Illumination
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5007 computer controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5012 using the internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5046 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5097 wireless
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/005 Electrical circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/0087 Therapeutic baths with agitated or circulated water
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/02 Bathing devices for use with gas-containing liquid, or liquid in which gas is led or generated, e.g. carbon dioxide baths A61H33/6026 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/60 Components specifically designed for the therapeutic baths of groups A61H33/00 plumbing E03C1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/601 Inlet to the bath
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/6068 Outlet from the bath
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials

Abstract

A method, device and system for displaying, via a user interface, an ambiance setting for a bathing system. The user interface is configured to display at least one display page on a display screen. The method comprises displaying on the display screen, a plurality of ambiance settings selectable by a user of the user interface, receiving, at a processor, an indication of a selected ambiance setting from the plurality of ambiance settings displayed on the display screen and in response to the selected ambiance setting, displaying on the display screen a first operational setting for at least one first type of bathing unit component and a second operational setting for at least one second type of bathing unit component. The first operational setting and the second operational setting are pre-programmed in association with the selected ambiance setting.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer readable storage media comprising a computer program having instructions stored on the media the computer program allowing a user to manage a bathing unit system, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause a programmable device including at least one programmable processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

(a) receiving data originating from the bathing unit system;

(b) processing the data for detecting, at least in part based on the data, a presence of a specific maintenance due condition in the bathing unit system;

(c) generating a graphic display on the display screen, the graphic display presenting the user concurrently with;

i) a set of input options selectable by the user for adjusting operational settings associated with at least some bathing unit components in the bathing unit system;

ii) a control component in association with the graphic display, the control component allowing the user to select input options in the set of input options presented on the graphic display;

iii) a notification message conveying the presence of the specific maintenance due condition in the bathing unit system detected by processing the data originating from the bathing unit system, wherein the notification message conveys a specific maintenance activity that needs to be performed on the bathing unit system.

2. The non-transitory computer readable storage media defined in claim 1, wherein detecting the presence of the specific maintenance due condition is performed at least in part by processing the data originating from the bathing unit system in combination with reference operational parameters.

3. The non-transitory computer readable storage media defined in claim 2, wherein the reference operational parameters convey a reference maintenance schedule associated with the bathing unit system and wherein detecting the presence of the specific maintenance due condition includes processing the reference maintenance schedule associated with the bathing unit system to determine the specific maintenance activity that needs to be performed on the bathing unit system.

4. The non-transitory computer readable storage media defined in claim 2, wherein at least some of the data originating from the bathing unit system conveys information on usage of the bathing unit system, and wherein detecting the presence of the specific maintenance due condition includes:

processing the information on usage of the bathing unit system in combination with reference operational parameters to derive a specific maintenance schedule associated with the bathing unit system, the specific maintenance schedule being derived at least in part based on the information on usage of the bathing unit system;

processing the derived specific maintenance schedule to determine the specific maintenance activity that needs to be performed on the bathing unit system.

5. The non-transitory computer readable storage media defined in claim 4, wherein the specific maintenance schedule associated with the bathing unit system conveys maintenance activities associated with at least one component of the bathing unit system, wherein the at least one component of the bathing unit system is one of a water pump, a lighting unit and a filter.

6. The non-transitory computer readable storage media defined in claim 4, wherein the specific maintenance schedule associated with the bathing unit system conveys that chemicals need to be added to the bathing unit system.

7. A computing device suitable for establishing a network connection with a bathing system having a set of bathing unit component for allowing a user to manage the bathing unit system, the computing device comprising:

(a) a display screen;

(b) an input interface for allowing a user to enter information;

(c) at least one processor in communication with the display screen and with the input interface, the at least one processor being programmed for;

i) receiving data over the network connection, the data originating from the bathing unit system;

ii) processing the data for detecting, at least in part based on the data, a presence of a specific maintenance due condition in the bathing unit system;

iii) generating a graphic display on the display screen, the graphic display presenting the user concurrently with;

i) a set of input options selectable by the user for adjusting operational settings associated with at least some bathing unit components in the bathing unit system;

ii) a control component in association with the graphic display, the control component allowing the user to select through the input interface input options in the set of input options presented on the graphic display;

iii) a notification message conveying the presence of the specific maintenance due condition in the bathing unit system detected by processing the data originating from the bathing unit system, wherein the notification message conveys a specific maintenance activity that needs to be performed on the bathing unit system;

iv) an output for releasing the signal to the bathing system over the network connection for causing bathing unit components in the bathing unit system to acquire operational settings specified by the user through the graphic display.

8. The computing device defined in claim 7, wherein the input interface includes at least one of a trackball, a mouse, a gyroscope remote, a keypad, a touch sensitive screen, turn-dials, turn-and-push dials, a stylus pen and a microphone.

9. The computing device defined in claim 8, wherein the computing device is implemented by a smartphone device.

10. The computing device defined in claim 9, wherein detecting the presence of the specific maintenance due condition is performed at least in part by processing the data conveying the monitored operational parameters in combination with reference operational parameters.

11. The computing device defined in claim 10, wherein at least some of the data originating from the bathing unit system conveys information on usage of the bathing unit system, and wherein detecting the presence of the specific maintenance due condition includes:

processing the information on usage of the bathing unit system in combination with reference operational parameters to derive a specific maintenance schedule associated with the bathing unit system, the specific maintenance schedule being derived at least in part based on the information on usage of the bathing unit system;

processing the derived specific maintenance schedule to determine the specific maintenance activity that needs to be performed on the bathing unit system.

12. The computing device defined in claim 11, wherein the specific maintenance schedule associated with the bathing unit system conveys maintenance activities associated with at least one component of the bathing unit system, wherein the at least one component of the bathing unit system is one of a water pump, a lighting unit and a filter.

13. The computing device defined in claim 11, wherein the specific maintenance schedule associated with the bathing unit system conveys that chemicals need to be added to the bathing unit system.

14. The computing device as defined in claim 7, wherein the at least one processor is programmed for presenting the user with a set of ambiance settings selectable by the user and a control component in association with the input interface, the control component allowing the user to issue an ambiance selection command, the ambiance selection command conveying an ambiance setting selected by the user from the set of ambiance settings, wherein:

i) the set of input options selectable by the user presented by the graphic display is a customized set of input options displayed following receipt of a specific ambiance selection command conveying a specific ambiance setting selected by the user; and

ii) wherein the customized set of input options presented to the user varies at least in part based on a specific ambiance setting selected by the user.

15. A method for assisting a user in maintaining a bathing unit system, the method being implemented by a programmable system including at least one programmable processor, said method comprising:

(a) at the programmable system, receiving data originating from the bathing unit system and conveying monitored operational parameters associated with the bathing unit system;

(b) using the programmable system, detecting a presence of a specific maintenance due condition at least in part by processing the data conveying the monitored operational parameters in combination with reference operational parameters, wherein the reference operational parameters include at least a reference maintenance schedule associated with the bathing unit system and wherein detecting the presence of the specific maintenance due condition includes processing the reference maintenance schedule to determine a specific maintenance activity that needs to be performed on the bathing unit system;

(c) when the presence of the specific maintenance due condition is detected in b), using the programmable system;

i) generating a notification message conveying information identifying the presence of the specific maintenance due condition, wherein the notification message conveys a reminder of the specific maintenance activity that needs to be performed on the bathing unit system; and

ii) transmitting said notification message over a computing network to a remote device associated with the user of the system.

16. The method defined in claim 15, wherein at least some of the monitored operational parameters associated with the bathing unit system convey information on usage of the bathing unit system and wherein detecting the presence of the specific maintenance due condition includes:

processing the information on usage of the bathing unit system in combination with the reference maintenance schedule to derive a specific maintenance schedule associated with the bathing unit system, the specific maintenance schedule being derived at least in part based on the information on usage of the bathing unit system;

processing the derived specific maintenance schedule to determine the specific maintenance activity that needs to be performed on the bathing unit system.

17. The method defined in claim 16, wherein the specific maintenance schedule associated with the bathing unit system conveys maintenance activities associated with at least one component of the bathing unit system, the at least one component of the bathing unit system being one of a water pump, a lighting unit and a filter.

18. The method defined in claim 16, wherein the specific maintenance schedule associated with the bathing unit system conveys that chemicals need to be added to the bathing unit system.

19. The method defined in claim 15, wherein transmitting said notification message over the computing network includes transmitting at least one of an e-mail message, a phone call and a text message conveying said notification message.

20. The method defined in claim 15, said method further comprising:

at the system, receiving data conveying that the specific maintenance activity has been performed on the bathing unit system;

using the system, deriving a specific maintenance schedule conveying when at least one future maintenance activity is to be performed at least in part by processing the data conveying that the specific maintenance activity has been performed on the bathing unit system;

in dependence of the derived specific maintenance schedule, generating a maintenance notification message conveying the at least one future maintenance activity and transmitting said notification message conveying the at least one future maintenance activity to the remote device associated with the user of the system.

21. A non-transitory computer readable storage media comprising a computer program having instructions stored on the media, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause a programmable device including at least one programmable processor to perform operations for assisting a user in maintaining a bathing unit system, the operations comprising:

(a) receiving data conveying monitored operational parameters associated with the bathing unit system;

(b) detecting a presence of a specific maintenance due condition at least in part by processing the data conveying the monitored operational parameters in combination with reference operational parameters;

(c) when the presence of the specific maintenance due condition is detected in b);

i) generating a notification message conveying information identifying the presence of the specific maintenance due condition, wherein the notification message conveys a reminder of a specific maintenance activity that needs to be performed on the bathing unit system; and

ii) transmitting said notification message over a computing network to a remote device associated with the user of the system.

22. The non-transitory computer readable storage media defined in claim 21, wherein at least some of the monitored operational parameters associated with the bathing unit system convey information on usage of the bathing unit system, wherein at least some of the reference operational parameters convey a reference maintenance schedule associated with the bathing unit system and wherein detecting the presence of the specific maintenance due condition includes:

processing the information on usage of the bathing unit system in combination with the reference maintenance schedule to derive a specific maintenance schedule associated with the bathing unit system, the specific maintenance schedule being derived at least in part based on the information on usage of the bathing unit system;

processing the derived specific maintenance schedule to determine the specific maintenance activity that needs to be performed on the bathing unit system.

23. The non-transitory computer readable storage media defined in claim 22, wherein the specific maintenance schedule associated with the bathing unit system conveys maintenance activities associated with at least one component of the bathing unit system, the at least one component of the bathing unit system being one of a water pump, a lighting unit and a filter.

24. The non-transitory computer readable storage media defined in claim 22, wherein transmitting said notification message over the computing network includes transmitting at least one of an e-mail message, a phone call and a text message conveying said notification message.

25. The non-transitory computer readable storage media defined in claim 21, the operations further comprising:

receiving data conveying that a specific maintenance activity has been performed on the bathing unit system;

deriving a specific maintenance schedule conveying when at least one future maintenance activity is to be performed at least in part by processing the data conveying that the specific maintenance activity has been performed on the bathing unit system;

in dependence of the derived specific maintenance schedule, generating a maintenance notification message conveying the at least one future maintenance activity and transmitting said notification message over a computing network to a remote device associated with the user of the system.