Internet Based Spa Networking System Having Wireless Spa Nodes

• US 20120078426A1
• Filed: 08/30/2011
• Published: 03/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stephen S. Macey
• Original Assignee: Stephen S. Macey
• Inventors: Macey, Stephen S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,688,280 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/286
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5012 using the internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5097 wireless
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/005 Electrical circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/00 Arrangements for measuring currents or voltages or for indicating presence or sign thereof G01R5/00 takes precedence; for measuring bioelectric currents or voltages A61B5/24
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0421 Multiprocessor system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• 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: G06F 12/1081 for peripheral access to main memory, e.g. direct memory access [DMA]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/122 where hardware performs an I/O function other than control of data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/26 with priority control
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2825 Reporting to a device located outside the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with telemetering systems H04M11/002
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/02 Hierarchically pre-organised networks, e.g. paging networks, cellular networks, WLAN [Wireless Local Area Network] or WLL [Wireless Local Loop]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 : Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 : Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

A spa node comprising a spa controller, a power sense adapter configured to compute power being drawn by selected spa components; a spa network adapter, and a home network adapter, each of the three adapters including a wireless transceiver wherein the spa network adapter is configured to receive power data transmitted over a wireless link by the power sense adapter and to further receive status/performance data from the spa controller. The home network adapter is configured to receive power and status data transmitted by the spa network adapter over a wireless link and to convert that data to a form suitable for transmission to an Internet access point. The home network adapter is further linkable over the Internet to a central server, a dealer computer and a spa owner or user computer.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising:

a spa controller configured to control operation of a plurality of spa components and to generate status data regarding the status of such components;

a power sense unit configured to compute power being drawn by one or more selected spa components and having a first wireless transceiver;

a spa network adapter configured to communicate over a wireless link with said spa controller to receive data from said spa controller and to transmit data and commands to said spa controller and having a second wireless transceiver;

the spa network adapter further being configured to receive power data computed by said power sense unit and transmitted over a wireless link between said first and second wireless transceivers;

a home network adapter having a third wireless transceiver and configured to receive data transmitted from said spa network adapter over a wireless link between said second and third wireless transceivers and to convert said data to a form suitable for transmission to an Internet access point;

wherein the spa network adapter is further configured to transmit both power data and status data received from the spa controller over a wireless link between said second and third wireless transceivers to said home network adapter.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said home network adapter is linkable over the Internet to a central server, a dealer computer and/or a spa owner or user computer.