Managing digital connections of connected equipment and devices to pool automation systems
A method for managing pool and spa connections is described. The method may involve maintaining a first set of permitted connections to the controller, the permitted connections including at least one pool or spa device connection and at least one pool or spa equipment connection. The method may further involve receiving a connection update instruction to adjust the first set of the permitted connections. The method may further involve updating the first set of permitted connections to define a second set of permitted connections.
1 . A controller for managing pool or spa connections, comprising:
a memory configured to store computer-executable instructions; and
a processor configured to access the memory and execute the computer-executable instructions to at least:
maintain, in the memory of the controller, a first predefined number of permitted connections to the controller, the permitted connections comprising at least one pool or spa component connection, the first predefined number of the permitted connections identifying a first total number of individual digital connections supported by the controller;
receive a connection update instruction to adjust the first predefined number of the permitted connections; and
after validation of the connection update instruction using a validation procedure, update the first predefined number of the permitted connections to define a second predefined number of the permitted connections, the second predefined number of the permitted connections identifying a second total number of individual digital connections supported by the controller.
2 . The controller of claim 1 , wherein the memory is further configured to store additional computer-executable instructions, and the processor is further configured to access the memory and execute the additional computer-executable instructions to at least enable at least one of a different pool or spa component comprising a device or equipment to connect to the controller.
3 . The controller of claim 1 , wherein maintaining the first predefined number of the permitted connections to the controller comprises maintaining a permitted connection table that identifies the first predefined number of the permitted connections.
4 . The controller of claim 3 , wherein updating the first predefined number of the permitted connections to define the second predefined number of the permitted connections comprises updating values in the permitted connection table, wherein the values correspond to at least one of a number of permitted connections or a type of permitted connection.
5 . The controller of claim 1 , wherein receiving the connection update instruction comprises receiving the connection update instruction from at least one of an external server, a user device, or a hardware component.
6 . The controller of claim 1 , wherein the first predefined number of the permitted connections and the second predefined number of the permitted connections are defined by either a number of permitted connections or types of permitted connections.
7 . The controller of claim 1 , wherein updating the first predefined number of the permitted connections to define the second predefined number of the permitted connections includes receiving confirmation of the validation procedure.
8 . The controller of claim 1 , wherein the memory is further configured to store additional computer-executable instructions, and the processor is further configured to access the memory and execute the additional computer-executable instructions to at least control a first set of equipment via a set of digital connections based on the first predefined number of the permitted connections, and control a second set of equipment via a set of relay-based connections based on the first predefined number of the permitted connections.
9 . The controller of claim 1 , wherein the memory is further configured to store additional computer-executable instructions, and the processor is further configured to access the memory and execute the additional computer-executable instructions to at least:
communicate validation information a remote server, the validation information useable by the remote server to perform the validation procedure.
10 . The controller of claim 1 , wherein the validation procedure is based at least in part on a payment verification indicator, encryption keys, or digital watermarks.
11 . A computer-implemented method for managing pool or spa connections, comprising:
maintaining, in a memory of a controller, a first predefined number of permitted connections to the controller, the permitted connections comprising at least one pool or spa component connection, the first predefined number of the permitted connections identifying a first total number of individual digital connections supported by the controller;
receiving a connection update instruction to adjust the first predefined number of the permitted connections; and
after validation of the connection update instruction using a validation procedure, updating the first predefined number of the permitted connections to define a second predefined number of the permitted connections, the second predefined number of the permitted connections identifying a second total number of individual digital connections supported by the controller.
12 . The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , wherein maintaining the first predefined number of the permitted connections to the controller comprises maintaining a permitted connection table that identifies the first predefined number of the permitted connections.
13 . The computer-implemented method of claim 12 , wherein updating the first predefined number of the permitted connections to define the second predefined number of the permitted connections comprises validating the connection update instruction by updating values in the permitted connection table.
14 . The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , wherein receiving the connection update instruction comprises receiving the connection update instruction from at least one of an external server, a user device, or a hardware component.
15 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable media comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor of a spa or pool controller, causes the spa or pool controller to perform operations comprising:
maintaining, in a memory of the controller, a first predefined number of permitted connections to the controller, the permitted connections comprising at least one pool or spa component connection, the first predefined number of the permitted connections identifying a first total number of individual digital connections supported by the controller;
receiving a connection update instruction to adjust the first predefined number of the permitted connections; and
after validation of the connection update instruction using a validation procedure, updating the first predefined number of the permitted connections to define a second predefined number of the permitted connections, the second predefined number of the permitted connections identifying a second total number of individual digital connections supported by the controller.
16 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein updating the first predefined number of the permitted connections to define the second predefined number of the permitted connections includes receiving confirmation of the validation procedure.
17 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein the computer-readable media comprises additional computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to perform additional operations comprising enabling at least one of a different pool or spa component comprising a device or equipment to connect to the controller.
18 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein maintaining the first predefined number of the permitted connections to the controller comprises maintaining a permitted connection table that identifies the first predefined number of the permitted connections.
19 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 18 , wherein maintaining the permitted connection table is based at least in part on validation of the connection update instruction.
20 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein receiving the connection update instruction comprises receiving the connection update instruction from at least one of an external server, a user device, or a hardware component.