Systems and Methods for Providing Network Connectivity and Remote Monitoring, Optimization, and Control of Pool/Spa Equipment
Systems and methods for providing network connectivity and remote monitoring, optimization, and control of pool/spa equipment are provided. “Internet-of-Things” (IoT) functionality is provided for pool and spa equipment in a flexible and cost-effective manner. Network connectivity and remote monitoring/control of pool and spa equipment is provided by various components such as a network communication and local control subsystem installed in pool/spa equipment, and other components. Also disclosed are various control processes (“pool logic”) which can be embodied as software code installed in any of the various embodiments of the present disclosure.
1 . A pool cleaner comprising:
a motor for driving the pool cleaner along the surface of a pool or spa;
a processor in communication with the motor, said processor controlling operation of said motor;
a housing enclosing the motor and the processor; and
a network communication subsystem in communication with the processor, the network communication subsystem (i) assigning an Internet Protocol (IP) address to the pool cleaner and establishing a network connection between the processor and a remote device; (ii) providing for remote monitoring of operational parameters associated with the pool cleaner from the remote device over the network connection; and (iii) providing for remote control of the pool cleaner from the remote device over the network connection.
2 . The pool cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the network communication subsystem is positioned within the housing.
3 . The pool cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the network communication subsystem establishes one or more of a wired or a wireless network connection with the processor.
4 . The pool cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the remote device comprises one or more of a chlorinator, a pump, a underwater light, a water feature of a pool or a spa, a heater, a chemical dispenser, a valve actuator, a pool cover system, a pool control system, a spa control system, or a water slide controller.
5 . The pool cleaner of claim 1 , further comprising one or more sensors in communication with said processor, the one or more sensors including one or more of an water circulation sensor, water flow rate sensor, water pressure sensor, water turbidity sensor, power consumption sensor, current draw sensor, line voltage sensor, valve actuation sensor, ambient light sensor, debris location sensor, and pool cover sensor.
6 . The pool cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the processor receives user input data over the network connection and alters operation of the pool cleaner in response to the user input data.
7 . The pool cleaner of claim 6 , wherein the user input data comprises one or more of timer data or schedule data.
8 . The pool cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the processor transmits operational data to the remote device over the network connection.
9 . The pool cleaner of claim 8 , wherein the operational data comprises one or more of submersion data, debris level data, debris weight, power consumption, current draw, speed of motor, speed of turbine, speed of cleaner, or orientation of cleaner.
10 . The pool cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the processor transmits factory specification data to the remote device over the network connection.
11 . The pool cleaner of claim 10 , wherein the factory specification data comprises one or more of motor speed, power consumption, current draw, input voltage or life expectancy.
12 . The pool cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the processor stores configuration parameter data and transmits the configuration parameter data to the remote device over the Internet.
13 . The pool cleaner of claim 12 , wherein the configuration parameter data includes one or more of an IP address, a GPS coordinate, a Zip code, a date, or a time.
14 . The pool cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the processor receives remote data from the remote device over the network connection including one or more of location data, time, date, sunrise data, sunset data, ambient light data, or season data.
15 . The pool cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the processor stores configuration parameters remotely set by the remote device over the Internet, the configuration parameters including one or more of connected pool devices pool surface area, pool geometry, pool liner color, pool cover information, or a pool cover schedule.
16 . The pool cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the processor transmits health monitoring data to the remote device over the Internet, the health monitoring data including one or more of line-to-line balance data, grounding data, bonding data, leak current data, runtime data, operating temperature data, power consumption data.
17 . A method for remotely monitoring and controlling a pool cleaner for a pool or a spa, comprising the steps of:
assigning by a processor of the pool cleaner an Internet Protocol (IP) address to the pool cleaner;
establishing a network connection between the processor of the pool cleaner and a remote device;
providing for remote monitoring of operational parameters associated with the pool cleaner from the remote device over the network connection; and
providing for remote control of the pool cleaner from the remote device over the network connection.
18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising determining by the processor whether a flow rate provided to the pool cleaner is within factory specifications.
19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising transmitting an instruction to activate the pool cleaner if the flow rate is within the factory specifications, or transmitting an error condition if the flow rate is not within factory specifications.
20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising transmitting an instruction to activate a booster pump.
21 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising determining by the processor the orientation of a valve actuator and transmitting an instruction to move the valve actuator in the correct position if the valve actuator was not in the correct position.
22 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising transmitting an instruction to the pool cleaner if the valve actuator is in the correct position and transmitting an error if the valve actuator cannot be moved to the correct position.
23 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising determining by the processor whether the pressure to the pool cleaner is sufficient; transmitting an instruction to adjust the pressure to the pool cleaner if the pressure is not sufficient; and transmitting an error if the pressure cannot be adjusted to a sufficient level.
24 . The method of claim 23 , further comprising determining by the processor whether the flow rate is sufficient; transmitting an instruction to adjust the flow rate to the pool cleaner if the flow rate is not sufficient; and transmitting an error if the flow rate cannot be adjusted to a sufficient level.
25 . The method of claim 24 , transmitting an instruction to activate the pool cleaner if the pressure and flow rate are sufficient.
26 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising determining by the processor whether circuit pressure is sufficient and transmitting an instruction to the pool cleaner to activate if the circuit pressure is sufficient and transmitting an error if the circuit pressure is not sufficient and cannot be adjusted.
27 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising determining whether the pool cleaner is submerged and transmitting an instruction to activate the pool cleaner if the pool cleaner is submerged.
28 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising determining by the processor whether a debris bag in the pool cleaner is full.
29 . The method of claim 28 , further comprising transmitting an instruction to empty the debris bag if the debris bag is full.
30 . The method of claim 28 , further comprising transmitting an instruction to the pool cleaner to swim to a skimmer in the pool or spa and purge the debris bag.
31 . The method of claim 30 , further comprising transmitting an instruction to the pool cleaner to activate if the debris bag is not full.
32 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising determining at the processor a motor speed threshold for a debris bag that is full.
33 . The method of claim 32 , further comprising determining whether the motor speed is below a threshold and transmitting a message to empty the debris bag if the motor speed is below a threshold.
34 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising determining by a processor whether line power of the pool cleaner is within a setpoint range; transmitting an instruction to the pool cleaner to activate if the line power is within the setpoint range; transmitting an error if the pool cleaner is not within the setpoint range.
35 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising determining by the processor the speed of a turbine housed within the pool cleaner.
36 . The method of claim 35 , further comprising transmitting an instruction to increase the pump output incrementally until the speed of the turbine is sufficient and transmitting an error condition if the speed of the turbine cannot be set to a sufficient speed.
37 . The method of claim 36 , further comprising transmitting an instruction to increase the flow rate incrementally until the speed of the turbine is sufficient and transmitting an error condition if the speed of the turbine cannot be set to a sufficient speed.
38 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising receiving schedule data for the operation of the pool cleaner and transmitting an instruction to activate the pool cleaner within the scheduled times for pool cleaning.
39 . The method of claim 38 , further comprising receiving operational data from an ambient light sensor and transmitting an instruction to activate the pool cleaner if it is nighttime.
40 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising determining by the processor the location of a high collection of debris and transmitting an instruction to the pool cleaner to traverse the location having a high collection of debris.
41 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising receiving input as to the location of a high collection of debris and transmitting an instruction to the pool cleaner to traverse the location having a high collection of debris.
42 . A method for remotely monitoring and controlling a pool cleaner for a pool or a spa, comprising the steps of:
assigning by a processor of the pool cleaner an Internet Protocol (IP) address to a valve actuator in fluid communication with the pool cleaner;
establishing a network connection between the processor of the valve actuator and a remote device;
providing for remote monitoring of operational parameters associated with the valve actuator from the remote device over the network connection; and
providing for remote control of the pool cleaner from the remote device by remote control of the valve actuator over the network connection.
43 . The method of claim 42 , further comprising determining by the processor whether a flow rate provided to the pool cleaner is within factory specifications.
44 . The method of claim 43 , further comprising transmitting an instruction to activate the pool cleaner if the flow rate is within the factory specifications, or transmitting an error condition if the flow rate is not within factory specifications.
45 . The method of claim 43 , further comprising transmitting an instruction to activate a booster pump.
46 . The method of claim 42 , further comprising determining by the processor the orientation of the valve actuator and transmitting an instruction to move the valve actuator in the correct position if the valve actuator was not in the correct position.
47 . The method of claim 46 , further comprising transmitting an instruction if the valve actuator is in the correct position and transmitting an error if the valve actuator cannot be moved to the correct position.
48 . The method of claim 42 , further comprising determining by the processor whether the pressure to the pool cleaner is sufficient; transmitting an instruction to adjust the pressure to the pool cleaner if the pressure is not sufficient; and transmitting an error if the pressure cannot be adjusted to a sufficient level.
49 . The method of claim 48 , further comprising determining by the processor whether the flow rate is sufficient; transmitting an instruction to adjust the flow rate to the pool cleaner if the flow rate is not sufficient; and transmitting an error if the flow rate cannot be adjusted to a sufficient level.
50 . The method of claim 49 , transmitting an instruction to activate the pool cleaner if the pressure and flow rate are sufficient.
51 . The method of claim 42 , further comprising determining by the processor whether circuit pressure is sufficient and transmitting an instruction to the pool cleaner to activate if the circuit pressure is sufficient and transmitting an error if the circuit pressure is not sufficient and cannot be adjusted.
52 . The method of claim 42 , further comprising receiving schedule data for the operation of the pool cleaner and transmitting an instruction to activate the pool cleaner within the scheduled times for pool cleaning.
53 . The method of claim 42 , further comprising receiving operational data from an ambient light sensor and transmitting an instruction to activate the pool cleaner if it is nighttime.