IP Library Granted Patent US 11,847,905
Granted Patent B2
US 11,847,905 · App. 18/050,317 · Granted Dec 19, 2023

Cloud-connected occupancy lights and status indication

Inventors: Arindam Chakraborty (Milwaukee, WI); Glen Trickle (Milwaukee, WI)
Assignee: ZURN INDUSTRIES, LLC
G08B5/36
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,847,905
App. No.
18/050,317
Granted
Dec 19, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and systems for providing an availability status associated with a facility. One system includes a visual indicator associated with a facility subsystem of the facility and a sensor configured to detect data associated with the facility subsystem. The system also includes a controller communicatively coupled to the visual indicator and the sensor. The controller is configured to receive a data from the sensor. The controller is also configured to determine a current availability status associated with the facility subsystem based on the data received from the sensor. The controller is also configured to control the visual indicator to indicate the current availability status associated with the facility subsystem.

Claims (35)

1. A facility subsystem comprising:

a fixture;

a sensor configured to detect operational data comprising an operational status of the fixture; and

a controller communicatively coupled the sensor, the controller configured to:

receive the operational data from the sensor,

determine an availability status for the facility subsystem based on the operational data, wherein the current availability status is determined as unavailable when the operational status of the fixture indicates a malfunction, and

provide a first control signal to a visual indicator to indicate the current availability status,

receive an assigned availability status from a remote device, and

provide a second control signal to the visual indicator to indicate the assigned availability status and override the current availability status.

2. The facility subsystem of claim 1 , wherein the operational data comprising an occupancy status of the facility subsystem.

3. The facility subsystem of claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to:

transmit the current availability status to a remote device.

4. The facility subsystem of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a thermal sensor.

5. The facility subsystem of claim 1 , wherein the visual indicator is configured to:

display a first color when the current availability status is unavailable and a second color when the current availability status is available, wherein the first color is different from the second color.

6. The facility subsystem of claim 1 , wherein the facility subsystem is a restroom stall.

7. The facility subsystem of claim 1 , wherein the fixture is a toilet positioned within the facility subsystem.

8. The facility subsystem of claim 1 , wherein the fixture is a resource dispenser positioned within the facility subsystem.

9. The facility subsystem of claim 1 , wherein the malfunction indicates a run-on condition associated with the fixture.

10. A method for providing an availability status associated with a facility subsystem, the method comprising:

receiving, from a sensor, operational data comprising an operational status of a fixture associated with a facility subsystem;

determining a current availability status for the facility subsystem based on the operational data, wherein the current availability status is determined as unavailable when the operational status of the fixture indicates a malfunction, and

providing a first control signal to a visual indicator to indicate the current availability status,

receiving an assigned availability status from a remote device, and

providing a second control signal to the visual indicator to indicate the assigned availability status and override the current availability status.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the operational data comprising an occupancy status of the facility subsystem.

12. The method of claim 11 , comprising:

transmitting the current availability status to a remote device.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the sensor is a thermal sensor.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the visual indicator is configured to:

display a first color when the current availability status is unavailable and a second color when the current availability status is available, wherein the first color is different from the second color.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the facility subsystem is a restroom stall.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the fixture is a toilet positioned within the facility subsystem.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the fixture is a resource dispenser positioned within the facility subsystem.

18. The method of claim 10 , wherein the malfunction indicates a run-on condition associated with the fixture.

Assignments (5)
CONVERSION Recorded Jan 16, 2024
From: ZURN INDUSTRIES, LLC
To: ZURN INDUSTRIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 066336/0603 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 16, 2024
From: ZURN INDUSTRIES, LLC
To: ZURN WATER, LLC
Reel/Frame 066337/0918 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 18, 2023
From: ZURN WATER, LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 066293/0879 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 1, 2022
From: CHAKRABORTY, ARINDAM; TRICKLE, GLEN
To: ZURN INDUSTRIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 061611/0560 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 1, 2022
From: CHAKRABORTY, ARINDAM; TRICKLE, GLEN
To: ZURN INDUSTRIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 061611/0591 →