Device, system, and method for wirelessly controlling an array of beach umbrellas
View Patent ↗An array of wirelessly controllable umbrellas includes at least two umbrellas with receivers and with motors operable to open and close the umbrellas. The receivers are operable to wirelessly receive a code and communicate with the motors to open or close the umbrellas based on an authentication of the code being an authorized code and to deny operation of the umbrella based on receipt of an unauthorized code.
1. An array of wirelessly controllable umbrellas, the array comprising:
a wireless transmitter;
a plurality of umbrellas, each umbrella having:
a pole engagement member shaped and sized to couple to a distal end of an umbrella pole;
an umbrella cord length control unit supported by the pole engagement member and operable to alter a length of an umbrella cord to open and close the umbrella;
a wireless receiver operable to receive wireless signals transmitted by the wireless transmitter and cause the umbrella cord length control unit to alter the length of the umbrella cord upon wirelessly receiving an instruction to do so;
a power source electrically coupled to and operable to supply power to the umbrella cord length control unit; and
a solar energy collection panel electrically coupled to and operable to supply power to the power source; and
a first decoder coupled to a first umbrella in the plurality of umbrellas, the first decoder communicatively coupled to the umbrella cord length control unit of the first umbrella in the plurality of umbrellas and operable to prevent the umbrella cord length control unit of the first umbrella in the plurality of umbrellas from shortening the length of the umbrella cord unless a first predesignated code is received by the wireless receiver of the first umbrella in the plurality of umbrellas;
a second decoder coupled to a second umbrella in the plurality of umbrellas, the second decoder communicatively coupled to the umbrella cord length control unit of the second umbrella in the plurality of umbrellas and operable to prevent the umbrella cord length control unit of the second umbrella in the plurality of umbrellas from shortening the length of the umbrella cord unless a second predesignated code, that is different from the first predesignated code, is received by the wireless receiver of the second umbrella in the plurality of umbrellas; and
a wireless repeater operable to transmit to other umbrellas within the array of umbrellas a copy of a signal received by the wireless receiver.
2. The array of wirelessly controllable umbrellas according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a transmitter coupled to the first umbrella in the plurality of umbrellas and operable to report at least one condition, including at least an open status of the umbrella.
3. The array of wirelessly controllable umbrellas according to claim 1 , wherein:
the wireless transmitter is communicatively coupled to the internet and transmits signals initiated over the internet.
4. The array of wirelessly controllable umbrellas according to claim 1 , wherein:
the wireless repeater is operable to facilitate an internet connection for one or more wireless communication devices proximate to the array of umbrellas.
5. The array of wirelessly controllable umbrellas according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a wind turbine electrically coupled to and operable to supply power to the power source.
6. The array of wirelessly controllable umbrellas according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a camera coupled to at least one of the plurality of umbrellas;
a processor coupled to the camera and operable determine a match between an image captured by the camera and a pre-stored image of a person.
7. The array of wirelessly controllable umbrellas according to claim 6 , wherein:
the processor is operable to cause the umbrella cord length control unit that is coupled to the at least one of the plurality of umbrellas to alter the length of the umbrella cord when a match between the image captured by the camera and the pre-stored image of the person is detected.
8. The array of wirelessly controllable umbrellas according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a wind detector operable sense wind gusts and cause the umbrella cord length control unit that is coupled to the at least one of the plurality of umbrellas to alter the length of the umbrella cord when a wind gust above a predetermined level is detected.
9. A method of activating an umbrella within an array of wirelessly controllable umbrellas, the method comprising:
providing:
a plurality of umbrellas, each umbrella having:
a pole engagement member shaped and sized to couple to a distal end of an umbrella pole;
an umbrella cord length control unit supported by the pole engagement member and operable to alter a length of an umbrella cord to open and close the umbrella;
a wireless receiver operable to receive wireless signals transmitted by the wireless transmitter and cause the umbrella cord length control unit to alter the length of the umbrella cord upon wirelessly receiving an instruction to do so;
a decoder coupled to the umbrella cord length control unit and operable to prevent the umbrella cord length control unit from shortening the length of the umbrella cord;
a power source electrically coupled to and operable to supply power to the umbrella cord length control unit; and
a solar energy collection panel electrically coupled to and operable to supply power to the power source; and
a wireless transmitter; and
transmitting via the wireless transmitter a first code that is received by the wireless receiver of a first umbrella in the plurality of umbrellas;
decoding by the decoder of the first umbrella in the plurality of umbrellas the first code;
causing the first umbrella in the plurality of umbrellas to open;
transmitting via the wireless transmitter a second code that is different from the first code and is received by the wireless receiver of a second umbrella in the plurality of umbrellas;
decoding by the decoder of the second umbrella in the plurality of umbrellas the second code; and
causing the second umbrella in the plurality of umbrellas to open.
10. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising the steps of:
reporting, with a first transmitter coupled to the first umbrella in the plurality of umbrellas, at least one condition of the first umbrella, including at least an open status of the first umbrella; and
reporting, with a second transmitter coupled to the second umbrella in the plurality of umbrellas, at least one condition of the second umbrella, including at least an open status of the second umbrella.
11. The method according to claim 9 , wherein:
the wireless transmitter is communicatively coupled to the internet and transmits signals initiated over the internet.
12. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising the step of:
transmitting, by a first umbrella within the plurality of umbrellas, a copy of the wireless signals transmitted by the wireless transmitter to at least a second umbrella within the plurality of umbrellas.
13. The method according to claim 12 , further comprising the steps of:
providing a wireless repeater coupled to at least one umbrella in the array of umbrellas; and
facilitating, through the at least one wireless repeater, an internet connection for one or more wireless communication devices proximate to the array of umbrellas.
14. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising the step of:
coupling a wind turbine to at least one umbrella in the array of umbrellas, the wind turbine operable to supply power to the power source.
15. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising the step of:
providing a camera coupled to at least one of the plurality of umbrellas;
providing a processor coupled to the camera; and
determining with the processor a match between an image captured by the camera and a pre-stored image of a person.
16. The method according to claim 15 , further comprising:
causing the umbrella cord length control unit that is coupled to the at least one of the plurality of umbrellas to alter the length of the umbrella cord after the determining step.
17. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising:
detecting, with a wind detector, wind gusts that exceed a predetermined threshold level; and
causing the umbrella cord length control unit that is coupled to the at least one of the plurality of umbrellas to alter the length of the umbrella cord.
18. An umbrella control system, comprising:
a plurality of multifunctional end-node beach umbrellas, each one of the plurality of multifunctional end-node beach umbrellas including:
a pole engagement member at a distal end of an umbrella pole and an umbrella cord length control unit supported by the pole engagement member that controls a length of an umbrella cord to open and close the umbrella;
a wireless transceiver operable to transmit and receive wireless signals, and which is operably coupled to the umbrella cord length control unit, wherein the umbrella cord length control unit is responsive to a first code received by the wireless transceiver that is intended for the one of the plurality of multifunctional end-node beach umbrellas to change a length of the umbrella cord, and wherein the wireless transceiver is configured, upon receiving a second code intended for a different one of the multifunctional end-node beach umbrellas to retransmit the second code to another one of the plurality of multifunctional end-node beach umbrellas; and
a hub configured to transmit the first and second codes to at least one of the plurality of multifunctional end-node beach umbrellas.
19. The umbrella control system of claim 18 , further comprising:
wherein each one of the plurality of multifunctional end-node beach umbrellas is operable to report a condition of the one of the plurality of multifunctional end-node beach umbrellas to one of the hub and another one of the plurality of multifunctional end-node beach umbrellas.
20. An array of wirelessly controllable umbrellas, the array comprising:
a wireless transmitter;
a plurality of umbrellas, each umbrella having:
a pole engagement member shaped and sized to couple to a distal end of an umbrella pole;
an umbrella cord length control unit supported by the pole engagement member and operable to alter a length of an umbrella cord to open and close the umbrella;
a wireless receiver operable to receive wireless signals transmitted by the wireless transmitter and cause the umbrella cord length control unit to alter the length of the umbrella cord upon wirelessly receiving an instruction to do so;
a power source electrically coupled to and operable to supply power to the umbrella cord length control unit; and
a solar energy collection panel electrically coupled to and operable to supply power to the power source; and
a first decoder coupled to a first umbrella in the plurality of umbrellas, the first decoder communicatively coupled to the umbrella cord length control unit of the first umbrella in the plurality of umbrellas and operable to prevent the umbrella cord length control unit of the first umbrella in the plurality of umbrellas from shortening the length of the umbrella cord unless a first predesignated code is received by the wireless receiver of the first umbrella in the plurality of umbrellas;
a second decoder coupled to a second umbrella in the plurality of umbrellas, the second decoder communicatively coupled to the umbrella cord length control unit of the second umbrella in the plurality of umbrellas and operable to prevent the umbrella cord length control unit of the second umbrella in the plurality of umbrellas from shortening the length of the umbrella cord unless a second predesignated code, that is different from the first predesignated code, is received by the wireless receiver of the second umbrella in the plurality of umbrellas;
a camera coupled to at least one of the plurality of umbrellas; and
a processor coupled to the camera and operable determine a match between an image captured by the camera and a pre-stored image of a person.