Abstract:
Described are systems and methods for controlling pool and spa equipment. A device may communicate wirelessly with pool and spa controls directly (point-to-point) as well as indirectly, either via the Internet or as part of a local area network (LAN). The device may be a smart phone, tablet, or other appropriate apparatus.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 62/011,913, filed Jun. 13, 2014, and having the same title as appears above, the entire contents of which application are incorporated herein by this reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to systems, methods, equipment, and techniques for controlling one or more components of a recreational water circulation system or modifying one or more characteristics of the water contained within a vessel such as a pool or spa. The invention relates more particularly to special-purpose controllers which may function without need to receive instructions from any master controller. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Commonly-owned U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0064139 of McQueen, et al. (the “McQueen Application”), whose contents are incorporated herein in their entirety by this reference, illustrates and discloses various manners of controlling pool and spa equipment, for example. Mobile devices such as (but not limited to) conventional smart phones may communicate with equipment used to control pool and spa equipment. This communication occurs via the Internet and thus requires access thereto. 
         [0004]    Additionally, applicants believe a system may exist in which a mobile device communicates with a network router, which in turn communicates with equipment used to control pool and spa equipment. Applicants do not concede that such a system, if it exists, qualities as prior art in the United States or elsewhere. Nevertheless, communication according to any such system would require access to a network router, which might not be present in every home or other facility or, even if present, might be password-protected or not functioning when needed. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    Unavailable is any system in which a device may communicate wirelessly with pool and spa control equipment both (1) via the Internet (or router as part of a local area network [LAN]) and (2) directly (i.e. point-to-point). Likewise unavailable is any system in which a mobile device, such as a smart phone, may utilize locally-implemented software (i.e. an “app”) to communicate either via the Internet or other network or directly with pool and spa control equipment. Further, if the control equipment is sufficiently capable, it may avoid any need for a master controller in the system. 
         [0006]    The present invention provides all of these features currently unavailable. At least certain embodiments of the invention provide special-purpose, stand-alone controls not requiring communication with a master instructional device. The controls need not necessarily be special-purpose or stand-alone, however. Nevertheless, if they are, separate controllers may be used for each of a heating device, variable-speed pump, automatic pool cleaner, etc. 
         [0007]    It thus is an optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide a controller of pool or spa equipment which is configured to communicate directly (i.e. point-to-point) with a user device. 
         [0008]    It also is an optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide a controller of pool or spa equipment configured to communicate with a user device both directly and indirectly via a LAN or the Internet. 
         [0009]    It is another optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide a controller of pool or spa equipment in which at least some communication between it and a user device is wireless. 
         [0010]    It is a further optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide a controller of pool or spa equipment which communicates with a user device that is mobile. 
         [0011]    It is an additional optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide a controller of pool or spa equipment configured to communicate with a user device (1) directly, (2) indirectly via (at least) a router, and (3) indirectly via the internet without necessarily communicating with a router. 
         [0012]    Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art with reference to the remaining text and the drawing of this application. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a schematic representation of a system including aspects of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0014]    Illustrated in  FIG. 1  is a schematic of an exemplary system  10  consistent . with the invention. System  10  may include device  14 , controller  18 , router  20 , and equipment  22 . Preferably, device  14  is a hand-held smart phone, tablet, or other mobile device capable of transmitting and receiving information wirelessly, accessing the Internet (WWW), and executing software programs known as “apps.” Device  14  need not necessarily be a hand-held or mobile device, however. 
         [0015]    Controller  18  preferably includes functionality similar to the controllers of the McQueen Application. At minimum, controller  18  should be able to transmit and receive information wirelessly, access the Internet (WWW) at least via router  20 , and control equipment  22  electronically. Controller  18  may communicate with equipment  22  either via wire (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) or wirelessly; if equipment  22  is capable of sending information back to controller  18  (i.e. providing feedback), controller  18  may be configured to receive the feedback. Advantageously (but not necessarily), controller  18  is weatherproof and otherwise configured for outdoor use. 
         [0016]    Depicted in  FIG. 1  as equipment  22  may be a pump whose motor includes an electronic drive. Equipment  22  need not be a pump, however, Instead, as noted above, equipment  22  may be or include other components such as (but not limited to) heaters, pool cleaners, pool sanitizers, etc., capable of implementing instructions from a controller  18 . Preferably, though, equipment  22  is configured for water of a pool or spa to flow through or by it. 
         [0017]    Hence, a user of device H may communicate with controller  18  to control equipment  22  either via the Internet (using communications paths W 1 , W 4 , and W 5 ) or directly (using communications path W 3 ). Alternatively, device  14  may communicate directly with router  20  (using communications path W 6 ) and thence with controller  18  (via path W 5 ), Communication via the Internet may be especially advantageous when the user of device  14  is remote from equipment  22 . By contrast, bypassing the Internet may be beneficial when the user of device  14  cannot access the Internet or a nearby router  20 . 
         [0018]    As an example, a pool servicing technician may desire to control equipment  22  on-site temporarily for troubleshooting purposes or to ensure a hardware or software correction has been implemented correctly. Even if the technician is unable to access the Internet or router  20 , he or she may use a properly-credentialed device  14  to bypass communications paths W 1 , W 4 , and W 5  and communicate directly with controller  18  via path W 3 . Further, this direct communication may occur without resetting controller  18 , so the controller  18  may continue to recognize appropriate Internet-based communications occurring via paths W 4  and W 5 . Indeed, subject to implementation of appropriate rules should it receive conflicting information, controller  18  may communicate via paths W 4  and W 5 , paths W 6  and W 5 , and path W 3  (and with more than one properly-credentialed device  14 ) simultaneously if desired. 
         [0019]    In at least some versions of the invention, controller  18  may include a (real or virtual) pushbutton switch or other means allowing a user to select among its communications paths W 3  or W 5 . Controller  18  also beneficially may utilize the RS-485 protocol in communicating with equipment  22 . The equipment  22  optionally may include dual in-line package (DIP) switches that may be set for this purpose. 
         [0020]    The foregoing is provided for purposes of illustrating, explaining, and describing embodiments of the present invention. Modifications and adaptations to these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. As one (non-limiting) example of such a modification, controller  18  could be configured to connect directly to the Internet (see path W 2 ) rather than via router  20 .