Patent Publication Number: US-11645808-B2

Title: Visualizer for swimming pools

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/139,822, filed on Dec. 31, 2020, now allowed, which claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/956,256, filed Jan. 1, 2020, the entirety of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to swimming pools. More specifically, but not by way of limitation, this disclosure relates to a visualizer for swimming pools. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Customers generally take into account a variety of considerations when choosing a swimming pool (or “pool”) for their property. For example, customers often consider the pool&#39;s size, shape, material, and spatial positioning on the property. Customers may also take into account aesthetic considerations, such as the pool&#39;s liner pattern and color. Typically, pool manufacturers provide product catalogues that describe their pool products to aid the customer with these considerations. But visualizing what a pool will look like on the property of the customer still requires a great deal of imagination on the part of the customer. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS.  1 - 6    are screenshots of an example of a pool visualization application according to some aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  7    is a block diagram of an example of a computing device for providing a visualizer for swimming pools according to some aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  8    is a flow chart of an example of a process for providing a visualizer for swimming pools according to some aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  9    is a screenshot of an example of a pool visualization application according to some aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  10    is a block diagram of an example of a system for implementing a pool visualization application according to some aspects of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Certain aspects and features of the present disclosure relate to visualizing a swimming pool on a property using a pool visualization application. In one particular example, a user may wish to install a swimming pool (or “pool”) on his property, such as in his backyard or inside his home. To help visualize what the pool would look like, the user can execute a pool visualization application. The pool visualization application can walk the user through a series of steps, during which the user can select various visual characteristics associated with the pool. Examples of the visual characteristics can include a shape, liner, background setting, material, and orientation for the pool. The pool visualization application can then display a three-dimensional (3D) rendering of a virtual swimming pool, where the 3D rendering has the selected visual characteristics. This can aid the user with visualizing what the pool would look like, so that the user can more easily select an appropriate pool. 
     In some examples, the pool visualization application can be a website-based application. In some such examples, the virtual swimming pool can be generated within a website displayed in a website browser. At least some of the program code for the pool visualization application can be included in a plugin (e.g., a WordPress plugin), which can be executed by a server hosting the website or a client device accessing the website. In other examples, the pool visualization application can be a mobile application, such as a native application for iPhones® or Android® devices. A user can download the mobile application to a mobile device and execute the mobile application thereon. 
     These illustrative examples are given to introduce the reader to the general subject matter discussed here and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosed concepts. The following sections describe various additional features and examples with reference to the drawings in which like numerals indicate like elements but, like the illustrative examples, should not be used to limit the present disclosure. 
       FIG.  1    is a screenshot of an example of a pool visualization application according to some aspects of the present disclosure. In this example, the pool visualization application is configured to generate a graphical user interface (GUI) with one or more pages that enable a user to select one or more visual characteristics associated with a virtual swimming pool. The pool visualization application can then display a rendering of the virtual swimming pool, where the rendering has the selected visual characteristic(s). 
     The screenshot of  FIG.  1    depicts one exemplary GUI page of the pool visualization application. This GUI page includes a group of background settings  102   a - c  for a virtual swimming pool. In this example, the group of background settings  102   a - c  includes different types of homes, such as a modern ranch home, a traditional colonial home, and a contemporary estate. But other examples can include more, fewer, or different types of background settings. A user can select a particular background setting from among the group of background settings  102   a - c  to move on to a second GUI page. 
     One example of the second GUI page is depicted in  FIG.  2   . This GUI page includes a group of shapes  202   a - c  for the virtual swimming pool. In this example, the group of shapes  202   a - c  includes a rectangle shape  202   a , an L shape  202   b , or a freeform shape  202   c . But other examples can include more, fewer, or different types of shapes. A user can select a particular shape from among the group of shapes  202   a - c  and the pool visualization application will responsively update a visualization frame  204  to depict a virtual swimming pool having the particular shape within the context of the selected background setting. Once satisfied, the user can select the “continue” button to move on to a third GUI page. 
     One example of the third GUI page is depicted in  FIG.  3   . This GUI page includes a group of liner options  302  for the virtual swimming pool. Each liner option can have a unique color palette, pattern, or both. The liner options depicted in  FIG.  3    are not intended to be limiting, and other examples may have more, fewer, or different liner options. While the liner options are not listed in any particular order in  FIG.  3   , other examples can have liner options organized by color palette, pattern, pool water color, etc., and the user may be able to filter through the liner options based on those criteria. 
     A user can select a particular liner from among the liner options  302  and the pool visualization application will responsively update a visualization frame  304  (e.g., in real time) to depict at least a portion of a virtual swimming pool having the particular liner. The user can also select whether view the particular liner with or without the tiling (e.g., faux tiling) near the water&#39;s edge. For example, the user can select a tiling button to view the liner with the tiling, or deselect the tiling button to view the liner without the tiling. Once satisfied, the user can select the “SEE MY POOL!” button to move on to a fourth GUI page. 
     One example of the fourth GUI page is depicted in  FIG.  4   . This GUI page includes depicts the virtual swimming pool  402  in a visualization frame  404 . The virtual swimming pool  402  has the selected shape and liner. The virtual swimming pool  402  is also depicted within the context of the selected background setting (e.g., in a virtual scene having the selected background setting). This can help a user visualize what a swimming pool having the selected visual characteristics may look like. 
     To get a better sense of what the swimming pool might look like from other angles, the pool visualization application can enable the user to select among a group of viewing angle options  406   a - d . Each of the viewing angle options  406   a - d  depicts the virtual swimming pool  402  from a different perspective (e.g., within the selected background setting). One example of viewing angle option  406   a  is depicted in  FIG.  5   , which shows the virtual swimming pool  402  from the perspective of a person positioned in the water and looking toward a home in the selected background setting. And one example of viewing angle option  406   b  is depicted in  FIG.  9   , which shows a close-up view of the virtual swimming pool  402  near its entryway, to enable a user to more closely inspect how the selected liner might look on the entry stairs of a swimming pool.  FIG.  9    also includes hotspots, each of which is designated by a cross-hatched circle (but any other suitable visual indicator can alternatively be used). A hotspot is a location with which a user can interact to obtain more information about a corresponding feature of the virtual swimming pool  402 . In the example shown in  FIG.  9   , the user has hovered a cursor over one of the hotspots and the pool visualization application has responsively generated an information box providing more details (“High-quality faux tiling provides elegance and sophistication”) about a faux tiling feature corresponding to the hotspot. Although only  FIG.  9    depicts hotspots, any of the viewing angle options  406   a - d  can include one or more hotspots. Returning to  FIG.  4   , viewing angle option  406   c  depicts the virtual swimming pool  402  from the perspective of a person positioned in the water and looking in a direction that is opposite to the home in the selected background setting. And viewing angle option  406   d  is the perspective currently shown in the visualization frame  404  of  FIG.  4   . But other examples may have more, fewer, or different viewing angle options  406   a - d . A user can select a particular viewing angle from among the group of viewing angle options  406   a - d  and the pool visualization application will responsively update the visualization frame  404  (e.g., in real time) to depict the virtual swimming pool from the selected viewing angle. 
     In some examples, the fourth GUI page may also include a mode selector  414  that enables a user to activate a day mode or a night mode. In day mode, the pool visualization application depicts the virtual swimming pool  402  at a selected viewing angle during the day time (e.g., with blue skies and sunshine). In night mode, the pool visualization application depicts the virtual swimming pool  402  at the selected viewing angle at night time. Switching between these modes can allow the user to view the virtual swimming pool  402  at different times of day, which can help in the decision-making process. In some examples, the pool visualization application can switch between the modes by accessing a group of pool images (e.g., generated beforehand), where the group of pool images can depict the virtual swimming pool at each viewing angle both during the day and at night. The pool visualization application can then obtain and render the appropriate pool image based on the selected viewing angle and the selected mode. 
     Some liners can alter the overall color hue of a swimming pool. For example, an installed liner may have properties that interact with the water and sunlight to generate an overall color hue that is perceptibly different from the color of the liner itself. In some examples, the pool visualization application can replicate this phenomenon to provide the user with a more realistic sense of what a swimming pool with the selected liner may look like in the real world. For example, the pool visualization application can determine a color hue for the virtual swimming pool based on water properties such as a depth property, a refraction property, and a reflection property; liner properties such as a color property, a material property, and a pattern property; sun properties such as a position property and a strength property; or any combination of these. The pool visualization application may receive values for some or all of these properties as user input (e.g., through the GUI). Additionally or alternatively, the pool visualization application can have default values for some or all of these properties. For example, the pool visualization application may be preprogrammed with default values for the water depth, refraction, and reflection properties. The pool visualization application may also be preprogrammed with default values for the sun properties. For example, the pool visualization may be preprogrammed with a first set of sun-property values for use in the day mode, whereby the sun is positioned at a first theoretical location in the sky and has a first theoretical strength. The pool visualization may also be preprogrammed with a second set of sun-property values for use in the night mode, whereby the sun is positioned at a second theoretical location in the sky and has a second theoretical strength. The pool visualization application can also have access to a database that correlates each liner option to its respective liner properties. The pool visualization application can access the database to determine the liner properties for the selected liner. After the values for the various properties have been determined, the pool visualization application can determine the color hue for the virtual swimming pool based on the property values, for example by using an algorithm. The pool visualization application can then render the virtual swimming pool with the determined color hue. 
     The fourth GUI page can also include other GUI objects, such as the menu button  408 . The menu button  408  can enable the user to modify the background setting, shape, and liner associated with the virtual swimming pool. For example, the pool visualization application can respond to a user interaction with the menu button  408  by presenting a menu having a first menu option through which a user can change the background setting for the virtual swimming pool  402 , a second menu option through which the user can change the shape of the virtual swimming pool  402 , and a third menu option through which the user can change the liner for the virtual swimming pool  402  (or choose whether the liner should be depicted with or without the tiling near the water&#39;s edge). 
     In some examples, the menu button  408  can also enable the user to find a supplier of pool products with the visual characteristics of the virtual swimming pool  402 . For example, the pool visualization application can detect a user interaction with a menu option for finding a dealer and responsively filter through a list of swimming pool suppliers to identify a group of suppliers that sell pool products with the selected visual characteristics of the virtual swimming pool  402 . The pool visualization application can then filter through the group of suppliers based on their proximity to the user (e.g., based on an address or zip code input by the user, or based on a GPS location of the handheld device  100 ) to identify to a subset of suppliers within a predefined distance of the user. Of course, other examples can perform this filtering process in the opposite order—e.g., by first filtering by proximity and then filtering by product selection. Either way, the pool visualization application can identify appropriate suppliers and output the identified suppliers to the user. 
     In some examples, the fourth GUI page can also include an expand button  410 , which is selectable by a user to enlarge the visualization frame  404  (e.g., to full screen) depicting the virtual swimming pool  402 . This may help the user more easily see some of the finer details in the rendering of the virtual swimming pool  402 . 
     The fourth GUI page can additionally or alternatively include a change liner button  412 , through which the user can change the liner for the virtual swimming pool  402 . This can serve as an alternative way in which the user can change the liner, which may be easier and faster than having to go through the menu associated with menu button  408 . For example, the pool visualization application can detect a user interaction with the change liner button  412  and responsively present an image carousel with a variety of liner options. An example of such an image carousel  602  is shown in  FIG.  6   . The user can cycle through the various liner options  604  in the image carousel  602  and select a desired liner. The pool visualization application can receive the selected liner and responsively update the virtual swimming pool  402  in the visualization frame  404  to depict the selected liner. The user may also be able to interact with a tiling button to select whether the liner should be depicted with or without the tiling near the water&#39;s edge. 
     In some examples, the fourth GUI page can include a pool cover selector through which a user can select a pool cover for the virtual swimming pool  402 . For example, the user can interact with the pool cover selector and the pool visualization application can responsively output a group of pool cover options having varying sizes, shapes, textures, patterns, and colors. In some examples, the pool visualization application can select the group of pool cover options to present to the user based on one or more characteristics (e.g., the size and shape) of the virtual swimming pool, so that the pool cover options conform to those characteristics. A user can select a particular pool cover from among the group of pool cover options and the pool visualization application can responsively update the visualization frame  404  to depict the selected pool cover on the virtual swimming pool  402 . This can enable a user to view what the swimming pool would look like when covered, e.g., during winter months. 
     While  FIGS.  1 - 6    depict a sequence of GUI pages in a particular order having particular GUI objects, these examples are not intended to be limiting. Other examples can involve more, fewer, different, or a different arrangement of GUI pages and GUI objects. 
     As alluded to above, the GUI can be output on a computing device at least in part by executing the pool visualization application. One example of such a computing device  700  is shown in  FIG.  7   . In some examples, the computing device  700  can be a server, a mobile device (e.g., a mobile phone, tablet, or laptop computer), or a desktop computer. 
     The computing device  700  includes a processor  702  communicatively coupled to a memory  704  by a bus  706 . The processor  702  can include one processor or multiple processors. Non-limiting examples of the processor  702  include a Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a microprocessor, etc. The processor  702  can execute instructions  708  stored in the memory  704  to perform operations. In some examples, the instructions  708  can include processor-specific instructions generated by a compiler or an interpreter from code written in any suitable computer-programming language, such as C, C++, C#, etc. 
     The memory  704  can include one memory device or multiple memory devices. The memory  704  can be non-volatile and may include any type of memory device that retains stored information when powered off. Non-limiting examples of the memory  704  include electrically erasable and programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory, or any other type of non-volatile memory. At least some of the memory device includes a non-transitory computer-readable medium from which the processor  702  can read instructions  708 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium can include electronic, optical, magnetic, or other storage devices capable of providing the processor  702  with the instructions  708  or other program code. Non-limiting examples of a non-transitory computer-readable medium include magnetic disk(s), memory chip(s), ROM, random-access memory (RAM), an ASIC, a configured processor, optical storage, or any other medium from which a computer processor can read the instructions  708 . 
     The instructions  708  can include a pool visualization application  718 . The pool visualization application  718  may be executable by the processor  702  for causing the processor  702  to perform any of the functionality described herein. The pool visualization application  718  may also be executable by the processor  702  to perform more functionality, less functionality, or different functionality than described herein. 
     The computing device  700  also includes input components. One example of an input component is the user input device  710 , which may include one user input device or multiple user input devices. Examples of such user input devices can include a mouse, a keyboard, a touchpad, and a touch-screen. Another example of an input component is the sensor  712 , which may include one sensor or multiple sensors. Examples of such sensors can include a global positioning system (GPS) unit, a gyroscope, an accelerometer, an inclinometer, and a camera. 
     The computing device  700  further includes output components. One example of an output component is the display device  714 , which may include a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a light-emitting diode (LED) display. The computing device  700  may also include audio output components, like a speaker, and haptic output components, like a haptic actuator. But for simplicity, the audio and haptic output components are not shown in  FIG.  7   . 
     While  FIG.  7    depicts the components (e.g., processor  702 , display device  714 , sensor  712 , etc.) internal to a single housing, in other examples the components may be distributed and in wired or wireless communication with one another. Additionally, although  FIG.  7    depicts a certain number and arrangement of components, this is for illustrative purposes and not intended to be limiting. Other examples can include more components, fewer components, different components, or a different arrangement of the components shown in  FIG.  7   . 
       FIG.  8    is a flow chart of an example of a process for providing a visualizer for swimming pools according to some aspects of the present disclosure. While  FIG.  8    depicts a certain sequence of steps for illustrative purposes, other examples can involve more steps, fewer steps, different steps, or a different order of the steps depicted in  FIG.  8   . The steps of  FIG.  8    are described below with reference to components of  FIG.  7    described above. 
     In block  802 , a processor  702  receives a user selection of one or more visual characteristics associated with a virtual swimming pool. Examples of the visual characteristics can include a background setting, a liner, a shape, a viewing angle, an orientation, a material, or any combination of these. For example, the processor  702  can output thumbnail images of a plurality of liner options in a GUI on a display device  714 . The processor  702  can then detect a user selection of a thumbnail image corresponding to a particular liner among the plurality of liner options. 
     In block  804 , the processor  702  generates a virtual swimming pool based on the one or more visual characteristics selected by the user. The virtual swimming pool is a three-dimensional (3D) rendering of a swimming pool. The processor  702  can generate the virtual swimming pool using any number of combination of techniques. Two example techniques are described below. 
     One exemplary technique can involve the processor  702  identifying a particular pool image from among a group of pool images based on the one or more visual characteristics selected by the user. For example, a group of pool images may have been generated beforehand using a 3D rendering tool, such as V-Ray. Each of the pool images can have a unique combination of visual characteristics, such as a unique combination of a background setting, a liner, a viewing angle, a pool shape, or any combination of these. For instance, if there are 3 options for background settings, 4 viewing angle options for each background setting, 20 liner options, and 3 options for pool shape, then there may be 3×4×20×3=720 total images in the group, to cover every possible combination of these options. The processor  702  can determine which particular pool image has the one or more visual characteristics selected by the user, access a repository in which the group of pool images are stored, and retrieve the particular pool image from the repository. The processor  702  can then generate the virtual swimming pool using the particular pool image. 
     Another exemplary technique can involve the processor  702  using a layered approach, in which the processor  702  can generate the virtual swimming pool by overlaying images on top of one another. For example, the processor  702  can identify a background image having the background setting and viewing angle selected by the user, access a repository of background images, and retrieve the identified background image. The processor  702  can also identify a pool image having the shape and viewing angle selected by the user, access a repository of pool images, and retrieve the identified pool image. The processor  702  can further identify a liner image having the liner and viewing angle selected by the user, access a repository of liner images, and retrieve the identified liner image. The background, pool, and liner repositories can be a single repository or different repositories. The processor  702  can then overlay the pool image overtop of the background image, and overlay the liner image overtop of the pool image. This can yield a virtual scene with a virtual swimming pool, whereby the virtual scene and virtual swimming pool have the one or more visual characteristics selected by the user. This technique may require the generation of significantly fewer images upfront than the first technique discussed above. For example, if there are 3 options for background settings, 4 viewing angle options for each background setting, 20 liner options, and 3 options for pool shape, then there may only need to be (3×4)+(20×4)+(3×4)=104 total images to cover every possible combination of these options. 
     In some examples, the second technique discussed above may also result in faster updating than the first technique discussed above. For example, after the virtual swimming pool is initially displayed, the user may decide that he does not like a visual characteristic that he has previously selected. So, the user may provide user input to modify (e.g., update) a visual characteristic associated with the virtual swimming pool, such as the liner. The processor  702  can receive the user input and responsively modify the visual characteristic by changing one of the image layers (e.g., by switching the liner image for another liner image) rather than the entire image, which can be significantly faster than updating an entire image. 
     In block  806 , the processor  702  outputs the virtual swimming pool for display on a display device, such as on display device  714 . Outputting the virtual swimming pool for display can involve transmitting one or more electronic communications (e.g., over the Internet) configured for causing the virtual swimming pool to be displayed on the display device. For example, the processor  702  can be part of a server in communication with a client device. The server can transmit one or more electronic communications over the Internet to the client device. The one or more electronic communications can be configured for causing the virtual swimming pool to be displayed on a display device of the client device. As another example, the processor  702  can generate and transmit one or more display signals to the display  714  for causing the display to output the virtual swimming pool. 
       FIG.  10    is a block diagram of an example of a system  1000  for implementing a pool visualization application according to some aspects of the present disclosure. The system  1000  includes a server  1002  that may include some or all of the components discussed above with respect to  FIG.  7   , such as the processor  702  and the memory  704 . The server  1002  is in communication with a client device  1004  via a network  1020 , such as the Internet. Examples of the client device  1004  can include a desktop computer or a mobile device, such as a laptop computer, a tablet, or mobile phone. The server  1002  can include at least part of a pool visualization application, such as pool visualization application  718 , for implementing some aspects described herein. 
     In some examples, the pool visualization application can include client-side code  1006  and server-side code  1008  that can work together in a client-server architecture to implement some or all of the functionality described herein. The client-side code  1006  can be program code configured to be delivered to and run by the client device  1004 . Examples of the program code can include hypertext markup language (HTML) code, Javascript code, JQuery code, Cascading Style Sheet (CSS) code, C++code, Java code, Objective-C code, Python code, or any combination of these. In the example of  FIG.  10   , the client-side code  1006  is transmitted to the client device  1004  as part of a webpage  1014 . The client-side code  1004  is run (e.g., executed or interpreted) by a website browser  1010  of the client device  1004  for rendering the webpage  1014  with an interactive GUI  1018  for visualizing a swimming pool on a property. An example of such a GUI  10818  is the GUI described above with reference to  FIGS.  1 - 6   . But in other examples, the client-side code  1006  may be a standalone software application configured to execute outside the context of a website browser  1010 . Any suitable implementation of client-side code  1006  may be used to generate an interactive GUI  1018  for implementing some or all of the functionality described herein. 
     The server-side code  1008  can include program code configured to be run by the server  1002 . Examples of the program code can include PHP code, Python code, C++ code, Java code, or any combination of these. The server-side code  1008  can be configured to interact with the client-side code  1006  to generate the GUI  1018 . 
     In some examples, a user  1012  of the client device  1004  can interact with the GUI  1018  by supplying input to the client device  1004 . The client-side code  1006  can receive the user input and responsively transmit requests  1016  (e.g., REST requests) to the server-side code  1008  of the server  1008 . The requests  1016  can be configured for effectuating some or all of the functionality described herein. For example, the client-side code  1006  can receive user selections of a liner, background setting, and shape for the virtual swimming pool and responsively transmit requests  1016  indicating these selections to the server-side code  1008 . The server-side code  1008  can receive such requests  1016  and responsively perform one or more operations based on the requests  1016 . For example, the server-side code  1008  can generate or update the GUI  1018  to depict a virtual scene with a virtual swimming pool in accordance with the user selections. 
     Although  FIG.  10    depicts a certain number and arrangement of components, other examples can include more components, fewer components, different components, or a different arrangement of the components shown in  FIG.  10   . For example, multiple servers or services (e.g., microservices or serverless functions) may work together to collectively implement some or all of the server-side functionality associated with the server-side code  1008  in the client-server architecture described above. 
     The foregoing description of certain examples, including illustrated examples, has been presented only for the purpose of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Numerous modifications, adaptations, and uses thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the disclosure. For instance, examples described herein can be combined together to yield still further examples.