Pump communication module, pump system using same and methods related thereto

Abstract

A pump system comprising a primary AC pump, a control unit having a wireless communication module, and a back-up battery for powering the control unit. The wireless communication module is configured to communicate via a primary wireless connection and communicate via a secondary wireless connection. Additional pump system components and various methods relating to same are further disclosed herein.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pump system comprising:
 a primary AC pump;   a control unit having a wireless communication circuit or module; and   a back-up battery for powering the control unit;   wherein the wireless communication circuit or module is configured to communicate via a primary wireless connection and communicate via a secondary direct wireless connection when the primary wireless connection is unavailable.   
     
     
         2 . The pump system of  claim 1 :
 wherein the primary wireless connection is an internet connection and the control unit detects internet access, and   wherein the wireless communication circuit or module communicates via the secondary direct wireless connection when no internet access is detected.   
     
     
         3 . The pump system of  claim 1  further comprising a button configured to establish the direct wireless connection. 
     
     
         4 . The pump system of  claim 1  further comprising a backup DC pump. 
     
     
         5 . The pump system of  claim 1  wherein the wireless communication circuit or module is configured to communicate via one of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy, Near Field Communication, Radio Frequency, Infrared, and Zigbee. 
     
     
         6 . The pump system of  claim 1  further comprising a remote electronic device, wherein the remote electronic device is configured to receive a notification from the control unit via the Internet and via the direct wireless connection. 
     
     
         7 . The pump system of  claim 6  wherein the remote electronic device is at least one of a smartphone, a tablet and a mobile computer. 
     
     
         8 . A method of monitoring a pump system comprising:
 detecting a value, the value representing at least one of a water level, a low battery level, a battery fault, and a pump fault;   transmitting a notification based on the value to a remote electronic device via an internet connection; and   transmitting a notification based on the value to the remote electronic device via a direct wireless connection.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising detecting access to the internet. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising pairing the pump system to the remote electronic device. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein pairing the pump system to the remote electronic device is done in response to detecting the pressing of a button. 
     
     
         12 . A method for maintaining communication with a pump comprising:
 providing a pump having a controller with a communication circuit for communicating with a remote electronic device over a primary communication network and over a secondary communication network when the primary communication network is not available;   communicating via the controller and the remote electronic device over the primary communication network when the primary communication network is available; and   communicating via the controller and the remote electronic device over the secondary communication network when the primary communication network is not available.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the primary communication network comprises a wireless LAN having a router and the secondary communication network comprises a software enabled access point (SoftAP) or virtual router network and the method further comprises:
 communicating via the controller and the remote electronic device over the wireless LAN when the wireless LAN is available; and 
 communicating via the controller and the remote electronic device over the SoftAP or virtual router network when the wireless LAN is not available. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the SoftAP or virtual router network is formed by the controller serving as a wireless hotspot and communicating via the controller and the remote electronic device over the SoftAP or virtual router network when the wireless LAN is not available comprises connecting the pump controller as a client of the wireless hotspot. 
     
     
         15 . A wireless communication module for a pump comprising:
 a computer readable medium for storing network information;   a wireless transmitter;   a wireless receiver;   an input; and   a processing element adapted to receive the network information from the computer readable medium and operate the wireless transmitter and receiver to connect to a wireless network,   the processing element further adapted to operate the wireless transmitter and receiver to form a hot spot in response to actuation of the input.   
     
     
         16 . The wireless communication module of  claim 15  wherein the wireless transmitter and wireless receiver are a wireless transceiver. 
     
     
         17 . The wireless communication module of  claim 15  wherein the wireless transmitter and wireless receiver are a WiFi module. 
     
     
         18 . The wireless communication module of  claim 15  wherein the input is a button. 
     
     
         19 . The wireless communication module of  claim 15  wherein the processing element is further configured to transmit commands to a pump control unit.