Multi-Parameter Water Analysis System with Analysis Application Updateable via a Cloud-Based Data Resource

Abstract

Multi-parameter water analysis system with a water parameter sensing device configured to wirelessly provide detector data and a smart phone displayable indicator of water analysis test results that are calculated by an analysis application that is updateable via a cloud-based data resource to account for a manufacturing change in indicator chemistry and/or an improvement in test result display. The water parameter sensing device includes an optical sensing apparatus configured to detect light from each of a plurality of indicators for different parameters when the indicator and a chemical parameter are exposed to each other, a processor to process information of the detected light, and wireless communication circuitry for communicating detector data based on the information about the detected light to a remote device. Social networking of water quality data allows sharing to other users.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A multi-parameter water analysis system comprising:
 a water parameter sensing device including:
 an optical sensing apparatus configured to detect light produced by an interaction of a chemical parameter in the water and an indicator when the indicator and the chemical parameter are exposed to each other, the indicator selected by a user, the optical sensing apparatus capable of detecting light from a plurality of different user selectable indicators for different chemical parameters in water; 
 a processor in communication with the optical sensing apparatus for receiving information about the detected light, the processor configured to process information about the detected light for a plurality of different indicators; and 
 a wireless communication circuitry in electrical connectivity with the processor for wirelessly communicating detector data based on the information about the detected light from the water parameter sensing device to a remote device; and 
   a mobile smart phone device configured to display test results for the chemical parameter to the user, the test results calculated by an analysis application using the detector data, the analysis application configured to calculate test results for a plurality of different parameters, the analysis application updateable via a cloud-based data resource to account for at least one of a manufacturing change in indicator chemistry and an improvement in test result display.   
     
     
         2 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the mobile smart phone device is located in wireless connectivity range of the water parameter sensing device and the mobile smart phone device is wirelessly connected to the water parameter sensing device for direct interfacing with the water parameter sensing device. 
     
     
         3 . A system according to  claim 2 , wherein the mobile smart phone device is connected to the water parameter sensing device using a piconet protocol. 
     
     
         4 . A system according to  claim 2 , wherein the mobile smart phone device is connected to the water parameter sensing device using a WiFi 802.11 protocol. 
     
     
         5 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the analysis application is a cloud-based computing application. 
     
     
         6 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the water parameter sensing device includes a display for locally displaying information at the location of the water parameter sensing device. 
     
     
         7 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the analysis application includes functionality allowing the user to share their water chemistry to a social network community of other users. 
     
     
         8 . A system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a water parameter indicator for use with the optical sensing apparatus, the water parameter indicator configured to interact with a chemical parameter of the water when the indicator and chemical parameter are exposed to each other, the water parameter indicator being associated with a machine-readable element including readable information about the water parameter indicator to assist the water analysis system in processing the information about the detected light properly. 
     
     
         9 . A system according to  claim 8 , wherein the readable information about the water parameter indicator includes an information selected from the group consisting of a type of indicator, a manufacture date, a chemical parameter to be sensed with the indicator, calibration data, and any combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . A system according to  claim 8 , wherein the machine-readable element is an element selected from the group consisting of an RFID element, an optical element, and a magnetic element. 
     
     
         11 . A system according to  claim 8 , wherein the machine-readable element is an optically readable element. 
     
     
         12 . A system according to  claim 11 , wherein the optically readable element is a bar-code. 
     
     
         13 . A multi-parameter water analysis system comprising:
 a water parameter sensing device including:
 an optical sensing apparatus configured to detect light produced by an interaction of a chemical parameter in the water and an indicator when the indicator and chemical parameter are exposed to each other, the indicator selected by a user, the optical sensing apparatus capable of detecting light from a plurality of different user selectable indicators for different chemical parameters in water; 
 a processor in communication with the optical sensing apparatus for receiving information about the detected light, the processor configured to process information about the detected light for a plurality of different indicators; and 
 a wireless communication circuitry in electrical connectivity with the processor for wirelessly communicating detector data based on the information about the detected light from the water parameter sensing device to a remote device; and 
   a mobile smart phone device configured to display test results for the chemical parameter to the user, the test results calculated by an analysis application using the detector data, the analysis application configured to calculate test results for a plurality of different parameters, the analysis application updateable via a cloud-based data resource to account for at least one of a manufacturing change in indicator chemistry and an improvement in test result display, wherein the mobile smart phone device is located in wireless connectivity range of the water parameter sensing device and the mobile smart phone device is wirelessly connected to the water parameter sensing device for direct interfacing with the water parameter sensing device.   
     
     
         14 . A system according to  claim 13 , wherein the mobile smart phone device is connected to the water parameter sensing device using a piconet protocol. 
     
     
         15 . A system according to  claim 13 , wherein the mobile smart phone device is connected to the water parameter sensing device using a WiFi 802.11 protocol. 
     
     
         16 . A system according to  claim 13 , wherein the analysis application is a cloud-based computing application. 
     
     
         17 . A system according to  claim 13 , wherein the water parameter sensing device includes a display for locally displaying information at the location of the water parameter sensing device. 
     
     
         18 . A system according to  claim 13 , wherein the analysis application includes functionality allowing the user to share their water chemistry to a social network community of other users. 
     
     
         19 . A system according to  claim 13 , further comprising a water parameter indicator for use with the optical sensing apparatus, the water parameter indicator configured to interact with a chemical parameter of the water when the indicator and chemical parameter are exposed to each other, the water parameter indicator being associated with a machine-readable element including readable information about the water parameter indicator to assist the water analysis system in processing the information about the detected light properly. 
     
     
         20 . A system according to  claim 19 , wherein the readable information about the water parameter indicator includes an information selected from the group consisting of a type of indicator, a manufacture date, a chemical parameter to be sensed with the indicator, calibration data, and any combinations thereof. 
     
     
         21 . A system according to  claim 19 , wherein the machine-readable element is an element selected from the group consisting of an RFID element, an optical element, and a magnetic element. 
     
     
         22 . A system according to  claim 19 , wherein the machine-readable element is an optically readable element. 
     
     
         23 . A multi-parameter water analysis system comprising:
 a water parameter sensing device including:
 an optical sensing apparatus configured to detect light produced by an interaction of a chemical parameter in the water and an indicator when the indicator and chemical parameter are exposed to each other in water, the indicator selected by a user, the optical sensing apparatus capable of detecting light from a plurality of different user selectable indicators for different chemical parameters; 
 a processor in communication with the optical sensing apparatus for receiving information about the detected light, the processor configured to process information about the detected light for a plurality of different indicators; 
 a wireless communication circuitry in electrical connectivity with the processor for wirelessly communicating detector data based on the information about the detected light from the water parameter sensing device to a remote device; and 
 a display for locally displaying information at the location of the water parameter sensing device; and 
   a smart phone displayable indicator configured to display test results for the chemical parameter to the user, the test results calculated by an analysis application using the detector data, the analysis application configured to calculate test results for a plurality of different parameters, the analysis application updateable via a cloud-based data resource to account for a manufacturing change in indicator chemistry, wherein the smart phone displayable indicator is displayable via a mobile smart phone device that is located in wireless connectivity range of the water parameter sensing device and the mobile smart phone device is wirelessly connected using a piconet wireless connection to the water parameter sensing device for direct interfacing with the water parameter sensing device.   
     
     
         24 . A system according to  claim 23 , wherein the analysis application is a cloud-based computing application. 
     
     
         25 . A system according to  claim 23 , wherein the analysis application includes functionality allowing the user to share their water chemistry to a social network community of other users. 
     
     
         26 . A system according to  claim 23 , further comprising a water parameter indicator for use with the optical sensing apparatus, the water parameter indicator configured to interact with a chemical parameter of the water when the indicator and chemical parameter are exposed to each other, the water parameter indicator being associated with a machine-readable element including readable information about the water parameter indicator to assist the water analysis system in processing the information about the detected light properly. 
     
     
         27 . A system according to  claim 26 , wherein the machine-readable element is an optically readable element.