Systems and Methods for Providing Network Connectivity and Remote Monitoring, Optimization, and Control of Pool/Spa Equipment

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing network connectivity and remote monitoring, optimization, and control of pool/spa equipment are provided. “Internet-of-Things” (IoT) functionality is provided for pool and spa equipment in a flexible and cost-effective manner. Network connectivity and remote monitoring/control of pool and spa equipment is provided by various components such as a network communication and local control subsystem installed in pool/spa equipment, and other components. Also disclosed are various control processes (“pool logic”) which can be embodied as software code installed in any of the various embodiments of the present disclosure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for monitoring and controlling a valve actuator for a body of water, comprising the steps of:
 providing a valve with a valve actuator having a processor for monitoring a position of the valve actuator and for controlling the valve actuator, one or more sensors configured to monitor water parameters associated with the valve, and a network communication subsystem for providing communication between the processor and a pool or spa control system;   receiving at the processor the monitored water parameters;   establishing by the network communication subsystem a network connection between the processor of the valve actuator and the pool or spa control system;   transmitting the data related to the monitored water parameters from the processor of the valve actuator to the pool or spa control system over the network connection;   determining by the pool or spa control system a setpoint for the valve actuator based on a desired operation of a pool or spa device operatively coupled to the valve actuator; and   controlling the valve actuator to operate at the setpoint.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the desired operation of the pool or spa device is transmitted from an external control device to the pool or spa control system. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the external control device is a remote server system, a cloud-based control platform, a personal computer, a mobile device, or another pool or spa device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pool or spa device is a variable speed pump, a single speed pump, a cleaning system, a second valve actuator, a water feature, a sanitization system, a heating system, or a cooling system. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising the step of establishing a second network connection between the processor and the pool or spa device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising the step of establishing a second network connection between the pool or spa control system and the pool or spa device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , comprising the step of receiving operational data over the second network connection related to one or more operational parameters of the pool or spa device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more operational parameters of the pool or spa device include one or more of a power status, a rate of power consumption, an electrical current draw, a temperature, a minimum flow requirement, and a maximum flow requirement. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising the step of establishing a second network connection between the processor and a second pool or spa device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , comprising the step of controlling the second pool or spa device by the processor based on the setpoint of the valve actuator. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising the step of establishing a second network connection between the pool or spa control system and a second pool or spa device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising the step of controlling the second pool or spa device by the pool or spa control system based on the setpoint of the valve actuator. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising the steps of establishing a second network connection with the Internet, receiving web data over the second network connection, and controlling the valve actuator based on the web data. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the web data is specific to a physical location of the pool or spa. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising the step of receiving via a user interface device of the valve actuator input for controlling the valve actuator. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising the step of controlling the setpoint of the valve actuator to maintain one or more of a minimum and a maximum flow requirement of the pool or spa device. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising the step of configuring the valve actuator with one or more default flow settings. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more default flow settings include one or more of high, medium, and low flow settings. 
     
     
         19 . A method for monitoring and controlling a valve actuator for a body of water, comprising:
 providing a valve with a valve actuator having a processor for monitoring a position of the valve actuator and for controlling the valve actuator, one or more sensors configured to monitor water parameters associated with the valve, and a network communication subsystem for providing communication between the processor and a pool or spa device;   receiving at the processor of the valve actuator data related to monitored water parameters;   establishing by the network communication subsystem a network connection between the processor of the valve actuator and the pool or spa device;   receiving operational parameters related to the pool or spa device over the network connection;   determining by the processor a setpoint for the valve actuator based on the monitored water parameters and the operational parameters related to the pool or spa device; and   controlling the valve actuator to operate at the setpoint.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the pool or spa device is a variable speed pump, a single speed pump, a cleaning system, a second valve actuator, a water feature, a sanitization system, a heating system, or a cooling system. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the operational parameters related to the pool or spa device include one or more of a power status, a rate of power consumption, an electrical current draw, a temperature, a minimum flow requirement, and a maximum flow requirement. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , comprising the step of establishing a second network connection between the processor and a second pool or spa device. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , comprising the step of receiving operational parameters related to the second pool or spa device over the second network connection. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , comprising the step of controlling the valve actuator based on the operational parameters related to the second pool or spa device. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 19 , comprising the steps of establishing a second network connection with the Internet, receiving web data over the second network connection, and controlling the valve actuator based on the web data. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the web data is specific to a physical location of the pool or spa. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 19 , comprising the step of receiving via a user interface device of the valve actuator input for controlling the valve actuator. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 19 , comprising the step of controlling the setpoint of the valve actuator to maintain one or more of a minimum and a maximum flow requirement of the pool or spa device. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 19 , comprising the step of configuring the valve actuator with one or more default flow settings. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the one or more default flow settings include one or more of high, medium, and low flow settings. 
     
     
         31 . A method for monitoring and controlling a valve actuator for a body of water, comprising:
 providing a valve with a valve actuator having a processor for monitoring a position of the valve actuator and for controlling the valve actuator, one or more sensors configured to monitor water parameters associated with the valve, and a network communication subsystem for providing communication between the processor and a pool or spa device;   receiving at the processor of the valve actuator data related to monitored water parameters;   establishing by the network communication subsystem a network connection between the processor of the valve actuator and the pool or spa device;   receiving by the processor of the valve actuator operational parameters related to the pool or spa device over the network connection;   determining by the processor a setpoint for the valve actuator based on the monitored water parameters and the operational parameters related to the pool or spa device;   determining by the processor a desired state of the pool or spa device based on the monitored water parameters and the operational parameters related to the pool or spa device; and   controlling by the processor the pool or spa device to operate at the desired state over the network connection.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the pool or spa device is a variable speed pump, a single speed pump, a cleaning system, a second valve actuator, a water feature, a sanitization system, a heating system, or a cooling system. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the operational parameters related to the pool or spa device include one or more of a power status, a rate of power consumption, an electrical current draw, a temperature, a minimum flow requirement, and a maximum flow requirement. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , comprising the step of establishing a second network connection between the processor and a second pool or spa device. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , comprising the step of receiving by the processor of the valve actuator operational parameters related to the second pool or spa device over the second network connection. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , comprising the step of determining by the processor a desired state of the second pool or spa device based on the monitored water parameters and the operational parameters related to the second pool or spa device. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , comprising the step of controlling by the processor the second pool or spa device to operate at the desired state of the second pool or spa device over the second network connection. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 34 , comprising the step of controlling the second pool or spa device by the processor based on the setpoint of the valve actuator. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 31 , comprising the steps of establishing a second network connection with the Internet, receiving web data over the second network connection, and controlling the pool or spa device based on the web data. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the web data is specific to a physical location of the pool or spa. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 31 , comprising the step of receiving via a user interface device of the valve actuator input for controlling the valve actuator. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 31 , comprising the step of controlling the setpoint of the valve actuator to maintain one or more of a minimum and a maximum flow requirement of the pool or spa device. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 31 , comprising the step of configuring the valve actuator with one or more default flow settings. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the one or more default flow settings include one or more of high, medium, and low flow settings.