INTELLIGENT POOL APPARATUS

Abstract

A pool apparatus for users to do activities in the pool apparatus. The pool apparatus includes a pool main body, one or more than one reaction deices and a control circuit. The control circuit is connected to the reaction device and controls the reaction device according to a setting to increase additional functions of the pool apparatus. When the control circuit is connected to an external device via at least one wireless network, a user may use the external device to adjust the setting. The external device does not need to be paired with the control circuit in advance. Instead, the external device interacts with the control circuit via a protocol to access and adjust the setting.

Claims

1. A pool apparatus for a user to perform activities therein, comprising: a pool main body to carry liquid for users to do activities in the pool main body; at least a reaction device connected to the pool main body; a control circuit connected to the reaction device for increasing an addition function of the pool apparatus according to a setting to operate the reaction device, wherein when the control circuit is connected to an external device via at least one wireless network, the user uses the external device to adjust the setting, unnecessary to pair the external device with the control circuit in advance, the external device interacts with the control circuit via a protocol to access and adjust the setting.

2. The pool apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control circuit corresponds to different external devices and stores different sets of the setting, and when the control circuit detects one external device located within a predetermined range, the control circuit automatically loads one corresponding setting and operates at least one reaction device according to the loaded setting.

3. The pool apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reaction device comprises a filter for cleaning water in the pool main body according to the setting.

4. The pool apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reaction device comprises a smell generator for emitting smell or liquid according to the setting.

5. The pool apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reaction device comprises an audio player for playing audio according to the setting.

6. The pool apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reaction device comprises water volume controller to adjust water level in the pool main body according to the setting.

7. The pool apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reaction device comprises a temperature tuner for adjusting water temperature of the pool main body according to the setting.

8. The pool apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reaction device comprises a lighting device for providing different lighting effects according to the setting.

9. The pool apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reaction device comprises a massage bubble generator for providing different massage bubbles in the pool main body according to the setting.

10. The pool apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reaction device comprises a massage water flow generator for providing different massage water flows to the user in the pool main body according to the setting.

11. The pool apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a position detector for detecting a position of the user in the pool main body and the control circuit controls the massage water flow generator to provide the massage water flow at corresponding position based on detected position of the user.

12. The pool apparatus of claim 11, wherein the position detector continuously detects the position of the user and the controller detects user body shape and user pose to provide the user corresponding massage water for different body portions of the user according to the detected user body shape and the detected user pose.

13. The pool apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a detector for detecting status of the pool main body and the status being sent to the control circuit to control the reaction device according to the setting.

14. The pool apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control circuit comprises a first network interface and a second network interface, the control circuit obtains connection information to be used by the second network interface via one external device via the first network interface.

15. The pool apparatus of claim 1, wherein after the external device is connected to an external server to adjust the setting, the external service is used for sending the setting to the control circuit to operate based on the received setting.

16. The pool apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a carrying base, wherein the carrying base is water-proof and is used for placing the external device.

17. The pool apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control circuit determines an user identity based on detection of the external device and selects one corresponding setting to control the reaction device.

18. The pool apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the control circuit detects multiple external devices of multiple users, the control circuit selects one setting corresponding to the combination of the multiple users to control the reaction device.

19. The pool apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control circuit adjusts the setting according to a current timing information and controls the reaction device according to the adjusted setting.

20. The pool apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control circuit actively connects to an external server to obtain a message via the wireless network and uses the message to adjust the setting.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0043] FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a pool apparatus;

[0044] FIG. 2 illustrates a diagram of reaction devices in the pool apparatus;

[0045] FIG. 3 illustrates an interaction between a control circuit and other devices;

[0046] FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart for an external device to obtain control procedures;

[0047] FIG. 5A illustrates a flowchart for a control circuit to provide corresponding control based on identify of external devices;

[0048] FIG. 5B illustrates a flowchart of a Bluetooth device and connection establishment;

[0049] FIG. 5C illustrates a flowchart of a Wi-Fi device and connection establishment;

[0050] FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of a cooler;

[0051] FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment that provides corresponding massage water flow based on detected user position;

[0052] FIG. 8 illustrates a flowchart for a control circuit to quickly get connection parameters;

[0053] FIG. 9 illustrates an interface via a web page format; and

[0054] FIG. 10 illustrates a carrier embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0055] Please refer to FIG. 1, which illustrates a first embodiment. In the first embodiment, a pool apparatus 10 is provided for a user to do activities in the pool apparatus like to play, to swim or to get massage service. The size of the pool apparatus may be changed based on different needs. For example, a pool apparatus may have a width of 100 cm. In another example, a pool apparatus may have a width of 3 meters for providing multiple users to use the pool apparatus at the same time.

[0056] The pool apparatus 10 includes a pool main body 101 that may have a circular shape, an ellipse shape, a rectangular shape, a squire shape, a polygonal shape, an irregular shape or any other shape. The pool main body 101 may be created with tarpaulin forming an inflatable space or created with tarpaulin with associated support pillars. Other designs and material may be used under different design requirements.

[0057] The pool main body 101 may be used for carrying water or other liquid like milk, water, tea, web mud to form milk bath, tea bath, skin protecting bath or hot spring effect for users to do activities therein.

[0058] In FIG. 1, a charging pump 102 is used for air charging the pool main body 101 and for filtering water in the pool main body 101. Usually, the charging pump 102 may be located aside the pool main body 101, but please be noted that the charging pump 102 may be integrated with the pool main body 101 together as a module. Besides, the pool main body 101 may be inflated by air charging with an external charging device and form a pool apparatus with the charging pump 102.

[0059] Because the charging pump 102 is usually connected to an electric source and is water-proof. Some reaction devices or the control circuit may be placed together with the charging pump 102.

[0060] Please refer to FIG. 2, one ore more than one reaction devices are connected to the pool main body 20 or located at different places like to be designed as a separate device placed aside the pool main body 20. These reaction devices may be designed with water-proof and designed as modules to be connected wirelessly. For example, a wireless water-proof speaker may be detached and drop inside the pool main body or be placed at a fixed position of the pool main body. In another example, one or more than one reaction devices may be combined like to be integrated as a floating device with sound and lighting effect. Such device may be connected to the control circuit 209 of the pool apparatus wirelessly and get controlled by the control circuit 209.

[0061] The reaction devices may include various devices that may interact with outside world like a speaker 201 and associated circuits for generating sound, a device 202 for heating or cooling water in the pool main body, a device 203 that generates spray with different smells, a device 204 for simulating a hot spring, a device 205 that emits different lights, a device 206 for changing water level of the pool main body, a device 207 for filtering water in the pool main body, and a device 208 for providing massage.

[0062] The pool apparatus further has a control circuit 209 connected to one or more reaction devices to operate these reaction devices based on a setting to increase additional functions of the pool apparatus.

[0063] FIG. 3 illustrates a design of a control circuit. The control circuit of a pool apparatus embodiment may include a processor 301, a storage device 302 and a transmission interface 303. The processor 301 may be a simple controller reading program codes from the storage device 302 and performing corresponding operations. External messages are retrieved via wire or wireless interface 303 and control instructions are generated based on the setting stored in the storage device 302. The control instructions are transmitted to a reaction device 305 via a wire or transmitted to a reaction device 304 wirelessly. Please be noted that this example is not used for limiting the invention scope. For example, the control circuit may be integrated in a control integrated chip (IC) or may be implemented with a computer loaded with corresponding program codes. It is known that current electronic computing technology still improves quickly. Different designs may be adopted based on different design requirements.

[0064] A user may use an external device like a mobile phone or a tablet computer to interact with the control circuit to adjust the operation and parameters of the reaction devices 304, 305. In addition, the control circuit 303 may be indirectly connected to the Internet via a Wi-Fi router with another network 307. With such connection, the control circuit may download necessary program codes or data from a remote server 308. A user may use a computer or other terminal device 309 to configure the control circuit 309 via the network 307.

[0065] The control circuit may be connected with the external device via one or more than one wireless networks. When the external device is connected, a use may use the external device to adjust the setting. The external device does not need to be paired with the control circuit in advance. Instead, the external device may interact with the control circuit with a protocol to get access control and adjust the setting. For example, the external device may be a mobile phone or a tablet computer that is not designed specifically for the pool apparatus. However, with installed program codes or a browser on the external device like a mobile phone or a computer, the external device may interact with the control circuit to perform adjustment of the setting.

[0066] Please refer to FIG. 4, the control circuit may install a network interface of Bluetooth or Wi-Fi and simulate itself as an external storage device. When the external device is connected to the external storage device (step 401), the program codes are obtained from the storage device (step 402) and installed on the external device (step 403). With the installed program codes, the external device may interact with the control circuit of the pool apparatus (step 404).

[0067] In another example, the pool apparatus may include a two-dimension bar code. A user may use a mobile phone to scan the two-dimension bar code to connect to a server over a network. The two-dimension bar code may include model number or product serial number. The external device may use a standard browser or other tools to connect with the server to download corresponding software. In another example, the external device may perform adjustment of the setting on the server that is created with HTML, Javascript, CSS and accompanied database. When the server is connected with the control circuit of the pool apparatus, the server may transmit the setting to the control circuit of the pool apparatus to adjust the setting of the pool apparatus.

[0068] In other words, this approach is different with traditional remote controllers. Traditional remote controls usually correspond specifically to the product. With the design of the pool apparatus described herein, various smart phones and electronic devices may be directly used to control the pool apparatus.

[0069] The control circuit of the pool apparatus may be a simple control circuit like a control circuit of 8051, ARM core, or any other computer with different working speeds, processing frequencies and storage capacity. Different hardware, software and various combination thereof may be used to implement the aforementioned functions. Corresponding functions may be embedded in when the pool apparatus is built in a factory. User may install corresponding program codes to the control circuit wire or wirelessly from an external device.

[0070] Please refer to FIG. 5A. A mobile phone may interact with the control circuit of the pool apparatus to determine which user owns the mobile phone (step 501). Corresponding setting is loaded (step 503). One or more than one reaction devices are operated accordingly (step 504).

[0071] Please refer to FIG. 5B, which illustrate a connection flowchart between a mobile phone and a pool apparatus via Bluetooth. At beginning, a user brings a mobile phone to get close to the pool apparatus (step 511). The user uses the operation of the pool apparatus to turn on operation of the pool apparatus (step 512). A switch button may be disposed on the charging pump of the pool apparatus. Next, the user may press a button of the pool apparatus to activate Bluetooth function (step 513). The operation of the pool apparatus starts searching Bluetooth devices to determine whether there is a successful pairing (step 514). If the setting is stored, a blue light is blinking (step 516). Otherwise, a yellow light is blinking (step 515).

[0072] Users may press a button of the pool apparatus to reset the pool apparatus (step 517). The pool apparatus determines whether the reset is still performed when the blue light is blinking (step 518). If there is no successful pairing, the mobile phone turns on Bluetooth setting or uses NFC to perform fast setting (step 519). After the pairing (step 520), the mobile phone may use a pre-installed programs or a web interface to operate the pool apparatus. These operations may have different variations until the operation is completed.

[0073] FIG. 5C illustrates an operation flowchart of the pool apparatus with a Wi-Fi device. Firstly, a user prepares a computer or a mobile phone to operate the pool apparatus (step 521). The user turns on the pool apparatus (step 522). Next, the user presses the button of the pool apparatus to start fast Wi-Fi connection function (step 523). The pool apparatus determines whether it is connected to a router (step 524). If another router is to be connected, a button may be provided for performing reset. Besides, it may be determined whether to perform reset after the green light is blinking (step 528). If the connection is successful, the red light is blinking (step 526). If the connection is failed, the yellow light is blinking. ∘ The mobile phone or the computer turns on Wi-Fi or uses another network to connect to the pool apparatus. An initialization may be performed after connection like setting passwords of a router (step 5252). Next, the mobile phone or the computer may use Wi-Fi or other network to connect to the pool apparatus (step 529). For example, the router and corresponding firewall may be configured to obtain network capability. When the pool apparatus may be connected to the local Wi-Fi network, the mobile phone or the computer may operate the pool apparatus (step 5291). These operation may be continuously performed until the user leaves the pool apparatus (step 5293).

[0074] FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment. An ice box 601 is used for a user to put ice therein. A water pipe 603 directs water into the ice box 601 to cool the water. The valve 605 receives control signal from the control circuit to determine water flow volume. Another water pipe 602 directs water flow not under cooling processing. The valve 605 adjusts water flow volume of the water pipe 603 so that the water pipe 604 directs water of desired temperature to the pool apparatus.

[0075] Please refer to FIG. 7. At least one position sensor 701 is disposed in the pool apparatus for detecting user position in the pool apparatus. For example, a camera may be used accompanied with image processing analysis to determine position, body shape or pose of the user 704. The control circuit uses such information to provide massage water flow with the massage water flow generators 702, 703 at corresponding positions. In this example, the user 704 is close to the water flow generator 702 and far from the water flow generator 703. The control circuit may control the two water flow generators 702, 703 to generate different water patterns corresponding to user position.

[0076] Please refer to FIG. 8. The control circuit may include a first network interface and a second network interface. The control circuit obtains connection message of the second network interface (step 802) from the first network interface by connecting to the external device (step 801). The first network interface is a Bluetooth interface and the second network interface is a Wi-Fi interface. A user may transmit login passwords of a Wi-Fi router to the control circuit of the pool apparatus via a Bluetooth interface. When the control circuit retrieves the login passwords, the control circuit is connected tot eh Wi-Fi router (step 803) to access necessary resources over the network.

[0077] Please refer to FIG. 9. The control circuit 901 may be a mini computer running a web server 902 like Apache web server. With the web server, the external device may interact with the control circuit of the pool apparatus via HTTP protocol to adjust the setting. In other words, the external device only needs a standard browser 903 to communicate with the control circuit 901. In such design, new control interface may be changed by changing its HTML codes or download new interface remotely to the control circuit 901 to change the interface.

[0078] Besides, when the external device is a mobile phone or a tablet computer, the pool apparatus may arrange a carrier that is water-proof for placing the mobile phone or the tablet computer. Please refer to FIG. 10, the external device 1001 like a mobile phone may be placed on the water-proof carrier 1002. The water-proof carrier 1002 may be placed at a suitable place 1003 like a handle or a place that is visually close to the user.

[0079] The foregoing descriptions of embodiments of the present invention have been presented only for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the forms disclosed. Accordingly, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. Additionally, the above disclosure is not intended to limit the present invention. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.