Methods And Systems Optimizing Swimming Pool And Restaurant Service Operations By Utilizing Occupancy Detection Device

Abstract

The present invention disclose an occupancy detection device and related system and method for detecting presence of at least one person at or near a table or in a swimming pool with at least one sensor indicating an occupancy status locally with at least one light source and communicating it to at least one mobile device by means of at least one wireless communication method. The occupancy detection device, with the use of at least one sensor, at least one additional status is communicated to at least one mobile device. A plurality of occupancy detectors can be connected in a mesh or a star network and communicate to at least one mobile device by a wireless communication method or combinations of a wired and a wireless communication methods.

Claims

1. An occupancy detection device comprising: a microprocessor unit, at least one sensor, at least one light source, at least one user input, at least one power source and at least one radio, wherein the at least one sensor is selected from an accelerometer sensor, a spring loaded vibration (mechanical vibration) sensor, a piezoelectric vibration sensor, a mechanical tilt sensor, an infrared light sensor, an ultrasound sensor, a sonar sensor, a microphone sensor, a loadcell, a gesture sensor, a time of flight (time-of-flight) sensor, a liDar sensor and a laser sensor; wherein said occupancy detection device is attached to a table or be near the table in a dinning room or a restaurant or a meeting hall or an entertainment hall or a sporting hall; wherein said occupancy detection device is configured to detect and/or indicate a status of the table or a plurality of statuses of the table, wherein the status of the table or the plurality of statuses of the table includes a presence of at least one person at and near the table, a non-presence of a person at and near the table, a no person at and near the table, an availability for use of the table, a non-availability for use of the table, an ongoing use description of the table, a planned use description of the table and a service description of the table, wherein said occupancy detection device indicates the status of the table or the plurality of statuses of the table via the at least one light source; wherein the at least one user input is selected from a button, a capacitive touch sensor, a dial, a switch, a gesture sensor, a barcode scanner, a quick response (QR) code scanner, a wireless communication via Bluetooth and a wireless communication via near field communication (NFC), wherein the at least one user input is used to detect the status of the table or the plurality of statuses of the table; wherein said occupancy detection device is used as a single detector device or as an occupancy detector network, wherein the occupancy detector network is configured as a mesh network or a star network, wherein the mesh network and the star network are comprised by network and protocol structure of at least one of Bluetooth, ZigBee, ZWave, Wi-Fi, Wirepas, Thread, 6LoWPAN, and any other wireless networks and protocols that allow wireless mesh network structure and/or wireless star network structure; and wherein the single detector device or the occupancy detector network configured to communicate wirelessly via the at least one radio, the status of the table or the plurality of statuses of the table to at least one mobile device and/or a central device.

2. The occupancy detection device of claim 1, further configured with a display or the display with buttons, wherein the status of the table or the plurality of statuses of the table is indicated on the display, wherein the status of the table or the plurality of statuses of the table includes at least one message, wherein the buttons of the display are used to enter the status of the table.

3. The occupancy detection device of claim 1, further configured to detect the status of the table or the plurality of statuses of the table via a wireless input method of the wireless communication via Bluetooth or the wireless communication via near field communication (NFC), wherein the wireless input method is in communication with the at least one mobile device.

4. The occupancy detection device of claim 1, further configured to change the status of the table or the plurality of statuses of the table after a certain amount of time the table is occupied and/or the table is unoccupied, wherein the certain amount of time is configurable to be fixed or adjustable.

5. The occupancy detection device of claim 1, further configured to operate with the at least one power source selected from a solar power, a rechargeable battery, a non-rechargeable battery, a super capacitor, an ultra-capacitor and an outlet power.

6. The occupancy detection device of claim 1, wherein the occupancy detector network or the single detector device communicates to at least one of the central device and the at least one mobile device through a cloud computer and/or a cellular network the status of the table or the plurality of statuses of the table, wherein the occupancy detector network or the single detector device is connected to at least one of a gateway, a router, a plurality of gateways and a plurality of routers to form a local network that communicates to the cloud computer and/or the cellular network, wherein the cloud computer and/or the cellular network communicates to the at least one mobile device, wherein the local network is wired and/or wireless means of communication by use of at least one of Ethernet, Intranet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, ZigBee, ZWave, Wirepas, Thread, 6LoWPAN, and any other wired and/or wireless network and protocol structure that allows mesh network structure, star network structure and bus network structure.

7. The occupancy detection device of claim 1, wherein the occupancy detector network or the single detector device communicates to at least one of the central device and the at least one mobile device through a local network the status of the table or the plurality of statuses of the table, wherein the local network is wired and/or wireless means of communication by use of at least one of Ethernet, Intranet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, ZigBee, ZWave, Wirepas, Thread, 6LoWPAN, and any other wired and/or wireless network and protocol structure that allows mesh network structure, star network structure and bus network structure.

8. The occupancy detection device of claim 1, wherein the occupancy detector network or the single detector device communicates to the at least one mobile device through the central device the status of the table or the plurality of statuses of the table, wherein the occupancy detector network or the single detector device and the central device are connected to a local network, wherein the local network is wired and/or wireless means of communication by use of at least one of Ethernet, Intranet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, ZigBee, ZWave, Wirepas, Thread, 6LoWPAN, and any other wired and/or wireless network and protocol structure that allows mesh network structure, star network structure and bus network structure, wherein the occupancy detector network or the single detector device communicates to the central device through the local network, wherein the central device communicates to a cloud computer and/or the cellular network, wherein the cloud computer and/or the cellular network communicates to the at least one mobile device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the present embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. These figures are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention but rather illustrate certain attributes thereof.

[0015] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an occupancy detection device in its generic form, and its communication capability, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 2A shows a single unit direct communication arrangement, and FIG. 2B is a mesh wireless network connected units communicating to a central unit, an automation center, and a plurality of mobile devices, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] FIG. 3 is a mesh wireless network connected units communicating to a plurality of mobile devices via a cloud and/or a cellular network connection, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 4 shows a plurality of placement arrangements of a swimming pool occupancy detector in the swimming pool, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] The figures depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] As required, detailed embodiments of the systems and methods are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the systems and methods, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the systems and methods in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting; but rather, to provide an understandable description of the systems and methods. While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the systems and methods that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the systems and methods will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward.

[0021] Before any embodiments of invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its applications to the details of construction and arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and being practiced or of being carried out in various ways.

[0022] For the purposes of the description, a phrase in the form A/B or in the form A and/or B or in the form at least one of A and B means (A), (B), or (A and B), where A and B are variables indicating a particular object or attribute. When used, this phrase is intended to and is hereby defined as a choice of A or B or both A and B, which is similar to the phrase and/or. Where more than two variables are present in such a phrase, this phrase is hereby defined as including only one of the variables, any one of the variables, any combination of any of the variables, and all of the variables, for example, a phrase in the form at least one of A, B, and C means (A), (B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (B and C), or (A, B and C).

[0023] It is to be understood that the term comprises and grammatical equivalents thereof are used herein to mean that other components, ingredients, steps, etc. are optionally present. For example, an article comprising (or which comprises) components A, B, and C can consist of (i.e., contain only) components A, B, and C, or can contain not only components A, B, and C but also contain one or more other components.

[0024] Reference will now be made in detail to a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 1, an occupancy detection device 100 and its components are shown. The present invention as every pieces explained below can be used in a variety of combinations. For instance, a color light source 102 can be used along with a display 108 or the present invention can have only the display 108 or only the color light source 102. Another example can be given for a user input. Some of the variations of the user input may not be present in some configurations of the present invention such as the option of reserved user input and displaying the status of reserved or adjustable timeout user input and displaying the timeout time.

[0026] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the occupancy detection device 100 is controlled by a microprocessor 109, which is configured to collect data from a plurality of sensors 101, a plurality of user inputs 103, a radio 105, a NFC (Near Field Communication) 107, and then configured to control the light source 102 and the radio 105. In an alternative embodiment, the microprocessor 109 is replaceable with a customized logic circuit for this purpose in variety of ways of hardware and programmable structure.

[0027] A power supply 104 provides power to the occupancy detection device 100. The power supply 104 can be, but not limited to a solar powered rechargeable battery, a rechargeable battery from an outlet, a non-rechargeable battery, a solar cell powered super capacitor, a solar cell charged battery with a super capacitor.

[0028] The sensors 101 connected to the microcontroller 109, to detect the presence of at least one occupant and the status of a platform. The platform includes but not limited to a table, a swimming pool, a standing area where people are present. The occupancy detection can be accomplished in a variety of sensor and sensor combinations such as an accelerometer and a plurality of vibration sensors by detecting any displacement of a surface or a body of water. It can be accomplished with a microphone by detecting sound levels in air or under water. Furthermore, these types of sensors are used to detect rainy and windy weather conditions. They are also used for detecting the pool pump operating state such as running, stopped and pumping motor speed levels. Alternatively, the occupancy detection is accomplished with a plurality of distance measurement sensors such as ultrasound, sonic, light, laser or liDAR sensors.

[0029] According to an embodiment of the present invention, in the swimming pool, further status of the pool and the pool area such as air and water temperatures, water pH level, water chemical composition are detected by a plurality of additional sensors. There are various other sensors and sensor combinations that can be used for this purpose and other ancillary data collection and monitoring. For instance, time of flight, pressure, ultrasound and sonic sensors can be used directly or indirectly for water depth measurement status and water volume calculation status. Furthermore, a conductivity sensor for detecting presence of water or no water can be another status the swimming pool embodiment can have. The variety of sensors can be used is not limited to the ones listed here. Any sensors that is in its nature that can measure and detect mentioned statuses can be used for this purpose. The swimming pool embodiment can communicate with a swimming pool automation system and collect a SVRS status of the swimming pool and indicate this information to at least to the occupants of the pool, people around the pool, and on mobile devices.

[0030] According to an embodiment of the present invention, in the table occupancy detection, the light source 102 indicates visually the occupancy, vacancy, not-in-service, reserved status and some other message to the table and people around such as happy birthday. The light source 102 can be any number and types of light sources such as LED, neon, incandescent light sources. The status of the table or the platform can be indicated in variety of ways such as color of light or lighting pattern of the light source 102 with single or multiple colors of light source. The display 108 can be used as a primary or as a secondary status indicator alone side the light source 102.

[0031] The display 108 can also be used to display the user inputs 103 and messages sent to the table or to the platform. The user inputs 103 can be implemented in a variety of ways such as buttons, dials, a capacitive touch sensor, a gesture detecting sensor, an NFC (near field communication) input and a Bluetooth connection. The user inputs 103 are used as manually setting an occupancy status, which in turn starts a fix or variable timer. One of the user inputs 103 is used manually clearing the occupancy status. One of the user inputs 103 is used to take the table out-of-service. One of the user inputs 103 is used for a service request. One of the user inputs 103 is used to set the occupancy time out. One of the user inputs 103 puts the occupancy detection device 100 into reserved table status and its associated light source 102 and the display 108. The NFC 107 can be another way a user inputs his/her presence with a mobile device or an NFC key. Once user checks in, a timer can be started to indicate the status of the table. In the case of the NFC key, which can be a dedicated key or the mobile device, user information can be transferred to a central device 110 for hotel management tracking the user check-in to meals and other activities such as paying for an extra drink in a restaurant. The user check-in can also be via a wireless connection such as Bluetooth, where the user selects the table for the table status indication and securing his/her place at the table. Similarly, table vacancy can be detected when the user leaves by the Bluetooth wireless disconnection.

[0032] The radio 105 enables the wireless communication with the central device 110, a gateway, a router, a cell phone network and a direct communication with the user mobile device. Radio electronics and protocol part of the wireless communication can be various technologies such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, ZigBee, Z-Wave, and Thread. The central device or the central unit 110 is a dedicated full function device that allows full access to control and monitoring of a plurality of occupancy detectors for the administrating staff. The central device 110 can collect data, do various calculations and estimations and display them on a screen.

[0033] Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, a plurality of network topologies for the occupancy detectors for both the table and the swimming pool applications are shown according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, the occupancy detectors are 201 to 206, and 210. In FIG. 3, the occupancy detectors are 301 to 306. It shall be noted that the depicted mesh networks in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 can be replaced with a single device instead of multiple devices in the mesh network. This arrangement will be more applicable to the swimming pool application as shown in FIG. 2A. FIG. 2 is a demonstration of a local network and direct communication. FIG. 2B shows a local network such a home, a water park, a hotel or a restaurant. The occupancy detectors 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206 form a mesh network topology 200. It is assumed in the drawings, each occupancy detector is acting as a repeater in the mesh network 200. All communicate with a central device 209, where the hotel, resort or restaurant staff has access for all the features. The mesh network topology 200 also is connected to a gateway and/or a router 207 which can communicate with a plurality of individual mobile devices 208 over a wireless network such as a Wi-Fi. Hotel, resort or restaurant staff can have a dedicated mobile device app or special mode of the guest mobile app, which will give them access to all features as an administrator just like on the central device 209. Further, FIG. 2A shows a single device direct connection between the single occupancy detector 210 and a mobile device 211, which will be more applicable to the swimming pool application.

[0034] In FIG. 3, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the occupancy detectors 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306 form a mesh network topology 300 and they communicate to a gateway/router 307. The gateway 307 communicates to a cloud 308 and a plurality of mobile devices 311 have access to the occupancy status via the cloud connection. In this embodiment, one option is a central device or an automation center 309 to be connected to the mesh network topology 300 through the cloud connection. The second option is the central device or the automation center 309 communicates with the mesh network topology 300 locally via the gateway 307. The gateway 307 have a wired or wireless connection to the cloud 308. The alternative wireless option is via a cellular network 310, which is shown with dashed lines. It shall be noted that the mesh network topologies 200, 300 depicted in the embodiments in FIG. 2B and FIG. 3 can be implemented as a star network topology.

[0035] FIG. 4 depicts the swimming pool occupancy application in form of a plurality of pool occupancy detectors, according to various embodiments of the present invention. In one embodiment, a pool occupancy detector 403 is floating on and in the water. In another embodiment, a pool occupancy detector 404 is attached to the side wall of the pool. Further in another embodiment, a pool occupancy detector 405 is on the floor of the pool. Still, further in another embodiment, a pool occupancy detector 406 is floating in the water. In all the embodiments, the pool occupancy detectors 403, 404, 405, 406 will have at least one sensor such as the accelerometer to detect the presence of at least one person in the pool and at least one object moving or running in the pool such as a pool cleaner. In addition to the pool occupancy detection, the pool occupancy detectors 403, 404, 405, 406 are able to detect pump status running or stopped, rainy weather, windy weather with the same sensor or different sensor options and combinations. The present invention with the addition of at least one time of flight sensor, sonar sensor, ultrasound sensor, pressure sensor and some other depth measurement means that can measure the depth of the water and estimate the water lacking and the required amount of water to be added to the pool. This information can be transmitted to the user alone with the occupancy information. In all embodiments, the pool occupancy detectors 403, 404, 405, 406 will be contacting with water. With more sensors such as chemical sensor, temperature sensor, the present invention can provide a variety of information about the pool and the pool system. All of these detections and measurements in and around the pool can be achieved with one or multiple sensors and sensor types and combinations. Furthermore, these information not only can be transmitted to the pool user or to a pool management body such as a contractor and a pool maintenance staff, but also to a pool or a building automation system where the automation system can arrange and use the information to take certain actions and at the same time notify the user.

[0036] When at least one pool occupancy detector is floating, one arrangement is free floating, where the pool occupancy detector can travel in the pool. The other arrangement is that at least one pool occupancy detector is fixed or has a limited area to move in the pool with some kind of an anchoring means such as one end of a string attached to the pool occupancy detector and the second end of it is tied to a weight where the weight is dropped to the bottom of the pool or the second end is attached to the wall of the pool. Any arrangements of the pool occupancy detectors can be powered by a solar cell and a battery power sources.

[0037] The pool occupancy detection can also exists as the single device or as the mesh network topologies 200, 300. The occupancy detection device 100 has the wireless communication capability to the mobile device 110 such as a smart phone with an App as shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 depicts the local network communication as well as local and direct communication with the mobile device 211 or the mobile devices 208. FIG. 3 depicts the use of the non-local network to communicate to the mobile devices 311. In one embodiment, the mesh network of the occupancy detectors or the single occupancy detector communicates to the mobile devices and the automation center via the cloud computer. In another embodiment, the mesh network of the occupancy detectors or the single occupancy detector communicates to the mobile devices via first communicating to the automation center and then the automation center communicates back to the mobile devices about the statuses of the occupancy detectors. In another embodiment, the mesh network of the occupancy detectors or the single occupancy detector communicates to the mobile devices via a cellular network or a cellular network and the cloud computer combinations. In the case of the single detector communication to the mobile device, the cloud computer can be bypassed leaving only the cellular network communication. The alternative paths of the communications are depicted in FIG. 3 with the dash lines. The wireless connectivity most commonly achieved by Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, since these are the most convenient communication means to mobile devices. However, it is not limited to these two methods of wireless communication, which can include other wireless network methods such as Thread, ZigBee, ZWave, and Wirepas.

[0038] In one embodiment, due to the size of the pool, the plurality of pool occupancy detectors can be deployed in one pool or in a water park type of an environment where there could be multiple pools, which may require the plurality of pool occupancy detectors to be deployed. In both embodiments, the occupancy detectors will be in the star or the mesh network configuration, which will be connected in the network topologies as described in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.

[0039] The above embodiments are described generally in terms of hardware and software. It will be recognized, however, that the functionality of the hardware can be further combined or even separated. The functionality of the software can also be further combined or even separated. Hardware can be replaced, at times, with software. Software can be replaced, at times, with hardware. Accordingly, the present embodiments should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims here. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize other variations, modifications, and alternatives. It is inferred that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the present invention and it is not intended that the invention be limited or restrictive thereto. Many other specific embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art from the foregoing disclosure. All substitution, alterations and modification of the present invention which come within the scope of the following claims are to which the present invention is readily susceptible without departing from the spirit of the invention. The scope of the invention should therefore be determined not with reference to the above description but should be determined with reference to appended claims along with full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.