Method and device for remotely controlling robotic pool cleaner

Abstract

A method for remotely operating a robotic pool cleaner may include providing a robotic pool cleaner comprising a housing: a propulsion drive configured to propel the robotic pool cleaner along a surface of a pool; a pump for drawing liquid from the pool into the housing, so as to trap dirt and debris from the surface of the pool into a filter; a controller configured to communicate with a portable communication device, and control the propulsion drive in accordance with commands received from a the portable communication device; using the portable communication device, obtaining one or more characteristics of a surface of the pool; displaying a graphical representation of the pool on a display of the portable communication device; receiving a user input from a user via an input interface of the portable communication device; translating the user input into a command; and transmitting the command to a controller of the robotic pool cleaner, for execution by the robotic pool cleaner.

1 . A method for remotely operating a robotic pool cleaner, the method comprising:
 providing a robotic pool cleaner comprising a housing; a propulsion drive configured to propel robotic pool cleaner along a surface of a pool; a pump for drawing liquid from the pool into the housing, so as to trap dirt and debris from the surface of the pool into a filter, a controller configured to communicate with a portable communication device, and control the propulsion drive in accordance with commands received from a the portable communication device;   using the portable communication device,
 obtaining one or more characteristics of a surface of the pool; 
 displaying a graphical representation of the pool on a display of the portable communication device; 
 receiving a user input from a user via an input interface of the portable communication device; 
 translating the user input into a command; and 
 transmitting the command to a controller of the robotic pool cleaner, for execution by the robotic pool cleaner. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein obtaining one or more characteristics of a surface of the pool comprises receiving data transmitter from the robotic pool cleaner or receiving data input via a user input interface of the portable communication device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, using the portable communication device, displaying a current location of the pool cleaner in the pool on the graphical representation of the pool as displayed on the display. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user input comprises indication of a desired target position in the pool for the pool cleaner to travel to. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user input comprises indication of a particular palls to be traveled by the pool cleaner. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user input comprises indication of a pattern of movement. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user input comprises indication to maintain a position of the pool cleaner within or outside an indicated zone of the pool. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user input is selected from the group of inputs consisting of tapping, sliding a finger, making a gesture, inputting text using a real or virtual keyboard, and providing a vocal command. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user input comprises a homing instruction and wherein the command causes the pool cleaner to travel to a current location of the user. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the obtaining of said one or more characteristics of a surface of the pool comprises recording movement of the user around a perimeter of the pool. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising using a camera of the portable communication device for the user input. 
     
     
         12 . A robotic pool cleaner comprising:
 a housing;   a propulsion drive configured to propel the robotic pool cleaner along a surface of a pool;   a pump for drawing liquid from the pool into the housing, so as to trap dirt and debris from the surface of the pool into a filter; and   a controller configured to communicate with a portable communication device, and control the propulsion drive in accordance with commands received from a the portable communication device;   wherein the controller is further configured to receive, and cause the robotic pool cleaner to execute, a command from a portable communication device that has obtained one or more characteristics of a surface of the pool; displayed a graphical representation of the pool on a display of the portable communication device; received a user input front a user via an input interface of the portable communication device; translated the user input into a command; and transmitted the command to a controller of the robotic pool cleaner, for execution by the robotic pool cleaner.   
     
     
         13 . A non-transitory computer readable medium for remotely operating a robotic pool cleaner, having stored thereon instructions that when executed on a processor of will cause the processor to:
 obtain one or more characteristics of a surface of a pool;   display a graphical representation of the pool on a display;   receive a user input from a user via an input interface;   translate the user input into a command; and   transmit the command via a communication channel to a controller of the robotic pool cleaner, for execution by the robotic pool cleaner.   
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein obtaining one or more characteristics of a surface of the pool comprises receiving data transmitter from the robotic pool cleaner or receiving data input via a user input interface of the portable communication device. 
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 13 , having stored thereon instructions that when executed on a processor of will cause the processor to display a current location of the pool cleaner in the pool on the graphical representation of the pool as displayed on the display. 
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the user input comprises indication of a desired target position in the pool for the pool cleaner to travel to. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the user input comprises indication of a particular path to be traveled by the pool cleaner. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the user input comprises indication of a pattern of movement. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the user input comprises indication to maintain a position of the pool cleaner within or outside an indicated zone of the pool. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the user input comprises a homing instruction and wherein the command causes the pool cleaner to travel to a current location of the user.