Bath control security

Abstract

A control system for a bathing apparatus includes a pairing station associated with the bathing apparatus and having a pairing interface, and a portable user device arranged to be used to control the bathing apparatus, the portable user device being able to control one or more functions of the bathing apparatus only while it is paired with the pairing station. The portable user device is paired with the pairing station by activation of the pairing interface when the portable user device is in a pairing region.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shower control system comprising:
 a pairing station for a shower, the pairing station having a pairing interface located remote and separate from a control unit of the shower, wherein the pairing station initiates a pairing process with a portable user device responsive to activation of the pairing station by a user physically located at the pairing station when the portable user device is within a pairing region, the pairing process authorizing the portable user device to provide control signals to the control unit to control one or more functions of the shower comprising changing water temperature or changing water flow rate of water from the shower.   
     
     
         2 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the pairing process is initiated in response to a first operation of the pairing interface and comprises authorizing the portable user device to provide control signals to the pairing station in response to the pairing station detecting a second operation of the pairing interface. 
     
     
         3 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit comprises a control valve operable to change the water temperature or the water flow rate of the water from the shower. 
     
     
         4 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the pairing region comprises a region within a set range of a relay arranged to relay a signal from the portable user device to the pairing station. 
     
     
         5 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the pairing interface includes a button, and pairing of the portable user device to the pairing station is performed or initiated by depressing the button when the portable user device is within the pairing region. 
     
     
         6 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the portable user device communicates wirelessly with the pairing station, and the pairing region is the region within a maximum distance over which communications can be exchanged wirelessly between the portable user device and the pairing station. 
     
     
         7 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the pairing station is configured to receive the control signal from the portable user device and relay the control signal to the control unit of the shower. 
     
     
         8 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the pairing station is configured for pairing with a plurality of portable devices including the portable user device. 
     
     
         9 . A controllable bathing system comprising:
 a shower having a control unit; and   a pairing station associated with the shower and having a pairing interface located remote and separate from the control unit, wherein the pairing station requires a user's presence for activation and is configured to initiate a pairing process with a portable user device responsive to activation of the pairing station by a user when the portable user device is within a pairing region, the pairing process authorizing the portable user device to provide control signals to the control unit to control one or more functions of the shower comprising changing water temperature or changing water flow rate of water from the shower.   
     
     
         10 . The controllable bathing system of  claim 9 , wherein the control unit comprises a control valve operable to change the water temperature or the water flow rate of the water from the shower. 
     
     
         11 . The controllable bathing system of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the pairing mode is initiated in response to a first operation of the pairing interface; and   the pairing station authorizes the portable user device in response to a second operation of the pairing interface.   
     
     
         12 . The controllable bathing system of  claim 9 , wherein the pairing station is configured to receive the control signal from the portable user device and relay the control signal to the control unit of the shower. 
     
     
         13 . The controllable bathing system of  claim 9 , wherein the pairing interface comprises a control knob or control lever operable to provide control signals to the shower. 
     
     
         14 . The controllable bathing system of  claim 9 , wherein the pairing station communicates with the portable user device using a wireless communication protocol, and the portable user device must be held within a predetermined wireless communication range of the pairing station for pairing to occur. 
     
     
         15 . The controllable bathing system of  claim 9 , wherein the pairing interface is or comprises at least one of a proximity sensor, a pressure sensor, a button, a lever, a rotary control, a finger print scanner, a facial scanner, a retinal scanner, and a voice recognition unit. 
     
     
         16 . The controllable bathing system of  claim 9 , wherein the pairing station is configured for pairing with a plurality of portable devices, including the portable user device. 
     
     
         17 . A method for controlling a shower, the method comprising:
 activating a pairing station associated with the shower and having a pairing interface located remote and separate from a control unit of the shower, wherein the pairing station requires a user's presence for activation;   initiating a pairing process between the pairing station and a portable user device responsive to activation of the pairing station by a user when the portable user device is within a pairing region;   the pairing process authorizing the portable user device to provide control signals to the control unit to control one or more functions of the shower comprising changing water temperature or changing water flow rate of water from the shower.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , comprising receiving receive the control signals at the pairing station from the portable user device and relaying the control signals from the pairing station to the control unit of the shower. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein authorizing the portable user device to provide the control signals to the control unit is performed responsive to the pairing station detecting an authorization interaction with the pairing interface. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the control signal is a first control signal, the method further comprising:
 receiving, by the pairing station, a second control signal from the portable user device;   in response to receiving the second control signal from the portable user device, determining, by the pairing station, that the portable user device has previously been authorized to provide control signals; and   relaying the second control signal, by the pairing station, to the control unit.