Systems and methods for remote management of ice machines

Abstract

Described herein are examples of an remote gateway for controlling ice production. The remote gateway is coupled to existing sensors of the ice machine. The sensors can include a full bin sensor. The remote gateway provides commands to the ice machine controller to trigger when an ice machine is on or off, for example, when producing ice. The remote gateway may receive instructions from a management system that is remotely located from the remote gateway. The remote gateway may also receive the instructions locally.

1 . A device, comprising:
 a communication device coupled to a communication network, wherein the communication device receives commands from a remote user over the communication network;   a control circuit electrically coupled to the communication device, wherein the control circuit is configured to execute the remote commands from the remote user to control ice production in an ice machine;   an ice production control circuit electrically coupled between a full bin sensor and an ice production circuit, wherein:   the full bin sensor monitors ice levels in a storage container of the ice machine and sends an electrical signal to the ice production circuit when the storage container is full,   the ice production circuit the production of ice in response to the electrical signal from the full bin sensor, and   the control circuit instructs the ice machine control circuit to inject a production signal to halt ice production in response to the remote commands from the remote user.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the ice production control circuit is configured to generate a first control signal that is transmitted to the ice production circuit, the first control signal is configured to indicate that the storage container of the ice machine is full regardless of a state of the electrical signal from the full bin sensor, and the ice production circuit halts ice production in response to the first control signal.   
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the ice production control circuit comprises:
 a first input coupled to a signal output of the full bin sensor that transmits the electrical signal from the full bin sensor;   a second input coupled to an output of the control circuit for transmitting the first control signal; and   a relay coupled to the first input and the second input and comprising a first output coupled to the ice production circuit, wherein the relay outputs the production signal on the first output.   
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the relay causes a disconnection of a ground line from the full bin sensor in response to the first control signal, wherein the ground line being disconnected causes the ice production circuit to halt ice production.   
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the ice production control circuit is configured to generate a status control signal that is transmitted to the ice production circuit,   the status control signal is configured to indicate that the full bin sensor is non-operational regardless of an operational state of the full bin sensor, and   the ice production circuit halts ice production in response to the status control signal.   
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the ice production control circuit comprises:
 a first input coupled to a status output of the full bin sensor that transmits a status signal from the full bin sensor;   a second input coupled to a status control output of the control circuit; and   a logic gate coupled to the first input and the second input and comprising a first output   coupled to the ice production circuit, wherein the logic gate compares the first input and the second input and outputs the status control signal on the first output.   
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a local user input device coupled to the control circuit and configured to receive local commands from a local user; wherein the control circuit instructs the ice machine control circuit to inject a control signal to halt ice production in response to the local commands from the local user.   
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a computer readable medium storing instructions coupled to the control circuit, wherein: the instructions generate local commands, and
 the control circuit instructs the ice machine control circuit to inject a control signal to halt ice production in response to the local commands. 
   
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the instructions comprise an ice production schedule that specifies one or more dates and times to generate the local commands; and   the ice production schedule is received from the remote user via the communication device.   
     
     
         10 . A device, comprising:
 a first input coupled to an output of a sensor of a machine;   a second input coupled to an output of a remote gateway, wherein the remote gateway transmits signals to the second input based on production instructions from a user; and   a relay coupled to the first input and the second input and comprising a first output coupled to a production circuit of the machine, wherein the relay compares the first input and the second input and outputs a production signal on the first output to control production of a product of the machine.   
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the machine is an ice machine; and   the relay compares the first input and the second input and outputs an ice production signal on the first output to control ice production in the ice machine.   
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the relay causes a disconnection of a ground line from the full bin sensor in response to the first control signal, wherein the ground line being disconnected causes the ice production circuit to halt ice production.   
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the machine is an environmental control system; and   the relay compares the first input and the second input and outputs an environmental production signal on the first output to control environmental production by the environmental control system.   
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the production instructions are received remotely by the remote gateway, or   the production instructions are received locally by the remote gateway.   
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the production instructions comprise an ice production schedule that specifies one or more dates and times to generate the local commands, and   the production schedule is generated by a remote user.   
     
     
         16 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, at a remote gateway from a user, command instructions for halting production of ice at an ice machine;   transmitting a control signal to an ice production control circuit, wherein an ice production control circuit is coupled between a full bin sensor of the ice machine and an ice production circuit of the ice machine; and   transmitting a production signal from the ice production control circuit to the ice production circuit of the ice machine.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , the method further comprising:
 receiving an electrical signal from the full bin sensor indicating that a storage container of the ice machine is full;   transmitting a first control signal to the ice production control circuit;   transmitting, from the ice production control circuit, the production signal to the ice production circuit of the ice machine based on a comparison of the electrical signal and the first control signal.   
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 16 , the method further comprising:
 receiving a status signal from the full bin sensor indicating that the full bin sensor is operational;   transmitting a status control signal to the ice production control circuit; and   transmitting, from the ice production control circuit, an operational signal to the ice production circuit of the ice machine based on a comparison of the status signal and the status control signal.   
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 16 , the method further comprising:
 receiving the command instructions for halting production of ice from the user over the communications network; and   storing the command instructions in a computer-readable medium of the remote gateway.   
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 16 , the method further comprising:
 receiving an ice production schedule from a user over the communications network;   storing the ice production schedule in a computer-readable medium of the remote gateway; and   generating the control signal based on a determination that a current date and time match the ice production schedule.