CH714466A2 - Device for monitoring and management of a technical installation, method implemented by this device and associated system. - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device (20) for monitoring and managing a technical installation (10), for example a swimming pool. This device comprises: an interface unit for connecting a plurality of peripheral devices (15), a data collection unit (15a) from at least one of said peripheral devices (15), an analysis unit configured to compare the collected data (15a) with predetermined values and generate messages (35a), and an external management and communication interface. The analysis unit (30) is further configured to assign each of said messages (35a) a logistic indication (36). The management and external communications interface is configured to connect to an extended communications network (40), transmit said messages (35a) in accordance with their logistics indication (36), and allow bidirectional exchanges with at least one of the entities receivers (50).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to the field of home automation and relates more particularly to the monitoring and management of a technical installation, such as a swimming pool, a heating or lighting system, or any other installation capable to be piloted or controlled remotely. The invention relates mainly to technical installations requiring regular or even constant maintenance. It preferably relates to the monitoring and management of a swimming pool by means of a specific device. Although the preferred technical installation taken as an example in the present description is a swimming pool, it should be noted that this choice is in no way limiting, but allows, by its concrete aspect, to better understand the advantages and technical effects brought by the present solution.

PRIOR ART [0002] The maintenance of a technical installation such as a swimming pool includes on the one hand ordinary tasks, within the reach of any person, and on the other hand more technical tasks which require specialized skills. Common tasks include cleaning the pond and supplying dispensers with chemicals such as chlorine useful for water disinfection. The so-called more technical tasks relate to the maintenance of peripheral devices as well as the monitoring and troubleshooting of the entire technical installation. In the case of a swimming pool, these tasks require a good understanding of the installation and the water treatment systems.

The peripheral devices of a swimming pool generally operate during relatively limited time intervals, but in cycles which can be repeated frequently. These peripherals relate for example to a pumping and / or water circulation device, typically for the automatic filling of the basin, a device for managing the water level, valves or solenoid valves for water inlet or outlet. , a filtration device, a chemical injection device, probe measurement devices, etc.

For the individual such as an owner, the technical maintenance of the basin and its peripherals is often a task which he prefers to entrust to a professional in the sector. This charge is therefore typically transferred, by maintenance contract, to a fish farmer who will provide a breakdown service as well as a regular review of the entire technical installation, which is the swimming pool and its peripherals. However, any owner nevertheless appreciates being able to interact with his installation by means of an application allowing him for example to know the temperature and the quality of the water, to be able to open or close a cover of his basin or to be able to program the 'lighting. Thus, it will be noted that certain information or measures may be of interest to both the individual and the fishmonger, while others are of interest only to one another.

Fishmongers install and maintain private and semi-public pools. They also manage parks from a few dozen to a few hundred pools for the largest. The maintenance service for these pools is made up of a plurality of motorized intervention teams that regularly visit customer facilities and provide maintenance and troubleshooting. This organization faces several challenges.

Interventions with customers require trips of significant duration, often dependent on road traffic. The vagaries of traffic generate additional costs which can hardly be passed on to customers' invoices. Breakdowns and other technical incidents on swimming pool peripheral devices are generally unpredictable and often reported by the customers themselves after finding a fault. These failures generate emergency interventions which are costly and damage the customer's confidence in their installation.

Intermittent failures are certainly the ones that pose the most problems because of their random appearance. Because of their capricious nature, they induce repeated interventions by the fish farmer, generating approximate diagnoses which can only be refined over weeks or even months. Since the events triggering breakdowns cannot be checked, failures can occur at any time, including evenings, weekends or in the absence of maintenance personnel. The frustration of the client sometimes leads him to want to try to resolve these failures by himself, at the risk of further deteriorating the situation.

[0008] Current swimming pool control and management systems are based on parameter measurements which characterize the state of the swimming pool or that of the quality of the water with respect to predefined values. However, these systems do not detect the real cause of the failure or identify the source of the malfunction. For example, the systems known on the market are capable of measuring a flow of water or flows of additive products. In the event that one of these flows is excessive or insufficient, these systems trigger an alarm. However, they remain unable to identify what could be the possible causes of such an anomaly and remain, for example, unable to be able to detect that such a malfunction could be due to a seized valve which would have blocked for example in open or closed mode. .

The triggering of an alarm according to the state of a device or of a measured data remains insufficient to be able to effectively manage a technical installation. As another example in the field of swimming pools, we will mention the case of massive leaks detected by an excessively long duration of the opening of a solenoid valve for filling the basin. However if this detection seems a priori appropriate, it also prevents any normal filling

CH 714 466 A2 of the basin after emptying of the latter. In addition, such a detection system does not make it possible to detect slight leaks, typically caused by cracks within the basin.

As a third example, it will be mentioned that the currently known water treatment systems are configured to be able to generate an alarm when key values for measuring the quality of the water go beyond predefined tolerances. However, they are unable to understand or distinguish the source of such an anomaly which may be a water leak or a breakdown in the chemical injection system.

Also, even in normal operation, a waste of resources, such as water or chemicals, is often observed. This waste generally comes either from manual management of these resources, or from automated management based on predefined time periods such as pre-programmed filter washing cycles.

Furthermore, current systems have the drawback of being dependent on proprietary communication networks in order to be able to exchange data, typically transmit information and receive commands. These systems are therefore limited in terms of independence and reliability. In addition, the communication devices of these systems require levels of technical skills that the fish farmer does not have.

Therefore, there is a real need to improve the efficiency of the management and monitoring of technical installations, such as swimming pools, swimming pool parks or other installation in the field of home automation, so as to obviate at least partially to the above problems.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION For this purpose, the object of the present invention is first of all to propose a device for monitoring and managing a technical installation, such as preferably a swimming pool. This device includes:

- an interfacing unit allowing the connection of a plurality of peripheral devices,

- a data collection unit from at least one of the aforementioned peripheral devices,

- an analysis unit configured to compare the data collected with predetermined values and generate messages, of the alert or information type; these messages being based at least in part on the data collected and / or on derived data, and

- a management and external communications interface.

According to the invention, the analysis unit is further configured to assign to each of the messages a logistical indication identifying at least one receiving entity, selected from a plurality of receiving entities such as for example fishmonger and users ( s). This logistical indication also aims to define an appropriate time for the transmission of the message.

In addition, the management and external communications interface is configured to:

- be connected to an extended communications network without first passing through a local network,

- transmit the messages in accordance with their logistical indication, and

- allow bidirectional communication exchanges with at least one of the receiving entities.

Thanks to a rational device which allows the interconnection of many or even all the peripheral devices of the same technical installation, the present solution makes it possible to inform both professionals in the sector (typically fishmongers) and individuals (typically owner customers) taking into account the interests of each of these receiving entities and the priority of the messages to be sent. Thus, this solution makes it possible, on the one hand, to centralize the collection of information from peripheral devices and, if necessary, to generate derived information. On the other hand, it makes it possible to split the transmission of this information according to the activities, ordinary or specialized, associated with the receiving entities intended to be connected to this device.

In addition, this solution overcomes proprietary communications networks, such as local networks (Wi-Fi) for individuals, to be able to ensure reliable data exchanges.

In a preferred embodiment, the device according to the invention is further configured to compare the collected and / or derived data with each other in order to obtain, by synergistic effect, additional information which cannot be obtained. by considering such data separately.

The present invention also relates to a system for monitoring and managing a technical installation comprising:

- a monitoring and management device mentioned above according to any one of its embodiments,

- a management center for a fleet of technical installations, considered as the main receiving entity for the above-mentioned device, and

- at least one client terminal, considered as a secondary receiving entity of this same device.

Finally, the object of the present invention also relates to a method of monitoring and managing a technical installation implemented by a device according to any one of the embodiments of this device. Such a method aims to:

- collect data from at least one peripheral device specific to the technical installation,

CH 714 466 A2

- analyze collected data by comparing them to predetermined values,

- generate messages, alert or information type, based at least in part on the collected data and / or derived data, and

- transmit at least part of the messages generated to at least one receiving entity.

According to the invention, this method also aims to:

- assign to each of the aforementioned messages a logistical indication identifying at least one receiving entity, selected from a plurality of receiving entities, and defining an instant of transmission of this message,

- use an extended communication network to transmit messages in accordance with their logistical indication without first passing through a local communication network, and exchange other communications with at least one receiving entity.

Other advantages and embodiments will also be presented in the detailed description which follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES The invention will be better understood thanks to the appended schematic drawings, given by way of non-limiting examples, in which:

Fig. 1 is a representation of the architecture of the system in which the device of the present solution is intended to be integrated.

Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of the management and monitoring device which constitutes one of the objects of the present invention.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

General architecture With reference to FIG. 1, this presents the architecture of a system for monitoring and managing a technical installation 10, such as a swimming pool for example. This system comprises at its heart a monitoring and management device 20 to which peripheral devices 15 specific to the operation of the technical installation 10 are connected. The monitoring and management device 20 is configured to be able to be connected to a plurality of receiving entities 50 via an extended communication network 40.

In this case, where the technical installation 10 consists of an artificial basin such as a swimming pool, the peripheral devices 15 may typically consist at least in part of a pumping device and / or water circulation (automatic filling), a device for managing the pool water level, inlet or outlet valves or electrovalves, a filtration device, a injection of chemicals, a probe measurement device, a heating device, a swimming pool cover, a lighting device or an audio broadcasting device. Other types of devices could still be part of this non-exhaustive list. In fig. 1, the peripheral devices are symbolized by black and white connection points. As illustrated in this figure, the peripheral devices can also be located outside the main technical equipment (swimming pool represented by a large rectangle in fig. 1) or inside the latter.

The monitoring and management device 20 typically consists of a housing, preferably a waterproof housing which will be detailed with reference to FIG. 2.

The wide area communication network 40 is preferably a wireless network, such as the mobile telephone network of a telephone operator or a LoRaWan network which is the acronym for Long Range Wide-area network. LoRaWan is a wide area network based on a protocol which, by radio, allows low-speed communication of objects connected to the Internet via gateways and communicating using LoRa technology. In any case, the wide area communication network 40 must be distinguished from local networks such as the Wi-Fi network 4 illustrated in FIG. 1 in a house 1 adjoining the technical installation 10. Indeed and as its name suggests, the wide area network 40 has a wide range unlike local networks which have a reduced range, often limited to an environment relatively close to their source. WAN 40 also benefits from an existing stand-alone infrastructure, state-of-the-art technical performance and unrivaled reliability compared to local area networks. In contrast to local networks which can be qualified as closed or proprietary networks, the wide area communication network is universal in the sense that it is independent and accessible by any remote entity whatever its location.

The entities 50 are said to be receiving entities because they are mainly intended to receive messages 35a, of alert or information type, from the device 20 for monitoring and management. However, these entities could also transmit messages 35b, such as requests or commands, intended for the device 20 via the wide area communication network 40. This essentially depends on the nature or the characteristics of each receiving entity 50. In general , it may be considered that the outgoing messages 35a and the incoming messages 35b are communications 35 exchanged between the device 20 and at least any one of the receiving units 50.

CH 714 466 A2 Preferably and as illustrated in FIG. 1, one of the receiving entities 50 is a remote center 51, in particular a management center for a fleet of technical installations 10. In the present case, it will preferably be a remote management center for pool park (s). In other words, such a remote center 51 could be assimilated to a fish farmer who, advantageously is directly connected to the monitoring and management device 20 via the wide area communication network 40.

A second receiving entity 52 could be that of an individual, such as for example the owner of the technical installation 10. In this case, this second receiving entity 52 will typically consist of a computer tablet, a smartphone or computer.

Monitoring and management device With reference to FIG. 2, this illustrates in more detail the device 20 for monitoring and managing the technical installation 10. This device 20 comprises:

- an interfacing unit 21 allowing the connection of the peripheral devices 15 to the monitoring and management device 20,

- a collection unit 22 of data from at least one of said peripheral devices 15,

an analysis unit 30 configured to compare the collected data 15a with predetermined values 16a and generate messages 35a, of alert or information type, based at least in part on said collected data 15a and / or derived data 15b, and

- an external management and communications interface 25.

The interfacing unit 21 may typically comprise a terminal block allowing the wired connection of the peripheral devices 15 and / or one or more wireless communication interfaces allowing the exchange or at least the collection of data with one or more devices peripherals 15. Other usual interfacing components can, of course, form part of the interfacing unit 21.

The collected data 15a are data delivered by the peripherals 15, in particular by sensors associated with these peripherals. This data can correspond to measured values or status values of these devices. For example, a sensor on a filling valve could, for example, transmit an instantaneous water flow, but it could also transmit the open or closed state of the valve in addition to or instead of the measured flow.

The collection unit 22 of the data 15a from the peripheral device (s) 15 typically consists of a memory, for example a buffer memory, which makes it possible to store all the data collected at least until they are processed by the analysis unit 30.

The analysis unit 30 can be assimilated as being the heart of the monitoring and management device. This unit 30 is typically controlled or made up of a processor 31 one of the functions of which is to be able to perform operations on data, in particular to compare data of all kinds. This unit 30, or its processor 31, also aims to generate messages 35a and / or to process information received by the monitoring and management device 20, in particular via the management and external communications interface 25. The data collected 15a are typically part of the data processed by the analysis unit 30. They are illustrated in FIG. 1 by data packets from peripheral devices 15.

The derived data 15b could come from the collected data 15a and / or from other data or information. The collected data 15a and / or the derived data 15b can be compared with predetermined values 16a. These predetermined values can, for example, be set values, limit values, default values, tolerance ranges or any other value which can typically be taken as reference data. These predetermined values 16a can be stored in a register 16 as illustrated in FIG. 2. They can be loaded into such a register, for example during the manufacture of the device 20 or during its first use. In addition, these predetermined values 16 could, at any time, be the subject of updates so that they are perfectly adapted not only to the technical installation 10 in question but also to its peripheral devices 15. The number of predetermined values 16a stored in the register 16 could also vary according to the updates. Such updates can typically be obtained by receiving messages 35b from a receiving entity 50, in particular from the remote center 51.

According to the invention, the analysis unit 30 is further configured to assign to each of the messages 35a a logistical indication 36 identifying at least one receiving entity 50, selected from a plurality of receiving entities 51,52. The logistic indication 36 is further configured to define an instant of transmission of the message 35a. Thus, the logistics indication can be compared to a label comprising on the one hand a destination indication and on the other hand a time indication.

The destination indication identifies the receiving entity 50 concerned by the message 35a, for example by means of an identifier, an address or any means or combination of means making it possible to route the message 35a to the recipient appropriate. To this end, all the destination indications and the relative means necessary could be stored and managed by a location unit 27, as illustrated in FIG. 2. Although the receiving entities may be

CH 714 466 A2 at least in part of the predefined entities, the data stored in the location unit 27 can be updated at any time, for example by means of communications 35.

The time indication can be an hour for sending the message, a sequence or scheduling number, a periodicity data, a degree of urgency, a time stamp data, a counting / down counting value or any other indication making it possible to define the moment when the message 35a must be sent to its recipient. Such a time indication could be managed by a time management unit 28. The data stored in this unit 28 can also be subject to updates. Thus, by means of the time indication, the logistics indication 36 allows messages 35a to be transmitted on a regular, immediate or punctual time basis, namely occasional or isolated.

The analysis unit 30 allows not only the management of communications 35 (outgoing messages 35a and incoming messages 35b) but also the management of alarms which can be directly deduced by this unit, in particular from the collected data 15a and / or derivatives 15b, initial data 16a and additional data deduced by synergistic effect. As a variant or in addition, alarms or more precisely other alarms could be generated by the center 51 (swimming pool) from data and information collected, derived and / or stored over time. These alarms could also be generated from separate additional information from, for example, a weather station. In this case, these alarms could trigger the sending, via one or more messages 35b, of commands aiming to actuate or less a peripheral device 15. For example, in the case where the remote center 51 is informed by a of its own channels that a hailstorm is located near a swimming pool which is under its supervision, the device 20 of this technical installation 10 could receive, from the remote center 51, a message 35a aiming to order by example the opening of a glass protection covering the basin in order to prevent any damage.

More preferably, the device 20 for monitoring and management could be further configured to time stamp said data 15a and / or communications 35. Such a time stamping could be achieved by interfacing unit 21, as regards data collected 35a, and by the management and external communications interface 25, with regard to communications 35. As a variant, such a time stamping could be carried out by another unit of the device 20, for example by a unit associated with the 22 'storage unit.

Still according to the invention, the management and external communications interface 25 is further configured to be connected to an extended communications network 40 without having to first pass through a local network, such as the Wi-Fi network 4 illustrated as an example in FIG. 1. Preferably, this wide area network is a wireless network which could be the mobile communications network of a telephone operator.

The management and external communications interface 25 is also configured to transmit the messages 35a in accordance with their logistical indication 36, so that each message 35a can be transmitted in good time to the correct recipient.

Finally, the management and external communications interface 25 is also configured to allow bidirectional communication exchanges with at least one of the receiving entities 50. The establishment of bidirectional exchanges makes it possible to increase the possibilities of actions remotely over the entire technical installation 10. Thus, this interface makes it possible not only to send messages 35a but also to receive incoming messages 35b, typically in the form of information, data, request or request. 'ordering instructions. The reception by the management and external communications interface 25 of communications in the form of commands would in particular allow the device 20 to actuate at least one of said peripheral devices 15 and / or to require the transmission of at least one new data item 15a. Such incoming messages 35b could be sent by the remote center 51, in particular the management center of a fleet of technical installations 10.

However, one could also imagine that the second receiving entity 52 transmits, to the device 20, an incoming message with a view, for example, to request one or a plurality of pieces of information in return. The incoming messages 35b formulated in the form of requests also include an indication of destination which makes it possible precisely to identify the entity 50 to which the response to this request must be transmitted. In addition to the destination indication, a time indication could also be attached to the request so that the device 20 can know the moment when the response to this request must be transmitted. In the absence of a time indication, the response could be sent without delay.

Other embodiments According to a preferred embodiment, the monitoring and management device 20 further comprises a storage unit 22 'configured to store at least part of the collected data 15a, derivatives 15b and / or communications 35 exchanged with at least one of the receiving entities 50. In one embodiment, the collection unit 22 and the storage unit 22 'can form a single entity fulfilling the two functions, namely the collection of data for to be processed and their storage in the longer term. In all cases, the function of the storage unit 22 ′ is to be able to constitute the history of the data and / or communications over time. Advantageously, such a history makes it possible to perform predictive analyzes on the basis of information or past data. Such a history also makes it possible to obtain statistical data and to draw from it information which can in particular be used in

CH 714 466 A2 present, for example by correlating them with more recent data such as collected data 15a and / or derived data 15b.

According to another embodiment, the analysis unit 30 is further configured to compare said data (typically the collected data 15a and / or derivatives 15b) with each other and obtain, by synergistic effect, additional information. . This characteristic is another great strength of the object of the present solution because it makes it possible to deduce additional information which cannot be obtained in the devices known to date where the data are processed separately from each other.

For example, if we consider on the one hand information reporting that a very large volume of water has been previously discharged through a drain valve, and on the other hand information indicating that an abnormally high flow of water is being supplied by a filling valve to compensate for a too low water level observed by the detection device linked to the float, then it can be deduced that a drain was performed is that the current situation simply corresponds to filling the tanks after emptying. Thus, by combining data or information collected from several peripheral devices 15, one obtains, by synergistic effect, a better understanding of sometimes particular situations. Advantageously, this makes it possible to avoid erroneous deductions, such as, according to the present example, a significant leak at the level of the basin or seizure of the filling valve.

As illustrated schematically in FIG. 2, the management and external communications interface 25 can be equipped with an integrated communication circuit 25a, such as a SIM card for example, allowing access to the wide area communication network 40, in particular to a wide area network wireless telephony. Thus, the communications 35 exchanged between the device 20 and the receiving entities 50 may be of the SMS (Short Message Service) and / or IP (Internet Protocol) type. Whatever their type, the data of these communications will preferably conform to a format recognized by a standard communication protocol so as to make these communications (and thereby the data they contain) as universal as possible. More preferably, the communications 35 will advantageously be based on a transmission solution of the “Plug & Play” type so as to offer a quick and simple implementation of the communications exchanged with the device 20. Advantageously, such a solution does not require any configuration. when installing the device 20.

In another variant, the device 20 for monitoring and management could further comprise an autonomous power supply 27 providing it with an energy resource at least temporary. In fig. 2, this energy resource is schematically represented by a photovoltaic panel making it possible to supply the electrical energy necessary for the operation of the device 20 by means of batteries and a conventional regulation system. Other sources of energy could of course be combined or used to replace photovoltaic panels.

Furthermore, such an energy source could be dimensioned so that it is sufficient to permanently power the device 20. However, it could also be sized to be able to provide only a temporary amount of energy.

In a possible embodiment, the device 20 could be powered by a connection to the power electrical network (for example 220V, 10A). However, to overcome any electrical failure that may occur at any time on this network, the device 20 could also include an additional autonomous electrical source 27 such as an electric battery of the lithiumion type for example. Such a battery would provide enough energy to the device 20 so that it can continue to operate normally for a limited time, for example one or a few hours. When the device 20 is forced to operate only from its own energy source 27, it could automatically go into an energy saving mode, for example by limiting the use of its energy resources for essential purposes , such as signaling alarms by sending corresponding messages 35a. This transition to economic mode could be activated as a function of a minimum threshold of the voltage delivered by the battery which constitutes its only autonomous source of energy 27.

Alternatively, it would be possible to further limit the operating time of the autonomous energy source 27 to a few seconds, for example by using one or more electrical capacitors. In this case, the device 20 could be configured to use this energy resource essentially for critical functions, such as sending an alert message 35a to a receiving entity 50, in particular to the remote center 51. In this way, the manager of the technical installation would be automatically informed of the failure of the electrical supply of the device 20 for monitoring and managing this equipment. This device 20 could also be configured to send a message 35a to the same receiving entity, as soon as the power supply to the device 20 is restored.

The energy resource which is supplied by the autonomous power supply 27 does not necessarily have to be a resource of the electrical type but could be a thermal resource such as a heating whose function could be to keep the device 20 frost-free. , this energy resource could also be of the hybrid type, typically electric and thermal.

In another embodiment, the analysis unit 30 could also be configured to measure operating times of at least part of the peripheral devices 15, and / or to measure time intervals

CH 714 466 A2 between two successive operations of at least some of these peripheral devices. Advantageously, the taking into account of such temporal indications in combination with the collected data 15a and / or derivatives 15b also makes it possible, by synergistic effect, to obtain additional information which contributes to the understanding of certain abnormal functioning and allows the identification real factors that contribute to or are the cause of these dysfunctions.

According to another embodiment, at least part of the communications 35 are protected in reading by a digital encryption means. The encryption of the communications 35 makes it possible to guarantee the confidentiality of the data and of the instructions or commands exchanged in the messages 35a, 35b. Furthermore, the integrity of communications could also be guaranteed by means of any message authentication mechanism. This could be obtained for example by means of a hash function generating a digest or a signature of the message. This digest or this signature is intended to be transmitted with the message to the recipient who, upon receipt of the message, can from this latter recalculate this digest or this signature and compare it with the digest or the original signature attached to the message. . If there is a match, the recipient can be assured that the message is authentic and therefore has not been tampered with before it was received by a malicious person. Such encryption and authentication mechanisms could be implemented by a cryptographic and / or authentication unit 29 within the monitoring and management device 20, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

Monitoring and management system The present solution also relates to a monitoring and management system of a technical installation such as one of those which have already been mentioned with reference to the device 20 described above. Illustrated in fig. 1, this system therefore comprises:

- a device 20 according to any one of its embodiments,

a center 51 for managing at least one technical installation 10, this center 51 being considered as the main remote receiving entity of the device 20, and

at least one client terminal 52 considered as a secondary receiving entity 50 of the device 20.

As already mentioned, the center 51 is a remote center with respect to the location of the device 20 for monitoring and management. Preferably, this remote center is a management center for a swimming pool park, which can be assimilated to a swimming pool operator as illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 1.

According to one embodiment, the center 51 is configured to collect and store data 15a, 15b from communications 35 exchanged with the device 20. Thanks to the storage of the collected data 15a and / or derivatives 15b, the center 51 of the present system can advantageously benefit from a synergistic effect after analysis of these data. Furthermore, the center 51 could also be configured to store all or part of the communications 35 exchanged with the device 20.

Other characteristics, among those mentioned with reference to the description of the device 20, could also be part of the present system, in particular of any of its receiving entities 50.

Monitoring and management method The present solution also relates to a monitoring and management method for a technical installation 10 such as one of the installations which have already been mentioned with reference to the device 20 described above. This method is implemented by a device 20 according to any one of the previously described embodiments of this device. In particular, this method aims to:

-collect data from at least one peripheral device 15 of a technical installation 10 such as a swimming pool for example,

- analyze collected data 15a and / or derivatives 15b by comparing them with predetermined values 16a,

generate messages 35a, of alert or information type, based at least in part on the collected data 15a and / or derived data 15b, and

transmitting at least part of the messages 35a generated to at least one receiving entity 50.

According to the present solution, this method also aims to:

assign to each of the messages 35a a logistical indication 36 identifying at least one receiving entity 51, 52 and defining an instant of transmission of the message 35a,

- use a wide area communication network 40 to transmit messages 35a, in accordance with their logistical indication 36, and exchange other communications 35 with at least one receiving entity 51.

Furthermore, it should be noted that the receiving entity or entities 51, 52 identified by the logistical indication 36 assigned to each of the messages 35 is or are selected from a plurality of receiving entities 50. In addition, the transmission messages 35a is carried out without first passing through a local communication network, such as the Wi-Fi network 4 illustrated in FIG. 1.

CH 714 466 A2

Final considerations Whatever the object of this invention, it will be noted that the present solution advantageously allows rapid and precise detection of the causes which are at the origin of the breakdowns or malfunctions, in particular by taking into account the data provided by peripheral devices located upstream of the one reporting an anomaly.

Advantageously, the present solution allows the crossing of any type of data, which generates a synergistic effect and considerably improves the establishment of diagnostics, in particular in the event of breakdowns or malfunction. Thus, the maintenance functions of the technical installation with which the device 20 is associated are greatly improved. Urgent trips and unhelpful interventions by the pool operator can thus be avoided, while saving the owner and the owner of the technical installation wasted time. Planning of customers' technical installations can be established optimally on the basis of measurable and objective criteria. Stock management, especially of chemicals in the case of swimming pools, will also be improved.

In addition, the interconnection of all the peripheral devices at a central point, such as the device 20, makes it possible to obtain a global view and a more detailed understanding of the entire technical installation. This concentration of information can easily be exported to the remote center 15 reliably via the wide area communication network 40. From all of this data, the remote center 15 is advantageously able to establish statistics, the results of which can be exploited, at any time, for the benefit of the client but also for the benefit of various actors such as the manufacturers of products or equipment relating to the technical installation in question or public actors such as the municipalities or authorities in charge of 'public installations (for example, treatment plants in the case of swimming pools).

The present solution also makes it possible to rationalize the management system by bringing together on the one hand the management of non-specialized activities (maintenance activities typically within the reach of the owner) and on the other hand the management of specialized activities (activities more technical, typically requiring the intervention of the pool operator), but this while sorting and selecting the data, for example so as to transmit certain technical information only to professionals in the sector. In this way, the possibility of satisfying the customer wishing to be able to access certain basic parameters of his technical installation is advantageously preserved. Thus, using the same device 20, the pool operator and the client will each be able to interact with the technical installation in well-defined measures.

Thanks to its own integrated communication circuit 25a, the present solution becomes more autonomous and more reliable, in particular by eliminating local communication networks whose reliability is not recognized. In addition, since no configuration is required to install and activate the management and external communications interface 25, the operation of the device 20 is greatly facilitated.

For the sake of brevity, it will be noted that several variants (embodiments) or characteristic described with reference to the monitoring and management device 20 have not been intentionally repeated in the description of the system and of the associated method. However, it should be borne in mind that any variant or characteristic described with reference to the device 20 could be included in the system and / or the method described above.

claims

Claims (10)

1. Device (20) for monitoring and managing a technical installation (10) comprising: - an interfacing unit (21) allowing the connection of a plurality of peripheral devices (15), - a collection unit (22) of data (15a) from at least one of said peripheral devices (15), - an analysis unit (30) configured to compare the collected data (15a) with predetermined values (16a) and generate messages (35a), of alert or information type, based at least in part on said collected data (15a ) and / or derived data (15b), and - a management and external communications interface (25), characterized in that: the analysis unit (30) is further configured to assign to each of said messages (35a) a logistic indication (36) identifying at least one receiving entity (51,52), selected from a plurality of receiving entities (50 ), and defining an instant of transmission of said message (35a), and in that the management and external communications interface (25) is configured to: - be connected to an extended communications network (40) without first passing through a local network (4), - transmit said messages (35a) in accordance with their logistical indication (36), and - allow bidirectional communication exchanges (35) with at least one of the receiving entities (50). 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that one of said receiving entities (50) is a remote center (51) for managing a fleet of technical installations (10). 3. Device according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that it further comprises a storage unit (22 ') configured to store at least part of said data (15a, 15b) and / or said communications (35). 4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the analysis unit (30) further configured to compare said data (15a, 15b) with each other and obtain, by synergistic effect, additional information. CH 714 466 A2 5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said communications (35) are of SMS and / or IP type. 6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises an autonomous electrical supply (27) providing it with an energy resource at least temporary. 7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said logistic indication (36) allows a transmission of messages (35a) on a regular, immediate or punctual time basis. 8. System for monitoring and managing a technical installation (10) comprising: - a device (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, - a center (51) for managing at least one technical installation (10) considered as the main receiving entity (50) of said device (20), and - at least one client terminal (52) considered as a secondary receiving entity (50) of said device (20). 9. System according to claim 8, characterized in that said management center (51) is configured to collect and store data (15a, 15b) from communications (35) exchanged with said device (20), in order to be able to benefit a synergistic effect after analysis of said data (15a, 15b). 10. Method for monitoring and managing a technical installation (10) implemented by a device (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it aims to: -collect data (15a) from at least one peripheral device (15) specific to the technical installation (10), - analyze the collected data (15a) by comparing them to predetermined values (16a), - generate messages (35a), alert or information type, based at least in part on said collected data (15a) and / or derived data (15b), and - transmit at least part of said messages (35a) generated to at least one receiving entity (50), characterized in that it further aims to: - assign to each of said messages (35a) a logistical indication (36) identifying at least one receiving entity (51, 52), selected from a plurality of receiving entities (50), and defining an instant of transmission of said message (35a) , - using an extended communication network (40) to transmit said messages (35a) in accordance with their logistical indication (36) without first passing through a local communication network (4), and exchanging other communications (35) with at least one receiving entity (50).